78-87

A bevy of recent homicides, here's a breakdown:

78. Sylvester Rodgers (Alternately spelled Rogers), age 58, was shot multiple times and killed in an apartment in the 600 block of North Carey St. 24-year-old Dominick Brooks was charged with the crime. Brooks has prior convictions for car theft, drug dealing, robbery, assault on an officer, and assault on a DOC employee. Brooks is currently facing Probation Violation charges related to the robbery conviction.

79. Tavon Frederick, 35, was shot and killed during a home invasion in the 3300 block of Westerwald Ave.*

80.  Jacqueline Laster, 47, was the sole death in a triple shooting in the 2500 block of West Fayette St. Thursday. Laster is said to have been the target of the shooting, and had a minor criminal record.

81. James Shird, who according to Murder Ink is James Shird Jr age 18 and not James Shird Sr, age 48, was shot to death in the 4600 block of York Rd. No arrests have been made.

82. Andre Curry Jr., 28, was the fatality of the other triple shooting Thursday. This one in the 2600 block of East Preston St. Curry had prior drug dealing convictions and several minor arrests, but no new arrests since 2007.

83. Lanell Ausby, 22, was shot in the 2500 block of North Edgecombe Circle. After being shot he was pulled over by police while driving down the wrong side of the road. According to his parents, Ausby was preparing to finish college at the time of his death. Ausby had a minor criminal history.

84. Dwaune Evans (Alternately spelled Dawan), 25, was shot in the 600 block of Pitcher St. outside the Shake and Bake Family Fun Center. Evans had prior convictions for assault and drug dealing and received a three year prison sentence back in 2009.

85. Olivia Palmer, a 6 month old child was beaten by her father, Demante Palmer, age 34 (Pictured Right) . Police responded to the 1600 block of E. Coldspring Lane, and Palmer later died of her injuries. Palmer is the third child to have been killed by their father this year. 2011 had three young children killed as well, while 2010 had four. 2009 had only one young child killed, 2008 had five, and 2007 had two.

86. Amber Brown, 24, was a unique case of a heroine overdose being considered a homicide. 24-year-old Brown and a friend injected one another with heroin, Brown eventually dies due to an overdose, and although said friend has not been charged as of yet, the case is still considered a homicide. Brown had a minor criminal record.*

87. Ettice Jones, 47, was stabbed to death in the 1200 block of Woodbourne Ave. during an argument with a male acquaintance. No official arrest has been made, although police have a "person of interest" in the case. Jones had a minor criminal record.

Thanks to The Baltimore Sun and Murder Ink for providing much of the information.

A Violent Thursday in Baltimore

The Memorial Day weekend has started with a literal bang, as seven people were shot Thursday and one early Friday in 4 separate incidents, including two triple shootings. Among the eight shot, two were dead and woman is in grave condition. The only victim to be identified is 28-year-old Andre Samuel Curry Jr, one of three people shot in the 2600 block of East Preston St.

Police have busted the prolific "Craigslist Robber." He has been Id'd as 26-year-old David Brown, and had been using library computers to set up meetings with victims in the 3500 block of Callaway Ave.

Wow.. Caroll County resident Michael S. Almony, 59, was arrested after apparently running over a kitten multiple times in a successful attempt to kill it. He also managed to get caught on video doing it as well, after a secret witness dropped off a tape to the police.

 A 78-year-old woman who may be stricken with dementia has been missing from her home for well over two months.If you've seen Doris Elizabeth Anderson, please alert authorities.

The real life NCIS is investigating the suspicious death of a Fort Meade soldier. 19-year-old Pvt. Anthony Romano-caruso of Alamance, N.C. was found dead Thursday. Officials remain tight lipped on the cause at the moment.

With all this talk of "pill-mills" recently, one may be mistaken to believe that they are the only form of underground mills operating in this city. That is not the case, as a large scale "document-mill" got busted fairly recently, and all nine defendants caught up in the bust have plead guilty. Brothers Ivan Altamirano-Perez, age 32, and Roberto Morales-Perez, age 26, headed the operation located in the 200 block of South Broadway.

