PoPo: No Thoreau to Go

Donny Moses: after the initial "shock" of snowflakes, Baltimore's criminals quickly resume business as usual

BPD IDs officers who shot a man Feb 4.

"The Court of Special Appeals on Monday considered a challenge to the admissibility of ballistics evidence by a Columbia teenager convicted of murder, whose lawyer argued that a widely used analysis lacks scientific rigor.
'The methodology used by the state’s examiners is unvalidated and without scientific backing,' said Brian A. Zemil, a partner at Venable"

News of the weird: 2 Salsibury students and a Fruitlander charged with stealing a 400-pound statue of Thoreau for scrap metal.

It's official

Jack Young is the next city council president.

Contraband

Two Baltimore County corrections officers have been fired for bringing cell phones to work. Along with phones, a nice selection of bootleg DVDs were found on several COs.

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Snow be damned, another murder-- a man shot at 1226 W Bentalou

Wack Wine Laws

All that stands between MDers and Wine.com= Joan Carter Conway, wife of a liquor board member. So douchy!
Q: does the law mean MD wineries can't ship to other states also?

Don't wait for a snowplow

If you live on a side street, the city says you're sol.

16- Man stabbed to death on snow

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A man stabbed to death allegedly by his daughter's new daddy in a yard in the 4000 block of Massachusetts Ave.

and an hour ago BPD tweeted "1226 N BENTALOU ST, MALE SHOT

Snow shut down

If you're in need of public transportation, might want to stick to the subway.

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30-year-old man shot to death in an Escalade, police report as Loyola Northway, Sun sez Loyola Southway

More on the shot officer, the dead man and his accomplice

Jack Young, the probable new city council president, talks public safety

ps., you can follow the new mayor on Twitter!

Dixon gets scolded

Another Dixon strange courtroom encounter just minutes before the judge chews her out.

Officers down

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Tweets the BPD: "DOUBLE-SHOOTING-OFFICER SHOT-3722 OAKMONT AVE-OFFICER SHOT IN THE ARM-TAKEN TO SHOCK TRAUMA-TWO SUSPECTS SHOT."

NAACP Win in "DWB" Records Lawsuit

The Office of MD's Attorney General must turn over arrest records to the NAACP, says County Circuit Court.
INteresting!
What format will these records be in? To whom will they be given? What will that person or entity do with them?

First-Person Shooter

If you shoot someone trespassing on your property, should the trespasser have the right to sue you?

6?

City ciouncilwoman calls for investigative hearing on the DPW sex offender cover-up that could now include up to six employees.

Methadone, hon!

Hampden to get new methadone clinic.

Meet

Deputy Mayor Andrew B Frank

The difference is in the pistol whip

Self-defense double standard between 20-somethings Dominic Anderson, Abdullah Omar and John Pontolillo?

Ex-county cop robs 7 banks

When county police officer Joseph Goetz car-jacked a UPS driver in the 90s, little did anyone know he was just getting warmed up,

Behold

Chasity "Doodlebug" Morales, wanted for robbing the Pikesville Pizza Hut.

No good deed...

A teenager opened fire in a Sheraton ballroom and shot a man in the face. Two guys allegedly restrained the shooter in a "sleeper hold" and pistol-whipped him. Now the restrainers have been indicted.

More on the sad case of April Montford: sisters say mom didn't want their help.
Video from WBAL

Judges' goof gets double-murder case thrown out

Sentencing delayed for teen found to have participated in the beating of septuagenarian fisherman

Venerable haberdasher Jos. A Bank to pay $4 million for misrepresenting inventory levels to shareholders

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A man murdered Monday was ID'd as John England, 27. Reports the Sun, "England was sentenced to five years in federal prison in 2006 for firearm possession." But apparently that sentence didn't take.
Minor irony dept: England, subject of a paternity suit while imprisoned in Cumberland, was killed in front of the Center for Urban Families.

No Jail for Disipicable Daughters

From the SAO:

At a hearing today Judge David Ross sentenced Sharon Jones, 26, of the 400 block of W. Franklin Avenue and Tia Sewell, 27, of the 5100 block of Darien Road to a suspended ten year prison term and five years probation. Jones and Sewell pled guilty to first-degree vulnerable adult abuse November 16, 2009.
The court heard nearly three hours of testimony from members of the victim’s family who were called as defense witnesses and offered supportive testimony for Jones and Sewell. The court-ordered a pre-sentence investigation recommended suspended sentences for both defendants. The state argued that the heinous nature of the crime and the willful neglect of the victim warranted incarceration and the state asked for six years in prison.

Jones and Sewell admitted to the negligent care of their mother, April Montford, 40. Ms. Montford sustained severe injuries to her lower abdomen and legs resulting in bed sores, gangrenous open wounds and dehydration. She died March 14, 2008. The medical examiner ruled Montford’s death a homicide as a result of a 1985 gunshot wound. That gunshot wound left her a paraplegic.

The Sun reported that Montford was also infested with maggots and lice.

