April 1

There's been a "police-involved shooting" tonight on Greenmount and 25th.

A sentencing hearing for Harold Singfield, 20, of Ensor Street, is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday. A Baltimore City jury convicted Singfield February 11 of second-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and a handgun violation for the death of Wayne Fisher, 30. Says the State's Attoney's office:

"In the morning hours of May 13, 2003, in the 1500 block of Argyle Avenue, Singfield, Jr. was approached by the victim concerning a drug debt owed to the victim by Singfield, Jr. An argument ensued during which Singfield, Jr. withdrew a .380 caliber handgun and shot Fisher one time. Fisher then attempted to flee but fell to the ground. Singfield, Jr. then proceeded to straddle Fisher's prone body and shoot him five more times resulting in Fisher's death. Singfield, Jr. then ran from the scene. Witnesses positively identified Singfield, Jr. as the shooter. Additionally, during the course of his flight from the crime scene, Singfield, Jr. disposed of certain items of clothing in close proximity to the crime scene. These items were subsequently positively matched to Singfield, Jr. by way of DNA analysis. Singfield, Jr. fled Baltimore and was ultimately apprehended in Rock Hill, South Carolina, approximately one month after the murder."

In Ellicott City, the case of the guy who sodomized the family cat is drawing to a close; Steven Richard Schatz was found guilty of animal abuse and may get up to three years for his mistreatment of Clyde.

Two Maryland men were sentenced to life without parole for the execution-style slaying of a mother and daughter in Bighamton, New York.

The heroin addict who stabbed his mother to death in the walk-in fridge of the Subway got 20 years. That means he'll be eligible for parole in 10. (By the way, when I wrote some un-nice things about the Sun's reporting style I didn't mean you, Andrea Siegel! You're good goods!)

A stay of execution has been granted for Vernan Evans, Jr. The court has agreed to hear his appeal based on a January 2003 study by University of Maryland professor Raymond Paternoster that showed that blacks who killed whites were more likely to get the death penalty.

The arrest of "Fat Kenny," a mugged epileptic and a stolen Hyundai in the blotter.

In Pasadena, the murder trial of the suspected killers of Noah Jamahl Jones goes on.

Sentencing is scheduled for today at 2 p.m. for Aaron Morehead, 19. Morehead pled guilty to first-degree child abuse January 25. On August 21, 2004 Morehead beat his four-month old son, Nathan Morehead, causing a fractured skull.

In Montgomery County, a hostage situation was diffused after a man shot his wife and another woman.

Three New Hampshire rape suspects who posed as door-to-door salesmen were arrested in Aberdeen.

There'll be no bail for Donta Allen (the suspected killer of Linda Trinh).

A Baltimore City jury convicted Hugh Wade, 55, today of one "conspiracy to commit theft" count, 23 "counterfeit" counts and eight counts of identity fraud after approximately three hours of deliberation and two days of testimony. Judge Allen L. Schwait scheduled sentencing for June 1. Wade faces a maximum possible prison term of 285 years. Baltimore County Police Department Economic Crimes Unit executed a search and seizure warrant at Wade’s residence on April 25 of 2003. Police recovered multiple separate counterfeit checks in various stages of production and numerous personal identifications that had been previously reported lost or stolen. During the investigation it was discovered that these identifications were used to pass counterfeit checks in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

Douglas Andrew Kukucka, accused of e-mailing threats to local officials, is on the lam in Harford County.

A former State Highway Administration employee has admitted to taking bribes... in one instance buying overpriced cans of "Whoop Ice" in exchange for pens.

In Bel Air, 28-year-old teacher John Zappola has been indicted for sexually abusing one of his students

March 31

Anne Arundel County prosecutors are persuing the death penalty for Alexander Watson Jr., who was charged with three murders in the 80's after he was linked to them using DNA-testing technology.

Theft, burglary, robberies, shootings, arrests in the blotter.

A five-year-old boy was hit with a stray bullet in the Southeastern district. Also, the death of 19-year-old Jesse Peay has been ruled a homicide.

March 30

I'll come out and say it: PG County rep Joe Vallario is a big fudgeclown for single-handedly blocking the witness intimidation bill. I hope anyone reading will give his office a call at (410) 841-3488, (301) 858-3488, or toll-free at 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3488 and ask him what this reasons are, because he won't even comment to the press (?!). I guess he doesn't care about the public as he's about to retire. Meanwhile, his home district remains a cesspool of violence. Here's his web site, if you care to know what sub-par schools he attended. Hope your PG County pals are happy, because the rest of us who are terrified to report our drug-dealing neighbors certainly are not. Jerk.

