You really hate the police.

Wow, BCrime readers don't have much nice to say about the Baltimore Police. Only 17 of 113 respondents reported never having a negative experience. Reckless driving, rudeness, slow response times, refusing to take a report, arrests without cause .... I guess we already knew the BPD had a major PR problem, but that's pretty bad. Assuming the BPD cares what citizens think, how could it repair its image? Is it even possible?

September 5

Three fatal shootings over the weekend, of Michael Freeman, Andre Dudley and Darren Wilson, bring our homicide total to about 191.

Again?! An officer was stabbed at Jessup.

Five Maryland teachers have been convicted of participating in a national drug-trafficking scheme. And the former chief of PGC schools, Andre Hornsby, will appear in court today to face charges of mail and wire fraud.

The parents of 14-year-old Kevin Cooper, shot by a police officer, want the state to investigate the incident.

There were three police-involved shootings in PG County over the weekend, including an officer who shot his own mother.

Why would someone want a 1994 Buick Skylark?

A Louisiana man, David Clyde Smith, was stabbed by a panhandler in the parking lot of the Laurel Wal-Mart.

The Court of Appeals term starts today, and has plenty to hear before it gets to the gay-marriage thing. (Subscription required)

Tonight at 6:30 is Katie Couric's first CBS broadcast, a major milestone for cute girls everywhere.

Let's hope JZ will be able to find some new interns now that Towson has more applicants for its "Honor's College."

... can you believe this is the 500th post?

September 4

Two murders this weekend, one on West Lexington and one in the Northwest, bring the annual murder total to somehere between 181 and 190.

Am I reading this right? A 74-year-old man was stabbed with a steak knife as he tried to steal furniture, and a woman was beaten with a metal pipe at 10 a.m. Saturday on North Avenue.

Irony, Two-Edged Swords, etc
A teenager is being questioned after the death of Dr. Wayne Fenton of Bethesda. Fenton was a nationally known schizophrenia expert and director for clinical affairs in the Division of Mental Disorders, Behavioral Research and AIDS at NIMH ... but apparently didn't realize the danger posed by his own patient.

Crikey! The Crocodile Hunter's been killed ... by a stingray!

Defendants are blogging ... and defense attorneys are getting nervous. [username: chococatsanrio@yahoo.com pwrd: choco] (Thanks PG!)

Boozehoundery
"I did the shots of tequila last night, your honor!" Thanks to a reader for sending this video of a Nevada lawyer litigating under the influence.

Study: Children of alcoholics highly likely to lead effed-up lives.

September 3

Julie Bycowicz explores why Baltimore City hardly ever pursues the death penalty. And here's the Sun's collection of death penalty stories.

Fellow soldier on the death of Pfc. Michael Potocki: "His death has started an uproar of emotions in the platoon ... No one understands why we are here and what our mission is. This war is lost. We aren't helping these people. We are just dying and getting injured."
[username and password: 123isis]

Two men were stabbed in Columbia.

Suspicious fires and a woman beaten with a weight in Annapolis.

Which senate candidate once asked Keith Richards to stop smoking near his car? Hometown Annapolis has the dirt.

September 2

A suspicious death on Wednesday. I'm going to add that to the eight probable homicides (see comments August 31 - I am counting Julia Boussari and Said Sawab but not hanging guy or police-involved guy), making the number at least 179, probably more like 188 and possibly higher than that.

Three men were shot to death in PG County last night.

The Sun dutifully reprints the "three-foot halogen light bulb."

O'Malley admin: Cameras on the corner = genius. Cameras in prison = shameless, transparent vote-grubbing.

"Court papers say that in 2003 and 2004, [high schoool band teacher Jeffrey Thompson and a 16-year-old student] had sexual relations in Thompson's office at the school, in his Honda, at a Laurel motel, at Thompson's home and at Patapsco Valley State Park ..."

Alexander Massari of Owings Mills pled guity to having child porn.

The guys who stole guitars and sold them on ebay were sentenced.

"Does this boat make your nipples hard?"

