Baltimore City
ESCAPEE ARRESTED: Western District -- A man who escaped from the Maryland Penitentiary in February was arrested early yesterday after he lost control of the stolen car he was driving and crashed into a wall. Officer Jerry Tarud reported that he was in a patrol car in the first block of N. Gorman Ave. about 3:20 a.m. when he passed a late-model Toyota Camry, whose driver looked at him in a suspicious manner. Officer Tarud said that as he slowed to make a U-turn, the driver of the other car accelerated, then lost control of the car and crashed into a wall. The uninjured driver bailed out of the car and was arrested in the 2100 block of Vine St. after a brief chase. A fingerprint check revealed the man was Patrick McCray, 23, who escaped from prison two months ago while serving a 9-year term for armed robbery. Officer Tarud said McCray, who first identified himself as Michael Smith, was charged with auto theft and was being held at the station lockup in lieu of $10,000 bail. He said a detainer on the escape charge has been placed against McCray. Officer Tarud said the car, which had a screwdriver stuck in its ignition, was reported stolen Monday in the Western District.
ROBBERY: Western District -- A woman reported she was walking in the 200 block of N. Schroeder St. shortly before 1 a.m. yesterday when she was accosted by a man with a knife, who robbed her of cash and food stamps. Police said the victim, who lives in the 1100 block of W. Mulberry St., reported that the money and stamps had a combined value of more than $700.
ROBBERY: Western District -- A resident of the 800 block of W. Fayette St. reported he was in the 1300 block of W. Fayette St. yesterday when he was stopped by two men, one armed with a handgun, who robbed him of $20 and drove off in a maroon car bearing a Pennsylvania license plate.
BURGLARY: Western District -- Someone broke into a dwelling in the 300 block of N. Carey St. through a rear door Tuesday or yesterday and stole four VCRS, several pieces of jewelry, blank checks and a TV. Police said the value of the property was not immediately known.
BURGLARY: Western District -- Someone broke into an apartment in the 700 block of N. Carey St. by knocking a hole in the hallway wall. Once inside, the intruder stole a TV, watch, three pairs of shoes and a money order for more than $200. Police said the total value of the property was not immediately available.
ROBBERY: Western District -- A resident of the 600 block of N. Carrollton Ave. reported he was walking in the 800 block of N. Carrollton Ave. yesterday afternoon when he was stopped by a man with a handgun, who robbed him of $117 and a diamond ring valued at $1,100.
THEFTS: Northern District -- Several cars parked on the lots of two churches in the 5400 and 5600 blocks of N. Charles St. were broken into while their owners were inside the buildings. Police said three cars parked on the lot of the Grace United Methodist Church, at 5407 N. Charles St., were broken into and various items stolen. Members of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society were inside the church rehearsing for a weekend concert. Police said four cars parked on the lot of the Church of the Redeemer at 5603 N. Charles St. also were broken into and property stolen. Police said the incidents appeared related and items stolen included clothing, keyboards, cassette tapes, books, a telephone and a purse. Police said a 1992 Honda Civic with Virginia plates that was parked on the lot of the Methodist church was stolen and probably used to transport the stolen property. Police said several other cars parked at the two churches were broken into but it was not immediately known if any property was taken.
ROBBERY: Southern District -- A resident of the 800 block of Hollins St. reported she was walking near her home late Tuesday night when she was stopped by a man with a handgun who stole her purse, which contained cash and property valued at nearly $200.
ROBBERY: Southern District -- Two out-of-town residents walking in the 200 block of S. Charles St. Tuesday night were stopped by a man with a handgun who ordered them to give up their money. Police said Charles Edwards, of North Carolina, was robbed of $125 and his companion, Lee Sowell, of South Carolina, was robbed of his watch and cash, all valued at more than $200.
THEFT/ARRESTS: Southern District -- Police arrested three youths early yesterday and charged them as juveniles with stealing a motorcycle from a resident of the 3000 block of Hollins Ferry Road. Police said the motorcycle was recovered and the youths were released to the custody of their parents pending action by juvenile authorities.
ASSAULT: Southern District -- Jesse Loudy, of the 300 block of S. Vincent St., reported that during an argument with another man in the 1700 block of W. Lombard St. he was struck with a brick. Police said the other man escaped and Mr. Loudy was taken to a hospital for treatment and released.
BURGLARY: Southern District -- Someone broke into a house in the 2600 block of Hanover St. through a side window Tuesday and stole a rifle and a shotgun.
THEFT: Southern District -- Officials of the city Department of Transit and Traffic reported that someone stole a parking meter from its post in the 800 block of Covington St. between Monday and yesterday. Police said the meter was valued at more than $400 and contained an unknown sum.
BURGLARY: Southern District -- The owner of a house in the 1100 block of Wicomico St. reported that someone broke into the dwelling between April 2 and yesterday and stole hand and power tools and a ladder, all valued at $700.
THEFT: Northeastern District -- A resident of the 3400 block of Cliftmont Ave. reported that someone stole a Social Security check of nearly $400 from her mailbox over the weekend.