The murder trial of Martay Delvon Powell, 18, of Elmley Avenue, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow before Judge Allen L. Schwait at 400 Mitchell Courthouse East on 110 N. Calvert Street. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Powell May 28 of last year for first-degree murder. Court documents allege Powell shot and killed Damon Martin in the 200 block of Collington Avenue on March 11, 2004.

At a hearing today, Victor Vanderheiden, 45, of South Bond Street pled guilty to the involuntary manslaughter of Langford Woodhouse, 49. Judge David Mitchell sentenced Vanderheiden to 10 years in prison, with all but two years suspended (if you're paying attention you'll note that's one year dude has to serve). On October 17, 2004 in the 900 block of North Broadway Street Vanderheiden, Woodhouse and some other friends, who were homeless, got into an altercation. Vanderheiden pushed Woodhouse into the water, where the victim drowned. An autopsy showed the victim had been heavily drinking and had a blood-alcohol level of .38.

Albert Mosley has filed a $40 million brutality suit against the city, claiming officer Bryan Kershaw attacked and paralyzied him while he was in a holding cell. Isn't it kind of bad news when your own lawyer refers to you as "a drunk?"

"Gee, rilly?" story of the day: apparently Frederick County's legacy as a KKK stronghold is making it difficult for the police to recruit minority applicants.

Do not miss this week's City Paper cover story about Baltimore's gunshot-wound survivors, a stunning photo essay by Jefferson Jackson Steele. When you live in this town and read and hear every day about the violence, it's easy to forget the human toll behind the numbers, and this piece poignantly brings eight of these victims to life.

And here's the link to the murder ink.

A man's been murdered in Randallstown... Eric Ronnell Keith, 20, was found shot to death last night. This is murder #11 for Baltimore County.

Anyone who's ever had to pay $63 in late fees for Happy Gilmore will be happy to hear that O'Malley's father-in-law and 46 other attorneys general have squeezed a $630,000 settlement out of Blockbuster for those deceptive "No Late Fees" ads.

Only day after the Hickey School settlement, there's now tales of abuse at the Baltimore Juvenile Justice Center and the Alfred D. Noyes Children's Center. Naked groin-punching, hey, they're kids, not liberated Iraqis!

March 29

Cleeetuusss! The University of Maryland Medical Center has misplaced a heckofalota OxyContin

The State's Attorney announced that last Friday a Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Akiba Matthews, 32, for two counts of possession and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. If convicted on all counts, Matthews could face a maximum prison term of 40 years.

Ugh, I hate these stories... a two-month old in Laurel is in critical condition after being beaten, alledgedly by her mother.

Shoplifter Heather Calp is in a heap of trouble after dragging a police officer with her Saturn. She was last seen at the Joppa Road Giant.

After being denied a license in PA, first cousins Eleanor Amrhein and Donald Andrews got hitched in Maryland. This story also hit the wire and has been covered in about 100 sources.

This article about police book-cooking slips in a detail I haven't heard, and I can't find the source to verify but here it is anyway: "An audit in Baltimore found that police there underreported crime by 14.5 percent in 1999."

New commissioner Leonard Hamm's policy that gives police officers brownie points for seizing drugs, making arrests and issuing parking tickets is under fire. Observes police PR guy Matt Jablow, "the appearance of having a quota is very, very bad."

A lawsuit has been settled against the corporation that used to run the Hickey School (Baltimore County's juvenile "detention center"). Twnety-nine year old Amy Bibighaus was raped by a 15-year-old inmate, and then was charged with statutory rape after the incident. (Interestingly, the AP has picked up the story and it's gone nationwide. I can never predict what they'll go for.)

Attempted rape (which the Sun strangely calls a "rape try"), a guy shot in the legs and plenty of burglary in the blotter.

The governor pardoned six convicts yesterday, and has now pardoned a total of 76, which has got to be some kind of record.

Also in Annapolis, the house passed a bill that would make harming a fetus a crime. Yet somehow it doesn't confer "personhood or rights" on the fetus. Nor does it make fetus-harming an aggravating circumstance that would make the murder of the mother a death-penalty case. So how it'll actually be applied is a total mystery.

