Weekend

An off-duty Baltimore County police officer shot two burglars in his home early this morning in the 200 block of Evesham Ave. near the Baltimore County line

Jeanine Alice Blackwell, 34, pleaded guilty yesterday to the involuntary manslaughter of her newborn son, whom she delivered in a toilet March 9.

Tyrone Fields Jr. and Jawaun Harris, 18, have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Bernard Solomon, 23, on July 29.

Buz wizdom: "robberies are the true measure of a community's safety--not murders. Robberies usually occur in a public place, between strangers, and involve force or the threat of using force. Murders, in this city (and most), involve either a domestic tragedy or business operations among people in 'the game'."

"A former Sinai Hospital patient is suing the hospital and a security guard for $77 million after he says he was assaulted in the emergency room on Labor Day."

Burbs
Trooper Dale Derr, whose cruiser was traveling 83 mph when it struck and killed a man two years ago, has allegedly assaulted the dead man’s brother

A panel of Howard Circuit judges is considering reducing the prison sentence of Marcus Owens, 37, of Columbia, who was was convicted in June 2004 for the second-degree murder and child abuse of his stepson, Kevonte Davis and is serving 60 years for killing his 2-year-old stepson.

A report for the General Assembly found big gaps in MD drug treatment services -- duh-- but surprisingly the city isn't the most, or even second-most, under-served area

In PGC, "Park Police Question Why Body Was Overlooked"

Have you seen...

Daniel DeBold, who has been missing since this morning. If you see him or have seen him please call the police and report that you have seen him and where you have seen him. He was last seen in Arbutus wearing a suit, family says he is paranoid and delusional.

Have you seen...

A tall white guy in a dark green 4-door 1997 Honda Civic, with Maryland tag 1ANV62, wanted for the attempted kidnapping of a 7-year-old boy in White Marsh.

Eleven Shootings

.. this week, mapped by Spotcrime.

Shocking. "Suspect in kidnapping has record"
(for you JIS searchers, look under "Brian T Scott," born 8/6/90. Yikes, he's also a DAD!).

No good deed... "A man who stopped to help three people on the side of the road early today was repeatedly stabbed by one of them"

Broadwater explains that cryptic statement a police spokesperson made about alleged rapist Ian Murphy ("He actually committed one crime and left at that crime scene evidence from another crime scene.") Said evidence was the victim's stolen cell phone, which he'd used to film himself. Blergh.

After 20 years in jail, DNA evidence freed wrongfully accused murderer James L. Owens.

Julie B. attended a West side Jessamy-sponsored community meeting on gangs.

Your Tax $ at Work

What the?! City employees accused of cashing checks drawn on city accounts, AND two city employees are accused of stealing $50,000 of copper wire out of City Hall. Hilton Greene says “If it’s city property we’re going to start looking at prosecuting some junk yards for receiving it.”
But if the scrapyard's buying property stolen off of your house, I guess that's cool!

Have you seen...

Brian Tyrone Scott, 18, of the 800 block of Pontiac Avenue, 21225, wanted in the Timonium light rail kidnapping/ rape/ robbery case.

Sigh

As we're informed this Thursday that your lifespan may be shorter if you live in certain neighborhoods, we should be reminded that your life could end much much sooner in harm city.Take for instance, Rubin Nelson (#173), who died Tuesday night. Or Howard Grant (#171), and Justin Berry (#172), who were 18 and 19 respectively.

Oh, but don't worry. Those of you who make it to longer ages may have plenty of things to worry about as well.

Such as little dears who can't be controlled even in jail, and will one day be placed back into our society.

Or the people who should be in jail but aren't... and can't be bothered to even mow their lawn.

Or being shot at because of a beef, burgled, or having the hell beaten out of you for no apparent reason.

Or, if you're a prostitute, being beaten within an inch of your life by some jack the ripper fan. Or, alternatively, being the husband of a prostitute and having to deal with this crap.

All of this news makes me think of one thing:

Shootings, Stabbings and Homemade Bombs

Someone was shot last night in the back at around 11 p.m. while in a Lincoln Continental on York Road & Sheridan Avenue.

Howard Grant Jr. and Justin Berry, killed on Sunday, were thought to be murder witnesses by police; Grant had been shot in the leg days before.

Antonio Ferguson, aka Theodore Spencer, got 20 years + five years of probation for a double shooting that left one victim paralyzed from the chest down and another in a coma for six weeks.

The man accused in the rape of a TU student has been charged in a second case, and has probably lost his job at Banana Republic.
... What the?! "He actually committed one crime and left at that crime scene evidence from another crime scene."

CSA: Conspiracy to commit second-degree murder is a non-existent crime

A man stabbed in the upper body and two women robbed by "two males males between the ages of 10 and 15" in Charles Village in the Blotter

Like, duh: trying to clean up Belair-Edison is an "ordeal."

Mug shot of the day: 'Deener Wesley James Queen II, 34, charged with leaving threatening messages at Casa de Maryland.

An Essex man’s legal malpractice suit against The Suder Law Firm and one of its former attorneys went to the jury yesterday.

A Patterson High student has been arrested after homemade bombs went off in the cafeteria.

WBAL: Jacksonville residents crammed the courtroom for the start of the leaky-Exxon case

Just when you thought it was safe(r) to come out...

...A man was fatally shot in the Walbrook community last night, marking murder number 173. Police are, as always, looking for information.

Guilty Pleas in Bolton Hill Robbery

A Press Release from the SAO:

At a hearing today, Jerome Hicks, 39, of the 4100 block of Granite Ave. pled guilty to three counts of robbery with a deadly weapon. On Friday, October 10, Clarence Hill, 39, of the 1000 block of Homewood Ave., pled guilty to two counts of robbery. On July 25, 2007, the two men robbed a grocery store in the Bolton Hill neighborhood.

Judge John N. Prevas sentenced Hill to 40 years in prison suspend all but 25 years and five years probation. Judge Prevas sentenced Hicks to 15 years in prison.
Both men plead to the following summary of facts: On July 25, 2007 at 1:30PM two Baltimore police officers patrolling and conducting business checks in the 1100 block of Park Ave. entered the Bolton Hill Grocery store. They immediately saw three persons standing with their hands in the air and Clarence Hill with a gray shirt over his head. Hill noticed the police officers and tried to alert Hicks to their presence. Hill walked toward the officers as they stood near the door and was apprehended after a short struggle. During this struggle, Hicks ran out of the store with officers in pursuit on foot. Police caught Hicks four blocks away and both men were placed under arrest. Upon arrest, police recovered on Hicks’ person property from the robbery; including a wallet, cell phone, ring and currency.
Police recovered from inside the store a replica German Luger handgun from a shopping cart inside the store. An investigation revealed that Hicks entered store, displayed a black handgun later determined to be the replica Luger, and forced victims to lie down and empty their pockets.
Hill pointed a gun at a store employee and ordered that the store cash register and lottery machine be emptied.
Hicks later confessed to police his participation in the armed robbery.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly Madigan of the General Trial Division prosecuted this case.

