January 26

Mrs. Patricia C. Jessamy announced today that her office has dismissed first degree rape and misconduct charges against Steven Hatley, 27, and Brian Shaffer, 31, in connection with the alleged rape of a city woman December 27, 2005. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Shaffer and Hatley January 6, 2006 following an independent Grand Jury investigation. Jurors heard evidence and witness testimony during secret proceedings under Maryland law before returning indictments. Prosecutors from the SA's Sex Offense Division conducted a review and evaluation of the evidence in this case following the recent not guilty verdict in the Maryland vs. Jemini Jones.

Brian Witte: Md. lawmakers seek to repeal death penalty.

A 16-year-old was shot in the leg in the Eastern.
And three guys went to a whole lot of trouble to steal a moped.

Terrance Washington appears to have left the state.

Parkville pedestrians are being mugged by four unarmed men.

A jury found Enoch Hill, the former associate pastor of the House of God church, guilty of repeatedly molesting a 12-year-old boy.

Five people were arrested for selling pot.

A PGC cop shot two men in his home under murky circumstances.

HoCo: No wonder Mr. Hartlove was such a peppy teacher.

Wow... I was excited by the picture for a second. It looked like Baltimore had thrown Sheila out with the trash.

January 25

In murder news, an unidentified man [24] was shot to death yesterday morning near Madison Ave. and Bloom St. Tio Floyd [23] was killed in the 1700 block of E. Biddle St. at 10:30 on Tuesday night. At 8:00 Tuesday night, Ronald Lewis [22] was shot to death in McCulloh Homes, which is located nine blocks south of where yesterday's killing occurred. David Thomas [21] was the victim of a shooting on Brighton St. in Rosemont on Monday night.

More on Isaiah Simmons III, the boy who died after a violent outburst at Bowling Brook Prep.

A 16-year-old boy was shot in East Baltimore.

You'd think after two other escapes, they'd know to keep a close eye on Terrence Washington, or Terrance, or whatever his name is.

The carjacking mentioned here a few days ago is in today's Blotter.

The P.G. County Deputy Director of Homeland Security shot two alleged furniture delivery men.

HoCoPoPo are offering a grand to anyone who helps them catch the guy who robbed a Chevy Chase bank in Ellicott City on Monday afternoon.

The Sun reports that Jessamy's high-fivers were "reassigned."

Yikes. WJZ reports that "many young girls are looking up to Baltimore's first ever female mayor for inspiration." And WBAL blows our mind with this shocker: "Jailing Violent Repeat Offenders Key To Safety."

Two bills in Annapolis will replace the Maryland death penalty with life in prison without parole.

January 24 Nite

The Ink catalouges 2007's murders 16-20.

January 24 afternoon

Rumor has it that Mrs. Patricia Coates Jessamy fired two genuises on her protection team who high-fived each other in the courtroom after Jemini Jones' acquittal.
Says the SA's office, "We have NO COMMENT."

Why this isn't front page news is beyond me: an off-duty cop's daughter was held at gunpoint during a robbery outside the girl's day care center on Monday morning.

A fight at the McCulloh Homes in West Baltimore left one unidentified man [22] dead.

A Bowling Brook Prep student died after becoming "enraged for no apparent reason" and threatening school staff.

Typical Baltimore stuff (shootings, robbery, etc.) in the Blotter, including an armed robbery on The Avenue.

Two Annapolis men were wounded in a shooting late last night.

Harford County Detention Center inmate Terrance Kassis Washington escaped while being taken to the emergency room.

A robbery victim in South Baltimore was locked in the trunk of a Jaguar.

Breaking News!!! On October 13, robbers forced their way into a Pikesville house, restrained the family who lived there, and stole $20,000 worth of sports memorabilia. Police are searching for the suspects. Hopefully they fled the scene really, really slowly.

John Gray was sentenced to 90 days for attacking his son's peewee league football coach.

