Two West River teen-agers accused of breaking into a Galesville church Monday evening and spraying "KKK" on the front carpet with a fire extinguisher were charged with burglary, police said.
Cpl. Donald Pearson of the Southern District was called to Chews Memorial Methodist Church, which has a predominantly black congregation, shortly after 6 p.m. to investigate a break-in.
The officer noticed footprints leading from the Owensville Road church into a field. Corporal Pearson tracked them to a nearby home and talked to a boy and his parents.
Later the youth came to the church with his father and confessed to breaking into the church and spraying the graffiti, police said. The second youth arrived soon after with his parents and also confessed, they said.
The youths -- ages 15 and 16 -- climbed through a basement window to get into the church, police said. In addition to defacing the church, the boys broke several items in the sanctuary, police said.
The teens, both white, were each charged as juveniles with burglary.
Police cite 29 for underage drinking
County police handed out 29 civil citations for underage drinking Sunday night after breaking up a large party at a West River home, authorities said.
Cpl. Samuel Worsham of the Southern District went to a home in the 5000 block of Chalk Point Road about 10:30 p.m. to investigate a complaint of some people acting disorderly in a car. He found a large number of vehicles parked on the block, some in the middle of the road obstructing traffic, police said.
Corporal Worsham was told that underaged people were drinking at the party, police said. Corporal Worsham said he called for backup after several people escaped by climbing from windows. He and several other officers broke up the party and handed out the citations, police said.
Those cited ranged in age from 18 to 20 years old; no juvenile citations were given, a police spokesman said.
Restaurant worker robbed of cash
An employee of Shoney's restaurant was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash yesterday morning as he was leaving the business to make a night deposit, county police said.
Richard Anthony Benedict, 37, had just left the restaurant in the 100 block of Jennifer Road shortly after 2 a.m. when a man walked up to him. The man had his hand in his jacket pocket as though he had a gun and demanded money, police said.
Mr. Benedict gave one money bag to the man, who ran toward West Street and escaped, police said.
Mitchell Nathanson to head orchestra board
Mitchell Nathanson has been elected president of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra's board of directors.
Other officers are Jack Ladd Carr, vice president for administration; Pamela McKee, vice president for finance; John G. Neely, vice president for orchestra; Lillian B. Wray, secretary; and Cynthia Jartman, treasurer.
Board members elected to three-year terms are Glenn K. Bell, Philip D. Hale, Emily D. Joyce and Peter E. Katz.