Arundel Digest

Police continue to investigate shooting

ANNAPOLIS - Police are still investigating the shooting of an Annapolis High School student and another man Wednesday in Bay Ridge Gardens Apartments.

The victims, Terico E. Childs, 15, of Pleasant Street and Demario D. Harrod, 19, of Old Muddy Creek Road in Edgewater were treated at local hospitals and released the same day.

Terico is an Annapolis High School freshman and Mr. Harrod was last enrolled in South River Evening High School in 2006-2007, school officials said.

Yesterday, during an interview in his home, Terico said he and Mr. Harrod were in the neighborhood visiting people when the shooting happened.

"I just heard the shots and I ran," he said quietly, standing in the doorway.

He declined to discuss details of what happened or who shot at the pair. With a bandage visible on his inner right arm, he told The Capital he planned to return to school today.

Mr. Harrod could not be reached for comment.

The complex was the site of a double homicide in January, which is still under investigation. Officer Hal Dalton, a spokesman for city police, said the area will see an increase in police patrols.

Man dies in crash on Jennifer Road

Parole - A Glen Burnie man died yesterday morning shortly after crashing his car near Anne Arundel Medical Center in Parole, county police said.

James Edward Teat Sr., 52, of 530 Glen Court was driving a 1999 Ford Explorer east on Jennifer Road when he swerved to the left, cross the center line, and drove off the road. The Explorer struck a wooden rail and then crashed into a ravine near the Medical Parkway intersection.

He was taken by ambulance to nearby Anne Arundel Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, officials said. Police said they believe a medical emergency may have contributed to the crash.

Unattended candles spark house fire

PASADENA - A family of five was displaced last night when an unattended candle they lit during a power outage sparked a blaze in their home, county Fire Department officials said.

It took 40 firefighters about two hours to get the flames under control at the two-story, single-family home in the 600 block of Tebbston Road, said Lt. Stuart Peters, a county Fire Department spokesman. The house was engulfed in flames when crews arrived at 9:45 p.m., he said.

Two extra tanker trucks were called to bring water to the area, while firefighters worked to control the blaze and keep it from spreading to two nearby homes, he said. The house was a total loss, with damages estimated at $90,000.

Two adults, two teenagers, and an infant were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross, Lt. Peters said. A neighbor was injured when he tried to run into the home to save the family's pet ferret, said Battalion Chief Matthew Tobia, a county Fire Department spokesman. He was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie with smoke inhalation.

The fire was caused by lit candles that had been left unattended while the family went outside for a walk, fire officials said. The family had lit the candles that night after a power outage and told investigators they thought the candles had been put out before they left the house, officials said.

- From staff reports