Lisa O'Connor, the one time president of the Middleborough Volunteer Fire Company, has plead guilty to stealing over $100,000 from her former place of employment. Employees first caught wind of the bilking when word came down that their fire truck was going to be repossessed.

AACO granny beater an sweet neck tattoo having resident George Nicholas Kuespert, 39, (Pictured Right) got busted for a mini crime spree the other day. Apparently when you finish a 9 year robbery sentence  received in '07, the first thing you do to celebrate is try to commit as many crimes as possible, to you know, acclimate yourself.

Finally, tiny newspaper the "Dundalk Eagle" has a story on gangs in Dundalk and surrounding areas. A fairly weak story that seems to give County Gang Enforcement Sgt. James Conaboyan excuse to showcase how supposedly well his department has been to combat gangs, but an interesting story non-the less.
It takes a lot for County residents to accept that their are in fact gangs around. But gangs like the BGF and DMI (Dead Man Incorperated) have very strong footholds in the county, especially the DMI, seeing as how gang founder Perry Rourk is a Dundalk native. I could give you a fairly long list of  local DMI members, but for the sake of not having my house firebombed, i'll probably keep it to myself..

Missing teen found

New rule: if you make the public look for a missing teenager, you have to tell the public where she was

79

This years 79th murder is that of 35-year-old Tavon Frederick killed in what appears to have been a drug rip gone awry, at least so the police make it sound. Frederick has a prior drug dealing conviction but no local arrests since 2002. *

Police need you help finding the suspect who killed 59-year-old Floyd Dorsey as he sat on his porch back in April. 

A sexual assault early this morning has Towson residents worried. The suspect, described as a bald black male in his 30's, has not been caught.

According to WBAL an unnamed city police sergeant is under investigation by internal affairs following an argument between the sergeant and an unnamed judge.

Speaking of police sergeants in the news, Sgt. Richard Willard, who you may recall was the police officer suffering from PTSD after shooting a suspect back in 2005. Sgt. Willard settled out of court with the department, agreeing to retire when he reached the 20 year service pinnacle. Willard also sent an email to Peter Hermann, offering more insight and an almost horrifying look into how PTSD effects someone. *

Those damn kids... a gang of middle schoolers went nuts during a 7-11 promotional slurpee giveaway, stealing tons of merchandise and beating on the store owner. This is just the latest instance of mob violence that has white people terrified. Republican delegate Patrick L. McDonough is leading the crime fighting charge* against those dastardly "black youth mobs." While to the casual observer it may seem that the city has a "youth mob" scare every few years, I'm sure this time is different, and that you ought to pack heat the next time you go down to The Fudgery.

It must be panic inducing day in Baltimore, as all the news outlets are touting the hot new crime: "Craiglist Robberies." And although people have been getting robbed, and hell, murdered, thanks to Craigslist since it first started, apparently it's gotten worse. A little tip: If you're dumb enough to respond to an ad on Craigslist offering a new in box 32 Gig Ipad 2 for $250... then you don't really deserve to have that money in the first place.

A Middle River church was vandalized yet again, so "Cable Connexions" stepped up and donated security equipment to prevent any more acts of destruction.

As much as people worry about Craigslist robberies, use of the good 'ol "pizza boy heist", is still going  strong, as a delivery man fell pray to this attack in Essex earlier this week.

A Dundalk man is in big trouble in Saint Mary's county after getting busted for police impersonation. This is not the first time 30-year-old Donald James Church Jr. (Pictured Right) has impersonated a police officer. He has prior convictions for assault and police impersonation, and more then a few Patch comments indicate he's been at it for a while.

A third suspect has been busted on charges related to the Lutherville "pill mill." New York resident Alina Margulis, 45, is facing drug distribution charges or her role in the ever widening conspiracy. Kind of curious why this is being held in County court, not Federal...

