Judge says an inmate's suit against city correctional officer can go forward-- the suit claims guard Antonia Allison was a member of the Bloods who brought rival gang-member inmates onto the victim's tier and opened his cell door so other inmates could beat and stab him.

Juvenile services officials "peppered" with questions in Annapolis about the effectiveness of GPS monitoring

Shiz! Three members of the BPD have come down with the hamthrax! Tweets the dept., "2 of 3 officers affected hv been cleared by docs to return to work."

Mark Castillo Pleads Guilty

... while jury selection was still underway, Castillo pleaded guilty to murdering his three children, Anthony, Austin and Athena, and received three life sentences without parole.
Amy Castillo to JZ: "I've lost my husband and three children ... Jesus .. has given me the power to forgive."
Are we nuts, or does it sound like she's still in love with him?!
Update: more horrible details in the Sun story, and a PDF of the statement of facts, which you should not read.

Three shootings in three minutes!

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Three unrelated shootings in three minutes, including a fatal early this morning at the corner of Ruxton Avenue and Baker Street.

Jury duty?

According to the Baltimore Clerk of the Courts, the jury "list" needs fixing.

No Jail Time for Murder Mom

From the SAO's office (typos corrected):

Today Melanie Blevins, 23, of Westminster MD, pled guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter before Judge John P. Miller. Judge Miller sentenced Blevins to 10 years suspend all but time served (1 day), with 5 years supervised probation. Conditions of probation include Blevins performing a minimum of 25 hours of community service with Habitat for Humanity each month for 3 years totaling 900 hours. Judge Miller told Blevins she also must continue in therapy.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Blevins January 9, 2009 for first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. Blevins plead to the following facts of the case. On Saturday, October 4, 2008, Blevins went to Union Memorial Hospital for treatment of urinary pain. Following an examination, the treating physician reported to police that Blevins had just given birth hours before arriving to the emergency room for care.

Blevins claimed she delivered a stillborn following an undiagnosed pregnancy. The newborn was discovered in a dumpster inside a plastic trash bag behind 2640 St. Paul Street, St. Johns United Methodist Church. The medical examiner determined the child was born alive and took one breath. The medical examiner could not testify to a degree of medical certainty that the baby took more than one live breath.

More from Tricia Bishop
Quality article on neonaticide from The New York Times' Steven Pinker

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Unidentified man, white Chrysler, 3200 block of W. Lexington St.

Rodricks: "Why do they keep killing each other? Baltimore's most enduring question"

The Post has more on MD's Death Penalty limbo, and other states' methods

"Baltimore County Police are confirming the death of a man found inside his home in the 10200-block of Harrison Grant Drive"

Uptick in North Baltimore home burglaries/ robberies. (A detective told me that in the Northern they are up more than 20%)

2nd convict in the light rail rape & kidnapping case gets 40 years

We still haven't seen the last of lead-paint lawsuits

Labor dept. wins 11 unemployment-fraud lawsuits

On a LOLZ-ier note, how did "Doc" Cheatham get the idea that if Dixon's convicted, the governor "could appoint a white mayor" (or any mayor)? .. drum roll...
"... he heard an attorney on a radio program."

COMSTAT Crackdown

A veteran police officer is suspended for "raising" his voice at the PD's weekly COMSTAT meeting.

"A state panel has put new Maryland death penalty protocols submitted by Gov. Martin O'Malley on hold for further review."

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Alonzo Key, 26, shot on Saturday near the marathon route on 700 N Kenwood, has died

Mayor to journalist: article about crime along marathon route "unacceptable"

Last week around Hopkins Homewood campus...

From JHU security:

3 JUVENILES ARRESTED – Bike Theft / CCTV Observation – Wolman Bike Racks – On Oct. 10th at 9:37 PM, three juveniles seen at the west bike rack attempting to cut a bike lock with bolt-cutters fled as campus officers approached them.  The three were located and arrested by Baltimore Police.  A bicycle that one of the juveniles rode to the west bike rack was found to have been stolen from the east bike rack.  The bicycle was returned to its owner.  The bolt-cutters were recovered.
 
ARREST – Theft (Pickpocket) / Property Recovered – 3201 St. Paul St. -- On   Oct. 10th between 5:15 PM and 5:24 PM, a graduate student’s wallet was taken from his pocket.  Baltimore Police and an off-duty Baltimore Police officer working for Hopkins arrested a non-affiliated male who was found to be in possession of the stolen wallet.

Unarmed Robbery – 100 Blk. E. 27th St. -- On Oct. 9th at 4:05 PM, a non-affiliate standing outside her parked vehicle was pushed down from behind by an unknown person who then pulled her handbag from her shoulder.  The suspect fled in an unknown direction.  Baltimore Police searched the area with negative results.  Investigation continuing.

Burglary (Private Residence) – 3100 Blk. Guilford Ave. (east side) – Oct. 10th at 5:34 AM, a non-affiliated resident, awakened by a burglar, confronted and fought with him before the suspect broke free and fled out a third floor window.  Baltimore Police and campus officers searched the area with negative results.  Entry had been gained through an unsecured window.  No property taken.  Investigation continuing.

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Damon Jackson, 37, was shot and killed at 1927 Oakhill Avenue.

'the governor could appoint a white mayor'

With the mayor's first trial set to start November 9th, the NAACP wants to change state law to make sure the Governor doesn't have too much leeway appointing a successor if she is convicted.

One dead and two others injured

from two separate drive-by shootings. The victim was ID'd as Dion Jones.

Account-a-bility

Fed Judge Motz has entered a consent decree in the 25-year-long battle over Baltimore's ferkakta foster care system, continuing the court's oversight for at least another 18 months

1:33 pm: justin_fenton Tweets: "Police report shooting 700 N Kenwood Ave... That's like two blocks off the marathon route"

Accountant of pipe-supply company got 51 months in jail for stealing $1.1 million from his employers.

Maj. Roger Bergeron was stripped of his gun and badge, reportedly because of too much online social networking

Little place, big taste of hot lead in ya azz: Two men shot in the parking lot of the Checkers on Liberty Rd in Randallstown

Steven Blackwell aquitted

... of disorderly conduct charges.


Meanwhile people are up in arms over a city officer suspended earlier.

Juvenile Stabbed

.. at Hopkins Plaza in broad daylight

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Calvin Taylor, 39, 2600 block of Mathews St.

Man shot in the chest in Ramblewood

A second day of jury selection in the Castillo trial

Essex Sunday school teacher charged with child sex abuse

Guns, drugs & burglary in the blotter

Warren Brown now says former Raven Tony Fein was going to sue the police department over his arrest at the Inner Harbor

Gregory Tooson, who swore out a peace order against his girlfreind just days before she was killed, has been indicted for her murder

Open containers?

A list of "no charge" arrests shows it risky to drink a beer or loiter ar a bus stop in the city