BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — As crime in and around the Towson Town Center in Baltimore County persists, some candidates for Baltimore County Executive are calling for change.
“We need community engagement and community buy in with us for accountability for the juvenile crime and the other crimes that are occurring here,” said Doug Jess, the President of Baltimore County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4.
Nick Stewart, a Democratic candidate for Baltimore County Executive said if elected, he would implement several measures to help address public safety concerns in the Towson area.
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“There are real numbers to support some of the fear that exists at Towson,” Stewart said. “We are a relatively safe community, but there is a sense that these high profile incidents have an incredible effect on the minds and hearts of our neighbors and our residents. We have to take that seriously.”
While Stewart is calling on government officials to host a town hall with the community to discuss these issues, other possible solutions include establishing a police substation at the mall, and enter into an agreement with mall management to require them to use special police officers to enforce their own regulations in exchange for financial assistance from the County.
Additionally, Stewart wants to create more spaces for teens and kids, which would include more youth rec programs, access to pools, and other community programs to keep them involved.
Stewart also wants to increase patrols within the Towson entertainment district.
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While the Baltimore County Police Department has been responding to incidents in the area, in a statement, a spokesperson said, “The department does not disclose specific shift personnel needs. The Towson entertainment district has been, and will continue to be, a focus of the police department to ensure the safety of residents, visitors, and businesses. To achieve we ensure adequate staffing is maintained to achieve sustainable reductions in crime by using information led and data-driven approaches for resource allocation while maintaining high visibility.”
This comes after several incidents at or near the Towson Town Center in recent months. For instance, down the street, there was a brawl involving a group of juveniles between the ages of 11 and 14, where five juveniles were facing second-degree assault charges.
In November, a juvenile was stabbed and robbed inside the mall, and four teenagers were arrested in connection with the incident. There have been other previous reports of juveniles involved in fights, disorderly conduct, and carjackings, among other incidents. Recently, some have voiced concern about teen “takeovers” and mall meetups.
Stewart said if elected, he would also begin an initiative to start a broader conversation with the community about the future of the Towson Town Center.
“We need to reimagine our future because Towson is our beating heart in Baltimore County. It is our civic and our cultural core,” Stewart said.
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