Former Council President Faces Stalking Charges

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Former City Council President Lawrence Bell III has been charged with stalking a woman and repeatedly breaking into her home.

The charges against Bell include third-degree burglary, telephone harassment and stalking. They were filed by Shan Mabry, who says she has known and dated Bell for 20 years. The charges were approved by a District Court judge last month after Mabry sought a peace order against Bell. Records show that she requested a similar order be dismissed last year.

Bell spent 12 years on the council and lost the Democratic primary for mayor in 1999 to Martin O'Malley, the current state governor. The Baltimore Sun reported that Bell declined to comment on the charges.

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