So, what's new at City Hall?

How about drug busts in the park out front? Hint: look at the bottom right.
(Taken Wednesday at around 3pm.)

Pigtown fuming

Pigtown residents not happy after assault charges are dropped in a case that drove a former neighbor all the way to Oregon.

Bad Doctors

Dr. George Shepard has had his medical license suspended after a woman was critically injured during a botched abortion at his clinic. One of the other doctors in this case was not licensed to practice medicine in Maryland.

Baltimore to revert to 1950?

Jessamy: Bernstein will "set us back 60 years".

The 1950s had the lowest crime rates of any decade in the 20th century and the city had a population of 950,000 vs 630,000 today. Gwynn Oak and Ashburton were known not for crime but massive amusement parks. Of course all of this was built on the backs of a violently subjugated underclass and most people didn't have air conditioning, but still.. it's amazing to imagine what it must have looked like!

UGH -- another murdered baby

Spotcrime reports that a 10-month-old murder victim arrived DOA at Shock Trauma at 2:42 this afternoon from 1921 W. North Avenue.

Grabassing

An undergrad groped in Homewood

One thing about early voting-- candidates in hot races sure have to keep up a relentless marathon of gab. Gregg Bernstein's on WYPR right now (but no Jessamy-- she must have worn out her vocal chords at UB last night).
..it's nice to listen to smart people talk!

Drug dealers, take a hike

The East Oliver community plans to walk drug dealers away...

¡diablos minúsculos!

The Deuce has pix of the very young looking teens accused of trying to rob then stabbing a guy in the back in front of the UB library

A month in jail for 18-year-old Demonte Jones, who assaulted a deputy after being told to quit texting in court

... if you see a man in a blue Division of Corrections shirt and pants .. run the other way and be grateful he's wearing pants.

In el mundo de politics, Baltimore Slumlord Watch gets a loony toon e-mail purportedly from candidate for sheriff Mike Schaefer. Apparently his son knows Pauly Shore, and munchkins are involved. Living ones. (Hey, isn't Adam Meister a supporter of his?)
Also, the CP tracks down Sarah Matthews, and has info on other more obscure names on the ballot. And there's endorsements: Gregg Bernstein for SA and Deborah Claridy for sheriff.

No lapses here

An ethics complaint against commish Bealefeld apparently over police politicking has been withdrawn

Unethical Credibility Stealing!

cries The Sun, over a Bernstein ad:

a recent attack ad by Gregg Bernstein, a Democratic candidate for Baltimore state's attorney, unethically stole the credibility of this newspaper to back up his claim that the incumbent, Patricia C. Jessamy, was putting violent offenders back on the street. The actual source of that supposed "fact" was an unscientific sampling of callers to Ron Smith's radio show, which Mr. Smith alluded to in an opinion column on the op-ed page. It was not the judgment of The Sun's editorial page, nor was it a fact uncovered by The Sun's reporters.

State investigates rape at nursing home

State investigating the rape of a 90 year old woman at a nursing home.

Fun times

Can't get enough Bernstein/Jessamy drama? You can check out the live show tomorrow at 5 at the UB school of law.

Daylight robbery/stabbing

Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a man on St. Paul Street around 3:30 this afternoon. The victim is expected to survive.

Never a dull moment in Baltimore Politics!

... just got a press release and "table of contents" (in .pdf format.. who does that?) from "the Committee to Elect Sarah L. Matthews"-- allegations Frank Conaway's nickname = Poppa Bear

Feds and the squeeze

A delightful letter from Rod Rosenstein.

A NJ gang member films inside the belly of the beast

And "Benjamin L. “Bennie” King Jr,""The former chief financial officer of the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau formally confessed Thursday to stealing more than $1 million from the organization over the course of a decade — money he admitted spending on high-stakes poker and at strip clubs."

And another thing

... all of this political-establishment "support" voters think they're seeing for Jessamy-- the "Unity Ticket," the Cummings ad and O'Malley's "endorsement"-- has zero to do with fellow politicians sincerely believing Jessamy is the best person to manage the State's Attorney's office, and everything to do with politicians not wanting to be the first chicken to stick their neck out of the henhouse and risk incurring the imaginary wrath of the racist stereotype of the Older Black Woman Voter. To paraphrase what one legislator told me, "I don't like Jessamy, she throws tantrums in meetings instead of coming prepared. But my constituents would never vote for a Jewish person, and what's Bernstein going to do for me to make it worth me taking the heat?"
.. and that's just really depressing.

