The death of a 2-year-old Damascus boy is being investigated by the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division Homicide and Sex Section.

Thapelo Andrew Kwofie was found unconscious around 3:07 p.m. Sunday, according to Montgomery County Department of Police Media Services Division.

Officers from the 5th District and Fire and Rescue personnel were dispatched to the Valley Park Court address for an unresponsive 2-year-old boy, police said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the boy had become entangled in a drapery cord, police said.

Kwofie was transported to Shady Grove Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police said that at this stage of the investigation, it appears the boy's death was accidental.

His body will be transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy, police said.

-- Stephanie Mlot

Vehicle crashes into house

A car struck a light pole before crashing through the side of a house, according to the Frederick Police Department.

Officer First Class Ryan Forrest responded to 1300 Danberry Drive to find a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse had struck a house about 9 p.m. Saturday.

The driver, Jennifer Elizabeth Morrison of the 5400 block of Jefferson Pike, was charged with driving under the influence and negligent driving.

Morrison, 40, was traveling north on McCain Drive when she veered off the road and struck a light pole, police said.

The car re-entered the street, crossed over the center line and left the road on the left side. Police said Morrison continued to drive across the lawn and strike the east wall of the house.

The vehicle struck the house with such force that it broke through the foundation wall and ended up partially imbedded inside the structure, police said.

Morrison was located at the scene and failed a series of field sobriety tests, police said.

-- Stephanie Mlot

Traffic stop leads to arrest

A traffic stop led to an arrest and a citation for two Hagerstown residents, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.

While on patrol about 11:30 p.m. Friday, a deputy saw a vehicle not stop at a stop sign on Ballenger Creek Pike at Corporate Drive, the sheriff's office said. A K-9 unit was called and alerted authorities to the odor of drugs.

During a search deputies found suspected marijuana on Aaron L. Wieland, 25, and a smoking device in the purse of Brittany P. Bright, 19, the sheriff's office said.

Bright was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. Wieland was arrested on a marijuana possession charge and released on personal recognizance.

-- Gina Gallucci-White

Smoky parked car leads to charges

A smoky parked car in the area of Gambrill Park and Hamburg roads led to charges for two Middletown teenagers, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.

When the deputy spoke to the occupants of the vehicle about 7 p.m. Sunday, he smelled a strong odor of marijuana, the sheriff's office said.

Almost 24 grams of suspected marijuana was found in Patrick J. Prather's backpack, the sheriff's office said. A 16-year-old, whose name was not released, had almost six grams of marijuana.

Prather was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, authorities said. He was released on personal recognizance.

The 16-year-old was released to a parent and referred to the Department of Juvenile Services, authorities said.

-- Gina Gallucci-White

Police investigate assault

Frederick police are looking for a man who assaulted another man with a baseball bat.

At about 9:42 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a report of an assault near the 500 block of North East Street, Frederick police reported.

Officers found an injured 35-year-old man and several bystanders in the parking lot of 575 N. East St., police said. The man had injuries to his mouth and face.

He told officers that he had been struck in the face by an unknown man with a baseball bat while he was in the nearby Laboring Sons Alley, police said. The suspect was in the company of two other men.

Nothing was stolen from the man, and the assault is apparently drug-related, police said.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Department's Criminal Investigation Division.

-- Patti S. Borda

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