Here's more details about the Hugh Wade forgery case I mentioned yesterday. He sounds like quite the dramatic.

March 26-28

Baltimore County just experienced the 10th homicide of 2005. No suspects, no motive in shooting of Todd Daniel McCoy.

The counterfeit and forgery trial of Hugh Wade will continue tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Allen L. Schwait, 400 Mitchell Courthouse.

Some good news: the city drug overdose fatality rate is down 12 percent.

That had better be a real crackhead in your living room: Starting Friday, Howard County will fine residents $50 for false alarms.

BaltoCoPo are seeking two armed robbery suspects.

March 25

Quit making a "big deal" out of his DUI and other criminal activities said Aruban judge-puncher Sindey Ponson. He added, "Some of you guys [the press] want to live our life off the feild." Uh, non gracias to that. If you want to read more about our resident big fat drunken civic embarassment, here's something from the MLB site. (Rick Bowman/AP photo left)

Sophie Kerr prize award-winner Angela Haley has been arrested for marijuana possession.

A former U of M wrestler, Salvatore Aquia, was hit by a car during a road-rage incident.

Baltimore Police seem to have a real talent for arresting suspects fleeing from other states. Yesterday they nabbed DeWayne Lee Mackell, wanted in North Carolina for shooting two women.

And police in Camden, New Jersey, caught a fleeing Baltimore (alledged) murderer and coke dealer Vance White.

Six arrests have been made in the shooting death of Christopher Weaver, a Baltimorean pot peddler and business student at Hampton University in Virginia.

The bail review of Donta Allen is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. today at the Wabash Ave. District Court building. The Alpha Phis are breathing a sigh of relief. (Bizarre quote of the day: "The fact that she knew him is kind of disturbing," said junior Vijay Sudan. "I think I would have felt a little more comfortable if it was a more disconnected, random act.") Meanwhile, Hopkins hopes to have security cameras on its Homewood campus, in the Moument Street area and on Charles Street by June.

A disgruntled pizza shop employee in White Marsh has been charged with murder after stabbing store owner Amir Shahmaee in the neck.

According to a new policy, Baltimore County Police will no longer be allowed to sell guns.

The mother of murdered 15-year-old Lauren Zinsavage (left) is furious that her murderer will be eligible for parole in 7 1/2 years. (Note to WBAL, he got 15 years, not 10).

BTW, I spoke with the very helpful and friendly Mark Vernorelli of the Department of Corrections yesterday, who explained to me that in Maryland, prisoners convincted of a violent crime are eligible for parole after serving half of their time. Perps of non-violent crimes only have to serve one-fourth (!).

And speaking of non-violent crimes... two married Pikesville lawyers, Christie and Jonas Needleman, are accused of conspiracy to distribute OxyContin.

March 24

Theral Isadore Harris, 25, pled guilty to second-degree murder today before Judge Thomas J.S. Waxter, Jr. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with all but 15 years suspended. n the early morning hours of August 18, 2004 Harris and the victim, Lauren Zinsavage, 15, and other individuals were walking in the 3100 block of Gough Street in Highlandtown. Zinsavage followed Harris into an alley where witnesses heard one gunshot. She was found with one shot in the chest. The City Paper reported last August that they were fighting over a cell phone.

Milton K. Engle, 70, pled guilty to attempted first-degree murder today. He now faces a maximum prison term of 20 years and will be sentenced on May 23. On September 28, 2004 Engle hit his live-in girlfriend, Darlene Burke, 31, in the head repeatedly with a sledgehammer at their home in the 600 block of Savage Street. Ms. Burke suffered permanent brain damage and is now partially paralyzed and requires 24/7 medical care.

Donta Allen's bail review is scheduled for tomorrow at Wabash district court. Police say that he confessed to attempted robbery and assaulting Trinh soon after he was arrested but denies killing her.

Robbery, burglary, robbery in the blotter.

There's a certain criminal element that hangs out downtown... and the call themselves the Orioles. Anger management classes are apparently not having much effect on pitcher Sidney Ponson, who, after an 11-day stay in an Aruba jail for hitting a judge, showed up to practice with an injured hand from hitting somebody else. Meanwhile, another Oriole picher, Eric DuBose, was arrested for drunken driving in Florida.

