April 13

The four teenagers who alledgedly shot Reginald Grey after an altercation at Hammerjacks pled not guilty today. "Ramon Ramirez, general manager of Hammerjacks, said he could not recall the fistfight. "We go through so many fights here," he said."

From PJ's office:

At a hearing today Judge Paul A. Smith sentenced Thomas Alston, III, 20, of the 1200 block of Sugarwood Circle, to 40-years in prison suspend all but 15-years, the first five without parole and five-years supervised probation. Alston pled guilty today to second-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. On May 2, 2004 in the 4300 block of Shamrock Road, Alston was at a party, and was asked to leave. He left, stating that he would be back in five minutes. Approximately five minutes later, Alston returned, and began shooting into the crowd. He shot and killed Jade Hall, 33. A second victim was shot in the buttocks area and a third victim was shot in the knee.

Why does Life-Like products keep catching on fire?

Ten years after her disappearance, there's no trace of Tracie Lynn Mosley (left).

Two men have been arrested for home-invastion-style robberies of old ladies.

April 12

Hurray for law-abiding citizens... the witness intimidation bill has passed!

A teen in a stolen car was shot by a Baltimore County officer.

A man and a woman have been injured indouble shooting in Northeast Baltimore.

A 30-year-old Catonsville man got 30 years for cocaine distribution.

April 11

Sixteen-year-old Roman Paige was shot in the head while playing basketball.

Kwesi Owens, 23, was also shot to death in West Baltimore over the weekend.

Aaron Bell, Derrick Davis, Xavier Lewis, and James Robinson are all scheduled before Judge Stewart, Room 215 Mitchell Courthouse at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning for a Murder Arraignment.

The case of 17-year-old Asmar Holland was advance postponed on Friday at the request of defense counsel, John Deros. The new date is June 20. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Holland in February 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.

DeAndre Whitehead, 20, has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. he'll cop to two counts of solicitation to commit witness tampering. Whitehead was accused of an 11-year-old girl and her mother who testified against him at the trial for the murder of Russell Peterson.

A woman serving a 26-month federal sentence for carjacking in Baltimore and Richmond is now testifying against her ex-boyfriend, Jaron Reevey.

WJZ is letting visitors to its Web site view the new police department flick, "Keep Talking (Snitching Bitches)!"

More woes in Annapolis: as the legistlative session winds down, the body of a 21-year-old midshipman was found outside of a dorm, apparently killed in a fall. Jay Michael Dixon was reportedly a junior physics major from Destrehan, La. "It was the second time in three years that a midshipman was found dead outside the dormitory after a fall." Weird!

The Tao Te Chuck did some ranting about the state of the local news.

April 9 - 10

Police are countering "Stop Snitching" with their own DVD. No word yet if there're cameos by MELO or Sonja Sohn.

Charles County arson trials will kick off June 14.

April 8

Maurice Blackwell has been granted a new trial.

Even more problems in the Juvenile Justice System... now they're short $16 million.

Allison Lamont Norman, 22, left, went on a shooting spree in Salisbury, killing two and wounding 4. He's being held on no bail status.

April 7

The best reason yet to pass the witness-intimidation bill: "Baltimore is too small."

In Anne Arundel County, two arsonists have been forced to pay restitution for setting Marley Elementary School on fire.

Robbery, arrests, theft in the blotter. Some heavy sentences handed out for drug dealing and firearm posession in the Digest.

Downy shore police are investigating a shooting near North Salisbury Elementary School. (Congrats on the Peabody, BAL!)

April 6

The trial of former police officer Gerald Goode will begin tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in the Mitchell Courthouse before Judge John Glynn. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Goode July 27, 2004 on a charges of third-degree sex offense and sexual child abuse of a minor under the age of 18. The incident allegedly occurred in 2003. Goode's been out on $25k worth of bail for the past eight months.

Three men have been arrested for the murder of Renard Jawon Graves.

The white cement truck that killed two men and fled the scene on the B-W Parkway was found in Jessup last night.

Newest Raven Samari Rolle has settled his assault charge with anger management classes, probation and a five-figure donation to help abused women.

Oh, the irony! I just had to take a break from crime blogging to call the police about some white guys in a fight in front of my house. The cops were on the scene in less than two minutes, which is simply amazing. Anyway good thing for me the witness inimidation bill seems to be coming together.

And speaking of, Charles Village residents are through playing nice with drunken and disruptive students, and Mary Pat Clarke and the Vice Squad are on the job.

As of now, declared the House of Delegates, it's illegal to secretly film your goodies in public. No comment on the wearing of x-ray spex or very shiny shoes.

Give it up already and quit boring me with this story! The Ehrlich is still going on about the slots thing.

An 11-year-old boy has been arrested for dealing heroin.

