March 19, 2024
Annapolis, US 37 F

Pair arrested in bus theft, were looking for change to buy cigarettes

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On October 7, 2014, at approximately 5:30 a.m., the Anne Arundel County Police Department received a call from a bus company dispatcher regarding the theft of an Anne Arundel County special needs school bus from a lot located at 1229 Generals Highway in Crownsville.

It was learned that the suspects gained access to the property earlier in the morning and stole the bus, driving through the gate on the property. The following units began a coordinated effort to locate the bus: Criminal Investigative Division, Homeland Security Section, all four police districts, Tactical Patrol Units and District Detective Units, the Special Operations Unit, along with assistance from members of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education. Information was broadcast to various law enforcement agencies and to the media and the public on social media as soon as possible in an effort to locate the bus, described as a mid-size yellow bus with a handicap ramp and possible front end damage. The bus was #874 and had Maryland tags LG96488. Numerous citizen tips were received indicating possible sightings of the bus, which was ultimately located by the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Aviation Unit around 8:54 a.m. under power lines in the area of Governor Bridge Road and Strawberry Run in Davidsonville.

At approximately 11:15 a.m., the Police Department was approached by a witness who reported seeing suspicious subjects walking around in the middle of the roadway at the intersection of Governors Bridge Road and Strawberry Run Road earlier around 6:15 a.m. One individual was described as a white female, approximately 20-30 years old with long dirty blond hair, wearing a camouflaged jacket, a gray sweatshirt and carrying a plastic bag. The second individual was described as a white male, approximately 20-30 years old, balding with blond hair, wearing dark or camo pants, a dark sweat shirt and carrying a duffel bag.

The suspects were captured on video surveillance from the bus.

They eventually entered into a dark-colored sedan and headed eastbound on Governors Bridge Road. Based on this information, two individuals matching the description provided were located at a residence in the area of the 700 block of Governor’s Bridge Road around noon and taken into custody without incident.

It should be noted that bus sustained extensive damage from being crashed into the wooded area as well as from the suspects damaging it by breaking out windows. Prior to the crash into the wooded area, the bus also struck a BGE tower. They also attempted to set the bus on fire after the crash.

It appears that these two suspects were under the influence of alcohol and were looking for change to purchase cigarettes. They had no known affiliation to the Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

The suspects were charged with the following: 1st degree burglary, theft over $100,000, destruction of property over $100,000, and attempt arson.

Suspects:

  • Travis Edward Champagne, 24, of 900 Block Buttonwood Trail, Crownsville, MD
  • Nicole Jo-Ann Adams, 24, of 1200 Block W. Central Ave. Davidonsville, MD

Source: AACoPD

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