September 25

Did you know that a guard convicted in the Abu Ghraib scandal, Robert Jones, left, is now with the Baltimore Police?

Dan Rodericks knows well that human beings can only empathize with one person at a time, hence, another meditation on the evils of the drug trade, this time as a profile of a 25-year-old dealer who got beat up, impregnated some girl and now lives with his mom. Here's a more uplifting Baltimore story.

The York Road Giant has increased security following the July robbery of five teenagers.

In Baltimore County, police have arrested more than 100 people as part of Operation Just Cause in Landsdowne and Riverview.

In AACo a 19-year-old in has been arrested for shooting and killing 24-year-old James Tico Smith.

In Carroll County, assault and vandalism.

September 24

The 17-year-old victim shot outside of Mondawmin mall was identified as Abdul-Bahiri Muhammad.

A suspicious death on the West side.

Liquor Board Non-Shocker: it's really corrupt. More intriguing: two undercover police officers were posing as dancers.

One of Ehrlich's advisors, Edward B. Miller, is accused of money laundering for a lobbyist. Will he get the Joe Steffan treatment for that ethical breach? Line's posted at 1:5.

Bad Behavior in the Burbs Dept
euuu... Stanley A. Taylor, 79, a former Boy Scout leader and grandfather of 34 and great-grandfather of 10, pled guilty in circuit court to a third-degree sex offense and a child-pornography charge for taking naked pictures of a nine-year-old girl in his minivan in the Wal-Mart parking lot. But for some reason he's not in jail and is bragging to neighbors that he's "free as a bird." Here is a map to his house.

Someone robbed a gas station in Landsdowne on Hammonds Ferry Road and shot the feisty owner, George Panchigar, in the leg.

Weird: two murders outside of two different high-school football games. A girl gang beat a 15-year-old to death in the parking lot. And in Germantown, two men beat 23-year-old Stephone Wiggins to death with a mini-baseball bat after yesterday's Seneca Valley-Northwest High School football game.

Someone shot and killed a 19-year-old hotel desk clerk, Jerry Alan Wills III, at the Day's Inn in Waldorf, for no immediately apparent reason.

September 23

A man was shot in the head at Mondawmin mall.

In the blotter, an arrest in the murder of Curtis Streat, 27, of Laurel.

Judge Wanda K. heard denied a juvenile transfer motion yesterday for Keyona Dillon, 14, charged with attempted first-degree murder. Court documents allege that on May 31 of this year Dillon stabbed Shatina Quinn with a kitchen knife at Margaret Street and Washburn Avenue (in the Southern). Nearby men broke up the fight, Dillon fled and was later arrested while trying to hide in an abandoned house. The victim survived, in spite of a two-inch stab wound to the heart. Dillion remains charged as an adult and is scheduled for trial October 3.

The woman who was stabbed and had her house set on fire in Dundalk was identified as 63-year-old Evelyn Ameriehn.

Euerildo Vasquez, 27, of Belair Road, is scheduled for arraignment Monday. Vasquez was indicted on August 12 by a Baltimore City Grand Jury in connection with the kidnapping of a two-year old boy. Court documents allege that Vasquez took the boy from the El Salvadore Restaurant at 207 South Broadway, hailed a cab, and forced the child inside. The taxi driver became suspicious and signaled two Baltimore City police officers that were in the area. They arrested Vasquez and the boy was retuned to his parents in the restaurant. Vasquez is currently being held on $500,000 bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Why is 19 year-old Moshe Khaver not in prison and getting meals delievered to Central Booking by his mother? The controversy rages on, with Judge Evelyn O. Cannon now also demanding to know what the deal is.

Did Paris Hilton give teenagers marijuana and bourbon while filming in our fair state? And wasn't Carmelo Anthony supposed to be filming a Public Service Annoucement?

Mikulski wants no killers at Arlington.

Why does everybody like to flee to Baltimore County?

A Nigerian immigrant got 14 years for an indentity theft scheme that he ran while working for Southwest Airlines at BWI.

September 22

Godawful suspicious fire death on the 600 block of East 30th Street. Sixty-four year-old artist and painter Myron Terry Koenig was found in his living room.

