In Baltimore City
High winds cause scaffolding to loosen, disrupting traffic
High winds yesterday caused scaffolding to come loose from a building at Camden and Howard streets, which led to road closures and the suspension of light rail service for several hours, officials said.
The scaffolding came loose about 11:30 a.m. after wind gusts had reached 37 mph, with sustained winds of 26 mph. Authorities closed the intersections of Howard and Lombard streets, Pratt and Eutaw streets and Camden and Russell streets from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interstate 395 northbound at Conway Street was also closed.
The scaffolding was taken down by the contractor working on the building. Light rail service was suspended between the Patapsco and North Avenue stations from noon until 3:35 p.m. Buses carried passengers between the stations.
Authorities continue search for suspect in girl's death
Authorities continued a nationwide search last night for Jamal Kenneth Abeokuto, 22, who is accused of killing an 8-year-old girl this month, and a community organization was planning to offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's capture.
Abeokuto, of the 5200 block of W. North Ave., has been charged in warrants in the death of Marciana Monia Ringo, whose body was found Thursday in a wooded area near Joppa Farm Road and Haverhill Road in Joppatowne, Harford County. Police said Marciana's throat was slit and she had been beaten. The girl was reported missing Dec. 3, and Abeokuto told police that he had brought Marciana to Northwood Elementary School that day at 7:30 a.m.
Abeokuto faces federal extortion charges, as well as state charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call city police at 410-637-8970 or their local police department at 911. The Northeast Community Organization, in conjunction with Metro Crime Stoppers, is scheduled to announce a reward tonight.
Police await autopsy results on body of unidentified man
City police were awaiting the results of an autopsy yesterday on an unidentified man whose body was found late Sunday morning in a Southwest Baltimore alley.
The man had been shot, but a homicide detective declined to describe the location of the bullet wound. He said the man may have died from another cause.
Detective Kerry Sneads said a passer-by spotted the fully clothed body in an alley near the 600 block of Allendale St. about noon and called police. The man appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s and had been dead for several hours. Sneads said no sign of a robbery was found.
Anyone with information about the death is urged to call Sneads at 410-396-2100.
Ravens players to hand out gifts to 150 children today
Baltimore Ravens football players including Michael Mc- Crary, Brandon Stokely and Travis Taylor are scheduled to hand out gifts this morning to 150 children at ESPN Zone.
More than 20 players are expected to take part in the distribution of toys and sports equipment to the children, who are participants in the Baltimore City Police Athletic League program. The players will sign autographs, pose for pictures and play games with the children.
The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and promoters say the public can attend the last half-hour, after the Inner Harbor restaurant opens at 11 o'clock.
In Baltimore County
Police focus on man, 26, in series of cabbie holdups
A 26-year-old man who was being held on armed robbery charges at the Baltimore County Detention Center yesterday is being investigated as a suspect in a series of cabdriver holdups this month, police said.
Michael James Layte, of no fixed address, was arrested after a cabdriver in Dundalk asked for his identification because he resembled a composite sketch county police had distributed, court records show. Officers familiar with the suspect were able to piece together what the drivers gleaned from conversations with the robber before he robbed them at knifepoint, according to court documents. Layte was arrested at a relative's house Saturday in connection with the robbery Dec.10 of a cabdriver in Towson, police said.
Layte was being held on $100,000 bail last night.
Apartment fire is ruled accidental by investigators
DUNDALK -- Baltimore County fire investigators determined that a three-alarm fire that damaged six apartments, displaced the occupants and injured one person Sunday was accidental, Battalion Chief Michael W. Robinson said yesterday.
The fire, reported shortly after 2 p.m. in an apartment building at the Town & Country Charlesmont development in the 3100 block of Wallford Drive, began in a kitchen, Robinson said.
A 21-year-old woman was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment of smoke inhalation, he said.
School board set to meet in open session tonight
TOWSON -- The Baltimore County school board will meet in open session at 7:30 p.m. today in the Educational Support Services Building, 6901 N. Charles St.
The meeting will be preceded by a closed session at 5 p.m. at which personnel matters will be discussed. No public business will be taken up at this meeting.
The public is invited to all open sessions.