Compiled from reports by staff writers Philip P. Pan and Wendy Melillo.
Tuesday, May 19, 1998; Page B05

MARYLAND

Five Accused of Damaging B-52

Five peace activists who said they were members of a group called the "Plowsharers" were arrested Sunday after a B-52 bomber was damaged at the annual air show at Andrews Air Force Base, the FBI said yesterday.

Holes were punched in the plane with hammers, and a liquid was poured into it that protesters described as blood, FBI officials said.

The five, who listed their occupations as priests and nuns, were charged under a federal law that makes damaging an aircraft a crime, said FBI spokesman Larry Faust. He said the incident occurred about 9:30 a.m. while the bomber was on the flight line. No estimate of the damage was available.

The group was detained by Air Force security officers, and the FBI was called in. Those arrested were identified as Frank J. Cordaro, 47, of Lacona, Iowa; Ardeth Platte, 62, of Baltimore; Kathleen A. Boylan, 54, of the District; Lawrence A. Morlan, 38, of Bloomington, Ill.; and Carol Sue Gilbert, 50, of Baltimore.

VIRGINIA

Three Charged in Neglect Cases

An Alexandria area couple were arrested last week and a 29-year-old Hybla Valley woman was arrested Sunday in connection with separate incidents in which police found children alone, Fairfax County police said.

William and Harene Brew, 40, of the 6700 block of Tower Drive, were charged with child neglect after police found their 8-year-old and 14-month-old boys and 4-year-old girl alone in their unlocked apartment at 11 a.m. Friday, police said. They said that William Brew was being held at the county jail in lieu of bond and that his wife was released after posting bond.

Police said one of the children called 911 and left the line open. When police arrived, they found the door unlocked and the children asleep, police said. The children will remain with their mother until an investigation is completed by the county's Child Protective Services division, police said.

In a separate incident, police said they charged Keba White, of the 7900 block of Janna Lee Avenue, with child neglect after her 7-month-old twins were found alone in a locked vehicle at 1:20 p.m. Sunday on a street outside her apartment. A patrolling officer noticed the twins, police said.

Police said the windows of the car were open slightly. They said the woman told them that she had not been gone long.

White was held at the Fairfax jail in lieu of bond, police said. A relative is taking care of the children while Child Protective Services investigates, police said.

Six Arrested in Abduction, Beatings

Six people were arrested and charged with abducting a 22-year-old Springfield man and an 18-year-old woman and beating them in what authorities say was a gang-related act of retaliation against the man, who had testified in court after witnessing a shooting.

The victims, who were not identified, were not seriously injured.

Fairfax County police said they charged Nghi Tran, 22, and Cuong Le, 21, of Springfield; Tien Ho, 18, of Annandale; Minh Pham, 21, of the Baileys Crossroads area; and two 16-year-olds with abduction. Le and Ho also were charged with assault, police said.

Police said the man, woman and her 1-year-old son were headed north on Backlick Road at 4 p.m. Sunday when six people in another car started following. Police said the victims were twice dragged from their car and beaten before they were able to break free and drive to a police station.

Authorities said the incident stemmed from a 1995 shooting in which a 17-year-old Springfield youth was charged with malicious wounding for allegedly firing into an occupied vehicle and wounding a Falls Church area youth.