Metro Briefs

MARYLAND

WHEATON

Man tries to steal car with girl inside

Montgomery County Police have arrested a man for stealing a minivan with a 5-year-old girl inside after the driver left it running outside a business.

Police say 28-year-old Omer Ali Abdu was outside Caramelo’s Bakery in the 11300 block of Georgia Avenue near Wheaton about 8:30 a.m. Thursday when the minivan’s driver and passenger went in the bakery, leaving the child in the running vehicle. Police say Mr. Abdu drove the car away.

Mr. Abdu crashed into two cars and one of them followed him before police say officers saw him speeding. Police stopped the man and learned the car was reported stolen with a 5-year-old girl having been kidnapped.

Mr. Abdu was charged with kidnapping, theft, auto theft and hit and run charges.

The girl has been reunited with her family.

ANNAPOLIS

State adds homeless to hate crime law

Maryland is on track to become the first state to protect the homeless in hate crime statutes.

The state legislature this week approved adding extra penalties for violent crimes against victims singled out because of gender, disability or because the person is homeless.

The statute already covers victims attacked because of race, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.

In previous years, Frederick County Sen. Alex X. Mooney has struggled to convince the House of Delegates to add homeless people to the list. Some said they thought the Republican’s bill was a cynical attempt to water down hate crime laws.

BALTIMORE

Prosecutors argue against Dixon motion

Prosecutors say a motion to dismiss an indictment against Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon goes far beyond the scope of the indictment and raises issues that should be decided at trial.

State Prosecutor Robert Rohrbaugh filed a lengthy response Thursday to a motion to dismiss filed by Mrs. Dixon’s lawyers two weeks ago.

The mayor is accused of stealing gift cards intended for needy families and lying about gifts from developers.

CUMBERLAND

Inmate serving life slain at prison

State prison officials say a man serving a life sentence for the gruesome murder of a 15-year-old girl was killed during a fight in his cell at the Western Correctional Institution near Cumberland.

Spokesman Mark Vernarelli says 23-year-old Eric Watkins died early Thursday after fighting with his unidentified, 43-year-old cell mate at the maximum-security prison.

VIRGINIA

ORANGE

Wal-Mart wins Wilderness battle

Wal-Mart has won a battle in its bid to build a Supercenter near a Civil War battlefield in Virginia.

In Orange County, the Board of Supervisors rejected a coalition’s request to join a planning study for an area near the Wilderness battlefield.

A majority of the five supervisors said they considered the offer an attempt to delay or derail the store. They relayed their sentiments in a letter to Civil War preservationists.

Wal-Mart’s plans have angered historians, who contend the store will be too close to a significant battleground.

The company just recently submitted revised plans for the store. Planners have yet to vote on the proposal.

From wire dispatches and staff reports