May 31: Political BS

Stop the presses, now Dixon's planning a plan: a "more focused" partnership between local and state law enforcement agencies. Could she be planning to ask O'Malley for some state troopers?

... frienemy Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is asking for 15 state troopers to help out in the city (baby steps!) and wants to spend $2 million of city reserve funds, plus some state cash, to recruit 140 teenagers, Southerners and Puerto Ricans to police positions (yes, that's more than $14k a recruit). (Other Council budget details here.)
The bad news: no mention of raising police pay to be on par with surrounding counties to help retain the recruits.
Fun Fact: City Council President will be ostensibly elected at the Sept. 11 Democratic primary. Rawlings-Blake will be opposed by City Councilman Kenneth N. Harris Sr. and political legacy Michael Sarbanes.
Olesker: "These candidates running today are the children of those who struggled through such tough times, and made it their life’s work to relegate it to the past. Maybe voters won’t care about race as much as character ... maybe the new generation of candidates will lead us to such a day." Yeah, maybe! Wait...race? Who's he talking about? Aren't all of the candidiates lightly browned?

MD State Police "Superintendent Colonel" Thomas Hutchins = out!
Hutchins was installed by Ehrlich in 2003 to replace Ed Norris; Baltimore County Police Chief Terrence Sheridan will replace Hutchins.

A letter from the ever-vivid Frank M. Conaway, Sr: "A river of blood is flowing through the streets of Baltimore. What are Baltimore’s leaders doing to stem the flow? Planting trees."

A stuffed deer head with a gold tooth and a mop on its head that looked like an afro was photo'd at the Station 33 fire house on E. 25th Street, someone then posted the image to a blog, an uproar allegedly thus ensued and someone at the NAACP was alerted, then someone called Mike Schuh, who turned it in to three minutes of your life that you'll never get back!

May 30

The Ink has updates to some cases, details of homicides 100-116.

GGS: "Three men two men were killed in separate incidents last night and early this morning, pushing the pace of homicides in Baltimore to an average of one a day in May."

• 1 a.m. 5/30: unidentified man, 2400 block of W. Lexington St., gunshot wounds to his chest
• 11 p.m. 5/29: unidentified man, 700 block of Denison St., south of Leakin Park ... scratch that


• 3 p.m. 5/29: unidentified man, parking lot at Clifton Avenue and Denison Street, north of Leakin Park

A man was shot in the side in the SW, a carjacking on Orleans on the East side, robbery, burglary, and, for contrast, a vandal driving on lawns in Cockeysville.

Bounty Hunter Blood Shaidon "Don Papa" Blake went on a small road trip after Federal Marshalls picked him up early for his Vegas trial. For whatever reason this put Jessamy's knickers in a megaknot: "she threatened to fly a judge, defense attorney and a prosecutor out to Nevada for a sentencing hearing if the federal agents wouldn't release him to Maryland." Fortunately for the ¢itizens, that won't be ne¢e$$ary. April 13, a

Baltimore jury convicted Shaidon Blake, of California, of second degree murder, Janet Johnson of 2000 block of Cecil Avenue of first degree murder and Jermile Harvey of the 1500 block of Lanvale Street of first degree murder. Each was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit first degree murder. Sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2007. Blake faces a maximum sentence of Life plus 30 years, Johnson faces maximum sentence of Life plus Life and Harvey faces Life plus Life.

At 6PM the evening of April 12, 2006, Baltimore City Police were called to the rear alley of the 1900 block of Division Street for a burning body. The investigation determined that the victim was Terrence “Sky” Randolph. Randolph was a member of the Bloods street gang and was killed for messing up the gang’s drug money. The Medical Examiner determined that the victim was strangled, asphyxiated, severely beaten and stabbed 39 times. The victim’s body was then burned. Homicide detectives determined that the murder took place in the basement of 1921 Division Street.

Defendant Shaidon “Don Poppa” Blake is a high ranking Bloods member sent to Baltimore from California to get local members “in line”. This was confirmed in an unrelated police interview of the nephew of prominent west coast rap producer/gangster Suge Knight. Blake told detectives that Baltimore is the heroin capital of the world and that he made over $180,000 selling it on the streets. Witnesses testified that Blake hit the victim with a sledgehammer. The witnesses further testified that co-defendants, Harvey and Johnson, cut the victim repeatedly with a box cutter. The testimony continued and revealed that Harvey retrieved a Ninja sword and that he and Johnson stabbed the victim in the neck twice.

