Baltimore City Brick Washer Convicted of Water Pollution

BALTIMORE, MD (March 12, 2009) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Frederick Michael Cichorz, 63, of Joppa, was convicted in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City of illegally discharging a pollutant into waters of the State of Maryland. The offense is a misdemeanor in violation of water pollution control laws. Judge Gale E. Rasin sentenced Cichorz to one year in jail and suspended all but 30 days to be served on home detention. Judge Rasin also imposed a fine of $20,000 of which she suspended all but $7,500 and placed Cichorz on three years probation.

While using a power washer to remove paint containing lead from a brick building at 509-511 South Dallas Street in Baltimore City, Cichorz allowed the paint to wash into the street. The wastewater flowed down the gutter of South Dallas Street to Fleet Street and into a storm drain.

The conviction follows an investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General, The Pollution Control Section of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works and the Baltimore City Police Department.