Carroll County, MD CCG 24 News, 5 Aug 2021

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From YouTube: CCG News- Baltimore County suspect arrested on sexual abuse of a minor charges

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For almost early afternoon, I'll introduce everybody. That's here real, quick and then.

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I'll get on with my briefing to my left is um the president of board of carroll county commissioners.

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Colonel ed rosstein and to my right is our carroll county state's attorney mr alan culver, so.

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I'm going to update you on the arrest and charges of michael vincent vazowski. Mr bazowski is 39.

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Years old and lives in the 8 000 block of black oak road in parkville baltimore county maryland.

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Detectives arrested mr brzezowski at his home in parkville and executed, search and seizure warrants.

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At his residence for phones and other electronic devices, mr bazowski is being charged with multiple.

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Counts of sexual child abuse stemming from a relationship he engaged in while an assistant.

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Football coach at manchester valley, high school and the north carol titans football program here.

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In carroll, county he's currently being held on no bond at the carroll county, adult detention center.

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And I believe, as we speak, he's getting a bond review on on that particular on his.

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Charges our investigation revealed a pattern of abuse that began in the summer of 2010 when.

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Our male victim was 13, and mr buzzowski was 28 years old and ended in december of 2012..

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The sexual abuse occurred on school property prior to practices and games.

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While our victim was a student at manchester valley, high school.

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And in multiple areas, throughout carroll and baltimore counties, we are currently working with.

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The baltimore county police department to identify locations where the abuse took place there.

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To so that we can secure charges in their jurisdiction. Investigators learned that mr.

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Buzzowski used social media and text messaging to obtain inappropriate photographs of our victim.

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We also learned that he was asked to leave other organizations for inappropriate social.

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Media contact with juveniles, where he made similar requests and advancement towards young boys that.

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He made towards our victim. Mr bazowski was either a paid assistant or volunteer coach in multiple.

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Programs in carroll, county baltimore, county maryland and in the york county, pennsylvania areas.

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He also was associated with the hereford volunteer fire department and their junior firefighter.

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Program, we believe there may be other victims when considering his predatory behavior with.

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Our victim and the information we were provided when we contacted the numerous other programs.

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He was associated with, I think, if you read the statement of charges in supporting affidavit.

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You will understand our concern that there may be other victims of unreported abuse now I'll go.

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Through a timeline that we've been able to secure through records and through information that that.

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Our victim supplied us with programs that he was involved in in baltimore.

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Carroll and in the york county pennsylvania areas, we know that he was involved with the.

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Hereford volunteer fire department from 2004 to present day. He was involved with the he was a.

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Volunteer football coach at the hereford middle school in baltimore county from 2007 to 2008.

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He was a volunteer for the hereford recreational football program in 2007-2009.

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He applied for a paid staffing position with the hereford high school in 2008 and 2009.

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He volunteered as an assistant football coach at the north carol rec council from 2009 to 2010.

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He was an assistant football coach for the manchester valley, high school in carroll, county.

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2011 and 2012.

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He was assistant coach for york, county school of technology in york, pennsylvania, 2011 and 2012..

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He was involved on the volunteer staff where he was a volunteer on the staff.

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Of the chesapeake rock lacrosse club in baltimore county maryland, 2014 and 2015.

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He's a volunteer with the fellowship of christian athletes in baltimore county from 2016 to 2017.

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He was a volunteer with the staff at the hamilton football league in baltimore county.

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2017. he was employed by the bryn mawr school in baltimore city in 2019.

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We also have records that indicate that he was employed by the baltimore county public school.

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System as a food services worker, but at this point we can't identify the specific school that.

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He participated, or he was a worker at and we're still working on, getting those records. These are.

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The programs that we're familiar with and that we can find documentation on that. He worked at as.

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Either a volunteer or a paid assistant or actually was employed at we're, asking anyone that may be a.

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Victim have information on who may be a victim or have any information. That's pertinent to this case.

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To give us a call, we've dedicated a a phone line so that you can call in to us.

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It's 443-373-1684 or you can contact my lead detective detective michael mcmillian,.

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You can email him at mike mcmillan or macmillian m-m-c-m I-l-l-I-o-n at carrollcountymd.gov.

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Because most of the organizations mr bazowski was associated with are in baltimore county.

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You have information about any of those cases or you want to speak with detectives in in baltimore.

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County detective dan coons with the baltimore county police department is the lead detective.

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For any incident that may have occurred there and again you can call either number and we'll direct.

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You to the appropriate organization, that's looking into these cases. His number is 410-853-3650.

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Now I'll turn it over to our state attorney mr alan culver to make a couple of statements and.

