Love & Herring Not Guilty

of misdemeanor assault and reckless endangerment. Said Love, "I put my life in jeopardy to save the lives of everyone in the barbershop and if you had been there, I’d do the same thing for you."
Herring now feels differently: "If I see an old lady getting beaten, I’m going to mind my own business."

An unid'd male juvenile was reportedly shot in the ankle by police after four youths set off an alarm near Harlem Park schools

Mom of murder victim Timothy Hebron has "hired a lawyer to investigate" why her son was not in a witness protection program

Lawyers spared! "When the General Assembly trimmed nearly $870 million in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, the final cut did not include funding for the state’s legal services community."

Hermann reports that a "new study coming out today from the Sentencing Project shows that for the first time since the War on Drugs began many years ago, the number of African-Americans jailed for drug offenses has declined."

Pervs:
Police in PA are ISO Baltimorean Robert J. Wardrick II, 33, accused of fondling a 14-year-old, and
Ew, an octogenarian rabbi with busy hands

Media blabbler:
TDR's editorial board on nonprofit newspapers

Senate: MD's gay couples can live happily ever after... so long as one of them's dead!

64

The man shot on Christian Street has passed.

Remember the Patterson Park cathouse? Charges were dropped for two women, still stand against alleged pimp (como 'alleged pimp' en espanol?).

Say What? Off-Leash Fines Increased to $1,000 per Pooch?

Says the Smushnose Dog Meetup Group

Dog Owners/Walkers BEWARE

New City laws increase the cost of violations for off leash dogs and/or not picking up the dog’s poop from $100 to $1,000!

The City did not communicate the new laws to the citizens and began to enforce it without notification or advanced warning.

The City has been conducting “raids” at most of the larger parks with Animal Control issuing citations and police officers present to ensure owners do not flee the scene.

Please join us for a conversation with Councilman Ed Reisinger. He has agreed to talk with us about the decisions that have been made at the city council level, why they were made, and to help find a way to address the needs of the entire community.

Thursday, April 16th 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Riverside Park Pavilion [The Mansion]

Let’s show the city how much we care about the welfare of our dogs and their ability to get safe exercise. Bring your friends and neighbors. Show up in packs!!

Doc Cheatham.

64

Update: he died



View Larger Map
SHOOTING: 2100 BLOCK CHRISTIAN, ADULT MALE SHOT

Dead End

View Larger Map
Murder victim #63: Quinton Savage, 22, killed on Saturday in the 2800 block of Winwood Court (above) about 2:30 p.m.

House= yay to speed cameras
and DYK? In the city of Baltimore, parking at an expired meter is a crime, not a civil offense.

Easter Bunny Killed on West Side

Just kidding. Man shot at about 1:30 p.m. at 1315 Bloomingdale

The Week that Was

Shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting, double shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting ...

QTD: "Just remember, there are good reasons to live in any of the cities labeled as the "worst.""

Good Friday

Curtis Pounds' brother, also named Curtis, was arrested for his murder

Real classy: prosecutor Larry Doan mocks officers, calls them "whiners" and "common criminals"

Two men were shot last night in front of Jack's carryout in South Baltimore

D'oh! Baltimore County police are looking for a Woodlawn man mistakenly released from the detention center.

Feel-good story of the day: Glen Burnie residents subdue home invader

"A Baltimore County judge has sentenced a county child support enforcement worker to 10 years in prison for stealing child support checks."

Police are ISO bald white guy who robbed Eastern Ave Wachovia

"Lawyer seeks new hearing in 1972 murder conviction"

Oh boy, speed cameras
Also see the CP's "Fast Cars, Loaded Guns and Empty Houses: A brief look at Baltimore City’s Annapolis agenda"

Don't miss Buz buzting some dirty delivery drivers!

Troy Chesley's former partner Terry Love took the stand in his own defense yesterday.

62

Man found shot in the head in an abandoned rowhouse in the 1900 block of Wilkens Ave.

A nonfatal shooting on Whitelock St.

"I didn’t know who shot Larry for real. I just made it up.”
"The only surviving eyewitness to have claimed to see Patrick Byers kill a man on a Baltimore street corner in 2006 recanted his story before a federal jury Wednesday"

IV: The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office "revealed" Wednesday that last Saturday's murder victim/ murder witness Timothy Hebron was not in the witness protection program (which in Baltimore city = two people)

MDR: Baller Chris Bosh's baby custody & support case bounces between MD and Texas

Children Lost and Found

Kenneth Warren Hager has been missing from Baltimore since April 9, 1947.

... and seriously? This very cute little boy was found "wondering the street" almost a year ago, but no one has come forward to claim him!

61?

The Ink updates the murder toll, adding Curtis Pounds, who was killed last Sunday near Herring Run park, and names Zachary Thompson as the man stabbed to death on Watty Court. Oddly, the Sun names this victim as William Clayborne, 32. are there two victims?
Also ID'd is David Williams, shot to death in a car March 31.

410 86'd

Says our Facebook friend the BPD: "PADLOCK NOTICE: Club 410 (4500 blk BelAir Rd) deemed a public nuisance. Police Commissioner issues padlock order effective 5pm tomorrow"
or as WBAL puts it, "City To Padlock Trouble Club"

also apparently posted at 4 a.m.: "SHOOTING: Police investigating @ 23 Penn St. Adult male shot, walked into hospital."

It is a small world after all

IV: Prosecutors say Timothy Hebron, shot to death 4/4, was a key witness in the murder of Terrence Regan. Regan's murder in November 2007 happened to take place outside of the home of Charles Y. McGaney, on the 1600 block of Lochwood Road. Charles McGaney has been charged with first-degree murder in Councilman Ken Harris's death.

We Need Bullet Control

The woman shot and killed on Gough Street Sunday [4/5] was Doreatha Wright, 42, possibly the victim of mistaken identity
Related: "'MY MAMA'S BEEN SHOT!'- Spate of Fells Point violence gets liquor board's attention"
and it's attack of the mappers on Hermann's blog.

