Severna Park (WBFF) — A Glen Burnie man was arrested after assaulting a 63-year-old taxi driver during an armed robbery in Severna Park on Thursday evening
officers responded to the area of Ritchie Highway and Earleigh Heights Road for a report of an armed robbery
demanded the driver's cellphone and allegedly struck him in the head with a handgun before running away
ALSO READ | SUN: Man sentenced to life in prison for murder of Annapolis man
Authorities say officers quickly responded to the scene and apprehended the suspect
identified as 43-year-old Jermaine Mitchell of Glen Burnie
The police department credited the Real Time Information Center (RTIC) for its crucial role in the investigation
Officials say the RTIC provided timely intelligence that led to the recovery of the weapon
a black BB gun labeled "Glock 17," which was found discarded near a nearby firehouse
"Due to the diligence and quick actions of our RTIC staff
this incident was safely and efficiently resolved," said a police spokesperson
The views expressed here are the author's own
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Anne Arundel County Fire/Arson/Explosives Investigators
in coordination with Anne Arundel County Police Special Operations
executed an arrest warrant this morning on Aaron Keel (D.O.B
The suspect was taken into custody without incident and formally charged with the following:
the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to 3 Belhaven Court in Severna Park
for a residential structure fire at a private residence owned by Stefanie and Matt Johnson
Anne Arundel County and Annapolis City Fire/Arson/Explosives Investigators also responded to the fire
They determined the fire to have been intentionally set and linked to an unlawful entry into the private residence
A thorough investigation by the AACo Fire Department
Office of the Fire Marshal (Fire/Arson/Explosive Division) led to the arrest of the suspect
In coordination with our AACo Law Enforcement partners
Fire Investigators executed an arrest and search warrant at the suspect's residence in the same neighborhood as the residential arson
The suspect is currently held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center awaiting a bond/bail hearing
and the public is urged to contact 401-222-TIPS if they have any further information regarding this incident
Assistant State‘s Attorneys Anastasia Prigge and Sean Fox allege that Matthew Schlegel touched additional students in a sexual manner without their consent
They also assert that he deviated from the curriculum and allowed his students to play a computer math game as a means of distracting and grooming them
“There were irregularities that were happening in the classroom,” said Prigge
who’s chief of the Special Victim’s Unit in the Anne Arundel County State‘s Attorney’s Office
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contended that testimony was irrelevant and should be excluded from the trial
“I have no idea why the state wants to go down this path.”
is charged in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court with sexual abuse of a minor
third- and fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault
Alban did not issue a ruling and scheduled a second motions hearing for May 12
She asked prosecutors and defense attorneys in the meantime to get back to her about other issues
Alban noted that they want her to read 380 names that might come up at trial during jury selection to see if any potential jurors recognize them
She also mentioned that the assistant state‘s attorneys requested comfort dogs for the children testifying in the case — and the provider had inquired whether it was an issue if one of them had a “snoring problem.”
Jury selection is set to begin on May 19 in the case. Schlegel is being held in the Jennifer Road Detention Center without bail
Former Severna Park teacher accused of sexual abuse will stay in jail
Severna Park teacher held without bond in child sex abuse case
Severna Park Elementary teacher accused of sex abuse
Prosecutors called six witnesses that included teachers
administrators and students who faced intense cross-examination and
a fourth-grade teacher at Severna Park Elementary School
testified that she discussed Schlegel with her colleagues and went to the principal to express concerns about his teaching methods
She said she later taught his students and felt that some of them exhibited gaps in their knowledge
They’d first stop at his classroom in the morning for candy and ask to play a computer math game
“Just not being familiar with certain strategies that had been introduced in the curriculum,” Linthicum said
“They didn’t seem familiar with certain materials in the curriculum.”
Linthicum testified that she saw Schlegel at recess give students “more involved hugs.”