Trial has been delayed until June for the three teenagers (Antonio Williamson, Percy Johnson and Sean Howard) charged with shooting students as they exited Thurgood Marshall High School in East Baltimore.

Plenty of robberies, shoplifting, drugs et al. in Laurel and PG County, and lots of crack in Annapolis.

A Frederick high school chemistry teacher, Donald Glen Wiggins Jr., 35, who taught Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, pleaded guilty Monday to molesting a 17-year-old student.

March 23

Found an article that might explain why two people have been shot in the head on Chinquapin Parkway this year... apparently it's the territory of the local Bloods. If you're not familiar, the Bloods were founded in 1972 in Compton as a counterpoint to the Crips. Both are black gangs, but have been known to be affiliated with other groups, such as MS-13 (usually affiliated with the Crips and currently the most violent gang in DC, if not the country).

Bloods= the color red and bright colors, and red team jerseys, the right side, Biggie and L'il Kim, graffiti with the letter "C' crossed out, also "OTM" (out tha mob or on tha move) and "MOB" (member of bloods).

Crips= color blue and dark colors, left side, Suge, Snoop and Dre, symbol of the pitchfork, GD (Gangster Disciples), graffiti with Star of David, 8 ball, letter B crossed out, LA sports team gear, affiliated with the Latin Kings (last I heard).
In both gang$, u$e of the dollar $ign as an 's' means they're $elling narcotic$.

A 27-year-old Cheesecake Factory employee, Donta Allen, has been arrested for the murder of Hopkins student Linda Trinh. Police held a press conference at 4 p.m. today. The Washington Post reports that police took a DNA sample from Allen a month ago, and were waiting for test results to come back before arresting him.

Arrests, muggings, blah blah in the blotter.

Murder Ink tally: Four this week, 55 this year. And here's last week's.

And the Keith Jennings sexual assault trial has been postponed to May 31.

Cumbersome bloomers and petticoats will be things of the past if Annapolis passes a bill fighting "upskirting" and "downblousing".

In Montgomery county, 19-year-old high schooler Jose Carrillo is accused of pistol-whipping two classmates with a BB gun (mmm... pistol whip...).

Also in MoCo, 27-year-old Ofni Gonzalez is accused of arson.

Kithric Pearly, wanted for murder in Orlando, Florida, was arrested in Baltimore by our intrepid police.

Kenyatta Costes, 19, was paid $1,630 by Baltimore City yesterday after being jailed for 163 days after she failed to show up to testify at a murder trial.

Leonard D. Hamm was quietly sworn in as Baltimore's police commissioner on Monday.

The "cameras-in-shopping-mall-parking-lots" bill was passed.

Rachel L. Riffee was found guilty of misdemeanor electronic harrassment after sending obscenity-laced missives to the brother of a murder victim.

BoCo police are investigating the shooting of Steven McGilton, who was shot by an officer in White Marsh after brandishing a lead pipe.

March 20-23

Back from yet another vacation, with another load from the State's Attorney. Justice never sleeps! I'll report this Baltimore Sun-style, aka copied almost verbatim from the press release...

Duane Garrett is scheduled for bail review this morning. On January 18, Garrett shot and killed Pierre Forrester, 23, as he was exiting his car. Forrester was shot several times in front of his residence on N. Central Avenue. Family members heard the gunshots, came outside and attempted to render aid to the victim. Two bullets were recovered from the front door of the next door neighbors' house.

The attempted first-degree murder trial of Antonio Williamson, 16, of the 700 block of Mello Court, Percy Johnson, 17, of the 10 block of Southeast Avenue, and Sean Howard, 17, of the 1500 block of East Fayette Street, was scheduled to begin this morning. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Williamson November 12, 2004, Johnson November 22, 2004 and Howard December 1, 2004 with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and handgun violations. Court documents allege that Williamson shot two teenagers on October 21, 2004 in front of Thurgood Marshall High School at 5700 Moravia Drive. Williamson is currently being held on a no bail status at the Baltimore City Jail.

Antoine Adams and Richard Damon Jr. pled not guilty yesterday. This was the pair accused of robbing and murdering Penelope Sharpe-Medina, Theresa Moore, Michael Mick and Justin Gaglione.

