BALTIMORE CITY BRICK WASHER CHARGED WITH WATER POLLUTION

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Michael Potter,53, of the 600 block of South Monroe Street, Baltimore, Maryland has been charged in the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City with water pollution. The charges allege that Potter violated the State’s water pollution laws on October 27, 2004 at 3400 Fait Avenue, Baltimore City and on May 13, 2005 at 855 ½ W. Lombard Street, Baltimore City, by illegally discharging brick-washing waste water into storm drains.

If convicted of the illegal discharge of a pollutant into waters of the State, Potter could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and/or fined $25,000 on each of the two counts. The filing of a criminal information is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing and each individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Trial has been set for December 9, 2005.

These charges follow a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General and the Baltimore City Police Department with the assistance of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works, Pollution Control Section.

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