Frederick, MD – The Frederick Police Department’s evening and midnight patrol officers displayed excellent teamwork and proactive policing over the weekend. Officer L. Abed initiated a traffic stop on Saturday evening and called in reinforcements due to suspicious behavior by the vehicle’s occupants.
OFC Walsleben, K-9 handler Corrado, and OFC Malatesta promptly responded to assist Abed. During the field investigation, Officer Walsleben noticed a semiautomatic handgun in plain view inside the vehicle.
All three occupants were taken into custody without incident, with one of the suspects found to have an outstanding arrest warrant.
- Chromebooks being blamed for multiple fires across Maryland
ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office issued a statewide warning Thursday after a hazardous social media trend dubbed the “Chromebook Challenge” caused multiple fires and forced school evacuations across the state.
The trend involves students inserting electrically conductive objects — including pencils and metal tools — into the charging ports of both school-issued and personal electronic devices. According to authorities, the behavior leads to electrical shorts that produce smoke, sparks, and in some instances, fires stemming from battery thermal runaway.
As of Monday, the fire marshal’s office had documented several incidents tied to the trend in Maryland schools. While no injuries have been reported, several cases prompted evacuations and required emergency response due to smoke conditions or small-scale fires caused by damaged batteries.
“We want to emphasize the importance of educating students about the dangers associated with these acts,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray said. The office is working with school systems to address safety concerns and prevent further incidents.
Officials are urging parents to speak with their children about the dangers of tampering with electronics and encourage schools to reinforce digital device safety policies.
Key points
- Maryland authorities report a rise in fires linked to a social media trend called the “Chromebook Challenge”
- Students inserting metal objects into charging ports are causing short circuits and battery ignition
- The State Fire Marshal is calling for increased awareness and safety education in schools
Schools take action to limit device misuse
In response, several Maryland school districts have begun issuing advisories to parents, cautioning them about the trend and asking them to monitor student device use at home. Some districts are also conducting in-school assemblies and digital safety briefings.
Educational technology departments across the state have flagged the issue as an urgent cybersecurity and physical safety threat. Some schools have started implementing restrictions on unsupervised device use or adding protective cases that shield charging ports when not in use.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is also working with device manufacturers and education administrators to explore long-term hardware solutions that would make tampering more difficult. These efforts are ongoing as the investigation into individual incidents continues.
Emergency responders in at least three counties have confirmed responding to smoke reports or minor fires caused by shorted-out devices. No criminal charges have been filed, but disciplinary actions have been taken by school officials.
The fire marshal’s office continues to monitor the situation and is asking anyone with information related to similar incidents to report them.
A viral trend involving student tampering with school electronics has sparked real-world consequences across Maryland classrooms.
- Parkville woman wins $50K after routine lottery stop
PARKVILLE, MD — A quick stop after work turned into a life-changing moment for a Parkville supermarket employee who won $50,000 in the May 1 Bonus Match 5 drawing, Maryland Lottery officials confirmed.
Jennifer Iobbi, a longtime Lottery player, matched all five winning numbers on a $6 ticket she purchased after her shift. The winning numbers were 10, 20, 21, 24, and 26, with a Bonus Ball of 32. She scanned the ticket the following day using the Maryland Lottery app and was prompted to visit Lottery headquarters — a message that was confirmed again at a retailer.
After years of playing scratch-offs with occasional small wins, she decided in February to start trying Bonus Match 5. On May 5, Jennifer redeemed the winning ticket, accompanied by her father, who also regularly plays the Lottery and advised her to double-check the ticket.
The prize will help her pay off bills and invest in her daughter’s future. “I was surprised. I wanted to cry, scream, and dance — but I didn’t want to embarrass myself, so I just hugged my dad,” she said of her reaction.
Baltimore retailer earns bonus for selling winning ticket
Jennifer purchased the ticket at Shoppers Food, located at 5600 The Alameda in Baltimore. The retailer will receive a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
Bonus Match 5 is a nightly draw game in which players must match all five numbers on a single line to win the top prize of $50,000. An additional Bonus Ball increases the chances to win smaller prizes.
Players have 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes, and winning tickets over $25,000 must be redeemed at a Lottery Customer Resource Center.
The Maryland Lottery continues to highlight winners like Jennifer and promotes responsible play while contributing to public programs through Lottery proceeds.