An armed-and-dangerous bank robbery suspect, Kendall Alexander, 41, left, is on the loose.

An O'Malley interview by WBAL notes that in 2004 violent crime in Baltimore was up 4 percent. The term "inconsistency in leadership" comes up. As in, even the Democrats are saying there's doesn't seem to be much clue what the plan is, or whose job it is to establish priorities to go about making the plan. Are we fixing "broken windows"? Are we "targeting hot spots"? Wiretapping? Building bigger jails and kicking off some executions? Adding more drug treatment facilities? Anyone? Anyone?

The state is now taking charge of education at the state-run juvenile jail. No mention as to who was running it before.

There was a triple stabbing at 2:15 this morning on Water street.

A 27-year-old man was stabbed in East Baltimore.

We Know Who We're Working For: Poisions have been found on Lockheed Martin's property, which the company wants to turn into condos.

A couple of Democrats stole Michael Steele's credit report.

A snakehead in Potomac got 6 1/2 years for fraud.

Two arrests for attempted murder and a lot of stolen stuff in the blotter.

Instead of this week's murder ink, readers are advised to visit the March Homes Funeral Registry. Here's Christopher Richardson, 15, whose 15-year-old murderer was sentenced on Tuesday to life in prison.

Down in Anne Arundel County The Capital reports that some teens were charged with arson, a convenience store robber was caught, and two employees of an armored-car company stole $99,000 from three Wal-Marts. And a prisoner was stabbed at Jessup.

Pinocchio? Lamp-wick? Two 30-something Dundalk residents were pulled out of the water, drunk, after jumping off of a stolen boat near Pleasure Island.

September 20

Suspected gang member Derrell Miller pled guilty to the first-degree murder of Derald Guess, a father of nine from Edgewood.

In the blotter, 23-year-old Harvin Sandoval was arrested for the first-degree murder of 15-year-old Jessenia Dubon. Police are also seeking a second suspect, 25-year-old Oman Hernandez.

In Carroll County, a woman got a 10-year prison term for three counts of vehicular manslaughter-- she was driving 100 mph, drunk, to get to Target before it closed.

A Pasadena woman got two years for neglecting a man with Down's Syndrome.

A man in a bird mask robbed the Maryland Zoo.

Speaking of dirty birds, other Orioles are being questioned about Palmeiro's steriod use.

In Overlea, police are warning parents about a suspicious man seen hanging around school-bus stops.

A grand jury report found that Maryland's prison health care system is inadequate.

DJ equipment, a pair of pants, a cat, a PlayStation and a seven-year-old Chrysler = stuff stolen in the northern 'burbs lately.

Hey wow, a ray of hope that maybe I can stop this depressing-ass blog one day! The Sun has a new section, "Crime Watch Digest"!

September 19

Plenty of burglary and theft going on in the Northern.

In Dundalk a woman was stabbed and her house set on fire.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning for Kevin Scott, Jr., 15, of the 1900 block of Dukeland Street, before Judge Paul A. Smith at the Courthouse East on North Calvert St. A Baltimore City jury convicted Scott August 1 of first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and armed robbery. He faces a maximum prison sentence of life plus 45 years. On September 13, 2004 Scott attempted to rob the victim, Christopher Richardson, 15, in the 2800 block of West North Avenue. A struggle ensued over the gun Scott wielded, a .22 caliber handgun, and Richardson was shot twice during that struggle. Scott then ran several feet away, returned, and shot Richardson three more times before taking an unknown amount of money from his pocket. Richardson was shot a total of five times, four times in the head.

Charles Benedict Knott Sr., 51, was scheduled for bail review at 11:30 today. Last Friday, September 16, Knott got into an argument with James Garrett in the 1100 block of 36th street. Knott allegedly hit Garrett over the head twice with his cane. Police responded and Garrett was taken to the hospital where he later died of his wounds.

A Baltimore City jury convicted Torri Fatherly, 26, today of voluntary manslaughter and carrying a concealed deadly weapon after three days of testimony and five hours of deliberation. Judge Sylvester Cox will sentence Fatherly on November 9 where she will face a maximum prison sentence of 13 years. On July 12, 2003 Fatherly stabbed to death Kevin Blackston, 20, in the 1600 block of West North Avenue.

