Sheriff’s deputies concerned about threats of violence closed off two streets in downtown Bel Air during the trial of an Edgewood man accused of killing the son of a popular community activist.

Early Friday, police received a threat against the Harford County Circuit Courthouse on Main Street, during the trial of Sean Nelson Smith, said Sgt. Christina Presberry, spokeswoman for the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

Presberry said she could not specify what kind of threat was made because it was still under investigation.

“Because of the nature of it, it’s being kept very tight,” she said.

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Smith is accused of shooting and killing Samuel David Horne, son of activist Mildred Samy, along Edgewood’s Brookside Drive on Aug. 11. John Janowich, an assistant public defender, has argued the shooting was in self-defense.

Officers and barricades blocked off Courtland Street between Main Street and Bond Street, along with all of Office Street, stopping vehicle traffic past the two main entrances to the courthouse.

Deputy Chief Armand Dupre of the Bel Air police said his agency was put on notice as well, and loaned the court security officers extra barricades and “road closed” signs.

Christopher Marts, whose law office is on Courtland Street, said he and his co-workers were not worried about the threat, which he learned of through deputies on the street and his wife, Lisa Marts, an assistant state’s attorney.

“It’s not uncommon to have threats surrounding criminal trials,” he said. “I’ve heard of things like bomb threats before.”

Presberry said that security outside the court was back to normal when the trial resumed Monday. Closing arguments are expected Wednesday, Janowich said.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com