Carjacker Tyrone Royster, 24, has been sentenced to 10 years in the Federal can after pleading guilty to his role in a Christmas carjacking. Co-defendant Winston Golder, 22, was also sentenced to 10 years.

Finally, two leaders of the Latrobe Homes drug gang have been given significant federal prison sentences. New York resident Shawn Johnson, age 41, has been exiled for 13 years after pleading guilty to importing massive amounts of heroine into Baltimore from 2008 to 2011. Co-defendant and street level leader Antonio McNeely received 11 years for similar charges. 

Life for Rape

Hack cabbie Samuel Queen got life plus 63 years for raping a woman who got into his car.

Bernstein for the win

From the State's Attorney's Office:

May 23, 2012 -- Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul Smith sentenced William Carr today to life in prison plus 25 years for robbing and murdering a 55-year-old beverage delivery man who was working at a busy shopping plaza at the time of the attack.

On April 6, 2012, a Baltimore City jury convicted Carr, 50, of first-degree felony murder; armed robbery; two counts of using a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

At approximately 3 p.m. on June 28, 2011, Carr approached Chong Wan Yim with a handgun and demanded his vest. Yim was carrying money in the vest, having just completed a delivery to a retailer in the Erdman Shopping Center in the 3900 block of Erdman Avenue. Yim attempted to resist the armed robbery attempt. The two struggled next to Yim's delivery truck as shoppers looked on. Ending the fight, Carr shot and killed Yim and then ran away.

A cashier and customer at a nearby Rite-Aid store observed the murder, identified Carr in a photo array, and testified against him at trial. Police provided additional evidence, including an analysis of fingerprint and palm prints found on the delivery truck where Yim and Carr had struggled, determining that they belonged to the defendant.

Twin cleared, officer ID'd

Justin Fenton: City police have identified the officer in the weekend police shooting as Gregory Bragg. Suspect grabbed another officer's gun, police say (from FB)


A woman in Hampden was assaulted with pliers, says the Patch

Kenisha Thomas, the mother accused of stabbing her baby at a Social Services office, saying "if I can't have her nobody can," was indicted by a Grand Jury. 

In HoCo, twin Wael Ali was cleared of killing his brother Wasel

Good tips for dealing with the police from Tucker Max, of all people, with bonus Chris Rock video, "How to Not Get Beaten by the Police."

If you're thinking of inseminating yourself with your dead husband's sperm for the Social Security benefits, SCOTUS says think again. Also considering for consideration: if it's excessive force to Taser® a pregnant woman.

Media Blabber: in spite of their pay-reporters-nothing business model, AOL's Patch is laying off about 20 employees, including former Sun VP of Interactive Tim Windsor.
And word on the street is the Tribune Co. will try to sell its newspapers after it emerges from bankruptcy.

An Update That Was Well Worth the Wait

Police shoot and kill a mentally-ill man inside his home. 31-year-old Maurice Holloman was shot while "attempting to grab an officer's gun."

Remember Chey Jordan? You probably don't... but he was the then 20-year-old who shot a Baltimore police officer with a semi-automatic rifle for seemingly no reason? Well, he's been convicted and, sentenced to 25 years in prison. It's truly amazing that he only hit the officer's holstered weapon, causing it to fire itself. Although that's a lucky shot, I was under the impression guns only went off when shot in Spaghetti Westerns.

A suspected Molotov cocktail attack occurred in the 1100 block of Barclay St. forcing one person to go to the hospital. Is this a return of the Molotov Cocktail gang from last year?*

Two men are in serious condition after both are shot multiple times in the legs and feet at the intersection of Aisquith and Preston Street Saturday.

That will put a damper on the party... a 19-year-old out partying with friends got popped in his behind at the 400 block of Oldtown Mall Saturday night.

Frank Durika, a 36-year-old Essex man, was struck and killed by a vehicle in Dundalk Sunday night. Interesting trend in recent accidental county deaths, with less-than-wholesome people being the victims.. Durika had at least 11 felony convictions in the state of MD as an adult.