At a hearing Friday, September 16, Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Felicia Hayes, 19, to 13 years in prison, suspending all but five (otherwise known as eight years in the can). Hayes pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and use of a deadly weapon March 9, 2005 for the death of her boyfriend, Christopher Wynn, 21. On October 15, 2004 Hayes stabbed to death Wynn during an altercation in their apartment located in the 6000 block of Amberwood Road.

September 18

A jury will have to figure out if the shooting of Landsdowne resident Deneen Smith was murder or an accident.

An arrest for first-degree murder, a stolen Jag, plus the "odor of burning marijuana" leads cops to an illegal Glock and a trove of hollow-point bullets in the blotter.

In Anne Arundel county a jury found that the shooting of unarmed, naked 20-year-old Donald Coates by the police was justified. Also in AACo a woman was raped in her home in Glen Burnie.

September 16

A man was beaten to death at around 3 p.m. in front of the Hampden Family Center on 36th street. Rumor on the street is that one old man accused another old man of molesting his granddaughter, then proceeded to beat the geezer to death with a cane. I was interviewed by Keith Daniels. He didn't like my answers much.

Rod: "As a citizen, what do you think when something like this happens?"
"Well, gentrification, schmentrification, you can put in some boutiques but Hampden is still Hampden."
RD: "Let me ask this another way... as a human being, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear about something like this?"
Me: "As a homeowner, I hope my property values aren't affected. And if it's true he was a child molester, it's kind of hard to feel bad for him."
RD: (getting frustrated) "But as a human being how does this loss of human life make you feel?"
Me: "Well, *sigh* (finally deciding to give the guy what he wants to hear).. the amount of passion and anger it takes work up the strength to physically beat someone to death is difficult to fathom, and it's shocking that something like this would happen in broad daylight right in front of the family center where children are getting help with their homework."
That seemed to satisfy him. And now I know why none of the "concerned neighbors" on the local news are ever quoted as things like "that bitch had it coming!"

On that note, in Essex an 18-year-old as arrested for the Labor Day shooting death of Charles Clark, 20.



Freaky looking sex offender Joshua Keller, above, tried to abduct a 7-year-old at Glendale Elementary in Glen Burnie.

The trial of Linda Trinh's accused murderer has been postponed.

An article about the jurors in the Espinoza/Canela murder trial.

In PG county, Jerome Anthony Proctor was shot to death.

More on the man and woman stabbed in Liberty Heights.

September 15

Steven Richie Craft, 39, of Loch Hill Road, is scheduled for arraignment 9:30 a.m. tomorrow before the Honorable Lynn Stewart on Calvert Street in connection to the attempted first-degree murder of Baltimore City Police Officer Edward Mendez.
Craft was indicted by the Baltimore City Grand Jury on August 11 for attempted first-degree murder, first-degree and second-degree assault, and car theft. Court documents allege that on July 16, Officer Mendez Edwards approached the stolen 2005 Toyota Camry at a gas station when Craft put the vehicle in reverse and at a high rate of speed struck Officer Mendez, sending the officer into the air. The officer was transported to Shock Trauma due to head, back, and shoulder injuries. Craft was arrested on July 17. Craft is being held at the Detention Center on a no bail status.

State pension system defrauder Nathan Chapman is in trouble with the feds again, this time for not paying the agreed-upon settlement.

Study: drug use among Maryland inmates is up 20 percent.

A Cecil County judge has granted a change of venue for John Dougherty, who is accused of starving the mother of his children to death.

A Severna Park man, Harvey Brown, was convicted of raping a 24-year-old Bowie woman on the Baltimore-and-Annapolis trail.

David Martin, 29, was shot while driving a van in Columbia.

Is Moshe Khaver, 19-year-old son of a prominent Park Heights rabbi turned Cherry Hill drug dealer, getting preferential treatment in jail?

A lot of stolen stuff and a carjacking in the Messenger crime log (fyi Roland View Avenue is between TV hill and Park Heights Ave).