September 1

Rodney Bethea pled guilty this morning to the Assault on law Enforcement, False Imprisonment, and Escape. The disposition is scheduled for October 16 at Wabash District Court, Part 4. The details:

On April 13, 2006, at approximately 10:45 am, Mr. Rodney Bethea was arrested for possession of marijuana. At this time the defendant was transported to the Northeast District to be interviewed by detectives of the District Detectives Unit (DDU). After being interviewed, while waiting for the wagon to transport him to the Central Booking Intake Facility, Mr. Bethea attempted to hang himself in the interview room with a string. This attempt was unsuccessful at which time Mr. Bethea removed one halogen light bulb from the overhead light in the interview room approximately 3 feet in length. Officer Paul Southard at this time responded to the interview room and noticed that the lights had been turned off, causing the room to be dark. Officer Southard then opened the door to the interview room to check on Mr. Bethea. At which time Mr. Bethea jumped off the table located inside the interview room, striking Officer Southard over the head, shattering the halogen bulb, causing numerous lacerations to Officer Southard's head. Officer Southard fell to the ground ... Mr. Bethea ran out of the interview room and into the Northeast DDU office.

At approximately 11:56 am a Signal 13 was dropped at the Northeast district for an escaped prisoner. Mr. Bethea at this time ran into the office of Community Services Officer Jessica Marcus-Lowe, a civilian employed at the district, and locked the door behind him, arming himself with a pair of scissors and a letter opener. He held CSO Macus-Lowe against her will and refused to allow her to leave. After over two hours of a stand-off, Baltimore City SWAT forced the door open and utilized a stun gun to take Mr. Bethea into custody.

Better-late-than-never news we missed: The Grand Jury returned an indictment August 22 charging Baltimore police officer William Darrell Welch, 40, of Quiet Stream Court, Timonium, Maryland with one count of second-degree rape and three counts of misconduct in office. The court pre-set bail in the amount of $50,000 in this matter. If convicted of the count of rape, Welch could be sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years. Misconduct in office is a common law offense that carries a period of incarceration in whatever amount a court deems is fair and reasonable. The indictment alleges that on July 16, 2006 in the Southeastern District Station Welch had sexual intercourse with a 16-year old girl after she had been taken into custody by another officer.

Youths at the Baltimore City Detention Center beat a boy for 90 minutes before anyone on staff noticed.

Eric Hicks and Nicholas Floyd were arrested for the murder of Kimberly Skyers. Murder victim #177 was identified as 35-year-old Juliet Robinson.

A man beat a stranger with a metal pole in Hampden, a man was mugged and shot in the cheek with a BB gun on York Road, and plenty of break-ins in Charles Village in the Messenger blotter.

If you live in the County and enjoy extramarital affairs with psychotic secretaries, William Buie III (left) is a judicial candidate you can relate to.

... and in totally unrelated news, four female congregants of Salisbury's New Life Apostolic Church were allegedly told by bishop Richard C. Lawson that his wife was sick and he was shopping for someone to replace her when she died. His son, the pastor, was also indicted (but acquitted) on charges that he had sex with a 16-year-old girl. No word on the health of Mrs. Lawson.

Leeander J. Blake was indicted federally, and as the state trial was never completed, that means he's not technically being tried twice for the same crime. The Post reports that prosecutors may have new evidence. If not, can the federal prosecutors use evidence inadmissible in state court? Sounds like a risky move, though the guy did admit to carjacking Straughan Griffin, shooting him in the head and running him over with his own car. The Sun has a timeline of the case.

In PG County a civil jury awarded $6.4 million to a man who was interrogated for more than 38 hours, then wrongfully imprisoned for his wife's murder.

Baltimore County prosecutors have decided not to pursue charges against Louis Clark, the gym teacher at Dundalk High accused of stealing from students' gym lockers (what's with the headline?).

Stephen Janis rounds up another citizen claiming to be wronged by the city's Dept. of Transportation. Hey lady, if your son is 29, shouldn't he be responsible for his own car?

