Metro Briefs

VIRGINIA

RICHMOND

Doll in noose found in college theater

Police at the University of Richmond are investigating the simulated lynching of a miniature black doll.

Walter Schoen, chairman of the university’s Department of Theater and Dance, found the doll in a small studio theater March 6, the day before spring break.

He said the black-faced doll with black woven-wool hair was hanging from a coiled noose with a note beneath it reading: “Art is dead, long live art.”

Mr. Schoen described the elflike character as a Christmas decoration that has been around for about two years. He said the figure had become a good-luck charm.

“There is no escaping what it stands for,” he said.

MARYLAND

WALKERSVILLE

Water flows again after contamination

Recent lab tests have determined that the town’s wells are no longer contaminated and residents are again able to use municipal water, Town Administrator Gloria Long Rollins said.

Workers on Sunday shut off a temporary connection to the Frederick County water supply that was established after the January rupture of a pipe connected to a manure lagoon. The rupture had caused waste to spill into the ground and the storm drain system.

Residents were advised to boil water until the temporary connection to the county supply was established days later.

The temporary line will remain in place for at least two weeks as a precaution.

DENTON

Teens’ rape case changes courts

The case against five Caroline County teenagers charged in the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl was moved to Circuit Court.

The five teens from Federalsburg are charged as adults. In moving the case from District Court, prosecutors trimmed the number of identical criminal counts against each from 15 to seven. The remaining charges include first- and second-degree rape, sex offenses and false imprisonment.

Trayver Lake, 15, Shaquille Dukes, 15, and Dazwan Bolden, 16, are accused of raping the girl Feb. 9 in a baseball dugout at Chambers Park in Federalsburg. Marquise Lovick, 15, and Brandon Nelson, 14, are accused of being present but not physically participating.

FREDERICK

Earnhardt cutout returned intact

A cardboard cutout of Dale Earnhardt is back at a convenience store where it will be auctioned off for charity.

Maryland State Police said a man returned the 5-foot likeness of the NASCAR legend to a WaWa where it was on display. It was stolen March 12.

Police said the man who brought it back — one of the three suspected thieves — returned it Tuesday night. Police know who he is, but they did not release his name.

The store will auction off the display and donate the proceeds to the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore. The bidding had reached $500 when the cutout was stolen.

BALTIMORE

Man gets 75 years for killing teenager

A Baltimore judge sentenced a man to 75 years in prison for murdering a teenager trying to help a friend caught up in a drug dispute.

Rasul Brown was convicted of murder, assault and gun charges in the death of Marcus McDowell, 16.

Police said Brown killed Marcus when he got involved in his friend’s argument over a bag of marijuana.

Marcus’ stepfather said his son had graduated high school early with honors and was planning to go to college.

From wire dispatches and staff reports