“Tragic, ridiculous, I mean, we need to do better,” Baltimore County Councilman Pat Young said.

One teenage victim was injured during the incident after another teen was accused of assaulting that person with a screwdriver. Three of the teens taken into custody are accused of committing second-degree assault and robbery.

The fourth teen, who is accused of committing a first-degree assault, has been charged with attempted murder.

“Our police department was on it quickly,” Councilman Mike Ertel said.

While County Council members acknowledge police have been working to reduce crime in the area, some said they want to see a greater presence in the area.

“In the past, we called on the Sheriff’s Office to help out,” Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka said. “And so the Sheriff’s Office helped us out on Thirsty Thursdays in Towson, and we were able to quell all of the activity there. I think we can do that again and just have greater police presence with all of our law enforcement entities.”

When it comes to long-term solutions, many council members said there needs to be more opportunities for kids and teens to be engaged in the community in a positive way.

“We need to support our police so that one, we can manage and also provide opportunities for children that live here in Baltimore County, but also recognize that folks come from all over the place, especially to a hub that has a transit hub, and that we need to be ever-vigilant to make sure that we’re having a presence that folks don’t feel they can get away with something,” Young added.

“It’s certainly troubling; young people need to have more productive things to do,” Patoka said. “We as the government of Baltimore County have to elevate what we’re doing to make sure that we can provide some preventive measures before it even starts.”

Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones echoed those sentiments in a statement:

“I have been in close communication with law enforcement about any additional steps needed to protect residents at the mall. Mall management must also be a stronger partner in maintaining a safe environment, including fully enforcing common-sense curfews and to prevent unwanted juvenile activity. At the same time, we need to keep investing in the long-term solutions that reduce these incidents in the first place: jobs, recreation opportunities, and positive outlets that keep young people engaged and out of trouble.”

County Executive Kathy Klausmeier’s office released a statement, calling the incident “unacceptable” and thanking the police for making the arrests quickly.

“It is important that parents and caregivers actively monitor their kids’ whereabouts and behavior, hold them accountable, and ensure they are making good choices. We will continue to work closely with police, our business community and mall ownership to ensure Towson remains a place where everyone feels safe during the holiday season and beyond.”

The Baltimore County Police Department released its own statement about the incident. It said that the mall and surrounding businesses are areas of “focused enforcement efforts.” The department also stated that the area’s precinct commander meets regularly with mall security personnel. And it noted that customers 17 and younger are required to be accompanied by parents or supervising adults over the age of 21.

“The juveniles arrested over the weekend for robbery were in violation of this policy,” the statement said.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jessicababb@sbgtv.com.

Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer, similar to xylazine, which can slow respiratory function. It can be mixed with other illicit drugs, including fentanyl.

Unlike other substances, experts said medetomidine is not as easily reversed by medications such as naloxone or Narcan.

Back in early October, 11 people overdosed in Baltimore’s Penn North neighborhood. Seven people were taken to a local hospital. That was one of several mass overdoses in the area this year.

Some residents said it was concerning to hear about the sedatives detected in the drugs.

“That’s a very scary thing. It’s like putting three bullets in a gun and playing Russian roulette by yourself,” a resident who didn’t want to be identified said.

At the end of 2024, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office put out an alert, which said medetomidine had been confirmed in Maryland by the Rapid Analysis of Drugs Program.

“This substance is 200-300 times stronger than Xylazine and is linked to the rapid onset of severe and atypical withdrawal symptoms. Its sedation effects can last up to three hours, posing significant risks,” the alert read.

In a statement from the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition, officials said a number of additives have appeared in the drug supply.

“Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalitions mission is to mobilize community members for the health, dignity and safety of people targeted by the racist war on drugs. We have three main areas of work, education, policy and outreach services.

“Our outreach team has been working in Penn North twice a week (or more) over the last six years, providing naloxone (also known as narcan) and other supplies. Over the years a number of additives have appeared in the drug supply and we respond accordingly, Medetomidine being the latest.