January 24

La Migra: we weren't planning a raid, but the inmigrantes jumped on our cars!

That's one rape trial down, one to go for Jemini Jones. Shouted a friend of the alleged victim, "Police... just proved they can get away with everything."

Cue the violins: The murder of Antwaine Curbeam (14) has made Loyola students nervous about walking to the CVS. Though the Police have never said killing was drug-related, Loyola Director of Public Safety Tim Fox was quick to reassure students: "All indications are that it was drug-related. It was a single shot, so that it kind of tends to look like it was maybe a hit of some sort."

Dear Readers, Does anyone have a CBS radio login they could share? Tried to register unsuccessfully and I kind of miss listening to Ed Norris...

January 23 afternoon

An immigration raid around Broadway resulted in an estimated two dozen arrests. Says our reporter on the scene,

I spoke to representatives from United Workers' Association, including Spanish speaking workers who were in the area of Broadway and Lombard this morning. At 11:30, unmarked cars rolled up to that corner in front of the 7-11 and rounded up Hispanic immigrants waiting for work there. At 10:30 the corner was full of people waiting for offers of work for the day ... Witnesses said the raid was carried out by 'Immigration,' presumably ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security). There is no word yet if this was an isolated raid or part of a coordinated, multi-city effort.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury has indicted Kevin White, 23, of the 4700 block of Ellison Avenue; Kevin Barnes, 20, of the 900 block of E. Lombard Street and Lennard Jones, 21 of the 900 block of Whitelock Street on first-degree murder and other counts. Court documents allege on December 26, 2006, the victim, Jose Hernandez, along with another male, were approached by three males as they walked away from the corner store in the 3200 block of East Baltimore Street. Two of the males produced knives and the other produced a handgun. Mr. Hernandez and the other man ran, gunshots were fired and the other man witnessed Mr. Hernandez fall to the ground. Mr. Hernandez died as a result of his injuries. The other man escaped without injuries. An arraignment is scheduled February 14, 2007, before Judge Gale E. Rasin.

Judge Allen L. Schwait sentenced Reginald McKever, 21, of the 4700 block of Ellson Avenue, to 50 years in prison today. A City jury convicted McKever November 3, 2006 of attempted first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the crime of violence and attempted robbery deadly weapon. Judge Schwait sentenced him to 30 years for the attempted murder and 20 years for the handgun count with the sentences to run consecutively. Judge Schwait also sentenced McKever to a concurrent 20 year prison term for the attempted robbery deadly weapon count. Say the facts,

On July 18, 2005 Baltimore Police Officer Kevin Simmons was off-duty when McKever and an unknown male approached him. McKever brandished a handgun and demanded money from Simmons. Officer Simmons, fearing what might happen if the defendant got his service weapon, attempted to flea from the defendant while announcing that he was a police officer. McKever shot Officer Simmons one time, striking him in the foot, and then fled the scene.

A jury acquitted Jemini Jones of all charges.

No bail for Brandon Grimes.

Carroll County's one homicide of 2006 was Rylee Emge, age three months, a victim of shaken-baby syndrome. His father has been charged.

Silver Spring has bought itself a $7.7 million bridge that's now "a perfect place for a crime."

Examinertorial re. the Robert Clay case: "Every reason given for secrecy [by the police department] is specious."

If you've been groped, assaulted or forced to watch porn with the pervert at left, Fabrice Snowden, please call Baltimore County Police.

January 23

An unidentified man was shot to death at 8 last night on Brighton St. in West Baltimore's Rosemont neighborhood. The 21st murder of the year wasn't reported by WJZ, WBAL radio, WBAL TV, WMAR, or the Examiner.

The grandmother of Bonita Madden, the woman killed in the murder/suicide in West Baltimore last week, is being evicted from a senior living facility for taking in her granddaughter's newly orphaned kids.

Duane Latoye Geiger eluded police for nearly two years, but was finally arrested for the murder of White Marsh resident Ralph Amadi.

