Towson's "Hipster Bandit" Captured

Remember this guy?

 The goofy hat wearing fella who was robbing the same few Towson banks since November?



Well, He struck the Towson branch of Wells Fargo on the 20th of April. This time though, his choice of disguise left something to be desired...

And sure enough he got busted. The so called hipster bandit is 36-year-old Jason Lee Haldeman, a York, Pennsylvania resident. Haldeman has been charged with 5 separate counts of Armed Robbery.

(A link to the online court records, sign into the Judiciary Case Search first in order to view it.)

Naturally, Haldeman is not a rookie bank robber, having been busted for the same crime back in 2005 in his home state.
 
For as smart as he was, wearing disguises (albeit goofy ones), and robbing a bank far from his home, He slipped up towards the end, robbing a bank with barely any disguise, and to make matters worse, posting a multitude of self shots on his facebook page. You can compare the pictures at the bottom, but it's 99.99% that this is the same guy.

(A full crime update in a bit)

Gansler: DNA Ruling Nnamdi-Pamby

Doug Gansler talks to Kojo Nnamdi about the consequences of the Court of Appeals blocking DNA testing of suspects before they're charged.

(Q. Does this mean people can't be swabbed after they are arrested but before they're indicted, or only after they're indicted, or only after they're convicted? Don't have much time to keep up with the news lately...)

For the Love of CitiStat

The New York Times blog on Baltimore's ongoing devotion to EverythingStat

One bro guilty, one off the hook

The younger, incrementally more awkward brother who helped Tricia Bishop is off the hook, but older brother Eliyahu should have stayed in his Miata instead of trying to "relieve" the freaked-out teenager of the plank he grabbed to defend himself after they followed and confronted him, said Judge White. Makes sense. Eliyahu faces 10 years at sentencing in June. The boy's family has dropped their $6 million lawsuit against the brothers.

No Werdesheim verdict yet?

Judge White was scheduled to deliver a verdict on the Werdesheim brothers at 3, it's 3:35 and no word yet yet, which makes me think no consequences for the boys and the courthouse is bracing itself. ...

Speaking of rioting, 20 years ago today the California riots (aka Rodney King Riots, L.A. riots, 4/29) had been going on for five days -- 13,500 Federal troops had arrived in cities the day before, says el Wikipedia. The rioting started in L.A. and Bakersfield but there was also rioting and looting in Oakland, Berkeley, the Tenderloin of San Francisco and Las Vegas. Van Halen and Michael Bolton shows were cancelled. "Federal troops did not stand down until May 9; the state guard remained until May 14; and some soldiers remained as late as May 27."

City police commissioner Fred Bealefeld III, made a surprising announcement today, stating that he will be retiring this August.

Gun Time Does Not Equal Fun Time

The two boys who killed 13-year-old Monae Turnage in what is described as a gun accident have plead guilty to their roles in the shooting and attempted coverup. According to prosecutors, Monae was still breathing when she was dragged into an alley and hidden under garbage.*

A Towson family is jubilant after a state court ruled that all pit-bulls, regardless of prior violence,  should be considered dangerous, and that their owners can be held responsible for any terror they cause. I'll leave my personal opinions well out of this, but what do you, great readers, think of the ruling?

Ronald Johnson was sentenced to 30 years for murdering Sgt. Chase Love outside the "Hookah Lounge" back in July 2010. 

Two suspicious deaths from this weekend have been announced, including that of Tenneseean Karen Huskey, found dead after raving it up.  It seems the number of announced suspicious deaths have been severely reduced hes past couple years, at least based on the number of ones I add to the homicide tally.

That... is not going to help the prosecution. At the Werdesheim trial a woman passed out suddenly, and who was the first person to jump up and help? Avi Werdesheim. 

It seems we can't go a week in Baltimore without a viral video sparking controversy. This time it's a video of the police's handling of a group of activists that's caused more then a few people to be up in arms. 

A gleeful, shirtless man jumped the field at the Orioles game Friday, before eventually getting tackle by the home plate ump. I went to the game Friday, and sat almost next to, and cheered with, the very, very drunk and enthusiastic man. While I can't recommend that sort of behavior, his actions were the only interesting point in that dud of a game...

A fella in Essex got popped in "A Line Barbers" on South Marlyn Ave.

Four people will be spending a long time behind bars for kidnapping and attempting to murder a woman. 27-year-old Torrence White was sentenced to 40 years, 24-year-old Morris James got 30 years, 23-year-old Keonay Hill got 30 years, and 29-year-old Adesha Richardson is awaiting sentencing.

The firing of Salvatore "Don't Call Me Dude" Rivieri has been upheld by a MD court.

Students are doing all they can to keep pedo John Merzbacher in a prison cell for the rest of his life.

Two out of three of the corrections officers accused of violently beating a woman at Central Booking have been convicted. Larry Morris and Shannon Rivies face serious time when sentenced. Terrance Taylor was acquitted of all charges.

A new robocall trial for former Ehrlich aid Julius Henson has begun. Henson is accused of concocting a scheme to dupe hundreds of thousands of democrats into not voting during the 2010 Gubernatorial election.

The City police department was recently audited, and shockingly enough, the results weren't so great. 

County residents aren't looking very open minded this past week. In the first incident, County resident Billy Ray Pratt, 24, plead guilty to hanging a raccoon on the porch of a home belonging to a family of African immigrants. In the second incident, a rock found it's way through the window of a Muslim community center. 

That's... really gross. Folks at CCBC Essex are on the lookout for a creeper who put his head under several active use stalls in the woman's restroom. 