- Teen nabbed for shooting 18-year-old in Baltimore
BALTIMORE, MD — A 17-year-old male has been arrested and charged as an adult in connection with the April 27 shooting of an 18-year-old man in Baltimore’s Northeast District, police announced.
The shooting occurred at approximately 2:18 p.m. in the 5800 block of Northwood Drive. Officers responded to reports of gunfire and found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Medics transported him to a local hospital, where he was treated and is expected to survive.
Following an investigation, the suspect was located in Baltimore County. On April 30, he was taken into custody and transported from a county police precinct to the Central Booking Intake Facility. He has been charged with attempted first-degree murder.
Officials have not released the suspect’s name due to his juvenile status, despite being charged as an adult.
Investigation continues in Northeast District shooting
Police have not released additional details regarding the motive behind the shooting or whether the suspect and victim were acquainted. The incident remains under investigation by Northeast District detectives.
The 5800 block of Northwood Drive, where the shooting occurred, is located in a residential area that has seen several recent incidents of gun violence.
Authorities are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Baltimore Police Department or submit anonymous tips to Metro Crime Stoppers.
- Lucky shopper wins $50K on scratch-off in Laurel
DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD — A retired hospitality worker from Prince George’s County is celebrating after claiming the first $50,000 top prize in the Maryland Lottery’s new Let’s Make a Deal scratch-off game.
The lucky player purchased the $5 ticket at Tony’s Liquors, located at 12637 Laurel – Bowie Road in Laurel, during a shopping trip with her sister. She scratched the ticket at home and was stunned to see the matching number that revealed the full prize amount.
“I saw that I matched the ‘8’ to one of the winning numbers and thought, ‘this can’t be real,’” the winner recalled. Her sister scanned the ticket using a mobile app, which confirmed the $50,000 prize.
The pair visited the Maryland Lottery’s Claim Center in Baltimore earlier this week to collect the winnings. The woman plans to use the money for home improvements.
Retailer earns bonus as scratch-off game launches second-chance promotion
Tony’s Liquors, the store that sold the winning ticket, will receive a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling the top-prize ticket. This marks the first top-tier win for the new Let’s Make a Deal game, which launched with a $50,000 top prize.
In addition to the base game, players can enter non-winning Let’s Make a Deal tickets into a second-chance promotion through September 8. Five winners will each receive a VIP trip for two to Los Angeles, California, to attend a taping of the game show. Twenty additional winners will receive $5,000 in cash.
Trip packages include round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, $1,660 in spending money, and a guided tour of Los Angeles landmarks. Winners will also receive a costume to wear at the taping, where they will participate in audience games for a chance to win up to $3,000.
- Gas station ticket in Hanover hits for $40K Mega Millions win
HANOVER, MD — A Mega Millions ticket purchased at a gas station in Anne Arundel County turned into a $40,000 prize after Tuesday’s drawing, marking the first big win under the game’s newly expanded format.
The winning ticket was sold at Exxon at the Mills, located at 7671 Arundel Mills Boulevard in Hanover. The ticket matched four of the five white balls plus the Mega Ball in the May 6 drawing, a combination that qualifies for the game’s third-tier prize.
Under the previous format, that would have resulted in a $10,000 win. However, the new version of the game includes an automatic multiplier for each ticket — and this draw’s multiplier was 4X, boosting the prize to $40,000.
The winning numbers were 16, 17, 43, 46, and 58, with a Mega Ball of 16. The multiplier feature can vary from 2X to 10X, depending on the draw.
This ticket marks Maryland’s first third-tier Mega Millions winner since the game’s ticket price increased to $5 and the multiplier feature became automatic.
Mega Millions jackpot climbs as Maryland celebrates new winner
Although no player matched all six numbers in the May 6 drawing, the Mega Millions jackpot has now grown to an estimated annuity of $100 million, with a cash option of $45.3 million available for the next drawing on Friday.
Lottery officials remind players to sign the back of their tickets and store them securely. Prizes over $25,000 must be claimed through the Maryland Lottery’s headquarters, located in the Montgomery Park Business Center in Baltimore. Claims can be made in person by appointment or by mail.
Winners have 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prize. Additional details and appointment scheduling information are available on the Lottery’s website.