SA's race not about race?

Bernstein visited Perkins Homes over the weekend, perhaps poking some holes in the conventional wisdom that race will be the deciding factor in how people vote.

Jessamy Bashing?!

A comment from "Wendy" the other day:

I really enjoy reading your articles. However you are really irritating me w/ all this pro-Bernstein & Jessamy bashing. The State's Attorney cannot get convictions 100% of the time and with the lying, sneaky underhanded police who screws up the cases before the State's Attorney ever touches them, they're lucky for the convictions they do get. If Bernstein should win, I really hope that he will be the savior that you and his fellow endorsers believe he is. But when he is NOT, be sure not to forget that either!!!!!!!

Dear "Wendy",
For the past five years, no media outlet on the planet has been more supportive of the State's Attorney's office than this one. We have dutifully reprinted almost every single press release they've put out. During the Zach Sowers epic drama, we didn't take sides. Gleefully mocking her many costume changes is not really bashing in my book. But you're right in noticing that my opinions have changed, and since you brought it up, here's some reasons why:

• The State's Attorney's office employs at least three people full-time in communications, but only two people to coordinate witness protection for the entire city.
• Excuses and blame whenever things go wrong. Dropped cases, a bad relationship with police.. it's always somebody else's fault. Have you ever heard the State's Attorney's office say something like, "the prosecutor came to court unprepared, and that person's been fired," or "we're sorry Carl Lackl didn't get the form letter offering witness protection. In the future we'll try to do better." Or even, "we're sorry things didn't turn out as we'd hoped." Never! Doesn't some buck have to stop somewhere? Why would you want someone with nothing but excuses and blame as your employee?
• Where's the numbers? The SAO "doesn't do conviction rates"? First of all, the SAO does track the outcome of cases, (homicides, at least, I've seen the files), they just don't release those numbers to the public, apparently. But anyway, is she really saying it's okay to not attempt to define or measure success? What a cop-out, especially considering prosecutors already can-- and do-- drop cases all the time for lack of evidence and are able to opt to prosecute only the cases where there's a chance of winning.
• And what about those "rules"? The "do not call" list, which not only makes the office judge, jury and executioner for an officer's career, but imagine how much that must bone to be the victim who happens to be responded to by a "bad" officer.
• And the "one witness" rule. Isn't it a cornerstone of the American judicial system to try a case based on its individual merits? Blanket rules and policies subvert the judicial process.
• John Alexander Wagner. The man accused of stabbing Hopkins researcher Steven Pitcairn was arrested numerous times for violent crimes and probation violations without ever serving significant time. It could be (and was) argued by the SAO that police brought weak cases numerous times. But there's no excuse for prosecutors dropping charges when Wagner was caught on videotape beating and robbing a guy, and if they hadn't, Pitcairn would likely be alive today. ... And that is completely excusable as a lot of peoples' fault. BUT

... we could go on. The "sleeping baby." Using taxpayer's time to grandstand about Bealefeld's stupid sign. ... I don't think anyone expects one person to be the "savior" of the clusterfudge that is Baltimore crime. But at the very least, after 15 years of fussing, blame and excuses, isn't it time to give someone else a chance?

ps. Early voting locations are not open today but they will be open tomorrow from 10-8. You can go to any of the locations in the city. You don't need your voter registration card, though you do need ID. And you don't have to vote for all races, like if you have no idea who's running for the Orphan's Court. I went to the one at Reisterstown Rd. & Northern Parkway yesterday & it was safe with plenty of parking.

Kicking & screaming

A study of child abductions shows the best defense is a fast-thinking kid who makes a ruckus

Neck in neck

A man was fatally shot in the 2000 block of Baker St. in West Baltimore, bringing the murder total to 147. Last year's homicide total as of September 4 was 151.

Deputy commsioner feels it

Barksdale talks about his "feel" for the streets.

40 Years for 1st-Degree Murder & Handgun Charges

For a guy who shot his girlfriend's daughter's boyfriend. Says a SAO press release:

At a hearing yesterday Judge John N. Prevas sentenced Demetry AKA Frank Jenkins, 37, of the 1700 block of N. Washington Avenue to life suspend all but 40 years in prison and five years probation for murder and a concurrent five years without parole sentence for handgun use.

