The Dagger

05/09/2024

“The Perryman community, along with Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly and the Harford County Council, has shown strong support for the establishment of a Thoroughbred Training Facility at the Mitchell Farm. However, the Mitchell Company and Chesapeake Real Estate Group (CREG) are threatening to withdraw from the project unless the County agrees to an illegal 800,000-square-foot freight terminal that grossly exceeds legal zoning limits.”

30/04/2024

Aberdeen Criminal Investigations Division detectives have identified and charged Michael Anthony Swann, 35, for the murders of three people in an early morning homicide on April 15.

Detectives have confirmed the victims’ identities as John C. Claytor, 54, Talaya D. Wiley, 48, and Melissa L. Williams, 45, all Aberdeen residents.

From the Aberdeen Police Department: Aberdeen Criminal Investigations Division detectives have identified and charged Michael Anthony Swann, 35, for the murders of three people in an early morning …

25/03/2024

“The County Executive has stood alone in defunding your vital public safety project and, as the responsive documents that have the potential to offer some insight into the inner workings of this entire process have yet to be produced, Mr. Cassilly continues to stand in the way of sharing information that you, our citizens, are entitled to see.”

From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office: More than six months ago, in an effort to learn more about the status of your Central Precinct and Training Academy Project, Sheriff Gahler submitted a Mar…

20/03/2024

“In just one year in office, I have been falsely accused of misappropriating $7M, wiretapping, forgery, malfeasance in office, ethical violations, and more. No other public official in this state has faced such an onslaught.”

From Friends of Bob Cassilly: Dear Harford County Neighbor, I have a personal request. Can you take a few minutes to read this lengthy but very important email? Unfortunately, once again I find mys…

28/02/2024

After receiving complaints from citizens, Harford County Attorney Jefferson Blomquist on Monday requested an advisory opinion from the Board of Ethics on potential conflicts of interest for Councilmember Penman, whose legislative duties include voting on the budget for his employer.

From Harford County government: After being named the subject of a Harford County ethics probe, County Councilmember Aaron Penman has once again made an untrue and outrageous claim attacking the ch…

27/02/2024

County Executive Bob Cassilly’s administration is planning to purchase land for a new public school at the site of an abandoned development project in Bel Air. The school will be built as a combination elementary school and the new home of Harford Academy, which serves students with severe disabilities.

From Harford County government: County Executive Bob Cassilly’s administration is planning to purchase land for a new public school at the site of an abandoned development project in Bel Air. The s…

23/02/2024

Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly on Tuesday sent legislation to the County Council to begin a required comprehensive zoning review in June that will be finalized one year later. Zoning determines a property’s permitted uses and includes agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial classifications.

From Harford County government: Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly on Tuesday sent legislation to the County Council to begin a required comprehensive zoning review in June that will be finalize…

22/02/2024

During the course of the call, gunshots were heard, and the caller advised that her mother had been shot by Wise and was lying in the driveway of the residence. The caller was able to identify Wise as the shooter and through investigation, it was later discovered that the entire incident was filmed via cellphone by a witness from a neighboring residence. In addition, the victim’s two foster children were present in the home during the time of the incident.

From On Friday, February 16, 2024, Jamar Deverick Wise, 43, of Edgewood, Maryland pled guilty to First Degree Murder before the Honorable Alex Allman in the Circuit Court for Harford County. The pl…

17/02/2024

One of the suspects drove the stolen car away at a high rate of speed, with the victim clinging to the hood. Witnesses described seeing the car swaying back and forth to throw the victim from the vehicle, which was successful.

From the Aberdeen Police Department: On Friday, February 16, 2024, at approximately 4:12 pm, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of W. Bel Air Avenue for a report of an armed carjacking with …

10/02/2024

On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Jose Wilfred Orellana-Cedillos, 33, of Bel Air, Maryland was found guilty by a jury of Second Degree R**e, Fourth Degree S*x Offense, and Second Degree Assault following a five-day jury trial before the Honorable Diane Adkins Tobin.

From the Office of the State’s Attorney for Harford County: On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Jose Wilfred Orellana-Cedillos, 33, of Bel Air, Maryland was found guilty by a jury of Second Degree R**e,…

06/02/2024

“The real reason Cassilly opposed and vetoed Bill 23-034 is because he intended to expand our local government by taking control of Harford County’s local premier destination organization, Visit Harford.”

From Harford County Councilman Aaron Penman: The purpose of our branches of government is to balance power, which includes the budgetary responsibilities, between the Executive Branch and Legislati…

16/01/2024

“These new residences could double existing housing densities as they consume existing lawns with freestanding units occupied by renters with no family ties to the primary residence, leading to potential noise disturbances and reduced privacy for area residents.”

From Harford County government: County Executive Bob Cassilly issued the following statement today opposing Bill 24-001, which would allow freestanding accessory dwelling units in all residential a…

12/01/2024

Reflecting his pledge to redirect government to serve the people, County Executive Cassilly announced the acquisition of nearly 130 acres of environmentally sensitive land in Joppatowne that had been slated for 232 single family homes. The property will instead be designated as county parkland.

From Harford County government: County Executive Bob Cassilly on Thursday delivered his second annual State of Harford County Address since taking office in December of 2022. Focusing on his commit…

19/12/2023

On December 16, 2023, at approximately 11:00 AM, Officers responded to the 400 block of Hillcrest Drive for a reported armed subject. When the officers arrived, they met three employees from a local rental company who came to a residence to retrieve items. It was alleged that a female inside the home pointed a gun with a suppressor at one of the employees and told the employee to leave.

From the Aberdeen Police Department: On December 16, 2023, at approximately 11:00 AM, Officers responded to the 400 block of Hillcrest Drive for a reported armed subject. When the officers arrived,…

12/12/2023

The victim continued to yell and began kicking the wall and elsewhere to fight off the Defendant, and eventually, she believed she kicked him in the groin area, which allowed her to run out of the room. Once out of the room, she got the attention of a guest in another room, who contacted law enforcement on her behalf.

From the Office of the State’s Attorney for Harford County: On Monday, December 4, 2023, Bernard Lamont Staten, 68, of Edgewood, Maryland, pled guilty to Attempted Second Degree R**e and Possession…

04/12/2023

An off-duty Harford County Sheriff’s Deputy was driving past the location and observed an adult female, standing in the street, holding a lifeless infant child.

From the Bel Air Police Department: On Sunday, December 3, 2023 at approximately 5:25 am Bel Air Police officers responded to 404 N. Main Street, Bel Air, Maryland 21014 for a cardiac arrest involv…

01/12/2023

Elliott Dennis Kleinman, age 69, of Bel Air, Maryland, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion, in connection with a kickback scheme that defrauded his employer of more than $20 million.

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Baltimore: U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Elliott Dennis Kleinman, age 69, of Bel Air, Maryland, yesterday to 42 months in federal prison, foll…

29/11/2023

Harford County has begun installing a video camera system on the hiking trail where murder victim Rachel Morin’s body was discovered in early August.

From Harford County government: Harford County has begun installing a video camera system on the hiking trail where murder victim Rachel Morin’s body was discovered in early August. Immediately fol…