BURGLARY: Northeastern District -- Officials of the Montebello Rehabilitation Hospital in the 2200 block of Argonne Drive reported that someone broke into an office over the weekend and stole property valued at nearly $200.
BURGLARY: Northeastern District -- A resident of the 3700 block of Ferndale Road reported that someone broke into a dwelling he owns in the 2400 block of Montebello Terrace through a basement door and stole clothing and other property,valued at $400.
BURGLARY: Northeastern District -- Police reported that a $300 gas lawn mower was stolen Sunday night or Monday morning after someone broke into a garage in the 3300 block of Westfield Ave. by forcing a door.
THEFT: Northeastern District -- A resident of the 2100 block of Pentland Drive reported that someone she knows entered her home over the weekend and stole a VCR from the bedroom and a guitar. Police said the property was valued at $200.
BURGLARY: Northeastern District -- Police said property valued at more than $2,000 was stolen from a dwelling in the Hollander Ridge section Monday. The victim, a resident of the 1900 block of Harryweiss Court, told police several household items, including a TV and appliances, were taken. Police said neighbors reported seeing a man carry a TV from the dwelling but did not report the incident at the time.
BURGLARY: Northeastern District -- Someone apparently used a key to enter an apartment in the 5000 block of Lodestone Way over the weekend. The occupant told police she discovered some property missing after maintenance workers changed the lock on her door. Police said the property was valued at nearly $1,700.
BURGLARY: Northeastern District -- A resident of the 2200 block of Odell Ave. reported that property valued at more than $3,000 was stolen from her home Tuesday after someone got in through a rear patio sliding-glass door.
Baltimore County
SHOOTING/ARRESTS: Garrison District -- A 20-year-old city man was in serious but stable condition today at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center after he was shot yesterday afternoon during an alleged drug dispute outside an apartment in the 100 block of Sunmar Court. Lt. Minda Foxwell said the victim, Michael A. Ruff, of the 1600 block of E. Cold Spring Lane, was shot in the face and right abdomen around 4:30 p.m. Lieutenant Foxwell said Mr. Ruff allegedly sold bogus cocaine yesterday to two men and later met them outside the apartment to make good the deal. Lieutenant Foxwell said that when Mr. Ruff returned from the apartment and told his customers that the man from whom Mr. Ruff bought the phony drugs was not there, one of the men pulled out a handgun and shot Mr. Ruff. Lieutenant Foxwell said the two men drove off but were captured a short time later by Woodlawn District police at Security Boulevard and Gwynn Oak Avenue. Charged with assault with intent to murder, possession of narcotics and possession of a handgun were two brothers, Miguel Angel Casiano, 18, and Carlos Miguel Casiano, 16, both of the 1800 block of N. Regester St. in the city. Police said both suspects were to appear at a bail hearing today in Catonsville District Court. In the car, police found a .380 semiautomatic handgun believed to have been used in the shooting.
Anne Arundel County
ROBBERY: Glen Burnie -- A woman was robbed of an undisclosed sum Monday night while preparing to make a night deposit at a bank in the Sun Valley shopping center. Police said the woman was about to place a bank bag inside the night depository at a Maryland National Bank when a man walked up behind her and grabbed the bag. The man got into a car occupied by another man and drove away.
BURGLARY: Crofton -- A resident of the 1700 block of Reynolds St. reported that someone broke into his home by forcing a door and stole hand and power tools valued at nearly $115.
Carroll County
ROBBERY/ARREST: Westminster -- Police arrested a 24-year-old woman and charged her with the attempted armed robbery of a convenience store Monday. Police said Kendra Dorsey, of the first block of Washington Road, also was charged with using a handgun to commit a felony, assault with intent to commit robbery and assault. Police said Ms. Dorsey was being held today at the county detention center in lieu of $60,000 bail. Police said a woman entered a High's on Green Street around 7 a.m. Monday, pulled out a handgun and ordered the clerk to give her the contents of the cash register. When the clerk gave the armed woman about $75, the woman threw the money on the floor and walked out. After responding police received a description of the woman, they learned from a citizen that the suspect was seen entering an apartment on Washington Road. Police entered the building and arrested Ms. Dorsey in a second-floor apartment.
Howard County
VANDALISM: Columbia -- Police reported that someone vandalized Atholton High School in the 6500 block of Freetown Road last weekend, setting fire to a baseball field dugout bench and painting racial graffiti on the building. Police said the incident occurred between 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday afternoon. Police said someone also broke into a school storage building and stole school banners and tools. Also stolen was a gasoline container that police believe was used to set the dugout fire.
VANDALISM: Columbia -- A county police officer patrolling in the 5900 block of Cedar Fern early Saturday found graffiti spray-painted on the doors of the Covenant Baptist Church and on the sidewalk. Police said the phrases "Pro-choice" and "Outlawing abortion is a Nazi policy" were among the graffiti. Police said a reward of $300 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the vandalism.