###

In Which I Make a Lil Wayne Reference

If the murder trends hold, 2008 will have the fewest since 1970.

Shawty wanna thug, bottles at the club... shawty wanna hump, but Fogelman will dump your liquor license, chumps!

County Police are ISO 24-year-old Calvin Shayrone Hilton Jr., believed to be responsible for a shooting that injured two people on June 15 outside the Rush Hour Bar.

... hey felons, don't forget that today is the last day you can register to vote!

A tragic tale of parents trying to get treatment for their heroin-addicted daughter in the Post

Stuff You Can't Make Up

The name "Baltimore" is an Anglicized form of the Irish Baile an Tí Mhóir, meaning "Town of the Big House."

More on

the man arrested for raping a TU student. Should they be publishing his name & address when he's just a suspect? Hope they got the right guy!
More from the Towerlight.

WBAL has tape of the Belvedere shooting

A ton of stolen GPSes and paper towels burgled from a church in the Messenger Crime Log.

Go Franchot! The comptroller nailed two patriotic tax-evading companies and netted the state $12 million.

The light rail kidnapping has us wondering... if you're in a parking lot and someone sneaks up behind you & puts a gun to your head and tells you to go somewhere with them, what's a better move-- obeying them or refusing?

In the meantime....

While MJB reminds us that its a city that you can easily be killed in, there's plenty of other violence to go around as well.


O'Gov doesn't like the idea of using prison labor to reduce spending costs -- score one for big labor?

Two elderly Dominican Nuns... out to destroy America? Well, the State Police thought so for a while. In the meantime, the ACLU presses on for access to the records accumulated.

Doc Cheatham wants better officer training after the shooting of a 40 year old woman , which we reported on a few days back. Doc wants meetings... I smell a committee.

In the meantime, the blotter reminds us that there's no rest for the wicked and no safety for the peaceful.

In a situation where art tried to imitate city life, there was a crime fiction convention in Baltimore last week. Quite the field trip, wouldn't you say?

K.L. Park laments the inability to distribute information through out Baltimore, as it reduces safety in the City, eventually asking,

Is there something we can do to make ourselves less of a target?

My responses: This, this, and especially this. You are welcome.

Two More Homicides

Two teenagers, 18-year-old Howard Grant and 19-year-old Justin Berry, were shot and killed this morning in West Baltimore.
More from el sol

Buz blogs on the Northwood Community Association meeting, why police departments aren't racing to disseminate crime information, and which neighborhood the mayor says is "the worst" in the city.

Kidnapping, sexual assault & carjacking of two teenagers at the Padonia light rail stop.

An arrest in last week's rape of a TU student.
(And isn't it a little disturbing that the attack happened a week ago, but it's only in the news now?)

#170

Darius Burton, 18, around 12:48 this morning in the 4300 block of Davis Avenue, reports JZ.

Who knew? there's a diff between shooting and discharge.

JZ reports that TWO people were shot and one person was stabbed outside the Belvedere this morning!

also Police Beating Victim Wins 24K In Court Settlement

Report of Shooting at the Belvedere

A reader reports that shots were fired at 2 a.m. in front of the Belvedere on Chase and Charles Streets today, and a woman was struck.
Apparently there's now a hip-hop club in the basement, and the shots were fired as a bar fight there spilled onto the street.
ISO more info on this, stay tuned.

Hey former felons: you can vote now!

5 Years for Allgd. Attempted Murderer/Drug Dealer/Home Invader/Witness Intimidator on Probation

Press Release from Margaret Burns
TIMOTHY SUTTON SENTENCED TO 5-YEARS FOR VIOLATING PROBATION

2005 ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER INVOLVED THREATENING & ASSAULTING WITNESS

Baltimore, MD – October 10, 2008 – At a hearing Wednesday, October 8, 2008, the Honorable Pamela White found Timothy Sutton, 21, of the 1400 block of Wentworth Avenue, guilty of violating his probation. In June 2005 Langley was convicted of attempted second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 10-years suspend all but 3-years years with 5-years probation upon his release in April 2006.

The underlying facts of the attempted second-degree murder case involve threats and intimidation against a witness known by Sutton and his co-defendant who was scheduled to testify in a pending assault case. The defendant was convicted of forcing his way into the witness’ home and threatening the witness with a handgun. The gun misfired. The defendant stopped to clean the chamber of the gun and then the defendant pressed the gun into the witness’ chest. When the gun was clearly inoperable the defendant forced the witness to undress, and while naked and holding a knife, threatened to cut off his genitals. Fighting for his life, the witness was able to get the defendant and co-defendants to flee his home.

In September 2007 while on probation, Sutton was arrested on a new charge of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. Prosecutors were ultimately forced to dismiss both cases because the arresting officer left the Baltimore Police Department in one case and the chemist left the department in the other case.

On Wednesday, Judge White found that Sutton failed to report to his probation officer as required and sentenced him to five-years in prison.

This conviction is the result of a team prosecution brought by the Maryland Division of Parole & Probation agents Alicia LaRue and Laurie Rubin assigned to the Violent Offenders project and Assistant State’s Attorney Nancy Olin of the State’s Attorney’s Collateral Division.

###

What a mess!

"Requests for Jury Trials Swamping City Courts"

After searching Juvie, police still don't know what mystery drug sent five detainees to the ER.

A broad-daylight robbery last weekend, four doors down from where Ken Harris was killed!

Wow, remember the possibly gang-related beating death of Sgt. Juwan Johnson in Germany? There's been an arrest!

A man shot in the leg, two GFs going at each other with a hammer and pepper spray, a scooter-jacking and stolen crappy cars in the blotter.

Homeland homeowner's association is being totally dickish about crime information. I guess it's bad for property values when people hear about moms getting mugged at gunpoint in the alley behind the 300 block of Taplow.

In AAC, four and a half deaths so far this year at the Jennifer Road Detention Center.

Will crime go up as the economy tanks? We all get to find out, together!

13 people shot

this week, mapped by Spotcrime

... the woman shot by police in Cherry Hill was apparently unarmed.

Donna Brown, mother of a 5th grader and former wife of local attorney Warren Brown, was murdered over the weekend in a domestic-violence incident in Prince George's County.