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Then I'll answer, I'm sure you guys have a number of questions that that you may have al. Thank you.

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Good morning, everyone, uh let me first say that, since this is a pending criminal matter, we are.

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Limited as to what we can say regards to the case, however, we did want to take this opportunity to.

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Provide general information to anyone out there who's concerned about possible victims. First of.

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All I'll point everyone to two very good websites. First, one is the national children's alliance.

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And the other one is the national center for missing and exploited children, which many people.

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Know better, as nick mc as far as possible signs of abuse things that folks could look for and.

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If they're concerned things that may seem self-explanatory but may be possible signs of.

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Abuse the national children's alliance indicates that things like unexplained injuries, changes.

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In behavior, if someone appears as scared, a child appears scared about things. They didn't used to be.

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Scared about returning or regressing to earlier behaviors thumb sucking things of that nature.

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uh Fear of going home or to a particular place, uh changes in habits, changes in eating.

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Changes in sleeping changes in their school performance, whether it be their grades or.

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Their attendance lack of personal care to their hygiene if they start.

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Risk-Taking behaviors or any inappropriate sexual behaviors.

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Now these aren't the only signs, but these are possible examples. If you're concerned about.

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Signs of victims of abuse now, if, if any victims do disclose out there, what we wanted to tell people.

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Is what you should do is reassure them that it's okay and that you're there to help. You should also.

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Of course, remain calm and non-judgmental, and let them know that being exploited.

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Is never their fault and finally, of course, if any children or victims do disclose.

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Gather that information, but then please contact law enforcement. The investigators involved.

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In these cases, they're experts they receive very detailed training in the interviewing of.

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Sex abuse, victims, specifically minors and they're in the best position to get the information.

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So that's all I have and I'll turn it back over to the sheriff for questions.

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So I know you guys will have a lot of questions and my pio will send out a press release after.

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This particular briefing and it'll have the details of all the organizations that I mentioned.

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And it should also have a photograph of our our suspect, suspect. Mr bazowski. We also recognize.

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That that the span of time that he has had access to uh juveniles ranges from as far back as we.

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Can see 2004 and as recent as 2019, so we know that there may be adult victims out there, but.

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We also are concerned that there could also be underage and juvenile victims out there, based on.

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On the organizations that he participated in so this is him um I will tell you that I'm a.

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Father of children in in sports, um ranging from from basketball to soccer to baseball.

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I couldn't tell you who my son's daughter's assistant coach was back in 2004.

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But the reason that that I want to give dates out and specific organizations are that if you had a.

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Child that played football for a particular organization during that time period, then.

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It might be worthwhile seeing if they had this individual as an assistant, coach.

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We all know who our head coaches were, and there were people that made an impact in our lives, but.

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You may have had this individual as an assistant, coach and.

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I think folks need to see this individual and understand and look at the dates that that that.

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Your child may have participated in programs there. What questions do you have please yeah.

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I have it as b-o-n.

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C-Z-E-W-S-K-I, how do you pronounce that buzzowski is how he pronounces it pronounces it buzzowski.

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We don't know that christian we've been we've been trying to search records, but my detective's gotten.

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um Pretty in-depth, with the amount of programs that he's gone through through employment records.

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I didn't want to put any information out there on a program that we did not personally speak with.

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And confirm that he was, he was either a volunteer assistant or a paid uh coach or actually had.

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Employment um at those locations, half a dozen to a dozen places that he has interacted with the last.

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15 to 20 years, do you have any idea of ballpark number of youth that he interacted with.

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I mean just because I'm I, like I said, I'm a parent of a it's hundreds. Obviously.

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But again, if you take the charging documents and read the documents, I think you'll get a better.

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Idea of of uh you know, he's he's. He sees his opportunities, he um what parents should.

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Understand is that he um reaches out to the kids inappropriately on social media apps and.

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Tries to ask for different things through the app and and has been turned away by many. But.

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um In this particular case, he did communicate with our victims, so social media, apps and and programs.

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Are important for for moms and dads to look at and and uh get an idea, if he's communicating with them.

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Seems innocent um facebook is primarily what what uh what we believe he's been communicating with.

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You said he was in all of these different jurisdictions at different times and very likely.

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Had contact with youth in all these different jurisdictions at all these different times.

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Was part of the investigation looking into complaints in any of these jurisdictions? They are.

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Complaints filed in these jurisdictions, uh they yeah part of the investigation, will be looking at.

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Complaints to develop a pattern of behavior um and we do have those, but I I I'm not going to disclose.

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These these specific, we, I will just tell you that he was asked to leave a number of organizations.

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For this type of behavior, complaints within the organization are complaining with law enforcement.

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Complaints within the organization yeah and- and this is the first time law enforcement's.