Northeast Baltimore murder victim is identified: "Timothy Hebron, of the 4200 block of Welbourne Road, was shot about 1 a.m. [4/4] as he got out of a car to toss out trash, one block north of the Northwood shopping plaza"

"A 19-year-old man is in critical condition Tuesday after he was stabbed Monday [4/6] night" in Washington Village

"Baltimore police said Sunday that they were investigating the shooting of a man late Friday in Fells Point. The adult man, whose name and age were not released, was found lying on the pavement in the 1600 block of Lancaster St. shortly before midnight Friday [4/3]."

Confused? this info-dense paragraph puts straight the details of week's victims, as does the Spotcrime shooting map covering 4/1 to 4/7

Datwan Ramsey, 23 charged in double slaying at the Yau Brothers carryout (Spotcrime has added a street view, so no carryout shall ever have to remain unnamed)

"Man Stabbed, Robbed Outside Towson Starbucks" Saturday night

IV: CLOSE CALL - Gang member in Columbia dodges murder conviction

Anna Ditkoff has some problems with the BPD's tweets

Supreme Court: suspects can't be made to sweat it out for more than six hours

Hey Dog Walkers

The heat is on! Animal-control officials are ticketing off-leash dogs in the Northern-- we've heard of tickets being given out to owners at Wyman Park, Ston(e)y Run and Robert E. Lee. Fines start at $100 per dog and can go up to $1,000 for repeat offenses.

That's so Baltimore

"Feds Say Utz Potato Chip Stand at Baltimore's Lexington Market Used to Sell Guns"

I Should Hope So

IV: Officer's criticism of fatal shooting of elderly man is free speech, Appeals court rules

Mussmacher case

goes federal

Investigative Voice goes inside the mind of Kevin Johns
and
"The campaign of veteran lawmaker State Senator Nathaniel McFadden and State Delegate Jill Carter are among the 42 campaigns with officials facing criminal charges of failure to file finance reports."
and
More on the Bloods trial in HoCo: "A Bloods gang member took the stand Tuesday in Howard Circuit Court and told jurors that he did not order the alleged gangland slaying of a Columbia man last May."

Love & Herring

What the?! Investigative Voice says the case was dropped Tuesday, but I got this press release from the SAO today:

Opening Statements in the Second-Degree Assault Trial of Baltimore Police Detective Terry Love & Baltimore County Deputy Sheriff Michael Herring Scheduled to Begin at 10AM TODAY

Baltimore, MD – April 2, 2009 – The second-degree assault trial Terry W. Love, Jr., 31, of Baltimore and Michael Herring, 36, of Towson is scheduled to begin with opening statements at 10:00AM today before Judge George L. Russell, III, 420 Mitchell Courthouse, 110 N. Calvert Street.

The alleged incident occurred the morning of September 8, 2007 at the intersection of Belvedere Avenue and York Road and involves a 42-yr. old black male who was allegedly beaten and left unconscious in the road. Second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office filed a criminal information charging Love and Herring September 5, 2008 following a joint law enforcement investigation. A criminal information is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by a criminal information is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

General Trial Division Chief Lawrence Doan and Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Martin will prosecute this case.

###

53

1500 W. Fayette St.

Q For Readers

What can you do if someone writes you bad checks?

"Baltimore City’s Residents Give Voice to What’s Needed to Fix the Criminal Justice System" from the Justice Policy Institute

"Mother pleads guilty in infant son's death, will be released if child is resurrected"

"A 20-year-old man was gunned down in West Baltimore last night and died this morning from his wounds, police said. The shooting happened about 11:20 p.m. in the 1700 block of McCulloh St. ... "

BCPD: "Benjamin Wayne Shorter has been arrested and charged in the murder of Franklin Schissler. Mr. Schissler, 66 years old, was beaten to death inside the bathroom of Morsberger's Tavern in Precinct 1/Wilkens yesterday."

Lock up!

Spotcrime reports a bunch of burglaries in the Northern, on Gittings, Halwyn Ave, Guilford Ave., St. Paul Street.

Tweet, tweet, that's the sound of the police

"Police investigating questionable death: N. Abington Ave/Elbert St. Adult 23-25yrs old male."

Lactivational: Prisoners babysit tot found running on highway.

another floater!

Is solitary confinement torture?

The NYker asks: is solitary confinement torture?

the victim of the shooting yesterday in the 700 block of W. North Avenue has died

Crazy melee at Coppin State ends in 11 arrests

A man shot in an alley in the 2000 block of Belair Road, condition unknown

There may be no more bottles poppin in da Club 410 soon (Q: is Club Choices still open?)

Shawn "Goo" Gardener, apparently an enemy of the Rice organization, got two life terms for a laundry list of crimes, including racketeering and murder

Wayward teens get a talking to at Jessup

Who knew so many MD. lawmakers have experienced domestic violence?

Shooting on N. Avenue

Reports the BPD: "SHOOTING: 732 W. North Ave-Adult male shot multiple times. Police investigating, PIO on scene"

also "Fresh details about Baltimore's City Hall corruption case emerged Thursday morning as prosecutors and defense attorneys for Mayor Sheila Dixon met for the first time in open court."

From HoCo, Luke Broadwater tells the tale of J-Rock, Wild Out, Soldier and their little friend Peaches.

The Death Penalty bill has passed, and neither side is happy

CNN's hero of the week is Dr. Carnell Cooper, founder of the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) at shock trauma.

Stabbing, Charles & 22nd

2-3 males reportedly cut in the early morning hours

Headline of the Week: "SILENCE OF THE SCAMS - MVA will not comment on alleged license-plate fraud"

"It's hard to drum up much sympathy for a convicted three-time murderer" (or, for that matter, out-of-touch editors of a failing newspaper)
related: Peter Moskos on media coverage of the four officers killed in Oakland: "he was a monster... Sometimes there aren't two sides with the truth lying somewhere in between."

Stranded on Death Row/ And now I'm servin a lifetime sentence/ There'll be no repentance...

Jessamy and Cummings want more $ for witness protection

50

Man, shot in torso, 5800 block of Edgepark Road. No suspect, no motive.

Brendan Kearney at the Byers trial: how County Detective Gary Ruby got alleged triggerman Johnathan Cornish to admit his role

Some good news: homicide clearance rate improving!