A few crimes of note in and around Towson, including the robbery of a couple in the Towson Mall parking garage. 

Police are ISO the Dundalk driver who hit and nearly killed a 15-year-old riding his bicycle. 

18th Street gang member Joel Ventura "Clon" Quintanilla was sentenced to Life in the Federal pen  for murdering a 15-year-old and a 24-year-old in separate incidents. Quintanilla was an El Salvadorean immigrant already serving Life in state prison due to his gang shenanigans. He was arrested for the murders thanks to the fact that he had his own nickname tattooed on his stomach. 

Recent Victims ID'd

Updates and ID's on a Whole Bunch of Recent Homicides:

56. Somchanh Sipayboun, a woman with no criminal record was murdered in what police describe as a domestic dispute. No arrest has been made, although Ms. Sipayboun had a prior peace order filed against someone before. It will be interesting to see if that man has anything to do with the murder...

57. Willie Battle, a 19-year-old with an active warrant for drug dealing, was shot dead in the 2700 block of Boarman Ave.

58. Mark Day, 43, was shot in the 1500 W. North Ave. back in August of 2010, before dying this year in March.

59. Floyd Dorsey, a 59-year-old man who doesn't appear to have any local criminal record was shot and killed in the normally quiet 4100 block of Norfolk Ave.

60. Michael Williams, 45, was identified by Murder Ink as the man shot  in the 2500 block of Harlem Ave. Wednesday.

61. Phylicia Barnes, 16, who for some reason was not on the 2011 homicide list, despite her death having been declared a homicide back in May of 2011, has now been officially added to the homicide tally.

62. Cortez Lemon, 23, was stabbed to death near Lexington Market. 21-year-old Troy Harrison has been arrested for the crime.

63. Rayner Veney, 51, died nearly a year after being shot while on a scooter in the 3400 block of Ravenwood Ave.

Shomrim victim wants to drop charges

Murder on Harlem Ave in west Baltimore

Why do you suppose the teen victim in the Shomrim assault case refused to testify and asked to drop charges? 

"The victim, now 16, cried as he mumbled responses to some of Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Wiggins’ questions. The teen testified he was walking to the bus stop from his grandmother’s home to go to a doctor’s appointment that day. He said he didn’t make the appointment because two men in a red car approached him, looked at him the wrong way and told him he was not supposed to be there. At times, the teen did not answer and would bend over to put his head in his lap."

Alleged pimp Jeremy Naughton, a.k.a. "Jerms Black," indicted for pimping, kidnapping, gun crimes


These teens that are drinking hand sanitizer for a buzz perhaps haven't heard of Annie McCann's death by Bactine®.

Arrest Made in Phylicia Barnes Murder Case

Many more details are sure to come, but at the moment what we know is that a man by the name of Michael Maurice Johnson has been arrested for the murder of 16-year-old North Carolina resident Phylicia Barnes. More details are sure to come Thursday. No online court records have been found regarding an arrest of a Michael Johnson related to the Phylicia Barnes case.

Justin Fenton has offered up more information on the case, including the fact that Michael Johnson was a boyfriend of Phylicia Barnes' sister, and has been a long-time suspect.*

Someone Watched a Bit too Much Dirty Harry...

A city homicide detective who was the lead detective in the Phylicia Barnes case, was suspended after illegally raiding several houses in search of his missing 11-year-old daughter. While I'm not a father, I can certainly feel for the guy and understand his actions...

Word of advice to any budding Baltimore criminals... if you're going to stick a gun in someone's face, try to avoid doing it in front of two police officers. Daryl Bland, 29, will have the next 25 years to think that lesson through.

Shatia Baldwin

DeAngelo Carter

The internet must be leaping for joy, as two more arrests have been made in the assault and stripping of a Virginia man on St. Patty's day. Police arrested Shayona Davis, 20, for assault and armed robbery for her role in the assault. Also collared was 18-year-old DeAngelo Carter (aka the "teenage teabagger," shown right.) Police are still ISO a third suspect, 21-year-old Shatia Baldwin. also arrested Shatia Baldwin, left, last night.

Not nearly as newsworthy as hurting a dog, but half of the Johnson twins did, you know, try to murder another human being. This time, Travers Johnson wasn't so lucky in the courts, and got slapped with an eight-year sentence.

It's the old adage of "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is" at its finest. Federal authorities raided a flea market suspected of selling counterfeit clothing by the truckload.

An as-of-yet-unidentified woman was dead in ahome in the 5400 block of Hillburn Ave.

The investigation is ongoing in a suspicious three-alarm fire that caused thousands to lose power.

Another day, another disgraced Baltimore police officer sent to the can. This time it's 40-year-old Osvaldo Valentine, sentenced for participating in the Majestic Towing scandal. 

Two days, two shootings on North Robinson Street.

Maryland prison officials are launching a new program designed to root out the ever-growing number of cell phones found in state prisons.

This week's Murder Ink recounts several recent shootings and arrests, including the previously unannounced arrest of 27-year-old Deante Tucker for the April 8th murder of Robert Laney Jr.

Have you seen Doris Anderson? She's has dementia and has been missing since March.

A downtown Towson branch of Wells Fargo has been robbed. Details are sketchy, but but if you ask me, it seems Towson's own "Hipster Bandit" has struck again.*

Good money is o the table for the person who can provide details on "Billy Evans" wanted by County police for a multitude of burglaries.

Kids these days... several Essex tweens are in trouble after being caught breaking into a house in order to smoke weed.

Remember the great nickel heist from a while back? Two men, Gregg Lee Purbaugh, 50, and Kenneth Trainum, 44, have plead guilty for their roles in the peculiar caper.