Summer really is over, sigh... the OC Dispatch recaps a summerful of crime (among other things), including various stabbings, a NJ cop + a 15-year-old girl + bottle of Jagermeister, and a drunken "Pop-Pop" firing a .38 semi-automatic at children he was supposed to be babysitting.

Quote of the day: "At this point, HBO knows it doesn't have a breakout hit on its hands." -- David Simon on season four of The Wire

Mfume v. Cardin

Anybody watch the debate? When it comes to issues there isn't much of a difference (yes, Bush sucks, we know), but ... Cardin seemed stressed and had a constantly constipated expression, he even got downright whiny, and he sounded provincial calling Washington "Warshington." Mfume was poised and subtly but effectively pointed out his differences (he grew up in poverty, mom died at young age, he served in Vietnam, in contrast to Ben's nepotistic rise to power and lack of military service) and he certainly had the better-fitting suit. And it was most brave of him to say he was against gay-bashing and immigrant bashing. Advantage: Frizzell.

Meanwhile, low-polling candidite Allan Lichtman, his wife and a campaign worker were arrested while protesting the debate.

August 31

Rickie Tinsley, shot while riding a bicycle in south Baltimore, has died. He was murder #179. (The Ink had previously counted Kevin Cooper, the 14-year-old shot by police.)

A woman and a child were shot last night on the 1600 block of McKean Avenue.

Cedrick Bowman, one of the six Bloods involved in firebombing Edna McAbier's house, got 15 (federal) years.

In HoCo, Monti Fleming, 15, will be charged as an adult.

The Leeander Blake case just won't go away. The Supreme Court ruled that incriminating statements he made after asking for a lawyer couldn't be used against him. Now he's been indicted. I'm confused.

The Guardian Angels are back in Baltimore and plan to patrol Fell's Point. The group is also re-emerging in Minneapolis and Phoenix, AZ. The group laid low for a while after it was revealed in the early '90s that its leader, Curtis Sliwa, had faked various crimes (including his own kidnapping) for publicity.

Sorry, ladies, there are no lap dances allowed in PG County. Dollars now must be placed in g-strings with six-foot tongs.

WJZ: "City Surveillance Camera's Paying Off" And for writing students who want an example of the passive voice: "Police said it didn't appear anything was stolen, but it's more proof the city's surveillance system is working." Wow, I just realized every single sentence in that story has an error except one.

Dept. of Crappy Employers (subscription to Duly Wretched required for these links): The Baltimore office of Nasdaq has settled a discrimination claim with the EEOC after underpaying and failing to promote a black female employee. Jerks. And law firm McGuireWoods LLP was found to have violated the FMLA after telling an employee she could take time off to care for her ailing mother-- then firing her.

Oh, the irony: Martin Schultz, the director of a group that opposed mandatory helmet laws, died when his motorcycle collided with an SUV.

If you're into preening old men, the Cardin/Mfume debate is tonight at 7 on MPT.

August 30

A man is in shock trauma after being shot on the west side.

Three suspects were arrested after some kind of shootout in Dundalk.

The BCGJ indicted Arnold Punter, also known as Arnold Griggs, 39, of the Bronx, New York, for first-degree murder. Court documents allege that on February 7, 1999, Antoine Warren, 29, suffered a gunshot wound to his upper torso. While at the crime scene and before he was transported by medics, Warren identified his assailant to police as Arnold Punter. He died three days later.

178.

The half-brother of Ellis Lee Hickman, who's accused of suffocating and mutilating Rakiyya States and setting her apartment on fire, testified yesterday that he gave Hickman a gas can.

Famous pathologist Henry Lee has now joined the chorus of experts who believe the death of Robert Clay was not a suicide.

Raymond Vernon, 17, faces the possibility of life in prison after pleading guilty to an armed home invasion and rape in Woodlawn.

Murder suspect Monti Fleming has been arrested. He's only 15?!

Eeeewwwww ... Jobrea Lodge, suspect in the shooting of Detective Dante Hemingway, faces more jail time for spitting and throwing a cup of urine on a corrections officer.

Even eeewier: Robert Carey, 52, of Bowie got 15 years for sexually abusing a family member and taking pictures of the abuse, and for having more than one million child porn pictures on his government-owned computer at the NOAA.