But she later clarified that she did not believe she witnessed a crime that she was required to report under Maryland law
Linthicum acknowledged that she did not personally observe students in Schlegel‘s classroom playing the computer math game
And during a contentious line of questioning about how frequently Schlegel used the copy machine
Linthicum conceded that she did not tell the truth
“You understand that your words matter?” said Patrick Seidel
a 10-year-old girl testified that Schlegel often rubbed her shoulders and back
She said she also sat on his lap a couple of times
“I thought it was normal,” said an 11-year-old boy who reported that he witnessed the behavior
An 11-year-old girl testified that Schlegel twice touched her leg: once with his hand
“It was moving closer to my shorts,” she said
She broke down in tears on the witness stand and could not continue her testimony
Severna Park Elementary School Principal Kyle Butler testified that two teachers came to him with concerns that Schlegel was not following the math curriculum
But Butler said he conducted research and learned that teachers are not required to use the math workbooks
He said he‘d visit the class for evaluations and dropped in on other occasions unannounced
Butler said he never witnessed Schlegel inappropriately touching a student
Dylan Segelbaum
dylan.segelbaum@thebaltimorebanner.com
Dylan Segelbaum is the courts reporter at The Baltimore Banner
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— When investigators entered the vacant house on Belhaven Court in Severna Park following a fire a few weeks ago
they immediately suspected it was no accident
“They immediately observed multiple fires set throughout the house
which indicated to them it was an arson and
a crime and started the investigation,” said Anne Arundel County Fire Capt
Through footage from various surveillance cameras
police determined 59-year-old Aaron Keel was their suspect
Keel is pictured online as the principal of an environmental planning company sharing the same address as his home just a block away from the fire scene
Images of Keel and his truck place him along the wood-line behind the house and then disposing of items in a dumpster at nearby Oak Hill Elementary School in the wee hours of the morning on the night in question
Investigators later learned that two days before the fire
Keel had visited a number of home improvement stores and had only purchased a gasoline can and a pump sprayer
Man arrested in connection with Severna Park fire
Court documents suggest Keel and the owners of the targeted house
had a history of disputes tied to the neighborhood home owners association and Keel had unsuccessfully tried to sue them for defamation in the past
“They were neighbors and obviously had interacted throughout the neighborhood,” said Macallair
“What led this individual to take multiple steps to break into the home and start the home on fire
is pretty devastating and frightening really
I mean he put the public at risk that day and he also put our firefighters at risk.”
While no one was living in the house at the time of the fire
one firefighter was injured while extinguishing the flames
A 59-year-old man who set a home on fire in Severna Park earlier this month was arrested Monday
felony malicious burning and felony home invasion
Anne Arundel County firefighters responded to a home on Belhaven Court on April 13 for a residential structure fire at a private residence
The couple who owned the home were not at the residence at the time of the fire
Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set and linked to an unlawful entry into the private residence
“Although the home was under renovation when the fire department responded
one of our lieutenants did get injured and had to be transported to the hospital,” Anne Arundel County Fire Department Capt
Keel is currently held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center awaiting a bail hearing
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officers responded to the area of Ritchie Highway and Earleigh Heights Road in Severna Park for a report of an armed robbery
was transporting the suspect when the suspect demanded the victim’s cellphone and struck the victim in the head with a handgun before fleeing on foot
Officers quickly located the suspect and took him into custody without incident
The department’s Real Time Information Center (RTIC) played a vital role in this investigation
providing timely intelligence that led to the successful recovery of the weapon
a black BB gun labeled “Glock 17” discarded near a nearby firehouse
Due to the diligence and quick actions of our RTIC staff
this incident was safely and efficiently resolved
Arrested:Jermaine Mitchell43-year-oldGlen Burnie
officers responded to the area of eastbound Route 100 and Oakwood Road in Glen Burnie for a reported road rage incident involving a handgun
The 58-year-old victim reported that the suspect pointed a handgun at him while driving
The victim followed the suspect until officers located and stopped the vehicle near Appalachian Drive and Mountain Road
officers recovered a loaded black Glock Model 19 9mm semi-automatic handgun in the center console
The suspect was taken into custody without incident
Arrested:Carlos Mengana Alonso37-year-oldGlen Burnie
officers responded to the area of Arundel Mills Boulevard in Hanover for a report of a stolen vehicle
in the parking lot of the McDonald's located at 7053 Arundel Mills Circle
who were taken into custody without incident
Both individuals were arrested without incident
The driver was additionally charged with driving without a valid license
Arrested:Cheyenne Regina Hancock (Driver)25-year-oldDerwood
Hancock-Lyles 22-year-old Derwood
Bob Zichelli warned his players on the Severna Park High School boys’ lacrosse team that he was going to be running late
and the Falcons were preparing to travel for their first road game of the season at West Potomac (Va.)