Finally, 14 years in the Federal big house for 34-year-old Warren Delano Williams, convicted of robbing seven stores and three banks over a 5-month period.

...I can't say I'm in love with Bloggers new format, then again, maybe I just hate sudden change, only time will tell.
Nope, I hate it.

Baby stabbed by mom

What the freaking hell? WBAL is reporting an eight-month-old infant was stabbed multiple times at the Department of Social Services office at 3031 E Biddle St., Fenton Tweeted the stabber was the baby's mother (!!)


Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge David W. Young sentenced Tyrone Webb Jr. today to life plus 20 years in prison for killing his girlfriend Mia Nichols with two gunshots to the head, dumping her body in the woods, and then reporting her missing.


The Court of Appeals overturns a cold-case rape conviction, questions constitutionality of taking DNA samples from arrestees


Takoma Park residents want a resolution to reject the NDAA's infinite-detention clauses.

Carl Snowden Riding Extra Dirty

WTF, Carl Snowden?! Snowden was arrested for his third DUI two years back, and illegally given probation before judgement. Then, Friday, WaPo says he was "pulled over for a broken tail light," and busted with the wacky terbacky-- but P. Hermann got the charging documents* that show the story is even worse/better-- with Snowden parked next to Druid Hill park with his windows down, a "blunt" in plain sight and a registered sex offender (!!) in the passenger seat. Honey badger don't care!
And he's still working for Doug Gansler?! Certainly calls our MD Attorney General's personnel-management skills into question ...! Fun Doug Gansler Wikifact: "He was re-elected unopposed in the 2010 election, winning 98.18%." 

Jihad, jihad, jihad

To get a little meta here: Not just your emails but every kind of electronic transaction you engage in is being stored in a vast data center in Utah, says Wired magazine. One of the article's sources, former technical director of the NSA’s World Geopolitical and Military Analysis Reporting Group William Binney also gave an interview to Democracy Now. As Ed Norris once said, "they're the government. If they want to get you, they're going to get you." In other news, Poland (which would know a thing or two about totalitarian regimes) has blown the whistle on a torture facility the U.S. government was (is?) using there, named after the founder of East Germany's Stasi.
... maybe we should be glad to see all these police lawsuit payouts-- it means local government cares enough to hold itself accountable, no?


Speaking of lawsuits, a $30 million one just ended in a mistrial. A guy and the relatives of two dead men say city police planted shell casings after a shoot-out on July 4, 2008.


Police Tweeted "Shooting: Parkheights/Boarman. Adult male reported to be shot." and "Shooting: Pulaski/Baltimore Street." and the local firefighters Tweeted "*SHOOTING* Box 29-1 2500 blk Keyworth Av, NW Balto; One person shot, fire engine treating, medics responding." Fenton Tweeted that at least one of these shootings was fatal (not sure which one).


The trial of neighborhood watchers/arm breakers Eliyahu and Avi Werdesheim is set to start today downtown. WBAL says the trial has been postponed "at least" six times now.


Comments posted by Galt and Ppatin in 2007 are pissing off a perp's family five years later.


... sometime this weekend, this blog passed two million hits. Kind of a lot (but over a long period of time...)

Pastor Convicted

From the State's Attorney's Office [edited for grammar, italics added]:

"A Baltimore City Circuit Court jury found Pastor Leon W. Jones guilty yesterday for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl from April of 2000 until March of 2002.   

The victim, now 27, was first introduced to the Pastor by her mother; who also participated in the sexual abuse and pled guilty to five counts of sexual child abuse for her role. 

The jury found Jones, 61, guilty of eight counts of sexual offense in the 2nd degree. Scheduled for sentencing on June 26, 2012, he faces a maximum of 160 years in prison."

What the?!?!?! Screen grab from this guy's web site at left and right... 

I Could Deal With Sheila Dixon's Fraud, But That Hairstyle Screams "Impeach." I'll Be Here all Night Folks...

Have you ever wanted to give former mayor Sheila Dixon the business? How about the second-best thing? Watching professional comedians roast her instead.

Two separate County home invasions, but zero suspects so far.

The newest crime blotter is chock full of very detailed crime reports in the Southeast district, including several homeless assaults, and a lesson learned to never withdraw money in front of ladies you pick up at bars.

If you want to cause trouble at Tigerfest this year, it might be slightly more difficult than in years past.

The body of a woman missing for 20 years has been recovered today in the floorboards of her shed. Christine Ann Jarrett disappeared back in 1991, and her now 57-year-old husband Robert Jarrett is now facing charges.

Today must be cold-case day, this time it's a 30-year-old murder in Houston that's come to light. 53-year-old Jesus Blas-Perea, a Mexican national, was arrested today in Riverdale, MD, and faces murder charges related to the 1981 murder of Jose Santos-Duque. Two weeks, two weeks, two undocumented immigrant murderers found in Maryland...

A 41-year old academic advisor at Bowie State dies after a struggle with police. Patrick Raphael Toney, 41, was a college lecturer and blogger to boot. Don't be surprised if this case stays in the headlines for a while...

Homicides 52-55 Id'd... Mostly

Several Homicide Victims Have Been Id'd as of Late:

52: Id'd as 27-year-old Ricardo Mabray, shot to death in
the 1300 Aisquith St.*

54: Id'd as 29-year-old Marvin Buckson, who beat a 2002 murder rap after a witness refused to talk, was shot and killed in the 1700 block of North Spring Street.

