February 20

Updates in this week's Murder Ink.

IBJIM? No, more like IBICKY.

Terrell Watson / Terrence Washington has got to get some credit for sticktoitiveness. (There's a Successory in there somewhere, like maybe a prison fence with an eagle soaring above it at sunrise.)

An Aberdeen cabbie (would that be a Caberdeen?) was robbed at gunpoint.

Police want to question a New Yorker about Jeff Payne's murder.

NY college student Nicholas Dudley Pinderhughes Weaver waived extradition.

You can get out of jail (almost) free, but even that may be too high.

Beware of IRS phishers.

A new chapter in the Sun's slow, painful death: after the demise the London and Beijing bureaus, now they're closing Towson! The extra office space will make space for a publication called "b," that will be "reader-generated" and "user-generated."
More on this from the S itself.
(A prescient article from the WSJ from two years ago: "Do New Free Dailies Mean Sun Is Setting For Paid Newspapers?")

Victims of Pervert Sought

County police are seeking anyone who's had inappropriate communication or contact with sex offender James Willnecker of Essex, right, who was arrested for trying to get all up in a 14-year-old Michigan girl.

Not Guilty Plea from Methadone Mom

At arraignment this morning, Vernice Harris, charged with murder and child abuse resulting in death, pleaded not guilty. A trial date was scheduled for 11 a.m. April 22, 2008, 226 Mitchell Courthouse.

February 19

The Sun's Annie Linskey reports that before 22-year-old Jeff Payne was fatally shot at a party near Morgan State, he had been shot during the civil war in Liberia.

"He was young at the time," (his mother) said. "He talked about the dead bodies he had to walk though. He had to go hunting in the forest for food."

She said that Payne and his grandmother were always on the run. "They were going from one village to another," she said. "When the rebels got there, they'd have to leave again."

(His mother) tried to find Jeff and another son, but she couldn't. "They were running from to place to place. His father was trying so hard to find him. I thought he was not alive. I thought he had been taken by rebels."

At some point, during a raid, Jeff was apparently shot. His half brothers, Michael Gillies, 19, and Wilmot Daye, 25, both remembered him saying that he had been shot and showing them the scar.

City police yesterday arrested Darnell Jeter, 42, and charged him with the murder of Theresa Parker last March 25.

You've gotta love a Baltimore "high school night" where two 20-year-olds get shot, one fatally. I wonder if they were seniors yet?

A cutting in the Southeastern, and some broken flower pots in the county.

Saturday's shootout at a Laurel motel left (alleged) attempted-cop-killer Aaron Mason Lowery dead.

Timothy Marsh's German Shepherd misses him, and Annapolis' Mayor Moyer's fears that guns and drugs are "running rampant in the city." Meanwhile, WBAL uses the last paragraph in a story about Marsh to report on a non-fatal BB gun incident in Annapolis.

Alleged AAC carjacker Scott Corey Coale was arrested in California after trying his mad jacking skills in the parking lot of a motel.

Carl O. Snowden is the civil rights director for the Maryland attorney general's office; his kid, Kojo, was arrested on gun charges.

February 18

There was a double shooting at the Paradox Nightclub in the Southern that left one person in "pretty bad shape." A shooting and/or assault at Lombard and Paca might be related.
UPDATE: One of the victims has died.

A man was shot inside his car yesterday afternoon on the corner of W. Saratoga St. and Arlington Ave.

The man who was murdered in Morgan State student housing on Friday was not a Morgan student.

The Volunteers of America Comprehensive Sanction Center on E. Monument St. is apparently a pretty great place to be if you're a recently released inmate who doesn't want to bother with all of that pesky supervision.

Annapolis had its third murder of the year yesterday when Timothy Marsh was shot to death in his car in the 1300 block of Tyler Ave.

Darwin lives!

Somebody's a cranky fussypants! New footage shows Officer "I am not a dude" Rivieri kicking a remote-control car with way too much intensity. (Thanks Lucid!)

February 17

A woman (or teenager) was found fatally shot early yesterday in a vacant lot in the 3400 block of Woodland Avenue.

The man shot by police after (allegedly) stabbing Shenera Lanera Norris was identified as Dale Rodney Jones, 38.

Juanita Robinson, 27, was convicted for the murder of Andre McBride, 21. You may recall that Robinson previously served six months for killing 16-year-old Derrick Colbert. (Here's the link from the archive... though the original Sun link has departed to Internet heaven.)

PGC race neighbors: each time they called police about street races, they "heard a different story as to who was responsible for patrolling that stretch of road."

WBAL: Mover stole clients' belongings, drove drunk, ended up under 18 inches of ice.

In case you haven't noticed...

... snark and outrage are what we do best!
(thanks Colin)

February 16

Murder
Charles H. Davis and Nicholas Dudley Pinderhughes Weaver were arrested for the 2002 murder of 16-year-old David L. Baskin Jr.

Death-scene details from Annie Linskey in yesterday's murder of Shenera Norris.

"Norris ran through a neighbor's open door. The man crashed through a window to follow her, according to the witness. "I heard him say, 'I'll pay for the window, ' ... She died in her underwear, running for her life.

Drugs
Former drug dealer Fred Brooks: "when I encountered the joke of the state legal system I really felt untouchable."

Arkansas police stopped 31 pounds of cocaine en route to Baltimore.

Perversity
Remember the Liberian guy who avoided child sex abuse charges because Maryland court officials couldn't find an interpreter for him? He's being deported, at least.

Women's Wear
AG Doug Gansler has gotten David's Bridal to stop charging excessive layaway fees.

Another Murder and Skeevy Accusations

A man was shot to death at a Morgan State U. party.