Double Life Plus 175 Years

Yes, an actual sentence and appopos for the batshit-craziest road-rage murder ever.
Says the SAO:

Judge Charles G. Bernstein sentenced Adrian McFadden, 31, of the 700 block of N. Payson St. to a double life sentence plus 175 years without parole yesterday after he was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted armed carjacking and multiple handgun and assault charges November 7, 2008. The jury deliberated just over five hours in November 2008 before finding McFadden guilty of murdering George Johnson following a petty traffic dispute that escalated on a summer day in 2007.

The jury acquitted co-defendant Anthony Davate Miles, 25, of the 400 block of Mt. Holley St. of murder, but found him guilty of multiple assault charges. The jury convicted both defendants of attempted armed carjacking charges in the 700 block of N. Payson St. The attempted carjacking followed a traffic dispute that led to the murder of George Johnson, the attempted murder of Avon Ball, and the shooting of an innocent bystander on July 6, 2007.

On July 6, 2007 George Johnson and Avon Ball, foster brothers who did not know the defendants, were traveling in the 700 block of N. Payson St. to retrieve clothing items in a house in that same block, when they were forced to turn their vehicle around due to a memorial block party for a young child who was fatally injured by a vehicle days earlier. Although they turned the vehicle around without incident, McFadden and Miles followed the vehicle’s occupants and walked up the street to confront Avon Ball and George Johnson, the driver. Avon Ball’s infant son was a passenger in the car.

Testimony at the trial showed that the accusations by McFadden and Miles escalated, as they demanded the car with the child. Ball testified in the three-week trial that as he pleaded for his life, his foster brother, George Johnson said, “shoot me”, at which point McFadden shot Johnson four times as he ran up Payson St. and then pointed the gun at Ball, shooting him. Ball suffered life-threatening injuries and has had major reconstruction surgery. Testimony also revealed that McFadden shot an innocent bystander, a 17-year old girl and family friend, as he chased his victims. Trial testimony also showed that after McFadden shot the victims he walked over to Johnson and asked, “Is he dead yet?” and walked down the street polishing his gun with his T-shirt. The State also presented evidence and testimony that McFadden attempted to thwart the testimony of a State’s witness by sending a girlfriend to visit the mother of the witness to convince her to have the witness change her testimony.

The jury deliberated about five hours after the State presented nearly a dozen witnesses in a trial that lasted three weeks before the Honorable Charles Bernstein.

During sentencing proceedings yesterday, Judge Bernstein admonished a defense witness who testified on behalf of the defendant. He noted and advised the State’s Attorney’s Office to use more “tools in their toolbox” to pursue perjury charges against witnesses who fail to testify truthfully. He doubted the truthfulness of her testimony saying that he found as a matter of fact, and beyond a reasonable doubt, that she lied on the witness stand and that college officials and the a professional licensing board should be notified as she continues to pursue a nursing degree.

Judge Bernstein also praised the bond of love between brothers Avon Ball and George Johnson, and said that it was similar to the US Marine Bond and worthy of commendation.

7th Bounty Hunter Charged

A shooting and stabbing last night at Greenmount & 33rd

The Ink has last week's five murders.
.. srly, does anyone else find the repeated references to race kind of odd?

IV: "BOUNTY HUNTED - Feds join Bounty Hunters murder case as 7th suspect charged"
Background on the Bounty Hunters
Another alleged Baltimore Bloods murder trial today in Hoco.

Officer Patrick Dotson, right, "charged with attempted murder Monday put his gun to the head of a prominent west Baltimore businessman just eight hours earlier, an attorney said." Also, that skeevy 2/3rds of a moustache is not doing him any favors.
Another officer, Fontaine W. Smallwood, was also suspended as a result of the Canton incident.

Carjacking, robbery and burglary in the blotter

January's raid on an Eastern Shore turtle factory was part of a broader effort: Operation Shellshock.

RIP Circuit Court Judge Roger W. Brown

49

Yesterday's murder victim has been named as 23-year-old Kara Lawson.

Missed this report from last week: Andrew Goodwin, 22, was shot on Friday March 13 on Normandy Avenue and died.

City officer Patrick Dotson to be charged with attempted murder, accused of firing his service weapon during an off-duty fight outside a Canton nightclub this month

The BPD reports
"SHOOTING: Police investigating at 1600 block of Ruxton Ave. Adult male shot in upper body." The Sun has TV in the newspaper

At the Byers trial, "17-year-old Johnathan Cornish sat in the witness box and vacantly described how he killed [Carl Lackl] as part of a Baltimore Bloods gang mission."
The defense says Byers didn't have a motive.
More on cell phones in prisons from hermann

Charging docs: At age 14 Radames Reyes shot and killed 22-year-old pizza deliveryman Adam Diarra

Media Blabber: Ben Cardin says newspapers should be given nonprofit status

Having a flare-up

Spotcrime has heat maps, making the city's murders look like a case of hives

Says the SAO:
Judge Martin P. Welch sentenced Michael Truesdale, 40, of the 700 block of Appleton Street to 29 years in prison, the first 10 years without the possibility of parole.A city jury convicted Truesdale January 23, 2009 of three counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of attempted robbery deadly weapon. The jury acquitted Truesdale of attempted first and second-degree murder counts. The State had asked for 40 years in prison. Details:

On July 27, 2007 Baltimore Police responded to an apartment at 826 W. North Avenue for a reported non-fatal shooting. Upon arrival, the victim advised police that a man, later identified as defendant Truesdale, knocked on the door, pushed his way into the apartment, grabbed the victim by the hair pointing a handgun at the victim’s head while demanding money and property. A second victim in the apartment heard yelling and came to the first victim’s aide [sic]. The second victim gave $5 to Truesdale, who demanded more money. The second victim attempted to get Truesdale out of the apartment at which time Truesdale started shooting, hitting the second victim. Both victims positively identified Truesdale as the person responsible for this incident. Assistant State’s Attorney Jessica Paugh of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (FIVE) Division prosecuted this case.

48

The woman found shot on N. ElLwood Ave. has died.

Justin Fenton guest-blogs for Hermann re. the perils of crime reporting

County
Sounds like Sunday's murder in Wilkens may have been a case of self-defense

IV: Part II of the series, "What the ef is up with Edgewood?"