Jenkins pled guilty July 20, 2010 to first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence after a jury had been seated and the state had presented its opening statement.

The victim’s grandmother delivered a victim impact statement to the court in which she described her grandson as a good son, grandson, brother and father noting he was not a troublemaker and that he would be dearly missed.

On February 4, 2009 at approximately 3:00AM police responded to 1724 N. Washington Avenue for a reported shooting and upon arrival found Demetrius Saulsbury, 22, lying on the sidewalk in front of the address shot once in the head. Investigation revealed that Mr. Saulsbury had been visiting his girlfriend at the home helping to take care of her because she was sick with the flu.

Jenkins was upstairs with his girlfriend, the mother of the girl, and became upset that Mr. Saulsbury was there so late and told his girlfriend to tell Mr. Saulsbury to leave, which she did. While Mr. Saulsbury was waiting for a cab a few minutes later Jenkins came downstairs and became upset seeing Mr. Saulsbury still in the house. Enraged, Jenkins ranted about how he's the man of the house and that no one respects him. Jenkins and his girlfriend's daughter argued, the sound drawing a few family members out of their bedrooms.

Meanwhile, the cab arrived and as Mr. Saulsbury was heading out the front door Jenkins said to his girlfriend's daughter, “You're gonna’ respect me now!” Jenkins walked up behind Mr. Saulsbury and shot him once in the head. Family members who saw the incident asked Jenkins why he did that and Jenkins responded, “That’s what I do,” then fled the location.

Jenkins was eventually arrested in Kinston, NC on February 17, 2009 and waived extradition. Assistant State’s Attorney Robin Wherley of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Early voting

.. so this is the first time ever for early voting in Baltimore City.
I'll head to Pimlico as soon as I figure out for whom to vote for sheriff. Thoughts?

Meanwhile, here's Jessamy's ad, "Right Track."
"I'm Elijah Cummings, I'm cuddly and bald and people like me. State's Attorney Pat Jessamy wears blue suits and talks to groups of people in front of the courthouse. She also wears green suits and makes hand gestures, wears red suits and talks to white people in the park, looks at guns and drinks Starbucks, and changes into a gold suit to look in a file folder with me."
Will the Cummings endorsement be Bernstein's kiss of death?
Stay tuned ...!

Drug dealers make bad neighbors, kids bring 38 to school

Last night 3 people shot at least one killed after a neighbor unwittingly drives off with drugs stored in their wheel well.

Meanwhile, 10 and 11 year old arrested after bringing gun to school.

County bank robber arrested by city police.

The Slow, Creaky Wheels of Justice

Jury selection in the Ken Harris murder trial could take a week.

Ersatz Cop stuck in CP's Craw

Why the CP's Brian Morton won't endorse a candidate in the State's Attorney's race. Valid point, or lame wuss-out?

& your Page du Jour, the smoke and mirrors of conviction rates. Hey, math is hard!

Citizens, PETA complain to city health commissioner about conditions at the BARCS animal shelter

@GusSent Just saw pat jessamy waving at cars at corner of loch raven and alameda.

Small town!

Sen. Ulysses Currie was indicted on bribery charges, and the Sun's Laura Vozzella reports that candidate for State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein is also representing Currie against charges that he used campaign funds to pay for his defense.

Happy Thursday

Life w/o parole for Baltimore County home invasion & murder. Two accomplices in this case were also charged, but couldn't be prosecuted due to lack of evidence.

Two separate city shootings. The story makes it sound like they were both non-fatal.

Two Cecil County Detention Center inmates have been charged with starting fires in their cells.

Patricia Jessamy is launching her own TV campaign ads. Apparently her fund-raising isn't going well, because she's helping to pay for the ads herself.

An arrest has been made in the August 28th robbery of a 1st Mariner Bank branch on York Road in Cockeysville.

Shotgun intimidation

Police arrest a man who tried to kill a witness.

Harris trial could take a month

Prosecutors say, meanwhile judge rules against the defense again in pre-trial motions.

CP: Troubled Record vs. Limited Experience

The CP's Ed Ericson: "The Jury is Out: In state’s attorney race, Jessamy stands on a troubled record while Bernstein runs on reform and limited experience"
.. should this be taken to mean the CP won't be endorsing a candidate?

