Maryland Law Blog

A Maryland man was recently arrested for a series of armed robberies in Maryland and Delaware, according to DelawareOnline.com.

The 31-year-old man was charged with 12 counts of first-degree robbery as well as possessing a deadly firearm, and one count of theft of a firearm in Delaware. Maryland police were also seeking the man as a suspect for an alleged armed robbery and carjacking near Elkton. The police claim that the suspect forced an elderly man to drive him into Wilmington, where he robbed a restaurant. The suspect was captured at a McDonald’s in Newark as he was getting into his girlfriend’s van.

The suspect has been accused of committing 12 robberies in businesses in Glasgow, Wilmington, and Christiana. The suspect is being held in jail after failing to post bond. He is awaiting extradition to Maryland to face robbery charges there.

Robbery charges can be very serious. Individuals who are facing any type of theft charges, including identity theft, burglary, robbery, embezzlement, petty theft, or grand theft need to obtain a skilled attorney as quickly as possible to determine their legal options. If you end up with a theft on your record, employers may be reluctant to hire you in the future.

If you are facing theft charges in Maryland, contact the skilled Maryland criminal defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer. We have experience in a variety of theft cases, and we can help explain your legal rights and options to you so you can make an informed decision. Contact us today at 1-866-444-6363 to schedule a free consultation.

A chemical mix-up resulted in the Capital Beltway being turned into a sheet of ice earlier this month, according to WashingtonPost.com.

Maryland’s State Highway Administration (SHA) saw there was a chance of snow for the weekend of December 3, and decided to pre-treat the Beltway, rather than focusing only on bridges and overpasses. Typically, to de-ice roads, the SHA uses a salt brine mixture, which consists of about 77 percent water and 23 percent salt. However, there was a mistake and two tank trucks were accidentally given liquid magnesium to spray on the roads. Liquid magnesium can work well for melting snow and ice on the road, but needs to be mixed with another substance before being sprayed. In this case, the trucks sprayed pure liquid magnesium on the Capital Beltway.

When sprayed on dry roads in warmer conditions, liquid magnesium becomes very slick. Almost immediately after the trucks were done treating the roads, the SHA began receiving accident reports, which were the result of the icy roads. At least eight car accidents have been blamed on the chemical mistake, and four people were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries. Officials discovered the error and immediately sent out salt and sand trucks. They claim the mistake was made because the trucks were not reset after last winter.

Now that winter is here, winter weather conditions are causing accidents across the country. If you have been injured in a car accident in Maryland, contact the Maryland automobile accident attorneys at Alpert Schreyer. You could be entitled to monetary compensation for your medical bills, damage to your car, lost wages and more. Call us today at 301-932-9997 for a free consultation on your case.

Last month, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that their officers arrested 18 immigration fugitives and violators in Maryland during a three-day enforcement operation. Almost all of them had been convicted of driving under the influence. Of the 18 that were taken into custody, 13 were fugitives who had been ordered to leave the country by authorities, and two had been previously deported but returned to the U.S. illegally.

The operation was led by ICE’s Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for finding and removing criminal aliens, as well as immigration fugitives. The individuals who are most sought after are those who are involved in street gangs, those who pose a threat to national security, child sex offenders, and those who have received a DUI. This year, the Fugitive Operations Program has made almost 31,000 arrests nationwide. In Baltimore, 756 arrests were made. The 18 who were arrested last month are being held in custody pending removal from the U.S.

This story is an example of how damaging a DUI can be to a person’s life. While most of us do not have to worry about deportation, a DUI can cause huge problems with our careers as well as resulting in a potential criminal record. Maryland has some of the harshest laws regarding drunk driving in the country, even for first-time offenders.

If you are facing a DUI charge in Maryland, contact the Maryland DUI defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer, LLC as soon as possible. Our attorneys can help formulate the best defense for you, which could result in lesser penalties or the case being dropped altogether. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-866-444-6363.

The FBI has taken over the investigation into an alleged beating of a University of Maryland student by three Prince George County police officers that reportedly occurred on March 3 of this year, according to The Washington Post.

The alleged assault occurred during a celebration of the University of Maryland’s basketball win over Duke University, and was caught on tape. The student suffered several injuries, including a concussion. The three police officers involved remain suspended or on desk duty while the investigation into the incident is conducted. An internal affairs investigation by the police has almost been completed, but it has been put on hold.

