June 11

CP's Edward Ericson Jr.: Jose Morales has served very little time in the hoosegow in spite of being arrested more than 30 times, convicted of five felonies and facing accusations of theft, domestic assault, drugs, attempted murder, identity theft, a baseball bat attack, burning an SUV, bad checks, unlicensed contracting, a link to murder #42 and gross and willful hair gel violations.

Two shootings in the Blotter: " A man, 28, was shot about 1 a.m. yesterday while standing with several other men on a front porch in the 3000 block of Spaulding Ave." and "An 18-year-old man was standing in the 300 block of S. Addison St., near South Fulton and Wilkens avenues, about 12:20 a.m. yesterday when a gunman shot him in the upper right leg." and WTF is this about?:

Police were seeking a man who used a sledge hammer to shatter the driver-side window of a Ford pickup truck parked in the 900 block of N. Collington Ave. about 2:40 a.m. Monday and attempted to hit the 56-year-old male occupant. ... About two hours later, the same man attacked a woman with his fists and a baseball bat near the scene of the first incident.

Two perps, Kinlaw "Baby Boy" Jones, 19, and Erica Ammenhauser, 21, pleaded guilty to an attack on Marine reservist Michael LaMaris Simms, 18.

The two- and three-year-old children shot on Monday are recovering at Hopkins.
(nitpicky peeve: "toddlers" are 12-24 months of age)

Former rape suspect Chaz Ricks, right, may have been cleared of the Roland Park home invasion and rape, but he's going to face trial for a robbery and sex offense in the county that he confessed to city detectives during questioning down here.

More on the bust of Phillip Robinson Winkfield, son of a federal judge who may soon be getting a different kind of Federal Express package.

McDonogh Eagle Lewin Powell III, 16, was indicted for killing his mother, Donna Campbell-Powell. He's charged as an adult.

It's Wednesday, so don't forget to read the Ink!

"Four Prince George's County youths, ages 14 and 15, have been charged with first-degree murder after they 'laid in wait' for a 56-year-old man, knocked him to the ground and kicked him so viciously that he died two days later."

El Jizz: "when fire swept through [Keith] McMahon's Greenspring Valley home in January, most people called it a tragic loss, until federal alcohol, tobacco, and fire arms agents took a closer look."

... and now, "12 nude, middle aged, mostly out of shape, jewish men, discreetly covered by cats!"

Sticky Weeditorial

I'm shocked and saddened, as the politicians like to say, to find out that one of my good friends has been arrested for marijuanica!
A month ago I wrote, "one upside to living in the city, law enforcement is too busy with actual crimes" to put its scare resources towards busting nonviolent drug offenders.
Boy was I wrong! Maryland has one of the highest marijuana arrest rates in the country, and the city has a higher arrest rate than HoCo!

Here's a link for galt who (I suspect) will say we need to enforce all of our laws even if they're stupid. I disagree. This is nothing but a tragic waste for everyone involved. This guy had no weapons, no white drugs, no prior arrests.
This state needs to end costly, wasteful and pointless marijuana prohibition and put its resources towards keeping us safe from violent criminals!

10 Years for Murder of Azerwoine Walker

Kennis Lambert, 18, of the 6200 block of Alumure Way plead guilty to second-degree murder of Azerwoine Walker.

Lambert pleaded guilty to the following facts of the case:

On April 29, 2007 at or around the 6200 Block of Elliott Street in Baltimore MD; the victim, Azerwoine Walker, was walking with his cousin when they were approached from behind by Kennis Lambert, and another individual. An argument ensued and at some point during the verbal argument a gun was drawn by Lambert and the victim was shot eight times. The victim’s cousin identified Lambert as the shooter date April 29, 2007 in a photo array, but subsequently changed his story and said he was not sure who the shooter was. Another witness did not see the shooting but was able to identify Lambert as having a gun and walking in the direction of the 6200 block of Elliott Street moments prior to the incident.

Lambert was sentenced before Judge Heard to 20 years with all but 10 years suspended and 3 years of probation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Richard Gibson.

20 Years for Hair-ron

Judge John Prevas today sentenced Lance Gorham, 25, of the 100 block of North Kenwood Avenue to 20 years at the Department of Corrections following a guilty conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to distribute heroin.

