Eldersburg, Md. (Map, News) - Some residents are so worried about crime around Eldersburg’s mall that they have arranged a meeting next week with police to air concerns.

“One woman who had come to the mall to shop at Kmart witnessed someone threatening to kill another person,” said Nicole Musgrave-Burdette, president of Freedom Area Citizens’ Council, a South Carroll residents’ group. “The manager at Kmart was afraid and called police, and it took state police 45 minutes to get there.”

Several residents shared concerns about drug dealing, littering and a spike in thefts from nearby construction sites at a meeting this winter that FACC organized so residents could learn about mall owner Dixon Harvey’s plans to redevelop the now half-empty mall on Liberty Road.

“It’s kind of scary, and it’s obviously happening around there because of the state of the mall,” Musgrave-Burdette said.

Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge recently told state police superintendent Col. Thomas Hutchins about complaints she has heard from residents about hour-long response times.

State police barrack commander Lt. Dean Richardson said he was unaware of any increase in crimes around the mall.

State police Det. Sgt. Chuck Moore and Lt. Phil Kasten from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office plan to attend FACC’s upcoming meeting.

“I know firsthand that we have crack houses in Eldersburg, and it’s scary to think about it,” Musgrave-Burdette said. “Police officers don’t talk about it. They say we don’t have murders, but we do have high school kids getting addicted.”

IF YOU GO

» What: Eldersburg crime meeting

» When: 7:30 p.m. April 26

» Where: Freedom Christian Church, Carrolltown Center

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com