Crime & Safety

Speed Camera in Catonsville Torched

The camera was at the newest location at the intersection of Brook Road and Gary Drive on South Rolling Road.

The speed camera on South Rolling Road in Catonsville was destroyed after vandals set fire to the metal box early Friday morning, according to police.

The act comes a week after the were installed by the county at the intersection of Brook Road and Gary Drive on South Rolling Road. 

Officials had added the third site along South Rolling Road after many residents complained about excessive speeding along that stretch of the road.

Find out what's happening in Columbiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police received a call at 1:40 a.m. for a fire along the 400 block of South Rolling Road, according to police spokeswoman Elise Armacost.

When Engine 41 from Catonsville responded to the scene, firefighters saw that the metal box that holds the camera was on fire. Firefighters extinquished it and police investigators were called to the scene, Armacost said.

Find out what's happening in Columbiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police determined that the fire was a first-degree malicious burning, but said they do not have any suspects at this time.

Armacost said the fire caused $13,000 in damages.

Marty Haggerty, who lives on South Rolling Road across the street from the camera, was woken up by his wife last night.

He watched as firefighters extinguished the camera, which he said was in flames.

"It was frightening," he said. "My kids were crying."

Haggerty, who worked along with many neighbors along that stretch of road to add the camera, said he was angered by the act of vandalism. He said he thought the fire was set by someone who didn't like the camera. 

"If you're opposed to the speed camera, you don't do an act of terrorism," he said. "We got this camera by playing by the rules."

Baltimore County speed cameras have been . Someone spray painted a camera near Sparrows Point High School in Edgemere and someone broke the lens on a camera near Padonia Elementary School in Cockeysville, according to police.

Baltimore County officials said they have contacted the vendor and expect to install a new camera. In the meantime, the speed camera that rotates between both sides of South Rolling Road by will still be in operation.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.