“Opioids are a respiratory depressant, as are the animal sedatives commonly found in our current drug supply. Too much causes a respiratory overdose and requires naloxone and now more than ever rescue breathing, which has always been a step in reversing overdose. Due to the additional sedatives in the supply its being stressed even more.

Last year, Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health put out a notice that medetomidine had been detected in the illicit drug supply. In Philadelphia, medetomidine was detected in 72% of illegal opioid samples tested late last year.

“What I want is a collaborative plan for addressing drug dealing across the city,” Conway said during a Public Safety Committee meeting in September.

As city leaders work to respond to the overdoses, in an October hearing, health officials said they want to ensure a rapid, coordinated response, reduce fatalities, expand access to treatment and promote equitable service.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jessicababb@sbgtv.com.

In light of the last budget cycle, with the state working to increase revenues to deal with a $3 billion deficit, many new fees and taxes went into effect in July. Some of those increased fees apply to vehicle excise taxes, titling and registering a vehicle, vehicle emissions inspections and tire fees.

Residents are also facing increased cannabis and sports betting taxes, as well as vending machine taxes.

The 3% tech tax also took effect July 1.

“Our state’s fiscal picture looks ‘OK’ right now for one simple reason — Democrats in Annapolis raised taxes and fees on hardworking families and small businesses in the last legislative session. There were no meaningful, long-term reforms to curb runaway spending, no effort to grow our economy, and no real plan to keep Maryland competitive. A budget built on higher taxes and higher fees is not a sign of strength — it’s a sign of weakness,” said Sen. Stephen Hershey.

“The Democratic supermajority continues to push policies that drive people and businesses out of Maryland,” said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready.

“From the misguided tech tax, to higher MVA fees, to layers of new mandates on job creators, the message is clear: Annapolis is more interested in growing government than growing opportunity. We cannot tax and fee our way to prosperity. What we need are policies that actually grow the economy, encourage job creation, and keep Maryland families here.”

The cost of energy has also increased in the last year, which has put a major strain on many residents. While customers’ bills have been going up for a variety of reasons, the costs are likely to continue rising.

Gov. Wes Moore and state leaders like Senate President Bill Ferguson previously announced an energy rebate customers will be getting sometime soon, a total of two payments averaging about $40 each, depending on how much energy a customer uses.

“I wish there were more disposable dollars to be able to rebate,” Ferguson said.

While it is not clear if state leaders will impose any additional taxes or fees next year, some residents said they are bracing themselves for that possibility. For some residents, state increases, coupled with energy increases and other cost-of-living-related increases, are unsustainable moving forward.

“It seems like everyone is trying to find an excuse to make more money some kind of way,” said Anthony, a Baltimore resident.

“I would feel screwed up figuratively speaking, because you can barely get by as it is,” said Gary, another Baltimore resident.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jessicababb@sbgtv.com.

Reisterstown residents say a neighborhood homeowner has been renting out their pool on a website called Swimply — a short-term rental site similar to Airbnb. Neighbors say the parties, which have been happening almost every week since June, have led to loud music, large crowds, parking issues and trash left behind.

“You can see people carrying bottles of liquor to the party, you could strongly smell marijuana, and people just kind of hanging out in the parking lot, in the parking area in the community,” said Thomas Hope, the director for the Police and Community Relations Council for the Franklin Precinct. “It’s a rather small yard to have a large pool party in, and a lot of the people are spilling out into the community.”

Hope said that during one party, a fight even broke out.

“If you’re gonna have a commercial party like this, where you’re renting it out, you’re kind of responsible for who’s coming and going,” he said.

“We just want to be a nice, quiet community and be respectful,” he added. “When I talked to her, she expressed that she has rights, and I agree with that; she does, but so does the rest of the community. It’s a matter of coexisting. And if she wants to do this and make this extra money, that’s fine, but do it in a respectful manner.”

A Baltimore County Police spokesperson said there have been seven calls for service to the home, varying from noise complaints, loud parties and even a theft. However, no citations or arrests have been issued. There was a notice of correction issued on July 22 for illegal home occupation.

