The following letter was sent to County Executive David Craig, County Councilman Dion Guthrie, Del. B. Dan Riley and the Edgewood Community Council, along with The Dagger.
The Edgewood Community Council meeting last Wednesday got pretty heated towards the end. Since I’ve spoken up about Dwight Madison’s death at the Harford County Detention Center, I’ve been attacked by some people and asked by many people why I care so much about this “issue”. Why am I willing to piss off the Sheriff, County Executive and our Elected Officials over the death of one “homeless” man? Why? Because I believe each and every person is precious and that we ultimately help ourselves when we help our brothers thrive. Let me explain using Matthew 13:3-23 which says:
The following letter was sent to Harford County Executive David Craig, County Councilman Dion Guthrie, Sheriff Jesse Bane, Dels. Dan Riley, Susan McComas and Mary-Dulany James, and members of the Edgewood Community Council. A copy was provided to The Dagger.
How, I ask you, does a homeless man, convicted of no crime, and charged only with misdemeanor trespassing, end up dead after being detained by officers in the Harford County Detention Center? Unfortunately the victim, Dwight Jerome Madison, can’t speak for himself. What is worse is that the only witnesses to his death are the police officers that were tasering and detaining Mr. Madison at the time of his death last Thursday. Hardly unbiased witnesses! For these reasons I have contacted the FBI and the U.S. OAG and asked them to investigate Mr. Madison’s death. I have also asked the ECC to hold an emergency forum so that we all can ...Continue Reading
(Bel Air, MD – June 13, 2009) – Harford County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the death of Dwight Jerome Madison, 48, who has no fixed address.
On June 11, 2009 at 8:50 p.m. deputies responded to the 900 block of Hillswood Road, Bel Air for a reported suspicious person who was later identified as Dwight Madison. Madison did not live in the vicinity and claimed that he was looking for a friend who he only knew by a first name. He was advised to leave the area, which is private property, by the responding deputy. At 10:54 p.m. deputies were again called to the 900 block of Hillswood Road, Bel Air for a reported suspicious person banging on doors. The suspicious person was again identified as Dwight Madison who again advised he was homeless and searching for his friend who he only knew by a first name. ...Continue Reading
(Harford County, MD – April 10, 2009) – At approximately 8:45am on Friday April 10, 2009, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire in the kitchen of the Harford County Detention Center. The fire was contained by 9:00am and firefighters cleared the scene not later than 9:20am.
To maintain the security of the perimeter throughout the incident, the Detention Center was placed on lockdown until 10am. Twelve inmates working KP in the kitchen area were moved and secured in another section of the facility, but no one, staff or inmates, were evacuated outside of the building. There were no injuries. Normal operations of the Harford County Detention Center have since resumed.
Sheriff L. Jesse Bane commended his staff members (Correctional Officers, Law Enforcement and Civilians) involved in the incident for the professionalism of their actions and efficiency in handling the situation. Their training was ...Continue Reading
(Abingdon, Maryland) – Early this morning, troopers from the Bel Air Barrack apprehended two suspects involved in an armed robbery of a convenience store in Harford County.
The suspects are identified as Charles E. Brown, 20, of Hatfield Court in Abingdon, Maryland and Damion T. Cook, 22, of the unit block of East Lake Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland.
At about 1:00 a.m. this morning, a state trooper from the Bel Air barrack, on routine patrol, observed a man standing alone outside the front door of a 7-11 convenience store on Philadelphia Road in Abingdon, Maryland. Recognizing the suspicious behavior, the trooper quickly relocated his marked patrol vehicle to a concealed location in order to conduct surveillance on the establishment. He also began calling for more assistance to respond in case the store was being robbed.
While waiting for police assistance, two suspects ran out of the store ...Continue Reading
The bail review hearing for Christopher H. Lentz was today, Friday November 14 in the District Court for Harford County. Lentz appeared view telecast from the Harford Detention Center. He was in a wheelchair, had a large scar on his forehead, a severally bruised right eye socket, and numerous cuts and abrasions on his recently shaven-bald face. The Public Defender stated that Lentz’s jaw was wired shut, that his eye socket was broken, that his knee was broken, and that he had numerous other broken and fractured bones.
The Public Defender further stated that because of his injuries and ties to the community, Lentz was not a flight risk and that bail should be reduced to $50,000. The approximately 75 people packing the court room murmurred “no” to the request, with evident disquiet.
It was also stated that Lentz is 37 years old, is a Perry Hall High ...Continue Reading
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office will be holding the ground breaking ceremony for the Expansion Project at the Harford County Detention Center at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23.
The Expansion Project, expected to be completed by September of 2011, will add 76,146 square feet and renovate an additional 14,000 square feet. Included in this project is the addition of a medical housing unit, 8 maximum security, and 4 minimum security housing units, for a total of 288 additional beds.