"Eggy's become a great man now."

Former Q.A. teacher Chris Tribbitt got 18 months, which is about six months shorter than his "relationship" with a teenage girl.

We steal from the churches, we steal from the outreach centers, we steal from the BK, and we steal from each other.

Funeral home owner Paul Stella is being investigated by the feds for stealing from pre-paid funeral accounts.

The Yorkway complex in Dundalk -- source of 3,800 calls to police in 2005 -- has started to come down.

Two 16-year-old girls are missing in Montgomery County, but foul play is not suspected.

Shut up and drive!

January 22 Evening

The Jemini Jones case has gone to the jury.

This past weekend I decided to finally update my non-fatal shootings map, so I slowly combed through the Baltimore Police Dept. Online Crime Map and counted all the "Agg. Assault - Gun" green triangle icons I could find. I thought the readers of this fine blog would like to see the list of this year's so far. It's a lot less than I expected and I have a feeling it is rather incomplete (where's that kid who got shot on Belnord and who was erroneously reported as dead by ABC?). Also, I don't understand why the person killed in the 300 block of West North Avenue gets to be the victim of both a murder AND an aggravated assault while the rest of this year's murder victims only get to be murder victims, but here it is, Jan. 1st through Jan. 13th:

Northwestern District:

1/1 - 5100 block Elmer Ave, 21215
1/7 - 2900 block Taney Rd, 21209
1/11 - 4100 block Fairview Ave, 21216
1/12 - 3800 block Beehler Ave, 21215
1/13 - 3400 block Paton Ave, 21215

Northern District:

1/5 - 1100 block E Belvedere Ave, 21239 (four victims)
1/5 - 3900 block Roland Ave, 21211 (three victims)
1/6 - 300 block W North Ave, 21217
1/8 - 400 block E 27th St, 21218

Northeastern District:

1/1 - 4900 block Aberdeen Ave, 21206
1/4 - 2600 block Pelham Ave, 21213
1/5 - 1700 block Carswell St, 21218
1/8 - 1800 block E 31st St, 21218
1/9 - 1700 block Abbotston St, 21218
1/11 - 4800 block Harford Rd, 21214

Western District:

1/2 - 1400 block Mountmor Ct, 21217
1/5 - 1900 block Clifton Ave, 21217 (five victims)
1/6 - 1000 block W Saratoga St, 21223
1/8 - 1600 block N Gilmor St, 21217

Central District:

1/4 - 1900 block Pennsylvania Ave, 21217
1/7 - 500 block W Saratoga St, 21201
1/7 - 400 block W Franklin St, 21201

Eastern District:

1/1 - 2400 block E Oliver St, 21213
1/2 - 1300 block N Bradford St, 21213
1/2 - 600 block N Wolfe St, 21205 (Johns Hopkins Hospital)
1/4 - 400 block E 21st St, 21218
1/8 - 1700 block Harford Ave, 21213
1/9 - 600 block N Wolfe St, 21205 (Johns Hopkins Hospital)
1/9 - 1200 block E North Ave, 21202
1/12 - 400 block E 22nd St, 21218

Southwestern District:

1/1 - 3400 block Clifton Ave, 21216 (two victims)
1/8 - 1800 block N Rosedale St, 21216
1/8 - 2700 block Walbrook Ave, 21216
1/9 - 4700 block Dartford Ave, 21229

Southern District:

1/10 - 3600 block S Hanover St, 21225
1/13 - 100 block S Schroeder St, 21223

Southeastern District:

None (!)

January 22

19-year-old Anton Jones Jr. has been identified as the 20th muder victim in the city. According to Galt, he had no criminal history and was guilty of nothing more than going grocery shopping.

Welcome to Baltimore, the city where a chauffered-at-gunpoint crime spree warrants 131 words in the Blotter. On top of that, two other shootings and a stabbing.