Police Need Help

ID'ing a decomposed body found in White Marsh

New trial for Tyrone Jones, convicted in a 1998 murder

The Sun's eds say MD's Rx pot policy should be clearer (love the Google ads)

Anybody go see Dr. John Rich at the Walters yesterday? Thoughts? Here's a review of the book

City makeover

Chris Taylor, the Union Square actvist arrested for interefering with an investigation wants to replace the current city council. Meanwhile the city law department is trying to figure how the city should handle future sex offenders who want to get paid while in jail.

BPD to Drop Unlawful Gag Order

In a stunning reversal, BPD brass decides it will comply with federal transparency laws and release the names of officers who have shot citizens.
Wonder what brought that about?

S.A. Dix, Rollergirl

Will Steal-a Man Dixon appear rinkside tonight at the Charm City Rollergirls' home opener? Says the Girls' page,

The home season opener is a celebration as the Office of Mayor Shelia Dixon and the City of Baltimore will declare this Saturday [Jan 30] Charm City Roller Girls Day in Baltimore! Join us for the awarding of the official proclamation at DuBurns Arena this Saturday starting at 6:00pm.

UPDATE: the bouts were canceled due to snow

How the mighty have fallen...

Notorious Baltimore movie star/rapper/gang leader, Rodney "Skinny Suge" Thomas is convicted in federal court on racketeering and drug charges.
Suge is notorious for producing and starring in the notorious "Stop Snitching" movies that made national headlines in 2005. Suge is facing up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.

Brotha Workitout pleaded guilty to using fraudulent identification documents.

Justified

Jessamy rules a JHU student who killed a thief was "justified"

Speaking of Scary Stalkers

... the victim's family reports that George Thompson, 37, convicted of attempting to hire someone to murder his wife less than two years ago will be out of jail next month after serving little more than a year. Says the victim's cousin,

BEWARE!!! This FELON will be back on the streets at the end of February. Most likely will attempt to do work in a trade, i.e. plumbing, electric, carpentry. He is NOT licensed!!! Do NOT let him in your home, he is a danger!!!!!!!! please repost and keep your friends and loved ones safe!

Stabby stalker shot by cops

.. outside of Union Memorial hospital. The "victim" was wanted on an attempted murder warrant after a stabbing in January outside the Royal Farms store on 36th St. in Hampden.

Murders 7 through 10 in the Ink.

A good question: if O'Malley is against the death penalty, why doesn't he commute the sentences of the five inmates on death row?

Onward & Upward with the Arts
Closing arguments in the federal case against reality star Ronnie "AIDS in Your Mouth" Thomas.

Aiiiee!! the CP's Van Smith pays a visit to the Apex.

Hermann links to Peter Barry's gallery of Baltimore memorial graffiti

Baltimore County prison crackdown

Contraband found on CO's at the Baltimore County detention center during a shift-wide search on Tuesday.

The city's Inspector General joins investigation into the sex offender who stayed on city payroll while serving time for sexually abusing a minor

New journalism takes a hit

Acorn videographers busted breaking into Senator's office Watergate style

Life + 70 for Belair Rd. Murderer

From the SAO:

At a hearing today, Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Dominic Brown, 29, of the 1300 block of Vida Drive to life in prison plus 70 years. A Baltimore jury convicted Brown October 30, 2009 of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.

Judge Hears sentenced Brown to the following: life in prison for first-degree murder, 30 years in prison for attempted second-degree murder and 40 years in prison (first five years without parole) for two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, all consecutive.

On May 4, 2008, Sean Henderson and a group of friends were inside La’Son’s Bar and Grill located in the 3200 block of Belair Road. Henderson left the bar and spoke with two women outside the bar. Witnesses observed Dominic Brown approach Henderson and the two women. Brown began yelling at one of the women, the mother of his son. Shortly thereafter, Brown produced a handgun from his waistband and fired it at Henderson multiple times. As Henderson attempted to run southbound on Belair Road, he was struck once in the chest, once in the back, and once in the forearm. Witnesses observed Brown flee northbound on Belair Road. At approximately 1:54AM officers responded to that location for a shooting call. Upon arrival, officers found Henderson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics transported Henderson to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:31AM. A second victim, Christopher Pinkney, suffered a single gunshot wound to the right knee and entered Johns Hopkins Hospital on his own a short time after the arrival of Henderson. The investigation revealed Pinkney was not a target but was inadvertently shot as he exited a store located next to La’Son’s Bar and Grill.

Your Tax $ at Work

HR2450, a bill going to committee, would require non-Federal prisons and correctional facilities holding Federal prisoners under a contract with the Federal Government to make the same information available to the public that Federal prisons and correctional facilities are required to make available.

As of now, "companies that run private prisons say they are not required to disclose basic information about the facilities or the inmates -- except for reports issued upon an inmate's death -- under existing FOIA law because while they receive taxpayer money, they are not public agencies."

Wonder what these agencies could possibly have to hide?

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Unidentified man, shot around 9:30 p.m. last night in the 1900 block of Aisquith Street.