The sex offense trial of Baltimore Police Officer Keith Alexander Jennings, 37, of the 1000 block of Billie Holliday Court, was scheduled to begin this morning before Judge Joseph P. McCurdy at the Calvert Street courthouse. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Jennings more than a year ago for first-degree sex offense, kidnapping, false imprisonment and misconduct in office. Court documents allege that in the early evening of January 15, 2004, Officer Jennings, while on duty, kidnapped and sexually assaulted an 18-year old woman. On February 26 of last year, Jennings was released on $250,000 bail.

On Monday, Michelle McKnight, 36, of the 5800 block of The Alameda, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter. McKnight faces a maximum penalty of ten years in the can when Judge Joseph McCurdy sentences her on May 16. On May 30 of last year McKnight stabbed her husband, Thomas McKnight, while inside their home. McKnight remains held at the Baltimore City Detention Center on a no-bail status.

On Tuesday the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Ryan Jason Conaway Lamana, 27, of Lutherville for automobile manslaughter in connection with the death of Chardan Lorenzo Johnson, 18. The indictment also charges Lamana with driving under the influence of alcohol. On October 26 of 2003, in the 4200 block of Frederick Avenue, Lamana's automobile struck a vehicle driven by Johnson.

At a hearing last Thursday the 17th, Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Mark A. Batts, 36, to life in prison plus 20 years, with the sentences to run consecutively (in Maryland, "life" is defined as 15 years, which in some parts of the city is about accurate.) A Baltimore City jury convicted Batts December 23, 2004 of first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence for the murder of Stephen Francois, 41. On March 29 of 2002, Batts laid in wait for Francois in the 3800 block of Fords Lane and shot him to death. Batts and Francois had argued that week over a woman.

Also on the 17th, Kendall Jones, 29, of West Lafayette Avenue, got 50 years in prison after being convicted last month of first-degree assault, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and reckless endangerment. Jones got 25 years for the assault count, 20 years for the handgun count and five years for the reckless endangerment count with the sentences to run consecutively. On July 14, 2003, Jones chased a group of women and children inside of a house in the 500 block of Half Mile Court, shooting at them. Fortunately, no one was injured but the house.

March 19th

Lots of crime! Not enough time!

A White Marsh woman left for a concert on March 6th and never arrived. She was last seen southbound near the harbor tunnel.


Edgar West, Jr. has been charged with molesting his 2 foster children and his own daughter for years. He denies the charges. The Sun reports that "Attorney Mitchell Y. Mirviss, who is monitoring the state's compliance with a 16-year-old federal consent decree from a lawsuit on behalf of the city's foster children, said children being sent to abusive foster homes has been a longstanding problem."

Disgruntled ex-employee goes homicidal in an Owings Mills pizza shop.

A man is found fatally shot on Chinquapin Parkway in Northeast Baltimore.

Elsewhere:

In Rockville, an HIV-positive man was sentenced to 66 years in prison for raping a 16 year old and a 14 year old. Nice guy--not only is he a pedophile and a rapist, but he knew he had HIV when he did it! 66 years wasn't enough.

March 16

Yesterday Norman Hock III pled guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal automobile accident. He faces a maximum of 5 years in prison when sentenced May 10. Makes you wonder how much he would have gotten for the DUI...

Glad to see arrests have been made in the shooting of 18-year-old Reginald Gray and his 16-year-old friend.

But there's still more dead black teenagers in the Ink.

Melissa Harton, a 25-year-old Loyola doctoral student (studying clincal psych, no less) is charged with strangling her drinking buddy Natasha Bacchus of Burtonsville and dumping her body in front of the Dorsey pool building. I like the expert quote: "Wow ... strangling someone takes a level of emotion that shooting a gun doesn't."

Fleeing North Carolinian murder suspect DeWayne Mackell was arrested in our lovely 'burg yesterday.

The sex offense trial of Donald Tymous, 48, of the 30 block of S. Calverton Road, is scheduled to begin today before Judge Joseph P. McCurdy at the Courthouse East on Calvert. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Tymous August 4 for second, third and fourth-degree sex offense, perverted practice and second-degree assault. Court documents allege Tymous had sexual contact with "an adult male who has the mental ability of a child" between January 2003 and May 2003. Ew.

In other a-hole boyfriend news,

Juan Pablo Navarro Juarez got 33 years followed by deportation to Mexico for beating his (then) 17-year-old girlfriend Shannon Pierre-Jerome into a coma with a piece of a bed frame. He punctured her brain, then bitched about getting hit with a flashlight when he was arrested. Here's hoping he gets a thorough ass-reaming every remaining day of his miserable life, and then a few in hell.

