Police Say Teen Linked To Catonsville Crime Spree

CATONSVILLE, MD — Police said a teen is suspected in a string of crimes in Catonsville, including arson. The 16-year-old boy was arrested Thursday on Vanderwood Road after multiple incidents were reported that are believed to be related to him, officials said. He has not been publicly identified.

The alleged crime spree came to a close outside Johnnycake Elementary School.

Johnnycake Elementary School officials notified authorities that a masked person walked into the school building in the 5900 block of Craigmont Road, where the teen allegedly tried to steal property. When school personnel approached him, officials said the teen left; staff followed him until he was apprehended in the area of Vanderwood Road by police.

Before that, police said a suspect was reportedly seen chasing a man on Bardswell Road toward Johnnycake Elementary School. According to officials, the pursuer was said to have some type of weapon; however, when the teen was at the elementary school, police said he was not armed.

The first incident connected to the boy was a house fire reported after 10:30 a.m. in the 900 block of Bardswell Road, according to police. Firefighters found smoke showing from the home and contained it in 10 minutes, officials reported.

Nobody was home at the time of the fire, according to police, who said that authorities received information that the 16-year-old boy intentionally set the blaze.

The investigation is continuing, and police said that no charges have yet been filed.

Patch file photo.