"Baltimore police are investigating the rape of a woman inside her home in Reservoir Hill, and are trying to determine whether it's related to a series of other attacks in recent months."

What the? ACORN "pimp" arrested in phone-tapping scheme

and is the Obama administration really more transparent?

More on the jailed sex offender still on city payroll

Serving out a prison term for sexual abuse of a minor didn't stop Dennis McLaughlin from collecting his city pay check. Now DPW investgators are trying to find out who submitted fake leave slips from in Baltimore County lock-up on charges of impersonating a police officer.

Meanwhile, Dixon staffers are given 24 hours to submit resumes or clean out their desks.

Small world!

One of the people charged in the counterfeit money/ drug bust last week was on federal probation for her involvement in the firebombing of the home of community activist Edna McAbier. Surely you remember that one: "the leader of the area Bloods initially wanted to shoot her in the head with a shotgun, but the gang dismissed the idea as not dramatic enough."
McAbier still lives in hiding, as far as we know... unlike at least one of her would-be killers!

Need some churchin'?

Need some churchin'? Drop by the 2010 Interfaith Vigil Against Violence at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral up on Charles Street, "organizaed" by the Baltimore Interfaith Coalition

LoLz: "Baltimore PoliceDept GUN ARRESTS: BPD seizes 14 illegal guns over the weekend including one from a man impersonating a police officer at a flea market."

"Hundreds Of Shoes Found In Bags Along Md. Creek"

Don't Miss

...NPR's story on the Bail Bonds industry. All kinds of interesting!
Thnx PP

Also interesting: NYT on transgender name-changes. I wonder at what point, according to MD law, does someone undergoing a sex change officially become the other gender?

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Three men arrested for the stabbing death of Marine Pfc. Darius Ray, 20, at a house party early Saturday morning at a party at 6908 McClean Blvd.

Police "experimenting with new patrol strategies to counteract the hordes of drunken barhoppers who flood the streets at last call"

A victim's daughter talks to the reporter who wrote about her mother's murder in the NYT Fashion & Style section.

Baltimore John Watch

Page Croyder on the Guilford kidnapper: "if getting the conviction was so important that it justified probation, why didn’t they do something meaningful when [John] Couplin was arrested again while on that probation?"
Three weeks ago Croyder wrote about another John, John Miller: "Jessamy['s] attorneys clearly don’t have the records that they need, and they lack the training to recognize and properly handle threats ... This is something Jessamy could have fixed years ago and still hasn’t. Yet soon she will be running around Annapolis telling the 2010 General Assembly all the things she could do with more criminal laws."
...Jessamy was appointed (by Glendening I guess) to the Office of the State's Attorney in 1995 and has won three elections.
Fifteen years ago! And no one has ever mounted a credible threat against her for that office, ever!
Amazeballs!

No Money for Moms Day

HoCo jury won't give $700k to dirtbike mom

And no $$ for mother of Terrell Suggs' children, who asked the court to dismiss her protective order and a $70 million lawsuit ... "an attorney for the player said the couple is trying to reconcile."

Ooh, counterfeit money!

Reports the BPD,

On January 21st, at about 645 hrs. Officers from the Central District Operations Squad observed a gold Pontiac grand prix in the 1600 block of Mcculloh street believed to be involved in suspected drug activity.

The officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop at which time the vehicle then fled. The officers were able to follow the vehicle and give out a good description to assiting units. As the vehicle crossed into the Western District, BPD's Violent Crime Impact Section assisted in following the vehicle.

The occupants bailed out and ran into 2312 Avalon ave. Officers secured the dwelling at which time observing drugs in plain view. A warrant was obtained and $22,245.00 in cash, of which $15,580.00 was counterfeit, was seized along with 7 Ziplock bags of heroin and a 1/2 oz of raw heroin.

It gets better

Union officials believe convicted sex offender Dennis McLaughlin was dipping into sick leave reserved for employees with lengthy illnesses so he could keep getting paid while in prison.

Have you seen...

Eighteen-year-old Logan Krywucki, last seen in the area of Windsor Mill Road and Lord Baltimore Drive.

Two murders connected by a car

A man posing as a maintenance worker tried to rob a guest at the Harbor Marriott

"Maryland State Police say the Baltimore police department is the first agency in the state to make more than 100 arrests using the statewide DNA database"

Dropped

Prosecutors drop charges against union square community activist Chris Taylor, the result of a controversial arrest. More from the Sun

Creepin and peepin

"Md. bill would outlaw keeping a corpse in freezer"

Aieee! County police are ISO a man who's been breaking into women's homes to watch them sleep at night. Wonder if there's any relation to this peeper from last August? Or if he's friends with this guy? Or swaps notes with Clinton Gardner or Brian Eui Hong?

The slow, slow wheels of justice...

Trial began for "Skinny Suge" and a co-defendant in federal court today. It's been two years since "Suge" was indicted, and three years since he immortalized the chestnut, "I hope you [snitches] catch AIDS in your mouth and your lips the first thing that die."