The jury convicted Gorham based on the following facts of the case:

On May 26, 2006 at 2:15p.m., a Detective in a covert location in the 900 block of North Caroline Street observed two juveniles and an adult woman accepting money in exchange for suspected CDS. Lance Gorham was observed accepting money from the three sellers. Gorham left the area and returned approximately 30 minutes later and handed the three suspected CDS. Gorham then walked to a nearby vacant yard and placed suspected CDS under a porch, then left the area in a car. Officers then stopped the car and arrested Gorham and recovered Controlled Dangerous Substance from the three sellers and the CDS from under the porch. The total amount of controlled dangerous substance recovered were 75 pieces of heroin and 21 pieces of cocaine.

Since Gorham was also on probation at the time of the arrest, a violation of parole hearing is scheduled for July 24, 2008. Assistant State's Attorney Jerry E. Jones of the Narcotics Division prosecuted this case.

11 Years for Coked-Up Hit and Run

Judge John Themelis sentenced Steven Norwood, 32, of the 1600 block of Moreland Avenue, to 11 years in prison following a plea agreement. Judge Themelis sentenced Norwood to 10 years for possession with intent to distribute and 1 year for hit & run bodily injury and ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

Norwood plead to the following facts of the case:

On October 2, 2007 at approximately 10:45 p.m., Detectives observed a black 2-door Acura matching the description of a vehicle used in a homicide in the 1700 block of Pulaski Street. Later they observed the same vehicle stopped in the middle of the street at the intersection of Pulaski and Presbury Streets. Detectives executed a traffic stop and the defendant presented his driver’s license to Detectives while attempting to stuff an object into the center console of the vehicle. Detectives asked the defendant to exit his vehicle. The defendant placed the vehicle into reverse striking the detective’s vehicle and one of the detectives present at the scene. The detective suffered no injuries.

The defendant then fled in his vehicle and the detectives followed reaching speeds of 70 mph in a residential area with a 25 m.p.h. speed limit. The defendant then ran a stop sign at Presbury and Bentalou Streets and collided with a vehicle driven by Melvin Horton and occupied by the front passenger Richard Jones. Both victims were transported to Shock Trauma. Horton suffered a fractured pelvis, lacerated liver, punctured lung, fractured ribs, and traumatic head injury. Jones suffered a laceration to the left hip and bruises. Horton stopped breathing briefly but was immediately revived by Jones the passenger -- Horton’s friend of more than 10 years. Both vehicles were totaled.

The defendant fled on foot immediately after the accident and was caught and arrested moments later. Detectives recovered 123.7 grams of cocaine from the defendant. Upon returning to the defendant’s vehicle, detectives recovered 124.8 grams of cocaine from the front floor of the defendant’s vehicle and $13,795 cash from the trunk. A search of the defendant’s house located 2 blocks from where the defendant was arrested revealed packaging material including a capper, quinine and mannitol. Also recovered from the defendant’s house was $12,255 cash. The street value of the cocaine was approximately $12,000.

Assistant State's Attorney Jerry E. Jones, of the Narcotics Division, prosecuted this case.

Quinine? Isn't that for treating malaria?

Four Burglaries on Guilford Avenue

A mini-crime wave on Guilford Avenue in Charles Village: 3037, 3040, 3042 and 3028 were all burgled between 3 and 5 a.m. yesterday morning; electronics and jewelry were stolen.

thanks Spotcrime!

15 Years for Drawing a Death Bath

From your SA's office:

Today Judge Lynn K. Stewart sentenced Tiffany Natasha Brown, 22, of the 1400 block of N. Dukeland St. to 30 years in prison suspend all but 15 years for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and a concurrent 15-years for robbery. Brown pleaded guilty August 21, 2007 for her role in the murder of Donald Russell.

Brown helped tie up and bind the victim before he was killed. She then drew the bath water that the victim was drowned in. Once he was killed by co-defendant Octavius Savage, Brown helped drag the body downstairs and accompanied Savage to a local Wal-Mart where they bought the supplies to dispose/hide the body.

A Baltimore City Jury convicted Octavius Savage April 10, 2008 of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, first and second-degree assault and conspiracy to commit robbery. Judge John N. Prevas sentenced Savage May 19, 2008 to life plus 30-years for conspiracy to commit murder and the second-degree murder of Donald Raymond Russell.

Savage murdered Donald Raymond Russell, 64, between April 30 and May 3, 2006 at Mr. Russell's residence in the 1400 block of N. Dukeland Street. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Savage shared a house with Russell. Russell’s partial remains were found in Waldorf, Maryland.

Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Felsen of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

June 10

A 2-year-old and a 3-year-old were shot while they were playing in a wading pool at an apartment complex in West Baltimore. Brent Jones quoted a witness who asked a mighty fine question: "It was a whole lot of shots. I didn't think it would ever stop. There was nobody out here but women and children. Why would you shoot at little kids?"

A 63-year-old BWI cabbie, Aston Beadle, was shot on his Windsor Mill doorstep after finishing a shift last week. Police and Beadle's fellow drivers are hoping a witness will come forward with some useful information. Beadle is in stable condition at Shock Trauma. (Thanks for the correction, ppatin.)

A Fredneck is dead after shooting at(?) a woman and her two kids who were in his house, barricading himself indoors, then threatening police with a knife.

Two shootings: an 18-year-old was shot just after midnight on S. Addison St., and a 28-year-old was shot at 1:00 a.m. while he was sitting with friends on a porch in the 3000 block of Spaulding Ave. "Sitting with friends on a porch" sounds like such a peaceful and positive activity, doesn't it?

Do we have a dropping murder rate because of a national trend, or because Bealefeld kicks ass, or just because we all love each other a little bit more? Regardless, the FBI says we dropped to #3 in 2007. Take that, Memphis!

My God! An armed robbery on an MTA bus! Who'd'a thunk it?

Convicted icky schoolteacher Alan Beier got four years, and said, "I will never, ever again repeat any of those actions." Good to know, Alan, good to know.

More on Judge Plitt's ruling in the Kevin Johns case.

So if these two pharmacists are found guilty for illegal Vicodin sales, will each of their customers have to pay the city a grand?

Paris George spent six years cheating people out of money for medical equipment.

Contest winner!

Jack from NJ is, hands-down, the winner of yesterday's contest. Granted, he was the only contestant, but something tells me he would have easily withstood the challenge of 100 outraged grammarians. Here's his analysis, in all of its snarky glory.

“Another attack on board a city bus.”
This is a sentence fragment. I guess the whole “subject” and “predicate” thing escaped this journalistic genius who has chosen to write in the English language for a living.

“This time, a bus driver is assaulted by a group of kids.”
While glaringly obvious to those of us who actually passed the second grade, this assault “is” not occurring in the present. The correct verb tense is therefore the past tense, thus, “This time, a bus driver was assaulted by a group of kids.” What is a group? Exactly how many is “a group?”
Is it like a flock, a gaggle, a herd, a few, or a few dozen?

“It happened sunday afternoon at 39th and Greenmount in North Baltimore.”
I think we all actually learned to capitalize the days of the week in the first grade. Also, while I recognize that “39th and Greenmount” is a colloquial description of that intersection, if I were editing, I would ask, “39th what? Did you mean, ‘39th green house on the right” or “39th Street?”

“Police tell us the kids were playing around on the bus and threw some kind of liquid on the driver.”
“Kids” is such a funny term. It can mean eight year olds tossing around some water balloons while headed home from the park to watch cartoons. It can also mean twenty-one year old newly minted alcoholics hopped up on some PCP laced green tossing around some of their own Jack Daniel’s inspired vomit. Did we bother to ask what the Po-lice meant while we were speaking to the District? Oh, and while we’re at it, did we bother to ask what kind of liquid? Which Po-lice did this information come from? Was it our brave MTA Transit Police or Baltimore City’s Finest? Inquiring minds want to know. Investigative journalist you’re not.

“The driver called for help.”
Who did the driver call? Did she call her mommy? Did she plead for help from the passengers?
Did she dial 9-1-1? Did she contact her dispatcher by radio and get some indolent, hour delayed response from an apathetic supervisor? Give us the facts, Jimmy Olsen, just the facts.

“She was taken to the hospital as a precaution.”
Who is “she”? Is “she” the driver? This would be known in the more popular grammatical circles as a “misplaced pronoun.” In a different light, who is “she?” Is “she” a sixty year old matriarchal grandma or a twenty-one year old champion kickboxer who drives a bus on the side for the thrill of the danger involved? Paint us a picture, oh Picasso of the printed page. Not to sound repetitive, but did we bother to ask which hospital? Shall we ASS-U-ME that “she” was not injured? How long was she in the hospital? Was she admitted? Was she treated and released? Was she shipped to the burn center? These are the tough questions that come from a tough beat reporter.

