January 26

A man was fatally shot in the back yesterday afternoon at the corner of Lafayette Ave. and Payson St. in West Baltimore.

Baltimore police officer Jerome K. Hill was "charged yesterday with assault after he allegedly punched an undercover detective who was posing as a man waiting to buy drugs."

A robber left a suspicious package at the Wachovia Bank in the 5300 block of Harford Rd. yesterday afternoon. The bomb squad is investigating.

The trial of Rasul Brown actually started. Brown is accused of murdering 16-year-old Marcus McDowell, a smart kid with no criminal record who was allegedly trying to protect his friends.

Best if you don't (inaudible) holler at Snoop.

A former Parkville Middle School teacher was arrested for trying to get it on with a mother and her two underage daughters.

Indictments in Toddler Deaths

Friday the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Vernice Harris, 30, of the 7200 block of Ashland Avenue for first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. Court documents allege Vernice Harris is responsible for the death of her two-year-old daughter, Bryanna Ashley Harris, on June 5, 2007 in the 1700 block of E. 25th Street. Harris allegedly went to check on Bryanna in a second floor bedroom and observed her not breathing. An investigation revealed a combination of blunt-force trauma to the abdomen and a substantial amount of methadone in the child’s system contributed to the death of the child. An arraignment is scheduled for February 19, 2008 before Judge John P. Miller, 428 Mitchell Courthouse.

On January 16, 2008 the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Donte Spencer, 22, of the 3300 block of Burleigh Avenue on charges of leaving the scene of an automobile accident involving serious injury or death. The indictment alleges on May 20, 2006 Spencer was driving a vehicle in the 2300 block of Lauretta Avenue when he struck and killed Taemier Forrester, 2. Spencer will be arraigned at a later date. Police arrested Spencer earlier this week and he was released on $25,000 bail. Spencer faces a maximum prison term of 10 years.

Teenager Shot

The Jizz reports that a "male victime" was shot in the torso in the 3500 block of Spaulding Avenue; police are looking for three suspects.
(thanks Careful)

Ten-Year Sentence for Heroin Gel Caps

A Baltimore City jury has convicted Shannon Clifton Flint, 42, of the 1500 block of Montpelier St. of distribution of heroin, possessing heroin with intent to distribute and possessing heroin following a two-day trial. Judge Charles G. Bernstein sentenced Flint to 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

On December 4, 2006, at approximately 12:00 p.m. at the corner of Aisquith and Hoffman Streets, officers observed an exchange of US currency for small objects. Believing an illegal narcotics sale had just taken place, officers pulled over in an attempt to stop the individuals. The individuals began to walk away upon seeing the patrol car. Police observed Flint throwing to the ground a small black mesh bag. Recovered from the bag were 18 gel caps of heroin.

At the time of this incident Shannon Flint was on parole for a 1999 manslaughter conviction.

Assistant State’s Attorney Rita Wisthoff-Ito of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Freakonomics does The Wire, episode 3

Sudhir Venkatesh and his thug pals are back for episode 3 of The Wire. And not to do a shameless plug or anything, but Venkatesh's book Gang Leader for a Day is fascinating.

Also, actress/murderer Felicia "Snoop" Pearson will reportedly be called as a witness to a stabbing on the block.

January 25

An unidentified man was fatally shot in the head just after midnight in the 900 block of Pennsylvania Ave.

Two men were leaving a liquor store on N. Stricker St. yesterday evening when a man walked into the store and shot them both. Neither has died, though one of them came mighty close.

Let's see if I've got this straight. Dad goes into the McDonald's at Northwood Plaza, and someone jumps into his van and drives away with all the kids inside. How many stupid people were involved in this scenario?

Leon Frederick Richards Jr. apparently has some pervy friends.

The Examiner's lead about last week's attempted prison break in Jessup speaks volumes: "A hole dug with crude tools. Bedsheets tied into a 200-foot rope. A prisoner wrapped in duct tape."

So if you didn't mean to kill him, jackass, what exactly was your goal? A soothing massage?

Hooray for witnesses!!!

Today's Blotter gives us a beating (at a safe and reliable bus stop), a stabbing, and some stolen sauce.