Thank you Fritze! The intrepid reporter wrangled the documents revealing the accusation that got Dixon spokesman Anthony McCarthy placed on leave from his position:

... a 16-year-old boy who belonged to a Baltimore church where McCarthy preached, Unity Fellowship, told a Department of Social Services worker that McCarthy had engaged in improper sexual contact with him when he was 15.

All together now... eeeeeewwwwwww!

More ew: A grand jury indicted Roy Edward Hoover, Jr., age 37, of Baltimore, on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography and possession of child pornography.

And more! Sheez! Hagtown state delegate Robert A. McKee is under investigation for child porn. He's resigning his positions as delegate and as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County. Said McKee, "my primary focus is to get well and stay well."

Bad news for the news: the Sun plans to cut about 45 jobs in the near future, and the Tribune plans to cut about 2 percent of its total workforce overall. The NYT is also planning to cut about 100 newsroom jobs, and The Washington Post is closing its College Park production plant.

#19

A woman was stabbed to death at a Northwest apartment complex this morning, and the alleged stabber got a police bullet as a reward for his hard work.

February 15

It wasn't gang related, he hadn't stolen their girlfriend, and he didn't owe them money for drugs. Nope, looks like 16-year-old Dundalk resident Joshua Gibson was a victim of the dreaded random attack. At least it happened in the county, so perhaps the douchebags who killed him will get more than a stern talking-to.

Stephen Todd Nelson awoke from his coma and confessed to throwing his little boy off the Bay Bridge.

Leroy Wooden was arrested in the Southern and charged with murdering Barry Newman in August. The beauty of it all is that if somebody had told Leroy that he shouldn't beat up his woman, he might still be free.

A man was shot in the parking lot of the Rite-Aid on Frederick Ave. in the Southwestern. Police are looking for a heavyset male with a black shirt and blue jeans, a description that fits me perfectly.

First he beats up skateboards, now we learn he's beating up boxes.

AAC Sheriff "Flowers by Ron" Bateman is a pretty clever guy. Not so romantic, maybe, but clever.

Eric Griswold doesn't quite understand the whole drug-dealer-handshake thing.

Witness Intimidation Indictment

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Raymond Sheppard, 35, of the 1100 block of N. Carey Street for witness intimidation and harassment. Court documents allege on November 19, 2007, Raymond Sheppard threatened a witness in a pending felony criminal case. The victim reports on three subsequent occasions Sheppard threatened to kill her and family members if she gave testimony in an armed-robbery case. An arraignment is scheduled for March 7, 2008 before Judge John P. Miller, Room 428, Mitchell Courthouse East.

February 14

Shootings, shootings, everywhere! A Hopkins employee was shot outside a food store on Greenmount Ave., a man was shot in both legs on Biddle St., a teenager was shot outside a Chinese restaurant on Belair Rd., a man was shot in the foot on Herndon Ct., and some dude was robbed at gunpoint of his lottery ticket in Owings Mills (but not shot).

Four people-- three teenage boys and a girl-- were arrested for the murder of 16-year-old Joshua Gibson in Essex. The suspects and the victim did not know one another, and police say Gibson was attacked for "no apparent reason."

Headline that sounds dirty but isn't: "O'Malley urges DNA collection"

No criminal charges will be filed against Anthony McCarthy, Mayor Dixon's former communications director who was accused of "inappropriate" behavior. So we'll probably never find out what he was accused of.

The skateboarder is getting his 15 minutes.

Hey, Carl the carjacker, maybe you should'a thought about getting a lawyer before the day your trial started. Guess the courts beat you again!

The city is working with other cities to... get this... create a database! (Didn't see that coming, didja?) This time, gun offenders are the target.

A couple of New Yorkers got caught stealing in Annapolis.
Handy tip: "The women ... had 'boosting bags,' or shopping bags lined with aluminum foil, to avoid setting off security scanners at store exits."

A 12-year-old Mazda got stolen because the owner was (allegedly) too damned lazy to turn that little thingy that sits on the side of the steering column. Fortunately, the thief crashed the car almost immediately afterwards.

Wow. Unless we start doing some crimes, I'm going to be stuck linking to articles about restaurants who leave customers with useless gift cards.

February 13

What's Fred's secret? Says the Ink, "the city has had almost half as many homicides as it did at this time last year."

A teenager shot in the stomach Monday, a man shot in the leg Tuesday.

A nurse who had contact with Bryanna Harris as an infant took it upon herself to visit the family about 30 times and bring diapers and formula.
WTF?! Now, "prior to a birth, a nurse who has concerns about the future safety of an infant will be able to alert Social Services." They couldn't do that before?!

Somebody stoledid a ambalance! It was "last seen on I-495 heading into Virginia with its lights and sirens on." Whoo whoo!

Hey, Annie Linskey is back! Today finds our intrepid reporter reporting on watchers watching the watchmen.

Baltimore on the global scene! The cop v. skateboarder clip made CNN's "American Morning," (and is the fifth most-watched video of the day) and the BBC asked some choice Baltimore voters which candidates they prefer.
(thanks Simon)

Counties
County police are looking for a blurry burglary suspect.

In Towson, a man whose pit bull mauled two children got probation.

Hagtown: "Fists Swing At MD Trooper Child Porn Sentencing"

E-mail from the DNC

"The AP has reported an Anne Arundle County Judge has expanded voting hours in Maryland from 8:00pm to 9:30pm due to weather conditions."

"Arundle"?!
Well, you get the idea, anyway!

Freakonomics does The Wire, episode 6

The latest post from Sudhir Venkatesh and the Thugs is up at Freakonomics.