Assistant State’s Attorney Brian M. Fish, of the Homicide Division, prosecuted this case.

PGC: Crazed suicidal son attacked mom with a "samurai" sword, sending her to Shock Trauma. Which reminds us, our juvenile justice system has gone totally Lord of the Flies. Could someone get on that? Thanks...

What Happened in Vegas?

TDR reports that Dixon's MO in Las Vegas was to met with reps from the sporting-goods store REI, and Target, reportedly already set to open a location in Mondawmin. The message = rich people live here:

The city has conducted its own research that often paints a better economic picture of Baltimore. For example, in late 2005, the Downtown Partnership conducted a study that showed that more than 3,100 households within a one-mile radius of downtown earned more than $75,000 per year. That compares to the $29,792 listed as the city’s median household income in 2004 by the U.S. Census.

(Hey, doesn't the picture of the city's booth logo make it look like a rowhouse on fire?)

Speaking of numbers, today's WSJ article about the Subprime Crisis is most appropriate to Baltimore and those who might attempt to escape it:

... beginning in the mid-1990s, the evolution of subprime lending from a local niche business to a global market drastically rearranged lenders' incentives. Instead of putting their own money at risk, mortgage lenders began reselling loans at a profit to Wall Street banks. The bankers, in turn, transformed a large chunk of the subprime loans into highly rated securities, which attracted investors from all over the world by paying a better return than other securities with the same rating. The investors cared much more about the broader qualities of the securities -- things like the average credit score and overall geographic distribution -- than exactly where and to whom the loans were being made.

In turn, the higher rate of homeownership encouraged businesses:

Suddenly, mortgage lenders saw places like [lower Charles Village, the West side, etc.] as attractive targets for new business, because so many families either owned their homes outright or owed much less on their mortgages than their homes were worth.

May 29

Judge Albert J. Matricciani, Jr. sentenced Tony Williams, 39, of the 800 block of Dartmouth Road, to life in prison plus five years this morning. On April 2, 2007 a Baltimore jury convicted Williams of first degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence; Judge Matricciani sentenced Williams to life in prison for the murder count and a consecutive five years in prison for the handgun count. Prosecutors proceeded with a new trial after the Court of Appeals vacated Williams’ 1999 conviction. A Baltimore City jury convicted Williams February 10, 1999 of first degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence for the death of Dana Rochelle Drake, 33, and Williams began serving a life plus 20 years prison term. On April 14, 2006 the Maryland Court of Appeals vacated Williams’ conviction, citing evidentiary issues regarding a discovery violation under the Brady law. The Court ruled that encompassing or exculpatory information known to any prosecutor in the State’s Attorney’s Office must be turned over to the defense. At issue in this case was a witness who was in jail with the defendant. The trial prosecutor in 1999 did not know, and therefore did not disclose, this witness was at one point in time a paid police informant.

On February 21, 1998 at approximately 4:30 a.m. Williams went to the apartment of Dana Drake, located at 800 Dartmouth Road and shot her once in the back of the head with a .22 caliber handgun. Evidence produced at trial showed Williams had purchased a .22 caliber handgun several weeks prior to this murder and testimony revealed Williams stood to receive $100,000 from a life insurance policy.

An unidentified 27-year-old man was shot to death 1:30 a.m. this morning in the 1600 block of Moreland Ave., just north of Easterwood Park.
(How can it be the 5th murder of the weekend if it's Tuesday?)

A man was shot in the foot, and "yesterday about 10:30 p.m., police said a gunman chased a 17-year-old male into Jemella's Liquors and Cut Rate store in the 1800 block of W. Mosher St., also in West Baltimore. A police spokesman said that as the teen huddled in a corner of the carryout, the gunman shot him in the back and in the back of the head," the victim is alive and in shock trauma.

Two days and 2 1/2 hours ago 19-year-old Davon Williams was shot to death in a minivan in the 5800 block of Waycross Road in Cedona.
"The violence came days after the Dixon administration announced the city would begin offering overtime to specific police units in coming weeks in an effort to halt the violence."
(Boner dept.- The Sun calls Williams' death "the latest in a spate of killings" ... then goes on to report two more-recent murders.)

