FMD

He’s also charged with assaulting an employee.

Skylar Lee Turner ((Photo from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office)

Hagerstown, Md (KM) The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has apprehended a suspect in connection with a robbery of a business in Hagerstown.

On Thursday evening, March 20th, at around 8:00, deputies responded to D’s Vape Shop at 18728 North Pointe Drive for a robbery. They were told that a white male entered the store, and threatened to kill all employees. He stole marijuana-related products and attempted to flee the store when a clerk tried to stop him. The man assaulted the clerk and then ran out of the store.

Deputies say at around 8:27 PM, they were able to find the suspect near the Volvo entrance at Pennsylvania Avenue in Hagerstown. Skylar Lee Turner, 25, of Hagerstown was taken into custody, and transported to Central Booking for processing.

The stolen property was recovered.

By Kevin McManus

She is being held without bond.

Frederick, Md (KM) A Frederick woman is charged with 1st-degree assault;, 2nd-degree assault, and reckless endangerment for a stabbing which occurred at the FSK Mall on Monday.   Marquisha Watts, 31, was taken into custody.

he Frederick County Sheriff’s Office says just before 12-noon, deputies responded to the mall for an assault with a knife at the Rainbow department store. They found a woman outside of the Barnes and Noble who matched the suspect’s description and was bleeding from her hands. Deputies rendered assistance and medics were dispatched.

Deputies entered the mall and went to the Rainbow department store. They learned Watts had entered the store as a customer, but staff and mall security noticed her unusual behavior   An employee attempted to assist Watts, but she became agitated and threw  shoes at employees   As she was being escorted out, the Sheriff’s Office says Watts produced pocketknife and cut an employee who had a small laceration on the left side of the face.

Both the victim and Watts were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Watts is being held without bond.

By Kevin McManus

The Health Department wants to know if the dog is in good health.

Frederick, Md (KM) The Frederick County Health Department is looking for the owner of a dog which bit a person on Wednesday along a trail at the Frederick Municipal Forest.

A man was running along the Three Saws Trail off of Hamburg Road at around 4:00 PM when he was bitten. Officials say the victim ran past a man and woman who had pulled off the trail  with their  bicycles and  their dog. They had stopped to let the victim run by.  But their dog bit the victim in the upper left thigh.

The dog is described as medium size, light brown in color. The Health Department says it needs to find the owner or owners  of this dog to see if the animal is in good health ten days after the incident. If not, the victim may need to undergo expensive rabies treatments.. The owner or owners are urged to call Frederick County Control at 301-600-1544.

Once the owner is  contacted, the Health Department will need to verify that the dog is in good health by Animal Control ten days after the incident before  the dog can resume its normal activities. If the dog is in good health, the victim will not have to undergo expensive rabies treatment. If the owner is not contacted, the victim will be advised to undergo the rabies treatments.

The Health Department says if anyone or a pet is bitten by an animal, get the owners name, address and phone number and call Animal Control at 301-600-1544. If the animal is wildlife, contact your pet’s veterinarian (if applicable) and call Environmental Health Services at 301-600-1717.  

If you have been exposed to an animal, which is confirmed or suspected of having rabies, call Community Health Services at 301-600-3342.

But if you have general questions about rabies, you can also call Environmental Health Services at 301-600-1717.

You can also go on line at FrederickCountymd.gov/RABIES for more information.

By Kevin McManus 

Sentencing is expected at a later date.

Frederick County Court House

Frederick (KM)  A former Frederick Pediatrician on trial this week for sexually abusing a girl who was his patient has been convicted on all four counts.  . The State’s Attorney’s Office says Ernesto Torres, 74, was found guilty by a jury on one count of sex abuse of a minor, and three counts of 3rd-degree sex offense.

Sentencing is expected at a later date.

By Kevin McManus

The cause is under investigation.

Photos from Frederick County Fire & Rescue Services

Frederick, Md.  (KM)  Two people were injured during a barn fire Thursday morning.