55: Id'd as Derrick Deon Smith, 33. He was shot to death in a
crowded Belair Rd. Bar.*



For once the BPD didn't lose a civil case, at least, for the moment. One living victim and the families of two deceased victims sued the Department for a New Years Eve 2008 police involved shooting.

Can't win 'em all though. A man who was stripped naked by officers in-front of his family successfully sued the department for $155,000.

A drug raid turned into a dog raid, as one man, 30-year-old Johnnie Taylor was charged with eight counts of animal cruelty related to the aforementioned dog fighting ring.

I like to think we're all looking for that special someone... The police are looking for Alex Gerard Smith, 29, wanted for violating his probation related to a 2008 shooting.

Two masked men broke into an Essex home, duct-taped the owners and their children, all in pursuit of a safe and the family car.

The county is turning into one big fire hazard. Two more fires have broken out, this time in White Marsh.

A body found on Millers Island Rd. has been Id'd as that of suicide victim David Mark Alexander, 56.

This weeks Murder Ink recaps several of the City's recent homicides.

$270,000 Clams

for more police- lawsuit settlements, reports the Brew.

52, 53

Three separate shootings Monday night left two men dead. One man was killed at the intersection of Aisquith St. & East Preston St. while another man was shot in the 4700 block of Liberty Heights Ave.

A woman was killed and her infant daughter injured when crackhead Charles Jeffries crashed into their car while fleeing police. No word yet on why the police were ignoring the department's "no-chase" policy.*

Charges have finally been filed in the 2011 killing of 12-year-old Sean Johnson. Three men, Derrick Brown, 18, Danyae Robinson, 29, and Antwan Mosley, 21, have been charged with the murder.

Baltimore teen John C. Wood, 17, is missing and may be in need of medical attention.

A Baltimore man who carjacked a hack cabbie and a random woman, was sentenced to 34 years in federal prison.

One of the weirdest cases in recent memory has come to an abrupt and unfulfilling end. All charges against Wael Ali, 24, accused of killing his twin brother Wasel, have been dropped due to "largely circumstantial evidence.'

An exceedingly dangerous rapist was out on the streets of Baltimore, just in time to kill 59-year-old Chauncey Hardy. Herbert Mayes, 26, managed to beat two rape raps last year despite DNA evidence implicating him in the crimes.*

Didn't someone ever tell them not to play with matches? Two boys have been busted for setting that Dundalk church fire last week.

If you've had a bad nurse recently, now you may know who to blame. Ten ladies were indicted for creating and selling fake nursing certificates.

Watch out county folk, more speed cameras are coming up. These newest ones are at Johnnycake Elementary School (a wonderfully named school) in Catonsville, and at Perry Hall High School.

A single-car accident in the county left two men dead.

In what sounds like a very peculiar attack, six men, including Glen Kyle Staley, 27, and Jamar Rashad Patterson, 22, assaulted two white dudes outside the Pizan's Pizza in Towson, all the while shouting racial remarks at the victims. The remaining four suspects are at large.

A Baltimore man was busted yesterday for robbing an M&T Bank. 25-year-old Donte M. Jackson faces robbery and other charges.

This time the hack cabbie is the criminal. Hack driver Samual Queen was convicted of raping a woman he picked up back in December of 2010.

Buttlegging: It's more prevalent then you might think. Four men were arrested and charged with smuggling after 10,000 contraband cigarettes were confiscated near White Marsh.

Baltimore copper Jhonn Corona was sent to federal prison for the next 30 months for his role in the "Majestic Towing" scheme.

Finally, yet another BPD officer goes down, this time it's Rafael Concepcion Feliciano, Jr., given a two-year bid for taking part in the aforementioned scheme.

51

Three people were murdered this weekend:* Clarence Nicholson, 31, 2000 block of Rayner Ave. on Saturday; Brandon Simms, 23, in the 400 block of Watty Court, shot while eating crabs in the McCulloh Homes project; Phillip Scott, 34, killed in the 1900 block of Etting Street.

Jaclyn Martin of Dundalk was sentenced to 60 years for orchestrating the murder of her husband, Lee Martin, at the Hops Inn.

Skeletal remains of a woman were found in the woods near the 1600 block of 41st Street in the Hampden/Medfield area

Dear Baltimore city, maybe you should reduce your stock of highly flammable crackhouses before you shut down all them fire stations

Viral video attacker talks

Aaron Parsons says he sorry that he hit a tourist outside Mitchell Courthouse.

Calls to End Race Baiting, Hit & Runs, and Lengthy Prison Sentences

Police are warning against "race baiting" following the much publicized video of a white tourist being assaulted and stripped by a large group of people. An incident that police are currently not calling a "hate crime."*

A 1997 shooting victim is a 2012 homicide victim. Leslie Johnson was shot in the 800 block of Jack St. and died on the 30th of January.*

Police are ISO Martinez Armstrong, who may have played a role in the accidental killing of 13-year-old Monae Turnage.

Twenty well-deserved years in prison for super-creepy rape attempter Sean Thomas Schleigh, 22. Schleigh assaulted and attempted to rape a 12-year-old in a Dundalk middle-school bathroom.

A Honduran born MS-13 member who was wanted in his home country for Hacking a man to death with a machete was arrested in his Randallstown home Monday. It will be interesting to see if he gets charged with immigration crimes here first, or if he's quickly extradited to face justice in his home country.

The first conclusion in three separate Perkins Mental Hospital murders occurred today. Andre Mayo has been ruled incompetent to stand trial for killing Rogelio Mondragon. I wonder where they send someone like this now?

Pawn shop robber Cortez Clark was handed a 30-year sentence by judge John Addison Howard yesterday.