Police are ISO two guys (including one with a really bad haircut, right) who robbed a barber shop

N. Elwood?

Tweets our Facebook friend the BPD: "SHOOTING: Police investigating @ 500 block of N ELWOOD AVE."
Google maps says there's no such street in the city. Are there unexplored, primordial and unGooglized parts of the city?

47

A body was found by train tracks in Cherry Hill. Also a 3rd body found in the Harbor, cause of death unknown.

Kevin "I've got a fetish for blood" Johns, found not criminally responsible by reason of batshit insanity in the death of inmate Philip Parker was found dead at Supermax.

Opening statements to start today in the Patrick Byers trial.
UPDATE: Prosecutors say Byers was somehow able to get another cell phone at Supermax, which he used to threaten another witness and make "thousands" of calls over the past month!

"A federal judge has granted class action status to two categories of people in a civil suit that claims officers at Baltimore's Central Booking and Intake Center regularly and illegally detained certain arrestees too long and strip-searched people without cause."

Two county murders Sunday night: James Faulcon, 28, shot in his car, and a man robbed and stabbed to death in Wilkens

Investigative Voice: What happened to Edgewood?

NYU study: MD's monthly parolee fee should end, as "some consider committing crimes to pay."

We hear Judge Prevas was in he hospital over the weekend. Feel better, Judge!

46

The Baltimore Spectator reports the city's 46th homicide, Marty Williams Jr., 20-something. This is apparently the murder on Maisel St. the police Tweeted about.
ps. be forewarned, this video takes a very long time to load.

Coconuts Killer in Custody

Arrested for the triple shooting and murder outside Coconuts, one Sharone Newton, 34. A source tells us that the shooting was not the result of a dance floor bump, as charging documents report, but was instead rooted in a long-festering love triangle.

And for the quadruple shooting in the 4000 block of East Lanvale Street on February 26, one David Hunter, 21

Woman shot in the face

A woman was found shot in a car near the intersection of Parkwood and Edgemont avenues this afternoon. Her injuries are serious but she is apparently still alive.

Says my Facebook friend (the BPD): "SHOOTING: Police investigating a shoting in the 2600 block of Maisel St. PIO not responding"
(What's PIO?)

East Side Badness

A man was stabbed by three people in the 2400 block of East Baltimore St. on the north side of Patterson Park.

Shooting victim on Rutland and Oliver subject of BPD's first Twittered incident.

Police have officially ended their investigation into Annie McCann's death

"The House Judiciary Committee voted 14-7 Friday to support a bill that restricts the use of the death penalty to murder cases with biological or conclusive videotaped evidence."

Fabulosity! The City That Breeds has mapped Baltimore neighborhoods on Google!

"There's no overall plan"

Page Croyder has lots to say to the Investigative Voice.

And LOLZ!! "Jenna Bush Secret Service limo towed for unpaid parking tickets"
... er, make that a van

man shot in East Baltimore

Northwestern High catfight broken up with mace

Charges dropped against the alleged killer of Jasmine Harris, apparently no one photographed footprints in the snow.

Eric "Nation of Cowards" Holder visits Baltimore

Body afloat near dragon boats, the 2nd Harbor corpse in 10 days

Dog-shooting leads to the state Senate approving a bill to require law enforcement agencies to issue monthly reports to the attorney general on SWAT team deployments.

Ew. McCormick sues equipment manufacturer over paint chips in cinnamon

This press release from the SAO should be in the reading-comprehension section from the SAT. Try to follow this plot:

On February 20, 2009 Linwood Buckson, 39, of the 3200 block of the Alameda was convicted of car theft and second degree [sic] assault following a Baltimore City jury trial prayer from district court. (Case number 809050026) He was sentenced to three years in prison by Judge Alfred Nance. Today, in a violation of probation hearing before Judge Charles G. Bernstein, Buckson was found guilty of violating his probation for this new conviction and sentenced to the balance of the
9-year suspended sentence he received on January 16, 2007.

Buckson faces 9 years in prison after rigorous prosecution and law enforcement coordination between local, state and federal agencies that serve on the Baltimore Violent Repeat Offender Task Force.

The facts are as follows:

On January 14, 2009 at 9:20 am, Officer Garrett was dispatched to the 500 block of North Ave for a reported stolen automobile taken December 27, 2008. The officer observed the Black Suzuki at a red light being driven by Linwood Buckson. The officer with the assistance of back up attempted to initiate a traffic stop of the vehicle by activating lights and sirens but Buckson refused to stop the vehicle. Mr. Buckson then rammed the driver side of a marked patrol vehicle occupied by Officer Moody in an attempt to flee. Even after ramming the police vehicle, Buckson began running on foot until he was ultimately apprehended in the rear of the 3300 block of The Alameda. Officer Moody did not sustain any serious injuries. The victim’s car suffered severe damage.

At the time of arrest Mr. Buckson was on probation for theft over $500 involving a vehicle. He was placed on probation January 16, 2007 after receiving a 10-year sentence with 9-years [sic], 6 months suspended.

The facts of that case are as follows:

On October 31, 2006 at 12:30 AM, in the 2500 block of West North Avenue, a patrol officer was performing random stolen checks on vehicles. The tag of the car Buckson was observed driving was reported stolen on October 30, 2006. Buckson gave the police officer a license belonging to someone else. Buckson’s driver license had been revoked and suspended.

Mr. Buckson’s arrest record spans 21 years with 29 arrests. His convictions include robbery deadly weapon, possession with intent to distribute, three convictions for CDS possession, theft over $500, unauthorized use, trespass, and two convictions for violation of probation.

During his violation of probation hearing today, the Honorable Judge Bernstein sentenced Linwood Buckson to nine years in jail consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving.

?!

What the?! Teenage girls support Chris Beat-her-down Brown. Huh? Wha? And would HB 845 make any difference?