Frederick County Fire and Rescue says personnel were dispatched at 7:09 AM to the 9000 block of Reichs Ford Road and found a 30-foot by 60-foot outbuilding with extensive fire showing. The Rapid Intervention Dispatch was requested to bring in additional personnel.

Officials says fire fighters performed an aggressive attack on the fire and made entry into the building. They found one man who was unconscious. He was removed from the barn and turned over medics. The man was transported to Frederick Health Hospital.

A second person was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

It took 45 fire fighters 15 minutes to bring the flames under control. There were no damages to nearby structures.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Frederick County Fire  Marshal’s Office.

By Kevin McManus

Officials say a suspected improvised explosive device was found.

Boonsboro, Md (KM) The Maryland State Fire  Marshal’s Office is investigating an incident at Boonsboro High School Wednesday afternoon.

Bomb Squad Technicians were called to the school along with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. They say a suspected  improvised explosive device was found in a student’s backpack. The device was determined to be a hoax and was rendered harmless.

Explosives Detection canines conducted a sweep of the school, and no other devices were found. Deputy State Fire Marshals and Bomb Squad Technicians cleared the scene by 3:00 PM.

Two students were taken to the Maryland State Police Hagerstown Barrack for questioning. They have since been released to the custody of their parents.

The Fire Marshal’s Office says any charges in this incident will follow consultations between the local state’s attorney’s office and the Department of Juvenile Services..

By Kevin McManus

It featured Representatives April McClain Delaney and Jamie Raskin.

Rep. Jamie Raskin                                         Rep. April McClain Delaney

Frederick, Md (KM) IT was a full house Wednesday afternoon during a town hall at Rosenstock Hall at Hood College featuring 6th District Representative April McClain Delaney and 8th District Representative Jamie Raskin. Both answered questions from the audience.

The event was billed as an effort to find out how Trump Administration polices were affected the 6th District.

Audience members were told to fill out a card with their questions which were read by the moderator of the event, Frederick County Council President Brad Young.

One question came from a federal worker who said they were going to be fired, and want to know what they should do. “Our office is open, and we’ve also been trying to partner and pair with corporations and with state governments and non-profits to help in the short run,”  said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.

Representative Raskin said there might be a legal remedy for federal workers who have been fired or are expected to be terminated. “I know the AFL-CIO is in the process of creating an army of volunteer lawyers–a lot of them people who’ve either lost their jobs or have  resigned–who will work with individual federal employees. So be in touch with the AFL about that,” he said.

Another important issue addressed during the town hall was Social Security, which could be in the chopping block under the Trump Administration. “We’re going to defend Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security with everything we’ve got,” Congressman Raskin said to applause from the audience.

Raksin said the plan by Elon Musk and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) is to fire a large number of Social Security employees. “Then they’re going to impose all of these mandates. And then they’re going to say Social Security doesn’t work. Then we’re going rescue Social Security by privatizing it and going to Wall Street which has been the program they’ve had for decades,”; Raskin said, to the sound of boos in the audience. “Look, this is going to be the Battle of Gettysburg with these people when they come after Social Security.”

Last week, the US House of Representatives voted on a continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded through September, 2025. Representative Raskin was asked how he voted. “I voted hell no,” he answered.. “This was no clean continuing resolution. This continued the attack on Medicaid, on health care and the social infrastructure. It also implicitly validated all of their lawless attacks on the federal government.”

Congresswoman McClain Delaney said she voted “no” because numbers in the continuing resolution did not add up. “As I looked at that budget, and across all of our colleagues, we could not figured out how the numbers worked,” she said. “$850-billion they had to take out of Energy and Commerce, It doesn’t work. It doesn’t compute unless they cut Medicaid.”

Rosenstock Hall had reached it capacity on Wednesday afternoon so the town hall was also streamed live on Facebook.

By Kevin McManus

It featured Representatives April McClain Delaney and Jamie Raskin.