As of Tuesday, the homeowner has not responded to requests for comment.

Last year, Baltimore County leaders passed a bill that created a licensing program for short-term rentals.

Property owners have to follow certain rules in order to keep their license, including guest and parking limits, prohibiting advertising short-term rentals as an event space, as well as other requirements to comply with the county code. Owners can lose their license for violating any of the requirements and for those advertising or hosting events unlicensed, there is a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day the violation is found.

Additionally, the director of permits, approvals and inspections has the discretion to determine what constitutes “a short-term rental.”

Recently, Howard County Council members passed a bill prohibiting for-profit parties in residences throughout the county, increasing penalties for violators. The bill would impose a $2,500 fine for the first offense and $5,000 for subsequent offenses.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jessicababb@sbgtv.com.

The new “Entertainment Unit” is expected to bolster security in Baltimore’s top tourist destinations. It will focus on providing a broader, more consistent police presence in active social hubs around the city, including Federal Hill.

“The crime really seems to be rampant and there seems to be no end to it,” said Coard Simpler, a Federal Hill resident.

“This is people’s livelihoods,” said resident Warren Fearer. “You need to have police protection for sure. More police presence the better.”

In a statement, the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association said they are “cautiously optimistic” about the new entertainment district police unit, which the Baltimore Police Department has not officially announced.

“The recent increased deployment of officers has been a welcome change to the status quo, however we continue to see ample amounts of disorder and quality of life crimes. This includes the incidents at Moo Moo Cows, the continued presence of dirt bikes, public urination, and vomiting on neighbors’ property. We hope that the creation of the entertainment district unit will lead to more proactive policing and will improve the quality of life for our residents and businesses,” the statement read.

Additionally, other incidents reported in the neighborhood include a 39-year-old woman who was caught in the crossfire and hit with a stray bullet in July. Other residents have had their cars damaged and vandalized. In the case of the ice cream shop vandalism, two suspects seen on camera appear to throw rocks at the front window, shattering the glass. The suspects then ran away.

“The first go-around, which was the breaking of the original windows in the front and on the side, as well as the front of our ice cream case, that estimated damage was about $7,000,” said Moo Moo Cows co-owner William Runnebaum. “The glass company came out of the temporary glass in the front, and now the temporary glass has been smashed again. So I don’t know how much more that’s gonna add to the bill, but quite frankly, we’re being very hesitant now to pull the glass out again, replace it again with the possibility that this could happen the third time.”

“I think people saw this as really kind of a violation to the community,” he added.

In July, Baltimore City Councilmember Zac Blanchard said the new unit is expected to be implemented within the next few weeks. However, Baltimore Police did not respond Monday when asked again when the unit would start.

While the Baltimore Police Department has yet to officially announce the unit, a preliminary report suggested they’re planning a three-phased rollout:

• Phase 1: Downtown & Waterfront — Fells Point, Inner Harbor, Harbor East, 400 E. Baltimore Street, Cross Street (Federal Hill), and Marketplace
• Phase 2: Canton – O’Donnell Square and surrounding bars/restaurants
• Phase 3: Stadium District – Oriole Park, M&T Bank Stadium, Horseshoe Casino, Pickles Pub, and nearby venues

The report went on to say shifts will operate from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jessicababb@sbgtv.com.

“Mr. Jones often would show up with a clergy collar on, or he would bring the conversation around to the fact that he was clergy and that he had his own church, and they felt very good about that,” said Chief Shari Greene, of the Economic Crimes and Older & Disabled Persons units within the City State’s Attorney’s Office.

“People were giving him $40,000 and $50,000, and he was walking away,” she added.

She said in some cases, the only work performed was demolition work, at times leaving customers without livable spaces.

“Mr. Jones would arrange to have two or three young persons come in and open up the walls, strip the floors down to the sub flooring, pull out copper pipes, which we all know has value, pull out all appliances. Even if the owner said they wanted to keep their current appliances,” Greene said.

“The only way to stop the assault on our community was for him to be incarcerated,” Greene said.

