The Blotter

Published February 12, 2010 5:00am ET



Man died from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning A 53-year-old man was found dead in his car from an apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Yusef Nazemi was found in the driver’s seat of a silver 1998 two-door Mitsubishi at a shopping center in Potomac Tuesday night. No foul play is suspected.

The ignition was in the “on” position but the engine was not running. Witnesses said they had seen the car parked in the same spot the night before with the engine running.

Police said Nazemi has been homeless over the last two to three months and living in his car in the shopping center. Police are still investigating.

Fire station burns

after roof collapse

A fire station in Sykesville was destroyed by a three-alarm fire that started after the roof collapsed under the weight of snow.

Carroll County officials told the Associated Press the roof caved in around 7:40 a.m. Thursday, causing a gas line to rupture, sparking the blaze.

Firefighters from three neighboring counties helped fight the blaze for six hours.

The station was unoccupied because firefighters were out on a call. No firetrucks were damaged.

Man steals front-end loader,

helps clear neighborhood

Howard County police say a Columbia man stole a piece of snow removal equipment from a construction site and used it to clear driveways in his neighborhood.

The front loader was reported stolen from a parking garage in Jessup. Police say the vehicle, equipped with LoJack, was traced to a home in Laurel where it was parked in the driveway.

The homeowners said a friend left the loader there after clearing their driveway.

Police charged David Earl Bryant, 40, with felony theft, theft, motor vehicle theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and removing or defacing a vehicle identification number.

Compiled by Scott McCabe