September 28

A 43-year-old man was shot in the face in the 2700 block of Tivoly Ave., near Clifton Park in the Coldstream Homestead Montebello neighborhood. His condition is unknown.

Blotter: Police identified Richard Ray, 27, of the 3700 block of Woodbine Ave. as the man stabbed about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday during an argument with another man in the 5200 block of Fairlawn Ave. (not to be confused with Keith Ray found in Wyman Park); Alfred Smith, 56, of the 900 block of N. Arlington Ave. in West Baltimore was identified as the man stabbed about 10 a.m. Wednesday in the 700 block of Appleton St.; an arrest for the murder of Davon Qualls, 17,; a man shot in the foot; a man and woman stabbed in the County.

BMore Civics Essay Questions:

Why did thee Tivoly Ave guy above get his own story, but other assault victims were lumped into the Blotter?

What should the government do for disabled people with rage problems?

Are iPods causing a nationwide crime wave?

"Gov. Martin O'Malley indicated yesterday that he will propose spending $169 million less on public education next year than required under law."
Why would a governor be more beholden to developers than pro-education constituents, though voting education supporters outnumber developers by a factor of thousands?
Do you think his or her plans to run for higher office in the future could affect these priorities?
Why or why not?

"The good news!: "A man determined not to be the victim of a robbery in downtown Baltimore wrestled a gun away from his attacker [Calvin Ray] and shot him three times, city police said."
QTD: "If you want to survive in this town, you need to be good on your feet.” -- community activist David Briggs
(Sorry I almost missed that fab story!).

Reginald Smith, 22, was murdered on a Randallstown playground (or parking lot) apparently by a city resident.

Burn!
"Baltimore County police say a Pikesville man assaulted and robbed an armored truck courier outside an Overlea bank, but the driver of a getaway car took off with the cash and left him behind."

In the County, a guy got 30 years for writing two rubber checks.

Angela Green, a Maryland Transportation Authority Police officer, was indicted along with her boyfriend on September 21 on charges they dealt crack cocaine from the Curtis Bay home they shared.

The death of Robert Rutledge, 40, has been ruled a homicide. Rutledge died of blunt force trauma to the head; he was found injured in an alley in the 2800 block of Parkwood Ave. on the 20th and died two days later at Shock Trauma.

September 27

Brian Fish's last duty as a prosecutor before joining Immigration and Customs Enforcement was the plea agreement in the Melvin Jones case. Fish prosecuted the "Don Papa" Blake case and the "DJ Tommy" bench trial, and we hear he's having goodbye drinks tonight at Mick O'Shea's. So if you're down that way, go thank the tall bald guy for his service!

The man found in Wyman Park was identified as Keith Ray, 24, who apparently died of a bullet wound to the head.
And another man stabbed to death on the street! "Police responding to a report of an injured man in the 600 block of N. Brice St. about 10 a.m. found the man bleeding from at least one stab wound. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died a short time later."

And yet another! A man was stabbed in an alley and died last week, also near Druid Hill Park. "Robert Rutledge, 40, of the 1900 block of Ridgehill Ave., was found injured in an alley in the 2800 block of Parkwood Ave. and died two days later at Maryland Shock Trauma Center." Nice to get the news a week later that some stabby lunatic is on the loose!

"James Watkins claims he and others in Hope Village apartments in East Baltimore were harassed — and some detained — after they tried to record Baltimore police using excessive force."

The extra 'e' is for extra pee: Norris Ford of Dundalk will pay a $ettlement for harassing female employees... and secretly filming them while they were in the bathroom!

New drug slang: "boog suge" (as in booger sugar?)

Another Fake BGE Guy!

"It was 2:45pm Wednesday in a quiet dead end block lined with American flags and flower beds, when a stranger with bad intentions lurked the southwest neighborhood. ... robbers are getting bold and desperate – and they’re willing to try anything. This victim has learned her lesson."

An officer was injured when a fleeing suspect rammed his cruiser, then hit a house around Greenmount Avenue and 25th Street. (Thanks galt)

In Bel Air, the woman who gave a toddler his mom's methadone and didn't call medics was found guilty of manslaughter. She claims she thought the synthentic opiate cocktail was actually "strawberry juice."
(Which actually does exist, it turns out... Trader Joe's sells it!)