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Heard about this individual that we can find, did you also seize certain amounts of pornographic.

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Images, so I will tell you: we executed a search warrant yesterday morning when we arrested him.

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At his residency's computers and phones and any other electronic device that the search warrant.

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Allowed us to to to seize uh the only thing I will tell you is that we've been able to to do a quick.

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Thumbnail and look at some of the devices and and the images are concerning, do you believe he.

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Had sexual activity with these young young people- well, we know he's being charged with having sexual.

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Activity with our victim, that's disclosed in the charging doctor, just the one victim right now.

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But we know through our investigation, as we start talking to other organizations.

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That he participated in or volunteered with that his behavior is similar. He was asked to.

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Leave for similar behavior to how he started the relationship with our with our one victim.

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Who was he most currently employed by? uh It looks like the bryn mawr school in baltimore city and.

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And the last that we could see is 2019 there's not a public school. I don't believe it is. I think it's.

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A private school so um among the places where he's been over the last 15-20 years you mentioned and.

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I'm from york county so can we talk a little bit about his connection over the state line.

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He did mention the york county school of technology, that's the only that's the only.

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Individual jurisdiction that we believe he had contact with um or volunteered at that.

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But again, these are just records that we could we could find and and through interviews with.

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Our victim were there any specific victims that you identified in york, county in your county. No.

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No, so why do? Why are you actually other than these employment connections? Why do you believe there is.

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uh Involvement in your accounting, I won't say that that there absolutely is involvement in.

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York county, but we we know through these types of investigations and the information that we.

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Received from york county and uh the disclosures from our victim that there's a likelihood that.

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There could be victims in york county. Is he facing any charges? Nothing, nothing in your county.

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Nothing across the state line, but I would be uh neglect if I didn't put this information out and I.

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Didn't show his photograph based on what I know about this individual and explain to parents that.

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If you had contact with him that it would be wise for you to speak with your children,.

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And if you're an adult survivor- and you have something that you want to disclose to us.

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That we're open and ready to hear your disclosure and and I've done these cases.

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For several years myself- and I know that it takes an awful lot for someone that could be.

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A victim, especially as an adult, to come forward and disclose this information.

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But we're ready to receive that there is no statue of limitations on crimes like this in the state of.

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Maryland and so that's why in this case, it's a a little bit older, our victim is an adult.

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But we know he's had contact with juveniles up until 2019.. So what would be the range of.

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Ages of the individuals, the rage, low, low to high point range of ages of individuals. He had contact.

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With over these years, based on what we see in our investigation, it looks like it could be.

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10 11 12 13 year old, and it appears as though it boys and how old would these boys be now.

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It depends on when the actual um abuse may have occurred. I mean they could be in their mid-20s or.

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Or if it's something that happened two three years ago, um middle teens, 15, 16 years old,.

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Could you characterize how this finally came to light with the victim? They obviously must have.

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Been suffering for almost a decade yeah I mean I can't go into the specifics of the victim and.

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What they're suffering from, but the victim did, disclose and come forward to us um and and give.

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Us all the information that that was required to put the case together, and I will tell you that.

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That uh there is, there is supporting evidence, um aside from victim statements, that support the case.

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Based on based on allegations that statements that people made, but no.

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No specific investigated allegation. I believe it was. He was a volunteer coach.

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Or maybe even a paid assistant in some organizations and statements were made.

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Or allegations were made not investigated by law enforcement. I don't know how in depth by.

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By the school system- um and he was asked to leave from uh several of those organizations.

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um I'd have to go back and look chris now, I'm not sure. I think he was at the end of.

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The football season he he was not asked to come back and- and I don't believe um it was because of.

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The allegations, but I'd have to go back and look at that. In every case he was coaching football.

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Other than the lacrosse, the one, the one that we we learned of with the lacrosse organization in.

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In baltimore county, it appears as though it's all football related. You said he was also a food.

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Services, we believe I I'm assuming he was uh in a school cafeteria serving food in baltimore county.

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As an employee or as a volunteer according to our records, it was an employee, but we can't pinpoint.

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Looking at the records the specific school that he worked at, you said.

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He was taken into custody at the same time. Search warrant was executed, yep.

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Has he confessed? I wouldn't tell you that at this point we're still investigating, so we have.

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Interviewed him, but I won't, I won't disclose that statement. Yet. Can you uh based on your list there.

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Indicate what was his role at the york county school of technology? It appears as though.

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He was a either a paid or volunteer assistant football coach, and what year would that have been.

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2011 and 2012., it doesn't say he was a volunteer, so I'm assuming he was a paid assistant coach.

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Correct and my understanding is that he was asked to leave that organization.