“Police arrested all of the kids involved.”
Was it the State Police maybe? The City Sheriff? OK, we’re still pondering that one. Was it Unlawful Possession of a Water Balloon that resulted in the wagon ride? Felonious Mopery with Intent to Gawk, perhaps? Or was it something more run-of-the-mill and recognizable, like, say, assault or weapons possession or disorderly conduct? Or should we all consult our FOX News Home News Crystal Ball? Too bad my subscription has lapsed, or I would have all of these answers!

June 9

A man was found dead this morning in the 4500 block of Bonner Rd.

If the Fox Baltimore web site weren't a useless piece of crap, I could link to their story on a bus beating in the Northern. Since they don't provide a permanent link, I'll just quote the story:

Another attack on board a city bus.
This time, a bus driver is assaulted by a group of kids.
It happened sunday afternoon at 39th and Greenmount in North Baltimore.
Police tell us the kids were playing around on the bus and threw some kind of liquid on the driver.
The driver called for help.
She was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Police arrested all of the kids involved.

Because it's Monday morning and I'm in no shape to tolerate both unruly teens and incompetent journalists, I'm opening a Baltimore Crime contest. Whoever finds the most grammatical and/or journalistic mistakes in that stupid article and presents them in a suitably snarky manner will win the warm glow of knowing you made me laugh. Plus, if we're ever in the same room, I'll buy you a beer.

In case attacking bus drivers isn't enough fun for you, you can always attack a paramedic.

... or a cab driver. Hardworking Aston Beadle, 63, was shot in the abdomen in the county June 4 after telling his would-be robber that he had no money. Police have no leads.

Circuit Judge Emory A. Plitt Jr. "makes it clear he'll have plenty to say" about both Kevin Johns and the Maryland correctional system.

The Examiner gives more about the wacky antics of the Bolden family.

Former HoCo teacher Alan Beier won't get a new trial, even though he was, like, totally not turned on after taking risque pictures of a teenage boy.

June 8

Herlinda Rodulfo was arrested in Texas and is awaiting extradition to Maryland, where she will be charged with the murder of 18-year-old Valerie Barnes.

Remember my comment from May 27, "Somehow, it's fitting that a Waffle House would appear in a story about a family that's this screwed up?" Well, brother Reginald is in the slammer again, and brother Justin is dead after swallowing some bags of drugs.

Do naughty black BPD officers get punished more harshly than naughty white ones?

Beware of hoochie mamas bearing badges. In HoCo (ha!) "police arrested seven men Thursday on charges of solicitation of prostitution after setting up a sting targeting an area of North Laurel."

I actually like this idea, at least on the surface: implement a surcharge for the druggies from the 'burbs who support the city's drug trade.

Why do we get all the crazies? Uma Thurman's stalker, Jack Jordan, was punished by being sent to live with his parents in our fair state.

Chifonne Frazier Indicted in Light Rail Stabbing

The Baltimore City Grand Jury today indicted Chifonne Frazier,17, of the 2900 block of Ulman Avenue for attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and related weapons charges. Court documents allege that on May 7, 2008, Chifonne Frazier assaulted and stabbed a young woman with a knife in the 100 block of North Howard Street. An arraignment is scheduled for July 11, 2008 before Judge Sylvester Cox, 203 Mitchell Courthouse. Assistant State's Attorney Michael Leedy will prosecute this case.

Aaron Speaks Convicted of Shooting Palsied Victim

A Baltimore City jury today convicted Aaron Speaks, 23, of the 2100 block of N. Guilford Ave of attempted first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence after a two-day trial. From your intrepid SA's office:

Judge Thomas J.S. Waxter scheduled sentencing for September 16, 2008. Speaks faces a maximum possible prison term of life plus 20-years.

On August 6, 2007 at approximately 4:18PM the victim, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was walking in the 300 block of East 21st St. when Speaks crept up behind him and shot him one time at close range in the back of the neck. A CitiWatch pole camera captured Speaks feeling [sic] the scene. Witnesses testified that only one person approached the victim, only one shot was heard and only one person fled the scene. Another witness testified that shortly after the shooting the defendant admitted to shooting the victim. This shooting left the victim paralyzed from the neck down; he remains on a ventilator and is unable to speak without medical intervention. Assistant State’s Attorney Tonya LaPolla of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (F.I.V.E.) Division prosecuted this case.

Indictment for Murder of Ellsworth Monroe-Bey

The Baltimore City Grand Jury today indicted Keon Christian Dorsey, 20, of the 5300 block of Cuthbert Avenue for first-degree murder, conspiracy to robbery and robbery.

