Metro briefs

MARYLAND

BALTIMORE

Deliberations heated in mayor’s trial

Jurors in the theft trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon were dismissed for the weekend after sending a note to the judge saying deliberations were getting heated.

Jurors deliberated until about 3:45 p.m. Friday before sending the note saying “things are getting a little overheated” and asking to be dismissed. The jury received the case about midday Thursday.

Prosecutors say Ms. Dixon used gift cards intended for the needy on personal shopping sprees. The defense says the mayor’s then-boyfriend anonymously gave Ms. Dixon gift cards for her own use, and she thought gift cards from another developer came from her boyfriend. She’s also accused of taking cards from a holiday charity event run by the city.

BALTIMORE

Sergeant accused of misconduct

Baltimore police say a sergeant who authorized the use of the department’s marine unit as part of a Maryland lawmaker’s marriage proposal has been charged with misconduct.

On Aug. 7, police boarded a boat Delegate Jon Cardin and his fiancee were on with friends in the Inner Harbor and pretended to search for contraband until Mr. Cardin popped the question. A police helicopter flew overhead.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Friday that an internal investigation into the event found that the sergeant, who was not identified, “improperly exercised his discretion” in the incident. He said the matter must go to a police trial board.

Mr. Cardin reimbursed police $300 for the incident, gave $1,000 to the department’s mounted unit and has repeatedly apologized.

BALTIMORE

Woman sentenced for stealing data

A woman who worked as a patient services coordinator for Johns Hopkins Medicine was sentenced Friday to 18 months in prison for stealing patient information.

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