Noel lawsuit underway

Hermann: the wrongful-death suit of Cheryl Noel's family against the BCPD is underway in District Court. Noel has become a national symbol of the civilian casualties of the drug war and the perils of "no-knock" warrants. Word has it that the officer who shot Noel, Carlos Artson, received a Silver Star for shooting the Bible-toting mom.
Blog The Agitator has salvaged Joe Giordano's pieces from the Dundalk Eagle

How tough is the economy? Even the drug dealers are hurting in what FHBIII calls a "cocaine drought."

A triple drive-by shooting on Marble Hall Road

Police: cuckold to blame for the stabbing death of William Smith Tuesday

43, 44, 45

Two men killed at the Yau Brothers Chinese Food Carryout on 29th and Greenmount,
a man stabbed to death in the 6500 block of Cleveland Ave.

Eastern District police commander Dan Lioi has been suspended pending an investigation into text messages he exchanged with Cleaven Williams, Jr., accused of killing his wife outside a North Avenue courthouse last year.

City council: no parking fine amnesty

... going away this week. Check out the many fine blogs & sites at right, and please don't rob my house. -- MJB

Quote of the month

"Facebook, we're gonna get MySpace, LinkedIn -- all of the social networking sites... to really get our message out there."
-- Baltimore City Police Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi

42

A man shot in the 1900 block of Pulaski Street at around 10:20 p.m has died.

Police are looking for Rochelle Denise Battle, 16.

Don't miss Buz's latest notes on crime & security.
Also worthwhile commentary on the media situation from Clay Shirky

New Blog Alert

The Baltimore Scofflaws, fighting parking ticket fine insanity!
Writes the founder,

Last week, we the current and former citizens of Baltimore were informed the city will be extorting us to fill its dwindling coffers. Their weapon of choice comes in the form of excessive late fees associated with a variety of parking tickets, in some cases, many years old. According to NBC, 80,000 of us have been contacted concerning 183,000 citations totaling $132 million dollars. Some of us have now been individually saddled with THOUSANDS of dollars in fines to ease City Hall's debt ... we are furious the city views our bank accounts as their personal ATMs, for which THEY write the rules for withdrawal.

Fatal Police Shooting #5

"A Baltimore City man was shot and killed by police Saturday morning after he barricaded a 4-year-old inside his home with a machete, police say."
and guess what? the BPD identified the officer involved in the shooting as Garfield O'Toole.

Ew du jour: a Goucher prof was fired after admitting to having <600 child porn pix on his PC.

Delegates: Help us, Rod!

"Calling an uptick in police shootings troubling, two state delegates and the head of the local NAACP called on the federal government today to investigate a recent fatal shooting by a Baltimore police officer who has shot three people since June 2007."

41

14-year-old shot in the SW!

The stabbing death of 17-year-old Shawn Green (#14) has been ruled self-defense, he's being removed from official murder rolls.

Hermann: The Baltimore Police Department wants to be your Facebook friend

And the Sunpapers invite you (yes, you!) to sit in on the daily front-page meeting!

Parking Fine Insanity!

Baltimore's ballooning parking fines may be the highest in the country, and now the city is threatening to sue scofflaws for an average sum of $1,625 per violation. (Even, presumably, violators whose license plates were stolen by MVA employees!)
City spokesman: "we have a budget deficit."

Baltimore encourages surrender

"To ease warrant backlog, Baltimore encourages surrender" (by fugitives).

Use in a sentence: "particular heterosexual contribution"

Asking for Trouble

Police are ISO a man wanted for shooting two people.
And WBAL asked someone to come and steal two laptops. Da!

Hermann has lots to say about naming police who shoot citizens.

At a City Council hearing [Tuesday March 10] ... members were angry at the department's explanations. They should have also been angry at themselves for the childish way they acted at a previous hearing when they blew their chance to ask Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III tough questions about this policy. Instead, they bought the department's line to the point where they fawned over the top cop and abdicated their roles as public watchdogs.

The police now say they will review the policy. And the feud between Jack Young and FHBIII heats up! You know you're in trouble when dad's "disappointed"

Do you really want to relive the horror of the Palczynski hostage situation, nine years ago this month? If so, check out WBAL's special, "A Legacy of Pain"

Big damage$ in the Jacksonville leaky Exxon case.

Gansler will be testifying in A-town in favor of HB 1055, aka the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act.

Sixth 'Bounty Hunter' Arrested

A sixth suspect arrested in the "Bounty Hunter" killing, in which Petro Taylor was set on fire while he was still alive. Two guys, Terrell Greg and Anthony O. Williams, are already in custody, as are three teenage girls, (left to right) Sierra Pyles, 19; Tenisha Lawson, 18; and Grechauna Rogers, 16.
More from Justin Fenton

So today and tomorrow the legislature is holding hearings on the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. Oddly, there doesn't seem to be a word on this in the Sunpapers.

The Heroes Who Shall Remain Nameless

Irony alert: police officers "receive highest honor for actions under fire," but 1/4 of the recipients would not be name-able under the department's new policy.
(And doesn't this WMAR story read like it was translated from a Chinese newspaper?)

"Two men were shot Tuesday night while standing at an intersection in the Ellwood Park-Monument neighborhood in East Baltimore."

This week's four murders in the Ink.
The words "African-American" take up a lot of space.

Man who lied about the murder of his son gets 5 years

Outrage of the day: of course energy bills are going up, BGE has a lot of political contributions to make!

Trial Date Set for Mayor

Sept. 8. Lipscomb and Holton got dates too.

Pant Fires in the BPD

Accusations of police lying about evidence, parts I and II.

42

Shawn Cannady, shot by an unnamed officer on Friday, has died of his injuries, the fourth fatal police-involved shooting this year.
Meanwhile,
Heavy hitters took to the Marc Steiner show this evening to discuss the new Baltimore Police non-disclosure policy: Anthony Guglielmi, Director of Public Affairs for the Baltimore Police Department; Robert Cherry, President of the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police and a former homicide detective; David Rocah, staff attorney for the Maryland ACLU; and David Simon (read the essay).
If you're short on time, skip to the last half.
Are the police going to live up to the promise to volunteer all info journalists deem pertinent other than a name? And if they don't, then what? It's not really a negotiation, is it?
More thoughts on this issue from Buz

Non-intentional non-justified homicide #42 was Roger Dennis, shot at age 13 in 1997 in the 300 block of W. North Avenue, who died last August from his injuries.

