Latest news with #HarfordCountySheriffsOffice
CBS News
20-07-2025
- CBS News
44 dogs rescued from Harford County home following citizen's report of suspected animal cruelty
44 bully-type breed dogs were removed from a Harford County home following a citizen's report of suspected animal cruelty on Thursday. Harford County Deputies and Animal Control Officers were called to the residence on the 1400 block of Eagles Grove Court, in Whiteford, on Friday, July 11, 2025, following the complaint of suspected inhumane conditions. When officers arrived, they found multiple violations of Maryland Criminal Law (Title 10, Section 604) and Harford County Code (Section 64-18) due to the mistreatment, abuse, or neglect of animals. These violations included the lack of access to drinkable water, improper shelter, and poor air quality, along with insufficient space, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Officers also observed extremely soiled bedding inside the kennels, insufficient ventilation, and temperature controls where the animals were housed. On Thursday, July 17, 2025, after officers secured safe kenneling for the dogs, they executed a search warrant at the residence with support from numerous agencies, including the Criminal Investigations Division and Forensic Sciences Unit, the Harford Humane Society, and the Harford County Department of Emergency Services Special Operations Division, Hazardous Materials Unit. The 44 dogs were then safely transported to a local shelter for evaluation and care. As the investigation is ongoing, police ask anyone with information relating to this crime to call Animal Control at 410-638-3505. Those who wish to remain anonymous may report their information through Metro Crime Stoppers Tipline at 1-866-7Lockup. Earlier this month, a pharmacist in Harford County was sentenced to one year in prison for using prescription drugs to kill his dog. After 38-year-old Ryan Kenneth Ball, of Bel Air, tried to pay people to take his 6-year-old Plott Hound, Louie, Ball took it upon himself to kill the dog. Harford County deputies found syringes and two prescription drug vials in a neighbor's trash can. The drugs are often used to relax a patient's muscles during surgery, which can lead to breathing issues and even death if the patient is not ventilated, according to court documents. Ball was a licensed pharmacist at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. In a separate case of animal cruelty, Harford County residents rescued a 4-month-old pitbull after witnessing her get abandoned on Winters Run Road back in May. "It felt like a movie," Jonathan Izer, a neighbor, told WJZ. "It was devastating, really sad, just to watch the puppy run after the car, and they didn't stop or slow down or anything. It was quite heartbreaking." Izer reportedly watched the entire abandonment from his porch, which he then alerted the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Offenders may face up to a $1,000 fine and or 90 days in jail for abandoning an animal in Harford County.
CBS News
02-07-2025
- CBS News
Veteran Harford County sergeant died suddenly at his home, sheriff's office says
The Harford County Sheriff's Office is mourning the sudden death of a 27-year veteran with the agency. Sgt. Gregory Dietz died at his home on Monday, June 30, "leaving behind a deep sense of loss felt across our ranks and by all who knew and loved him," the sheriff's office said. Over the years, Sgt. Dietz served with patrol services, as a School Resource Officer, and a supervisor in the Criminal Investigations and Court Services Divisions. He also played roles as a supervisor of the Civil Unit, a member of the Crisis Negotiation Team, a Public Information Officer, a Defensive Tactics Instructor, and an Agency Recruiter. "During this time of grief, our thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Dietz's family, friends, and loved ones. His presence will be greatly missed, and his impact will not be forgotten," the Harford County Sheriff's Office said.. Harford County flag ordered at half-staff Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly ordered the Harford County flag to be flown at half-staff from sunrise on Wednesday, July 2, until sunset on Thursday, July 3, as a tribute to Sgt. Dietz of the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Sgt. Dietz died yesterday, June 30, 2025. "Harford County honors our first responders and mourns the loss of Sgt. Dietz," Cassilly said. "We pray for his family and friends to find healing and comfort in the difficult days ahead." Sgt. Dietz testified during Joppatowe High murder trial Sgt. Dietz testified in May during the trial of 16-year-old Jaylen Prince, who was convicted of the murder of 15-year-old Warren Grant, who was shot during a fight at Joppatowne High School in September 2024. Dietz responded to the shooting call. His body camera footage was played in court, showing the day that deputies spotted Prince hiding under a stairwell. Dietz recalled that Prince only had a phone and a backpack, but a gun was not found. Prince pulled out a gun from his backpack and shot Grant, according to police.
CBS News
26-06-2025
- CBS News
Elder fraud case in Maryland prompts warning from Harford County law enforcement
The Harford County Sheriff's Office issued a warning after an 87-year-old Maryland woman was scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars. "It's one of the things, unfortunately, we deal with on a regular basis," said Colonel William Davis with the Harford County Sheriff's Office. In fact, according to the FBI, elder fraud was up 14% in 2023. Arrests in Maryland elder fraud case Unlike most elder fraud incidents, two people are facing charges for the case in Bel Air. "A lot of times, these scammers are overseas and they're dealing with actual codes that are on the back of gift cards and things like that, and they're never actually here," Col. Davis said. "This scam happened to be where they physically are here and came and took cash, so it made it easier for us to come and catch them." Chongsong Chen, 48, and Wei Hua Wang, 71, both of New York, were charged with theft and theft scheme. Chongsong Chen, 48, and Wei Hua Wang, 71, both of New York, were charged with theft and theft scheme after a Harford County woman was scammed. Harford County Sheriff's Office Col. Davis said the alleged thieves sent a pop-up to the woman's computer, warning that her bank accounts were compromised. The alert demanded $18,000 to fix the issue. "These scammers had convinced her to go to the bank, get money, take pictures of her getting the money, take pictures of the money, package it a certain way, and they would come to the house. They even used a code word so she would think it was the right person she was giving the money to," said Col. Davis. When the thieves allegedly demanded an additional $15,000, the woman called the sheriff's office. When the two men showed up to pick up the cash the next day, authorities were there waiting for them. Avoiding elder fraud According to the FBI, these types of scams caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023. "They don't keep up with technology and they don't understand how things were with bitcoin and the internet and social media and all of those things, because they just don't care, so they're not keeping up with it. So people are taking advantage of that and make them believe that what they're being told is true," Col. Davis said. Fortunately for this woman, she was able to get some money back, and officials are working to recover more. But officials are warning people that if something seems off, it probably is. Anyone asking for cash, bitcoin, gift cards or wire transfers over the internet is likely a scammer. The Harford County Sheriff's Office also believes there are likely more victims of these alleged thieves in the area, and urges anyone who thinks they may have been targeted to give them a call.
