Arundel Digest

Fake murder report ties up city police

ANNAPOLIS - City police last night were likely the victims of a prank call reporting a grisly murder that tied up officers for three hours as they searched apartment by apartment for a crime scene.

Police received a call at 8:27 p.m. claiming a woman named Mya Ortiz had killed her three children and there was so much blood officers would not be able to enter the apartment on Captain's Circle.

After rushing to the scene and the address, officers found its occupant safe and sound. They then turned to checking other apartments in the complex off Admiral Drive, knocking at 14 units in all. Police also checked three other addresses across the city.

"We searched everywhere ... nothing," police spokesman Ray Weaver said. "We are pretty sure this was bogus."

Sixteen city police units responded to the scene, along with a Howard County police helicopter, a city K-9 unit and a Natural Resources Police tactical squad with eight officers.

Police are in the process of tracing the call, which came from a cell phone. They also think this could be related to a similar hoax that reported a woman shot in Crownsville last month.

Walk-in H1N1 clinics next week

ANNAPOLIS - The county Health Department will offer a walk-in clinic next week for babies and toddlers who need the H1N1 vaccination.

On Nov. 17, children ages 6 months to 35 months old will be able to receive a vaccine against H1N1, or swine flu, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lower level conference room of the Health Services Building, 3 Harry S Truman Parkway in Annapolis.

Appointments are not required and the immunizations are free. No other age group will be vaccinated at the clinic.

Health officials have been offering the vaccine's injectable and nasal spray form to residents in identified priority groups: pregnant women, people who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months old, health care and emergency medical services personnel, people ages 6 months through 24 years old, and people ages 25 to 64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

For vaccine information, call the H1N1 Flu Immunizations Line at 410-222-4896.

16 apply to fill open judge seat

ANNAPOLIS - The vacancy on the county Circuit Court bench has attracted 16 applicants, including several prosecutors, a former county police officer and current court masters.

One of them will be appointed to fill the post of former Judge Michael E. Loney, who retired from the bench in July because of state-mandated age limits. A judicial nominating commission will winnow the pool, and Gov. Martin O'Malley will select an appointee who will later stand for re-election.

The following people have applied for that appointment: David Shelton Bruce, Philip A. Dales III, John Kenneth Gardner, Andrew Brian Greenspan, Mark Wayne Howes, Ronald Howard Jarashow, Laura Sue Kiessling, Joseph Robert Laumann, Anne Colt Leitess, Kenneth Graham Macleay, Michael Edward Malone, Jeremy Mark McCoy, Charles Jay Muskin, Frank Joseph Ragione Sr., Kathleen Elizabeth Rogers and Gloria Selena Wilson Shelton.

The Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission will meet Dec. 3.

- From staff reports