And police found the body of dancer Emily Cagal (right) buried in the woods in Upper Marlboro. Her ex-boyfriend and his roommate are under arrest for the murder. Don't you love how JZ uses photographs of a television set on their page? Too cheap for a scanner?

What's with Annapolis? Is William Kennedy Smith's boat docked down there? Reported rapes have increased an incredible 31.5 percent this year! Also this week a guy got stabbed at a birthday party, the KFC got robbed and a woman got hit in the neck with a paintball.

March 14-15

Returning from vacation, I see I haven't missed much... let's open the inbox and see what the State's Attorney has been up to..

Well, the Grand Jury indicted Teon Hall, 28, of 243 Admiral Drive, Annapolis, Maryland for first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Craig Morris, 32. Hall was also indicted for attempted first-degree murder of Steven Kendall, 21, who survived his injuries. This was the case of mistaken identity in front of the Ritz Cabaret, as I recall. Teon will be arraigned April 5.

The trial of Norman Hock III will start tomorrow. He's an 18-year old indicted for automobile manslaughter and leaving the scene of the accident that killed 15-year-old Joshua Naparstek. This'll be before Judge Joseph McCurdy at the courthouse east on Calvert Street.

Bryant Thompson, 20, is being arraigned today. He was indicted last month for first-degree murder for shooting Damon Lamont Brooks in his apartment.

And Antoine Adams, 32, was indicted in connection with the shooting death and armed robbery of Penelope Sharpe-Medina, 43. Last month the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Adams and a co-defendant, Richard Damon, for the double homicide of Theresa Moore, 51, and Michael Mick, 40, on January 20, 2005. Adams and Damon were also indicted for first-degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy for the shooting death of Justin Michael Gaglione, 29, on January 14 in the 300 block of E. 20th street. Adams is being held on a no bail status. An arraignment for all four murders is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22 in the courtroom of Honorable Lynn K. Stewart, 215 Clarence Mitchell Courthouse.

And the first and second-degree assault trial of Baltimore City police officer Hadyn D. Gross, 24, was scheduled to begin yesterday. Says the state, "The indictment stems from a verbal confrontation between Gross and the victim, Peter Bell, that occurred on October 10, 2004 in front of the Speak-Easy bar located in the 1000 block of Linwood Avenue."

Also scheduled to start yesterday was the murder trial of Asmar Rashad Holland, 17. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Holland last month for two counts of first-degree murder. Court documents allege that on May 18, 2002 Holland shot and killed Joseph Harris, 16. Court documents further allege that on December 1, 2003 Holland shot and killed
Earl Ross, 39, at his home in the 600 block of Bartlett Street.

I guess everyone's heard by now that Brian Nichols of the Atlanta courthouse freakout is from Baltimore.

Depressing stat of the day: one in five Black men in Baltimore are in jail right now, and those three hots and a cot are costing the city $22k a prisoner a year.

New Dept. of Homeland Security immigration laws are bring used to arrest Baltimore members of a South American street gang.

Arrest, theft, robbery in the blotter.

Attention carjackers and stick-up artists... Towson Town Center won't have security cameras in the parking garage until at least December. Easy pickin's.

A deputy from the sewage treatment plant shot up the place.

A Bel Air man, Paul Neumyer, has pled guilty to assaulting a 15-year-old he met on the Internet. Okay, even at 15, wouldn't you have been a little suspicious of a Secret Service agent demanding a blowjob?

March 10-14

In a most excellent investigative piece, City Paper's Stephen Janis asks this week: Could it be that Baltimore's crime problem is related to the lead-paint epidemic? Could it be that lead in the drinking fountains at Baltimore City schools created a generation of brain-damaged, aggressive children? And if, so, what do we do about it now?

We're up to 48 murders in the city, including a man who was strangled next to the Ravens' stadium last month whose death was only recently reclassified by the cororner.

March 8-9

The much-needed witness-intimidation bill is being held up by PG county legislator Josheph Vallario (left). When asked about his vote, Vallario explained, "YALL THINK YALL GOT SUGE AND MELO BUT WE GOING KILL EVRYLAST BITCHASS POP SNITCHIN NIGGANOWHATIMSAYN."*

Is 38 years enough for throwing acid in someone's face?

Is loving someone of the same sex a crime? The legislature is tring to figure it out.