State Senators Behaving Badly

The Federales have indicted State Senator Ulysses Currie (D-PG County).

FOP endorses Bernstein

Police union (surprise) gives the official nod to the challenger for top prosecutor's job.

Tonight!

.. is the BCrime Happy Hour with special guest Gregg Bernstein, starting at 6 at the Falls in Mt. Washington.
... note if you can't find a parking place on Kelly Ave, there is also parking at the Light Rail Station at the end of Newbury St.
Hope to see you there!

Slew-foot Gary and the Roosting Chickens

View Larger Map
A man fatally shot at 4108 Harris Avenue, the Sun reports the victim, Nathaniel Augusto Santiago, beat murder charges twice

WTF? A Curtis Bay skateboarder arrested for fatally pushing a guy into the harbor in 2008.

Harris trial: So much for the mystery woman being called first.. but testimony from a security guard ID's two of the killers and explains the meaning of "slew footed" (... so if you are "slew-footed" you have a "slugh foot"?)

The gov wants to seize $10 million from Steven Blackwell

A Dawson relative makes a good point: "Even if the parents didn't want to budge, they should have snatched those kids up." Wonder if any threatened witnesses' kids have ever been taken by social services?

The mystery woman in Harris case to be called first

The woman in the car with councilman Ken Harris when he was shot will be the first witness to be called, prosecutors said today.

Now that Dixon's no longer mayor, should the city un-install her home security system?
How much could taxpayers possibly get for a used, three-year-old system? Might it cost more than it's worth to take it down? .. on the other hand, couldn't she come up with some semi-plausible reason for keeping it, instead of hanging up on Jayne Miller?

If you really, really care

you can vote as early as Friday in the city, if you're willing to go to one of these ghetto-azz locations

Some real 'conviction rate' numbers

See question #8-- the Sun says of the current State's Attorney's conviction rate:

478 murder cases were adjudicated in Baltimore in 2006-2008. Of those, nearly 40 percent resulted in not guilty verdicts, dropped charges or pleas or convictions on lesser charges. Among cases that went to trial, prosecutors' record of getting murder convictions was about 50-50.

... pity the intern had to pore over death's three-ring binder to crunch those numbers!

Pitcairn Memorial Removed

says Charles Villagers for Peaceful Living.
Wonder if the DPW has a policy for how long they keep up memorials, and when/if they take them down?

Angelo Dangerfield

Gregg Bernstein's new ad features Doris Dangerfield, mom of murder victim Angelo Dangerfield.
.. according to the CP, there's more to this story than Dangerfield just walking the dog; a BPD forfeiture complaint says he was also a BPD informant, though whether or not that's really true or if it played a role in his murder we may never know. Said his mom, "he wasn't a snitch."
Here's the ad:

Another Hispanic man slain?

Last night's murder victim identified as Hispanic, although court records list him otherwise.

Monday crime summary

Knucklehead steals car, leads police on a chase, crashes into MTA Mobility vehicle.

Hookers and illegal immigrants in Howard County.

When the cops tell you to drop your assault rifle it's generally a good idea to do as they tell you. I've never heard of a "22-caliber assault rifle" though, sounds like the description of the weapon is a little questionable.

Dead body in Dundalk. Supposedly there are no signs of foul play, but OCME will be doing an autopsy.

A 29-year old man was shot dead near Westside Elementary School.

A new Gregg Bernstein ad is out. This one features the mother of murder victim Angelo Dangerfield. Dangerfield's alleged killers weren't prosecuted because there was only a single witness.

Bubbles, Troubles & Nuk Nuk

Judge David Ross: DNA evidence will be admitted in trial of alleged murderers of Ken Harris. And more on how the alleged killers were caught: "Weeks after the killing of Harris, an anonymous caller said he recognized one of the men in surveillance videos from the Northwood Shopping Plaza as 'Troubles,' one [of] two brothers known as 'Bubbles' and 'Troubles.'"

Dawson Family Blame Game Cont'd

Page Croyder: The Dawson Family and its Failed Response gets a response from Ditanya Madden, "star" of Gregg Bernstein's commericals, and Adam Meister gets a (sole) pro-Jessamy response on the Sun talk forums

... and Jessamy will be on the Marc Steiner show tonight from 5-6 on 88.9

Stand up and be counted!