February 12

Nicholas Browning was indicted on four counts of murder and handgun charges. He is on special watch, and is being observed by medical staff at the Baltimore County jail. My guess is he's sad that he can't drive that sweet Expedition.

The body found in Bel Air on Saturday has been ID'd as 57-year-old Paul Michael Shupe. Cause of death hasn't been determined, but there are no outward signs of foul play.

Prison justice is alive and well.

It's a bad news day for the BPD. Officer Salvatore Rivieri got caught on YouTube harassing some of Baltimore's most dangerous criminals. Officer Christopher Vallejo was found guilty of second-degree assault for attacking a woman in Federal Hill last September when he was off-duty. A woman in Baltimore filed a $40M lawsuit because Officer Ray Woodward allegedly punched her 16-year-old son in the face and broke his jaw for no apparent reason.

It's also a bad news day for (alleged) rapists. Dwight Carter was arrested and charged with raping a 13-year-old friend of his step-sister. Thomas J. Grant was given two consecutive life sentences for the 1979 rape and murder of Sheila "Sis" Bazemore Rascoe. Cortlandt Harvey Dorsey pleaded guilty to raping a 56-year-old Kenyan tourist in 2006.

And there's been bad news for people who eat: A couple was robbed in Little Italy while taking a walk after dinner, a pizza delivery guy in Pikesville was robbed of money and pizza, and a gunman ordered food at a Dunkin Donuts on Reisterstown Rd. and then stole the contents of two cash registers. No word on whether or not he got away with any donuts.

I am Not a Dude!

It's cop v. skateboarder!
(Thanks Marc)

Here's where you can find your sample ballot for today's primary. Did you know you're also voting on judges and delegates? Who knew?

February 11

A man was standing at a corner on E. Baltimore St. early Friday morning when he was stabbed in the stomach.

There's a blue light special on homemade bombs.

"Spoiled kid" Nicholas Browning "didn't like his father because he used to always yell at him and stuff."

Allan A. Banks was charged with murdering Collin Mazyck on Tivoli Ave. last month. Mazyck's family say he was walking to a Chinese restaurant, but police are investigating the possibility that he was robbed while buying weed.

Ex-offenders are working with the Baltimore Health Department to try to stop the violence in the city.

"It's gonna take [guys] like us in the 'hood," (Donte) Barksdale, 33, was saying to a young man he met on Monument Street last week, not far from the Safe Streets office, pressing a flier into the youth's hand. "The police can't do it. It's impossible."

Aspiring criminals, be careful with that next tattoo.

The Examiner profiles Baltimore County Police Chief James Johnson.

Lawsuit: Monogamous spouse smeared as ‘swinger’

Kid's Corner!
Here's that Sun editorial that's annoying everyone: "At 15, still a kid"

WTF?! Bus-beating defendant doesn't understand the words "justified" or "initial."

A program by correctional officers scares 11-year-olds straight with the spectre of public pooping.

February 10

Prosecutors dropped all charges against Oscar Adams, the second gunman accused of murdering pregnant Ashley Harris, 19, in front of Club Choices in March of 2006.

A fire this morning in in the 1900 block of Edmondson Avenue may have been arson.

"Body Mystery In Bel Air"

Free to work 14 hours on Tuesday? You can make $150 as an election judge! <- opens .pdf

Editorials: Rodricks bitches about jury duty.

February 9

Emmanuel M. Bryant of Lansdowne was murdered in the Southwestern on Thursday afternoon.

"Turner was Stephen's world." Then maybe he shouldn't have, you know, thrown him into the damned river. (Allegedly, of course.)

Annapolis police released a sketch of a suspect in January's double murder, but the Sun didn't run it.

The kids are talking about Nick Browning on Facebook. Meanwhile the Sun's Julie Scharper and Justin Fenton report on the (alleged) motive:

"He told police that he was upset that his father forced him to attend a Boy Scout camp in Western Maryland, where the Browning family had a vacation home and frequently spent weekends. A week away from his 16th birthday, he also resented that his father told him he could not immediately use a Ford Expedition that was to be a present, a source with knowledge of the investigation said."

The music director of Sheila D's church was charged with raping a 13-year-old churchgoer.

A woman in Annapolis has been charged with pimping out her 16-year-old daughter for money and crack.

The Original Steakhouse and Sports Theater in Parkville is holding a fundraiser for the Griffin family on Monday.

"Two Farmers Convicted and Sentenced for Causing the Deaths of Three Bald Eagles and a Great Horned Owl"

A Year for Doobage

.. technically, anyway:

In a 20-minute hearing today on a defense motion to quash a 20-year-old bench warrant for failing to appear in court for sentencing on a decades old marijuana charge, the Honorable John N. Prevas sentenced Britt D. Glenn, 42, of California to one year in prison for possession of marijuana. The court continued his pending assault case for a hearing on March 17.

The Court of Special Appeals of Maryland ruled in 1986 that Britt was entitled to a new trial following a conviction for assault with intent to murder. At that time, he was also convicted, but never sentenced on the marijuana charge and never appeared for trial on the assault charge following the Court’s ruling. Judge Milton Allen issued a bench warrant when he failed to appear.

At the hearing today, prosecutors noted that Glenn has been a fugitive from justice for over 20 years and had not been sentenced for the marijuana conviction and was out on bond at the time the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland ruled in 1986. Mark Cohen, Homicide Chief, prosecuted today’s hearing.

February 8

Police are investigating the shooting death of Kamia Hair, 25, found in the 1800 block of Bolton Street by her son.

Children "in Baltimore are eight times more likely to die from homicides as children nationwide or in Maryland as a whole," and twice as likely to die of injuries.