Viewing
Location: March Funeral Home West- Wabash
4300 Wabash Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215

Date: Sunday, October, 12th
Time: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm


Funeral
Location: St Ambrose Catholic Church
4502 Park Heights Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215

Date: Monday October 13th
Time 10:00am -11:00am Wake hours
Service: 11:00am

Anarchy in the DJJ!

Mrs. JB: "Ten teenage boys barricaded themselves for eight hours overnight Tuesday at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, first in an office and then in a residential area, where they destroyed furniture."

"The Maryland State Police and teams of drug-sniffing dogs raided the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center this morning"

A police-involved shooting in Cherry Hill this morning.

Thursday, and business as usual

Sheila Dixon has a problem with Northwood Shopping Center, where former Councilman Kenneth Harris was shot. Way to get on this bandwagon a few decades late. Perhaps you want to comment on the trash problem the city has too? Her solution includes asking the community for help, an all too common plan for leadership without the fortitude to hire more cops.

In the meantime, Gregory Kane reflects on the difficulty of catching Harris' Killers in Baltimore, saying:

Unfortunately, we’re dealing with a subculture in Baltimore whose adherents think the moral thing to do is to NOT give up Harris’ killers. Does anyone really believe that no one knows who killed Harris other then the ones who committed the slaying?

The suspects have friends, relatives and perhaps girlfriends who know exactly what they did. So far, not one of them has come forward to finger the killers. Such is the grip that the “Stop Snitching” mind-set has on some people in this town.

In all this, we should remember that Annette Harris lost her husband, and her children's father, and she wants justice served as well.

A defendant in a Howard County rape/assault trial alleges the sex was consensual. Great job, hotshot - now, explain the choking.

Another no longer alleged scumbag has received life in prison as well for a 2006 murder. How soon until we hear about how racist and unconstitutional life in prison is has yet to be determined.

Another one of our city's little dears will be spending (at most)30 years in jail for shooting another teenager.

Score one for the alleged bad guys, thanks to the Court of Special Appeals.

More random thefts, robberies and assualts in Harm City. But at least we don't have to deal with Turkish Cockroaches... yet...

This just in from the City Paper

This week's "Murder Ink" adds one more unid'd body and one new name,
Craig Colvin, age 23,
to the toll.


... and did you know? 'shroomin is good for people with terminal cancer.

Thnx txpyers, ur da best!!

"The six projects at the heart of an investigation into connections between Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and local developer Ronald H. Lipscomb represent at least $562 million in investment, with at least $66 million of that coming in the form of public subsidies."

Former Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Tim Hutchins: "There was need" for state police to spy on hippies

"Lawyer sues city, Trigen over fall into steam pit"

.. and who's going to pay for criminal defenders for the poor?
Why, YOU are!

Crime-Newsful Wednesday

William Haskins, 32, was found shot to death on Penrose in West Baltimore Saturday.
(Thanks C)

A reader reported a soon-to-be-fatal shooting near the 1900 block Frederick Ave in the Southwest around September 28.

Clayton Oxendine, 24, was ID'd as the man shot to death in the 300 block of S. Fulton Ave., his brother was also shot in the shoulder.
And a 15-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot.

Cyprian Jackson, 29, died September 8, eight years after being shot.

A 15-year-old girl raped on Harford Road, and a woman stabbed in the neck and chest in an argument over fish. And a woman stabbed by a relative.

The warrant task force nabbed a 42-year-old bar robber and a 16-year-old armed mugger.

Huh? High school basketball coach jailed for burglary and assault!

Peter Hermann tells a tangled tale of Darion Sawyer and Jeffrey L. Brown, with the defense claiming that the victim was the scary stalker.

Report in Pasadena of dogs and cats being killed and burned.

Harris Gun Previously Used for 'Vandalism'

Fenton: "The gun used to kill former City Councilman Kenneth N. Harris Sr. was used in another crime in the same Northeast Baltimore shopping center months before, but police classified the earlier incident as a property crime instead of an attempted armed robbery" though "the suspects fired two rounds from a 9 mm handgun into the door, leaving bullet marks."

!!!

Whups.

From the SAO:
The State’s Attorney’s Office entered a nolle pros yesterday in three burglary counts pending against Michael Peacock, 35, of the 3600 block of Elmora Ave.

The State’s Attorney’s Office filed criminal informations March 17, 2008 against Peacock charging him with multiple counts of burglary in Pigtown. Upon further investigation, the State learned that Peacock was incarcerated at the time of three of the four alleged burglaries.

An Evening Update

"County prosecutors on Monday won six convictions against one of the most prolific rapists in state history."

Alleged killer dad Mark Castillo was found competent to stand trial.

AAC police are looking for two armed-home-invading teenagers.

Page Croyder blogs about Baltimore District Judge Askew (yes, Askew) W. Gatewood, Jr., accused of illegal dumping and residential sketchiness.

And some murder convictions, from your friendly State's Attorney's office:

At a hearing today Judge Lynn K. Stewart sentenced Tevin Moultrie, 17, of the 1600 block of Cliftview Avenue to 30 years in prison for second-degree murder, 20 years concurrent for use of a handgun in a crime of violence and one year each on two counts of reckless endangerment. Judge Stewart ordered all sentences to run concurrently. On March 6, 2008, Moultrie pled guilty to the following facts of the case. On March 13, 2007 Moultrie shot Steven Washington, 17, in the 1600 block of Cliftview Avenue following an altercation between the two. Washington was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and died as a result of his injuries.
Co-defendant Maurice Wilkerson pled guilty to accessory after the fact to murder on January 15, 2008 and was granted probation before judgment June 3, 2008 with one year probation. Assistant State’s Attorney Paul O’Connor prosecuted this case.

and

At a hearing today Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced Derrick Collins, 24, of the 300 block of S. Gilmore Street, to life in prison for first-degree murder and a concurrent three years in prison for carrying a deadly weapon count. A Baltimore jury convicted Collins August 4, 2008. On December 18, 2006, Derrick Collins attempted to strangle Annette Bardney, 33. When he failed to kill her, he picked up a wooden 2x4 and struck her in the head (nearly severing an ear) until she was dead. He left her body in a secluded back alley in the 700 block of Fremont Avenue behind a church. The defendant then called 911 and reported finding a dead body. After further investigation, it was learned that Collins’ DNA was left at the scene. In addition, his story about how he found the victim changed, and it did not fit with the forensic evidence collected at the scene. Collins asked police while being transported to Central Booking Intake Facility if they could broker a plea deal to manslaughter with the State. Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Wiggins of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Is Justice

hardwired in the human brain?