Domestic violence killing in Middle River: A man with blood on his arms and his shirt stopped an officer about 9:30 a.m. Monday near a shopping center in the 2100 block of Eastern Boulevard; he'd apparently strangled 21-year-old Shukura Akilah Abdullah Aleem and then slashed his own wrists (poorly).

From CBS via reader "Mary" about how St. Tim's alum and CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier, who was seriously injured one year ago by a car bomb in Iraq that killed a cameraman and a soundman, will do a story on how doctors are trained for combat in Iraq at at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where Dozier was treated.

"I'll be doing a story on how "Maryland Shock Trauma is one of the three centers in the country that trains military surgeons, because Baltimore most resembles combat," Dozier said. "Baltimore, L.A., and Miami are the three places that they have these centers, because they have all sorts of trauma that comes through the door."

Stolen stuff in the Southeastern dominates the Blotter.

Brian Johnson, 31 was fatally shot in the 1600 block of Vincent Court in West Baltimore at around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Amin Reed, 30, of no fixed address, was pronounced dead at 10:12 p.m. from a shot to the head, and

a homeless man was stabbed to death near city hall on the 200 block of N. Gay St.

In Charles Village, a woman was stabbed in the back repeatedly by a man who was trying to steal her purse at 2600 block of St. Paul St. in front of Margaret Brent Elementary School.

Shootings:
"A 28-year-old man was being treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital for injuries suffered after he was wounded in the lower back by birdshot" and "A 23-year-old man was standing at a bus stop in the 1200 block of W. North Ave. about 2:30 p.m. Friday when an unknown gunman fired several shots"

Politics:

Maybe that Franchot guy could look into Baltimore's mess of a budget, no?

Dixon's campgaign has $1 million.
(See poll below)

Dixon a Millionaire
Which mayorial rival had the best response? Frank Conaway Senior: "She wants to plant flowers, while people are getting their brains blown out." Andre Bundley: “For the last 30 years, big business has been directing the mayor’s agenda exclusively, while the people are being ignore[d]." Jason Williams, mayoral campaign manager for Keiffer Mitchell: "I’d like to know where the money is coming from ... Can someone verify it?"	Frank Conaway Senior Andre Bundley Keiffer Mitchell's guy
	Current Results

Memorial Day

There were Seven Baltimoreans Killed in Iraq since this time last year:
Casey Nash, 22, May 18
Jonathan V. Hamm, 20, West Baltimore, May 17
Jay E. Martin, 29, April 29
Marlon B. Harper, 34
Christopher O. Moudry, 31, October 4, 2006
Dwayne E. Williams, 28, August 26, 2006
Michael J. Potocki, 21, June 26, 2006

So if numbers are what matters... Baltimore really is more tragic. For Baltimoreans.

May 27

Sandtown's St. Gregory the Great collected 15 guns yesterday, several hours after an unidentified man was shot to death around the corner in the 1600 block of Vincent Ct.

14-year-old Keonya Christian-Cannon earns good grades, rarely misses school, has dozens of friends, and spent more than a month in the hospital recovering from a wound caused by a stray bullet.

The body of PG/Bangladeshi real estate agent Samuel D'Costa was found in the basement of his Bowie home, and his burned car was found a few miles away.

MoCo: the CSA recently overturned the conviction of a Rockville defense attorney Patrick J. Smith, found guilty of impersonating a Montgomery County sergeant to intimidate a state witness.

More Stupid Spending

While the city claims to not be able to afford the long-term payroll commitments that staffing the police department requires, Dixon has been able to increase the payroll of the mayor's office by nearly 15 percent since taking office in January.

May 26 Continued

Shaun Clarance Warrick, 23, a former basketball player at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore accused of shooting and/or stabbing three fellow students at off-campus housing communities in April, is in even bigger trouble after skipping a court appearance Friday for assault and burglary.

Fifty-year-old Lucille Thorn got six years in prison for trying to meet a hit man at the Maryland House Rest Area on 95 to arrange the murder of her stepmother, Or as the ABC affiliate in PA would put it, "Greed can be a powerful drug, and it led 49-year-old Lucille Thorn down the abyss of a calculated cold-blooded plot."