Two murderers

From the SAO, links added:

At a hearing today before his scheduled trial was to begin, Quadir Butcher, 20, of the 2200 block of E. Mount Holly Street pled guilty to first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.

Judge Sylvester Cox sentenced Butcher to life in prison suspend all but 40 years for the murder count and a concurrent 20 years in prison, first five years without the possibility of parole for the handgun count and five years probation.

On June 2, 2008, witness(es) identified Quadir Butcher as the person responsible for a double shooting in the 3100 block of Clifton Avenue. The two victims were on the porch of their residence at approximately 8:30PM that day when Butcher approached them, produced a handgun and shot the first victim, Derrell Smith in the neck. The other victim was shot in the abdomen and leg and survived. Derrell Smith died later at University of Maryland Shock Trauma.

...so, mathletes, how many years will Mr. Butcher actually serve? Also ....

A Baltimore jury convicted Demetrius Smith, 26, of the 400 block of Parrish Street, yesterday of first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The trial lasted one week and jurors deliberated approximately two-and-a-half hours before reaching its verdict.

Judge Timothy J. Doory scheduled sentencing for February 22, 2010 at which time Smith faces a maximum possible prison term of life plus 20 years.

On March 24, 2008 at approximately 8:50 a.m. officers responded to the 400 block of Stricker Street were they found the victim, Robert Long, lying on the ground shot twice in the head. The victim died from his injuries and an autopsy determined that the cause of death was homicide. Witnesses were located who identified the Smith as the person who shot and killed Long. Additionally, witnesses were able to provide information regarding the motive of the murder; Smith was a drug dealer and Long found Smith’s heroine {sic} stash while rehabbing an abandoned house on Parrish Street. Long took the drugs and shortly thereafter Smith located him and walked him out to a secluded area in a local park and killed him.

On July 12, 2008 Smith posted $350,000 bail following a bail review hearing in which the State argued that Smith should be held without bail. On August 27, 2008 Smith allegedly shot a victim in the leg during a street robbery in the 400 block of S. Parrish Street. The victim survived and Smith’s attempted murder trial is also scheduled to begin February 22, 2010.

And don't miss this week's CP cover feature: "Rising Tide: Baltimore's 2009 homicide toll goes against national trends by going up"

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Raymond Gibson, 21, shot to death at 2:45 in the afternoon on N. Caroline Street (reported as the 1400 block by police and the 1700 block by the Sun.)

A city police officer has been found guilty by a trial board of misconduct with a prostitute. Allegedly her transported her from the city to county, then took her to a motel.

The city that (almost) never works

Peter Herman tells the story of the first vicitim of the Guilford attacker who was mugged at knifepoint by the same teen recently arrested for a brazen adbuction. Even though she was willing to testify againt her attacker, prosecutors took a plea deal!

Meanwhile, a DPW employee says when she informed her superiors that a city worker was on the sex offender registry and shouldn't be working in the field, she was told to shut up or face the consequences.

The county 14-year-old wanted for shooting a 13-year-old has turned himself in.

Attorneys to collect $3 million for prosecuting Tyson class-action suit

Media Blabber

Like tales of newsroom drama? You'll ♥ "Post Apocalypse: Inside the messy collapse of a great newspaper"

Also see: "Can newspaper muckraking carry on in nonprofits?"

How to get paid while doing time for sex offense part III

It helps to have friends in high places

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View Larger MapUnidentified man stabbed to death at West Franklin and Paca Streets, Fenton has a picture of the scene

Four senior ladies home-invaded for their prescription meds in Edgewood

On MLK day, mayhem on MLK Blvd

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Unidentified Man, 2304 W. North Ave., shot at about 5:30 a.m.

How can shootings be down but murders up? "Percentage of victims being shot in the head at close range on the rise"

Mary Pat Clarke: Guilford and Oakenshawe will "track every stage of this perennial assailant [John Couplin]’s processing through a system which has failed us once."
.. Once?!

"Gay man is victimized twice, by killer and state"

It's like my iPod stuck on replay...

Geez, how many times have we heard this story before?
Alleged Guilford abductor John Couplin has been arrested guess how many times in the past 5 years? Oh go on, guess. Hint: cutting deals with the state had him out over, and over, and over, over, and over, and over, over, and over, and over, over, and over, and over, over, and over, and over, over, and over again. And two more times besides. Of his most recent case, the SA's office says "the only evidence in the 2008 robbery was the victim's identification from a photo array." How much more would you need or expect to have from an armed street robbery? Haven't people been given the death penalty with as much?

Does prison pay?

Not only was cop impersonating sex offender Dennis McLaughlin let out of jail barely halfway through his sentence for molesting a minor, but the city is now investigating if he was still on the city payroll while in jail.

A Week in Charles Village

Thanks, Buz! Stolen "herbs," a brick thrown at a driver, a female mugger .. and as always lots of car windows broken for GPS systems.

