Metro briefs

DISTRICT

Father sues city for wrongful death

The biological father of one of two girls whose bodies were kept in their adopted mother’s freezer in Maryland has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the District and the Board of Child Care of the United Methodist Church.

The suit, filed Oct. 22 by Michael Muhammad of Temple Hills, seeks $75 million in damages. It says the D.C. government and adoption agency failed to protect his daughter from an unfit mother.

The suit says the D.C. government hired the adoption agency to conduct a background investigation of Renee Bowman, who faces murder charges. An official with the group said Thursday that board president Thomas Curcio could not be immediately reached for comment.

VIRGINIA

FALLS CHURCH

14 people charged in cigarette smuggling

Fourteen people have been charged with illegally purchasing 77 million contraband cigarettes from undercover agents in Virginia over the last year and smuggling the cigarettes to New York.

Two of those charged also are accused of paying an undercover hit man to kill a man and his wife whom they thought had stolen from them.

The indictments handed up Thursday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria culminate a yearlong investigation.

The defendants are accused of paying $8 million plus guns and drugs to the undercover agents in exchange for the cigarettes.

Cigarette smuggling has increased in recent years as high taxes in New York and elsewhere have made smuggling more profitable.

The defendants lived in Virginia, Maryland, New York and the District of Columbia.

RICHMOND

Compensation sought from Dominion Power

The attorney general’s office is asking regulators to order Dominion Virginia Power, the commonwealth’s largest utility company, to either cut rates or offer customers a refund.

The utility has asked the State Corporation Commission for a $250 million rate increase.

Attorney General Bill Mims’ office contends that Dominion should make amends to customers for overearning last year. Mr. Mims said rates should either be reduced by $238 million or customers should receive a refund of $153 million.

The rate case before the commission is the first under a new Virginia law governing electric utilities. The utility has 2.3 million customers.

RICHMOND

Veterans can visit sites for free

Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon and Montpelier are among a group of Virginia destinations offering free admission to former and active-duty service members on Veterans Day.

Virginia tourism officials said Thursday that the former colonial capital as well as the estates of Presidents George Washington and James Madison are among prominent sites and museums offering free admission to veterans and members of the armed forces.

Hotels and other lodging businesses, as well as restaurants, are offering discounts.

The state is home to many iconic military memorials and museums, including Arlington National Cemetery and the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford.

Many of the sites are always free to visit.

MARYLAND

UPPER MARLBORO

Firefighters indicted in 2008 arson

Two members of a volunteer fire department are charged with setting fire to a vacant house in Prince George’s County so they could put it out.

Jerome Engle, 46, of Bowie, and James R. Martinez, 24, of Damascus, were indicted Thursday in the March 2008 fire in Riverdale.

The charges include second-degree arson, burglary and conspiracy.

Authorities say both men are longtime firefighters and were members of the Riverdale Volunteer Department. Mr. Martinez is a professional firefighter in Montgomery County.

Authorities said they are questioning the men regarding other possible arsons and the involvement of other firefighters.

SALISBURY

Students arrested after school fight

Authorities say nine students have been charged after a fight in the cafeteria of James M. Bennett High School in Salisbury.

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office says the fight broke out shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday. School resource deputies and other staff restrained those involved and there were no serious injuries.

Deputies said the fight came after an assault the day before on a school bus. That incident is under investigation. The students arrested were referred to the Department of Juvenile Justice Services.

HAGERSTOWN

Assault detailed in deaf-school case

A 16-year-old student at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick was held down on his dormitory bed by fellow students who stuck objects up his rectum while about a half-dozen others watched, according to charging documents released Thursday.

The court records added details to charges of fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault and conspiracy that Frederick police filed Wednesday against Tyler D. Dilks, 20, and three juveniles.

Under Maryland law, children in need of special education, including deaf education, are entitled to a free public education until they are 21.

Mr. Dilks, of Whiteford, a Harford County community about 60 miles from Frederick, couldn’t be reached immediately for comment. Telephone messages left at his home address were not returned. His trial is set for Jan. 12.

Assistant Frederick County State’s Attorney Lindell Angel said Mr. Dilks and the others have admitted their involvement in what began as playful wrestling.

“It appears from the circumstances to be essentially just roughhousing that went too far,” she said.

BALTIMORE

Free cell phones offered to residents

TracFone Wireless Inc. is offering free cell phones and 64 minutes a month of air time to about 400,000 low-income Maryland residents.

The year-old program by TracFone affiliate Safelink Wireless Inc. has been available to residents of 19 states, including Maryland and Delaware, as well as the District.

People wanting to get the free phone and minutes must demonstrate that they get state or federal help, such as energy assistance, food stamps or medical assistance.

TracFone estimates that more than 90,000 residents in Baltimore could qualify for the service.