One day left to vote for the City Paper's Best of Baltimore... we know what the best blog is, but what's "Best CSA" (under goods & services?) I'd have to say Fiscal Year '07, under chief judge Robert Bell -- that year was certioriari-riffic!
.. who's the best print journalist, do you think?

Task force shooting probed

A shooting during a warrant raid in 2008 in now being investigated by sheriff's department internal affairs

Afternoon shoot-out

One kid on foot, another on a bike exchanged ten shots.

Classy!

How tough is Walbrook High? One Carrington McNutt was murdered and at least eight people were injured after a huge brawl broke out at the reunion and a guy went on a "stabbing rampage"
Update: stabbing rampage guy was ID'd as James Dixon

Another "possible homicide" in South Baltimore

A 17-year-old girl shot through the front door of her home on Belair Rd

Former pastor Kevin Pushia pled guilty to killing blind, disabled Lemuel Wallace to steal his life insurance money. Said his defense attorney, "Mr. Pushia made some poor decisions"

Quality reportage from WMAR: "Folks in Roland Park like to walk....that's how the neighborhood is sort of set up."

Farther afield: melee at Folsom Prison

Van Smith on the race for city sheriff

Go f-youself

So said 14-year-old murder suspect Arteesha Holt to a school police officer, according to a police report.

Some chutzpah!

Politicians in the Jessamy camp call the Bernstein "Dawson" ad offensive to the Dawson family ... apparently without talking to any family members! Says Carnell Dawson of the ad, "it makes some good points ... Nobody should be saying what they think we feel." No kidding!
Meanwhile, the back-and-forth goes on over who in the prosecutor's office dropped the ball on the Dawsons, and the NAACP is planning some sort of.. something.

ps. here's the Marge Shipley radio ad

pps., for the next round, Jessamy's going after Bernstein's experience as a defense attorney.

and ppps., hope you can come out for our Bernstein Meet & Greet, next Wednesday the 1st from 6- 7:30 at the Falls in Mt. Washington. (The candidate will be there then, but the fun will also go on after he leaves if you can't make it by 7:30). We plan to have some crime-themed drink specials, little snacks and a rollicking good time, and it would be nice if you could join/ RSVP to our Facebook group so we will know how many people to provide for.

The Long Rod of the Law

A federal indictment for Steven Blackwell

Also 10 years for two-time armed carjacker

Ew gross, a decomposing body found near 25th and Guilford

"Man beaten by woman with baseball bat" while a "large crowd" looked on

Family says 14-year-old alleged murder perp was "unstable" & they tried to seek help for her mental health problems to no avail

County police ISO home-invading sex offender Lavar Rich

In Glen Burnie, man robbed while trying to help change a tire

Op-ed: "If I Hadn't Found Jesus, I'd Feel Pretty Shitty About My Crimes"

Don't call me dude

Guess it's safe to skate board at the Inner Harbor 'cause Officer Revieri has been fired.

more on the Roland Park Robbery

RP Robbery

A man and woman held up at gunpoint in the middle of the day near the Roland Park library yesterday

Another Bernstein Supporter

Marge Shipley, the mother of murdered witness Carl Lackl, has come out in support of Gregg Bernstein.

Somewhat off topic, but if the podcast of Shipley's interview on the Ed Norris show about a year and a half ago is still available I highly recommend listening to it. She gave the interview shortly after Patrick Byers was convicted and it was absolutely heart-wrenching to listen to.

The great debate

Candidates for top prosecutor job square off again, this time in Canton.

14 year old girl charged with murder

Police charge 14 year-old in shooting death of a Hispanic man.

Shooting

On Penn Avenue and North outside of library branch.

Gender Equality?

A 13-year old girl allegedly tried to rob two men, and when they resisted she shot them both. One victim was killed.

Feel free to assmble

According to new police policy you can no longer arrest people for standing on a sidewalk and protesting.

What the who?!

City voters, have you gotten your "Official 2010 Primary Sample Ballot" in the mail yet? Because early voting starts in 12 days and I have no idea who anyone is besides the prospective State's Attorneys and the Conaways, and the sample ballot looks nothing like the Web site. Who is Neil R. Bernstein? Who are these people running for judge of the orphan's court?!

Hate crime, beating the rap

Police say a man arrested for beating a hispanic male may be a hate crime.