Robbery (Unarmed) – 200 blk. E. 28th Street 1/6/10 10:55 pm
Property Taken: Bag, ID, Personal Papers, iPod, Travel Book, and Various Herbs
Two suspects approached the victim and knocked her to the ground. Suspect # 1 then wrestled with the victim taking her bag containing the above listed property. The suspects then fled S/B on Guilford Ave.

Robbery (Unarmed) – 2400 blk. N. Charles Street 1/9/10 4:00 pm
Property Taken: $80
The suspect approached the victim demanding his wallet. The victim stated that he did not have a wallet. The suspect then stated that she had a weapon, the victim handed the suspect his money. The victim attempted to keep the money from the suspect. The suspect then struck the victim multiple times and fled with the property.

Burglary (Residential) - 3200 blk. Abell Ave. 1/30/10 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Property Taken: Laptop, PS2, Games, Projector, and 40 DVD’s
An unknown broke the front door glass at the location to gain entry. The suspect fled the location with the above listed property through the same entry point.

Burglary (Residential) – 3100 blk. N. Calvert Street 12/27/09 11:37 pm
Property Taken/Recovered: Jewelry Box, Jewelry
An unknown suspect entered through a rear bathroom window. Upon entry the suspect removed the above listed property. The victim was home during the time of this incident and was able to flee the location and notify the police. The suspect fled the location however was located and arrested by the responding officer. The property was recovered.

Burglary (Residential) – 200 blk. E 30TH Street 1/8/10 6:30 pm – 1:30 pm (next day)
Property Taken: Laptop, DVD Player, TV, AND Camera
An unknown suspect entered through an unlocked rear window. The suspect then removed the above listed property and fled through the same POE.

Burglary (Commercial) – 2400 blk. N. Charles Street 1/6/10 6:50 am
Property Taken: 25” Security System Monitor
An unknown suspect broke a glass pane to enter the rear door, reached in and unlocked the door and entered. Upon entry the suspect removed the above listed property and fled the location.

Aggravated Assault – 2600 blk. Barclay Street 1/6/2010 4:10 pm
The victim was driving at the location when an unknown suspect threw a brick at the driver side window causing same to shatter. The victim was not injured during the incident.

Burglary (Residential) – 3300 blk. Guilford Ave. 1/4/10 7:45 am – 6:00 pm
Property Taken: Dell Laptop, LCD HD TV An unknown suspect broke a window and entered. Once inside, the suspect removed the above property and fled through the rear door. No witnesses.

Burglary (Residential) – 2900 blk. Calvert Street 1/6/10 3:00 pm – 2:00 am
Property Taken: XBOX Adapter, XBOX Games, IPod, Bracelet and Coin Currency
An unknown suspect broke the rear 3rd Floor window to gain entry. Upon entry the suspect removed the above listed property and fled with same through same POE.

Burglary (Residential) – 3000 blk. Greenmount Ave. 1/7/10 11:20 am
No Property Taken
An unknown suspect forced the rear door of the vacant dwelling to gain entry. An unknown caller advised 911. Upon police response the suspect was located inside of the dwelling and was placed under arrest.

Burglary (Commercial) – 2400 blk. Saint Paul Street 1/5/10 1:20 am – 2:20 am
Property Taken: Unknown
An unknown suspect kicked in the door of the business and made entry. The suspect fled the location with an unknown amount of property. No witnesses.

Larceny from Auto – 2600 blk. Saint Paul Street 1/5/10 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Property Taken: Tom Tom GPS
The suspect broke the front window and removed the above listed property.

Larceny from Auto – 2100 blk. N. Charles St. 1/5/09 8:00 pm- 10:15 am (next day)
Property Taken: GPS System
An unknown suspect broke the rear window to the victims 2007 Chevy Malibu and removed the above listed property.

Larceny from Auto – 2300 blk. N. Calvert St. 1/3/10 3:00 pm – 2:10 pm (next day)
Property Taken: GPS Mount
The suspect broke the passenger side window to the victims 2006 Chevy Aveo and removed the above listed property. No witnesses

Larceny from Auto – 2500 blk. Guilford Ave. 1/6/10 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Property Taken: Garmin GPS System
The suspect broke the window to the victims 1999 Nissan Maxima and removed the above listed property.

Larceny from Auto – 100 blk. E. 30TH Street 1/5/10 10:00 pm – 12:30 pm (next day)
Property Taken: Tom Tom GPS
The suspect broke the passenger side window to the victims 2005 Jeep Liberty and removed the above listed property.

Larceny from Auto – 2700 blk. Maryland Ave. 12/28/09 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Property Taken: Monkey Wrench, Screw Driver
An unknown suspect pushed an open window to the victims 1986 Mazda Truck, MD Tag 1427L2 and removed the listed property.