$150,000 worth of shoes were stolen from a Red Wing truck.

Treatment Funding Down, OD's Up

The Sun's Stephanie Desmond summarizes drug-overdose death stats from UMBC:

"deaths due to drug or alcohol intoxication increased 14 percent in 2006, compared with those in the previous year. Most of the increase was in deaths associated with multi-drug combinations. Cocaine-associated deaths in conjunction with opioids increased more than 100 percent from 2005 to 2006 and fentanyl-associated deaths increased by 200 percent ... heroin deaths have dropped sharply since the late 1990s, but still make up more than three-quarters of the drug deaths in the city. In the meantime, methadone deaths have more than tripled since the late 1990s. There were 283 heroin deaths in the city in 1999, as compared with 150 in 2006. During the same period, methadone deaths jumped from 16 to 61."

The Health Department says that 2005 had the fewest OD's in a decade. Between 1996 and 2005, drug-treatment funding tripled, thanks largely to George Soros' Open Society Institute. But after 2005, funding began to decline, apparently: while the CP reported that there were 8,295 treatment slots in '05, there are 7,250 today. Most drug-treatment money does not come from the city but from the state and non-profit donations.

Medical Students Assaulted

The University of MD at Baltimore reports two incidents of juveniles punching medical students in the face for no apparent reason.
(Thanks Lucid)

January 24

It started with an egg, and ended with the murder of 73-year-old Korean War vet and retired Bethlehem Steel worker George Linwood King.

In the Blotter: a shooting, another shooting, an armed robbery, another armed robbery, a maybe armed robbery, a failed armed robbery, a jackass husband, and a dozen people who really wanted to brush their teeth.

A transgendered woman talks to JZ'a Adam May about being attacked outside of Old Town Mall.

Dr. Lorraine Fertsch is still missing, and she might be suicidal.

The murder trial of Rasul M. Brown was scheduled to start today. Brown is charged with killing 16-year-old Marcus McDowell last January.
UPDATE: Jury selection is going on right now (4:30 p.m.)

A registered sex offender in HarCo was indicted on 23 counts of being a perv.

Some local Jews are facing up to the fact that there are, indeed, pervs in every walk of life.

Residents of Bay Ridge Gardens in Annapolis are "petrified" and "staying in their house" after the double murder of Cecelia Brown and Charles Cully Jr. Police have no motive and no suspects. Brown was disabled and in a wheelchair, and she was "such a nice person."

Beatdown on E. Pratt St.

There were at least three people beating someone on E. Pratt St. near O'Brycki's Wednesday afternoon around 5:00. There's nothing reported in the news yet, so if anybody has any details, please leave them in the comments.

Life Plus 55 Years for Armed Carjacker

A Baltimore City jury returned guilty verdicts late Friday, January 18, 2007 and convicted Adrian Outten, 21, of the 5100 block of Sekots Road of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, armed carjacking, robbery deadly weapon, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, and possession of handgun counts. The two-day trial began January 16, 2008. Details:

Judge Charles G. Bernstein sentenced Outten to a total of life in prison plus 55 years: life for the attempted murder and consecutive terms of 20 years for the handgun crime of violence count, 30 years for the armed carjacking count and five years for the handgun possession count.

On June 4, 2006 at approximately 5:30 p.m. police responded to Sekots and Pickwick Roads for a shooting. Upon arrival police found a male victim suffering non-life-threatening injuries to both legs. The victim was working as an unlicensed taxi driver when he picked up Outten on Park Heights Avenue and drove him to the 5100 block of Sekots where Outten left the car and stated he would be right back. Outten returned armed with a gun and ordered the victim out of the car, telling him to run. Outten then shot him in the lower legs and Outten fled in the victim’s car.

On June 12, 2006 the car was located and towed to police headquarters and processed for fingerprints. On June 20, 2006 a fingerprint “hit” was found from the car’s rearview mirror and matched to Adrian Outten. The victim is shown a photo array and identifies Outten as the person who carjacked and tried to murder him.

Assistant State's Attorney and Cross-designated United State’s Attorney Traci Robinson of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (FIVE) Division prosecuted this case.