Three wanted bank robbers, Terrance Edwards, Darthanion Wallace, and James Bangura were caught while riding in a minivan with a toddler.

Examiner on the BPD: There's no way that could be protocol right? Huh? C'mon!

The Westboro Baptist Church, owners of the domain name "godhatesfags.com," is being sued in Maryland by the father of the late Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder.

Who are those hooded hordes swarming
Over endless plains, stumbling in cracked earth?
Suckers at the impound lot!

The ACLU has filed requests under the Maryland Freedom of Information Act in an attempt to uncover the extent to which the government (via the BPD) spied on local groups, including the AFSC (Quakers) and Jonah House (Catholics).

August 29

The death of a woman in the Southeastern Friday has been ruled a homicide (#177).

HoCo police are looking for Monti Mantrice Flemming, left, accused of killing 18-year-old Shaun Powell at a fight outside of a party.

The Managing Director of Hodes, Ulman, Pessin & Katz), Michael Hodes, has been charged with second-degree assault for shoving around a process server trying to serve him with divorce papers. Tsk!

Today Judge Roger Brown gave one Kirk "Poppy" Taylor 20 years for 2nd degree attempted murder, the use of a handgun in a crime of violence and being a felon with a gun. Here's the tale from the State's Attorney's office, related with exceptional detail and panache:

In June after trial by jury Kirk Taylor, 27, of 2200 block of Booth Street, was convicted of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault First Degree, Assault Second Degree, Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Reckless Endangerment, Possession of a Regulated Firearm After Conviction of Disqualifying Crime.

Kirk Taylor aka "Poppy" saw Robert Carter get into a fight with Poppy's close friend Jermaine Legins aka "Wiggles" at the end of a Labor Day barbeque during the early morning hours of September 6, 2005. After Robert Carter beat up "Wiggles," Carter's sister told him to leave the area. It was too late. "Poppy" came running out of the house with a gun toward Robert Carter as he was getting into his car with his pregnant girlfriend, Claudia. Robert Carter's sister yelled "No, Poppy, Stop, that's my brother." "Poppy" hesitated and then fired six shots at Robert Carter as Carter drove off. Carter was hit once in the side of his torso and drove to the hospital.

The day of the shooting, three witnesses identified "Poppy" as the shooter and "Poppy" did not turn himself in until two and half weeks later. At trial, the witnesses stated that they were mistaken. The State introduced evidence of a phone call of the Defendant referring to Robert Carter as "the boy I shot." [whoops! --ed.]

At sentencing, Robert Carter testified that he was friends with the Defendant still and that he did not want him to get 50 years. Robert Carter's father, Robert Carter, Sr., testified that the Defendant has torn his family apart from this shooting and asked the Judge to give him all the time he could. The Defendant's girlfriend and father testified on his behalf.

The State recommended that the Defendant get 30 years on Attempted Murder in the Second Degree consecutive to 20 years on Use of a Handgun in a Crime of Violence, consecutive to five years on Possession of a Regulated Firearm After Conviction of Disqualifying Crime.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Sean Ramseur, 36, and Johnny Tyrone Johnson, 43, for first-degree murder and other counts. Court documents allege that on July 12, 2006, an argument about money escalated to an altercation during which Ramseur and Johnson beat and fatally stabbed the victim, Gary Shipman. An arraignment is scheduled for September 27, 2006.

Malik Vandiver, 18, was found guilty of second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony or crime of violence in the January 8, 2005 shooting death of Bayonna Cox, of the 2500 block of Francis Street. Assistant State's Attorney Mary Ann Burkhardt proved that Vandiver murdered Cox, 29, after she returned home in the early morning hours of January 8, 2005. Witnesses heard gunfire, and saw the defendant leaving the premises with a gun. The murder weapon was found later that morning at the home of the defendant's friend in the 4600 block of Homer Avenue. Sentencing has been set for November 13 before judge Handy.