But perhaps more important according to online court records he beat serious robbery and drug charges twice before working his way up to murder.

WTF?! Slumlord Running for Baltimore City Sheriff!!

Slumlord watch notes that Mike Schaefer, a slumlord so slummy he was jailed and fined $1.8 million, is running as the Republican candidate for Baltimore City Sheriff.
You couldn't make this stuff up!

Ken Harris

The trial for the killers of councilman Ken Harris is a go.

MD Clean Air Act lawsuit dismissed by district judge

TGIF

A 10-year old shot in the left hand was one of two shooting victims Thursday night.

At least one lawyer is claiming that the 12-year old who claimed she was raped in Woodlawn has "inconsistencies" in her story.

Anti-Jewish vandalism leads to increased police patrols in Northwest Baltimore.

Creepy. City and County cops have busted Darrell Lyles for impersonating a police officer.

Burglaries in Towson.

No voice mail in the SA's office?

Apparently Patricia Jessamy loves Facebook, hates voice mail.

Charles Village Bikejackings

Former Baltimore city narcotic detective sentenced for fraud, lying., and stealing a diamond Freeze watch.

Deadbeat!

TDR's Melody Simmons reports that Sheila Dixon's former lover Ron Lipscomb has taken his business out of state .. and stopped paying his bills. No word on where Mrs. Lipscomb is living.
.. wouldn't the Dixon story make such a great Urban romance potboiler novel?

This could be bad

The head of the BPD's Comstat unit has resigned.

Firefighter had issues

Just before he attacked a transsexual, firefighter Jerry Majette was suspended for over a month for insubordination.

Firefighter Jerry Majette accused of attacking transgender woman with a hammer.

check out the passive-voice and buck-passing in this Sun opinion piece on the SAO campaign:

"Some of what’s been heard so far — for example, whether Mrs. Jessamy likens city courtrooms to city public schools or that the police commissioner used to have a Bernstein sign — falls well short of the substantive facts the public needs to make an informed choice. That the city could be safer is obvious."

... Isn't the Sun supposed to be the go-to for facts and substance? What is Jessamy's conviction rate, anyway? And didn't you just tell us crime was down, dear paper?

Nol Pros in McCann case

A suspiciously dead body found in a stairwell near the Circuit Court building, and the 137th murder victim = a man shot in July who recently succumbed to his injuries. (WTF? 69 Facebook users "like" this story.)

Remember Annie McCann? One of the guys who admitted to police that he ransacked her car and removed her dead body from her Volvo to go joy-riding in it has gotten off scot-free. Prosecutors say a "lack of evidence" led to a nol pros of the case. Un.Frickin.Believable.

... speaking of prosses, State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy's fundraising reports show that she raised about $46,000 since her last finance report in January. The Sun notes two of the g's were from Jessamy's old pal Doug Duncan, whom she endorsed when he ran against O'Malley.

Severn a-hole charged in road rage murder

.. and in case you were wondering what the Ottobar lawsuit was about, TDR's John Cord has the backstory

So much for the 30 year low

Looks like we're now running neck and neck with last year's homicide totals

Who got hammered?

City firefighter suspended for allegedly attacking a transvestite with a hammer. Seems the equipment wasn't fully functional...

Vigil in the Village

The Charles Villagers for Peaceful Living says there will be a candlelight prayer vigil in remembrance of Stephen Pitcairn on Wednesday August 25th at 11:30pm. 26th Street and St Paul.

SWAT Raid report

The guy who started all the drama in Remington which lead to the SWAT team showing up seemed to be guilty of using his mouth as a deadly weapon.

Three murders and 13 GSW victims this weekend.

Another tortured dog in E Baltimore

Some good news: MD getting $1 million to battle health care rate hikes

Did the sign gambit pay off?

more on the SA's race

Some angry residents after a police stand-off

Jessamy -v - Bernstein round 2

The Vanguard for justice will host another debate between candidates for top prosecutor.

Media Blabber

Are you an unemployed news junkie with a large, plastic-like head? The Deuce is hiring a morning news anchor.