... some poorly wired alleged cult leaders were arraigned & charged with first-degree murder and other crimes yesterday.

Police released video that may show Ken Harris' killers.

Yikes... "Woodlawn man, 71, charged after attacking wife with brick"

Two shootings, two dead in Harm City...

It was a busy Monday night for gunmen, as two shootings left two people dead in Harm City. One shooting occurred on the 300 block of Fulton Avenue, and another occurred on the 500 Block of Catherine Street (about six blocks away).

Word.

"I have a problem with a private company getting information that should be freely available to the public and getting [taxpayer] money for it!"

Seriously.

Why should individual taxpayers have to threaten a lawsuit to track down basic neighborhood safety info that should be free and accessible to everyone?

Murders #165 & #166

An unid'd man was found shot to death in the 3100 block of Virginia Aveunue.

Infanticide in Charles Village.

A woman and her children found a suspected suicide on Edmondson Ave.
(Who's Rona Marech?)

Have you seen

... this greasy-looking female identity thief?

Anna Ditkoff

Revisits three more murders.

Who decides

... what deaths were suicide, homicide or murder?
Buz sed,

All deaths ruled homicide by the Medical Examiner, and some even before, are reviewed by the Assistant State's Attorney for Violent Crime. He/she, in conjunction with their superiors, make the ruling of "justifiable"."

Well, BUZ, apparently even if the Medical Examiner's office says the death of a tied-up, buried woman might have been a strangulation, THAT is apparently not be not enough to get the police to classify or examine a death as a murder.

... what a wrenching story. That poor sister. What a nightmare.
And with 341 unclassified deaths in 2004-- 341!!-- how many more nightmares are out there?

Robberies, Armed

An armed robbery at 2024 N Charles St

... Maurice Young's bank- and home-invasion-robbery days are over, at age 43 with 38 Rod years ahead of him.

Only

six shootings this week.

An officer was hit by a car during a foot chase.

In Lusby, "Shopping On eBay As Girls Lay Dead"

The dollar may fluctuate, but there'll always be a use for delicious, omega-rich mackerel.

Peter Hermann says police are withholding basic crime info from the press, & "residents of this city know less and less about crime, the very thing they worry about the most."

The WSJ asks, "what ever happened to crime?"

Jayne Miller has entered the blog-o-sphere.

25 years for robbing the McDonald's, from the State hAead hOslappin office:

At a hearing Tuesday Judge John C. Themelis sentenced Shawn Johnson, 29, of the 4200 block of Fairfax Road to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and a consecutive five years in prison for robbery. A Baltimore jury convicted Johnson August 4, 2008.

On March 26, 2007 at approximately 3:00AM Johnson barged into the McDonald’s located on 25 N. Howard Street ordering the victim, an employee who had just arrived, to open the store and turn the alarm off. Johnson walked up behind the victim, placed black handgun to the victim’s head and ordered that he be brought to the safe, demanding that all the money be placed in a bag. Johnson threatened to shoot the victim; the victim complied and Johnson fled with the money. During the robbery, Johnson received a call on his cell phone and the victim heard a male on other end said “we gotta go, police are coming.”

Officers arrived and found co-defendant Stanford Reid coming out of the back alley with a jacket wrapped around his hands. He was stopped and found to be in possession of a handgun and a McDonald’s bag with $1419 currency in it. Reid fully cooperated and pled guilty August 3, 2008 to conspiracy to commit robbery and was granted a probation before judgment and one year probation. Reid and the victim both identified Johnson at trial.

Homicide #166*

An unidentified man found shot "near the 700 block of Allegany Place around near Carey Street about noon."
No s, no m.

* murder #164

That Live Entertainment Ordinance sounds jackassed.

Friday

Pat Jessamy doesn't like regional jury pools (which you wouldn't know from her efforts to shelve the Abell Foundation report), but is the idea constitutional?

As further proof that our political leadership is neither inept nor corrupt, the subpoenas continue for the Sheila Dixon investigation.

Carrie Everett of the Southwestern District of BPD received a reprimand after someone police captured committed suicide during her shift, and she's taken her story to the streets.

Two little dears were arrested for robbing a shoe store in Edmondson Village on September 24th. The issue was education here, as anyone could have taught them a shoe store is no place to rob.

A prosecutor turned appellate judge in Maryland argues against the Death Penalty in The Daily Record.

The economic crisis has even struck homes burgled, as evidenced by the random things nicked in today's blotter.

More on Squirrley McRobrob

His name is William Michael Miller, 44, and he's robbed three banks since Sept 26!... joke's on him, that cash won't be worth anything next week!

... because inflation will rob us all

Here's the article that inspired the new poll (thanks BBoy).
And here are MD's gold coin dealers.

Crabmeat, I Knew it!

Sentementes tracks down Johnny Hood, aka the Waverly seafood booster from yesterday's Blotter... don't miss the mug shot!

Today's "old man guilty of kiddie porn charges" link

#165

Michael Wilson, 24, of Belair Road was found shot multiple times in the torsoin Northeast Baltimore this morning. He later died at a nearby hospital. Interestingly enough, he was on probation from a drug conviction in 2006.

A man beaten to death in Essex was ID'd as Eddie Alonso Stewart, 24.

Broadwater tells the tale of attempted-murder victim Sean Levy.

The Ink details last week's murders, reports Delawntae Finley has been removed from the toll. If that's the case, then police are likely not counting the death of Anthony Coates, #121, which would explain the discrepancy between numbers.

Did area drug dealers steal the formula for happy pills?

A Salisbury woman was awarded $1.8 million after being wrongfully terminated from a pest-control company.

Some unspecified criminal charge was dropped in the case of a MoCo loon who threatened the gov, Hillary and Mikulski.

A TDR law blogger asks, "Should American courts be prevented from enforcing defamation judgments obtained in countries with weaker free speech protections?"

More on the probe into police spying. Your tax $ at work!

Gregory Barber, 23, the former live-in boyfriend of Kermia Hair, 25, of Bolton Hill, has been charged in her murder.

The ACLU wants more info on state police spying

How Can You Just Not Show?

According to this NYT map, the majority of MD's representatives--- Wayne Gilchrest, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Steny Hoyer and Christopher Van Hollen, Jr.-- didn't vote last night on the so-called "bailout" package ...
(see comments for correction)
Here's the financial mess explained handily, if you're interested.
Now back to our usual programming...

City council docs have been subpoenaed in the Dixon/Doracon probe-- and the state prosecutor now has new record-subpoena-ing powers.

Five years for the killer of Estefany Gonzalez.

