Police Chief Announces 'Voluntary' Resignation, Says Unrelated to Department Investigation

Anne Arundel County Police Chief Larry Tolliver announced his resignation Tuesday afternoon, in a letter that says the decision was not "stimulated" by negative claims about the department.

After a stretch of less than nine months heading police in Anne Arundel County, Chief Larry Tolliver announced his resignation Tuesday afternoon, as the county awaits the outcome of an investigation into claims of unfair treatment within the department. "I am resigning today because the department needs a chief who can focus solely on the department’s mission, something that is challenging to do in the current environment," Tolliver said in the letter. Tolliver's resignation is effective May 21. Patch contacted the office of County Executive Laura Neuman for information about possible replacements, but she has yet to respond. In late April, County Councilman Jamie Benoit wrote Neuman, requesting an investigation into whether Tolliver used …

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Appeal Denied for Dismissed Lacrosse Players

Principal Patrick Bathras backed the coach’s decision to dismiss three varsity lacrosse players from the team following a Severna Park house party.

The appeal filed by three Severna Park High varsity lacrosse players who were kicked off the team after attending a house party was denied by school principal Patrick Bathras on Friday. Bathras responded in support of varsity lacrosse coach Larry Kramer’s decision to dismiss the three teens from the lacrosse team, according to Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokeswoman Maneka Monk. Lacrosse players Logan Swartz, Sam Mayer and Cole Duncan—along with 19 other teens—received underage drinking citations from police at a house party on March 23. Two weeks after the party, the three lacrosse players were dismissed from the varsity team for detrimental behavior. Student-athletes in Anne Arundel County agree to a code of conduct when they join…

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Underage Drinking Charges Dropped for Dismissed Lacrosse Players

The three Severna Park High School seniors were dismissed from the lacrosse team after the March 23 house party but they have appealed that dismissal.

The three Severna Park High varsity lacrosse players who were issued underage drinking citations at a local house party had their charges dropped by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, according to their parents. Logan Swartz received a letter dated April 25 stating the department decided "not to authorize juvenile court action." The letter outlined the reasons for the decision. “This decision included consideration of the facts of the case and the juvenile's involvement. Home, school and community adjustment along with parental concern and control were examined. Past history with the police and court was also considered.” Swartz and two lacrosse teammates—Cole Duncan and Sam Mayer—were originally issued underage drinking …

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Dismissed Lacrosse Players Appeal Coach's Decision After House Party

The three Severna Park lacrosse players who were kicked off the team following a March 23 house party are appealing the dismissal.

As seniors, Severna Park High School lacrosse players Logan Swartz, Sam Mayer and Cole Duncan looked forward to their final season. Yet, their high school lacrosse careers ended early because they attended a party last month where alcohol was served. The three teens—along with 19 others—were issued underage drinking citations at a March 23 house party at a Severna Park home. Swartz, Mayer and Duncan were removed from the varsity lacrosse team for detrimental behavior despite their contentions that they did not drink alcohol at the party. The three are fighting being removed from the lacrosse team and filed letters of appeal with the high school on Monday morning. According to the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) athletic handbook…

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Kaitlyn Carr

8:27 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

A comment from Falcon Mom was deleted because it violated Patch’s terms of use, which does not allow defamatory statements   more ›

Woman Charged in Severna Park House Party

Police say Dawn M. Sellner is charged with contributing to the condition of a minor and disorderly house.

UPDATE (12:02 p.m. Tuesday)—A woman who lives at the Severna Park home where 22 teens were charged with underage drinking violations now faces charges. The home was reportedly known to be a party house. The Capital Gazette originally reported that Dawn M. Sellner of the 100 block of Southway in Severna Park was charged in the March 23 incident. Sellner, 47, was charged on April 20 with contributing to the condition or a minor and disorderly house, according to online charging documents. According to the Anne Arundel County Office of the Sheriff, the charges against Sellner had not yet been served as of Monday afternoon. Sellner used to be the owner of The Goddard School in Pasadena. A director with the school said Sellner left Goddard …

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Police Charge 2 in Millersville Apartment Burglary

A 15-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man were charged in the incident.

Anne Arundel County police arrested a 15-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man from Glen Burnie near the scene of a burglary in Millersville on Monday night. Police allege that shortly after 11 p.m. the two suspects entered the window of an apartment on the 300 block of Highland Drive. One of the suspects was carrying a firearm, according to investigators. Police responded to the reported burglary, and the suspects fled on foot as officers arrived. The officers located the suspects about one block away from the scene, on Elvaton Road, and they determined the firearm was a pellet gun. Police arrested Jamal Akeem Foster, 20, of Glen Burnie, and charged him with first-degree burglary, fourth-degree dwelling burglary, destruction of property and…

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Police: 22 Teens Charged with Drinking at Party

One teen fell out of a second-story window of a Severna Park home while trying to avoid police.

More than 20 teens were charged with underage drinking violations at a Severna Park home Saturday night. Police said it was the third call to the home in four months. Police said officers responded at 9 p.m. on Saturday to a home in the 100 block of Southway Drive in Severna Park for a reported underage drinking party—the third call in four months at the Southway address. Officers reportedly observed teens walking out of the home with cans of beer in their hands. Once inside the home, police found the house full of teens with alcohol. Several people fled the home before additional officers arrived, but police were able to detain 22 teens inside the house. One of the teens at the party fell out of a second-story window as he attempted to …

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Police Announce Seven Promotions for Veteran Officers, Employees

Police Chief Larry Tolliver said in a release that these employees were vital to the success of the department.

Police Charge Millersville Man in Drug Bust

Police find five ounces of suspected marijuana with an estimated street value of $2,800 in Millersville home.

Police seized five ounces of suspected marijuana worth about $2,800 and arrested a Milersville man on drug charges Thursday evening, according to a news release. Police executed a search and seizure warrant targeting drug violations at 6:06 p.m. Thursday in the 8000 block of Highwood Path. Detectives recovered approximately five ounces of suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia and $200 in cash, according to a release. A 2006 Chevrolet Equinox was seized. Police arrested Daniel Orazio Puglisi, 20, of the 8000 block of Highwood Path in Millersville and charged him with possession with intent to distribute, marijuana possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Police: Witnesses Say Car Was Speeding Before Crashing on Ritchie Highway

Three people were injured in the accident in Severna Park, where witnesses told police that the car was speeding before it crashed on Saturday.

A Pasadena woman was thrown from a Lexus sedan after it struck another car and rolled over on Ritchie Highway early on Saturday. The woman was reportedly not wearing a seat belt. According to Anne Arundel County police, the incident occurred at 1:20 a.m. Saturday on Ritchie Highway near White Road in Severna Park. Police said there is evidence to suggest that speed, alcohol and failure to obey a traffic device may have contributed to this crash. Two four-door sedans—a Lexus and a Mercedes Benz—collided near the intersection in the northbound lanes of Ritchie Highway. Witnesses told police the Lexus was traveling north at a high rate of speed when it struck the Mercedes, which was making a left turn from southbound B&A Boulevard onto …

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Martine Twigg

8:43 pm on Saturday, April 13, 2013

I agree with you Charlene, to many people think that it wont happen to them if they drink and drive or not wear a seatbelt or now even text and drive....It makes me so angry to see this behavior and nothing seems to be done about it... I think if you get stopped once for a dui or dwi you should lose your license for a year or more.. I think we are getting to tolerant to this behavior...   more ›