The jury selection process began today in the case of Jason Moody; opening arguments may begin as soon as tomorrow morning. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Moody on charges of shooting and killing 26-year-old Kevin Shields in July 2003 at Cross Country apartments in front of his eight year-old son.

Derrick McFarland of NW Baltimore was shot and killed Sunday in VA as he tried to retrieve a stolen gun from a prisoner.

Ellis Hickman definitely stalked Rakiyya States. But did he also suffocate and bludgeon her to death, and set her apartment on fire?

What the?! Keith Spence of Baltimore was not only arrested for stealing his own car, but the police department sold his car at auction!

PA police will visit Loyola College today, trying to unravel the mystery of psycho grad student Garrett "I'm very excited about getting an eye for an eye" Alder.

An arrest in a shooting, lots of robbery and a man stabbed in Parkville in the Blotter.

By age 18, Tion Jamaar Bell of HoCo sexually offended a 13-year-old, shot 4-year-old Fahad Islam in Columbia, exposed himself to an inmate, was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, trashed his cell, spit on an inmate and now will be serving 15 years, TG.

The WP runs an action-packed profile of retiring FBI agent Brad Garrett.

DNR: Chistopher Forker, 24, drove drunk and was cited for possession of an undersized flounder, several boaters were charged with DUI and Vincent Mettle of Westminster upset his catamaran.

Un. Buh. Leave. Able. The Sun has published a story even fluffier than the "Birds of Home Depot." Hundreds of words about the 30th anniversary of the poster of Farrah Fawcett smuggling raisins in a red swimsuit. Because nothing newsworthy happens in Baltimore, editors have to fill space around the ads somehow, right?

Int'l ...
Did the NSA fake the suicide of Greek cell phone exec Costas Tsalkidis and Italian investigator Adamo Bove out of fear that they would reveal American wiretapping of European officials? BBoyNeko thinks so...

August 28

Herbert Wyche, who shot his neighbor, William Staten, in a dispute over an orange peel, got 20 years for attempted murder and a handgun count.

A man was fatally shot yesterday in Cherry Hill (#176).

Antawan Corprew, 23, of Edgewood, got 25 years for the murder of 18-year-old Gerald Hale III, whose decomposed remains were found at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

An inmate was stabbed at the pen in Jessup.

Police shredded documents pertinent to a civil rights lawsuit against the department.

Three teenagers were arrested for attacking homeless men near Harborplace.

Examiner's Stephen Janis alludes to T.S. Eliot, uses word "myriad" in story about city's auto impound lot. Did you know? The city and its hired subcontractors have towed more than 89,000 cars in the past year!

Police in Baltimore County are trying to discover the identity of a little boy, left, who was found naked and dirty outside the Motel 6 in Woodlawn.

In Southeast D.C., Cynthia Gray, 17, died saving her infant godson from gunfire.

Quote of the day: "I'm not planning to be a potted plant." -- Candidate for Maryland Attorney General, Stu Simms. FYI, he's running against Doug Gansler and like, two other guys.

August 27

Spotted: Kweisi Mfume having dinner at Amicci's, Little Italy.

As parents get paranoid, the Post asks: has the world really become more dangerous? Meanwhile, a 13-year-old girl evaded kidnapping in Clifton Heights.

Post: Ehrlich Prolific in Granting Clemency, pardoning more prisoners in last three years than past two govs. combined

Internal police department "insensitive" memo, "heaven is full of watermelon seeds"written by black SHA employee.

Rodericks: O'Malley "not smart to make such statements" on crime, education

Shooting on Belair Road

Three men conducted an armed robbery at a check-cashing establishment on Belair Road today. They apparently shot at least one employee and then the three fled on foot.



Do you think maybe the police will actually write up the B&E when it is the
Mayor's office which was broken into?

City of Victims

The good news*: 15 percent of Baltimore Crime readers haven't been the victim of a crime in Baltimore City (or never lived here). The bad news: the remaining 85 percent have been victim of a veritable myriad plethora of offenses, most prominently, a car break-in (note to self: call Safelite® re. advertising). A shocking number of readers have also been physically assaulted by a stranger, shot, stabbed, scammed, jacked and swiped from. At least eight readers have had a relative murdered in the city.