The 15-year-old who was shot while standing on a porch in East Baltimore's Midway neighborhood was ID'd as Derrick "Terrell" Reed.

#164

43-year-old Helen Reightler, stabbed at the Inner Harbor, died Monday of her injuries.

Have you seen

this bald n squirrelly bank robber?

Two city twentysomethings were arrested in AAC for stealing catalytic converters.

Getting Away With Murder: a Primer

We've been long curious as to why Baltimore & MD have such astronomical rates of "undetermined" deaths compared to other areas; this J&B story about the postmortem of suspected prostitute Tyra McClary, who apparently tied herself up, removed her own underwear and buried herself, is enlightening.

Fifteen years for first-degree murder: it never ceases to shock the shit outta me. Today's lucky winner of that incredible deal was Marcus L. Pettiford, 22, of the 2000 of E. 31st Street, who pled guilty and got 50 years, all but 15 suspended, and 5 years probation from Judge Charles G. Bernstein. Details:

On June 5, 2007 at approximately 12:04AM in the 1700 block of East 30th Street Pettiford approached Tyrone Bonner, 29. After a brief argument, Pettiford pulled out a handgun and shot Bonner five times. Pettiford and an alleged co-defendant fled on foot. Emergency personnel transported Bonner to Johns Hopkins hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:33AM. Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Felsen of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

See, it's dangerous in the burbs, too: a man was shot in the neck ... or was it the jaw? outside of the Manhattan Grill in Perry Hall.

Wouldn't You Know it

Rasslin' Luke Broadwater's butt-stapling story got picked up by PerezHilton.com-- with 3 million views, that easily makes it the Ex's most-read story ever!
PS., the buttmenz paper chain has endorsed McCain.
... seems a little premature, but that's how mavericks roll I guess!

Creepy: "Lawyers have started Googling and Facebooking prospective jurors to get a sense of whether they want them on the jury."

#163

A 28-year-old man died after he was found inside a van (... or was it a car?) at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of North Broadway in east Baltimore with gunshot wounds.

A man was shot in the leg and calf in south Baltimore; a woman was carjacked north of Butcher's Hill

Tyrell D. Tyler, 19, was convicted of attempted murder and gun charges.

A Paki guy got 33 Rosenstein months for his role in a green card/ buttlegging/ bribery conspiracy.

What the?! "Sheriff's deputies in southern Maryland on Monday continued to investigate the discovery of the bodies of two small children in a freezer"

A witness in the barbershop beating contradicts detective Love's account of the events.

?! Police collect criminal DNA from scenes, but tell lab to ignore it.

Tragic: a MD state police helicopter crashed this morning, killing two troopers, a medical technician and an accident victim.

... just what Baltimore nightlife needs: more bureaucracy.

Qs of the day: Why is MD's infant mortality rate as lousy as Uruguay's?

Why was a Bmore police officer forced to look at KKK web sites?

Nine Shootings This Week

... mapped by Spotcrime.

Friday

A man was found fatally shot in the head in Northwest Baltimore this Morning.

Police are seeking a Pennsylvania man - connected with killing a Pennsylvania woman - whose getaway car has been found in the City. This leads me to think that everyone knows this is a criminal haven.

Rule one of criminal buffoonery: Reach for an officer's pistol, while out on bail and at a drug stop.

The Funeral of former Councilman Kenneth Harris was covered by The Examiner, and The Sun.

As this happens, the Baltimore Crime Beat - not to be confused with our Baltimore Crime Blog here - discusses Northwood Plaza, where Harris was shot, as well as dialogue on what to do with it.

He said, they said: A witness is alleging that a Baltimore Officer and Baltimore County Sheriff's deputy beat on a man who they claimed got away. No word yet on whether he actually just "fell down some stairs".

Annals of Witness Intimidation

The claim: While his client got tanna in Guyana, attorney Robert Simels hatched plans that involved "eliminating" witnesses and "neutralizing" their testimony.

Also today, says the office of the Head Ho Slappa, (copy-edited by me):

a jury found Wayne Morris, 22 of the 300 block of S. Calhoun Street guilty of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit second-degree assault. The jury deliberated for approximately one day following testimony. Morris was found not guilty of witness intimidation and second-degree assault. His sentencing is set for October 28. The maximum penalty on all charges under Maryland law is 20 years in prison. Maryland enacted a new law in 2005 that changed the maximum penalty for witness intimidation to 20 years in prison.

Following his April 2006 arrest for a home invasion and murder, Morris was charged with witness intimidation, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit assault after investigators reviewed more than 36 phone calls Morris made from Baltimore City Jail. In those phone calls, Morris commanded and directed persons to take action against the witnesses in the murder case in an attempt to prevent their testimony in his trial, including a pregnant witness. Morris can be heard in many calls, played in open court, describing how he wanted to get out of jail and come home, and needed help to eliminate witness testimony to thwart his murder case.

On August 27, 2008 Morris was convicted of second-degree murder, five counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, two counts of robbery deadly weapon, two counts of attempted robbery deadly weapon, four counts of assault and 4-counts of conspiracy to rob in the home invasion. In that matter, Judge Clifton J. Gordy scheduled sentencing for October 28, 2008.

On April 20, 2006 Morris kicked down the door at 1404 Kuper Street, announced a robbery, and shot and killed an occupant of the home, Robert Atkinson, 47. One victim was pistol-whipped and two victims, including a pregnant woman, were assaulted. All were robbed of various items on their person including cash and cell phones.

A lot of examiner Love for Ken Harris

You have to give respect to the Baltimore Examiner. Despite the unwieldy website - which I'm finally learning to navigate - they did a good job of covering the reactions to the death of former city councilman Kenneth Harris, Sr.

Gregory Kane summarizes his view of Harris' legacy and how we as citizens can remember him best. True to a good Gregory Kane writing, his view is peppered with his cynicism towards the city, with quotes such as:

When Baltimore voters rejected him, I saw it as a rejection of accountability. I figured Baltimoreans — who acted like true, bona fide Balti-morons in this instance — really didn’t want the answers to those questions Harris put to Brown, or want to know about those sloppy budgets the school board put out or budget deficits of $58 million. Balti-morons would get exactly the municipal government we deserved.

Michael Olesker is saddened but disgusted with us for the death, arguing that most citizens have become numb to the murders in baltimore until people like Ken Harris get killed. What Olesker doesn't know is that our government has assured us that only bad people die in Baltimore.

Luke Broadwater reflects on his final interview with Harris, who, perhaps in a case of irony, was discussing another victim of crime.

Stephen Janis has collected some quotes from Harris, which shows him to be a squeaky wheel in a grease-free city government.