The sailing semen of Gaithersburg .. and other stories

No more fed oversight of city juvie jail

Lamont Harrell, in jail for two murders, now charged with a 3rd

Man found in trash chute of Park Charles Apartments probably fell by accident, police say, but tower worker says that explanation is hard to believe

Arrest in murder of Craig Bouie, dad of 3 shot in his home in Randallstown

Man robbed, shot & killed by teens in Brooklyn Park. Also in AAC, a man shot while walking on a wooded path

Crazy sexagenarian barricades himself in in Sykesville

And finally, Authorities in Maryland say a man accused of squirting semen from a bottle onto two female shoppers has been linked to three more cases." .. off to go barf now

Jessamy vs. Bernstein

Here's a stream of yesterday's debate between State's Attroney hopefuls Bernstein & Jessamy on the Rodericks show, and a live-blogged recap by Page Croyder.

.. and Fenton & Bishop check out the candidates' claims

WBAL says some city residents are offended by Jessamy's "public school" remark

Pensions versus pools

It may cost $400,000 to keep a few pools open, but it costs hundreds of millions to fund police pensions.

It's getting twisted

Okay, the case of the sex offender getting paid by the city while in jail gets even stranger...the fake doctor's notes turned in by his mother were forged in the name of Dr. Keiffer Micthell Sr., the father of our former mayoral candidate and city councilman.

Feud for Thought

You're probably sick of hearing about the Jessamy/ Bealefeld/ Bernstein feud. But it's so darned entertaining! A good point from Page Croyder : "Bealefeld hasn't feuded with anybody. He's been nothing but publicly respectful." (This is true. Last year he told Exhibit A's Melody Simons, "Listen, I don't do public battle with Pat Jessamy.") Cryoder also throws in a bonus Jessamy press-conference spoof.
If you just can't get enough of the fisticuffs, here's other bloggers blogging on this:
Rob Carlson: "[Bealefeld's] one plastic sign, now removed, has already planted the seed of an idea in thousands of minds in less than a week."
Red Herring: "When Pat Jessamy is re-elected City State’s Attorney -- as she surely will be --those who vote for her will deserve the criminal justice system that an indolent and irresponsible prosecutor such as she brings to the city."
The Baltimore Spectator: "Larry Gibson, Mrs. Jessamy, Mayor Rawlings-Blake; non[e] of them have spent much time, if any, at active crime scenes. So to put it frankly, when they speak on the issue, in all due respect, they typically don't know what they hell they're talking about."

Ok, so enough about that. Here's this week's Ink. Five murders this week for a total of 129 so far this year. I wonder what the backstory is with the Corwin murder?

Dine & Dasher Gets 18 Months of Free Meals

From the SAO:

Andrew Palmer, 43 years old, of the 500 block of
S. Broadway Street pled guilty to one count of theft scheme and received the maximum penalty of 18 months incarceration on August 3, 2010 after prosecutors presented evidence of his restaurant theft scheme to a district court judge.

According to the arresting officers, from April 26, 2010, through July 21, 2010, Palmer ate meals and consumed alcoholic beverages at several area restaurants in Baltimore City; including the Capital Grille, Burke’s Café, Ding How Restaurant, Maisy’s Restaurant and Borinken Bar and Restaurant. In each case, when Palmer did not have funds to cover the restaurant bill, he feigned a seizure that required the presence of medical personnel. In each instance, the value of the goods consumed was less than $100; therefore the maximum possible penalty for each offense was 90 days of incarceration.

After reviewing the individual cases, the State’s Attorney’s Office filed a criminal information incorporating multiple pending cases and proceeded on an additional charge of theft scheme, which carries a maximum penalty of 18 months of incarceration. After hearing Palmer’s record, which includes over 40 convictions for theft, Judge George Lipman followed the plea agreement recommendation and sentenced Palmer to 18 months of incarceration, which is the maximum allowable sentence on the theft scheme charge.

Can't a couple of guys get together and talk on North Avenue?

a few photos of Bernstein, the commish, and delegate Billy Taylor crossing paths, it is really worth an investigation?

Jessamy vs. Bernstein.. Live in Your Earhole

tune in Thursday at noon to 88.1 for a debate that's bound to be muy caliente!

Jessamy Mad as Wet Hen

...gets in scary-mommy mode and hand-delivers letter calling for an "independent fact finder" to probe Bealefeld's "serious credibility issue" and "establish whether our police commissioner is a person of truth and veracity."
Uhm, is that really the best campaign strategy?
WJZ has video of the press conference, and Hermann has Bernstein's reaction.

Mary Koontz of Glen Arm gets life w/o parole for murder of husband