Good news for your lungs, bad news for Constellation: "In a major shift, Gov. Martin O'Malley's environmental agency has decided to enforce air pollution rules at coal-fired power plants that were routinely ignored under past administrations."
(Anyone out there tried to go solar with BP or Chesapeake?)

Who knew?: In February and March the U.S. Marshals Service's operation FALCON initiative (a series of large-scale fugitive sweeps) in Baltimore netted 195 offenders for crimes ranging from murder and robbery to sex crimes and narcotics offenses.

Poignant, acid-ravaged toddler celebrates his second (or third?) birthday in the hospital.

May 26

Inmate Lawrence Lannin was indicted for first-degree murder, he's accused of smothering child-killer Richard Spicknall with a rag in the shower at Jessup.

Correctional officer Lt. Perry Brook, 48, was found dead by his 12-year-old grandson in his car under the carport of his home in the 1900 block of Hillen/ Hillenwood Road around 2:30 a.m. last night.

"Violent crime is down citywide, but nowhere more so than in the Northern District. 'The Northern District is leading the city,' said Maj. Michael Pristoop, commander of the Northern District.... There have been 10 murders in the district so far this year, but they don't reflect a real danger to the district because most of the victims had no connection to north Baltimore and the locations of the murders were incidental," said Pristoop's press release.
Some of what has happened in the past 10 days: a man shot in the lower back, armed robbery, burgled perfume, jewelry, cash and so on.

Dixon has a plan: "selective increases in police overtime and the transfer of some surveillance cameras to higher-crime areas."

They Still Have SoWeBo?

Adam Meister, running for Mitchell's seat in the 11th, wrote to say he'll be at SoWeBo on Sunday (among other places). Haven't heard a word about that neighborhood in years... not since the beatdown three years ago! Wonder what fun things to expect this year?

Tony Williams to be Sentenced Tuesday

... A Baltimore City jury had convicted Williams February 10, 1999 of first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence for the death of Dana Rochelle Drake, 33, and Williams began serving a life plus 20 years prison term. On April 14, 2006 the Maryland Court of Appeals vacated Williams' conviction, citing evidentiary issues regarding a discovery violation under the Brady law. The Court ruled that encompassing or exculpatory information known to any prosecutor in the State's Attorney’s Office must be turned over to the defense. At issue in this case was a witness who was in jail with the defendant; the trial prosecutor in 1999 did not know, and therefore did not disclose, this witness was at one point in time a paid police informant.

On February 21, 1998 at approximately 4:30 a.m. Williams went to the apartment of Dana Drake, located at 800 Dartmouth Road and shot her once in the back of the head with a .22 caliber handgun. Evidence produced at trial showed Williams had purchased a .22 caliber handgun several weeks prior to this murder and testimony revealed Williams stood to receive $100,000 from a life insurance policy. Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas Rafter of the Homicide Division prosecuted the case.

Writing Not Fighting

Anna Ditkoff is, by a four-to-one margin, leading the pack. This week she takes on her venerable Calvert Street rival, the workhorse of the warehouse...
in this corner, the Dick of the Blotter, Richard Irwin!
Ding Ding...

May 25

Three men were found dead this morning in separate incidents, reports Sentementes, and time will only tell if they all become murders:

• an unidentified man was found fatally stabbed in an alley about 6:25 a.m. in the 4000 block of Belvieu Ave. in Northwest Baltimore's West Arlington neighborhood;


• a man was found shot dead and near a handgun around the corner for a burning house on the 400 block of Mosher St.,;


• a man was found shot in a car in the 1900 block of Hillenwood Road in Northeast Baltimore's Perring Loch neighborhood at about 2:30 a.m.

Annie Linskey's article on our 114 homicides (up 10 from this time last year) is chock full of quotable quotes and nauseating facts. Sheila D. says violent crime is down, Lenny says the BPD is like a cheating husband, and a 13-year-old with a dead father says it's not safe to snitch.

Two episodes of the Blotter today. The first lists a man who was shot in the head in the 3000 block of Spaulding Ave., a Chevy that was riddled with bullets, and a woman who was arrested in the Southeastern for threatening her husband with a knife. The second lists a man who was choked and robbed on Eastern Ave. and a forced-entry robbery in Essex.


The Examiner covers the arrest of editor Frank Keegan.