A few weeks back 26-year-old Robert Ey was struck and killed by the MARC train.


Finally, a pill mill was raided in Lutherville. Two men, Michael Reznikov, 51, and 78-year-old Gerald Wiseberg (Pictured Right) were arrested days later for their roles in the large-scale fraud. Neighboring businesses reportedly became suspicious when cars from everywhere from Kentucky to Florida showed up all day, every day. I myself am not the least bit surprised, because if you're going to house an illegal prescription drug ring, of course you're going to house it in the most unlegitimate/vaguely motel-looking building within a three mile radius.

Also... their online ad just seemed extremely legit:

A Drug Ring Goes Down

That major announcement has been revealed to be the fruits of a six month murder and drug investigation. 14 people were charged in either state or federal court for participating in a large scale drug ring run by Robert G. Moore. As well as running a massive drug ring, Moore and associates also spent a good chunk of 2011 terrorizing the small neighborhood that surrounded the 1900 block of N. Collington Ave.*
Among those charged were:

Drug Kingpin Robert G. Moore, 43; Currently Serving 8 years in state prison for an unrelated drug dealing conviction.

Sarah Hooker, 29; Facing separate drug dealing charges when indicted.

Anthony Roach, 35; Has a conviction related to attempted murder, as well as a multitude of drug dealing convictions. Currently awaiting trial for the 09/16/11 shooting of Allen Venable.

Donnie Adams, 34; Adams has multiple drug and gun convictions and is awaiting trial for gun possesion by a felon at the time of the indictment.

Quincy Chisholm, 21; Currently awaiting trial for shooting Edwin Willis on 09/19/11.

David Warren, 19; Warren had been charged with attempted murder a whopping three times by the time he turned 18. Also awaiting trial for Armed Robbery at the time if the indictment. 

Emmanuel Deminds, 34; Prior convictions for Attempted Murder and drug dealing.

Taylor Flemming, 16

Nizam Roach, 38; A convicted drug dealer with prior arrests for gun possession by a felon.

Charged Federally:
Gregory Fitzgerald, 46

Tommy Heard, 34; Heard has a prior manslaughter conviction, as well as several drug dealing convictions.

Curtis Byrd Jr., 37; Byrd has prior arrests for kidnapping and large scale drug dealing, and at least one actual drug dealing conviction.

Black October

More from homicide lieutenant Stephen Tabeling on the murder of State Delegate Turk Scott, a suspected heroin dealer and the involvement of mysterious vigilante group Black October.

Missing Parkville Girl

Folks are getting pretty worried about missing Parkville girl Brooke Amanda Springer, last seen taking an evening stroll to the local Royal Farms Monday night. If you have seen the 15-year-old pictured right, let the County Police know.

WTG COA

From TDR on FB:

The Daily Record

BREAKING - The Court of Appeals has held Maryland must recognize the marriage of same-sex couples who legally wed in other states. More to come...

No more than 3 years for killer tweens

The 12- and 13-year-olds who killed Monae Turnage in March have been sentenced already - the younger one to the custody of relatives, the older to a "treatment facility" for a maximum of three years.

Must be a big-azz indictment...

From team Bernstein:

To discuss the results of a joint six-month investigation into an alleged murder and drug conspiracy, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein, Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld, Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, and U.S. Attorney for Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein will conduct a news conference tomorrow.

11 a.m. at the Mitchell Courthouse. What could it be? Mass quantities of narcotics? Clown- cars full of conspirators? A white girl? Possibly some newly uncovered conspirators from the McCants-Baker gang re. Cherrie Gammon? ... Money, Miami, Tay and Roland have been indicted federally).
UPDATE: Fenton reports it relates to murdered wrestler/ cancer survivor* Darian Kess, stabbed in the neck during a home invasion*.

