News and Current Events

From the campaign of Rovall M. Washington:

Dear Residents of Harford and Cecil Counties,

It is without question that I wish to serve my community. Since my initial beginnings of developing an afterschool program in Edgewood, MD at Anthony’s Barbershop, I have collaborated and donated personal time and financial resources to non-profit organizations like Harford County based Gospel of Life Ministries to help the unfortunate. Over the last year, I have served as a Board Member on the Joppa/ Joppatowne Community Council. During this timeframe I have cultivated a deeper appreciation for the needs of an established community. Concurrently, I was drawn towards the needs of the neighboring community of Edgewood; of which is fighting to change its status among the county. To ensure the success of this conversion, I avidly attend and support the Edgewood Community Council meetings and Servefest functions that better our community. I am a mentor for Harford County’s Kids C.A.N. Project whose mission is to identify and provide opportunities for caring adults to help young people succeed in life. Within my heart bleeds the passion to make a difference.

I began this journey of public service with the belief that a seat in the House of Delegates would allow me to serve my community to the fullest. However, after reading a passage from the late Dr Martin Luther King JR that reads, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity… “, I felt drawn to allow myself to serve my fellow Harford and Cecil County residents in such a way that my passion for equality and zeal for what is morally just be utilized to benefit my peers. It is because of this that I have decided to withdraw my bid for the House of Delegates and campaign for the Maryland State Senate seat in District 34.

I am the best candidate for this position because I see a severe flaw in our current state senator. I possess the spirit, confidence, and morality to help lead and shape our community for a better tomorrow. As a father, I know what it is like to have to lead by example. As a survivor of divorce, I know what it is like to have to pick up the pieces and start over. In this last recession I learned what it was like to be vulnerable to the economy, while watching our government react slowly and at times uncaringly. I understand these things because I am just like you. It is because of this similar trait that I can and will serve Harford and Cecil County better than anyone else; especially those who choose to deceive and manipulate the system because of his/her economic status. I choose to be a candidate for the Maryland State Senate because I am you. I am and will always be your voice. With the guidance of my campaign manager, Edgewood Community Council Chairman Jansen Robinson, and the support of community leaders like Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie, I will not only serve my fellow residents to the best of my abilities, but I will be an open resource to those who need me in their time of need and the capabilities the office provides.

As the only Democratic State Senatorial candidate that resides in the district I wish to serve, I promise to listen, promote, and understand your needs collectively and do my all to provide you with the results you desire in the State Senate. I am not a politician. I am a man who is tired of the loss of interest by our elected officials once they are in office. Your interest is my interest. I hope you give me an opportunity to prove my loyalty to my district and my state.

My name is Rovall Washington and I want your vote to be the next State Senator in District 34 this fall.

Humbly,

Rovall M Washington
Candidate, Maryland State Senate 2010
District 34

From Maryland State Police:

EDGEWOOD _ Two men face charges from the Maryland State Police in Harford County this week in connection with a brazen armed robbery of an Edgewood Road convenience store.

Maryland State Police criminal investigators charged Steven Lamar Joseph, 19, of the 300 block of Canoe Lane, Edgewood, MD and Adam Elijah Williams, 21, of the 9800 block of Dee Way, Middle River, MD with armed robbery, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, 1st degree assault, 2nd degree assault, theft under $1,000 and weapons violations.

The arrests of both men followed a month-long investigation by Troopers into the January 11th armed robbery of the Royal Farms convenience store located in the 600 block of Edgewood Road. Troopers were summoned to the store near Hanson Road shortly before 2 a.m. after two masked men entered the establishment and brandished a handgun. During the robbery, the clerk questioned the suspects about the authenticity of the firearm, at which time one suspect discharged the weapon. The clerk was uninjured during the holdup. Both suspects fled the store on foot after receiving an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency.

Afterwards, Troopers flooded the Edgewood community with reward fliers about the robbery. Soon after, a tip was received through Metro Crime Stoppers Inc. of Maryland, which led to the identity of the accused Joseph. On February 4th, investigators from the Joint Investigative Task Force (comprised of Troopers and Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies) raided a residence on Canoe Lane in Edgewood, MD. Joseph was taken into custody without incident. Five days later, Troopers located Williams and arrested him without incident.