18-year-old Young Gorilla Family member Eric Tate pleaded guilty to killing rival gang member Anthony Taylor Jr. and his non-gang-affiliated friend, Adrian Holiday, last September.

DNA evidence may support James Owens Jr.'s claim that he didn't murder Colleen Williar 20 years ago, in spite of testimony from a co-defendent that Owens raped and killed the woman while the co-defendent watched and masturbated.

Adrian "Dre" Maldonado was found guilty in HoCo court for fatally stabbing Marvin Walter Harding.

Suicidal drug addict William Earl Horshaw got 7 1/2 years for robbing banks.

Edwin Wright got a long-overdue 25 years.

Doug Gansler is teaching kids about the dangers of the Internet.

Drug treatment costs a whole lot of money.

May 24

Update: one of Tuesday's shooting victims has died.
An account of the Mt. Royal mowdown from "anonymous," promoted from comments:

At some point before on tuesday night before midnight (i think it was around 11:20, but I wasn’t paying attention to the time too closely), 30 to 50 shots rang out at the corner guilford and mt. royal, in front of the rehabbed firehouse, over the course of about fifteen seconds.

Two uninjured assailants fled on foot across the guilford bridge, turned right at Oliver, dumped a handgun in the back of a truck under the copycat building and continued to flee eastward. Multiple witnesses in the copycat building saw this. (a police car with flashing lights was under the JFX, parked, investigating the scene of a motorcycle fatality from the night prior, between 100 and 200 feet from the scene of the shooting).

Police, fire trucks, and paramedics responded to the scene of the shooting approximately 5 to 10 minutes later. While cordoning off the crime scene tending to the wounded, one shot in the head and the other (i think) shot in the back, police received a call from the attendant at the BP station, of two more victims at the corner of St Paul and Mt Royal. It seems, although I’m not sure, that these two victims fled scene of the shooting, and went to the BP station for help).

All told, there were 4 shooting victims. At this point, all were alive. Victims were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma. One victim, shot in the head, has since died.

Police expanded the perimeter of the investigation to include the scene of the shooting, the BP station, the guilford street bridge, under the copycat building and Oliver Street. Police helicopters scoped the area around the copycat for approx. an hour. Police detectives stayed in the area for approx. 2 hours scanning for evidence.

As of now, the police have in their possession the handgun dumped in the back of the truck (whether they have more guns: I don’t know). They do not have the assailants, although they have "promising leads,” which to me sounds like they know who they are. Now it is a matter of catching them and making the case stick.

Psycho stalker Larry Davis got life for trying to blow up his ex-girlfriend's car. And in AAC, Aubrey Mayhew of Churchton has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for strangling his estranged wife with a telephone cord.

Upon his fourth conviction, Naim Dawson, 31, got 17 1/2 federal years for guns-n-drugs.

A federal grand jury has charged Tricia Yoo Matuszak and Min Jae "Mindy" Song of Los Angeles and Yong-Mi Chang of Seoul, South Korea for conspiring to submit false labor certifications and immigration petitions on behalf of aliens applying for visas.

Joseph Monroe Green, Jr., the former manager of a Lutherville branch of Chevy Chase Bank, got 21 months and must pay restitution for stealing from the vault.

Oh no! The editor of the Examiner, Frank J. Keegan, was "arrested last night and charged with pointing a shotgun at his neighbor's family during a dispute over cigarette smoking."

CSA: Prosecutors can use evidence of gang affiliation and expert testimony about gang life to demonstrate a motive.

Now that's odd: the Sun has six paragraphs on a crack-dealing arrest near Dru Hill.

Olesker: "There’s a level of violence in parts of Baltimore that far exceeds anything ... acceptable in a civilized world."

Court of Appeals: one expert's testimony on "sick building syndome" not enough to establish validity.

The tall ship Clipper City, known for pirate-themed sails, sailing brunches and reggae-themed boat parties, was seized by U.S. Marshalls to help settle the company's $1.3 million debt; a hearing in Bankruptcy Court is scheduled for this morning.

May 23

A triple shooting outside of a Citgo station in the Southwest killed a teenage victim; also more details on the 11 shootings of the past two days, including the Mt. Royal sextuple.

The governor wants to change arrest procedures in the city, cutting out the step of having prosecutors review cases. Said he, "Prosecutorial discretion not to pursue a case is often confused with an alleged absence of probable cause, which is then spun as a supposed false arrest."