Related: Julie B. interviews the self-described "most kindest person in the world," methadone-murder mom Vernice "Peaches" Harris.

Phillip Queen was arrested Wednesday in the death of three-year-old Jabari Stocks last June.

Charming funeral director robbed grieving families, got 4 1/2 years in federal pokey.

Three men and a woman were arrested last night during a raid in the McCulloh Homes in West Baltimore and have been charged with multiple drug violations.

Examineratorial: student protests a waste of time

Life + 20 for Killer of Mark Jones

Judge John C. Themelis sentenced Raymond Handy, 37, of the 500 block of East 30th St. to life in prison for first-degree murder, plus 20 years consecutive for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. A city jury convicted Handy December 13, 2007. This sentence will be served consecutive to a 14-year sentence Themelis handed down today for a violation of probation. Handy pleaded guilty June 13, 2002 to CDS possession with intent to manufacture in which 15 years was originally suspended. Details:

On May 1, 2005 at approximately 1:20 p.m. officers responded to the 2900 block of Greenmount Avenue for a shooting. Mark Jones, 40, was found shot and was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses identified Handy as the shooter.

The victim was one of 18 siblings, and a member of a close knit, church-going family, many of whom were in the courtroom for the sentencing. Three members of the victim’s family, including his mother, gave victim impact statements. The defendant had been lifelong friends with the victim, and grew up with the victim’s family.

Assistant State’s Attorney Theresa Shaffer of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Freakonomics does The Wire, episode 5

Tony-T, Shine, Orlando, and Flavor are back to review episode 5 of The Wire. Today, they discuss black serial killers and The Coin.

February 7

A 16-year-old City College student was abuducted and raped in a vacant house in Waverly while she was waiting for a safe and reliable MTA bus.

Turner Nelson's mother doesn't believe the boy's father, who is in a coma after a suicide attempt, could have thrown the boy into the Patapsco River. She believes Turner will reappear.

Nicholas Browning's guardians have retained Joshua R. Treem, Lee Boyd Malvo's defense attorney. Meanwhile, a few people who knew Nicholas are saying he wasn't such a great guy after all.

Olesker talks to the Brownings' pastor.

The beating of Kishor Kc is depressingly similar to Zach Sowers' beating, but Kc's assailants will probably get off even easier because they're younger.

A whole lotta child abuse in Annapolis.

Robbing and beating and stabbing, oh my!

A man was shot when two men tried to rob him and his girlfriend in his driveway in Severna Park.

Collin Hawkins is facing life for carjacking and gun violations, and still faces charges for shooting BPD Officer Momodu Gondo in 2006.

Two prisoners who stabbed two guards at Maryland House of Correction got... ummm... more prison time.

Edward Lamont Hunt's family hired A. Dwight Pettit to help them figure out how much money they can make because why police shot Hunt.

Beware of "firefighters" bearing your computer.

Murder Concivtion, Indictments

From your hardworking SA's office:

A City jury convicted Ajamilla Longmore, 20, of the 5000 block of Linden Heights Avenue of first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The trial began January 28. Longmore faces a maximum possible prison term of life in prison plus 20 years when sentenced by Judge John C. Themelis on March 6. On December 13, 2006 at 9:38 p.m. Longmore approached Ronald Stewart, 29, while walking in the 4000 block of W. Belvedere Avenue. Longmore then shot Stewart six times. Stewart was pronounced dead on the scene. The jury found co-defendant Ernest Hudson not guilty of first-degree murder. Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia Banks of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

The City Grand Jury indicted Tyrone Allsberry, 65, of the 400 block of E 25th Street, for first-degree murder and deadly weapon charges. Court documents allege that on January 12, 2008, Allsberry was responsible for stabbing Willie Clayton Joyner, 18, inside the 25th Street market. Joyner and a friend allegedly was inside the market when Allsberry entered and approached Joyner inquiring about money. He then produced a knife and stabbed Allsberry in the chest. Joyner collapsed and fell to the ground outside the market. He died later at Johns Hopkins Hospital. An arraignment is scheduled for March 10, 2008 before Judge Gale E. Rasin, Room 509 Courthouse East.

The City Grand Jury indicted Joshua Rice, 27, of the 500 block of Yale Avenue for first-degree murder and deadly weapon charges. Court documents allege on December 14, 2006, a match from the DNA database identified Joshua Rice as the person responsible the strangulation death of Jennifer Fishbach in May 2004. Fishbach’s decomposed body was found in a second-floor bedroom in the 1200 block of Bayard Street on May 22, 2004 with a wire coat hanger around her neck. She was identified through fingerprints and DNA. An arraignment is scheduled for March 7, 2008 before Judge Gale E. Rasin, 509 Courthouse East.

February 6

Rod J. Rosenstein today announced a seven-count federal grand jury indictment charging four Baltimore men with the murder of Carl Stanley Lackl on July 2. All four defendants are eligible for the death penalty.

Ink: Three murders this week, 16 so far this year.

Cockysville murder kid Nicholas Browning's aunt was also killed by domestic gunfire.
Like, duh: "Experts said easy access to guns was a common thread in cases where children kill their parents."

MdTA Police are preparing murder charges against Stephen Todd Nelson, 37, who police believe threw his 3-year-old son off the Key Bridge into the Patapsco River on Sunday. Nelson is reportedly in a coma after ingesting household cleaners.

"Baltimore City’s broad and complex parking ticket investigation intensifies"

Algebra Project students arrested, lectured. Teacher: arrests were part of the plan.

February 5

An unidentified man was found at about 9 a.m. Saturday morning, lying on his back shot to death in the 1600 block of W. Lafayette Avenue.