The State's Attorney's Office is questioning the effectiveness of the blue light cameras.

Closing arguments are scheduled today for Jemini Jones' case.

In Queen Anne's county, sentencing is scheduled for Christopher Tribbitt, a former physical education teacher who is charged with molesting a 12-year-old girl.

If you want a tattoo in Westminster, you'd better get it quick.

A good article about how two people can make a difference.

January 21

Two men were murdered yesterday: An adult male [19] was shot in the head at 1000 E. Baltimore St. at 3:50 on Saturday afternoon, and a man [20] was shot in the Northeast neighborhood of Cedonia at 11:00 last night.

Rodricks is trying to rally the masses.

A man in a stolen Volvo was killed when he crashed into an SUV in Annapolis.

January 20

More on Thursday's murder/suicide [18] on North Calhoun Street.
Fox reported last night that the eight-year-old daughter was the one who called the police.

Jemini Jones: "I never had sexual intercourse with that woman."

The civil-rights lawsuit against the city goes on. Former Baltimore Police Internal Affairs Chief Zeinab Rabold testified that she found a dead rat and racist flier on her car.

A teenaged suspect was shot to death by MoCo Police.

City cops are searching for an aging queen, European playboy or other "fashion-conscious gentleman" who burgled Gian Marco Menswear.

The scrunchie has left the building: top jailer Mary Ann Saar is out, and Gary Maynard, 63, is in! (Isn't it unusual to hire someone who's two years from retirement?)

Back by popular demand, the stolen Pug link.
The Pikesville Molotov cocktail is none too comforting, either ...

[mocking of Mike Schuh deleted out of respect for the dead]

Scratch that!

I woke up with a sore throat and might not make it but I'll try...
ps., if anyone has a copy of yesterday's post, in their cache or whatever, please send it to me.

January 19, evening

Rodney Thomas, aka "Skinny Suge," 31, of the 2500 block of Edmondson Avenue, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault on Wednesday before the Honorable Martin P. Welch. Thomas was sentenced to 15 years in prison, however, Judge Welch suspended all but three years, ordered a three-year-term of probation and $1,471 restitution to the victim. While outlining the facts of the plea to the court, prosecutor Rita Wistoff-Ito noted that the victim recognized and knew the defendant from his appearance in the "Stop Fucking Snitching Vol. 1" DVD. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Thomas May 1, 2006 for first-degree assault. Court documents allege that on February 13, 2006 following an argument with the victim, Thomas assaulted an employee of the USA Boutique in Mondawmin Mall striking her in the head. The victim also sustained a chipped bottom tooth, black eye, bruised lip and a fractured nose from the attack. In a separate incident on February 18, 2006, Thomas was charged with robbery. That case was nol prossed following the plea agreement in the above matter, says the SA's office.

Today in Circuit Court a Baltimore City jury found Terrance Wynn guilty of robbery with a deadly weapon; plain old robbery; first-degree assault; two counts of second-degree assault; theft over $500; wear, carry, transport and use of a handgun during a crime; two counts of reckless endangerment and and two counts of false imprisonment. Say the facts:

In the late afternoon of Sunday, August 28, 2004 Terrence Wynn entered the home of Curtis Stokes in the 3100 block of Ravenwood Avenue under the guise of purchasing a T-shirt. He and an accomplice robbed and assaulted Mr. Stokes, Ms. Darlene Richardson, and Ms. Sagundra Poole of approximately $40,000 in cash, goods, CD’s, clothing, a cell phone and jewelry. Terrence Wynn and his accomplice then falsely imprisoned the three victims in Mr. Stokes' basement while fleeing the scene. Terrence Wynn faces a possible 170 years of incarceration at sentencing scheduled for March 26, 2007 in Part Four.

Oooh, The Sun now has a way to filter just the Baltimore City news. So handy for those of us who don't like to waste time thinking about anywhere else!

Cap'n Karl Hickerson was charged with 95 counts of being a pervert.