* my mother insists that I label this clearly as satire

March 6-7

The sex abuse trial of Darryl Purefoy, 34, of the 9100 block of Liberty Road in Randallstown, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.tomorrow before Allen L. Schwait at the Mitchell Courthouse on Calvert Street. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Purefoy December 6, 2004 on more than 100 counts of sexual child abuse and other counts. Why this story hasn't been picked up by local news I don't know, it seems right up JZ's lurid little alley...

Three officers have been dismissed and two more have been punished as a reault of the prison bus strangling of Philip Parker. And the state is seeking the death penalty for strangler Kevin Johns, who was in jail for choking his uncle with a belt, trying to saw his head off and leaving him in a closet.

There'll be one more criminal in town when wife-beater Samari Rolle joins the Ravens. And there's currently one less as Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson is being detained in Aruba for hitting a judge in the face.

A $2,000 reward is being offered for leads in the shooting of two teenagers in Landsdowne Feb. 22.

In Frederick County cops nabbed some Brooklyn buttleggers.

March 5

The Sun has more details about Dundalk Murder Mom Denise Sims.

Crooked currency trader and former Mt. Washington resident John Rusnack (who lost $691 million of AIB/Allfirst's money) says that being in jail makes him feel "20 years younger."

"Only" one murder last week in the city-- 18-year-old Reginald Gray. But there was still an accidental shooting, a justifiable homicide, and a guy stabbed by someone named "Peaches."

Bmore's organized crime division is not impressed that 50 Cent's penned a song that, they say, touts Baltimore as a great place to deal heroin.

Interesting article from Toledo about the Catholic church's secrecy policies... it portrays the Baltimore archdiocese as the most open and proactive in reaching out to victims of sex abuse. Go Keeler. Baltimore's Catholic church has paid out $4.1 million to victims, which sounds shocking until you note that the Church has now paid $840 million to victims and $139.6 million to attorneys. According to the church, 4,392 priests have been accused of molesting minors in 10,667 cases between 1950 and 2002.

March 4

Way to go, Kima and McNulty ... Easy, Boobie, Hawkeye and a whole lot of other guys and girls (30 in total) were indicted for participating in a heroin distribution ring in Park Heights. The indictments were sealed until law enforcement officers executed arrest warrants on the defendants this week. Search warrants were executed in Baltimore City and Baltimore County that netted raw heroin, 32 guns, approximately 1400 gel capsules of heroin packaged for street-level sale and more than $200,000 in cash. The indictments are the result of an eight-month joint investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement partners, including the DEA, Baltimore Police Department Organized Crime Division, Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and the Baltimore County Police Department. Notes the State's Attorney's Office, "Many of the defendants are facing significant, mandatory, state sentencing penalties." PoPos 30, Garrett Bailey, Shawn Barnes, Tim Bates, Marlon G. Bell, Boobie, Danbrell T. Brown, Randolph H. Carter, Harry Cokley, Paul Cooper, Marc Crandell aka Hawkeye, Easy, Kenneth Farrington, Lenny Hess, Lamont Johnson, Taavaon C. Johnson, Delandies Lilly, Jr., Louie Livingston, Austin Mabbott, William M. Manns, Antoine K. Rich, Sean A. Smith, Anett J. Snyder, Bill St. John, Kevin K. Thompson, Hassan R. Tucker, Germaine V. Wallace, Bryant A. Warren, Sharma Williams, and Terry L. Williams, zero.

Traquan Johnson, 25, got 10 years for robbing banks in Owings Mills and PA.

Anthony A. Brown got life without parole yesterday for killing city police detective Thomas Newman. His accomplices also got life. The motive for the killing, says prosectuers, was revenge for testifying against Saunders' half-brother, Andre Travers, who was convicted of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

A 26-year-old man was shot at 3:30 a.m. on the 1st in PG County, and police apparently have no leads whatsoever.

Stolen baby food, a rammed cop car and a 14-year-old JC Penney's shoplifter in the blotter.

China's Human Rights Report on the U.S., Baltimore's rising murder rate deprives its citizens of basic life, liberty and security of person.

March 3

The cameraman of the infamous "Stop Snitching" video is doing his part for the cause ... his work on the DVD was apparently so compelling, witnesses woud be a waste of time. Not only did he list his name in the credits, he appeared on screen threatening people who might consider interfering with his drug business and then mocked people who don't sell drugs for a living. And then there's his house full of white stuff and the gel-cap-making machine. Ah, sweet irony, the snitch es tu.