as their quest for an eighth straight state title was just ramping up
“He told us to be at [Severna Park] at 5 p.m.
and it was like 5:15 or something like that,” said Jack Fish
“I remember everyone had all the gear outside waiting
“I don’t know what he is doing on his AirPods
But he always has these AirPods in that are crooked,” Fish said
Zichelli is authoring one of the most unique stories in all of high school lacrosse
He’s 66 years old and in his second season of his first varsity head-coaching gig
last May in the Class 3A championship game at Stevenson University
And he serves as the team’s bus driver
Fans and personnel from opposing schools see him pull into the parking lot
he was stopped by a curious person who asked
Severna Park needed a boys’ lacrosse coach after Dave Earl stepped down in the spring of 2023 after seven state-championship seasons
And the Falcons were having a hard time finding another coach
including some who were familiar with the program
just weren’t in a position to take on the head-coaching responsibility
He had retired from his full-time job selling dormitory furniture to colleges
He drove a school bus part-time for Anne Arundel County Public Schools
And he was closely tied to Severna Park High School lacrosse after his seven children (five boys and two girls) all came through the program
he spent roughly a decade coaching in the program
He had been Severna Park’s junior varsity coach and a varsity assistant
He had also done some coaching in the community
But he had been out of coaching for more than a decade when this opportunity presented itself
Zichelli saw Severna Park athletic director Dave Kauffman at the Anne Arundel County cross country championships in Annapolis in the fall of 2023
He had driven the Crofton High School team bus to the event
Zichelli asked Kauffman about the state of the coaching search at Severna Park
It’s not often that a boys’ lacrosse program that has won seven consecutive state titles is searching hard for a head coach
we don’t have anybody,'” Zichelli recalled
‘I don’t know if I am your kind of candidate
I’m getting old.’ And then Dave Earl called me and goes
I’d like you to apply.’ And I did
Zichelli said he was initially reluctant to take the job
it was his children who convinced him to do it
“I owed it to give back to the program,” he said
“All my kids got a chance to go to college
Zichelli remembered the impact his coaches in his hometown of Montclair
“We were a lacrosse town,” he said
“And I know the effect my head coach
what they did for our town in creating a lacrosse community
And I see what effect Severna Park lacrosse has and has had on so many kids’ lives.”
thoughtful and somewhat lighthearted approach — the players say he often makes fun of himself in practices — Zichelli is now leading young men who could be considered his grandchildren on state-championship runs
Severna Park has another supremely talented team this season and could make a big push for a ninth consecutive state title
“It’s almost like a full-circle moment,” Fish said
You can tell that he is really invested in it because he shares a lot of personal stuff and tries to be a good mentor for the rest of the kids on the team
He tells us to look out for each other and gives us advice on not only lacrosse
“Him being my coach made me realize that I needed to be kinder to people because he is always so nice and generous.”