Because of the definitions of criminal homicide as per the FBI, Dennis is on 2009's homicide tally, Cannady is not.

Feds Subpoena Flex Squad Records

"A federal grand jury has subpoenaed run sheets, log books, and personnel files of at least five members of the Baltimore Police Department's disbanded Southwest 'Flex Squad' ..."

Murder of 17-year-old Herbert Carsten Jr. (39) may have been gang-related

Your tax $ at work: "Suit reveals millions in city pension giveaways"

County
"Baltimore County Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a vehicle and two men wanted for the assault on a Baltimore County police officer that occurred on March 1 at approximately 2:16 a.m. in Precinct 9/White Marsh."

Have you seen this short, pudgy (alleged) perv with circumflex brows?

41

A man shot to death in the 3300 block of E. Baltimore St. last night

A man arrested for setting his 85-year-old grandmother on fire

A man shot at a thrift store on W. North Avenue

A man shot in the face at Park Heights & Reisterstown Rds.

Jury selection has begun for trial of the man accused of ordering the murder of Carl Lackl from jail

"Maryland police databases have rich harvest of names"

Stolen cars and robberies in the Blotter

Maryland Title Co. of Baltimore loses license over allegations of stealing <$700k

Orthodox law firm takes Shabbat seriously

Homicide victim #39 was Id'd as Herbert Carsten Jr., age 17, a life apparently not worth more comment than the insomnia its end inflicted.

40-- oh shiz!!

A fight on the dance floor led to murder in the street after closing at Coconuts, and the gunwoman is at large!

39

A quadruple shooting has one fatality so far in the Southeast

Another police-involved shooting, and the third in four years for the unnamed 28-year-old officer. What's his/her deal? A training issue? An itchy trigger finger? Bad luck?
And why would the police department under FBIII divulge this officer's brow-raising track record?

A personal e-mail plea from Delegate Craig Rice set the tone for the preservation of MD's death penalty

What the?! The vice president of Baltimore's NAACP chapter arrested for heroin, bupe & mj possession

Jury Convicts Man for Murder of Byron Dickey

The SA's office reports that a Baltimore City jury today convicted Donnell Johnson, 35, of the 700 block of E. 21st St. of first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The jury deliberated approximately three hours after hearing three days of testimony before rendering its verdict. Johnson faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole. Judge John C. Themelis scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2009. Details:

On August 12, 2007 at or around the 2100 block of Barclay Street Johnson became involved in a fight with the victim, Byron Dickey. During the fight Johnson brandished a .32 caliber handgun at which time Dickey began to run. Johnson chased Dickey, firing the handgun repeatedly at him as they ran. Dickey was struck three times and eventually collapsed due to his injuries. Police arrived on scene and secured the area and medics transported Johnson to John Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Lead detective Donald Bradshaw pulled footage from police pole cameras on both Barclay and Greenmount Streets and video footage did capture a portion of the incident where an individual generally matching the description of the defendant was running down Barclay Street with their right hand extended in a manner consistent with possessing a handgun. Further investigation revealed witnesses who were able to positively identify Johnson as the individual who shot and killed Dickey.

A most unusual trial for MD: an anonymous jury and the feds seeking the death penalty in the case of Patrick Byers Jr., accused of ordering the murder of Carl Lackl from jail.

Only in Baltimore: the twisted tale of attorney Kim Y. Johnson's apparent conflicts of interest between the police department and her own clients.

Should police still be investigating-- and should Hermann still be writing-- about the death of Annie McCann?

3rd time's a charm

Gunman charged in third murder

Your daily badness

Ink: two murders last week, both stabbings
Meanwhile, two alleged stabbers apprehended.
Alleged murderer Lewis Brock, alias Keshawn Brown, Luis Brown and Lamar Smith, has been arrested about 20-something times for guns and drugs, and in 2002 for attempted first-degree murder with a handgun, a case that was noll pros'd.
The other accused deadly shanker, Eddy M. Castillo-Diaz, is an illegal immigrant from Honduras.

330 pounds? That's a lot of coca!

So let me get this straight, if you have less than an ounce of marijuana and a case of insomnia, your biggest worry is being fined $100?

On the left coast, gay rights, Chris Brown go to court.

how about them earmarks?
A million buck$ for the Cal Ripken foundation of mentors as 'crime prevention' -- is Cal Sr. running the PAL centers now?
vs.
1/4 of that for the ferkakata crime lab
and 34.7 times that much for a Metrorail. Because the metro has been such a success.

... Just how selected is this list?
... is that the sum total of 'criminal justice' earmarks?
Nothing was requested for juvenile justice, the courthouse, etc.?
Where was Cummings, aka the one who was supposed to have his snout in the trough for us?

Welcome, tourists

A body was found near Broadway pier in Fells Pint. "Initially, they thought the person may have been unconscious, but the person had died."

50 Years for Murder of Edward Jeter

From the SA's office:
"A Baltimore City jury today convicted Troy Levi Dukes, 39, of the 3600 block of Echodale Avenue of second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Charles G. Bernstein sentenced Dukes to 30 years for second-degree murder and 20 years for use of a handgun in a crime of violence consecutively for a total of 50 years in prison. The jury deliberated two days before returning with a guilty verdict.

Dukes shot and killed Edward Jeter, 28, on March 31, 2006 at a residence in the 900 block of Luzerne Ave. Police responded to the scene and discovered Jeter lying face down on the floor suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses identified Dukes as being in the residence arguing with Jeter immediately before hearing a gunshot."

Sounds like...

... we're keeping the death penalty but making it harder to apply.
Hassan Giordano: Dems dropped the ball

Tats for Tots

"TATS FOR TOTS - Illegal tattoos show juvenile gang membership growing"

"CRACKING THE SHIELD - The inside story of how Baltimore Police Officers William King and Antonio Murray were sentenced to a combined 454 years in prison on corruption charges."

County police are ISO a couple of chunky-looking white guys believed responsible for a series of burglaries in Cockeysville.

How sweet! UHF celeb/Personal injury lawyer Stephen L. Miles gave up ambulance-chasing to be a dad.