Federal authorities had been observing the work of local prosecutors on the case for several months. Last week, federal officials visited the homes of 40 officers who were working on the night of the apparent assault. However, they have now started interviewing witnesses and have been gathering evidence, including footage from college cameras, emails, and texts from cell phones of police officers at the scene of the crime, as well as obtaining statements from the officers on duty. The FBI has not commented publicly on why federal agents have taken over the investigation, or whether charges are going to be filed. The incident may be pursued as a civil rights case. Charges may also be filed under state law.

This case is very serious for the police officers involved. If the officers involved are found guilty of wrongdoing, their careers could be permanently jeopardized and they could face additional life-altering consequences.

If you have been accused of assault in Maryland, it is important for you to have an experienced Maryland assault defense attorney to help you successfully navigate the criminal justice system. Contact the lawyers at Alpert Schreyer today at 301-262-7005 or 1-866-444-6363 for a free consultation on your case.

A case stemming from a 2009 Baltimore accident between a tanker truck and a bicyclist has settled for $5 million, according to The Baltimore Sun. In August of 2009, a 67-year-old bicyclist was riding behind a tanker truck when the truck made a right turn. The bicyclist got caught in the truck’s rear wheels and was killed. The family of the bicyclist sued the truck driver and his employer for $5 million for a wrongful death.

However, investigators found that the bicyclist was at-fault in the crash. An attorney for the family called the investigation “"one of the sloppiest investigations in a fatality that I personally have seen in years."

The truck driver did not stop at the scene of the accident, and no charges were filed against him. Investigators believe that the driver was not aware that the accident had even taken place. The truck driver was located when police discovered the truck at his employer’s service yard and it matched a video of the truck from a nearby surveillance camera. DNA was lifted from the vehicle that matched the bicyclist’s.

As a result of the Maryland truck accident, a law went into effect last October that required drivers to maintain a three foot distance when passing a bicycle. According to the family’s attorneys, they were pleased with the passage of the law and were not interested in taking the case to a trial. However, one of their attorneys said that had the case gone to trial, evidence would have been presented that showed the truck driver failed to signal before his turn. The attorney also claims the truck driver ignored the large signs which alerted motorists that bicyclists were in the area.

As this particular story demonstrates, Maryland auto accident litigation can be complex. To ensure that full compensation is obtained for your truck accident case, you may want to contact a Maryland truck crash lawyer with years of experience and a successful track record.

If you have been injured in a truck accident in Maryland, you may have a claim against both the truck driver and the trucking company. You could receive compensation for hospital bills, medical expenses, vehicle damage, and more. Contact the Maryland truck accident attorneys at Alpert Schreyer today at 1-301-932-9997 for a free consultation on your case.

Recently, a man who allegedly attacked three University of Maryland students and another man with a knife outside a bar had the most serious charges against him dropped, according to The Washington Post. The man had been charged with attempted murder and other crimes in connection with the attack. Prosecutors have dropped the attempted murder charges, but are still seeking charges for second-degree assault.

The Maryland knife incident occurred outside a bar. After the incident, the man fled the scene and shaved his head in an attempt to disguise himself. However, his picture was caught on a surveillance camera and family members convinced him to turn himself in. Upon further investigation, police found additional surveillance video that showed the man was actually acting in self defense. He was attacked and beaten by several individuals inside the bar, which apparently led to the knife incident outside. The people who were attacked were too intoxicated to tell what happened, and none of their injuries were life-threatening. The bar in which the incident occurred has forfeited its liquor license as a result of the attack.

This case could have resulted in a wrongful attempted murder conviction, which may have meant serious prison time for the man. This case shows how important it can be to have an advocate working on your behalf who will carefully examine all the facts of a case. If you’ve been charged with a Maryland crime, contact the experienced Maryland criminal defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer at 301-262-7005 or 1-800-301-7172. Our lawyers will formulate a successful defense on your behalf for your case.

An annual report on city crime statistics ranks Baltimore, Maryland as number 11 on the list of the most dangerous cities in the United States, according to WBALTV.