Judge John Prevas sentenced Charles Patterson, 27, of the 600 block of N. Woodington Road to 15 years in prison today for multiple counts of robbery. On March 21, 2007, a Baltimore City jury convicted Patterson and Antwan Smith, 23, of the 6800 block of Lenbern Road of three counts of Robbery with a Dangerous or Deadly Weapon and one count of Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous or Deadly Weapon. They were also acquitted of the murder of Anthony Heck, probably because Heck was found with a loaded gun in his hand. On May 3 Smith was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in these crimes. The story:

On October 23, 2005, the defendants robbed or attempted to rob Lamar Davis, James Anderson, Charlotte Johnson, and Tycara Johnson in the area of 4100 block of Cleve Court of the Brooklyn Homes in South Baltimore, Maryland. During this robbery spree, Anthony Heck came upon the defendants and shot at them from a distance. Antwan Smith allegedly returned fire, hitting and causing the death of Heck.

Judge Robert Kershaw sentenced Edwin Wright, 25, to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole following a conviction for cocaine possession and possession with intent to distribute. Details:

On May 6, 2006, at approximately 8:40 PM, a police officer was in a covert location, using binoculars, with a clear and unobstructed view of the 1100 block of Preston Street. At that time the officer observed an unknown male approach Wright, speaking briefly with him. The conversation ended with the unknown male handing Wright U.S. currency in bill form. Wright then reached down into his right front sock and pulled out a vial containing a white substance suspected cocaine, and handed it to the male who then left the area. Search incident to arrest of Wright revealed five vials of cocaine in his right sock. At the time of this incident Wright was on probation for two other felony drug cases. Additionally, Wright is pending a second degree assault case from an October 6, 2006 incident in which he allegedly punched a police officer several times in the face during a traffic stop. Wright has an extensive violence arrest record and therefore the State asked for this enhanced penalty.

WTF? WBAL reports "two dead, 11 injured in mulitple shootings, stabbings," including:

• a man who died after being shot in the head on East 21st Street;


• a six-year-old boy caught in crossfire and shot in the ankle on West Mosher Street and Pennsylvania Avenue close to Bolton Hill;


• The woman was shot in the stomach on Roland View Avenue;


• Four shooting victims were found along Mount Royal Avenue in two separate areas and two more victims at the Mount Royal and St. Paul Street gas station


• A man shot in the wrist and arm in the 300 block of Eutaw Street around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday;

and
• three people were stabbed in the 600 block of Water Street around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

A double-shooting in the 2300 block of East Fayette outside the Morning Edition Cafe, "At Least 1 Dead."

Curran's cry for help is dead in the water.

The Ink.

Dick Irwin's got thieves galore.

HoCo police have arrested Charles David Richardson, 23, for two shootings in Columbia this month.

AAC: Two men were shotgunned while walking along Elvaton Road in Glen Burnie.

Can the Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant revive the apathetic masses?

Towson OB David C. McCarus agreed to repay $300k to the government to settle his billing-fraud case.

Perverterium:
The DOJ called the case against Patrick Bogan of Edgewood "one of the most significant child pornography cases ever prosecuted in Maryland due to the sheer volume of child pornography possessed by the defendant." The gymnastics instructor had 800 videotapes, a hard-drive with alphabetized and categorized folders, 21 pairs of girls' underpants, a storage locker... anyway, Bogan has pled guilty.

Jury selection began today in HoCo for the trial of Baltimore County pastor Gerald Fitroy Griffith, accused of engaging in sexual acts with a teenage parishioner (gender unknown) in Columbia hotels in 2004 and 2005.

Loitering around a snowball stand has cost "the Roland Park perv" Kenneth Barnes his freedom. Well fer Pete's sake, is not the pursuit of happiness a fundamental right promised by our nation's own Declaration of Independence?

May 22

19-year-old Tray Allen was found dead in a Columbia townhouse yesterday afternoon, in what may be HoCo's third homicide of the year.

Morgan State shooting "victim" David Briggs was arrested for lying to the police.

A 15-year-old boy was charged with shooting three people outside a Frederick County community center on Saturday.

Perv du jour: A Yellow Cab driver allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl who was riding in his cab. Oh wait, whoops, never mind!