An 18-year-old was shot in the upper body after getting off of a (what else?) MTA bus in Windsor Mill.

WTF?! "Steven Vernarelli claims he was walking to Johns Hopkins Hospital in October, when he was stopped for no reason and sodomized with his own paper money by a Baltimore City police officer."

El Jizz: "Undercover Maryland Troopers Pose As Hitmen & Prevent Hundreds Of Murders!"

Judge Kaye Allison sentenced Davon Pearson, 20, of the 800 block of Vine Street today to life in prison for conspiracy to commit murder, 30 years in prison, concurrent, for second-degree murder and 20 years, consecutive, for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. A Baltimore City jury convicted Pearson December 10, 2007. Details:

Late in the evening on August 2, 2006 Pearson met up with an associate only identified as “Bobby” in the area of the 400 block of East Lynn Avenue. Witnesses testified that “Bobby” asked Pearson to “take care of a problem for him” in exchange for an ounce of cocaine. Just past midnight, “Bobby” provided Pearson with a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Pearson then followed the Victim, Howard Jones, onto the 2600 block and shot him in the back of the head. Mr. Jones died on the street. Multiple eye-witnesses identified him as Mr. Jones’ killer.

At the trial, Pearson, his fiancé and mother testified that he had been at a neighborhood candlelight vigil protesting violence among young men and then later at his fiancé’s house in Baltimore County at the time of the murder. The jury rejected Pearson’s alibi. Assistant State’s Attorney E. Wesley Adams of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Prosecutors in Carroll County are appealing the dismissal of charges against the Bowling Brook counselors who were charged with reckless endangerment in last year's death of Isaiah Simmons.

Bowzer from Sha Na Na wants to ban imposter bands.

The GM of WYPR went on-air this morning to explain the station's recent deSteinering. Meanwhile, listeners are puh-issed.
("I've got WAMU on, right now. It's FREAKING RINGING THROUGH MY WHOLE HOUSE. THE WINDOWS ARE RATTLING. I CAN'T MAKE IT FREAKING LOUD ENOUGH. Hello, Kojo!")

February 4

More on the murder of the Browning family, and the vigil that was held for them last night.

Someone might have thrown a child off of the Key Bridge. Or they might not have. Nobody really knows yet.

Two people were murdered at a Uno Chicago Grill in Largo right around the time the Giants scored their first touchdown.

A pizza-delivery man was beaten in Edgewood on Saturday night and is in serious condition at Shock Trauma.

The man charged with killing Finksburg video store manager Gary Hatfield was described as depressive, reclusive, weird, and bad at tying his shoes.

In the Blotter: A shooting near The Block, a lack of information about the man killed on Federal St., some former-employee aggression, and a wheelchair joyride in the halls of Perry Hall Middle School.

February 3

The four bodies found in Cockeysville appear to be Towson real estate and corporate lawyer John Browning, his wife Tamara, and two of the couple's three sons. The third son, Nicholas Waggoner Browning, right, "found" the bodies when he arrived home at 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and has been charged as an adult with four counts of first-degree murder.

The city's first murder of February occurred in the 1600 block of E. Federal St. yesterday morning at 10 a.m.

Police are looking for Ellis D. Johnson. Johnson and three minors (who are in custody) allegedly beat a cop who tried to bust up a deal at an apartment in the 1500 block of Pennsylvania Ave. on January 14. Officer William Olsen is recovering at home, and will need hip surgery.

"Every one of us knew that Mr. Alder was very likely to physically harm, even murder, any of us and our families at any time." Yep, you sure got that one right.

Michael Ryan Anderson was arrested this morning for the murder of Finksburg video store manager Gary L. Hatfield on January 26.

Chris Perkins -- who resigned as director of Maryland's juvenile detention facilities on December 13 after a City Paper investigation into past accusations of child abuse -- claims he has evidence to prove his innocence but never got the chance to present it in court.

More info on the misuse of bupe.

February 2

Fox reports that a man was shot to death in the 1600 block of Federal Street in East Baltimore this morning, soon after 10 a.m.

Four bodies, two teenage boys and a man and a woman, were found in a house in Cockeysville in the 10000 block of Powers Avenue.

Bealefeld: the officer who fired the shots that killed Edward Lamont Hunt has been suspended with pay.

Convictions, pleas and sentences for perps who distributed steroids, child porn and crack, enslaved a 14-year-old and committed social security fraud are all in a day's work for the U.S. Attorney's office.

Marc Steiner Canned!

It's true! Wow, didn't see that one coming!
("Personnel issues are always very difficult"... sounds like he ticked off the wrong person!)
More from the Sun.

The best January since before crack

Last month was the least homicidal January in Baltimore since 1978.

Now is not the time to sit back and bask in six months' worth of accomplishment," Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said in an interview yesterday. "Now is the time to push harder."

Annals of Law

NYker: Baltimorean Brian Nichols went on a murder spree in Georgia. But three years and $1.2 million+ later, the death-penalty case still hangs in limbo.

Three Life Sentences for Double-Murderer

Judge Charles G. Bernstein sentenced Abdul Kareem Alvez-el, 23, of the 500 block of Richwood Road to three consecutive life sentences, followed by three consecutive 20- year sentences for his November 9, 2007 convictions of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of use of a handgun in commission of a crime of violence. This sentence is the maximum sentence allowed by law. Details from the SA's office: (edited)

On February 2, 2006 at 9:45 p.m. Ricky Medley, 19, Martrell Brown, 16, and Quinton White, 17 were at a Sunoco Gas Station in the 500 block of East Cold Spring Lane. While there, Medley and Brown got into a physical altercation with Raynard Bowles. Following the fight, all three got back into a car driven by Ricky Medley and attempted to drive away. Abdul Alvez-el produced a handgun and began firing at the moving vehicle, striking Medley in the torso and Brown in the head. Both victims died of their injuries. The vehicle continued to the 800 block E. Cold Spring Lane where Quinton White was able to reach the steering wheel from the back seat and crashed it into a wall to avoid hitting any other vehicles. Quinton White suffered a broken arm as a result of the accident.