The City Paper's cover story this week is a strange tale of an officer dismissed (or not) for falsely stating that she saw a guy put drugs under a bush during a fake call. And five murders this week makes 65 for the year in the Murder Ink. Meanwhile, relatives of people in jail with mandatory sentences are fighting the law, and there's an update on the city's plan to put security cameras in high-crime areas.

A city police officer, Eric Spilman, has been changed with insurance fraud and faces 30 years.

And here's the Baltimore Messenger blotter, and the Dick Irwin special.

April 5

Teon Hall, charged with first-degree murder in the Ritz Cabaret mistaken-identity shooting of 32-year-old Craig Morris, pled not guilty at arraignment this morning. A jury trial date was scheduled for August 8 before Judge Alfred Nance.

And Coketa S. Diggins and Terrance A. Smith, charged with first-degree murder, also pled not guilty at arraignment this morning. A jury trial date was scheduled for July 11and will also be before Judge Nance.

Thought the story was over, but I was wrong... Kevin Clark's filed an appeal.

Two men were killed on the B-W parkway in a hit and run involving a white cement truck.

In Annapolis, legislators are trying to change the law to close what critics call a loophole that lets suspects out of jail while lawyers make pre-trial appeals. I think. Honestly I don't quite understand.

PG County's 43rd homicide victim of the year was 23-year-old Maurice Brown of Forestville. And here's some more PG County misdeeds.

In Easton, trial has begun for Harold Brown charged with stabbing his wife and stuffing her in the trunk, hours after he was released for violating a protective order.

Indentified victims, robbery and burglary in today's Blotter, and a police officer shot in the foot in the Metro Digest.

And according to this web site, BJ's Wholesale Club and the Hunt Valley mall are among places in Maryland haunted by murder victims. Creepy!

April 4

At a hearing today, Reginald Mickens, 43, of West Garrison Avenue, pled guilty to the involuntary manslaughter of Tammy Patterson, 42. Judge Paul A. Smith sentenced Mickens to ten years in prison. On August 20, 2004 Mickens was involved in a fight with his girlfriend, Tammy Patterson. The fight escalated and she was forced to climb out the window of a fourth floor apartment building located at 501 East Preston Street. She fell to the ground and died of multiple injuries from the fall.

This morning a Baltimore Circuit Court judge dismissed the lawsuit of former Police Commissioner Kevin Clark against the city and made him keep his severence pay. So there's the end of that story.

Twice this month, Maryland 911 operators have been caught sleeping on the job.

Two murder arraignments are scheduled for tomorrow: Teon Hall, 28, who was indicted Hall March 14 for first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Craig Morris, 32, in front of the Ritz Cabaret. Hall was also indicted for the attempted first-degree murder of a second victim who survived the shooting. And Coketa S. Diggins, 18, and Terrance A. Smith. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Diggins and Smith March 11 for first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Reshawn Myers, 19. Court documents allege Diggins shot and killed Myers January 20 in the 5700 block of Chinquapin Parkway, and it's alleged that Smith ordered Diggins to carry out the shooting.

An arrested attempted murderer, two non-fatal shootings and a teen shoplifter in the blotter.

If the suspicious shooting death of Michael Jones is ruled a homicide it'll be the first in Cecil County this year.

More charges have been filed in the Charles County arson case.

How Baltimorean! John Greeves went ape on a Peter Pan bus after the driver told him to put out his cigarette.

April 3

Crikey, there were THREE shooting deaths last night in Baltimore, and not much information about any of them.

Paul T. Holmes Jr., a Pennsylvanian, was busted for doing his heroin shopping in Baltimore.

Police blotters from Carroll and Anne Arundel county have plenty of theft. One curious item, "a 45-year-old Sykesville woman faces charges for allegedly leaving her 7-year-old daughter unattended in a car." I was amazed that this was illegal, and it turns out that the law in Maryland is that kids under the age of eight must be directly supervised at all times, and kids must be 14 before they're allowed to babysit. After eight, you can leave them wherever you want, I guess. Well, now I know, good thing I didn't get tossed in the can all those times I dashed into the dry cleaner's, eh?

April 2

An attempted escape at the Hickey School, a car chase that ended in a shooting and man shot during an arguement in PG County.

Relatives of Ifeanyi A. Iko, an inmate who was asphixiated at the Western Correctional Institution, have filed a $28 million suit.

Maryland's ballistic database system helped convict PG County's Robert Garner of the murder of Kelvin Braxton.

Officials will be working together to "put together a [police] performance enhancement plan that is more of a qualitative measure than quantitative" after accusations of arrest quotas in the department surfaced last week.

More on Howard County's first felony animal abuse conviction, aka The Case of Clyde the Cornholed Cat.

A police impersonator was arrested in Charles County.

Federal officials say a theft ring shook down local Marshall's stores for about $250k.

Nineteen-year-old Jayson R. Mitchell is accused of robbing stores in Elkton.

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.