Jemini Jones beat two sets of rape charges, now the FOP says our tax $ should pay his legal bills.

September 26

A demented 79-year-old man murdered his 81-year-old wife, Virginia Jones, then died before police could charge him.

A man was stabbed to death on the street at 6:30 p.m. in the 5200 block of Fairlawn Ave.

Fox news reported that another mystery body has been found in the Northern, this one in Wyman Park near the 700 block of Wyman Park Drive. No reports online however. Nobody tell this douche!
(Thanks non -- I turned on non comments in your honor.)

The Ink covers murders from September 10-23 with names and details.

The good news! City police have new schedule, and it'll be the "first time in 50 years that police won't be working six days on, two days off. Instead they will change to a four-day workweek with longer hour shifts." They also get a 5% pay raise. Progress!

Joseph McInnis Jr., 39, of the 3500 block of Elmley Ave. in Northeast Baltimore has been charged with first-degree rape in the 1984 incident and first-degree murder in a 1987 killing after being linked with DNA. And early release for a former cop who liked to "groom" young boys.

The ACLU is suing the MD State police for withholding records related to a racial profiling lawsuit.

Bmore living tip: don't leave cash money in your car.

In AAC murder charges were dropped against Lamal Wise, 18, after a witness Dontay Williams was murdered.

25 Years for First-Degree Murder

At a hearing late today Timothy Izzard, 50, of the 3000 block of Lanvale St. pled guilty to first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon (an unknown sharp object). Judge Althea Handy sentenced Izzard to life in prison with all but 25 years suspended. (Meaning he'll potenially be eligible for parole in 18 years and 9 months). The gory details:

At 9:30 a.m. December 23, 2006 Izzard was driving Freddie Thornton’s car and crashed it in Anne Arundel County and attempted to identify himself as the victim using the victim’s identification. After admitting to police he was not Thornton he was found to be a suspended driver and police issued Izzard traffic tickets and released him. At approximately noon the same day a citizen found the dead body of Freddie Thornton, 69, in Leakin Park. He had been stabbed 37 times and was wearing only his boxer shorts. Baltimore police identify Izzard as the suspect and arrest him December 27, 2006. Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Phelps, of the Homicide Division, prosecuted this case.

September 25

What a weaselly papist!
"As Maryland gays mourned Tuesday’s high court ruling upholding a ban on same-sex marriage, some said they were equally stunned and upset by the remarks of Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, who in private, had repeatedly assured plaintiffs in the case that he supports gay unions. After this week’s ruling, O’Malley said he backs civil unions as a compromise. Further, he invoked his Catholic religious beliefs, in a reference to 'the sacraments.'"

Cue banjos: a shooting suspect led police on a chase that ended in Herring Run Park.


Awww! Colin Jackson, the Crofton boy who was kidnapped by his "father" was reunited with his mom after a librarian in Swain County, NC, recognized him.

Remember this story? Vernon Brown and his cousin, Learnold Jones, robbed a Perry Hll Super Fresh, Jones fled to a nearby shed, then shot Officer David Garner, and was shot and killed himself. Now Brown has pled guilty in exchange for various charges being dropped.

A Russian teen pled guilty to an identity theft scheme.

If you've been following the whole Keith Washington story in PGC, the latest revelation is that he was "placed on restricted duty for more than a year in the mid-1990s after doctors and department officials determined that his inability to handle the stress of regular police work made him a potential danger."

Stomach-turning pervs In Hagtown dept: John Quebedeaux, 34, was charged with raping a 13-year-old girl while she was sleeping.

Stop the presses! This just in!:

Baltimore Sun Report
On a recent weekday, Wit Kosicki enjoyed the view of Evitts Mountain as his wife received a massage inside the Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort.

September 24

"Mayor Sheila Dixon's former campaign chairman, Dale Clark, has pleaded guilty in Anne Arundel County to three counts of willful failure to file income tax returns for 2002, 2003, and 2004 ... Clark first made news in the ethics probe surrounding the mayor. His company billed nearly $600,000 to the city without a contract. Dixon's office has admitted to a major oversight in that matter."

