April 22

Edgar West, charged with child abuse and sex offense, pled not guilty at his arraignment this morning. A jury trial was scheduled for June 30 of this year before Judge Allen L. Schwait.

April 19

The O'Malley-Curran administration is having a great week. Tragedy for the Griffin family of Annapolis turns in to time to shine for the office of top state's lawyer Joe Curran, who will be bringing a case before the Supreme Court. And his ripping son-in-law is also getting national exposure--O' Malley made Time magazine's Five Best Mayors list.
The family's enemies are even biting the dust: Former Police commish Norris has reportedly lost his job as a perfume salesman in Florida (?!), and Ehrlich is trailing in the polls in the imaginary race for governor.

Michael Phlelps' cautionary tale is saving young lives.

Details of the Iko inmate-suufocation lawsuit.

Hopkins will hold a memorial service for Chris Elser at 5 p.m. tonight in the Decker garden of Homewood campus.

In Ellicott City, 33-year-old Anthony Williams is on trial for the murder of Tamaria Hughes.

April 17-18

The murder trial of Tyrone Beane has been specially set for May 31, 2005 in Judge John Glynn's courtroom, 234 Mitchell Courthouse.

At a hearing today Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Rose Green, 47, of Richmond, VA, to 20-years in prison with all but 12 years suspended. Green pled guilty February 28 to second-degree murder. On March 24, 2003 the victim, Raymond Shifflett, 52, was found stabbed to death in the 1800 block of McHenry Street. Green gave a statement to police admitting the extent of her involvement in his death.

At a hearing today Judge Allen L. Schwait sentenced George Holman, 60, of Dudley Avenue, to 30 years in prison, suspend all but 18 years. Holman pled guilty February 18 to second-degree murder. On April 18 of last year the victim, Devon Boston, 46, was found stabbed to death in the 1200 block of Greenmount Avenue. Holman and the victim got in an argument resulting in Holman stabbing Boston once in the chest.

Roland Park's latest lurking sex offender, Kenneth Barnes, has a bail review hearing scheduled today at 2 p.m. at the Wabash District Court. Barnes was arrested on April 14 by the Baltimore City Police Departmenton charges of failing to register as sex offender and trespassing on school grounds. So if you've ever been flashed in the Stony Run/ Roland Avenue area, go down with your camera and make an ID.

Reports the Sun:

A man convicted of sexually molesting a 9-year-old child in 1998 was arrested yesterday evening and charged with trespassing at Roland Park Elementary-Middle School, where he allegedly offered money to pupils, city police said. Kenneth Earl Barnes, 43, of the 200 block of W. Cold Spring Lane, was arrested about 7:25 p.m. by members of the Warrant Apprehension Task Force as he sat in a parked car in the 4400 block of N. Charles St., said Officer Troy Harris, a police department spokesman. Barnes was charged with failing to register as a sex offender, as well as trespassing at school property in the 5200 block of Roland Ave. He was alleged to have offered money to children there about 11 a.m., police said. Harris said the children refused the money and reported the incident to school officials. There was no physical contact with the children, Harris said. Barnes had registered as a convicted sex offender upon his release from prison but had not registered again after moving to his current address, Harris said.
-Richard Irwin

April 15-16

Tyrone Beane, 20, of Wharton Court, is scheduled for trial at 9:30 a.m. on Monday the 18th before Judge John M. Glynn, 236 Mitchell Courthouse, 110 North Calvert Street. Beane is charged with killing Taharka McCoy, an East Baltimore man, on January 17, 2002. Beane is currently being held in the Department of Corrections after being sentenced to 75-years in prison in an unrelated robbery and shooting.

Yesterday a Baltimore City Grand Jury officially indicted Donta M. Allen, 27, for the first-degree murder of Hopkins students Linda Trinh as well as first-degree burglary.

In the City Paper, a story about the RESTART program at the prison near Hagerstown, and, of course, the Murder Ink, which announces two murders last week, bringing the toll to 67.

Convicted child molester Kenneth Barnes was caught hanging around Roland Park public.

The Baltimore police are being sued for another $30 million... this time for alledgedly shooting 37-year-old Dexter Hill in the back.

April 14

It's a dangerous time to be a student.

Two students were grazed by gunfire at Bowie State.

A 14-year old high schooler stabbed an 18-year old near the Rotunda.

And police are cracking down on young drivers.

YEEhaw! A crazy lady led a car chase from Fell's Point to Ruxton to Carroll County yesterday.

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.