I doubt this is quite the "new trend" they make it out to be, but regardless, delivery drivers beware, robbers are everywhere.

A man is critical condition after being shot several times in the 2500 block of East Chase St.

Seperate shootings put two men in the hospital.

The police-impersonation trend hasn't quite died down yet in Baltimore. This time, 21-year-old Michael Atkinson is charged with sexually assaulting a woman while posing as a police officer.

Fifty years for now twice-convicted murderer Sam Davis (pictured right). Davis, who was released from prison in 2009 after having served more than 30 years for a previous murder, killed Jacqueline Denise Paul, a woman he had been living with.

A 20-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl beat up a 14-year-old girl in Essex.

Bail revoked for accused teen rapist Andre Haney III. This isn't the first time an Andre Haney made the news. Haney's grandfather, Andre Sr., was committed after committing arson back in 2008. And Haney Jr. was a well liked homeless man who died back in 2009. *

The trial of Reuben Dunn, who is accused of killing two teenagers in a drunk-driving hit and run last year on MLK Blvd., started Wednesday.

Still no arrest in the fatal hit-and-run of Towson U. student Ryan Bailey, 20.

Finally, in yet another hit and run case, Parkville native David Grayson French Jr. has been charged in the death of a 68-year-old, mowed down as she tried to cross the street.

Baltimore's latest homicide victim was Kenyan man Justin Marasa, 22.

Police have determined that the Dundalk church fire was an act of arson.

The latest Baltimore Guide crime blotter has stolen Coach handbags, attempted Cheez-It's® theft, and much more.

Pooch Screwed

Time to pick up the leavings of the dog-burning case in an inverted plastic bag. Twin brothers Travers and Tremayne Johnson were found not guilty of dousing a dog with gasoline and setting her on fire. Bernstein's office released a statement: "While I respect the jury's decision, I'm disappointed that we didn't achieve the outcome that we fought for during two challenging trials. .. Animal cruelty is a serious crime of violence."

A Teen Sex Headline Gets More Page Views

Two guys shot in the hand in the 500 block of West Lanvale Street last night

A mentally ill man with a weapon shot in the stomach by police yesterday morning. How many police-involved shootings is that so far this year? At least three...

Anna Ditkoff says the homicide toll was at 47 three days ago, including the removal of home-shooter-upper Brandon Washington.

The CP covers a kid sucker-punched at school. God help the children and parents who must contend with these lawless schools. More kids need to get arrested, I say. We need to legalize drugs then fill those empty beds with rotten children.

OMG. HarfCo woman "Engaged To Fla. Teen She Met For Sex." .. So, savvy readers, is the individual on the right the woman, or the teenage boy? Or Jonah Hill?

Our pervert is #1!

Since Osama Bin Laden departed this mortal coil, apparently we've been without an FBI's most most wanted fugitive. Now there's a new one, Eric Justin Toth. And guess where he's from! Maryland! And guess what he did? Pervy stuff with underage students involving a hidden bathroom camera! Does that put him at Osama level? Apparently so...

46, 47

Two men were killed in separate Easter Day shootings. An unidentified man was shot and killed in the 1400 block of Holbrook St. Sunday evening. Another man, 33-year-old Robert Laney was shot and killed near Kirk Avenue and Fillmore Street. Laney did a ten year prison bid stemming from a '98 conviction for attempted murder.

The new "Phylicia’s Law" has passed in both the MD House and Senate. .

A 28-year-old is recovering after being knifed in West Baltimore. .

The family of slain delivery driver Chong Wan Yim speak out after the conviction of his killer William Carr. .

The pedophiles have been out in full force recently, now an Indianapolis man is accused of sexually extorting several minors online, including one in Maryland. Richard Leon Finkbiner, 39, is being charged federally with a bevy of crimes.

The Towson patch has a recap of the various crimes plaguing the community, including an escaped inmate and Stoneleigh burglars proving criminals always return to the scene of the crime... apparently to steal more stuff.

Cost of Living

The estate of Philip Parker Jr. won a $18.5 million settlement after his murder by fellow inmate Kevin Johns; naturally Maryland has no interest in paying. I can almost see Jack Young's point-- the state just keeps not avoiding the avoidable and keeps paying and paying. Not that the Parkers should have to pay for their son's funeral. ... but how do you put a monetary value on a human life? How much did Kevin Johns get to kill him?

To Catch a Predator: Baltimore County Edition

Did the Baltimore County Police Department hold their own child predator sting operation?

Since March 21st, six men have been charged in Baltimore County with Sexual Solicitation of a Minor.

It seems a bit far fetched that this is all coincidental, and that each man happened to be caught in a sexual conundrum with a minor like 26-year-old Rahn Freeland was.

Since March 21st, these men have been charged with one count of Sexual Solicitation of a Minor:

Matthew Riley, 34, of Dundalk Maryland, Charged on March 21st.

Jose Ramos, 22, of Augusta Georgia, Charged on March 21st.

Ryan Gerhardt, 27, of Bel Air Maryland, Charged on March 23rd

Wlliam Bertazon, 28, of Rosedale Maryland, Charged on April 4th

Todd Hunter, 21, of Laurel Maryland, Charged on April 4th

Thornie Phillips, 37, of Rosedale Maryland, Charged on April 4th

Due to the number of individuals charged on the same day, and the fact that a man all the way from Georgia was charged, this has all the indications of a sting operation, possibly charging internet predators. It's a curiosity why nothing has been mentioned by the department as of yet. If you have any info, feel free to pass it along.

A Magical Easter Holiday

This years 45th murder victim is 37-year-old Jermain Shuron, shot to death in the 1700 block of North Calhoun St. Police are looking for two suspects.