Court documents allege on April 25, 2008 Keon Dorsey assaulted Ellsworth Monroe-Bey by striking him in the head as he walked in the 3800 block of W. Belvedere Avenue. Documents further allege that the assault rendered Monroe-Bey unconscious causing him to fall into the street. It is further alleged that Dorsey continued to assault and rob Monroe-Bey. Mr. Monroe-Bey was transported to Sinai Hospital where he succumbed to his massive head injuries on May 2, 2008.

An arraignment has been scheduled for June 27, 2008 before Judge Sylvester Cox.

Murders Revisited

Hey kids! Have some Friday afternoon fun and go take a look at who got away with murder and who didn't! There are five victims (six, if you count Ashley Harris' unborn baby) and seven potential murderers in this week's installment.

How many are doing time? How many were found not guilty? How many had charges against them dropped? And who's the lucky bastard who got nine years, seven months, and five days dropped from his 10 year sentence?

(FYI, Ashley Harris' fetus didn't count as a murder victim. The murder conviction against David Lee Miller in March was the first time Maryland's fetal homicide law was used. Miller was convicted for killing Elizabeth Walters, who was about 32 weeks into her pregnancy.)

June 6

It's tough for me to get all excited over tough federal/state sentences for handgun crimes when guys like Lucky Williams only get nine years. Baby steps, I guess. Just make sure you don't witness any murders while our leaders our baby stepping their way to greater political aspirations.

A jury found Natasha Fowlkes guilty for the beating that paralyzed her neighbor. I sure didn't see that one coming.

This is a long and convoluted story, but it seems to boil down to dropping a bunch of criminal cases because of some shady behavior by a cop.

A dude with a gun and a crowbar got his home invasion on at the house of a 25-year-old Middle River woman. No word on whether or not she was hurt.

Huh. I never knew that throwing poop at someone counts as assault. Now I'll totally have to re-think my office communication strategy.

Smash and grabs are on the rise in HoCo.

Looks like there's still some Harsonists on the loose.

Guess what they found in Senator Currie's house? Here's a hint: it's green, it smells funny, and it makes you craaaaaaaazzzzzy.

Checkpoints in DC

Interesting article from the Post about police tactics to help stop a streak of violence in DC's Trinidad neighborhood.
(Thanks for the link, David)

June 5

The Blotter has the trifecta of pain: shooting, stabbing, and beating.

The Thunder From Down Under got its van back, but no word if their loincloths and swords were still inside.

Murderer and witness-intimidator Lucky Williams got nine years, a sentence that even the judge called "very, very lenient."

Meanwhile, in CarCo, Mary Gates got five years simply for trying to hire a guy to whack her husband.
More on that case here. No murder and no witness intimidation, yet she still gets more than half the time that Lucky got.

Afternoon

After some morning wonkiness at the Examiner site, Luke has his May recap posted. It's a good article, and Dr. Sharfstein's comment ("Homicide is the leading cause of death among young men in the city. When you're talking about that many people being killed, it's absolutely a public health problem.") is much more insightful than the head-in-the-sand comment in 2005 by then-Health Commissioner Beilenson ("Baltimore is actually a very safe city if you are not involved in the drug trade."). Why don't you tell that to Anna Sowers, Pete?

Mr. B. always seems to come up with these one-two punches on the days of his murder recaps, and today is no exception. He takes a look at five women who work in the same office at the Baltimore City District Court, all of whom have lost at least one male family member to the city's homicide problem.

I hate it when they bury two news stories in one link: There was a knife fight on a bus in Annapolis, and police have ID'd a suspect in the murder of 21-year-old mother-to-be Christen Hawkins.

June 4

Four murders in the Ink, and a really depressing quote from a now-dead witness who was trying to do the right thing: "I know how my brother Brandon is and I know how my homeboys is and like I said in my statement that something has to be done before it get any crazier or somebody actually get killed and the next time somebody probably won't make it out the hospital."

There's a bit more info about the Woodmere murder that happened early yesterday morning, and Derrell E. Smith was ID'd as the man who was killed on Clifton Ave. on Monday night.

It's gotta be kind of embarrassing to be arrested for drug dealing and only have $24. If I was in prison with her, I'd totally be calling her stuff like Dozens of Dollars Ashley and 24 Buck Tucker.

This should be interesting. The BPD is asking crime victims how well the police handled their cases. If Commissioner Fred actually does something useful with this information, he will move a notch higher in my already high opinion of him.