On Sunday, April 7, 2024 in the morning, the weather was a cool, but sunny 37 degrees in Columbia, Maryland. In the Bryant Woods section of Wilde Lake it seemed like another normal weekend day. But that changed for several residents when a band of five teenagers from Baltimore City attempted two carjackings and completed an armed robbery on Green Mountain Circle.
Approaching the three-week mark of this mini crime spree, neither the Office of the Howard County State’s Attorney, nor the Howard County Police Department know the disposition of the juvenile suspects. By design of Maryland law and Maryland Department of Juvenile Services practice, in many cases, information about juvenile suspects is not shared with law enforcement partners. As a result, information is not available to the public.
As reported earlier in the Guilford Gazette, the five accused juveniles were apprehended in Baltimore by Howard County Police. As testament to the veil of secrecy surrounding juveniles, HCPD discovered upon the arrest that two of the five had been arrested in Howard County five months earlier.
In the press release that announced the arrest, County Police indicated that all youth suspects were remanded to various Maryland youth facilities. As of the writing of this article, Police have no information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects.
The Guilford Gazette reached out to HCPD with a list of follow-up questions. Sherry Llewellyn, Director of Public Affairs for HCPD responded to us. We asked if any suspects were still in custody. Llewellyn responded, “We don’t have that information.”
The Howard County State’s Attorney
Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson recently appeared on the WBAL-AM morning show. He revealed that the new Juvenile Justice Reform Act will allow DJS to share information with law enforcement agencies. He is hoping that DJS will offer an olive branch by sharing information prior to the law’s effective date.
According to Llewellyn, the Police stopped the suspects on Interstate 95 in Baltimore City. The car that the suspects drove was a stolen Kia Sportage. No other identifying information was offered.
Regarding the weapon or weapons used or in possession of the suspects, Llewellyn said that information could not be released while the case is under investigation. At this time, there is no information on the number of weapons used, type of weapon(s) or whether ammunition was present. There is no information on whether the gun was legally purchased by someone, or stolen.
Currently, according to Yolanda Vazquez, External Affairs Director with the Office of the Howard County State’s Attorney, “The cases have been petitioned (charged) and are currently pending adjudication (trial/resolution).” There is no information regarding whether the juveniles are being housed in juvenile facilities pending trial. However, Vazquez said, “In this instance, because the allegations involve serious felony offenses, DJS could not handle [the cases] informally without our permission.”
The Maryland General Assembly
In a statement released to the Guilford Gazette, State Delegate Terri L. Hill (District 12A), admitted that the juvenile justice reform legislative work of the General Assembly “…was not working – serving neither the young people nor our constituents.”
Hill serves the district that includes Wilde Lake where the five juveniles were accused of armed robbery and two attempted carjackings.
She said, “While many of us cling to the presumption that the ‘scared straight’ approach is what’s needed, we now know that approach does more harm than good. It is not the model to get us where we need and want to go.”
Hill said that she supported the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2024 despite having “real concerns with some aspects [of the Act],” particularly regarding how the Act may prevent 10-12 year old juveniles from being detained or incarcerated. However, she added, “I voted for its passage because of the process clarifications and enhanced and improved accountability and supports it contained.”
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UPDATE: State Senator Clarence Lam missed the deadline set for making a statement to the Guilford Gazette, but he sent his statement Thursday morning, after this article was published. His statement will run in full text on May 2, 2024 below next week’s installment on this Youth Crime series. The original article continues below.
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For this article, the Guilford Gazette sent requests for comment on April 18, 2024 to Hill, State Delegate Jessica M. Feldmark (District 12A), and State Senator Clarence K. Lam. Follow-up emails and phone calls were made to Feldmark and Lam on April 23rd. No responses were received.
Juvenile Crime Continues
While the April 7th incident garnered much attention from local media, since that time several other serious incidents occurred in Howard County involving youth.
On April 13, 2024, four individuals stole cash and merchandise from the Tobacco and Vape Outlet at gunpoint. The crime occurred in the 10200 block of Baltimore National Pike. The HCPD apprehended three male juveniles. The suspects are two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old – all residents of Columbia, Maryland. According to police, the teens were found occupying a 2012 Dodge Ram, which was stolen from Minstrel Way in Columbia.
In another incident on April 16th at 4:50 p.m., police responded to a report of a shot fired in a parking lot near the Mall in Columbia. The lot is located southwest of the mall, according to police. The suspects fled in a 2007 Toyota Corolla. Police located the vehicle and arrested five suspects on Route 175 near Tamar Drive.
A bullet casing and another live round were located at the scene. Police also recovered two handguns. No one was injured and no property was damaged.
HCPD Office of Public Affairs representative Lori Boone said, “Investigators do not believe anyone was targeted.”
Police arrested Cameron Shalcosky-Proctor, 29, of Columbia; two juvenile males, 16, of Glen Burnie; juvenile male, 16, of Baltimore; and juvenile male, 17, of Columbia, all charged with various weapon violations.
Editorial Note: See Hill’s full statement below this article. Also, see HCPD video on this page showing April 13th Tobacco and Vape Outlet robbery and subsequent suspect capture.
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RELATED ARTICLES:
Reform Bill Not Enough to Curb Juvenile Crime in Howard County
Just Five Months and Violent Teens Return to Howard County
Full Statement from Maryland State Delegate Terri L. Hill (District 12A) – April 24, 2024
Our work in juvenile justice reform over the past several sessions reflects our acknowledgement that what we had been doing was not working – serving neither the young people nor our communities.
We have committed to use evidence-based data and approaches to redirect our focus to identify things present or missing in a child’s life that may be influencing their decisions and actions, and putting in place any needed and mitigating wrap-around services, education, training, treatment, and supports to mitigate and move their trajectory in a positive direction. This is challenging and will take some time to get right and sometime to see results which can only be measured over years and generations, not months.
While many of us cling to the presumption that the “scared straight” approach is what’s needed, we now know that approach does more harm than good. It is not the model to get us where we need and want to go.
I supported the Juvenile Justice Reform Act in 2022. I heard from constituents and communities as it went into effect in 2023 and spoke with law enforcement and juveniles advocates. I listened to hearings held by the jurisdictional committee last summer and fall. I recognized the need for clarifications and tweaks. And while I have real concerns with some aspects of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2024, particularly with how it rings for some 10-12 year-old youth on addressing criminal behavior while keeping them out of the system of detention and incarceration, I voted for its passage because of the process clarifications and enhanced and improved accountability and supports it contained.
I have no doubt that as the data comes in, more changes will follow. It should. This is too important and there is too much at stake for our children and our communities to not get this right.
