Maryland Police Disrupt Illegal Street Takeovers, Make Arrests 2024-09-02

Maryland State Police, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, disrupted 11 illegal street takeover events across the state on Saturday night. Seven people were arrested, and police recovered a stolen vehicle and an illegal firearm. The individuals arrested include Daniel Linton, Sh'Nard Martinez-Eric Pope, Chase Andrew Cover, Alycia Destiny Cropper, Christian Thayn Dean, William Starkey, and Marcellus Cortez Swann. The Maryland Car Rally Task Force has been focused on investigating and addressing these exhibition driving events, which involve blocking public roads for dangerous stunts, disrupting traffic, causing property damage, and posing risks to the public. Increased patrols and comprehensive investigations have been part of the task force's proactive approach to mitigate the impact of these events on public safety.

murder

Baltimore Man Sentenced to Life for Killing Tech CEO 2024-09-02

A Baltimore man, Jason Billingsley, has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to strangling and beating a tech company CEO, Pava LaPere, who was found dead on the rooftop of her apartment building in September 2023. Billingsley also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder for a separate incident where he assaulted and sexually assaulted a woman named April Hurley and her friend. Billingsley had a history of previous arrests, including for sex offenses, and the LaPere family expressed that the justice served will never fill the void or erase the grief caused by Pava's death. In the wake of the tragedy, Maryland lawmakers passed the Pava Marie LaPere Act, which prohibits diminution credits for people convicted of first-degree sex offenses.

crime

Maryland Police Crack Down on Illegal Street Takeovers 2024-09-02

Members of the Maryland State Police Car Rally Task Force were able to break up 11 illegal car meetups this weekend and made seven arrests. The task force has been focused on investigating 'exhibition driving events,' also known as 'takeovers,' which often involve drivers blocking off roads to perform stunts, disrupting traffic, causing property damage, and posing risks to the public. Police responded to several locations across the state where up to 200 participants had gathered in parking lots and tried to shut down intersections. The Baltimore Police Department, officers from the Baltimore County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Prince George's County Police Department all assisted Maryland State Police in the operation. The individuals arrested and charged include Daniel Linton, Sh'Nard Martinez-Eric Pope, Chase Andrew Cover, Alycia Destiny Cropper, Christian Thayn Dean, William Starkey, and Marcellus Cortez Swann.