Personal Injury

Collaborative efforts by law enforcement, residents, and students of Towson are aimed at stemming the tide of criminal activity within the growing city’s perimeter. From street robberies to home invasions to violent assaults, Towson’s criminal statistics are ominously creeping upward. Comparing crime stat averages over the last five years, robberies increased by 6.22%, aggravated assaults by 13.1%, violent crime by 9.3%, with an overall rise in total crime by 4.1% from January to September of last year. The recent stabbing of a Towson University student and an armed robbery at Towson Center are piquing the interest of many of its 55,000 residents, causing some to unite in action. Rather than retreating in fear and frustration, residents have launched public safety initiatives throughout the community, including the University. Volunteers dutifully patrol streets and report suspicious activity to the local precinct, while encouraging business participation to help keep the streets safe. But…

A number of newspapers and media outlets recently published reports regarding a Washington, DC police officer who has been indicted on a charge of attempted murder after he allegedly tried to kill his wife with a metal light fixture and threatened to kill her with knives in their Maryland home. The indictment, handed down in December, against 45-year-old Samson Edwards Lawrence III is the third instance in which criminal charges have been filed in almost as many weeks against a local police officer. Lawrence's indictment contains extremely grave accusations, including two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault, and two counts of possessing a dangerous weapon with intent to injure. The indictment stems from an incident that occurred in the Prince George’s County home the 23-year law enforcement veteran shared with his wife. Lawrence, who was assigned to the School Safety Division, was placed on “no-contact status,” which bars…

Written by Staff Writer The Baltimore, Maryland crime rate continues to steadily escalate and a Baltimore state delegate by the name of Pat McDonough thinks he might have a solution. Namely, the "Stand Your Ground Law", which exists to some degree in a number of states including, but not limited to, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and might well be on its way to the city of Baltimore if McDonough has his way. For many years, Baltimore and other Maryland residents have been held to the standards of the "Duty to Retreat" law. Duty to Retreat also applies to residents of Virginia. McDonough argues that encouraging law abiding citizens to turn the other cheek in the event of a physical altercation or attack might not be benefitting the city. And he’s not entirely alone in this view. McDonough’s support base is on the rise, with his position appealing to…