4 Homemade Bombs Found at Maryland High School; 2 Students Charged

4 Homemade Bombs Found at Maryland High School; 2 Students Charged

Two homemade bombs containing toilet cleaner and tinfoil packed inside plastic bottles exploded at a Fort Washington high school Wednesday, authorities said. No one was injured.

A total of four bottle bombs were found inside Friendly High School, but only two exploded, according to Sgt. Mario Ellis, a spokesman for the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office. Two students were apprehended Wednesday and are facing charges.

The high school was evacuated for several hours while firefighters searched and ventilated the building. Students waited outside until the school reopened about 12:30 p.m., Ellis said.

A student set off a similar device last week at Crossland High School in nearby Temple Hills, authorities said, adding that students probably learned how to make the bombs using instructions on the Internet.

 

Texas Substitute Teacher Arrested After Coming to Class Drunk

Texas Substitute Teacher Arrested After Coming to Class Drunk

A substitute middle school teacher suspected of being drunk in class was too intoxicated to complete a sobriety test and was arrested, authorities said.

Thomas Brownlee, 56, was in a classroom Tuesday with students and another staff member for about 20 minutes, Richardson school district spokesman Tim Clark said. Another teacher suspected Brownlee was drunk and told a campus police officer.

A Dallas police report states that Brownlee "had slurred speech, breath smelling of an alcoholic beverage and bloodshot eyes."

The officer stopped issuing a sobriety test out of concern for Brownlee's safety, according to the report.

Brownlee was charged with public intoxication, police said.

A telephone listing for Brownlee was disconnected.

Clark said students were never alone with Brownlee, and that the district had used him as a substitute teacher before without incident.