Police in Md. town puzzled by middle-of-night noise, lights

PIKESVILLE, Md. (AP) - It's not just a bad dream or imaginations gone wild because police have captured the middle-of-the-night mystery on videotape - and they're as baffled as everyone else.

Deafening blasts accompanied by blinding split-second flashes of light have been rattling residents of one neighborhood of this Baltimore suburb for months.

Elaine O'Mansky says she has heard the noise 25 times since September, always between midnight and dawn. She says the accompanying flash is bright enough to light up her bedroom.

Barbara Friedman says the first time she heard the blast she thought someone was shooting at her.

Police officers Vickie Warehime and J. Posluszny Jr. said the department set up cameras and recorded the phenomena last week, but didn't detect anyone in the area.

The recorded flash lit up an area the size of a football field. Based on shadows, police believe the light source was in the air about 30 feet above the ground near the Beth Tfiloh Community School.

Utility workers have found no electrical problems or gas leaks that could explain the mystery.