Jones is currently serving a sentence of three years for two other theft-scheme cases.

Jones was also previously investigated by the Attorney General’s Office. In 2024, a final order was announced, requiring Jones to pay restitution to consumers and civil penalties and costs of more than $1 million.

“My office will always protect Marylanders and ensure that companies that prioritize greed over honesty and integrity are held accountable,” Attorney General Anthony Brown previously said. The petition to enforce the order is currently pending before the Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jlmitchell@sbgtv.com.

“We and the public had a lot of concerns with how the process was handled,” County Councilman Mike Ertel said during the meeting Monday night.

County Councilman Izzy Patoka has proposed legislation that would amend the county charter to create an inspector general appointment board. The board, composed of seven members, would ensure that individuals sitting on the selection board do not work for the state or county, are not elected officials, and are not family members of elected county officers, among other requirements.

“Bill 5025 is a good government initiative that takes the politics out of the inspector general selection process,” Patoka said. “It creates an independent appointment board.”

“There’s a draft of potential legislation to try to make it less political, and I’m open to all conversations,” Councilman Pat Young said.

Questions arose after County Executive Kathy Klausmeier did not initially reappoint current Inspector General Kelly Madigan. During the final round of interviews, three candidates were interviewed by a panel that included Klausmeier. Klausmeier later selected Walker, saying she “stood out as the most qualified candidate.”

“Why would we have a search process to replace someone who really has shown to be an outstanding employee? That still baffles me,” Patoka said.

Community members, state and local leaders, and watchdog organizations voiced concerns about a lack of transparency in the selection process.

The Association of Inspectors General sent a letter to the Baltimore County Council and County Executive Kathy Klausmeier raising concerns.

“An inspector general must be selected through an open and transparent process that ensures independence, not one controlled exclusively by elected officials who may themselves fall under the IG’s jurisdiction,” Will Fletcher, president of the AIG, said. “That’s unfortunately what appears to be happening in Baltimore County. Best practices and good governance demand safeguards that protect the integrity and objectivity of the oversight function.”

County Councilman David Marks said he supports Patoka’s legislation and is co-sponsoring it. Ertel said he is “generally supportive” of the proposed legislation to establish an independent IG appointment board but said additional language may need to be added. He said it was “very likely” he would introduce additional legislation or advocate for other changes in the IG appointment and selection process moving forward.

Residency was also a major concern raised by council members and community members. While residency was not a requirement, Walker was selected despite living in Fredericksburg, Virginia, hours away from Baltimore County.

“I’ve always believed that leadership positions in government, you need to be part of the community and there are ways to do that, to ensure that all of our department heads are somehow, if they don’t live in Baltimore County, they should be part of a community in Baltimore County,” Patoka said.

However, when asked if he planned to propose legislation requiring residency, he said, “I’m not sure about that, because I don’t think that you want to dilute talent, but if someone is not a resident, they still should be part of the community, and that’s really, really important. And I’ll have initiatives that you’ll hear about in the future.”

“I believe that it should at least be the Baltimore metro area or a requirement that you maintain a residence in Baltimore County,” Ertel said in an email.

Marks said he was “open to the idea” and said there were other offices where residency requirements should be considered, such as administrative law judges.

Marks is also sponsoring a resolution extending oversight of the IG to Baltimore County Public Schools.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jlmitchell@sbgtv.com.

“I am terrified of the precedent this sets and the federal lawsuit sets, because right now, where it stands, unless any of the appeals go through, any out-of-state utility can just go into any state and start doing surveys on land without going through the state level [Public Service Commission] process,” said landowner Brandon Hill.

“It’s discouraging,” he added. “They still have to get PSC approval; it’s by no means a done deal or anything, so I am trying to stay high in spirit.”

Currently, the proposed, high-voltage transmission line is before the Maryland Public Service Commission, which will determine if the project is needed, and if so, where exactly the line will be built. However, no decisions have been made, and a lengthy process of hearings and discovery is likely to follow.

In the meantime, according to PSEG, each property will require different surveys, which will take varying amounts of time.