The BPD has pledged all of its resources to solve the death of Harris. That sounds like a good idea, since the other people killed didn't deserve the same treatment. I know, more bad people killed, yes...

Frank Conway and the Family wants to help pay to lower gun crimes. Political? Yes. But hey, I don't see Sheila Dixon offering any fur coats, do you?

Plenty of activities in the Local Blotter too. After all, the law abiding citizens won't scare and concern themselves.

15-year-old is #161

The Baltimore Sun reports that a 15-year-old shot in the abdomen last night on the 2500 block of Aisquith Street has died at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

One Sketch-Ass Mall

Day late, dollar short dept: "Police are preparing for a sweeping search of the neighborhood where former City Councilman Ken Harris was murdered three days ago." ... The Northeast has been plagued by violence and robberies-- more so than usual, I guess. ... Stolen autos, shootings, robberies and shoplifting around the Northwood plaza strip mall since July, mapped by Spotcrime ... ... and Gus Sentementes guest-blogs about a young Ken Harris on "Crime Beat."

The Murder Ink is up to 159, puts names to the numbers
(Our count is one off of the Ink's and two off of the PD's, wonder why? Did the police take off the two "justifieds"?)

Overhead on the scanner: armed robbery at about 7 p.m. in the 800 block of Guilford Avenue, suspect described as a "#1 male, armed and dangerous" (thanks, that narrows it down!)

You hope summer's out of reach: a geezer with a metal detector found a hand grenade on the beach in OC.

ME: No Drugs Involved in K-Swift's Death

Drugs & alcohol have been ruled out in the death of K-Swift; her death was attributed to neck injuries.

A 15-year-old was arrested for shooting a 9-year-old.

County police are looking for a white guy with a neck tattoo who robbed the Northwest Savings Bank.

An 11-year-old girl stabbed with scissors, a guy shot with a bb gun and a man stabbed in the head, neck, back and an arm by robbers after disembarking from a bus.

The death penalty commission has held its last hearing. Police are investigating the death of an inmate at Central Booking. But what story gets top billing in the Examiner's crime pages?

Speaking of the big D, the trial of Baltimorean-turned-alleged-courthouse-killer Brian Nichols is finally underway in Atlanta after years of delay. Here's that New Yorker article about Nichols and Georgia's "death penalty paradox."

The crappy economy is making it tougher for sperminators to make child support payments, and the city is grappling with what to do with crazy, drug-addicted "parents."

American Taliban

... at first it sounded a little over the top, but after reading this, I'm not so sure.

So Many Bullets

A 50-year-old man was shot in the stomach on Howard Street this morning.

A man was shot multiple times on Saturday on Pulaski Highway.
Also robberies in Bolton Hill.

Police have released pictures of the nightmarish mask used by one of the gunmen in Ken Harris' murder, which may have been used in other crimes. Reports conflict on where Harris was shot: "ambushed" by the club's front door, or while fleeing to his car. The E reveals that the New Haven lounge had been robbed once before in the past three months. No new information on the mysterious woman in the car.

A MD student was killed in MA, and a MD doctor was killed in Pakistan.

County police are looking for a burgundy Chevy Suburban with front-end damage that was involved in a hit-and-run that killed a man in Woodlawn.
AAC Police are also looking for a light-colored 1990s American van, implicated in a fatal hit-and-run involving a motorcycle in Glen Burnie.

Fights breakout! The smell of alcohol on the suspect's breathe! Reports spread through hearsay! A party at Towson's University Union led an arrest, a hospital visit and linguistic horrors in the Towerlight.

Anna Sowers has a guest column in today's Examiner regarding Jessamy's response to the jury bias report.

WTF?!?! Kenneth N. Harris Sr. Killed!

... reportedly by three gunmen robbing the New Haven Lounge in the Northwood Plaza mall, who shot him as he was running away to his car!
And the killers are still on the loose.
Unfuckingbelieveable!
JZ has video of the police press conference. Bealefeld reveals that police found a mask similar to the "Scream" mask and Harris' wallet nearby.
More on Harris from a vintage CP article and a Wikipedia bio.

More Fun With Rod and Pat

One Allen Gill got 40 years of three hots & a cot for drug dealing and three murders. Sounds like a pretty good deal, actually...

An MVA photo machine, stolen mail, a Washington Post article, medical scrubs and fake canes = one seriously elaborate identity-theft scam.

Tree Top Piru ran gang from prison, gets sentenced to more prison.

There's something you never see in the city... police busting car riflers.

Feisty Meisty: "Is it possible to start a Dixon prosecution fund?"

18 Shootings this Week

Eighteen people shot since last Friday, mapped by Spotcrime (note Boston St. was a double).

Noon(ish)

Thomas Moylan, an inmate at Central Booking, died after being found unconscious in a shower on Wednesday night. In previous conversations with his mother, he alleged inadequate mistreatment.

There were two more nonfatal shootings in Baltimore, one in the Northeast, and one in the west where a guy caught a bullet in the bum bum. Take that, Tom Green!

Shootings and stabbings in Baltimore City, and burgled homes in Baltimore County. Even the blotter can show the stark differences between the two jurisdictions.

Peter Hermann discusses helping those who won't help themselves, Baltimore judiciary style.

A bad time to be named Deandre...

In another "win" for the good guys, Deandre Brown, 20, pled guilty of shooting at four police officers and was sentenced to (life with all suspended but) 25 years. And we wonder why its difficult to hire more of Baltimore's finest...

Homes Burgled! Cars yanked! Vacuums... sucked away? All this and more in today's blotter.

Local Campuses:
At Johns Hopkins University, start watching your bikes.

Thank You for Blogging!

Two shootings last night, including a guy who fired shots at an officer (and missed)

Says galt--
"In Meister's column, police indifference in Canton.
In the blotter today, a woman robbed at the ATM on St. Paul in Charles Village. Note: a similar event occurred a short distance away this week by 33rd & Greenmount. Related?"

Stolen underground water meters in the SW.

An arrest in the Dec. 2 2007 murder of Eugenio Harrison.

NYT: American legal influence is waning.

This Ain't Your Damn Baby

Where they was ... has ... got... at... oh just watch this damn video.

Quotes of the Day

"Like the calculation of Pi, Miller's criminal history has been endless"

"If the bishops don't have to courage to tell their flock that it is immoral to vote for a child-killer like Obama, then the faithful will."

This One's For the Children

El jizz reports that a nine-year-old girl was shot at South Caroline & Gough Streets!