Is the Chandra Levy mystery finally going to be solved?

What the?! In PGC, a woman found her missing, murdered daughter's body in home they shared

Morning Media Blabber

Hearst media to begin to charge for digital news.

... meanwhile, Reader's Digest may file for bankruptcy!

Only 1 in 27?

Study: 1 in 27 Md. adults in correction system ... in 2008, it cost $86 to confine an offender in Maryland per day
(incredibly, the percentage of city residents is not much higher-- about 1 in 22, if this article's estimate of 28,000 is accurate)

A man shot during an attempted robbery/carjacking, a stickup in the ToonTown Center garage.

More on the Bounty Hunters, a citywide subset of the Bloods "ruthless enough to burn one of their own alive"

Senate to "employ a rarely used legislative maneuver" to bring death penalty bill to a vote

Last year's bogus-parking-ticket scandal may have been the result of MVA employees stealing license plates

Paige Croyder: maybe expungement isn't such a great idea

Hermann ranks the state's biggest drug busts
("reefer"? "grass"? Is that what the kids of today are calling it?)

#38

A stabbing incident in Hampden left 29 year old Nelson Gause dead (#38) and one injured on Sunday morning.

The End of Transparency

David Simon: "If those who are authorized and trained to carry a badge... are now too frightened to have their identities known to the public in conjunction with the use of force, then how can anyone in Baltimore law enforcement justify asking an unarmed, unsworn citizen to testify in court as a witness?

and
"In Baltimore, No One Left to Press the Police"

#37, shootings, and why O'Malley said "O'Dear..." today

Frederick Jeffrey Archer of North Arlington Avenue was found fatally stabbed in his apartment yesterday.

Last night in East Baltimore
four men on the 400 block of East Lanvale Street were shot. All four are expected to survive.

In a time where thousands of customers are impacted by astronomical energy rates, Governor O'Malley decided to fight the powers that be... on the Death Penalty. A staunch supporter of repealing it, the governor was hoping that this would be the year that it was finally repealed.
unfortunately for him, the Maryland Senate preferred not to. However, this is not it since it may still go before the Full Senate. Martin, you'd best get your guitar and tightest black t-shirt - you'll need it.

Police continue to arrest people for beating, stabbing and igniting a man in Leakin Park in December.
Check out the Investigative Voice: "Cops charge 3rd teen in grisly 'Bounty Hunter' murder"-- MJB

The youngest of those accused of killing former Councilman Kenneth Harris is pleading not guilty.
PS. I've heard from more than one inside source that the mystery woman in the car was the wife of a police officer, and that a lot of information on this case has been suppressed. Hope it goes to trial -- MJB

The Maryland Court of Appeals has defended the anonymity of online posters for those who wish to slander the blog if certain conditions are met. Fire away.

Talk about doing hard time: Fifteen former correctional officers at two different Correctional Institutions are being charged with giving stick time to inmates.

No Mas

I don't want to read the news any more. The Griffin story has upset me too much.

Why read the news, anyway? What's the point?

For a list of quality Baltimore blogs, sites & news sources, check the sidebar at right.

Parents Guilty, Gym Bag Goes Free

A 15-year-old boy was shot in the leg in the SW

A deadbeat dad who owed more than $94k in child support was arrested

"An arresting officer was not justified in opening an automobile passenger’s gym bag during a traffic stop without first squeezing it to determine if it contained a weapon, the Court of Appeals has held"

Black-market parking passes lead to a bust outside the ESPN Zone

In the county, John and Susan Griffin were found guilty of second-degree murder and child abuse. More from the Sun

Griffin trial = postponement for court admin's drug trial

The Ink has names and details for some of last week's five murder victims

Federal charges for Trenell David Murphy, target of the city's third or fourth-largest bust ever

New Site Alert!

Our friends from the Examiner are back!
Crackheads at the DPW! A median-strip beatdown! A purse-stealing campus cop! There's some crazy shiznit at InvestigativeVoice.com

LOLZ! WBAL reporter fired after apparently pranking the Huffington Post with a video that involves the phrase "Eric Holder and his bright blue scrotum."

"determination, hard work, and being true to your dream"

Documents unsealed from last week's XXXL drug bust-- the CP's got them, and all the requisite ironic details.

What the?! Hopkins employee steals identity of kidney-transplant patient, buys hardwood floors, fancy underpants

Two domestic assaults in the blotter

"Prince" gets 25 (federal) years for importing cocaine and heroin from the tropics

One Sean Sterling got 22 years for "two counts of using a gun in a drug trafficking crime resulting in death" in a case that RJR says "reveals a lot about why there are so many murders in Baltimore"

Ronald Kevin Bowen got 30 months for running his own little Madoff-y scheme

ACORN member to be charged with 4th-degree burglary after staging a protest break-in. Meanwhile, city council members want to extend the time between foreclosure to eviction from 14 days to 365

Elsewhere:
Baltimore man arrested for '06 Centreville rape and carjacking
PGC: Road-rage murder over a U-turn
MoCo: 52-year-old woman shot to death while leaving church
AAC: Home invasion ends in hail of BBS ... Worker busted for selling pot at the McDonald's drive-thru

35, 36

Unidentified man, 20s, stabbed to death at Eastern Avenue and South Conkling Street yesterday

and a man was fatally shot in the chest in Greenspring.

34

A 33-year-old man was the 34th murder this year, he was shot to death in the 2500 block of W. Baltimore St. early Saturday morning.

A man and a woman were shot in Woodlawn, police are looking for a silver Cadillac

"Officer challenges policy against naming police who kill
Charged in fatal shooting, he says rule fuels citizens' distrust"
More from hermann

A 16-year-old girl, Greshauna Rogers, is charged with murdering 20-year-old Petro Taylor.

"An inmate at the Metropolitan Transition Center in Baltimore and a former prison guard have been indicted on charges of extorting money from inmates' families."

What the?! From elsewhere:
An arrest is "imminent" in the case of Chandra Levy ... former crackhead/mayor of DC Marion Barry gets a new kidney ... some people hunt for sport/ others hunt for food/ the only thing he's hunting for is an outfit that looks gooood ....

Bolivian All-Stars

CP: It's like, so totally not the biggest drug bust ever.