A brazen mid-day shooting puts two men in the hospital, and forces a city police officer to fire shots at the fleeing gunman. No arrests have been made so far.

How do you punish a 92-year-old man who accidentally killed his wife? The police are scratching their heads about it as well.*

Keep a lookout for the Baltimore County office burglars.

The trial of serial rapist Nelson Clifford, age 33, (Pictured Right) began Thursday. Cliffords, a previously convicted felon, has been liked to three cases through DNA left at the crime scene.

Have you seen 33-year-old John Robert McCollough? Police suspect him of committing a burglary in the 3300 block of Toone Street.

A two alarm Dundalk fire puts a 96-year-old woman in the hospital.

Two young men have gone missing recently. Adam Stewart Walter, 21, and Maxwell Robert Geroux, 19, have disappeared in separate incidents.

Even more missing local citizens. Police are also trying to locate 84-year-old Julia Brown. who went missing Friday.

The man killed in a tragic tractor-trailer accident in Rosedale has been Id'd as Jonathan Magill, 31.

The most recent crime blotter has paintball shootings, stolen car boots, and phone thefts galore.

Baltimore's very own homegrown terrorist Antonio Martinez, age 22, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for trying to blow up an armed forces recruitment center.

21 years in the federal pen for local marijuana kingpin James Bestman, 38. Seems just a bit off-putting that you get only four more years for trying to commit an act of terrorism then you do for selling marijuana... even if it is by the tonne.

Blogs on Crack

A local crack smoker has taken to blogging: The Relapse Diary. I had no idea smoking crack made people want to take off their clothes.. well, now I know. And true story about Charles Village: "these poor students are getting the fur tore off them! ... funding a adjacent Open Air Drug Market and its not being talked about." Indeed, a JHU student is probably robbed or burgled at least once a day-- and that's conservative. JHU students are Greenmount crackheads' ATMs!

Not literal crack, but also a good read: Not All Baltimore Chicks are Stupid

Salon owners' hairdo saved her life!

Life plus five for Malcolm Pulliam, convicted of shooting the owner of the Blessed Productions Hair Salon four times in the head. But, amazingly, the victim survived to testify against him.

Also, Bernstein and Joshua Felsen scored a first-degree murder conviction against William Carr, who was found to have robbed and killed 55-year-old deliveryman Chong Wan Yim.

Preston and Jason: Standing their Ground

Brandon Washington, 26, #18, was removed from the toll after his killing was ruled justifiable self-defense. Reported Justin Fenton, "Court records describe Preston Feaster and Jason Ingram barricading themselves inside a home as a group of men armed with handguns shot into the house. Fearing for their lives in a neighborhood where calling the authorities is a last resort for some residents, they shot back from an upstairs window, killing 26-year-old Brandon Washington and injuring Darries Sommerville, who was 17 at the time, police say."

Recanting witnesses and gas can photos in the dog-burning trial, which is scheduled to continue on Monday.

The Court of Appeals today will hear the case of women married in California who hoped to divorce in Maryland and were turned down. Wacky fact from CBS: "Maryland law bars an uncle and a niece from marrying, but the state will recognize that marriage if it legally occurred in another state." Some news sources are reporting this story as unprecedented, but that's not exactly true. .. I swear I remember reading about a lesbian child-custody case in The Daily Record in Baltimore County in the late '90s, too, anyone else remember that one?

Down in the marshier part of the county, rough-looking duo John Joseph Leschefsky Jr., 27, and Carollyn Robin Duschl, 29, were charged with the murder of Jeffrey Jennings, 57, motive unknown.

In Cockeysville, two guys were arrested after trying to rob the Alpha Gold Exchange, and a copper thief was arrested in Pikesville.

A Parkton man is in hot water after pretending to be a teenager in an attempt to seduce a 14-year-old on Facebook.

Gun waving

An off-duty city cop pulled his gun and threatened a woman after a near accident.

44, 45

Two earlier shooting victims have been added to the homicide toll. 19-year-old Javell Heath*; "was found shot in the head March 27, on the grounds of the Yorkwood Apartment complex in the 1100 block of E. Belvedere Ave." Dion Brandon, 30, who was injured in a triple shooting back in 2005, died April 2nd of this year from complications related to his wounds.

Murders 40-43 in this week's Ink

The city will pay $95,000 to a 90-year-old retired schoolteacher who had her shoulder torn in a scuffle with police. “Jack” Young voted against the settlement.

A Baltimore beatdown video of WorldStarHipHop.com, not the same video as the guy stripped and beaten in front of the courthouse*

Trial starts today for Nelson Clifford, accused of three rapes.

A man was arrested for robbing the Edgewood Burger King drive-thru

Married dad Brian Funk has to register as a sex offender for sexting a student.

And speaking of students, anti-Semetic slurs and a noose found at the University of Maryland, echoes of the firehouse noose...? What are the odds of this not being fake?

The Internet Does Have a Soul...

Yet another video of a Baltimore assault has made it into the realms of the inter-web, but even the internet has standards. The video, which shows a man being assaulted and stripped has caused an uproar, and several cases of internet vigilantism. *

This weeks Murder Ink recaps another violent week, including two fatal officer involved shootings.

In another case of robbery stripping. Terrell Scott, 21, was convicted of kidnapping, beating, and shooting a man before setting his car on fire. Scott faces up to 261 years when sentenced.

It's all in the family. A mother-daughter identity theft team were sent to prison. Mother Gloria Canada, 55, got six years for stealing Johns Hopkins Hospital patient information while daughter Ayanna Devon Johnson, 39, got five years.