“The partnership between the community and law enforcement was instrumental in the success of this investigation and is unquestionably helping to make Harford County a safer place” said Sergeant James DeCourcey – Maryland State Police, Bel Air Barrack. Sergeant DeCourcey is one of the lead supervisors of the unit and provided much support to the primary investigator in this case.

Both suspects were taken before a District Court Commissioner for Harford County. Joseph was remanded to the Harford County Detention Center in lieu of a $250,000 bond; Williams was jailed after being denied bond.

From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:

On Friday 01/29/10 at approximately 1830 hours the person depicted in the composite and accompanied by a second suspect did unlawfully enter a home on Windstream Way in Edgewood, MD. Both suspects were armed and robbed the occupants at gunpoint.

The victims, three males residents ages 37, 30, and 35, arrived home, the 800 block of Windstream Way in Edgewood, from work at approximately 6:30pm on January 29, 2010. Hearing a knock at their front door, while putting away groceries, they opened the door. Two black males wearing dark clothing and facemasks, pressed their way into the apartment, pushed them to the ground, and held them at gunpoint. Cash was stolen.

Anyone with information in reference to this incident is urged to contact Metro Crime Stoppers. Callers may remain anonymous.

If Your Tip To The Hotline Leads To An Arrest And Indictment in this case, You May Be Eligible For A Cash Reward Of Up To $2,000!!!

If you have information on the above crime/suspect contact:

Metro Crime Stoppers Hotline @Toll Free 1-866-7LOCKUP.

You can also provide information confidentially online @ http://www.metrocrimestoppers.net/ or by texting “MCS plus your message” to CRIMES(274637)

Tips Are Not Recorded AND Callers Remain Anonymous

From Harford County government:

(Bel Air, MD) – - Harford County Executive David R. Craig has scheduled a second public budget hearing prior to preparation of the FY 11 county budget. The budget hearing will be held Monday, January 25, 2010 at Edgewood High School on Willoughby Beach Road in Edgewood and will commence at 6:00 p.m.

“Preparation of the annual budget for Harford County is one of the most important responsibilities of the County Executive. I want to ensure the public has ample opportunity to express their opinion and recommendations with respect to the FY 11 budget,” County Executive Craig stated.

The county executive and his cabinet will also hold a public budget hearing on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 in the auditorium of C. Milton Wright High School. The budget hearing will also begin at 6:00 p.m.

The FY 11 budget will be prepared between January and March 2010. The proposed budget will be presented to the Harford County Council by April 1, 2010. The Harford County Council reviews the proposed budget from the county executive and has the oversight authority to decrease or eliminate some budget items. The County Council can only increase the budget of the Board of Education. The County Council is required by the Harford County Charter to pass the budget by June 30.

Those wishing to speak at either public budget hearing should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the hearing to sign in. Those persons addressing the county executive and cabinet will be allotted three minutes to speak. Those individuals representing a group or organization will be allotted five minutes to speak.

From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:

(Edgewood, MD – January 18, 2010) On Sunday, January 17, 2010 at approximately 10pm, a home invasion occurred, in the 1900 block of Edgewater Drive, Edgewood MD, after a guest in the apartment opened the door to two males who entered the home and robbed the four women in the apartment. The victims of the incident include the resident, a 63-year-old woman and three elderly females between the ages of 62 and 95 years old that were visiting for the evening.

The two suspects knocked on the door, stating it was “Junior”. Since the victims have a friend with the same name, they opened the door. The first suspect is described as a light complexion black male, with a baby face wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt and jeans, somewhere between the age of 17- 22. The second suspect, also between the age of 17-22, is described a darker complexion black male with a thin build, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt covering his face with a beige/tan bandana. The first suspect entered the residence and proceeded to the resident’s bedroom where he brandished a gun and demanded any pain medication and valuables that she may have. The second suspect stayed in the living room watching over the guests until both suspects fled the apartment in an unknown direction. Stolen from the group of women were purses, cash, bankcards, a cell phone, various medications and personal identification. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact Detective Pete Georgiades of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 410-836-5431.

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind citizens of Harford County to practice good personal safety habits at all times. Always keep doors and windows locked. Use a peephole/door viewer before opening the door to anyone. Do not rely on a door chain for your protection when getting identification of a visitor and never open the door to a stranger. For additional personal safety tips, visit the community safety section of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office website at www.harfordsheriff.org.