Assistant State’s Attorney David Grzechowiak of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Freakonomics does The Wire, episode 4

I missed this one yesterday, but Sudhir Venkatesh and his gang of merry pranksters are back for episode four. The thugs pose a question to Freakonomics readers:

“I want them to tell us whether Marlo will kill Omar, or the other way around,” said Orlando, picking at his teeth, like a Southern gentleman on his front porch. “I want to see how smart they are.”

“Yeah,” Flavor pushed on. “And I want them to say exactly how it’s going to go down. Because you know what this whole thing is leading up to … Good versus Evil — if you can tell the difference around here.”

February 1

Darrell Holmes was the boy who was killed on Penrose Ave. on Wednesday, and his 12-year-old cousin has been charged with manslaughter.

Edward Lamont Hunt, killed by a police officer Jan. 24, was unarmed, and a witness says he was shot in the back while he was walking away.

The MTA9 is now the MTA6, and lawyers for the remaining six defendants want to exclude everything but the kitchen sink from the kids' trial.

"To Baltimore City bailiffs, Olufemi Obua is an impatient, rude courthouse visitor who assaulted a security officer after refusing to follow orders. To Obua’s family, he’s the victim of a 'brutal beating' at the hands of courthouse security officers."

Baltimorean Charles Christopher Furth, 46, pleaded guilty today to distributing child pornography by computer.
WTF?!: "Furth stated that he has about 5,000 still images of child pornography and six movies of minors from ages one years old and up."

Yeah. Like that's the only house in Hampden with machine guns and grenades.

Usually check cashing joints steal money from the people, but not this time.

Recovery houses should be safe and secure. Too bad they didn't figure that out before the Remington shootings of 2005.

Tyrone Powers wants us to snitch. Not just on dealers and murderers, but also on politicians, cops, and preachers.

Officials say the Violence Prevention Unit for ex-cons is already working.

Farther Afield
Three people robbed a Cockeysville McDonald's on Tuesday night, and one of them has been arrested.

A HoCo Circuit Court judge rejected a plea deal for Eduardo Raul Morales-Soriano, a drunk driver who was to be sentenced for killing two people.

A security camera in Takoma Park caught an attempted abduction.

Stolen gas and shoes in Hagerstown.

In AAC, Mama chased down a perv.

Victim Impact Statement from Bryant Curtis Jones' widow

Prosecutors read an impact statement on behalf of Bryant Curtis Jones' wife at the hearing for Jamal Charles and Dwayne Drake, the two teenagers who killed Jones when he asked them to leave his daughter's sweet-16 party in 2006.

My name is Alisa Deneen Torbit-Jones. I am the widow of the late Bryant Curtis Jones.

While trying to keep the peace and safety of his family, Bryant was fatally shot on April 14th, 2006 at our daughter Tamirra's sixteenth birthday party by Jamal Charles. Jamal Charles was encouraged to shoot my husband by his friend, Dwayne Drake. They both were asked to leave our home because they were being disruptive. Before they left, they insisted on their refund of $1.00 for their entrance into the party for Tamirra. Although their entrance fee was refunded, they still were not satisfied, became extremely combative verbally, and the end result was my husband being shot three times, once in the head. My family and I were with my husband when he died from these gunshot wounds at Shock Trauma.

I am angry, mad, and most of all enraged. I have lost my friend, and it hurts. Some days are better than others, and I am trying to overcome the hate that has consumed me. Bryant and I had a bond that no one could break. We have known each other since we were fifteen years old, and had been married for four years. I never imagined that I would have to see my loved one die so tragically and violently. I feel like I am in a dream, as well as a nightmare. It doesn't feel real, doesn't sound real, but everyday that I don't see him; I know that it is real.

When you killed my husband, you never thought about how I or the children would survive. Bryant was a major contributor and he provided so we wouldn't have to sacrifice. Now that he is gone, it is very hard to make ends meet.

Bryant always liked to help people. He was a family oriented individual, and an excellent electrician. He was a good man, a beloved son, a devoted father to his children, and a trustworthy friend. He has a grand-daughter that will never know his love, see his smile, or hear his voice.

I am not the only one who mourns for Bryant. His senseless murder left six children without a father - Derrick, Tamirra, Kourtney, Bryant, Darryl and Danielle. His grief stricken father Charles, who eight months later would lose his wife Linda, Bryant's mother who said her heart was broken because she had lost her oldest baby. A dedicated brother Charles (when you saw one, you always saw the other). Two sisters Evette and Danyell (Evette passed away 3 months after their mother's death). My husband had one grandmother, loving godparents, many in-laws and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and friends. As long as we live we will never forget Bryant Curtis Jones nor will we ever forget Jamal Charles and Dwayne Drake who took him from us so violently and sudden.

We will always love and miss Bryant.

I feel that Jamal Charles and Dwayne Drake should be severely punished for taking Bryant's life. They should do the full time given to them. Bryant's life was worth more than a $1.00. Jamal Charles and Dwayne Drake should at least serve the age my husband was at the time of his senseless murder. Bryant was 42 years old. Nothing less with possibility of parole.