Don't forget to take the new poll (you may have to scrool to the bottom of the page if you're using Explorer), and to vote in the CP's BOBs (in case you're trying to remember for the "best scandal" category the PSC member who solicited 'ho Valerie Fletcher and released a letter blaming his acts on "ED" was named Charles R. Boutin).

*Other than that I'm back in America

... Other News

Darien Lawson, age 7, is back home after being >stabbed by another 7-year-old on a playground in Essex.

Some asshole in a dark SUV with Denali rims and a red-eyed skull sticker ran over teenager Lia Longhofer and her dog.

Billy Wells: high school student, basketball player, wholesale coke dealer.

Ex-from-hell Stephen Kokinakos of BaltoCo has defied a court order and kidnapped his three sons.

Why does Loyola College keep letting nutjobs into its grad programs? Former student Garrett Alder is charged with three counts of attempted murder, arson and stalking after harassing a professor, setting his house on fire and lurking in the woods. (The 25-year-old Connecticutian was quickly located by a Belgian Malawa. WTF that is.)

Marc Munford of Randallstown got 33 Federal months for harboring wanted bank robber Kendall Alexander Sr.

As if the Senate race wasn't weird enough, Russell Simmons went all the way from NY to Laurel to endorse Michael Steele.

..Int'l

Maryland teacher Ali Asad Chandia got 15 years for helping to ship 50,000 paintball pellets to Kashmir.

No matter how bad things get, sloppy cops may still be better than the well-organized ones of Bobo Freedom City, Beijing.

Airports and airlines everywhere went insane yesterday ... there was also a "mystery package" scare at De Gaulle, which closed the closed the airport and prevented trains or shuttles from coming in or going out for more than an hour.

August 26

Methodology problem

An Edgewood man was sentenced to 25 years for abducting an 18 year-old from 20th & Boone in Northern Baltimore in 2001, transporting him to Harford County, and shooting him dead in the head.

The question here is, who should record the murder? The deed was done in Harford, but the hazard is clearly to people on the Greenmount corridor, Baltimore City. Interestingly, we had another similar case a couple of years ago at 25th & Greenmount who was abducted and removed to a location in the Eastern District before being killed. That incident was recorded as an Eastern homicide, even though the hazard was to patrons of a location in Northern.

In Greg Kane's opinion article, catch his take on the fatal shooting of a boy by an assaulted police officer on a domestic dispute.

In police coverage, a good sized retail drug bust in Reservioir Hill nabs several dealers, including the 13 year-old son of one of the dealers.

Friday August 25

Do you smell something? Nah, that's just another body.

A decaying body found at St. Mary's in Seton Hill had apparently been in the bushes for about a month. Another day in paradise, I mean Baltimore.

Misconduct? What misconduct?

A highly racist email was sent from DPW to someone in the BCPD and then forwarded within BCPD many times. When questioned about it, Police Department spokesweasel Jablow had this to say:

"The Baltimore Police Department has no tolerance for employees who make racially insensitive remarks or distribute racially insensitive material,"

But Matt, your department does have tolerance. For racism, false arrests, lying under oath, covering up crime stats, declining to write up incidents, raping hookers, taking bribes to not appear at trial, etc. More tolerance than I've ever seen in a city police department. Thank goodness Councilman Harris is willing to call you on the carpet for this incident. Clearly, Mr. O'Malley will never do it. He's pretty darn tolerant. Kinda recommends against NAACP endorsing him, dontchya think? As for Mr. Hamm, if the Commissioner is supposed to be intolerant of misconduct, then Lenny cannot be the Commissioner, cuz' he looks the other way at a lotta nonsense. He's publicly stated that the BCPD will not tolerate .... a whole buncha stuff that's still going on to this day.

A useful City Council would demand that the BCPD comply within 60 days with the purported intolerance of all these things. Our just looks for more contracts to hand off to Sheila Dixon's associates. (OK, so the last two paragraphs were less than journalistically neutral. Sorry.)