An editorial by Dan Rodericks about the high cost of Maryland's drug laws.

Not a crime, but too weird not to mention: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt made a special trip to Charm City just to visit the National Aquarium, of all places.

September 14

The Ink reports five murders this week, bringing the toll to 191.

WTF?! dept: Baltimore Police arrest about 200 people a day, 32 percent of them without charges. Last year about 100,000 people were processed through central booking. How could that even be possible? The city population is only 620,000!

A man and a woman were stabbed this morning on Liberty Heights Avenue.

And in Edgewater Jose Amaya was arrested for stabbing his live-in "girlfriend" to death.

A hit-and-run driver rear-ended a man and his girfriend who were riding a Harley on an exit ramp on 695. Police are looking for an amoral asshole driving a late-model Chrysler with front-end damage.

Cradlerock school in Columbia was robbed of computers at gunpoint.

A story about the challenges of the city's needle exchange program.

In Howard County, police arrested 52 people on various drug charges following an eight-month investigation flamboyantly dubbed "Operation Mesmerize."

Seven members of The Pioneer City Boys, an AA County gang, were indicted for conspiring to sell crack.

Police cameras caught some guys in the act of trying to sell a stolen handicapped tag.

In spite of an attempt to use a bankruptcy loophole to weasel out of proceedings, the Erotica strip club (formerly known as "Chubbies") on Eastern Avenue was fined $3,000 and must suspend operations for 30 days for various violations.

September 13

A Baltimore County jury today found Javon Clark guilty of attempted armed robbery, but not guilty of murder.

A crashed car and a woman with a slit throat are a mystery in Northeast Baltimore. Also, Rrtired Baltimore Archbishop William D. Borders was accused yesterday in two lawsuits of covering up charges of sexual abuse against a priest.

Police in PG county are looking for a serial stick-up robber.

An attempted murder arrest, robberies and an explosive device tossed on a porch in the blotter.

Three school campuses in Randallstown were on lockdown today as police searched for murder suspect Lance Aaron Backus.

A perv was arrested for soliciting an undercover agent in Frederick.

September 12

The murder and attempted murder trial Emanuel Young, 24, is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Edward R. K. Hargadon. Young is charged in three separate shooting incidents - five people were shot, one fatally. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Young July 21, 2003 for the April 13, 2003 first-degree murder of Marcus Gordon, 20, in the 3000 block of Oakley Avenue. Two other men were wounded. Young was also indicted for the attempted murder of a 40-year old man who was shot June 11, 2003 in the 2300 block of West Fayette Street, as well as the attempted murder of a 21-year old female who was shot June 13, 2003 in the 2900 block of Oakley Avenue. Young is being held at the Baltimore City Detention Center on a no bail status.

Richard A. Damon, Jr., 35, pled guilty today before his murder trial was scheduled to begin of two counts of second-degree murder for the murders of Theresa Moore, 51, and Michael Mick, 40. Under the terms of the plea agreement announced today in open court, Damon will receive two 20-year prison terms, concurrent, when Judge John M. Glynn sentences him October 25. On January 20, 2005, Theresa Moore and Michael Mick were shot and killed inside of their home in the 800 block of Bradford Street by Co-Defendant Antoine Adams while he and Damon were participating in a robbery at that address. A city jury convicted Adams last month of two counts of first-degree murder and he will also be sentenced October 25, 2005.

Robbery after robbery in the blotter.

More on the Odenton Fire Hall shooting spree.

Serial arsonist Thomas Sweatt got life plus 136 years for setting fires that killed two old ladies.

As others get rich off of the tee shirts, Stop Snitchin filmmaker Akiba Matthews goes on trial today for cocaine and heroin possession. UPDATE: The trial has been postponed until October 26 before Judge John C. Themelis. The defendant hired a new attorney.

In Frostburg, six field hockey players have pled guilty to hazing and were fined and put on probation. New team members were forced to drink to the point of alcohol poisioning and sit in their own vomit and urine. Go team!

September 11

Two Baltimore judges in separate rulings in the past two weeks have said they don't believe the police officers who investigated gun cases, prompting prosecutors to dismiss charges. Meanwhile, unprosecuted "Quality of Life" crimes are pissing people off.