Conviction for Murder of 16-Year-Old Marcus McDowell

A Baltimore City jury convicted Rasul M. Brown, 23, of the 800 block of Gilrubin Court today of second-degree murder, two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, two counts of wear/carry/transport a handgun and first degree assault. The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for two hours today following four days of testimony. Judge John A. Howard scheduled sentencing for April 3, 2008 at which time Brown could face a maximum possible prison term of 98 years. Details:

On January 8, 2007 at approximately 8:00 p.m. police responded to the 5100 block of Harford Road for a shooting. Upon arrival, police discovered Marcus McDowell, 16, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and upper torso. McDowell is transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital, where he is pronounced dead. Witnesses testified at trial that Brown shot McDowell after McDowell rushed to the scene to help a friend who was involved in an altercation with Brown.

Brown is being held at the Detention Center without bail.

Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Phelps of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Quote of the Day

Broadwater: "A dozen protestors marched Wednesday outside the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, demanding prosecutors drop all charges against the so-called 'MTA 9'"
Said Quentin Whaley Sr., 54, the father of one of the accused teens, "If someone spit in your face, what would you do? This isn’t 1857. This is 2008. We won’t be chattel property.”

Sentences in "Sweet 16" Murder

At a hearing today, Judge Charles G. Bernstein sentenced Jamal Charles, 17, of the 4000 block of Edmonston Ave. to 50 years in prison, 30 years for second-degree murder and a consecutive 20 years for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Bernstein also sentenced Dwayne Drake, 19, of the 3400 block of Dolefield Ave. to 40 years in prison, 30 years for second degree murder, a consecutive 10 years for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and a concurrent three years for wear/carry/transporting a handgun. Details:

Judge Bernstein called this case “extremely difficult” “tragic” and “senseless” and that his sentence “must express society’s outrage” that a “good man, a family man, a working man” has been taken from society and his family forever, shot in his own home.

Charles received the maximum sentence he faced under law: 50 years. Drake faced a maximum of 53 years in prison.

On April 14, 2006 Bryant Jones, a father of six, was shot and killed at his daughter’s sweet 16 birthday party. Several witnesses testified Drake and Charles were acting up and arguing at the party and that they both smelled of alcohol. Mr. Jones asked them repeatedly to leave stating that they were disrespecting his wife, his daughter and his house. The defendants left the house but turned and came right back demanding the dollar back that they had paid to get into the party. As they argued with Mr. Jones, Dwayne Drake said to Jamal Charles, “Show him how we take care of business in the hood.” Drake handed Charles an object. At which point Charles fired several shots at Mr. Jones, striking him in the arm, chest, and head.

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

January 31

A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot in the face yesterday afternoon in a rowhouse near Bentalou Elementary.

Jose Bassat was found guilty of murdering Mister George.

Kevin Klink pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and faces 13 years for killing Robert Brazell Jr. during a fight at Mt. Hebron High School in Ellicott City last year.

If I'm reading this story correctly, then Demarco Edward Brown is being charged with attempted murder for encouraging someone else to shoot a bicyclist in the legs. The "someone else" has not been ID'd.

In the Blotter: a home invasion, a McDonald's robbery, and an assault of a drunk.

A HarCo teenager was suspended and charged after leaving a gun, machete, and pocketknife in his car at school.

Charles Redfearn was charged with first-degree assault after an attack in Arbutus on Jan. 25 that involved fists, a knife, and hitting an old man with his own cane.

Delegate Talmadge Branch says we can't be trusted with Tasers.

Evening

Crazy barricade situation this afternoon in the 1700 block of Harlem Park Avenue on the west side. Man shot, tear gas used, schools on lockdown. Police called it a "home-invasion robbery gone very, very bad."

.... and the first police-involved shooting of '08 happened around noon at Northern Parkway and McClean Boulevard, a suspect was killed and no police were injured.

"Goof on the Roof" Ron Stach was ordered at a hearing to pay $750 or remain in jail for a year for failing to pay $43,000 in child support over 18 years. A good deal for Ron, for the kids, not so much.

Shot officer David Hare has organized a rally to support the Baltimore Police Memorial on Friday night starting at 5 p.m. at Max's on Broadway.

January 30

More info and a video on the shooting death of 16-year-old Dundalk resident Joshua Gibson.

Four murders in this week's Ink, including details on the domestic abuse of Lisa Holley.

The family of Antonio Martinez is angry, and the AAC cop who allegedly killed him in a hit-and-run hasn't been charged.

It's been a year since Sintia Mesa's beaten and naked body was found in the trunk of her car, and police are still actively investigating her murder.

Yesterday, there was a memorial service for Cecelia Brown Turner, one of the two people who was murdered in an Annapolis apartment a few weeks ago.

A 66-year-old editorial assistant at the Sun was attacked with a metal pole while he waited for a safe and reliable MTA bus in the 5600 block of The Alameda.

Javaughn Norman Adams, the guy who shot up Westfield Annapolis mall in 2006, got an extra year of jail time for stealing a puppy.

Three people testified against Monti Fleming, who is on trial for killing Shaun Powell in Columbia. Fleming is also charged with attempted murder in an unrelated shooting a week before Powell's death.

Are gangs of territorial Jews running amok in Randallstown?

The HarCo Guardian Angels are scheduled to start their patrols soon.

Night Update

Sun: "A month before Vernice Harris allegedly killed her daughter [Bryanna] by giving her methadone and beating her, the mother asked a Baltimore Department of Social Services caseworker for help but was turned away." Here's an earlier story on the case.

In the county, convicted sex offender Michael B. Martin, 46, was sentenced to 40 years in prison Monday for trying to hire a fellow inmate to kill a developer and to set fire to the house of a woman who had told people at her church about his sex abuse case.
(thanks non)

"Md. lawmakers consider scrap dealer law to address stolen copper"

Benjamin Evans of Annapolis was arrested Monday and charged with sexually abusing a 13-year-old friend of his granddaughter.

