Community Corner

Bizarre Deer Stories, 'Fart Spray' Disaster, Stupidest Burglars: 2013's Weird Md. News

A spectacular roundup of the year's most outrageous, sometimes disgusting but always readable weird Maryland news.

Need an excuse to go online during a long holiday week? A year of the strange and unusual in Maryland should do it. 

Deer Killed in Apparent Encounter with Cheetahs at National Zoo

A white-tailed deer roaming near an urban environment apparently crossed paths with two cheetahs at the National Zoo and nature took its course. Read more on Bethesda Patch.

Former DC Detective of the Year Guilty of Secretly Videotaping Stepdaughter

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A 23-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department has pleaded guilty to charges that he secretly taped his stepdaughter for nine months. Read more on Bowie Patch.

News Station Obtains Video of Metro Riders Falling Down Drunk
Metro warns of the dangers of riding on a moving staircase while unable to stand up straight due to over-indulgence in alcohol. See more on Silver Spring Patch.

Apple Responds to Injury in Collapse of Bethesda Row Store's Giant Glass Door

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The 800-pound door at an Apple Store fell on a passerby. Read more on Bethesda Patch. 

Police: Hug Turned into Stabbing After Argument Over Jukebox Music

A man used the ruse of a hug to stab another man in the stomach, police said. Read more on Annapolis Patch.

The Tell-Tale Cell Phone

A man told the robber he didn’t have a cellphone and then it started ringing. Read more on Bowie Patch.

A Touch of Italy for Your Pets

A pair of sisters from Odenton and Severn has launched an online business, Dog Italia, featuring Italian-themed doggy treats and other products designed to pamper your pets. There are dog-friendly cannoli and even tiny biscotti. Read more on Odenton Patch.

The Housing Prices Around Here are Un-Bear-Able

A 2-year-old black bear was spotted roaming neighborhoods in the Gaithersburg area. Sightings began on Saturday, June 15, and continued through Thursday, June 20. One Gaithersburg resident caught video of the bear eating on his deck

Stupid Burglar Tricks

A criminal didn’t succeed in getting into a home but apparently got his shoes into a bucket of paint. Read more at Pikesville Patch.

Burglar Steals Cash Register, Asks for Bandage

After smashing a glass door and stealing a cash register, a burglar asked a nearby shop owner for an adhesive bandage. Read more on Montgomery Village Patch.

Thief Grabs Dinner Before Robbing Waverly Grill

A thief ate his dinner before robbing the Waverly Grill at gunpoint. Read more on North Baltimore Patch.

'Fart Spray,' Deer Repellant Draw Hazmat Team To Camp Wo-Me-To

More than a dozen campers from Camp Wo-Me-To in Harford County were decontaminated and six taken to a local hospital for treatment after deer repellent and fart spray caused them physical irritation. Read more on Fallston Patch.

Honest Tea Founder’s Bike Stolen in Bethesda on Day of ‘Honesty Study’

Bethesda-based company Honest Tea recently conducted a fun “Honesty Study” to determine how honest people are in different parts of the country. On one of the days of the study, the company’s founder’s bike was stolen from the Bethesda Metro station. Read more on Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch.

Funeral Set for Hundreds of Dog Remains from Hoarding Case

The Baltimore Humane Society will bury the remains of dogs kept in a home by a woman convicted of animal cruelty for “pet hoarding.” Read more on Owings Mills-Reisterstown Patch.

Irony Alert: Flames Engulf Edmonston Ice Cream Trucks

The cause of the fire was unknown. Read more on Hyattsville Patch.

Science Nerds Know How to Have Fun

Students in Anne Arundel County schools Bridge Program participated in a melon-launching competition. Read more on Glen Burnie Patch.

Tony Soprano Would Approve

The late actor James Gandolfini would no doubt appreciate having his Baltimore legacy be in the form of a sandwich. This isn’t just any piece of meat between two slices of bread. Read more on North Baltimore Patch.

Are You Surprised at How Many Vehicles Crash Into Homes?