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Several Park High School and Bob Zichelli
Issue 292: April / May 2025
See all posts by Greg Swatek. Follow Greg Swatek on Twitter at @greg_swatek
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Anne Arundel County Fire/Arson/Explosives Investigators, in coordination with the Anne Arundel County Police Special Operations Division
arrested a Severna Park resident on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to a residential fire earlier this month
The 59-year-old man was taken into custody without incident on the morning of April 30
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on April 13
when the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire at 3 Belhaven Court in Severna Park
Fire/Arson/Explosives Investigators from both Anne Arundel County and Annapolis City determined that the fire was intentionally set and followed an unlawful entry into the residence
the Anne Arundel County Fire Department’s Office of the Fire Marshal obtained arrest and search warrants for the suspect
The warrants were executed at his residence
which is located in the same neighborhood as the scene of the fire
He is currently being held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center pending a bond hearing
Authorities are asking anyone with additional information related to the incident to contact the Anne Arundel County TIPS Line at 410-222-TIPS
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— Anne Arundel County's Severna Park made the list of the fastest-growing wealthy suburbs in the country - as did three communities in Montgomery County
Severna Park was ranked 25th fastest-growing wealthy suburb by researchers at the personal-finance site GOBankingRates.com
which has a median income of $168,000 and an average home value of $708,100
Known for its waterfront culture and the scenic Severn River
Severna Park currently has about 40,000 people
Montgomery County had three neighborhoods make the list - including the rapidly-developing Clarksburg
Bethesda came in 13th place (it grew by more than 8 percent)
and Olney was in 26th place (it grew by more than 2 percent)
officers were flagged down by a carjacking victim at the Wawa at 7800 Parke West Drive in Glen Burnie
The victim was approached by a white male who displayed a handgun and demanded her vehicle
The suspect fled in the stolen vehicle.
officers responded for a shoplifting at the Wawa located at 7124 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie
The investigation revealed that the suspect was operating the Ford Taurus taken in the earlier carjacking incident.
officers received a call for a shoplifting at the Royal Farms
located at 6901 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie
Officers determined that the shoplifting suspect left in the gold Ford Taurus stolen during the carjacking incident
A responding officer observed the vehicle at Ritchie Highway and Ordnance Road
The vehicle fled and the officers pursued until the vehicle stopped in the 3900 block of Pennington Avenue
The suspect fled on foot but was apprehended after a foot pursuit
who had outstanding warrants and is prohibited from possessing firearms
was found to be carrying a .40 Caliber Glock handgun
Arrested:Braeden Carter Haas28-year-old male
an officer was patrolling in the 8100 block of Evening Star Drive in Pasadena when he observed a male matching the description of a suspect in an assault
The officer also observed a handgun in plain view inside the suspect’s vehicle
A search warrant was executed on the vehicle
resulting in the recovery of a loaded .40 Glock handgun
approximately 27 grams of suspected cocaine
Arrested: Dashon Stewart34-year-old maleBaltimore
an officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of Jumpers Hole Road and Earleigh Heights Connector in Severna Park
the officer located a loaded 9mm Walther handgun in the passenger compartment of the vehicle
Arrested:Matthew Frederick Mcgeady61-year-oldSeverna Park
officers responded for a report of an armed suspect in the 1100 block of Reece Road in Severn
Upon arrival officers located a male matching the suspect description provided by dispatch
who is prohibited from possessing handguns
Officers were unable to locate the victim of the robbery
Arrested:Ny’Shawn Benjamin Morris18-year-old maleSevern
2024 -- The Anne Arundel County Department of Health is seeking anyone who may have come in contact with a raccoon on or near Trailing Ivy Lane
not far from Jones Elementary School in Severna Park
If you or your pet had contact with this infected animal, or your pet has unexplained wounds, please contact the Anne Arundel County Department of Health at 410-222-7254 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 443-481-3140 after business hours
Rabies is spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal
It is also spread when an infected animal’s saliva comes in contact with the eyes
mouth or open cut of a person or another animal
Preventive treatment might be required for anyone who handled
fed or was attacked by the infected animal
and preventive treatment (injections) must be started as soon as possible
The Department of Health advises county residents to take the following precautions to prevent the spread of rabies:
For information about rabies, visit www.aahealth.org/rabies. To get a free fact sheet on rabies, call 410-222-7254.