The Hampden dead body was a white guy killed by blunt-force trauma. #225 according to the Sun, #234 to those who know better.

Not again: Three inmates at the city Detention Center were stabbed during a fight yesterday.

Crazed Rednecks!! Dept
Essexer Perry Webb, 18, was arrested in Bowleys Quarters for "gunplay" outside of a Wal-Mart that sent a woman to the hospital.

Melville Mason, 29, scored drugs, took city police on a ride to Sykesville, rammed a cruiser, was tear-gassed at grandma's, wound up arrested. All in a day's work y'all!

Biters! The Examiner's "Baltimore Police Blotter" compiles crime stories from local media reports.

The good news from the Wally Jay:

the majority of law-school graduates are suffering from a supply-and-demand imbalance that's suppressing pay and job growth. The result: Graduates who don't score at the top of their class are struggling to find well-paying jobs to make payments on law-school debts that can exceed $100,000. Some are taking temporary contract work, reviewing documents for as little as $20 an hour, without benefits ... A slack in demand appears to be part of the problem. The legal sector, after more than tripling in inflation-adjusted growth between 1970 and 1987, has grown at an average annual inflation-adjusted rate of 1.2% since 1988.

There's always an opening in the State's Attorney's Office, kids!

September 23

Another dead body was found in Hampden. Should it go on the list?
...and we still haven't discovered the identity or cause of death of the other Hampden body found on July 30 (see #217).

How neglected are MD's juvenile justice facilities? "teenagers sleeping in shallow plastic bins on hallway floors"

A big bust in the SW netted guns that were coming in from Sykesville in exchange for crack.
Love that "fresh from the teleprompter" style!
Quote Of The Day: "The mayor has to get a handle on whatever she gone do.” -- Nadine Spann from the SW

Runner-up: "This was not a stupid Baltimore City jury.” -- defense attorney Linwood Hedgepeth on the aquittal of Zukael Stephens

HedOTD: "MD Teen Hate In Sikh Beatings?" - WBALz

In Columbia, HoCo, Christopher Scott Meckles, 45, shot his domestic partner, Inez Smith, in the knee.

More details on George Jenkins' guilty verdict (this was the guy who got five years for attempted murder, and shot his vitcim's brother, Demithrius Nushon Spears, upon release), this is a noteworthy story because it's a revision from the 8/21 featuring the first crime-story correction I have ever seen in the Sun-- very unusual.

A man robbed of $10.25 in the Western, a man attcked and kicked in the head in the Southern, stolen stuff, plus Pizza Hut employees robbed by a man with a wooden pole in the Blotter.

The good news: there's less human trafficking and sex slavery in the US than Dateline NBC might have led you to believe. Bad news, there have still been 1,362 victims in the past seven years. The only case in MD since 2003 was Javier Miguel Ramirez of Hyattsville, accused of pimping a 15-year-old girl.

This stupidity again: County Councilman Vince Gardina wants a bill to require that pit bulls to be kept in wire-mesh enclosures and muzzled when in public. Why this is stupid, let us count the ways:
1. any dog can be dangerous; in 2000 a California a baby was mauled to death by a Pomeranian,
2. according to the CDC, the deadliest dog attacks are actually carried out by Rottweilers and
3. A dog's breed can be impossible to prove (are we going to only allow AKC certified housepets?) making any breed-specific legislation unenforceable. Q.E.D.

September 22

Monae Gorham, shot eight years ago at age 16, has died from her injuries.

The men shot and killed last Sunday "in broad daylight as an afternoon church service was getting out" were id'd as Channing Myrick, 26, and Deion Morris, 23.
Reddy: "Northeast Baltimore overall has had 29 homicides this year, compared with 13 at this time last year."

A federal judge in Maryland unsealed a grand jury indictment yesterday charging Steven Abiodun Sodipo, age 51, of Forest Hill, and Callixtus Onigbo Nwaehiri, age 49, of Jarrettsville, with illegally selling 9,936,075 pills or dosage units of hydrocodone (aka Vicodin) over the Internet, and other charges.

What the?! "Reported chlamydia cases in Maryland jumped by 57 percent from 1997 to 2006." The city is, of course, the state's crotch-rot capital.

