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Crime & Safety

Patterson Mill Student Charged With Making False Alarm

The incident Wednesday afternoon prompted an evacuation of the school.

UPDATE (2:33 p.m.)—The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office has charged a Patterson Mill student with "making a false alarm" in an incident that occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The juvenile, accused of pulling a fire alarm, was charged and released to his parents, according to a report.

The crime is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. The boy, who has no prior charges, according to a fire marshal spokesman, could also be sentenced to community service.

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An evacuation of the school forced more than 1,700 people outside during what the report describes as "inclement weather." Patterson Mill houses its and school in the same building.

Ten firefighters from the responded to the scene.

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This is the second false alarm for the joint schools in less than a month. Three  girls   on March 28, which caused a "lockdown" at Patterson Mill.

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