Robert Simels, "Rolls Royce" of criminal-defense attorneys, is fighting to keep his fee arrangements secret.

Two County Two-Year-Olds

one story you can't get away from, and one you will probably never hear about again.

Nobody puts Baby in a chokehold!

More on the shooting death of sexagenarian Joseph Forrest. Sounds like Forrest put female officer Traci McKissick in a headlock, and then was shot by her partner (who shall remain nameless), a male sergeant and 15-year-veteran with incredible aim.

Police are looking for a man who fired at undercover officers and tried to run them down around Harford Road and Montebello Terrace.

Dayum. Police seize 91 pounds of cocaine (from whence & whom they're not saying)

Dundalk drunk hits police car on 695, puts trooper in the hospital

A city police officer was arrested and charged with shoplifting from Wal-Mart.

Two inmates stabbed each other at the Detention Center.

Lipscomb's lawyer: state prosecutors "blew us off"

Media Blabbler
The Tribune's bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for March 12 in Wilmington, DE.

Google gets into the journalism business

I love the Blotter, but there's a problem when shot humans get less ink than stolen tomatoes. Rather than the blotter being a "dying art," it's actually a skill fast replacing investigative journalism.

What the?! Iranian woman wants eye for an eye and is probably going to get it. & Not Baltimore, but should be: woman's life saved by bullet-stopping hair weave.

The douchebag is I.

Does anyone else ever get the suspicion that the mayor wants to drive every taxpaying resident out of the city? It was bad enough to have my car broken into over and over again (even while rental-clean, the doors visibly unlocked and the factory radio already stolen). It was worse to hear that the only way to catch someone is for them to be caught in the act, and even then, the perp will serve no time. But then to be blamed for it ... after years of shrugging off the city's sociopaths, pervs, taxes, potholes ("that's Baltimore! Whatta a crazy town!") this is the first time I've felt like a prize a-hole for living here. Like a total chump. Because someone is going to break into my house, steal my stuff, and the cop is going to say, "if someone looks in your window, could they see your TV? Da, well, it's not that we want somebody to steal everything in your house, but if you leave anything downstairs when you go to bed, you're asking someone to come and steal everything that's not bolted down on the first floor. Common sense. Hey, is your dog OK?"
  "Oh my God! Tippy!"
  "Did you leave a water dish outside for your dog? Did you bring it back in, but it left a ring? Uh huh. There you go. It's not that we want somebody to sodomize your dog, but if you leave a dish outside like that, you could go to any area in the state, go to Towson, go to Frederick, it doesn't matter where, zoophiles are prowling around. We just need people to be responsible. Common sense."

A bearded brown man robbed the Pikesville Susquehanna Bank.

The Sporting Life

A man was shot inside the Sportsmen's Lounge in the 4700 block of Gwynn Oak Ave, he survived.

Allegations: man charged with firing a gun into the air beaten by a flashlight, forced to sit in barf

Murder Ink has last week's five homicides. #27 was ID'd as Faruq Barakaat.

fatal hit-and-run at 36th and Falls this morning

Search warrants executed by the US Defense Dept.'s inspectors at Berg Recycling. Whatever were they looking for?

DP: "Swing Vote" Senator Alex Mooney not changing his mind

TVs, license plates, frozen foods, cars, construction equiptment and cash stolen and gun- and knife-point in the Messenger crime log

Murder-suicide in Randallstown

33 Years for Fratricide

The State's Attorney's office reports that Eric Jerome Little, 29, was sentenced to 33 years for stabbing his 16-year-old brother to death with a knife. Details:

On July 12, 2008 at approximately 3:30AM police responded to the 3700 block of Liberty Heights Ave. for a stabbing. Upon arrival, police discovered Calvin Ray, 16, suffering from a single stab wound to the heart. Medics transported Ray to Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead. During the course of the investigation, police learn that Little and his brother, Calvin Ray, got into an argument inside the house over personal living space and that argument escalated and led to a fight outside and that Little retrieved a knife from the house and stabbed Ray.

The sister of both the defendant and the victim delivered an emotional victim impact statement to the court, telling Judge Rasin that their mother lost two sons that day. The defendant issued a tearful apology to his family before being led from the courtroom.

Two arrested for Monday night's murder of James Flanary/ Flannery

Reports WBAL's Kate Amara, "Currently, the murder rate is on the rise again, but the overall crime rate is down, statistics showed." (Really? What statistics?)
UPDATE, a reader writes,

"to answer your question about the statistics Kate Amara cited: Homicides up 44%, but shootings down 48%, robbery down 19%, aggravated assaults down 19%, larceny down 18%, auto theft down 30%, total vio,ent crime down 18 percent, property crime down 15 percent, and total crime overall down 17 percent. Only thing besides homicide that is up are burglaries, up 5%. According to police stats as of 2/7."

Maybe it's time for another trip to Six Flags!

Hermann has more on Dixon's "day on crime"

The federal agents who arrested 24 Latinos during a 2007 raid at a Southeast Baltimore 7-Eleven felt pressure from supervisors to round up possible illegal immigrants to 'produce statistics.'"

Dixon granted an exclusive interview to JZ hottie Adam May.

A female officer who shall remain nameless shot a man to death after he allegedly attacked her.

Teens going apestuff on a bus led to a juvenile stabbed onboard at 38th and Ellerslie.

Shiteously depressing trial continues in Towson for the couple accused of starving their toddler son to death. The Sun's Nick Madigan reports that the "dad" "acted belligerently," called police officers "a bunch of gorillas"

Also in the county, a man was arrested after he "allegedly stabbed a woman with a steak knife and injured two other people following an argument."

David Anthony Johnson faces 30 years in federal prison and a fine of $1 million after pleading guilty to stealing his dead neighbor's identity

What the?! North Daktoa legislators decree that a fertilized egg = a person

New Blog Alerts

Fraud With Peril: former federal prosecutors blogging about white-collar crime in MD, DC & VA ... saucy headline writers who probably know more secrets than Mata Hari!

Mobtown Media Beat, a photojournalist delivers the lowdown

No Sugar No Sweet, a TU student on the realities of Baltimore living