Oh, this is rich. A former Psychology graduate student from Loyola tried to torch his Prof's home in York Co, PA. What was his thesis on, Career Dissatisfaction and Pyromania?


So, we have a new Acting Head of Corrections for the State of Maryland. Howzabout locking the bastards up in their cells? Just a naive concept of my own making.

In the Police Blotter, a shooting and a robbery. In yesterday's Blotter, a shooting a robbery, an assault on an officer, and an arrest on a murder warrant.

Also, a shooting, a robbery, and a whole bunch of burglaries in Charles Village and North Baltimore generally as detailed in the Messenger's Crime Log.

Two brothers operating a wholesale drug distribution ring to Hagerstown have plead guilty in Baltimore City to federal conspiracy charges. They were under surveilance near Union Memorial Hospital in Charles Village and face a maximum of forty years with a mandatory minimum of five upon sentencing in November.

The couple from Chantilly, VA who were falsely arrested in Baltimore had their day in court with the arresting officer. They were falsely arrested. The case was dismissed.

The Sun raises questions about how much O'Malley's administration has reduced crime and created jobs in Baltimore. The numbers appear not to bear out the Mayor's claims.

Wednesday August 23

Circuit Court judge Althea Handy has accepted a plea from convicted murderer Robert C. Griffin in the 1985 murder of Annie Cruse, who was found in Druid Hill Park. His counsel presented a DNA challenge which doesn't refute the prosecutor's case, but rather could muddy the waters. The State's Attorney indicates the conviction is solid and that it has credible witness(es). In any event, a so-called Alford plea was granted, acknowledging that the findings would likely be sufficient to sustain a guilty finding and commuting the sentence at time served. The Cruse family is not so pleased as Griffin.

Continuing coverage of the investigation of City Council President Sheila Dixon's affiliates in connection with improper diversion of City Council contracts appears in today's Sun article. Maybe the Council should consider passing an ordinance against stealing from the taxpayers. It's already illegal? Who'da thunk it? O'Malley's campaign promise of greater minority setasides raises concerns about corruption in his government in the Sun 's coverage.


Activist Bill Cosby to area excuse-makers: "You can't keep pointing the finger and saying, 'They're building more jails.' So what? Let 'em build 'em. Nobody says you have to go."
I heard that.

BCPD Det. William Welch was indicted by a Baltimore grand jury on rape and misconduct charges in connection with a 16 year-old prostitute he allegedly raped at the Southeast District station.

A robbery, a shooting, arrests on a murder warrant and an attempted murder with handgun warrant, and an arrest on an armed robbery in the police blotter today.

Homicides (5 this week per Murder Ink, 6 in fact) Total to date: 177

Mon. Aug 14 23 year-old Ryan Teel was murdered (176) and two other boys shot on the 400 block, Ilchester Ave. in tiny, 8 square block Harwood, part of Charles Village and host to six murders already this year. Note: another of the boys, Rodtinae Jones, has passed away as of this writing (177). The third victim is in critical condition with a collapsed lung.

Tues. Aug 15 27 year-old Harold Williams was shot on Clifton Ave. (175), as were two other young males.

Sat. Aug. 19 63 year-old Mary Page was stabbed at her home (174) on the 200 block N. Culver St.

Sun. Aug 20 26 year-old Pepe Bennett was multiply shot (173) on the 1800 block, N. Montford.
Sun. Aug 20 21 year-old William Tillman was found in the alley behing Spaulding Ave. shot several times. (172)

FYI: we are less than two-thirds through the calendar year and have already recorded more murders in shrinking Baltimore City than the entire State of Massachusetts does over the course of a year. That ain't right. T'aint right.

August 22

The 63 year-old found stabbed to death in her home at the 200 block, N. Culver, in Edmondson Village over the weekend has been identified as Mary Page. The case is being investigated as a homicide.

23 year-old Darryl Cook, jr. is being sought pursuant to a warrant for the Aug. 9 beating death of 28 year-old Cecil Saunders at the Executive Motor Inn on Pulaski Highway. Cook, who also went by the alias Donnell Williams, frequented the 2200 block of Wilkens Ave.