A four-month-old baby was missing for two days, taken by someone named "Nay Nay," but this is the first we've heard of it! Shouldn't someone have issued an Amber Alert or something?! (ps. Hey WBAL, 4-month-olds can't toddle!) ... more detailed story from the Sun

Attorney General: 58 percent of juvie offenders completing youth programs were re-arrested within a year after release.

Dwayne Erving, 18, attempted to invoke the Bush Doctrine in defense of his murder of Taavon Mitchell. He got 10 years anyway.

"Man, 80, beaten by son with hammer, Arundel police say"

Also an AAC, the 6th murder, a man shot through his bedroom window

Baltimorean Jamar Gattis moved to Idaho, got beat to death anyway

Media Blabber

TDR reports that the Sun's managing editor, Robert Blau, has quit, two months after the deputy managing editor did the same.

The CP has deemed Margaret Burns the "Best Flack"
Page Croyder's got the "Best Insider Perspective"
and Adam Meister's got the "Best Local Blog"
That's going to be one interesting party!

Rotten Teens on the Loose

Police are ISO a pair of dim-looking teens who allegedly robbed the Parkville High's.

Guilty Pleas in Nightclub Murder

From the Office of the Head Ho Slappa:

At a hearing today, Tony Hawks, 30, of the 3700 block of Ravenswood Ave. and Eugene Darnell Parker, 33, of the 3900 block of Cranston Ave. plead guilty to second-degree murder, handgun use in a crime of violence and conspiracy to murder. A third co-defendant, Dwayne Gwynn, 35, of the 5800 of Gist Avenue pled guilty to conspiracy to murder.

The co-defendants were scheduled for trial before Judge John C. Themelis when the plea agreement was negotiated. Parker received a total sentence of 40-years in prison, first 5-years without parole, for conspiracy to murder, handgun use in a crime of violence and second-degree murder. Hawks received a sentence of 40-years in prison suspend all but 20-years with 5-years probation for second–degree murder, handgun use in a crime of violence and conspiracy to murder. Hawks was previously convicted of second-degree murder and was released on parole. Dwayne Gwynn will serve 20-years in prison for conspiracy to murder.

Each of the defendants pled to the following facts: the co-defendants were attending a party at the Club International, 2301 W. Baltimore Street on February 11, 2007. Harold Robinson worked at the club as a bouncer. Several persons attending the club became angry at Mr. Robinson after he removed a partygoer for urinating on the dance floor. Later, Gwynn, Hawks and Parker conspired to retaliate. Hawks and Parker entered Club International and randomly fired several shots, fatally injuring Harold Robinson. Two employees of the club fired handguns and chased Hawks and Parker as they attempted to flee the scene. Both were struck and apprehended by police.

Assistant State’s Attorney Diana Smith of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

(Why does the SAO hyphenate so oddly?!)

50 Years for Attempted Murder of Palsied Victim

From the office of the Head Ho Slappa:

Judge Thomas J.S. Waxter sentenced Aaron Speaks, 23, of the 2100 block of N. Guilford Ave today to 50 years in prison for attempted first-degree murder and a concurrent 20 years in prison for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. A Baltimore jury convicted Speaks June 6, 2008. The State had asked for the maximum penalty allowable under law, life in prison plus a consecutive 20 years. Details:

On August 6, 2007 at approximately 4:18PM the victim, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was walking in the 300 block of East 21st St. when Speaks crept up behind him and shot him one time at close range in the back of the neck. A CitiWatch pole camera captured Speaks feeling the scene. Witnesses testified that only one person approached the victim, only one shot was heard and only one person fled the scene. Another witness testified that shortly after the shooting the defendant admitted to shooting the victim. This shooting left the victim paralyzed from the neck down; he remains on a ventilator and is unable to speak without medical intervention.

Assistant State’s Attorney Tonya LaPolla of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (F.I.V.E.) Division prosecuted this case.

Johnnie, This Heroin is SO Enjoyable!

New details from last week's hair-ron raids, including some high-larious wire-tap transcripts, helpfully translated by a DEA officer.

Blotter: an arrest in the murder of Jeffrey Brown; mugged Morgan students.

How Sick Can it Get?

Police: William V. Brown was a drug dealer and serial killer and rapist who cut the ears off a prostitute.

'Deener disabled man sentenced to home detention for kiddie porn

Shot Man Allegedly a Wanted Murderer

The man shot by police this morning in the 1700 block of North Fulton was ID'D by JZ as Emory Lewis, 25, who was wanted in the county for the murder of 22-year-old Felicia Ann Stratley. Turns out Lewis wasn't even the guy they were looking for, they were ISO one Dante Bradford (who was also arrested).
The shot officers have been released from the hospital.

A gal walking in Charles Village at 5:15 a.m. this morning was urgently requested to "Kick out the money."

Two Sheriffs shot in early morning

The Baltimore Sun is reporting that two Sheriff's Deputies were shot in the early morning while serving a warrant. Both are expected to live.

#159

Barry Graham, 24, died following a quadruple shooting this morning in the 700 block of West Lexington. No suspects, no motive.

Also on West Lexingon, stolen property recovered.

Dan Rodricks does some hand-wringing over Roger Shifflett, the guy (allegedly) responsible for the Overlea hostage situation. Every fuckwad is some mother's baby!

Illegal immigrant slavery at the Chinese buffet? Wo bu shi!

#158

Two men shot, one fatally, in front of the Captain James (you know, the restaurant on Boston St. that looks like a big boat). WBAL reports that a fight started inside & got finished on the street. The deceased victim was named as one Lloyd Milton.

To The Piss-Lined Tank from Old Latrobe

Big (or is it Lil?) Harry of the Latrobe Organization got 60 years for three murders.

The statements of William R. "Billy" Ferandes, 17, accused of fatally shooting 16-year-old Joshua Gibson, can be used at trial, a County judge ruled Friday. You may recall that little Billy and friends allegedly picked Gibson at random and shot him to death on the street, for chuckles.

News of the stupid: The Court of Appeals threw out a vehicular manslaughter conviction and 15-year prison sentence because the jury that rendered the guilty verdict hadn't been sworn in.

Local (allegedly) racist development Co Cordish is in agua caliente with the ACLU of Kansas over their "no white t-shirts" policy.
(QTD: “I like the dress code. It’ll keep out the crap.”)

In Annapolis, a double-shooting and the city's 7th murder.

A Reisterstown company got busted and fined for using a fake Orthodox Union kosher certification mark (though after that Iowa-slaughterhouse nastiness, the probably wish they'd stolen somebody else's!)

County police nabbed a PA perv.

Peter Hermann, Baltimore's only crime blogger, received an angry missive from a Boone St. resident.

