A few years ago in this space, I remarked that while cops the world over carry "billy clubs", in Baltimore they twirl "espantoons". And they are still at it. Today's edition of the Baltimore Sun describes an incident downtown during which some one in a large group of teens got all stabby on another;
"A least 100 teenagers roamed the streets near the Inner Harbor, City Hall, the Convention Center and the First Mariner Arena for more than two hours as police used megaphones to order them to leave.
About a dozen police cars and wagons, lights flashing, were parked along Calvert and Pratt streets. Police officers twirled espantoons and opened the wagon doors as they shooed the teens along.
The young people walked in large, boisterous groups and did not appear to be heading toward a destination. Asked why they had gathered downtown, one young person said, 'It's the day after Easter.'
Another explained, 'It's spring break night.' "
Espantoons, not just for clubbing miscreants, they are useful for herding teens. But only in Baltimore.