Arundel Digest

Officer's son killed in single-car crash

SEVERN - The 20-year-old son of a Baltimore City police officer was killed early yesterday morning after the car he was driving struck and wrapped around a metal support pole, according to county police.

Joseph Martin Zapushek of Glen Burnie was driving north on New Cut Road just before 4:30 a.m., police said.

As he approached the inter-section at Upton Road, he failed to negotiate a curve in the road and lost control of his 2002 Acura.

The car veered off the roadway and up a grassy embankment, then struck the pole and rolled onto the driver's side, police said.

Firefighters tried to treat Zapushek but he eventually was declared dead at the scene, said Lt. Stuart Peters, a spokesman for the county Fire Department.

Police said they have preliminary evidence that suggests alcohol may have played a role in the crash.

Police are still investigating.

Driver leads police on 35-mile chase

QUEEN ANNE'S - A 35-mile police chase through two Eastern Shore counties on Friday led to the arrest of a man wanted for second-degree assault, according to Maryland State Police in Centreville.

The chase began near the intersection of routes 301 and 305, where at about 11:30 a.m., police tried to stop a 1997 Chevrolet pick-up truck for a traffic violation.

But the driver refused to stop and took off through northern Queen Anne's County and into Kent County, police said.

Police from neighboring jurisdictions were called to assist, and finally in northern Kent County, the Kent County Sheriff's Office deployed road spikes that successfully deflated the truck's two left tires.

Five miles later, police stopped the truck in Galena and discovered the driver was Michael Charles James of West River, who had an outstanding arrest warrant from the Circuit Court in Carroll County for failing to appear on a second-degree assault charge.

He was taken to Chester River Hospital as a precaution and then released and taken to the Centreville barrack for arrest processing, before being taken before a District Court commissioner. The Circuit Court warrant was lodged as a detainer.

A passenger in the vehicle was released, and James' 4-year-old child, who was in the truck during the chase, was also transported to the hospital as a precaution. The child was released to his mother.

Rainfall tops norm after 'gully washer'

A fast-moving line of storms that moved south to north for several hours dumped over an inch of rain on some parts of the county yesterday, according to the National Weather Service.

About 1.25 inches fell on the eastern two-thirds of the county, while some areas closer to the bay saw 1.5 inches. Other parts of the county received about 0.75 inch.

The weather service issued a coastal flood advisory last night, which is in effect until 6 a.m. today.

Yesterday's heavy rain continued a trend that has put the county over normal levels for rainfall this month and year.

So far in October, the area has received 4.1 inches of rain, while normal rainfall this far into the month is 2.5 inches.

And by this time of year, the area should have received 34.8 inches of rain. 40.4 inches have fallen.

Forecasters are calling for mostly sunny skies today and tomorrow with the high temperature around 63 degrees.

- From staff reports