A Carroll County circuit court judge has dropped all charges against five former Bowling Brook staff members accused of causing the death of student/inmate Isaiah Simmons.

25 Years for Man Who Pushed Woman into Traffic

Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Charles Bostic, 62, of the 1800 block of West Pratt Street to 25 years in prison today. Bostic pled guilty to attempted second-degree murder November 21, 2007. Details:

On March 3, 2007 Bostic and the victim, a 54-year old woman, were walking in the 200 block of North Warwick Avenue when Bostic pushed her into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The driver could not avoid hitting the woman and called police. One eyewitness described Bostic’s actions as throwing the victim like “throwing a bag of trash.” Police apprehended Bostic one block away on Wheeler Avenue.

The woman suffered severe brain trauma, a damaged spinal cord, bruised ribs and a broken arm. She remains in a long-term care facility unable to care for herself. She can not speak, walk or write and is expected to remain in this condition for the rest of her life.

Assistant State's Attorney Kathleen Copsey of the Felony Family Violence Division prosecuted this case.

Eight Years for Nightclub Robber

From the SA's office, edited for style:
At a hearing today Alexander Reiff, 25, of Reston, VA, pled guilty to attempted armed robbery and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced Reiff to 20 years in prison, suspend all but eight years, first five years without the possibility of parole. Details:

On April 5, 2007 at 1:45 a.m. at Fantasies Nightclub, Reiff, David Robinson and Gregory Eaton entered the club armed with a 9 mm Ruger handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun, announced a robbery, and ordered approximately 20 patrons and employees to the ground. Eaton then discharged the shotgun into the ceiling. Two off-duty police officers removed their service weapons and shot Reiff and Eaton. Eaton succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to Shock Trauma. Reiff also was shot but survived his injuries as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Robinson was outside the club in a getaway Ford pick-up truck that they had stolen in Hyattsville earlier that night. Robinson fled the club and the abandoned truck was found near a relative’s house in Glen Burnie. Robinson pleaded guilty November 19, 2007 to attempted armed robbery and is currently serving a 15-year prison term.

Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Martin, of the General Trial Division prosecuted this case.

January 29

An unidentified man was shot and killed near the corner of Church Rd. and Searles Rd. in Dundalk.
UPDATE: He was ID'd as 16-year-old Joshua Gibson.

Gary L. Hatfield was, indeed, murdered while working at a video store in Finksburg.

An off-duty AAC cop is being held for some fatal hit-and-run action.

Thomas Kaiser was indicted on a bunch of perv charges, including sending a victim to Pennsylvania to be molested by alleged perv Bruce Krumrine.

In case you missed it: Brandon Morris got life without parole, and Jeffery Wroten's family isn't happy.

A man and a woman were shot as they were walking into a house in the 3100 block of Chelsea Terr. early this morning.

A 22-year-old man was shot in the 800 block of W. Saratoga St. during a botched robbery on Sunday morning.

Also in the Blotter (above link), some breaking and entering and sleeping and peeing in Pikesville.

Huh. An inquiry found that a government agency screwed up in the case of Bryanna Harris. Imagine that.

And more government incompetence: Public housing is overrun with drug dealers and other criminals.

January 28

The 54-year-old manager of Finksburg's H & D Movie Sales was Carroll County's first murder victim of 2008. The Examiner quoted neighbors who quoted family members who quoted police who said that Gary L. Hatfield was beaten to death with a fire extinguisher during a robbery.

Two victims were ID'd in today's Blotter: Michael Johnson was shot on Friday afternoon at the corner of W. Lafayette Ave. and N. Payson St., and Sidney Millner -- one of the men who was shot at B&W Liquors on N. Stricker St. last Thursday -- died last night at Shock Trauma.

Also in the Blotter, a 16-year-old boy is in critical condition at Hopkins after being shot on Ready Ave. "for no apparent reason."

I missed this one on Saturday: John and Susan Griffin of Rodgers Forge were each indicted on felony child abuse charges.

An off-duty PG cop nailed the suicide half of her murder/suicide plan.

Police are seeking at least two teens for Saturday's attack on an MTA bus that was heading into the city from Towson on York Rd. Fortunately, the MTA spokeperson spared us the "safe and reliable" crap this time.

Skateboarding is not a crime. Videotaping the beatdown of a skateboarder, however, is.

We're all holding our breath for that piece of legislation, Mayor Moyer.

Not to toot Sheila's horn, but it's funny how O'Malley is running his mouth about crime when Bealefeld seems to be the one who's actually making some change. Oh, but wait. I read a little farther. It wasn't O'Malley's fault that he didn't get things done, it was the state's fault. Now I get it.

January 27

A teenager was shot in the stomach last night at Ready and McCabe Avenues in the Woodbourne-McCabe neighborhood (a mere block from Homeland, but worlds away). Reports have it the victim is still alive.

Yet another bus attack, this time right over the city line at York Road and Northern Parkway, and a "19-year-old sustained minor facial injuries."
Earlier this week, Wednesday, "an 18-year-old Carver High School student was standing at a bus stop at North Avenue and Bentalou Street ... when he was struck and kicked by three men in their late teens or early 20s who robbed him of two cell phones."

Meanwhile, two teenagers accused of the beating of Sarah Kreager will no longer face charges.

The Sun's Jeff Barker recounts the tale of Old Town Gators Coach Aaron McCown, who had a secret crime-ridden past.

President Bush is planning to visit East Baltimore this week. You don't need COPS if you got Jeebus!

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.