Two men were stabbed Friday at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

A gunman shot three people outside the Odenton fire hall.

Attorneys say the Javon Clark trial may end tomorrow.

Three women and one man were arrested for prostitution and maintaining a brothel at the Presence of Mind massage parlor in Ellicott City.

An 18-year-old wanted in New York for killing her 6-month-old baby was arrested in Baltimore working at a doughnut shop on Falls Road.

A Massachusetts paper covers a cold case in Bel Air, the murder of Tina Louise Leone in 2003.

Three young men were arrested for selling marijuana on Falls Road in Hampden.

Robbery, vandalism and assault in the Carroll County blotter.

September 10

Javon Clark claimed yesterday that he was held hostage by his friend and forced to rob William Bassett.

Why are Baltimore County's police dogs getting sick?

September 9

A Baltimore City jury returned guilty verdicts against Antonio Williamson, 16, of Mello Court, Percy Johnson, 17, of Southeast Avenue, and Sean Howard, 17, of East Fayette Street in connection to the October 21, 2004 shooting of two teenagers in front of Thurgood Marshall High School. The jury heard testimony for two weeks and deliberated two days for reaching its verdicts. Williamson was convicted of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and second-degree assault. He faces a maximum total prison term of 25 years. Johnson was convicted of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and two handgun counts. He faces a maximum total prison term of 53-years. Howard was convicted of reckless endangerment, first-degree assault, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and two handgun counts. He faces a maximum total prison term of 58 years. Williamson, Johnson and Howard shot two teenagers on October 21, 2004 in front of Thurgood Marshall High School at 5700 Moravia Drive. The defendants remain held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 20.

The trial of Joseph DiAngelo, 51, of the 100 block of Wells Avenue, was scheduled to begin at 9:30 this morning. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted DiAngelo April 5 for first-degree assault, witness intimidation and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. Court documents allege DiAngelo hired two individuals to conduct a home invasion/assault on a witness in a pending assault case. The hired individuals entered the home armed with table legs to assault the victim/witness. The home occupants killed one of the individuals. The other individual, William Morton, is facing assault and burglary charges.

The child abuse trial of Darryll Purefoy, 34, of Liberty Road, Randallstown, was scheduled to begin this morning, but was postponed for the FOURTH time, this time because no courtrooms were available. Tthe trial date was originally set for March 8, but the defense attorney was in another trial. Then it was postponed to March 25 by State request. Then the defense requested a postponement until today. And today no courts were available. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Purefoy December 6, 2004 on more than 100 counts of sexual child abuse and related other counts. Court documents allege Purefoy had sexual contact with a minor female between the years of 1995 and 2000. At least said perv is in jail right now, but that poor victim and the witnesses must be, like, so pissed, if they haven't moved out of state by now.

So that's why my neighbor said "I gotsta get me down the bus stop"! Transit police and federal agents have made 23 arrests of people selling prescription drugs* at transit stations.

*excuse my naivete... what are they selling? Oxycontin?

September 8

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Clifton Gee, 46, of the 6700 block of Shaken Wood Road, for first-degree murder today in connection with a homicide that occurred more than 11 years ago. Court documents allege Gee stabbed to death Queen Esther Watson, 29, on May 14, 1994 in her home in the 200 block of South Bethel Street. Gee was linked to this murder by DNA testing conducted by the Baltimore City Police Lab and the Maryland State Police Lab in February 2005. He is currently being held by the Division of Correction where he is serving a five-year prison sentence in an unrelated case. An arraignment is scheduled for October 12.

Opening statements today in the case of 18-year-old Javon Clark, accused of helping murder William Bassett in the Towsontowne mall parking garage.

Police have located dozens of sex offenders who've moved to Maryland from out of state and not registered with local authorities.

Local prisons have become donation collection points for Katrina victims.

A Reston man who traveled to Frederick to meet two 14-year-old "girls" had his conviction overturned on account that the girls were cops.

Someone broke into Lt. Governor Michael Steele's Chevy Suburban and took four cell phones.