Eight Years for Murderer of Lennard Benjamin

At a hearing today, Lonnie Edwards, 23, of the 100 block of Haven Street, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced Edwards to 30 years in prison suspend all but eight years for the murder, a consecutive eight years in prison for the drug count and three years' probation.

On June 21, 2005 Edwards was found standing over Lennard Benjamin, 23, in their cell at the Baltimore City Detention Center. Benjamin was unconscious lying face down on the floor and had sustained severe head trauma. Benjamin was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital were he died two days later.

Assistant State’s Attorney Douglas D. Guidorizzi of the Homicide Division will prosecute this case.

Guilty Verdicts for Perp Who Mowed Down Officer

From the SA's office, edited for style and clarity:

A Baltimore City jury returned guilty verdicts late Friday, January 18, 2007 and convicted Justin Fauntleroy*, 22, of the 2900 block of Kaycee Lane of first-degree assault, distribution of cocaine and a handgun violation. The two day trial began January 16, 2008. Judge John A. Howard scheduled sentencing for March 14, 2008. Details:

On December 8, 2006 between 10:45 p.m. and midnight in the 500 block of Orchard Street, police observed Fauntleroy and other co-defendants engaging in suspected narcotics transactions and called for an arrest team. While waiting for the arrest team, police observed Fauntleroy continue to engage in a suspected narcotics transaction. Fauntleroy and the other co-defendants left the block in a vehicle heading north toward Druid Hill Ave. Police pursued the vehicle and stopped it at Martin Luther King Blvd. and Fayette St., identifying themselves as officers. The driver was removed from the vehicle and arrested, but Fauntleroy, while in the passenger seat, shifted the vehicle into drive and drove straight into Sgt. Steven Ward, throwing him up onto the hood, and then clear from the vehicle.

Sgt. Ward was taken to Shock Trauma with injuries to his arms and neck and was released later that evening. The vehicle drove down MLK and onto 295/ Russell St. while being pursued by police. The vehicle eventually got caught in traffic and Fauntleroy and a co-def surrendered. Police recovered a .38 caliber handgun.

Co-defendants Troy Walker and James Bruce pleaded guilty in July 2007 to CDS possession and handgun counts. Assistant State's Attorney Staci Pipkin of the Narcotics Division prosecuted this case.

* Wonder if there's any relation to Dale?

January 23

Lisa Holley was hospitalized for a week after being beaten in her home on the 2700 block of Pelham Ave. Holley died on Monday, and her boyfriend has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Anna Ditkoff takes a look at the homicides at 2007. There are also some very interesting statistics, and (of course) a few new names and updates in Murder Ink.

AAC police have officially said that the double murder in Annapolis was, in fact, a double murder. In the same article, a cabby in Annapolis totally screwed up a robber's plan.

50-year-old Dr. Lorraine Fertsch has been missing since Sunday, when she was last seen near Union Memorial.

Alleged convenience store robber Gary Carpenter tried and convicted himself at the Cecil County jail.

Sean Nelson Smith got convicted, but Nicholas Porter and Vance Major got off. Meanwhile, the Sun offers a look at the life of Smith and his activist mother, Mildred Samy.

Justin Switzer got 13 years for making meth in an AAC cemetery. Now, he just wants to "get back into college."

A bit more about the case of the Charles Village stabber. (Wasn't that an Encyclopedia Brown book?)

I'm confused. Last week, Dr. Sharfstein said we needed to get illegal bupe off the streets. Today, an article in the Examiner reports that the good doctor says illegal bupe is overhyped. What's the deal?

Servers Targeted?

From a Roland Park neighborhood crime alert:
"Last night, January 21, at approximately 8:45 pm, a female employee of Loco Hombre was taking a break in the back of the restaurant and was approached by a male who demanded her apron. She did not have one. He rummaged through her pockets and took $5, black book of customer credit card receipts, and her cell phone.

Deputy Major Smith reported that detectives are assigned to this case and that he is fairly certain that this was a crime of opportunity and it does not match any robbery trends in the area."

It may not constitute a trend (yet), but this does sound similar to the robbery of three employees of the nearby Ambassador Dining Room on January 1, and there have been a higher-than-usual number of "opportunity" thefts in the Evergreen area lately, so be advised, Tuscans, Evergreeners and waitstaffs.