National: Jeffrey Toobin on the backstory of Citizens United in the NYker this week

Oh, the douchery!

Lazy city workers faked water-meter readings*, hosing residents of Homeland and Endor Gardens with a golden shower of quintupled bills. Check your water bills, y'all!

Chrissy Lee Polis: I Want to See Other Things

McDonald's beating victim Chrissy Lee Polis has lost touch with the Trans Panthers and says she needs to get "a life," but sounds too flaky and impulsive* to make the most of the platform she's been given. And her sweet rescuer Vicky Thoms still looks over her shoulder whenever she goes out. Grow up, Chrissy! Stand for something! ... doesn't look like the Trans Panthers have done much either, though, but try to sell adorable purple berets.

So Much for the Sunday Truce...

More killings this week than there were days, including four murders on Sunday. So here's a recap of the last 10 victims...

65. Quintin Poindexter, an 18-year-old who was a part of the City's gun offender registry, and was awaiting trial on drug dealing charges, was shot to death outside an elementary school on the 5th.

66. Robert Bond, 21, has been identified as the man found dead in an abandoned home in the 3000 Oakley Ave. Bond had recently been released from prison, having been given a three-and-a-half-year sentence in May of 2011.*

67.  Shavar Little, a 28-year-old man with a long criminal history that included several arrests for armed robbery and a conviction related to an Attempted Murder charge, was shot to death  in the 1900 block of Aisquith Street.

68. Terrence Anderson, 19 (Pictured Right)  Was shot dead in the 600 block of North Eutaw St. Anderson had been charged with an armed robbery in the county back in 2009. A link to his memorial page.

69. Cornell Booker, a 46-year-old man, was drunk and arguing with his girlfriend in the 300 block of Whitridge Ave. when his unidentified son knocked him causing Booker to hit his head on the sidewalk and lapse into a coma. He later died. No one has been charged, and the son has not been identified. Booker has a son, also named Cornell Booker, who recently was released from Federal prison earlier this year.*

70. Christopher Jabar Mobley, 28, was the last of four fatalities Tuesday, having been shot dead in the 3400 block of Piedmont Ave.

71. Thomas Weddington, a 34-year-old man, with several convictions for mostly drug-related offenses, was stabbed to death during an argument in the 2600 block of Park Heights Terrace. A suspect has been arrested, but not identified. Weddington was the first of four men murdered on Mothers' Day.

72. Derrick Lawson, a 33-year-old man with prior arrests for attempted murder and armed robbery, as well a several drug-dealing convictions, was shot to death in the 4000 block of West Franklin St.

73. Dominick Brown, a 24-year-old man who does not appear to have a criminal record, was shot to death in the 200 block of Herring Ct, a part of the Perkins Homes public housing development.

74. Lacy Lamb, 19, was shot to death through a basement window as he played video games in his home in the 1600 block of East 32nd St. Lamb did not have an adult criminal record. He was the last of four men killed Sunday,

75. An as of yet Unidentified Male was shot to death Monday in the 1100 block of N. Milton Ave.

This week's Murder Ink has more information on all of these murders. It has also reported that 24-year-old Markez Jones has been charged with the July 2011 murder of Marvin Hayes, stabbed during a game of basketball. 

Prison Rape is No Joke

An ex-con shareholder in the country's biggest prison company has better insights than anyone on the board about the company's business practices, and he's introducing a resolution to hold the corporation accountable for prison rape and sex abuse. This is a great idea if you want to make a difference-- buying a little stock in a rotten company and proceeding to pester them. Nuns have used this technique effectively, though, of course, Alex Friedmann is no nun...

(New link to add to the sidebar: Prison Legal News)

Bribing, Bmore Style

This state contractor working for child support collections gets caught taking a bribe, or at least what he thought was a bribe.

.. to jail! Donnell Mackey got 53 years for breaking into a house with a female accomplice, tying up a lady and her nephew and pistol-whipping them. Anybody feel like search guy's record to see how many priors? I'm going to guess.. 19. What do you think...?