Charges Dropped Against Chaz Ricks, Zukael T. Stephens

DNA testing has excluded the once-alleged Roland Park rapist.

Zukael T. Stephens, charged with beating transgender activist Marcus Rogers to death and then setting his Mid-Town Belvedere apartment on fire, was acquitted yesterday by a jury of all charges. Stephens had previously been released when a prosecutor mistakenly dropped all charges.*

20 Years for Cold-Blooded Murder

At a hearing today, Judge Barry Williams sentenced Joshua Mills, 21, of the 2500 block of Winchester Street to 20 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Antwon Torain. Mills pled guilty January 30, 2007. Details:

On March 23, 2007 Judge Williams sentenced co-defendants Farrakhan Jenkins, 22, of the 700 block of Payson Street, and Tavon Coleman, 20, of the 500 block of North Brice Street, to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit first degree murder for their roles in the murder of Mr. Torain. The murder occurred on November 27, 2005 in the area of the 700 block of N. Payson Street. The victim had locked himself out of his car and asked the defendants for help in getting into his car. The defendants instead tried to sell the victim drugs. As a result of this conversation, the defendants got into an argument with the victim. Jenkins grabbed the victim and Coleman said something to the effect of “shoot the victim.” Mills responded to this request by shooting the victim in the head and the neck. The victim died of these gunshot wounds.

Assistant State’s Attorney Sam Yee of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Weinstein, Prevas = as Annoyed as Everyone Else

"A WYPR review of law-enforcement records shows that many accused killers have already been convicted of violent crimes, and got out on suspended sentences. Of last year's 180 accused killers, a majority were guilty: Murder One, second degree murder, manslaughter, or lesser crimes. Many, however, still had parts of their sentences suspended. Jason Weinstein, the U.S. attorney's Violent Crimes chief, thinks that defeats the purpose of law enforcement."

This is why Rod's hot: "A federal grand jury indicted 39 defendants in an international money laundering case that includes one person accused of concealing terrorist financing."

Friday 21 September

It should be the astonishing part -- but, of course, it isn't -- but this is the second time that George Jenkins "has been convicted of shooting a member of the same family." The second time? Too bad he wasn't already in jail, but he's going now: sentencing on Nov 8th after "guilty verdicts of first-degree murder and use of a handgun in a crime of violence, prosecutors said."

Thomas J Grant's fate, up in the air yesterday, is settled today: guilty.

Marvin "Escapee" Jordan is back in Maryland today after being extradited from South Carolina. Y'know, for a guy who is good at escaping, he really needs to concentrate on his mad "not being found" skillz.

Matricide(!!!!) in Calvert!!!! Stuffed her "ill" mother into the trunk of her car ... and didn't take her to the hospital? And y'know, why not like, the front seat or something? (I wonder how long it took police to crack her story? Thirty seconds?) This is the second murder for the year for Calvert County. I wonder if they even have homicide detectives. Maybe they have one. He relaxes in a big leather recliner at the station reading Elmore Leonard paperbacks and drinking giant mugs of slightly warm milk and dreaming of the day when the secretary will lean in the door and tell him that he's got a murder on his hands (because, lately, all she does is ask him if he can run out and pick up lunch for everybody, because he's got nothing else better to do except age).

What's with all the motorcycle deaths lately? This one in Lutherville, at the intersection of Rork and Ridgely Road. (I think ABC2 meant "York", as I am unaware of a 'Rork' road anywhere...)

That hit-and-run driver who killed Anthony Blake has been arrested, although not yet identified. UPDATE: He's now ID'd as 38-year-old William Lentz of Orpington Road.

Zukael T. Stephens, 29, had been on trial on charges of the first degree murder of Marcus Rogers (a transgender activist) and arson from October 11th of last year in a 7th floor apartment down on St. Paul. I say "had been" because the jury acquitted Stephens of all charges.

Wanted for a sexual assault against a 14-year old girl in Ellicott City last month, a forty-two year old kid toucher, Fermin Mejia, was arrested in North Carolina by Federal Marshal Fugitive hunters.