Apparently, Kenneth Trivett thought drugs and helicopters would go together like peanut butter and chocolate.

"...But I don't think that any of us want to think of Baltimore as a city that knows how to make excuses." Actually, Sheila, I don't want to think of Baltimore as a city where nearly 300 people are murdered each year. Do you think you can help with that, or will we get more excuses?

Wow... we've sunk to stealing pugs. That's wrong on so many levels, I don't even know where to start.

January 18, part II

21-year-old Dante Watson is murder victim #17. He was stabbed in his Northeast apartment on Monday night and died on Tuesday.

Jennifer Ann Kruszynski is missing and suspected dead; her ex-boyfriend implicated himself in his suicide note.

A federal cop and a Virginia State Trooper were beaten and robbed in Canton. Both were in town to attend Det. Troy Chesley's funeral and show support to the Baltimore PD.

Good to know that the Navy and the Secret Service are unofficially protecting our malls.

Armed robbery at the Rotunda, and a 17-year-old in a stolen Jeep tried to run down the police.

Things are looking bad for Jemini Jones.

Careful with that O'Douls: you might get charged with an open container violation

A transgendered woman got busted during her attempt to become transidentified.

The state has four years to fix the city jail.

There's a joke in here somewhere about the crime of O'Malley being governor and Dixon being mayor. It just isn't feeling funny to me this morning.

January 18

A woman was punched in the face and had her purse stolen at the Waverly Giant.

January 17

The funeral was held for Detective Chesley, who "lived well and lived right."

One of the guns found with Chesley's accused killer was confiscated by police in 2001.

Vehicular manslaughter was added to the charges against Lazara Arellano de Hogue in the dragging death of 3-year-old Elijah Cozart.

A 52-year-old city cab driver was shot in the neck by one of his passengers.

A 23-year-old man was shot in the leg in Annapolis this morning.

Okay, so it's Trooper Rafeal Reyes, not Rayes. And it's not merely teenage girls he likes, it's teenage relatives. Nice.

Luvine Summers got 10 years for robbing a bank in Ellicott City.

Badges and uniforms are missing from BWI: Dutch is pissed but the TSA says it's all good.

Sometimes it's hard to know which end of the knife is pointy.

Note to car thieves: It's much easier to get away if you don't take a shortcut through someone's living room.

This way, my teeth can fall out before they get too yellowed from all the coffee I drink.

Sheila likes Hamm's "ability to provide stability and consistency..." Interesting.

"The Modell's Give Disadvantage Kids An Education". I wonder if headline writer's at WJZ are included in those being educate.

Hi, Clubhouse!

Well, that wasn't so bad... Anna Ditkoff certainly seems to share the collective outrage r.e. the lack of outrage...
ps. Burg, you look just like Jason Schwartzman <-high compliment!

We call it "the Baltimore"

"Its many features include compartments for emergency morphine ... Built into the forearms are a small recording device, a pepper-spray gun and a detachable transponder that can be swallowed in case of trouble."

January 16

Two teenage girls, one of them pregnant, were shot in Park Heights.

David Wesley was arrested for trying to kill his brother-in-law and setting fire to his front lawn.

State Trooper Rafael Rayes has been suspended and charged with liking teenage girls way too much.

Questions remain about activist/businessman Robert Clay's alleged suicide, and police continue to be uncooperative.

Sheila's going to bring us a "more holistic approach to crime". This should be good.

Convicted murderer Lawrence Borchardt doesn't want to be murdered killed by the will of the people of Maryland.

Cynthia Putty has returned home safely.

The Examiner headline says it all: "Columbia Mall seeing increase in crime and accidents as it expands."

It's like Romeo and Juliet, but with the guards as the Montagues and the inmates as the Capulets.

We cant spel.

Skateboarding is not a crime. Stealing skateboards, however, is.

Lots of purse snatchings, cell phone robberies, and stolen computers.