Homeless pervs du jour: Missing sex offenders Ronald Roland Ellison and Thomas Joseph Gauthier are both in police custody.

Payton Potochney continues his recovery after being burned by acid that was poured on a slide.

In the Blotter: a 37-year-old man was hit in the face with a brick while gassing up his scooter, and a 49-year-old woman was knocked to the ground by thieves who stole her car.

Beware of groups of young Edgewood men bearing BB guns and knives.

Kudos to BPD officer Anthony Jobst for capturing a repeat burglar.

A blurry white dude is wanted for repeatedly robbing convenience stores in Baltimore County.

Robert Curran withdrew his request for partial martial crime time.

DOJ to Baltimore City: No more craptastic youth detention facilities.

JHU student financial services director Ellen Frishberg has resigned amidst allegations of some sketchy financial favors from student loan companies.

I hope you've taken your blood-pressure meds today and have the puke bucket handy, Galt ...

The city has a $19 million budget surplus, and not a plug nickel will go towards staffing or supporting the police department... or for that matter anything that could even vaguely be construed as helpful (other than maybe the 3% allotted to help feed the homeless)
Instead of ---> It's
Picking up litter --> billboards against litter
Alleviating pain --> painfully shiteous public art
Education for our kids --> a fountain with "five rows of jets and lights" for kids to run through
Attempting to determine how more than 1,000+ potential crime victims died --> erecting statue "honoring" long-dead mayor

If you feel the need to complain to your city councilperson about this obscene waste of your money, you can find out who they are at this site.

Reader Letter

Hi, I live in Canton on the corner of Ellwood and O'donnell. Around 2 in the morning this past Saturday a drunk person in a van hit a pedestrian and then hit 2 or 3 cars and sped off. A lot of police and ambulance came immediately and I couldnt see if the victim was really hurt... because they whisked him away so fast. Do you know anything on this story?

I don't. Any readers know about this?

May 21

On Friday the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Nicholas Brunson, 20, of the 2600 block of W. Cold Spring Lane on charges of first-degree murder, deadly weapon and first-degree arson. Court documents allege on April 12, 2007 Nicholas Brunson was identified as the suspect in the murder and arson incident. The body of an unknown male, later identified as 16-year-old Brent Flanagan, was found beaten, stabbed and body partially dismembered in a house fire in the 2600 block of W. Cold Spring Lane. It is alleged the two had an altercation during the morning hours that later escalated to the incident. It is also alleged both Flanagan and Brunson are "Bloods" gang members.

A 16-year-old girl is being sought for stabbing another girl in the gut on E. Chase Street, a dognapping, a carjacking and an attempted murder arrest in the Blotter.

Alvin Parson died nine days after he was run down by a van driven by two men with whom he was arguing.

The end of an era: beaten, stabbed socialist A. Robert Kaufman is moving out of Walbrook to a condo complex with a pool.

Examiner: "High police overtime doesn't surprise O'Malley"
Meanwhile "brutal" Detective Albert "Mad Dog" Marcus claimed incredible 3,695 overtime hours last year, the equivalent of working 18-22 hours a day.
Says Hamm, "Publishing the names and salaries of every member of the Baltimore Police Department — as The Examiner did two days ago — is perhaps the most irresponsible, ill-informed and mean-spirited act that I have ever known a news organization to commit," and accuses the paper of compromising "dozens of undercover officers."

AAC kids steal car, crash it into house.

Three AAC twentysomethings, Thomas Sparacino, Randy Garner and Brittney Pheobus, were arrested for a drive-by shooting in Friendship (the intended victim wasn't hurt). When police went to arrest the trio they also found firearms, including an assault rifle, and child pornography.

Marilyn St. Louis Walkes apparently thought "taking care of a developmentally disabled woman" meant stealing her money.

Baltimore County thieves are breaking into garages and stealing dirt bikes.

Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant wants murderers and gang members to stop sinning.

Three people were shot outside a community center in Frederick County.

Eazy-E Op-Ed: "no one [in city government] understands the real needs of each [city] department. It allows lazy planning and makes it easy to hide waste and fraud."

An autopsy will be performed on a Chesapeake Bay floater found by a boater, and JZ illustrates the story with a visual of ... the shadow of a giant gingerbread man looming over a mountain, of course!