Crime & Safety

HoCo Police Arrest Speed Camera Van Vandal

Police said this was the third incident of speed camera van vandalism this month.

Howard County police announced the arrested an Ellicott City man who was shooting marbles at a speed camera near Manor Woods Elementary School around 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Bruce Lawrence May, 50, of 2882 Evergreen Court in Ellicott City, was charged with second-degree assault, destruction of property and reckless endangerment after police said they determined he was driving the vehicle from which the marbles were shot.

A civilian speed camera van operator was inside the van at the corner of Route 144 and Tridelphia Road when he heard something strike the side of the van and saw a gray 2005 Chrysler Town and Country Minivan passing on Route 144, according to police.

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The same van passed again and the van operator saw the driver, May, with a sling shot firing a projectile at the van, said police. The projectiles were later determined by police to be glass marbles.

The van operator reported the incident to police and May was later stopped and arrested, according to police.

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The speed camera van is assigned to the Manor Woods school zone because a county summer camp program takes place there from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., police said.

Police reported that this is the third incident this month involving damage to speed camera vans. 

The other two: 

  • On June 13, someone threw an unknown object at a Howard County speed camera van on Route 99 near Waverly Elementary School in Ellicott City, breaking the back window.
  • On June 12, someone threw rocks through the window of a State Highway Administration speed camera van on U.S. 29 near Route 103, striking the operator and damaging the equipment and vehicle.

Police said they are investigating whether all three incidents are related.

Also, in April, a stationary speed camera in Catonsville was torched a week after it was installed by Baltimore County. Police determined that incident caused $13,000 in damages. 

Howard County speed cameras are allowed to operate in school zones between 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Earlier this year, police noted they would continue to operate the cameras during the summer months because summer programs take place at many schools.

Other Patch speed camera coverage:


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