Campus Safety and Security

Weekly Campus Crime Report
January 4, 2010 – January 11, 2010

On Campus

ARREST – Robbery – Outside the Rear of Shaffer Hall – On Jan. 6th at 9:00 PM, a non-affiliated heavily intoxicated male holding his hands in his pocket as if armed approached a sophomore undergraduate, made threatening remarks and demanded money. The student handed over $13 cash and notified Campus Security as the suspect fled on foot. The student was not injured. Campus officers located the suspect in a basement stairwell off the 3200 Blk. of Hargrove St. where Baltimore Police arrested him on being positively identified by the victim. The victim’s cash was recovered from the suspect. The arrested person, a 19-year old non-affiliate, was charged with armed robbery and assault on a campus police officer.

Theft – NEB 218-B – Between Nov. 1st at 8:00 AM and Jan. 7th at 2:30 PM, an LED video projector was taken from its mounting bracket inside an unlocked conference room. Investigation continuing.

Theft – Bloomberg (Café) –Between Dec. 15th at 2:30 PM and Jan. 5th at 8:30 AM, a Café employee reported that 10 cups and 10 bags of potato chips were missing and sugar was spilled on the counter. After further investigation it was found that the lock on the cabinet was insufficient. The employee was advised to replace the lock with a more efficient lock.

Off Campus

Unarmed Robbery (of Non-Affiliate) – 2800 Blk. N. Calvert St. (east side) – On Jan. 6th at 10:55 PM, two unknown males, 20 – 25 years old, approached a non-affiliate from the rear, pushed her to the ground and forcibly took her handbag. The suspects ran south on Calvert St. to 28th St. and then ran south on Guilford Ave. The victim declined medical attention for a minor hand laceration. Baltimore Police and campus officers searched the area with negative results. Investigation continuing. See Security Bulletin WI-2 at www.jhu.edu/~security.

Thefts from Autos:

• 2800 Blk. Cresmont Ave. -- Between Jan. 8th at 9:00 PM and Jan. 9th at 10:30 AM, a GPS device was taken from the center console of a senior undergraduate’s parked vehicle. Entry had been gained by breaking the front passenger side window. Baltimore Police responded. Investigation continuing.

• 100 Blk. W. University Parkway (south side) – Between Jan. 8th at 10:30 PM and Jan. 9th at 10:00 AM, a radar detector was taken from the top of the dashboard of a non-affiliate’s parked pick-up truck. Entry had been gained by breaking the passenger side window. Baltimore Police responded. Investigation continuing.

Guilford Abduction details

.. from Hermann. You are all no doubt (too jaded to be) shocked that the 19-year-old arrested for the crime, John Couplin, "was convicted of robbing a Guilford woman at knifepoint in 2008, but took a plea deal, receiving 10 years in prison with all but about a year and a month [suspended]. Or in [other words], time served."

Another abduction story

Fells point resident tells his story of being abducted outside a liqour store at 6pm and later locked in the trunk of his car.

What the?! Sex offender poses as city cop, fondles woman.
Icing on the cake: said sex offender was/is an employee of the Department of Public Works!

Guilford residents freak following abduction

A man shot in the head in Edgewood

Whose rights?

"A Baltimore police officer has been suspended from the force after his arrest on charges that he raped his wife at gunpoint"

County police are still ISO 14-year-old Tymaine D’Aren Sellman, wanted for shooting a 13-year-old in Woodlawn New Year's Eve. (How far can he get without a license or credit cards .. or the help of close relations?)

And the case of "little Gerard" opened with testimony from the "jailbird" and his arresting officers

"Tens of thousands of Maryland debt-collection lawsuits will be dismissed because the massive collections firm that brought them appears to be collapsing."

Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr. of the county's district 10 issponsoring legislation that would prohibit Maryland from recognizing gay marriages validated by other states or countries.

Crisis in Guilford

Emergency community meeting in Guilford over a string of brazen robberies, including the abduction of man outside his home. Police have released a picture of one of the suspects

Links to terrorism

After DNA ID'd a suspect, a woman in disguise testified against one of her alleged assailants

More on the teenager shot in the face at Frederick Douglass High

An "associate" testified against "JR" and "Turkey", charged in the murder of Sintia Mesa

The Ink has details on last week's murders.

Baltimorean murder suspect arrested in Saskatoon

$4.3 mil of Internet gambling proceeds seized by federales

Good readin': A. Robert Kaufmann's letters to the CP

Buy Tyson chicken? You may be able to get as much as $50 back on account of their lyin-ass "no antibiotics" ads-- if you're still walking, that is-- Consumer Reports found Tyson to be one of two "most contaminated" brands, with 80 percent of store-bought chickens testing positive for campylobacter and salmonella.

Guilty plea in Dollar Store murder

From the SAO:

Alice Michele Collins, 38, of the 6600 block of Eberle Drive pled guilty yesterday to first-degree murder before her scheduled trial was to begin. Judge Sylvester Cox sentenced Collins to life in prison, suspend all but 40 years.