Rep. Jamie Raskin                                         Rep. April McClain Delaney

Frederick, Md (KM) IT was a full house Wednesday afternoon during a town hall at Rosenstock Hall at Hood College featuring 6th District Representative April McClain Delaney and 8th District Representative Jamie Raskin. Both answered questions from the audience.

The event was billed as an effort to find out how Trump Administration polices were affected the 6th District.

Audience members were told to fill out a card with their questions which were read by the moderator of the event, Frederick County Council President Brad Young.

One question came from a federal worker who said they were going to be fired, and want to know what they should do. “Our office is open, and we’ve also been trying to partner and pair with corporations and with state governments and non-profits to help in the short run,”  said Congresswoman McClain Delaney.

Representative Raskin said there might be a legal remedy for federal workers who have been fired or are expected to be terminated. “I know the AFL-CIO is in the process of creating an army of volunteer lawyers–a lot of them people who’ve either lost their jobs or have  resigned–who will work with individual federal employees. So be in touch with the AFL about that,” he said.

Another important issue addressed during the town hall was Social Security, which could be in the chopping block under the Trump Administration. “We’re going to defend Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security with everything we’ve got,” Congressman Raskin said to applause from the audience.

Raksin said the plan by Elon Musk and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) is to fire a large number of Social Security employees. “Then they’re going to impose all of these mandates. And then they’re going to say Social Security doesn’t work. Then we’re going rescue Social Security by privatizing it and going to Wall Street which has been the program they’ve had for decades,”; Raskin said, to the sound of boos in the audience. “Look, this is going to be the Battle of Gettysburg with these people when they come after Social Security.”

Last week, the US House of Representatives voted on a continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded through September, 2025. Representative Raskin was asked how he voted. “I voted hell no,” he answered.. “This was no clean continuing resolution. This continued the attack on Medicaid, on health care and the social infrastructure. It also implicitly validated all of their lawless attacks on the federal government.”

Congresswoman McClain Delaney said she voted “no” because numbers in the continuing resolution did not add up. “As I looked at that budget, and across all of our colleagues, we could not figured out how the numbers worked,” she said. “$850-billion they had to take out of Energy and Commerce, It doesn’t work. It doesn’t compute unless they cut Medicaid.”

Rosenstock Hall had reached it capacity on Wednesday afternoon so the town hall was also streamed live on Facebook.

By Kevin McManus

It’s expected to address the need for additional child care in the county.

Frederick, Md (KM) A study has been launched to determine the need for additional child care in Frederick County. The Division of Family Services along with Parks and Recreation as well the Public Consulting Group will be looking at the accessibility, affordability and quality of child care in the county.

The County says this new study builds on the 2024 Child Care Market Study which concentrated on families with young children. This new study will gather additional information on families with children from birth through age 12.  including viable options for expanding child care services to better support underserved communities.

County officials say the study will also assess the possibility of a County-sponsored child care service and explore new approaches to addressing the lack of child care. The specific focus will include analyzing the geographic disparities in child care availably, specifically in underserved areas. It will also assess the feasibility of establishing new child care centers, and determining the most strategic locations for creating child care services The study will also engage stakeholders,  such as parents,, providers and community organizations, to make sure there is a wide range of perspectives when it comes to policy recommendations.

“Frederick County families continue to struggle with limited child care options, and a shortage of available slots,” says Kelli Goetz, the Director of the Frederick County Division of Family Services.

“This study will provide data-driven solutions to expand child care access and support our local workforce,” says Joe Hayden, Deputy Director of Frederick County’s Division of Parks and Recreation.

The new study will use surveys, focus groups and interviews to gather information.

For more information, go on line to www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/ChildCare.

By Kevin McManus

Residents  receive text messages they have unpaid tolls.

Toll scam.  Frederick Police urge you to not to respond.  (Photo from Frederick Police Dept,)

Frederick, Md (IKM) Frederick Police call it a dangerous new scam that’s spreading across the nation. These scammers send out text messages telling the recipients that they have unpaid tolls, and must pay them immediately, or be fined.