Thursday, Night

Annapolis police are looking for a man presumed dangerous following an assault Wednesday night. He's armed with -- of all things -- a barbeque grill. (What, he couldn't get his hands on a gun?)

An irresponsible driver -- really, is there another kind of driver around these parts? -- pulled a hit and run and killed Anthony Banks in Woodlawn. "Police say the driver didn't offer any help or call police before leaving the scene." Maybe, when the driver is behind bars, the prison guards will fail to offer help or call backup when he's screaming while being ass raped. Hey, it's a thought.

It's like something out of James Bond, except I'm sure that Double-Oh Seven would never ever actually come to Maryland.

Onaje Adarryl Harris and George Surgeon have been identified by police as suspects in the shotgun shooting of a twenty-four year old man last week. Harris was arrested yesterday, and I'm wondering if Surgeon was running around Baltimore this morning with his shotgun loaded with birdshot?

There's an O's fan protest set for Monday. Presumeably, they're out to show their anger at the team's rather lousy record. Meanwhile, old cynical me wonders how many of them showed up to vote in the city primary September 11th, how many plan to show up to vote in the city elections in November, and how many care more about Wild Bill Hagy's death than they do for the sykrocketing murder rate.

Update: Johns Gone Wild!

After posting this link to the "Baltimore Sex Guide," blogger AngerHangover has enjoyed torrents of e-mail abuse from "Johns" (most of which isn't posted) and makes a very good point about the "victimless crime" argument:

The prostitution problem is a major quality of life problem for regular people who have it infecting their blocks. It also present a big safety issue as well. People don't consider that johns do get out of their cars and do knock on the wrong door (mine), as do aggressive drug dealers looking to collect debt from these prostitutes. I'd really hate for some tragic event to occur in order for some light to be shed on the "victimless crime" problem.

ps. another site also tells you how to find drugs! (Via Carol Ott's blog)

Twelve Years for Computer Thief

At a hearing today, Judge Lynn K. Stewart sentenced Gregg Wakefield, 37, of the 2400 block of Pickering Drive, to 12 years in prison. Wakefield pled guilty July 11, 2007 to two counts of second-degree burglary. Judge Stewart ordered that the 12-years be served consecutively to a three-year sentence Wakefield received on a fraud violation of probation last month. Wakefield also faces three-years for a violation of probation for a case pending in Baltimore County. Details:

In May and December 2006, Wakefield, an employee of Prime Net - an IT contractor for Johns Hopkins Hospital, crawled through the vents of the Weinberg cancer building to gain access to the main computer room. He disconnected and stole network equipment taking the building’s computer network down on both occasions. Total loss for Johns Hopkins Hospital was approximately $113,000. Wakefield then sold the equipment over the internet for approximately $18,000. Surveillance video recorded Wakefield as he went into and left the building and his photo was posted on the hospital campus. Prime Net cooperated with investigators after realizing he was involved and turned him in.

Thursday, 20 September

We're now at #232 -- an-as-yet unidentified man beaten to death on his 40th birthday. His friend, also attacked, is expected to survive.

A seventy year old man (shot in the back by some coward) remains in critical condition. (Note: since when does BCPD have 'agents'?)

A shooting, a robbery, and a synagogue.

WARNING! DICK CHENEY IS ON THE LOOSE IN BALTIMORE! WARNING! Ok, ok, I couldn't resist. Actually, a mass-shooting (five people!) by someone with a shotgun loaded with birdshot (no fatalities). Certainly, Mr. Cheney's M.O.

His DNA "wouldn't let him" get away any longer, and twenty-eight years later, Thomas J. Grant's fate is in the hands of the jury on the question of his guilt regarding the death of Sheila Bazemore Rascoe.

That Liberian child rapist in MoCo is set to be deported.

Mayor Sheila Dixon was in New York City yesterday -- no doubt feeling very safe, since, after all, it's a much safer city than Balmer -- talking to her counterpart there about firearms and joining NY's gun-lawsuit.

More crime at the University of Maryland College Park, this time, a "brazen carjacking" at Easton Hall.