Aw hellz naw... they got Turkey and Doughboy!

A fatal shooting reported yesterday afternoon in the 1500 block of Wadsworth Way.

A man was reportedly shot twice in the back about noon Tuesday in the 900 block of Belgian Ave. in the Pen Lucy neighborhood.

Drug raid targets named: "Turkey" "Deadeye" and "Doughboy".
... what's your gangsta name?

Evidence collected following a broad search warrant will be permitted at the trial of the Rogers Forge couple accused of starving their toddler to death.

Turns out the guy shot by police in Dundalk just had a BB gun.

The mystery deepens in the case of the missing GMC Acadia

Chang K. Yim, owner of the Linden Liquors, is protesting outside of city hall. (? "Yim handed out a three-page typewritten statement - available, along with other documents, on the Baltimore Crime Blog.")

Enjoy watching foot chases? WBAL's got video!

Two-Standoff Night

Twenty-seven drug raids last night, and only one standoff, at a house where men "often watched pornography on television without bothering to cover their windows." The Sun has pictures (of the raids, silly!)

A double shooting in Druid Heights.

A man was shot and killed by police in Dundalk after barricading himself in a house and waving a gun out the window.

Genius teens try to rob undercover cop

What happened to the impounded GMC Acadia?

Busy blogger Peter Hermann goes to Boone Street, laments Mouse, Wooly and Woo Woo, updates us on the case of the robbed 66-year-old tourist with the herniated disc.

"Police union calls order for foot patrols ‘ridiculous’"

News of the weird: Essex CC student who happened to be carrying $1400 robbed and beaten by attackers, including a man with an "F" carved in his hair

News of the weird II: Thurmont mom who put kids in trunk of car now in trouble for giving teens vodka

Conviction in Dice-Game Shooting

From the SAO:
A Baltimore City jury yesterday convicted Jamal Smith, 20, of the 1800 block of E. Federal St. of attempted first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The jury deliberated approximately five hours after a three-day trial. Judge Robert B. Kershaw scheduled sentencing November 14, 2008. Smith faces a maximum possible prison term of life plus 20 years. Details:

On June 12, 2007 at approximately 1:07 a.m. police responded to the 2000 block of E. Hoffman St. for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival they found the victim lying in the street suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Investigation revealed that the victim, Smith and others were involved in a dice game. The victim and Smith had a dispute over $2 and Smith pulled out a gun, aimed at the victim’s head and shot him one time in the temple area.

Three witnesses positively identified Smith as the shooter via photographic arrays. DNA consistent with the defendant was located on the dice recovered from the scene. The victim remains in the hospital in an unresponsive state as a result of this shooting.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Tonya LaPolla and Bethany Durand of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (F.I.V.E.) Division prosecuted this case.

Drive-by Mowdown

in East Baltimore injured five ... make that six ... and killed 23-year-old Robert Wilson.
(Thx glt)

What the?! Justin Fenton reports that police- and corrections-officer uniforms were found at the scene of Reginald Carter's murder.

A bevy of stolen stuff in the Blotter, including a 42" TV in Roland Park and an excavating machine removed from a city construction site.

More on that Catonsville stabbing: "The fight involved several men and a variety of weapons, including a metal pole, a knife and a 40-inch wooden sword."
A 40-inch wooden sword?!

The Baltimore County driving instructor who sued "Borat" has had his case tossed out of court.

And now, your quote of the day with Radio host Ron Smith:

If one were to grade the Baltimore state's attorney's office on conviction rates and public relations skills, it would get maybe an F. But if one were to grade State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy and her sidekick spokeswoman Margaret T. Burns on the fine art of political stonewalling - that is, the outright refusal to answer inconvenient questions - the grade would have to be an A+.

Via the Ink, three homicides have been added to the BCrime toll: Andre Harris, Shirley Johnson and Tyrone Bowie.

A man who was shot 13 years ago has died and has been added to the toll.

What Happened at the Barber Shop?

A witness says Homicide Detective Terry Love was "brave" and "doing his job," Jessamy's office says it was criminal assault and endangerment, and Love's lawyer questions the timing of the charges. (Wonder if they were filed before or after Love's EEOC complaint?)

15 Years for Killer of Ashley Bellosi

From the SAO:
Immediately before opening statements were set to begin in his murder trial, Rodney Fray, 39, of the 1800 block of E. Pratt St. [pleaded] guilty to second-degree murder today. Judge Paul Smith sentenced Fray to 30 years in prison, suspending all but 15 years, and five years probation.

On July 7, 2007 at 3:36AM paramedics responded to 817 St. Paul Street Apartment 804 and observed the victim Ashley Bellosi, 23, lying on the bedroom floor inside of her apartment. Bellosi was unconscious and suffering from numerous injuries to the head, neck, torso, and limbs. She was transported to Shock Trauma in critical condition and on July 11, 2007 Bellosi died as a result of her injuries. On July 12, 2007 OCME performed an autopsy on the victim and determined that the cause of death was homicide and the manner of death was blunt force trauma to the victim’s head. A witness positively identified Fray as being the person who fought with the victim and caused her injuries. Fray was Bellosi’s boyfriend and had recently moved into her apartment. After being arrested and read his Miranda rights Fray gave a taped statement admitting to fighting with the victim in the victim’s apartment.

Assistant State’s Attorney Joshua Felsen of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Astounding Assholism!

Someone burned down the playground at the 33rd street Y!

TG

... they found that missing little boy, Ramon Richardson! He was with his mom. Probably all a big wacky misunderstanding.

Baltimore teen Shneara Boone was found murdered in Frederick.

Baltimore man went walking in Annapolis, got skull fractured by teenage robbers.

Loyola's seven-year court battle with county residents has finally come to an end, with the school getting to build its retreat.

A gal who talked to the media about the poor condition of city cop cars and lost her contract got $120k

Terrible Tuesday

It wouldn't be Baltimore if someone didn't get shot and killed at least weekly. Here's the most recent homicide, which happened last night.

Steven Darnell Romingo was arrested and
charged with the Saturday-night stabbing death of his girlfriend.

HE's a commended officer, SHE's a known prostitute ... hilarity will ensue when they come together. Or maybe not.

Plenty of other things going on in the blotter. But if it isn't a murder and not on the news it doesn't count...

Homicide is one stat you can't fuck with...

.. or is it, David Simon?
(click for bigger images)

Word

"[The Baltimore Police] make rules and enforce them and don't even know the fuck why ... and when the apocalypse starts, we will be prepared for the breakdown of order."
-- Adam Endres Blender 10/08, "Music from Murderland" p. 56