Authorities say these messages look like they’re from local toll agencies, but they’re fake, and designed to steal your money and personal information.

Police say if you receive one of these text messages, do not click on any links; do not provide any personal or financial information; and delete the message immediately.

You can also contact the Federal Trade Commission or you cell phone provider, For the FTC, go on line to reportfraud.ftc.gov.

By Kevin McManus

She will be required to pay restitution.

Baltimore, Md (KM) Sentence was handed down on Monday, March 17th to a Middletown woman for felony theft. In Frederick County Circuit Court, Cheryl Leigh Gray, 50, was given five years incarceration with all but 60 days suspended. She will be placed on five years of supervised probation, and must pay restitution of $65,000. 

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office says Gray had been convicted on April 5th, 2024 for theft between $25,000 and $100,00  when she was working in the insurance industry. She was ordered at that time to pay restitution.

Officials say Gray borrowed $65,000 from a friend, claiming she needed the money for medical treatment. But she used that money to pay restitution from the earlier case.

Gray pleaded guilty on February 10th, 2025 to felony theft between $25,000 and $100,000  in this recent case.

This case was handled by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office Fraud and Corruption Unit, and the Maryland Insurance Administration.

By Kevin McManus  

He is charged with sexually abusing a girl who was his patient.

Frederick County Court House

Frederick, Md (KM) The trial of  former Frederick Pediatrician Ernesto Torres continued on Wednesday in Circuit Court.   The State’s Attorney’s Office says four witnesses were called to the stand.

Torres is on trial for four counts related to the sexual abuse of a girl who was his patient when she was between 9 and 11 years of age.

The trial is expected to resume on Thursday at 9:00 AM.

Torres also faces over 100 other charges of sexual abuse of children dating back many years.

By Kevin McManus

Lawmakers must pass a budget bill by March 31st.

Frederick County State Senator Karen Lewis Young

Annapolis, Md (KM) The 2025 Maryland General Assembly is nearing the end, and lawmakers have yet to adopt a budget bill.  That deadline is March 31st.

The state is facing a nearly $3 billion deficit for fiscal year 2026. The Governor has submitted a budget with two-thirds cuts, and one-third revenue generators.

“It’s going to painful. In fact, extremely painful. But we are getting close,”: says Frederick County State Senator Karen Lewis Young, who is describing what cuts will need to be made to bring this budget into balance.

But she says a number of programs which affect our core values will need to be cut, and a number of people will be affected. “To give people medical care that afford it overwise. To feed children that aren’t getting proper nutrition overwise. To help the elderly where they have no other place to go. And to assist those with disabilities to have a basic quality of life,” she said.

Lewis Young says what needs to be done is to “look for protections for the absolutely most vulnerable. The reality is we’re going to have to find some revenue and fee increases to fund that.”

However, a number of legislators don’t want to increase taxes or fees to close the budget gap. “When you got people pushing back on additional revenue, you just have to make some very, very challenging decisions,” says Senator Lewis Young.

The 2025 General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn Sine Die  on Monday, April 7th at 12-midnight. But Lewis Young says lawmakers may be back in session before the year is out. “We may be very well be back here in September because there’s a major unknown which is what the federal government is going to do going forward,” she says. “And so many of our programs that do help fund the most vulnerable with health care and services are federally subsidized.”

Through all these concerns about the budget, Senator Lewis Young says there is some good news. The Route 15 widening project is still in the Governor’s budget as is the downtown Frederick hotel and conference center.

By Kevin McManus

He is charged with sexually abusing dozens of children over several years.

Frederick County Court House

Fredeirick, Md (KM) The trial of a former Frederick pediatrician got underway in Circuit Court on Tuesday. Ernesto Cesar Torres, 74, is charged with sexually abusing dozens of children over several years.

The State’s Attorney’s Office says jury selection was completed on Tuesday, and a witness for the prosecution took the stand and completed their testimony.