.. in other news, 70-year-old Marie Bellamy pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, which helped one Joseph Poteat, age 61, of Danville, Virginia, bilk "investors" out of $17 million in an old-fashioned pyramid scheme.

January 22

George Dyson just pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon, and got 18 years for his deeds.

On May 27, 2007 at approximately 4:30PM Dyson stabbed a 57-year-old woman multiple times while she was walking home from the grocery store in the 100 block of E. 26th St. near the corner of St. Paul St. She suffered a collapsed lung. This is Dyson's third robbery with a deadly weapon conviction.

Mayor Moyer's two recently murdered constituents were shot to death.

Apparently, Daewoos and groceries are hot on the carjacking scene.

Brandon Morris chose to let a judge determine his sentence.

Sarah Kreager's attorneys seem to be hoping that things aren't as safe and reliable as the MTA says.

Isaiah Simmons' family is calling for manslaughter charges.

Kathleen Ann Harris pleaded guilty to hooking up high school kids with lots of fun things that end in "done."

A bill was introduced yesterday to standardize punishments for cyberbullying. Perhaps cyberasskickings would be a fitting punishment?

Dumb cops might have a new potential employer.

Worse to Worser Dept.

Deputy Mayor Salima "They just don’t have no black people up in there like that" Marriott holds a doctorate from Howard, was a member of the faculty Morgan State University for 24 years, and while in the house of delegates served on at least four educational committees.
Wow.
(Thanks Cynic)

January 21

Two victims were ID'd this morning. The man shot last week on Cliftmont Ave. was 19-year-old Isaiah McKeiver, and the man who was killed on Saturday night on Holbrook St. was identified as 20-year-old Effrem Devon Kearney.

A key witness is missing, and the case against alleged triple-shooter Vincent Berry is on hold. Another potential witness in the case was murdered in November even though he wasn't snitching.

Deputy Mayor Salima Siler Marriott talks about her son, Patrice, who was recently indicted on federal gun charges.
QTD: "You can’t enter corporate at 27, black, 250 pounds, 6-foot-4. They just don’t have no black people up in there like that."

Walter Buczynski didn't kill himself and his wife because his subprime mortgage company was in the crapper, or so says fellow executives at the Columbia company that is "financially circling the drain."

Jason Blizzard of Taneytown is in serious condition after allegedly being stabbed by his 16-year-old brother, Ryan.

Wow. Witnesses and a victim worked with effective cops to arrest a criminal. Weird.

It's good to see some under appreciated weapons getting some face time.

Criminal tip for the day: If you're part of a successful, international car theft ring, don't leave your cell phone behind.

Politicians in Annapolis are spinning their wheels and blowing hot air.

Iris, one of only 71 dogs in the country who is trained to search for accelerants in suspected arson cases, is retiring from the AAC fire department. And should Iris ever be in need of a transfusion, you can help her out.

January 20

An unidentified man was shot to death at about 9:30 last night in the 1500 block of Holbrook St., behind the Green Mount cemetery.

The headline "Young life taken on a troubled block in the city" is nearly identical to the one that ran for the story on Edward Smith in Cherry Hill, but this time the victim is 18-year-old Collin Mazyck and the troubled block is 2700 Tivoly Ave.

Mayor Moyer (wow, that's fun to say) eloquently addresses Friday's double murder of Cecelia Brown and Charles Cully: "It's not a good day. When we got to thinking that disputes get settled with guns, I don't know." I don't know either, Mayor.

Marvin Little was charged with murdering 27-year-old Derrin Thomas in a pickup truck near the Arundel Mills mall on January 10.

Jason T. Blizzard was stabbed in the 100 block of E. Baltimore St. in Taneytown (Carroll County) and is in serious condition.

There might've been a third man involved in the August murders of Dequincey Antonio Smith and Dontay Lamont Williams in Brooklyn Park.

Perhaps Dundalk resident David Abrams has learned that bad things happen if you lunge at cops while holding a knife.

Firefighter Fatima Hawkins was allegedly dealing coke and pot.

13-year-old Daniel Joseph Tasker ran away from his BaltCo home on January 8, and hasn't been seen since. Have you seen him?

Poe has been toasted.