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Western Maryland welcomes its first accelerant detection K9 in over 20 years

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Western Maryland welcomes its first accelerant detection K9 in over 20 years


For the first time in more than two decades, Western Maryland has its own Accelerant Detection K9 to assist in fire investigations.

K9 “Quinn,” a black Labrador Retriever, and his handler, Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Adam Rounds, have officially graduated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) National Canine Training Center in Front Royal, Virginia.

Quinn’s presence is expected to significantly reduce response times for fire investigations that previously relied on K9 units based near Baltimore or farther east.

“I’m proud to welcome K9 Quinn and Senior Deputy Rounds to our Accelerant Detection Canine team,” stated Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray, via press release. “Quinn’s placement in Western Maryland is a significant step forward in strengthening our statewide investigative capabilities. Reducing response times will help ensure that our investigators are collecting evidence that is critical to arson investigations.”

Quinn’s journey to law enforcement began through the Puppies Behind Bars program, a nonprofit that raises service dogs for law enforcement and first responders.

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The program partners with correctional facilities, where inmates spend about two years training the dogs in obedience, focus, and adaptability before they move on to specialized training.

Of the eight K9 teams that graduated, Quinn was one of five littermates chosen for the demanding 12-week certification course for specialized accelerant detection training.

The training covers scent detection, fire chemistry, scene safety, and investigative procedures, exposing canines to six different classifications of ignitable liquids.

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Instead of toys, Quinn was trained using food and praise as rewards — a method proven to build reliability and precision in detection.

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Senior Deputy Rounds and Quinn now join one of only 77 ATF-certified accelerant detection teams in the United States and become part of the country’s largest partnership of ATF-trained canines, operated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

With the addition of Quinn, the Office of the State Fire Marshal now maintains six ATF-certified Accelerant and Explosive Detection Canine teams strategically positioned across Maryland.

Each team trains daily to maintain certification and remains ready to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week.



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Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes

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Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays .8M in prizes


A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.

The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.

Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.

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The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.

The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.

The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.

More information is available at mdlottery.com.

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SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned

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SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned


Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.

“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”

The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.

In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.

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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.



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Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia

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Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia


An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.

Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.

According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.

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Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.

No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.

The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.

Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.

The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.

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TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.



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