On July 21, 2008 at the Family Dollar store located at 1231 W. Pratt Street, co-workers discovered the body of Elizabeth Queensbury, 51, assistant manager of the store. Queensbury had sustained multiple stab wounds and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner concluded that she sustained 37 sharp force injuries. Detectives observed the safe open, video surveillance missing and the alarm system disarmed prior to the victim’s arrival. A Representative from the Family Dollar indicated that deposits had not been made in several days and that more than $14,000 was missing. Collins was the store manager; her code was used at 6:29AM to gain access to the store and witnesses observed her leaving the store via the rear door at 7:45AM carrying a white bag.

Detectives questioned Collins that day, and they observed blood on her hands and socks. DNA testing subsequently determined that Queensbury’s blood was present on the defendant. Pending further investigation Collins was released and she fled to South Carolina where she was arrested. The defendant eventually did admit to the murder and the theft.

Before sentencing Collins, Judge Cox heard several victim impact statements read by two of Queensbury’s sisters. Approximately 20 members of Queensbury’s family were present.

Arm twisting, and breaking

The council weighs in on the recent arrest of Lenny Clay and Chris Taylor, asking the BPD to explain how they deal with violent interactions with citizens.

Shooty Tuesday

A 19-year-old was shot near Frederick Douglass High, reports say at a football game, then he ran to Mondawmin mall trailing blood

A shooting led to a standoff and the lockdown of Gilmor Elementary School in West Baltimore this afternoon

Remember this one? Jury selection is underway in the case of Gerard Mungo Jr. vs the city officers who arrested him for leaning on a dirt bike when he was seven.

Fun facts! DC's hair-ron comes from Baltimore, and Baltimore's comes from Afghanistan.

Game day scam

Ever paid a guy for parking who didn't work at the lot? Seems like a tow company got busted fleecing Ravens fans by taking the scam to a whole different level, now fraud charges are in the offing.

3 and 4

the peaceful streak ended with two murders yesterday: a man found shot in a vehicle in the 900 block of North Glover Street, and Derrick Taylor, shot in the back at 3912 Eierman Avenue.

TDR: "Brian Keith Rose, the man accused of killing Warren T. Fleming in an attempted carjacking at the Security Square Mall in 2006, and whose case made national news when partial fingerprint evidence in the case was thrown out by a Baltimore County judge, will plead guilty this afternoon in U.S. District Court."

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has removed a Laurel priest following abuse allegations

Pew Research Center studied the Baltimore news "ecosystem"-- among the nonshocking findings, most stories originate from the Sun, and the Sun is covering considerably fewer stories than it did a year ago.

JZ reports on the SpotCrime iPhone app

A shooting that wasn't

Homicide investigators have now charged a man in connection with a seven round shooting spree that was first ruled a discharge.

Wrong place, wrong time

Sunday, January 31 at 2 p.m., the Walters is hosting a free discussion, "Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Trauma and Violence in the Lives of Young Black Men"

Dixon: Lipscomb is "a player"

Dixon on Lipscomb: "He had multiple girlfriends ... He was a player. And I was the cheapest of his friends."
Ew!
Hope he used a condom!

Hermann interviews a couple of genius New-Year's gun-dischargers

Sex offender arrested for killing Vernon Evans' son Nolan

Teen stabbed

Teen stabbed 4 times in the leg at the Howard St. McDonald's

What the?!

"A Baltimore judge refused Thursday to set a man free before his Jan. 26 attempted-murder trial ... after it was revealed that an officer altered a photo of the defendant to get positive witness identification."

TDR: The city's not giving up the Wells Fargo "reverse redlining" lawsuit and is instead amending to file it a third time.

The first tort of 2010: a City College junior suing to get out of County lockup after being charged with armed robbery.

'All the Best'

To Sheila from Keiffer.
Very mature of him!

Wells Fargo Lawsuit 86'd

Judge says racist mortgage lenders not to blame for Baltimore's "extensive unemployment, lack of educational opportunity and choice, irresponsible parenting, disrespect for the law, widespread drug use, and violence."

#2

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Unidentified man, 21, shot in the torso in the 100 block of North Franklintown Road.
Two murders in a week? That's really relatively peaceful!

'a bizarre ending to an historic day of drama'

Maybe Dixon had to go, though she was defiant to the end.

Chauncey Jones

Ok, ok, who is to blame for Chauncey Jones being out on the streets? His parole agent? The State's Attorney's Office? Judge Yvonne Holt-Stone?

Dixon Dept.

"Tearful Baltimore mayor resigning under plea deal"

The Daily Record's everything Dixon page

Sun coverage
(Rodricks: "Google "Dixon, Sheila" and "sorry," and you won't come up with much.")

Meanwhile mayor-to-be SRB is scheduled to attend tonight's Roland Park Civic League Meeting re. firehouse closings.

more details on the Dixon deal

more details on the Dixon deal

Dixon to Step Down

as part of plea deal, sources say

Dixon to Plea?

Follow the #Dixontrial hash tag!

Jayne and David Collins and JZ's Mike Hellegren are "live" down by the courthouse, where a court order is keeping media away from the courthouse entrance.

hoy en ley

A 17-year-old shot near Penn Station

Police are ISO a 14-year-old who allegedly shot a 13-year-old in Woodlawn.