September 7

In the murder ink a shooting and Baltimore's third older black woman to be asphyxiated in her home.

The shooting death of Earl Tillman has inspired anti-police tee shirts.

A Woodlawn man stabbed his wife and cut himself.

A murder suspect, James Davis, 16, was spotted by police but evaded capture.

Momoh Abu Conteh, Treasurer to city councilwoman Paula Johnson Branch, was arrested and charged with theft, embezzling and perjury.

BoCo councilman Stephen G. Samuel Moxley got probation for driving drunk in a county-owned vehicle.

In AA County a policewoman was dragged 45 feet by a car driven by Tony Joseph Wieland of Jessup, a suspect attempting to flee. Wieland was arrested after a brief car chase.

A fuel-delivery driver is accused of stealing gas from the state highway administration.

September 5

Funding for drug treatment has fallen off by more than 10 percent in the past two years due to a decrease in federal funds and private grants. "Ehrlich has pushed for more rehabilitation in prisons and announced last month a new initiative to spur private funding of drug prevention and treatment. But his support for treatment has not been reflected in his state budgets, advocates say."

In Towson, 25-year-old Melvin Dashiel Greene was shot after a fight in a parking lot.

In Millersville, 17-year-old Kevin Michael Weingart was stabbed to death in the parking lot of Marley Station Mall. A 16-year-old was arrested and charged.

In Columbia, 20-year-old Eric McGhee was found lying face-down, beaten and stabbed to death.

In Pittsburgh, Andre Staton, 38, of Baltimore, was ordered to stand trial for murder after an 11-year-old testified watching him stab 26-year-old Beverly K. Yohn to death.

Edward Grunell Howard Jr., 38, was shot to death in Severn.

The death of an inmate at the Howard County Jail is being investigated.

Burglary, assault and a break-in at Killer Trash in the blotter.

September 2

Police are seeking Shaun Donell Joyce of Landsdowne after the shooting of Alfred Parker on Monday on Madison street.

The Cockeysville rapist caught in Oregon has now been implicated in at least six other crimes.

The state has rejected Vernon Evans Jr's claim of racial bias in his death-penalty case.

Two officers are on routine leave after shooting a robbery suspect at a hair salon on McHenry Street.

Some nutjob set fire to a marked patrol car behind police headquarters on Baltimore and Gay streets. He's now in the hospital being treated for burns.

Drunk dad Jaime Martinez passed out cold on the sidealk while taking his seven-month-old baby for a walk in Annapolis. And there were a lot of marijuana arrests.

August 31

Believe it or not, there were only two murders last week. Current toll, 184.

Montese L. Thompson, 22, is scheduled for arraignment 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning before the Honorable Wanda Keyes Heard, Courthouse East. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Thompson August 2 for first-degree murder and deadly weapon with intent to injure in connection with the beating death of Verna Brown, 35. Court documents allege that on June 28 Thompson beat Brown to death in the 1800 block of North Montford Avenue. Thompson assaulted Brown in a house and later followed her outside and beat Brown in the face with a shovel. Brown was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries on July 3.

Samuel McFarlin, 24, is scheduled for a jury trial for first-degree murder and auto theft 9:00 tomorrow morning before the Honorable John M. Glynn. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted McFarlin on February 14 for first-degree murder and auto theft. Court documents allege that on June 6, 2004 McFarlin ran over Dwight Allen Chase, 53, with a stolen automobile. On November 10, 2004, Mr. Chase died from the injuries he received at the time of incident. The Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide.

In Baldwin (BoCo) police have charged 30-year-old John Coles with the stabbing death of Alice Tremper, 34.

The Espinoza/Canela trial has ended in a hung jury. The new trial will begin March 1.

During the Christopher Travon Williams rape arraignment trial was set for November 16, Judge Shirley Watts.

The Danier Baker attempted murder trial was postponed at the request of the Defense to October 27, Judge Glynn.

The Robert Edward Pasik murder trial was postponed to September 26.

The John Leo Blankenship murder trial was postponed to September 20, Judge Wanda Keyes Heard.

The suspect accused of raping a woman in Timonium, David Mollett, was arrested in Oregon.