The trial resumes on Wednesday at 9:00 AM.

Presiding over the trial is Circuit Court Judge William Nicklas.

By Kevin McManus

There are local resources for individuals who’ve thought about ending their lives.

Frederick, Md (KM) It’s often very shocking when a family member or friend commits suicide.   A lot of times,  the loved ones didn’t notice the signs that that people were considering ending their lives.

But the question always comes up why did this person decide to end their own life. Amanda Adams is with  Behavioral Health Services which part of the Frederick County Health Department, and the co-leader of the Frederick Suicide Prevention Coalition.  She says the reasons for suicides are varied. “It could be related to behavior and mood. The financial loses, and different conflicts in life,”: she says. “It’s really hard to pinpoint one or two specific reasons that someone might consider suicide or follow through with it.”

However, Adams says a person’s mental health needs to be highlighted. “Mental health can affect individuals whether things are going really well, or when things are not going so well. Mental health doesn’t discriminate in that aspect,”: she says.

A report from Behavioral Health Services entitled “Deaths by Suicide in Frederick County” says the number of people who take  their own lives have been trending upwards in recent years, but the rate has remained the same.; The report says the highest number of suicides in recent years  in Frederick County occurred in 2013 with 37 people taking their own lives with the rate at 15.3 percent. In 2023, 34 people in Frederick County committed suicide which is at a rate of 1.3 percent.

Adams says there are a number of signs you can watch out for that someone close to you is contemplating suicide. “If they’re talking about suicide, of course, or waiting to die or having no reason to live. Those are obviously the very direct conversations. Sometimes they’re talking about unbearable pain or guilt, or feeling trapped,”: she says.

Other signs include giving away items, making a will, or making arrangements of affairs.. These people  also are withdrawing or isolating themselves from others, saying goodbye to friends and family members, increasing their use of drugs and alcohol, and taking risks such as driving recklessly.

If you know someone who is acting like this, Adams says ask that person some questions such as “are you thinking of killing yourself? Does it ever get so tough that you think about ending your life? What do you need to feel safe? Those are really important questions, And sometimes individuals feel a little nervous about asking those. But it’s okay to directly ask individuals at that point.”

She also says  you need to be there for these individuals  who have  suicidal thoughts. “You want to continue to be  present with them and let them know that you’re listening and that you care,” says Adams. “You want to ensure that it doesn’t sound like you’re passing judgment. And you want to encourage them to keep talking. Of course, give them breaks as needed, and follow their lead.”

There are resources available locally to help those who are considering suicide. They can call 988, a nationwide phone number that operates  24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Locally, we do have the Mental Health Association walk-in crisis center which is also open 24-seven. It’s located at 340 Montevue Lane in Frederick. Anybody experiencing crisis can walk in there and immediately receive help,”; says Adams.

Frederick County also has a mobile crisis unit. “They can get connected. An individual will connect with the person in crisis or a loved one and  either talk through, or come out in person to help alleviate that crisis and get that person to safety,” says Adams.

She says contacting the mobile crisis unit can start with a call to 988.

(Suicide Prevention Coalition website https://health.fredreickcountymd.gov/../suicide)

By Kevin McManus

He’s facing 45 counts of possession of child phonography

Kodi James Harrison  (Photo Frederick County Sheriff’s Office)

.

Frederick, Md (KM) A Walkersville man has been charged with 45 counts of possession of child pornography. On Thursday, March 13th, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office  arrested Kodi James Harrison, 30 at his home in the 8000 block Fortune Place.

Authorities say this follows an investigation which began in January when detectives followed four leads from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding sex abuse materials.. They obtained warrants for the associated accounts which consisted of more than three dozen files.

Harrison is currently held held without bond.

“The general public should be aware of he magnitude of this problem and volume of cases involving child pornography and child exploitation,” says Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, in a statement. “It is a constantly increasing type of criminal activity. Our ICAC {Internet Crimes Against Children} section is aggressively identifying and targeting internet predators while working to protect children and other vulnerable individuals in Frederick County.”