It happens more often than you think, like it did in Perry Hall. Check out the photos and read more on Perry Hall Patch.

Bowie Baysox Prescription? More Cowbell

Bowie Baysox fans attempted to break the cowbell clanging world record. Read more on Bowie Patch.

Man Vs. Blue Crabs: Yum

The expert at Perry Hall's Bill's Seafood and Catering shows us the proper way to pick and clean Maryland crabs. Watch the video for a tutorial presented by Brianna Hacke, of Bill's Seafood, so you can learn how to truly embrace Maryland’s roots. Read more on Perry Hall Patch.

Residents Willing to Pay Teenagers to Stay Out of Neighborhood

The Baltimore County Council approves an expansion of a residential permit parking area in hopes of cutting down on unruly behavior and vandalism some say is caused by students. Read more on Perry Hall Patch.

Special Delivery: Woman Gives Birth to Baby in DC Metro Station

A morning metro ride may have been unique for several commuters, when a woman gave birth on a Metro platform. Read more on Bowie Patch.

Maryland Eastern Shore Bar, Not Patrons, Gets Bombed

An A-10 Warthog jet operating out of the Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River has reportedly been grounded after accidentally dropping a practice bomb on an Eastern Shore tavern's parking lot. No one was injured. Read more on Essex Patch.

Car Climbs Barrier On Main Street Bridge - Caught on Camera

It was quite a site in the middle of Ellicott City. Read more on Ellicott City Patch.

Flesh-eating Sea Creature Caught on Videotape

Ok, it was a river and the flesh was chicken, but it’s still an awesome video. See more on Annapolis Patch.

Police: 150-lb. Watermelon Stolen from Harford Garden

Police reported that a 150-pound watermelon was taken from a Northern Harford County garden. The sheriff’s office said the watermelon is valued at $1,500. Read more on Bel Air Patch.

Del. Dwyer Gets 60 Days for Driving Car, Boat Drunk

The embattled Pasadena delegate was in trouble again. Read more on Anne Arundel Patch.

Woman Injured by Charging Cow

A Carroll County woman was injured when a cow pinned her against a car. Read more on Westminster Patch.

Stink Bugs Rejoice at Government Shutdown

Just as a mass movement of stink bugs into homes begins, scientists working on controlling the pests were furloughed. Read more on Ellicott City Patch.

No Dirty Dancing: Twerking Prohibited at Annapolis High

A school contract forbids students from dancing with "buttocks touching a partner or in the air." Read more on Annapolis Patch.

Recipe Ruined? Berger Cookies Could Disappear with Proposed Ban on Transfat

"It doesn’t taste right," Berger Cookies' owner says of recipes the company has tried recently without trans fat as an ingredient. Read more on Towson Patch.

Runner Knocked Out by 'Flying' Deer: 'Im Surprised I Made it Out Alive'

Krystine Rivera was jogging on a path near the Dulles Greenway when an SUV driven by a 71-year-old woman struck a deer and sent it flying — right on top of Rivera, according to an account of the incident in The Washington Post. Read more on Rockville Patch.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Compares Columbia to Prison

New York Mag writer describes city as "one of the dreariest American landscapes..." Read more on Columbia Patch.

Chicken on the Roof Grill Ordered to Remove Chicken

Harford County received an anonymous complaint about the locally iconic bird atop a Joppa restaurant. Read more on Bel Air Patch.

Former Board of Education Candidate Sentenced for Impersonating Secret Service Agent

The man known for his green campaign signs in Howard County said the incident destroyed his career. Read more on Ellicott City Patch.

Black Friday Assault at Annapolis Mall Caught on Camera

A 17-year-old girl was attacked at Victoria's Secret in Annapolis while shopping on Black Friday, police said. Read more on Annapolis Patch.

Parkville Robbery Foiled When Victim Didn't Have Anything Worth Stealing

Two would-be thieves ran from the scene of the crime in Parkville recently when they discovered their targeted victim didn't have anything worth stealing. Read more on Parkville Patch.



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