.. and a registered sex offender accused of molesting an 8-year-old at a city church. Barf

TDR has a roundup of law blogs (scroll down)

Big, BIG Dixon News?!

Fenton Tweets: "So, I'm not covering the Dixon case, but all indications right now that there will be big, big news at 1:30"

Fox tweets, "Negotiations are underway for a plea deal in Mayor Shelia Dixon's case"

Dixon and five jurors were due in court today

Dixon Speaks!

Not to the public, exactly.. instead she rang up Annie Linskey for a little girl talk, moaning, "The bad choice I made was getting in a relationship with Ron Lipscomb"
Way to pass the buck!
Maybe the judge will sentence her to six weeks of Tough Love bootcamp.
She went on to gripe about her perceived media mis-portrayals: "That I'm a corrupt human being, because I'm not ... That I use my office for my personal gain, and I don't. That I'm a person that used these positions for myself, and I don't."
Then do us all a favor, take the fall and step down!
She has a point though-- developers surely gained more out of her being in office than she ever did.
Think they'll cover her legal bills in gratitude?

Officer in trouble

City officer under investigation for telling family of a murder victim that he was locked up, instead of taking a missing persons report

DOJ responds to Clay inquiry

The department of justice weighs in on the death of Robert Clay

Will Facebook set the "Mayor" "free"?
You can't ban somebody from Facebook!
What if there's a lost calf that needs a home?
What if you're in the middle of cooking a virtual chicken?
WHAT THEN?!?!

Okay, this is Baltimore's first homcide of 2o10

The Baltimore Sun year-end wrap up.

A review of the 238 homicides, as well as interesting crime statistics.

Correction

A woman found shot in the face in 4100 block of Roland Avenue is a suicide.

The Year That Was

January of 2009 kicked off with Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld personally arresting two people and seizing the sawed-off shotguns they were shooting in the air, and the month went on with 22 murders, including five teenagers. Maryland kicked off DNA collection, wonder how long the backlog is? And did the lab ever fix the 15 "essential" procedural criteria that, in violation of state and federal laws, the BPD continues to conceal from the public?
and Holy Crap! The Mayor was Indicted!

February kicked off with the "gold medal winner of bong hits," and "A Baltimore man filed a $210 million civil lawsuit ... in connection with a 2006 incident during which he says a band of rogue cops held him at gunpoint in the street, stripped him and searched his rectum in front of about 30 onlookers."
Wonder what happened to that one?
And February marked the end of The Examiner, which would become the beginning of Investigative Voice.

March kicked off with a murder outside of Coconuts, we learned of a murderous girl gang known as the Bounty Hunters and heard tales of Bloods-affiliated prison guards, plus the story of "Kanibal Lecktor," who led the Bloods from his Cumberland prison cell.
And don't forget, who Rikki Spector weaseled out of a traffic ticket and claimed the officer whose order she ignored needed more training.

In April, dog owners foamed at the mouth at new $1,000 leash fines. Indictments revealed how the Black Guerilla family got cell phones and Grey Goose vodka in jail. And there were the very sad stories of Lemuel Wallace and the family murders at the Towson Sheraton.

May kicked off with Patrick Byers spared the death penalty for the murder of Carl Lackl, and continued with pedestrians attacked by packs of wilding teens, a trend that would go on to rage through the summer. And Helen Holton thanked the Almighty for getting her off the hook! HALLELUJAH!

In June there was a hextuple at Shirley's Honey Hole, Bealefeld keeled over during the police 10k, and the CP debuted the charming feature, "Guerilla Family Portraits." And we met scary Sirliar Stokes, who shot a dancer in the woods and then went back to the strip club. And in June the year's oldest murder victim, Ethel Henderson, was set on fire, allegedly by her drug-addicted grandson who was angry she wouldn't give him money.

July brought more street attacks. In NY, a baby shower for the wife of Jamie Hector, the actor who played Marlo Stanfield in The Wire, ended in a gunfight that left a 17-year-old dead and two men injured. And the Sun turned to Twitter in a big way.

August was Jon Cardin's douchey proposal and lots of Harbor violence.

In September, Ponts killed Rice with the samurai sword, and hidden cameras revealed how helpful and friendly Baltimore ACORN staffers are.
And we got this stat:

"The 234 people killed last year had a combined 2,404 prior arrests - 162 related to guns and 898 related to drugs. That's an average of 10 arrests per suspect and 10.3 arrests per victim."

In October, Hopkins student Miriam Frankl was mowed down by a rampaging drunk after cops repeatedly ignored 911 calls.

November's claim to fame is the trial-- and conviction-- of the Mayor, who still refuses to step down. Still no word on who's going to pay for her crack team of esquires.

And here in December, we saw an 81-year-old put in jail by mistake, a soldier on leave from Afghanistan killed on a trip to the store, and our youngest murder victim, 20-month-old Janaya Wallace. And at 237 official homicides, we're wrapping up the year with three more murders than last year. For what it's worth.