This case remains under investigation, and anyone who has additional information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office. They can call Detective Staub at 301-600-3679.

By Kevin McManus

The work is expected to be completed by mid-April, weather permitting.

Frederick, Md (KM) A paving and milling operation will begin on Tuesday, March 18th at the off ramps at US 340 and Md. 67. The Maryland State Highway Administration says the work will take place between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM Monday through Friday, and is expected to be completed by mid-April weather permitting.

Motorists can expect narrow lanes at the US 340 westbound off ramp to Md.  67; and from the US 340 eastbound ramp to Md. 67 off ramp.

Drivers are urged to slow down and pay attention when driving through the work zone.

The contractor for the project, Francis O. Day Construction, Inc.  of Rockville, will be using electronic message boards, signs, barrels and cones to alert motorists to the work zone.

By Kevin McManus

She had been  serving as interim president since last year.

Dr. Debbie Ricker, Hood College President (Photo from Hood College)

Frederick, Md (KIM) The Hood College Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Debbie Ricker as its new President. That vote was taken at the Board’s annual March meeting. The announcement was made on Monday

“I am truly honored have been selected to serve as Hood College’s 12th president,” Dr. Ricker says, in a statement. . “At this pivotal moment in the history of the College and, more broadly for higher education, adaptability, agility and forward thinking will be essential..”

Dr. Ricker had been serving as interim President since July 1st, 2024. She will take over the position as President on April 1st, 2025.

The selection by the Hood Board of Trustees comes after an exhaustive search by the firm Isaacson, Miller and the Presidential Search Committee which consisted of Hood Trustees, staff, faculty, alumni and  students starting in the summer of 2024, college officials say.

Dr. Ricker has been with Hood College since 2016, starting off as provost and vice president for academic affairs. While serving in that position, she worked to establish undergraduate programs in public health, sustainability studies, art therapy and finance. Hood says in a statement.

She is also a published scientist, writing on such topics as academic advising, curriculum development, sperm mobility and embryo development.

Dr. Ricker earned her Ph.D at Johns Hopkins University, her master’s degree in biology at East Tennessee State University, and her bachelor’s degree in biology at Mars Hill University.

By Kevin McManus

78-year old Westminster resident Richard Snyder dies after being taken to Carroll Hospital.

Westminster, MD – Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday in Carroll County.

The deceased is identified as Richard Snyder, 78, of Westminster, Maryland. He was transported by ambulance to Carroll Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. The driver of a Volkswagen passenger car, identified as Lydia Hansen, 29, of Baltimore, Maryland was flown by Maryland State Police Helicopter to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center for treatment of her injuries.

Around 2:07 p.m. Sunday, troopers from the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack responded to the area of Maryland Route 97 (Old Washington Road), north of Maryland Route 26 (Liberty Road) for a report of a two-vehicle crash. According to a preliminary investigation, the Volkswagen, operated by Hansen, was traveling south when for unknown reasons, collided with a Chevrolet truck, operated by Snyder, head-on.

Maryland Route 97 was closed for more than two hours for the crash investigation. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation. Once their investigation is complete, they will submit their findings to the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, who will decide whether charges will be filed in this case.

The crash investigation remains active and ongoing.

The suspect is a retired Montgomery County Fire Department Captain.

(photo courtesy Fox 5 News)

Dulles International Airport, VA (DG) – A Maryland man was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct following an altercation at Dulles International Airport on March 13.

The incident occurred at Gate D12 when 54-year-old Christopher Stuart Crittenden, a retired Montgomery County Fire Department Captain, reportedly punched a United Airlines gate agent.

Bystanders captured the entire incident on video, which quickly circulated online. In response to the assault, the Airports Authority’s fire and rescue department transported the injured gate agent to a nearby hospital for treatment.

United Airlines has confirmed that Crittenden has been banned from future travel with the airline.

The case remains under investigation.