As expected the Maryland attorney general has filed an appeal to the recent gun permit ruling.

Police are ISO the scuzz-bucket who sexually assaulted a woman in the 1600 block of Johnson Street last week.

A Baltimore County man is dead after a truck fell and pinned him to death.

A unidentified body was found in a wooded area in Middle River.

50-year-old convicted sex offender Michael Nicholas Villa, who couldn't look more the part if he tried, was arrested and charged with various peeping tom incidents, specifically one in a Panera bathroom.

The most recent crime blotter has everything from eye pokes to bookshelf beatings.

H8Rs

So Dante Parrish got life for the rape, gagging and slaughter of fey 15-year-old Jason Mattison. His fine Christian mom and grandma kicked him out because they thought he was gay, leaving him to die like a pig while his junkie aunt and her friends nodded off nearby.

In other gay news, documents revealed the National Organization for Marriage's plans to divide gays, women, blacks and Latinos by un-defining marriage as a civil right (sound familiar?), calling women 'bigots,' embracing the traditional Mexican family and spinning a yarn about the marginalization and repression of Christianity. Mitt Romney, who won the primary here last night, gave NOM $10,000 in '08. NOM has pledged to spend at least $1 million to defeat same-sex marriage in Maryland, and are, of course, currently using those ducets to get gay citizens' civil rights put up for a vote in the fall.

Wut whoa Scoob

Sounds like it's a dog's life for prosecutors down at the animal-cruelty trial. Luke Broadwater reports that a key witness in the case against is refusing to testify. Tiera Goodman, 25 -- who, before she went to jail on unrelated charges, reportedly lived in the the 800 block of Braddish Ave. and (presumably) collected $1,000 for testifying against the brothers in the first trial-- now says she'd rather serve six more months than testify again*, and the judge granted her wish. Another young witness, Michael Taylor, 22, "spent much of the afternoon yawning at prosecutors' questions, mumbling barely audible responses and smirking with the defendants."

Dante Parrish Sentenced, Victims ID'd, & Broken Metro Dreams

Life without parole for rapist/teenage killer Dante Parrish. Parrish was convicted of murdering 15-year-old Jason Mattison less than a year after the "Innocence Project" helped him secure his release from prison after a 1999 murder conviction.

Just a few days after the first police involved killing of the year, another man, 29-year-old George Wells, has been shot to death by police after "drawing a sharp weapon" on an officer.

A multitude of shootings, resulting in one death this weekend. This years 43rd victim has been id'd as Marcus Williams, 29. Williams was shot to death in a car in the 1000 block of E. 22nd St. The years 42nd victim has been id'd as 59-year-old Chauncey Hardy, killed in an apparent "retaliatory shooting."*

What ever did happen to the investigation into two mysterious trash chute deaths?Peter Hermann had little luck finding any new information.*

Police are still looking for the hit and run driver who killed Towson U. student Ryan Bailey this past weekend.

For the second time in a week, a Baltimore man has been stabbed to death in the small area of Pumphrey, Anne Arundel County. 46-year-old Bryant Donell Bagley was found shot to death Sunday. Bagley has a criminal record dating back to the 80's, including convictions for attempted murder and issuing false documents.

Cigarette smuggling seems to be the hot new crime, and comptroller Peter Franchot wants to up the penalties for those caught smuggling.

30-year-old convicted felon Antoine Phipps has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for nearly killing another man outside a West Baltimore carryout.

The search is on for the masked man who broke into a home and raped an 18-year-old woman in the 3900 block of Frisby Street.

A man was critically injured after being stabbed and shot in the 5300 block of Bosworth Ave.


A Facebook group has been set up to remember 19-year-old Tyree Cypress, (Pictured Right) who was the 41st victim of the year.

Baltimore felon Kevin J. Johnson, 33, was sentenced to spend the next 18 years in a far away federal prison.

61-year-old Andrew Hamilton Williams, Jr., the leader of the "Metro Dream Homes" fraud scheme has been dolled out a 150 year federal sentence, the same sentence famed fraudster Bernie Madoff received a few years earlier.

...Hope everyone remembered to vote today

"but at what risk?"

A long North Baltimore crime blotter from the Patch: lots of larcenies from autos, and the CVS at 25th and Charles was robbed of prescription drugs.

Uhm, whut? "a former Baltimore police officer accused of killing his neighbor is now charged with possession of child pornography."

The headline ruins the story dept: "Police allow bystanders to tape* arrest, but at what risk?" .. the police don't allow it, the Supreme Court allows it. Maybe a better headline would be like "Some police officers made uncomfortable by people with iPhones." Comfortable schmumfortable. I'm not comfortable with drones over Baltimore, "security" workers reading everybody's emails and monitoring everybody's phone calls, strip searches for running a red light, people being held indefinitely in a network of foreign prisons with no charges ... but fuck me, according to the Tribune Co. we're all supposed to be worried about the risk of officers being weirded out by a guy recording stuff on his phone. I think they can handle it.

42

Man, 59, 900 block of Valley Street near Latrobe Homes

Another man armed with a "knifelike weapon" shot by police! This guy was on Callow Avenue.

Gregg Bernstein is going to try another case-- this one = murder.

Prosecutors say they won't seek the death penalty* against the alleged killers of Cherrie Gammon. Why that would have even been on the table I'm not sure, was there a videotaped confession or DNA evidence?