Ehrlich BFF Al Redmer revealed during a subcommittee meeting that pro-rumermonger Joe Steffan's computer is currently under lock and key at the mayor's father-in-law's office on St. Paul Street.

Tie down your lawn chairs, kids... meth is spreading east.

Meanwhile, in the suburbs...
Dundalk murder mom Denise M. Lechner's parenting skills were well known to social services, a spokeswoman said yesterday.

Hours after Jessup's month-long lockdown was lifted, an inmate got shanked by a piece of a light fixture.

White Marsh gets this month's Wes Craven award for the most seemingly bucolic suburb where horrible things happen (sorry, Anne Arundel County): A Nigerian immigrant was found shot to death in a suburban subdivision close to the mall.

March 1-2

The conditions at Central Booking are being investigated by the state, and snow delayed Jessamy's scheduled appearance ata hearing on witness intimidation.

The drug kingpin trial of William Nicholson, 27, of the 100 block of Boxthorn Road, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday before Judge Albert Matricciani, 330 Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert St. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Nicholson on July 31, 2003 on kingpin and conspiracy narcotic counts. A "kingpin" is defined as a person who allegedly was part of a drug conspiracy in which he/she was the manager, organizer, supervisor, or financier of narcotics distribution. Court documents allege Nicholson supplied at least three high-volume dealers in the Baltimore City metro area with large quantities of cocaine. He faces a maximum prison term of 40 years if convicted.

It's been a year since the murder of Hopkins student and SC native Chris Elser, and police have filed the case under "cold."

The trial of Desmond Dickey is also scheduled to begin tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at the Mitchell Courthouse on Calvert. Dickey is charged with two seprate murders committed while he was on parole. A Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Dickey December 2001 for the August 12, 2001 murder of Anthony Carlest in the 400 block of North Pulaski Street, and he was indicted on June 7, 2002 for separate first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery with a deadly weapon and conspiracy charges in connection with the murder of Alexander Samuel Logan, 26, whose body was found on November 27, 2001, in the 2200 block of Roslyn Avenue.

And speaking of 2001 murders, 34-year-old Timothy Hawkins just got 30 years for one after DNA linked him to a cold case.

Good lord, it's another 3-year-old murdered by his mom, a beaten 12-year-old, a dead body in White Marsh, and a nieghbor who knew about the imprisoned Easton wife all on lurid-ass WJZ.

A Baltimore radio talk show host was surprised to get a letter of apology from a former aide to Jim Jones (Jones was the cult leader who, with his wife Marcie, compelled 908 cultists in Guyana in 1978 to drink cyanide-laced Kool Aid).

How are things in Annapolis? Well, one lucky murderer got his drug charges dropped, and a teenager is being charged with assault for chucking a snowball.

This councilman seems well-intentioned, but do we really need cameras at every mall?

February 26-28

Lots of nastiness in southern Maryland: a man stabbed in the torso at the Cancun Cantina, a man shot during a mugging that started with the bumming of a cigarette, drug busts and a lady mugged in the parking lot of the Dollar store.

Assault and robbery with a side order of mysterious shootings in the blotter.

"Couldn't they have shot his leg or something?" asks a mom whose 20-year-old son was killed by police last December.

How is Toon Towne Center planning to improve security? Plans are "under review" and things are "being considered." Says the mall VP of security, "the point is that people see enhancements being made and feel comfortable with what we're doing." You have to respect the honesty, I suppose.

What do baby formula, a snowplow and a church safe have in common? Items sniped in Carroll County this weekend, of course.

Horrifyingly depressing story of the week: A transgendered inmate, Dee Harmer, whose rape behind bars led to a new liability standard for prison officials is now blind and bedridden and has been sent home to die of AIDS.

Wait, I spoke too soon, a man is charged with imprisoning his wife for six years and starving her to death in Elkton.

A Maryland snowboarding teenager has been charged with reckless endangerment in Jackson Hole, WY after colliding with a skiier and killing her.

Another story of a hit-and-run driver... what are they thinking?

A woman in Silver Spring got 17 years for enslaving and abusing the help.

The trial of a Rockville (alledged) killer nurse, charged in the deaths of five patients at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, was delayed due to weather.