Last -- certainly not least! True irony has to be a john posting on a website dedicated to swapping stories and info of streetwalkers 'I say to the citizens of Baltimore City Lk 23:34 "forgive them, they know not what they do"' regarding the morality of Baltimore City. Um. Look in a mirror much? If I were a vice-cop, I'd be trolling through (Warning: Unsafe for Home OR Work!) this website to hunt johns coming into the city for a little action. It's a quality of life issue and, I suppose, a minor one compared to the murder rate, but if there's one thing certain, it's that Baltimore could use some improvement in its "quality of life." C'mon johns, really: Lefty Lisa and Righty Rosie are safer and cheaper than streetwalkers. Plus, LL & RR come with those great gifts of "no need for a get out of jail" *or!* "How do I explain to my wife how she got six STDs?" cards. (Website found courtesy of the greater Baltimore blogosphere.)

UPDATES:

Three people -- two Frederickians and a Gaithersburgan -- stewing in jail for the 2005 murder of David Lee (also of Frederick), who "was shot to death in July 2005 to keep him silent." Keep him silent? Silent about what? Damn uninformative article! More info at the Frederick News-Post.

Witnesses: 0; Intimidators: yet another

This just in from the powers that be:

Judge Robert Kershaw declared a mistrial today in the attempted murder and witness intimidation trial of Victor Shuron, 30, of the 2300 block of Seamon Ave., and Yosef Winston-Bey, 27, of the unit block of Dunvale Rd. The jury had been deliberating this case for approximately one day when the court received a note from the jury forewoman stating that one of the jurors "has a concern". The note, discussed in open court, said that as the juror was at the bus stop following court yesterday that the juror saw "two of the men who were in the courtroom during the time of the trial pointed her out and it scared her." She told the court that "she doesn't want to vote on the charges..."

Court documents allege that on November 27, 2006 Shuron got out of a car driven by Winston-Bey in the 2800 block of Greenmount Ave. and shot the victim, a witness in a Baltimore County felony case, as he sat in a car parked in the Waverly Shopping Center.

A new trial date of December 13, 12007 (sic) has been set.

Huh. Sadly, I can't even say that I blame her.

Fucking terrorism, that's what we're dealing with here.

Wednesday, 19 September

The Morgan State student shot to death Monday (previously known as No. 230) has been identified as Richard Asare, 24, of Montgomery County.

Marvin Jordan, twice-escaped convict recently re-captured by police in South Carolina, became unescaped when "an alert jail guard noticed the glasses had been taped up and found the [handcuff] key."

An attempted child-napping of a 7th grader in the county averted earlier this month makes the news ... two weeks later. Really, though, shouldn't anyone driving around a school with no shirt on be considered predatory?

A shooting in Hazz - erm, Harford - County involving Aberdeen police and an AWOL Army soldier who started waving a gun around. What's with all the crazy soldiers lately?

I guess it's ... something. Right?

Eduardo Raul Morales-Soriano pleaded guilty to his involvement in the alcohol-related crash that killed a Marine corporal and his date last Thanksgiving.

Oh, well, maybe closing these loopholes might be a start, right? Since, y'know, allowing murderers and other violent predatory types to wander free so you can make a few extra bucks is, um, pretty fucking low, yeah?

Muy Loco? No guno! Something tells me the criminal element will continue to find firepower, however.

LATEDATE:

"All charges dropped" against the Oh-Cee lady with all the dead fetuses in her yard.

It's all a fun game of innocent, harmless (snortle) pranks ... until the po-po decide you're going to foot the bill.

Last -- certainly not least! True irony has to be a john posting on a website dedicated to swapping stories and info of streetwalkers 'I say to the citizens of Baltimore City Lk 23:34 "forgive them, they know not what they do"' regarding the morality of Baltimore City. Um. Look in a mirror much? If I were a vice-cop, I'd be trolling through this website to hunt johns coming into the city for a little action. It's a quality of life issue and, I suppose, a minor one compared to the murder rate, but if there's one thing certain, it's that Baltimore could use some improvement in its "quality of life." C'mon johns, really: Lefty Lisa and Righty Rosie are safer and cheaper than streetwalkers. Plus, LL & RR come with those great gifts of "no need for a get out of jail" *or!* "How do I explain to my wife how she got six STDs?" cards.