| The Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department was summoned several times over the weekend of September 22-23 to assist the Maryland State Police with a variety of incidents.
On Saturday afternoon, September 23, paramedics were called to the area of Route 26 and the Liberty Reservoir for a reported suicidal subject. A State Police helicopter crew was able to locate the individual along the reservoir shoreline, and once the scene was secured by police, the subject was removed from the area. Due to a mechanical issue, the helicopter was unable to transport the man, so Sykesville Paramedic 128 transported him to Shock Trauma with non-life threatening injuries.
Later on Saturday evening, a Sykesville-area man led police from around the region on a high speed chase from Baltimore City through Baltimore County and into Carroll County. Police say the suspect, Melvin Morris, allegedly tried to run down Baltimore City officers as they tried to arrest him on drug charges. After a chase that reached speeds of near 100 miles per hour, Morris lost control of his vehicle on a remote stretch of Ridge Road. He escaped into the woods, prompting an intensive search. Sykesville's Rescue Squad 12 was called to the scene to provide lighting. The search was called off after several hours.
Then on Sunday evening, police tracked Morris to his grandmother's house on Arrington Road. The area around the house was sealed off, and a standoff began. Sykesville's Engine 124 and Paramedic 129 were called to standby at the MSP command post at Arrington and Brangles roads, while Engine 123 and Ladder 12 staged at Freedom Park along with a MSP helicopter. After a couple of hours, MSP tactical teams stormed the house and found Morris hiding in a crawl space of the home. He was taken into custody without incident, and all crews were released.
As Paramedic 129 and Engine 124 were clearing the scene, they were dispatched to the Thomas O'Farrell Youth Center for a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, however, state police reported that the victim had been taken to the hospital by a private vehicle. The units all returned to station shortly before midnight. |