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I don't believe it was a national team. I'd have to check with my detective, but I believe it was.

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A fellowship of christian athletes that that was a national organization that was based in baltimore.

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County that particular chapter in baltimore county, uh you stated earlier as a parent that you have.

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You know you wouldn't be able to remember this person's affiliation with any particular.

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Organization, could you talk about as a parent? What other parents might be thinking about right now.

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Watching this, so I mean the name's unique and you know a football program I I know has multiple.

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Coaches, that um uh coach specific functions of that team that may not have a whole lot of.

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Internet interaction with with other kids um on different sides of the ball, for, for example, so.

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There could be an opportunity that this this individual had contact with your your child.

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During football programs, um but you don't you remember the name, you know the person.

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But but didn't have a whole lot of interaction while you were watching on the football field in.

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The case of our victim, that's the case, so there there was a wasn't a whole lot of interaction.

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Between the two, because the football team was large, the coaching staff was large, but there.

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Was a specific incident and injury that took place that brought the two of them together and that's.

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Disclosed in the charging documents and that's how the relationship began from that point on.

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So I guess, as a parent I mean it's if, if you're looking at these organizations- and you were a.

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Parent that had a child in these organizations- or you were in these organizations at the time and.

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You recognized this individual, obviously we're concerned with anyone that was abused years ago.

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But again I I we know that he's had contact with children as recent as 2019.

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Young boys, as recent as 2019., and so for me. uh I would hope that parents would look at this.

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And put the dates together and say: um I recognize something that that uh the state's attorney just.

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Just said in in in looking at, um you know, signs that that you may have been abused or your child.

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May have been abused and those young boys that you said very likely he had contact with in 2019 were.

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From baltimore city or they went, they just went to bryn mawr in baltimore. The one is just bryn mawr.

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That we know of in 2019 and then it starts backwards from there.

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2017 at the hamilton football league in baltimore county 2017, with fellowship christian athletes.

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Lacrosse organization in 14 and 15, and it goes back all the way to 2004.

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So you can, you can get a copy of the charging documents. um I I won't provide them, but my public.

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Information officer will give you a press release and the photograph and the charging document.

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Is pretty easy to get through the district court commissioners office? You mean as soon.

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As you're done here, yep he'll he'll, certainly email he's here. uh Jonathan light over in the.

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uh Your right hand corner we'll make sure you guys get all the information you need. So what would you.

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Like to say to the families in your counties that may have been impacted by this gentleman.

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Call us if talk to your children, if you're a survivor of any sort of abuse, give us a call.

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Call your local police department and communicate with them. If you have any information, that's.

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Pertinent to this investigation, or if you know of someone, that's disclosed to you as a victim.

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By this individual then give us a call. I mean it's as simple as doing that and then it's as difficult.

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As doing that as well, I'm taking the step to to make a call to us. Have you folks had any contact.

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It's outside york city, it's in your township. Have you had any communication with your county.

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Authorities or your township area regional police, um it's so chopped up there it's hard to determine.

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Who's got what responsibility, but we have communicated with york county officials on on this.

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Individual, so um nothing that that we can see that that they've investigated any sort of complaints.

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Now understand that his his association with york county was very, very limited for that short period.

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Of time, while he was in that football, football program also understand that football programs.

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Don't last for the year that I've I've explained that they last so, it could have started in august.

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And ended in december, but that would have been calendar year 2011 or gone into calendar year.

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2012., just based on our records, well just to recap other than his employment situation, his employment.

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Association, you have no specific complaint over evidence of any involvement with any.

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Youngster from pennsylvania or york county there's, no specific allegation, that's being made against.

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Him that right now is being investigated by my office or your county officials.

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And prior to this, obviously, there's been other instances of people abusing children.

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In utilizing athletic programs as an umbrella to be able to do that, do you.

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Find a pattern of any sort of institutional covering of his actions, or is this just him simply.

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Jumping from place to place and doing this on his own without any sort of covering up by anybody.

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Higher than him, that's a good question, the the I don't see anything institutional that indicates.

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That that people were trying to cover up the fact that this guy had had his behavior was suspect.

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And that he was moved on, um I I see problems with the fact that an individual like this can go from.

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State to state or jurisdiction to jurisdiction program the program without programs, knowing that.

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There could be alleged complaints or at least have any information at hand. I see problems with that.

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To the fault of of the schools or the programs, no policymakers, yes, legislators. Yes,.

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Maybe they should get a little better grip on what goes on when people go from organization.

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Organization or they're around our children and volunteering or being paid but but no.

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Nothing systemic that ice that we can see that says that they're trying to cover anything.

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Up okay, thank you.

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