The report was published by CQ Press, an independent publisher and was released on Sunday, November 21. Each city’s murder, aggravated assault, rape, burglary, robbery, and motor vehicle theft rates were taken into account when determining how dangerous a city was for the year 2009. Last year, Baltimore was ranked number 12. Overall, St. Louis, Missouri was named the most dangerous city in the nation, surpassing Camden, New Jersey. The national average of violent crime is 429.4 per 100,000 residents, while St. Louis reported 2,070.1 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2009. Rounding out the top five most dangerous cities in the U.S. were Detroit, Michigan; Flint, Michigan; and Oakland, California. For the second year in a row, Colonie, New York was named the safest city with over 75,000 residents in America.

For the report, crime data and population numbers were collected by the FBI. However, some criminologists question whether the methodology is fair and say the statistics and rankings should be questioned.

In Maryland, there were a total of 215,921 crimes reported in 2009, the lowest number ever reported, according to the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Aggravated assaults numbered 20,023, which was the lowest since 1987. There were 19,619 motor vehicle thefts, which was the lowest number reported since 1984. Robbery was also down, with only 12,007 instances occurring, the lowest number ever reported. Violent crimes and homicides were also down, with 33,626 and 440 instances occurring, respectively. However, there were 1,156 rapes, which was an increase from 2008.

The city of Baltimore saw a 4.6 percent decrease in total crime for 2009. There were 4,555 violent crimes reported and 2,443 motor vehicle thefts reported. The year before, in 2008 there were 4,931 violent crimes and 2,940 motor vehicle thefts reported. Police contribute the decreased in crime to a grant given to the city by the governor’s office that allowed for more crime prevention. For instance, Baltimore County police recovered or seized 692 guns and made 204 gun arrests in 2009, which resulted in 862 gun cases being prosecuted. They also entered 12,104 protective orders into state databases, alerting police statewide of potential threats.

Police officials and detectives can become caught up in a case and are sometimes too eager to bring someone to justice. While they should be respected, police can make mistakes and wrongfully accuse someone of a crime.

If you have been wrongfully accused of a crime in Maryland, you should consult with an attorney who can properly protect your rights. The Maryland criminal defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer, LLC will help to ensure that your case is represented accurately in a court of law. We will help you through this difficult time. Call us today at 1-866-444-6363 for a free and confidential consultation.

Early Sunday morning, November 21, a 28-year-old woman who worked as a correctional officer was found shot to death in a friend’s home in east Baltimore, reports The Baltimore Sun. She died from her gunshot wounds later that day.

The morning before, Saturday, November 20, her neighbors reported that the woman and her live-in boyfriend got into a loud argument at approximately 4:30 a.m. Police were called to the scene to stop the domestic dispute. Neighbors report that the woman then left to stay at a friend’s. When detectives searched her apartment for clues the next day, they discovered blood on the door. Believing the killer was inside, they called hostage negotiators and blocked off the street. After a three-hour standoff, it was determined the apartment was empty.

Many of the woman’s neighbors had known her since she was a young girl and are stricken by grief and shock. Officially, police have not stated whether the woman’s boyfriend is a suspect in the Baltimore murder case, but they do report that they have not yet spoken with him. The woman had a three-year-old daughter from a previous relationship who is now with family members.

According to the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, 2009 saw a decrease in most crimes in the state. Overall, the 215,921 crimes reported was the lowest number ever reported. There was a 10.8 percent decrease in murder statewide. Violent crimes were the lowest since 1979, with 33,626 incidents reported. In Baltimore, there was a 4.6 percent decrease in total crime. Regarding violent crime, there was a 20.3 percent decrease. However, that still amounts to 4,555 violent crimes reported in 2009.

In murder investigations, individuals can wrongfully accuse someone of a violent crime when emotions run high amidst a lot of tension. While justice should be served, police officials, detectives and prosecutors need to be wary of charging the wrong person with a violent crime. Being accused of murder can seriously alter a person’s life, making it difficult for them to maintain relationships with family and friends, and impact whether they are able to find work. If convicted, they could spend years behind bars.

If you have been accused of a violent crime in Maryland, you need to ensure your rights are protected and your case is accurately represented in a court of law. The Maryland murder defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer, LLC will build a strong case and aggressively defend your rights. Call us today at1-866-444-6363 for a free and confidential consultation.