Also, Dennis James Wallace, 54, has been indicted in the 1983 killing of William Gibson, then 57, at the 2200 block of east Pratt Street. The cause has up until this time been listed as undetermined.

The editorial page of the Examiner calls upon Police Commissioner Lenny Hamm and spokesweasel Jablow to publicly apologize for the department's false arrest and charging of a Baltimore man for the theft of his own car, of which the police disposed prematurely. Don't hold your breath; the department's real good at making mistakes, not good at admitting it.

Around 1:30 this afternoon a motorbiker was hit and run on Frederick Ave. He was taken to shock trauma.

I usually don't include white-collar crime, but given the City's tacit assent to part I crime in Baltimore, it just seems that a link to the Examiner article on the ongoing State investigation of key staffers of City Council President Sheila Dixon is appropriate. The lucrative contract to manage the information systems of City Council has bounced from one Dixon affiliate to another. Her campaign chairman's home has been raided in connection with the investigation. link to article Now, since Dixon would succeed O'Malley as Mayor of Baltimore if he wins the gubernatorial race, a vote for O'Malley is a vote for.... this ?? Grreeaatt.

August 21 in the City That Bleeds

I knew it was too good to be true.

Well, the media coverage made it at least seem as if it was an uneventful weekend, in terms of local crime. However,...


... we got three more homicides, which apparently were not as newsworthy as increased voter registration tallies statewide.

A 63 year-old woman was found dead in her home on the 200 block of North Culver St.

Saturday night Pepe Bennett,26, of the 2900 block of Montford Ave. was found shot dead on the 1600 block of Montford, in the Eastern District.

Around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday William Tillman, age 21, was found in the alley at the rear of the 3000 block, Spaulding Ave near Pimlico. He had died of gunshot wound(s).

In broad daylight

A 25 year-old man walking the 300 block of East North Ave. was accosted by a gunman and shot in the hip around 4:00 p.m.

A few blocks north along the 2900 block of Greenmount Ave., about three hours later, two female pedestrians heard gunshots and ran, finding that they had each been hit in the leg.


Now, mind you, we get better tv news coverage of people falling in Rock State Park and of robberies in Columbia than incidents dead smack in the middle of town. Where I was brought up, a shooting was considered kinda important. Welcome to O'Malleyville.

So, get yourself some stylish kevlar clothing, perambulate the neighborhood, and Get In On it. Or maybe Get Shot In It.

But stay out of cars, even your own. City resident Keith Spence was arrested in February for stealing a car, a used Eldorado. Who's car was stolen? Keith Spence's. Yes, he was arrested and tried for being in posession of his own car, according to the story in the Examiner.

BTW, German shepherd Rolf, the MTA k-9 officer, was found at Cold Spring Lane and Reisterstown Rd. He's good to go and back on the job.

August 20 A slow weekend

When the police blotter is sumarized tomorrow, we'll see if the truth was as serene as the media portrayed it this weekend.

Around 11:00 p.m. last (Sat.) night a 14 year-old pedestrian was clipped by a black SUV while walking her dog, now dead, at Guilford & Fayette, according to wjz news. Yes, right by City Hall. Eyewitnesses are encouraged to contact the police.

Also, a German shepherd canine officer described as having a distinct black coat with silver and brown markings and a tattoo that says "J-328" in his right ear has gone AWOL around Hilton Pkwy. Please contact the police if you see Rolf.

I just saw Pres. Sheila Dixon on WMAR's local political talk show To The Point. She was asked about the increase in violence toward children of late. Her answer was that that 'society' needs to mend the faulty domestic environment through the schools. She observes that "we don't just need a nurse in the school, we need a psychologist, a social worker..." She refers constantly to 'providing resources to the families' because as she notes, minors are making more money on the street than their mother, they're paying the bills. And all that without an identifiable employer. She also spoke of the churches taking ownership of their neighborhoods.

Translation: she has no idea what to do as the President. Lotsa ideas what someone else oughta do. So nice to have a municipal government with real leadership, huh?