June 3

The murder and child abuse trial of Nathaniel Broadway, 24, and his girlfriend Sierra Swann, 17, of the 1900 block of E. 31st Street, is scheduled to begin 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 6 before Judge John M. Glynn. On June 7, 2004 Broadway and Swann, the parents of infant twin girls, were indicted for first-degree murder and child abuse in connection with the death of their one-month-old twins. The indictment charges them with the murders of Emmoney Broadway and Emmonea Broadway on May 11, 2004 at their residence in the 1900 block E. 31st Street.

State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy announced today via her flak that the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Roderick Dwayne Johnson, 19, of the 400 block of South Augusta Avenue, yesterday for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and first-degree burglary in connection with the death of Sheronda Butcher, 30. Court documents allege that on October 9, 2004 Johnson shot and killed Butcher in a dispute over money. Johnson allegedly shot Butcher as she attempted to close a window in her apartment. Roderick Johnson is currently in the Baltimore City Detention Center. An arraignment date is scheduled for June 29 before Judge Wanda Keyes Heard. Assistant State's Attorney and Division Chief of the Homicide Division, Mark Cohen will prosecute this case.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Ross Talp, 19, of the 4300 block of Park Heights Avenue, yesterday for first-degree murder and for the use of a deadly weapon in connection with the death of his mother, Margo Antoinette Baker. Court documents allege that on April 27 Talp called police to report his mother had been missing since the day before. May 5, an anonymous tipster contacted the Baltimore City Police Homicide Unit and informed them that Talp killed his mother and dumped her body in the woods. Talp allegedly confessed to the murder and told detectives that the body was located in Leakin Park in the 4000 block of Clifton Avenue. Talp is currently held without bail.

Yesterday the BC Grand Jury indicted Ernest Harris, Jr., 54, of Churchville, Maryland for first-degree murder in connection with the 1984 homicide of Arden Shirley Epps, 56. Harris has also been indicted on robbery deadly weapon and first-degree burglary charges. Court documents allege that on September 24-25, 1984 at four South Rosedale Avenue, co-workers discovered Epps' body lying in a pool of blood on the second-floor front bedroom of her home. Epps had sustained multiple stab and cut wounds. The victim's co-workers went to her house after she failed to report to work. Police found the home ransacked with some of Ms. Epps' belongings stolen. Police recovered latent fingerprints from the crime scene and those prints allegedly match those of Harris. Harris is currently released on bail.

There was a "police-involved shooting" in the Northwestern.

An article about Joe Steffen, Maryland's own Prince of Darkness.

Meanwhile, our hotpants Mayor gave feisty prosecutor Patricia Jessamy $600k more than the $2.2 million she asked for during budget talks.

A move to postpone trial for Policarpio Espinoza, 23, and his nephew, Adan Canela, 18, (accused of slashing the throats of three young relatives in the Northwestern District) has been denied.

The FBI are looking for help in finding a guy who's robbed at least seven Baltimore banks.

The theft and misconduct in office trial of Baltimore City police officer Brent Allen Gates, 30, of Essex, Maryland, is scheduled to begin 9:30 in the morning on Monday, June 6 before Judge Joseph Kaplan, 227b Courthouse East. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Gates July 28, 2004 on one count of felony theft and one count of Misconduct in Office. The indictment stems from a complaint made by a city man that on June 2, 2004 Gates allegedly failed to return $1,400 that was seized during the course of a routine traffic stop in the 2300 block of Ashland Avenue. If convicted of felony theft Gates could receive a maximum sentence of 15 years and a $25,000 fine or both. Misconduct in Office is a common-law offense, which means that if convicted of that count, Gates could be sentenced to whatever period of incarceration a judge deems fair and reasonable.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Baltimore City police officer Gregory M. Mussmacher, 29, of Hanover, PA, at 9:30 Monday morning before Judge Allen L. Schwait. Judge Schwait convicted Mussmacher February 11 following a court trial of second-degree assault and misconduct in office. Mussmacher could receive a maximum prison sentence of 10 years in prison for the second-degree assault count. Misconduct in Office is a common-law offense, which means that Mussmacher could be sentenced to whatever period of incarceration a judge deems fair and reasonable. Mussmacher's conviction stems from an investigation by the Baltimore Police Department's Internal Affairs Division and the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office of the events surrounding the arrest of a 17-year old juvenile on April 27, 2004. Mussmacher assaulted the teen by striking him in the face and back with his expandable baton at the Northwest District Station on Reisterstown Road while the teen was handcuffed and shackled. The teen was treated at Sinai Hospital for a laceration to the left cheek and two nondisplaced fractures of the left sinus. Mussmacher is currently suspended without pay.