March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 48 F

Police Crackdown On “The Pit” In Broadneck

The Anne Arundel County Police Department remains committed to addressing situations that negatively impact the quality of life for County residents. One such long-standing community issue is an area commonly known as “The Pit”, located near the corner of Chestnut Tree Drive and Southview Drive in Cape St. Claire, Maryland.  “The Pit”, while in close proximity to Broadneck High School, is an off-campus location in the residential community where students tend to congregate before and after school.  Nearby residents have experienced large groups of juveniles loitering in the area and have been subjected to disorderly conduct, destruction to their property; witnessed illegal drug use, fights and other criminal behaviors.

On Friday, February 8, 2013, at approximately 2:15 p.m., a fight took place in the street, approximately ten minutes after school dismissal in the area of Southview Drive and Chestnut Tree Drive. The fight, which was over in less than a minute, was observed by numerous individuals who gathered and fled by the time police officers responded to the scene. On the following Monday, February 11, 2013, the Police Department became aware of a video that showed the fight and the participants. Officers from the Eastern District, the School Resource Officer assigned to Broadneck High School and school officials worked together to identify the combatants as well as one juvenile who acted as “a referee.” The following charges resulted from this incident:

  • Austin Lane Stringer, 18, from Arnold, Maryland, charged with Second Degree Assault via a criminal summons issued by a District Court Commissioner.
  • 17-year-old male juvenile from Annapolis; charged on a juvenile citation with disorderly conduct and affray
  • 17-year-old male juvenile from Annapolis; charged on a juvenile citation with disorderly conduct.
  • 17-year-old female juvenile from Annapolis; charged on a juvenile citation with disorderly conduct and affray
  • 15-year-old female juvenile from Annapolis; charged on a juvenile citation with disorderly conduct and affray

After the fight on February 8, 2013, officers from Eastern District have continued to work closely with neighboring residents to provide an increased patrol presence in the area before and after school. Officers from the Eastern District’s Tactical Patrol Unit have been performing increased patrols to the area, and a Detective has been assigned to assist and coordinate efforts with the School Resource Officer and school administrators.

On February 12, 2013, at approximately 2:08 p.m., an officer from Eastern District pulled into the area of Southview Drive and saw several persons loitering in the area while smoking cigarettes. The officer determined that three of the individuals were under the legal age to possess tobacco products. As he continued his investigation, additional Broadneck High School students approached the area on foot. One juvenile male student was smoking as he approached, and he was detained for the violation. This individual was insolent and initially uncooperative with the officer. The officer requested additional patrol assistance. Another juvenile approached on foot and remained near the group under investigation. At one point, one of the males being detained tossed a lighter to the male who was standing nearby. This 17-year-old male lit a cigarette directly in front of the officer. He was instructed to extinguish the cigarette and eventually complied. The following resulted from this encounter:

  • 17-year-old male; charged on a juvenile civil citation with possessing a tobacco product under the legal age of 18.
  • 17-year-old male; charged on a juvenile civil citation with possessing a tobacco product under the legal age of 18.
  • 16-year-old male; charged on a juvenile civil citation with possessing a tobacco product under the legal age of 18.
  • 16-year-old female; charged on a juvenile civil citation with possessing a tobacco product under the legal age of 18.
  • 16-year-old female; charged on a juvenile civil citation with possessing a tobacco product under the legal age of 18.

weapons and CDS paraphernaliaOn February 26, 2013, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the School Resource Officer assigned to Broadneck High School checked the area of Southview Drive and Chestnut Tree Drive during student arrival. As he was arriving to the area, a citizen had called police to report a suspicious vehicle in the area. The officer approached the vehicle and noticed a “butterfly knife” on the driver’s lap as he was speaking with the operator. The officer quickly grabbed the unopened knife and removed the driver from the car.

Once the driver was out of the car, a glass smoking device commonly used to consume illegal drugs was evident on the driver’s seat. Additional patrol officers were summonsed to assist and noticed the handle of another knife in the back seat floorboard area. An officer retrieved the item and found the fixed-blade knife was approximately 14 inches long.

Two female passengers were removed from the vehicle. During an additional search, officers found more drug paraphernalia and several other edged weapons. These weapons included a black t-handle knife; a black-handled curved boot knife; and a hatchet-style knife with a multi-colored handle. In total, six edged weapons were seized. Five devices fashioned to smoke controlled dangerous substances were seized. Two packages of suspected synthetic marijuana were seized along with tobacco products. The following charges resulted from this incident:

David Jordan Mahanes, 23, of the 600 block of Bay Green Drive, Arnold; charged with unlawfully wearing/carrying a dangerous weapon and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

15-year-old female; charged on a juvenile citation with charged with unlawfully wearing/carrying a dangerous weapon and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

15-year-old female; charged on a juvenile citation with charged with unlawfully wearing/carrying a dangerous weapon and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

Anne Arundel County Police Officers will continue to provide an increased visible presence in the area.  Officials at Broadneck High School have reassigned additional supervisory staff to the back driveway and parking lot, and numerous announcements have been made to the entire student body concerning behavioral expectations in the community before and after school. The school also sent an email communication to parents on February 27, 2013, asking them to address this issue with their children. Citizens observing suspicious or illegal behaviors are encouraged to call police for assistance.

Source: AACoPD
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