PSEG has stated that the transmission line is crucial in alleviating strain on the power system and helping to prevent blackouts.

For more information about the project, visit the PSEG website.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jlmitchell@sbgtv.com.

A recent federal ruling will allow representatives from Public Service Enterprise Group, the developers of the proposed 70-mile, high-voltage transmission line, access to private property to conduct environmental surveys on land along the route. In a lengthy ruling, the judge sided with PSEG, in part because the Power Plant Research Program said PSEG needed land surveys in order to complete their application with the state. The PPRP has stated that the surveys are necessary for a thorough review.

“I didn’t like the judge’s ruling,” said Sen. Chris West, a Republican representing Baltimore and Carroll counties. “I think the State of Maryland put the judge in a position where the ruling probably was, it’s understandable under the circumstances.”

“The governor’s agency, the PPRP said we want this specific information,” West said. “The only way to get that information is to let the builder of the line go on people’s private properties unpermitted.”

“If I were the governor working with my agency carefully, I would not have put this organization that wants to build the line in a position where the only way it could do what the agency is demanding is have eminent domain,” West added.

In response to the ruling, Moore said, “My position on this hasn’t changed. There are real flaws and real problems with this, and I have said long before that not only do I have a very real issue with this project and how it was maintained, I don’t see how there are not changes to this, how this thing moves forward. I saw the judge’s ruling, but the judge’s ruling does not change my opinion on it. I think this thing has very real problems.”

For months, Moore has reiterated that sentiment, voicing his “grave concerns” about the project.

“I am still not certain what the benefit is to Marylanders, and I am going to stand with the people on this,” Moore said in November of last year.

It is not clear when officials from PSEG plan to begin conducting the surveys for roughly 90 properties named in the recent lawsuit. PSEG will be required to give landowners 24 hours’ notice before entering private property. It is also not clear yet if PSEG will take additional legal action against the remaining homeowners living along the proposed route who have not given them access to their land.

PSEG argues the transmission line is necessary to ensure grid reliability amid growing energy demand and retiring power plants. Officials from PSEG argue that without the transmission line up and running by June 2027, there will be rolling brownouts and blackouts. While those arguments have been widely questioned, the Public Service Commission has yet to officially approve the project.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at .

Rabbi Chai Posner, the senior rabbi of Pikesville’s Beth Tfiloh Congregation, is in Israel with about 50 members of the congregation on a trip planned before the attacks.

“I wanted to be able to show people the beauty of the land of Israel,” Posner said.

He, along with dozens of other adults and children, arrived in Israel last week on Thursday afternoon, just hours before Ben Gurion Airport closed.

A few hours after arriving, the trip took a turn.

“Overnight, we started hearing the sirens go off and running to the shelters and slowly starting to find out what was going on,” he said.

In the days since, Posner said with sirens going off multiple times a night and even during the day, they have to stay close to a shelter.

“We’re a family of seven, and we all jump up and put our shoes on and head to the stairwell, which is where the shelter is in some places, or head down to the basement, which is where the shelter is in some places, and we kind of sit there at this point. People take it as, you know, at first it was scary for people who had not been through this, but at this point, people kind of take it in stride,” he said.

While Posner said they were trying to stay positive and persevere, he said the conflict brings up many emotions, including anger.

“The thought that there’s people sending these missiles off, hoping that they’re going to fall on me and my family and our group who’s here. It’s just, it’s just like such a crazy thing,” Posner said.

“But probably the strongest emotion which you feel from everyone is just this resolve, which is just like we’ve been through this before, it’s not going to stop us,” he added.

Since Israel has closed the Ben Gurion Airport “until further notice,” more than 50,000 Israeli travelers are left stranded abroad. The Pikesville congregation is among them. Posner said the trip was originally planned to be about a week and a half, however with flights now canceled, it is not clear when they will make it back to Maryland.

“Our eyes are on information, looking to see when things will open up, and we’re figuring that out as we go. We don’t know,” he said.

Have a news tip? Contact Jessica Babb at jessicababb@sbgtv.com.