What the fark? Three nine-year-olds and an eight-year-old were arrested at Morrell Park Elementary/Middle School and taken away in handcuffs. As IV posted, Keith Daniels interviewed the adorable little members of the Killer Hit Squad gang, one of whom allegedly held a kid's head underwater and threatened to drown him. "I didn't aggravate no one or assault no one," says little Mackenna, adding, "I was taught to hit somebody back when they hit me, so I did." More from the Sun

In Germantown, an abortion clinic landlord serves up Revenge Lite™ on protestors. More from the WaPo

Hit Squad speaks out

10 year-old members of the "Hit Squad" talk about treatment at juvie

Perverts!!

A woman was sexually assaulted in the Pen Lucy neighborhood last night

Not Baltimore but... can you imagine having your job be to look at child pornography all day? Gah! I wonder what Julie Drake does to not go insane. Related: child sex offender George H. Jones Jr. was convicted Wednesday for attacking his 10-year-old stepdaughter.

The man shot by police on Cold Spring Lane was not wielding a knife, but a "knifelike object." He's been identified as Sheron Jackson, 21, and for the first time in years the BPD has identified the officer: Michael Gordon, 25.

Testimony has begun in the re-trial of the Johnson twins, accused of setting a pit bull terrier on fire.

A 15th suspect has pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft charges in a scheme that stole credit card numbers from people who owed money to the Johns Hopkins School of Business. Here's a business question, who has to suck up that $880,000?

A decade in prison for a NJ guy who brought cocaine bricks to MD in a rental car.

Tweeted by Fenton: a court opinion defines "rough ride."

Yeah, I know I already blogged this story about the House passing a bill that will retroactively make the no-bid contracts for the $tate Center projects legal. But I am still pissed off so I'm posting it again.

March 28

The man shot and killed by police yesterday has been id'd as 21-year-old Sheron Jackson.

Freshly convicted wife-murderer Michael T. Harrod, 43, faces life in prison when he's sentenced later this year.

Two crafty-but-bumbling robbers are accused of macing employees of various retail establishments. Dominick Williams, 25 and Anthony Allen Johnson, age 18, face a bevy of charges.

A guilty plea by Kimberly Smedley, the woman who made headlines for illegally injecting silicone into various women's derrieres.

This is a message to all of Baltimore's most hardened litter bugs: watch your ass, there are cameras everywhere.

A once convicted murderer has been charged with, get this, murder. 32-year-old Dundalk resident Jason Hamel has been charged with the 2008 killing of Keyva Bluitt during what is believed to be a drug deal gone bad. Back in 1998 Hamel killed his "friend" Billy Joe Ace during a supposed drunken accident. *

28-year-old Robert Garner has been was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his role as the hit man in the murder of Dundalk bar owner Lee Martin.

A Dundalk resident was stabbed on Liberty Parkway Wednesday morning.

A ranking city police officer is apparently in hot water.

Baltimore resident Romanda Young, 41, was stabbed to death in Anne Arundel County.

Be on the lookout this County serial burglar.*


Police are still trying to find a sporadic Towson bank robber. (Pictured Right) I'm not sure whats more of a travesty, his crimes or his choice in headwear... oh ho ho, I'm feeling catty today.*

The most recent crime blotter has an assortment of miscellaneous crimes including folks crying over spilled oil, stolen snickers bars, and lots of drunken assaults.
This weeks Murder Ink recounts the bloodiest week this year.

In a peculiar incident, a truck crashed into a home in Pikesville causing a fire that damaged several homes.

Finally, 10 years in the Federal clink for armed career drug dealer Robert Sanderlin, age 27.

40, 41

Man, 6200 block of Pioneer Drive. And a five-month-old abused infant has also been added to the toll. Eighteen-year-old Myron Evans has been charged in the infant's death.

A man is in critical condition after police shot him for threatening to stab his mother.

Isn't that speshil? The House has approved a law that seems to serve no other purpose beyond killing lawsuits against the overpriced, underno-bid sweetheart State Center project.

Dang: the U.S. ranks 5th in the world when it comes to executing people, after China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq.

Shootings, More Shootings, Terrible Face Tattoos

Several homicide arrests and a multitude of victims have been id'd after a bevy of killings this past week.

The 36th victim of the year has been id'd as 23-year-old Dexter Maurice Jones Jr. 22-year-old Guy Leon Thomas has been arrested for the killing.*

This years 37th victim has been id'd as Jonathan Hutchinson, age 24.

The 38th victim of the year has been id'd as 20-year-old Ronnell Chaney.*

Five men have been arrested after a triple stabbing in Garrison. The five arrested are; Ronald Williams, 20, Christopher Ramgeet, 18, Merez Ferguson, 21, Jeffrey Jackson, 20, and sweet face tattoo having Ryan Johnson, age 19.

This weeks Murder Ink covers several weekend killings and an arrest in the 2007 murder of Rodney Gardner.

The seemingly never ending legal battle that is the Travers and Tremayne Johnson animal cruelty trial is set to (hopefully) come to an end.*

The last police officer in the Majestic towing scandal has plead guilty. 36-year-old Jaime Luis Lugo faces 25 years in prison when sentenced.

You can now feel safe walking the streets of North Baltimore, as a "suspicious package" turned out to be a very anti-climactic backpack.

County police have made an arrest in a 20-year-old cold case. Sean Sanford, 38, has been arrested for the 1991 Christmas Eve Eve murder of Robert Stephen Collins.

Well that's just great...
The Supreme court has decided that convicted serial child rapist John Merzbacher, age 70, needs to be let out of prison.

This weeks police blotter reports a heap of crimes, including a wooden plank beating, and the theft of pillow cases.

Finally, eight years in the federal pen for large scale Baltimore document trafficker Victor Lopez-Escamilla, age 39.