Violent Ex's Turn Out to Be... Violent

A man is in custody after brutally murdering his one-time girlfriend and tying up her young son. Edward Ford, 36, has been charged with the asphyxiation murder of 44-year-old Cheryl Thomas.* Thomas had at one time attempted to get a restraining order from Ford, although she never actually received a full protective order.

The body of a man found shot do death outside Windsor Hills Elementary School has been Id'd as 18-year-old gun registry member Quinton Poindexter.

Several folks were shot in the head this weekend causing two reported fatalities. WBAL reports a man shot in the head at the 600 block of Eutaw Place died, although it hasn't been reported anywhere else. Definitively shot and killed this weekend was 21-year-old Robert Bond, who was shot and killed in the 3000 block of Oakley Ave. Bond, had apparenly just, just, just gotten out of prison, having been sentenced to three and a half years in May of 2011 on an Assault VOP.

Another conviction for team Bernstein, this time it was 34-year-old Antonio Moore, convicted of first degree murder of killing Avon Beasley during a petty squabble back in 2010.

Sure to garner no one's sympothy, 42-year-old career criminal William Bryson was shot by a store clerk during an attempted robbery. Bryson was not fatally injured and faces a bevy of charges related to the holdup try.

40 years in prison for the killing of a 91-year-old woman. Anthony Robinson (Pictured Right), plead guilty to killing 91-year-old Irene Logan in the summer of 2011. Robinson was collared thanks to DNA found on used cigarette near the crime scene.

This weeks Murder Ink attempts to catch up on the multitude of revisions that the City police have thrown out regarding recent homicide tallys. Now the murder of Phylicia Barnes is being moved to it's rightful place on the 2011 tally, bringing last years total up to 197. Also, two more murders have been added to the 2009 tally bringing it up to 240. The deaths of Mia Nichols, killed by her onetime beau Tyrone Webb Jr, and Andrew Giancoli, a 48-year-old man found dead in his car over in AACO back in '09 have been added to that years tally.

Remember the CCBC Essex creeper taking looks under the stalls the ladies room? Well, he's been caught, and surprise surprise, this is not he first time he's been creeping around these parts, not by a long shot. Zachary Campbell, 20, (Pictured Right) has been charged with perverted practices at several local colleges. Since turning 18, Campbell has been charged in six different instances of being a "Peeping Tom," including an ongoing case in the City. Of those 6 cases, he has not once been given any actual jail time and remains off the Sex Offender Registry. If any of you ladies out there (or men, don't know the guy's MO for sure) recognize this guy as a bathroom creeper you've seen, let the police know.

Funeral services have been held in Baltimore for Reverend Mary-Marguerite Kohn, who was among two Ellicott City church workers killed by a disgruntled homeless man last week.

Someone broke into the the Waverly Y.

 As soon as they catch one Robber, another one pops up. Police are ISO a hooded Dundalkian who held up a Quick Mart at knifepoint.

The shootings in Essex seem to be piling up, this time, someone took a slug in the 100 block of Mace Ave early Saturday.

A boatload of burglaries have bungled a bevy of Lutherville businesses.

The Towson Patch has the latest Towson crimes in the slimelight, including a knife-point robbery in the heart of Towson, and an apparent attempted gang rape at the Towson Manor Park, or as locals affectionately call it, the "Baby Ghetto." (And it's doing a swell job of living up to its nickname.)

As the robocall trial is coming to a close, defendant Julius Henson took the stand. Whether he used his time wisely is up for debate, as he spent a good deal of his time shifting the blame onto everyone not named Julius Henson.


A "suspicious package" Tuesday morning put folks in Middle River on high alert. Although no update has been given, it's safe to assume that since the area is not currently swarming with Federal agents, the package in question was in fact, likely not a bomb.

Finally, the most recent crime beat, this one being from the Southeast area, has a purse snatching,  "Project Beat Down," and the robbery of a sex shop.

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.