More dispatches from Pigtown

The drama in Pigtown continues, a dog put to sleep, real estate investment gone sour, and man allowing prostitutes to shoot up in his house who says he's misunderstood.

A 17-year-old rescued from a hostage situation in an abandoned house in the SW yesterday

Last week's nine homicides in the Ink

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Police are holding a "town hall" meeting at 6 p.m. at the Knox Presbyterian Church on 1300 North Eden St. to discuss the nine sexual assaults in the city. Police say there are at least two attackers, and the woman found behind a convenience store on East Eager Street was murdered.

31-year-old Christopher Parr received a life sentence for the rape and robbery of a 62-year-old woman at a Brooklyn Park laundromat.

The man shot to death during a convenience- store robbery in Catonsville was ID'd as Brian Michael Meise, 52. The killer is still at large, and it sounds like County police don't have a lot of info to work with.

The defense rested this morning in the Dixon trial, and WBAL's David Collins has some of the dirt the jury won't hear-- such as the gift cards being put in individual gift bags.

Is shopping a crime?

I.V. Editor Regina Holmes adds her perspective to the mix.

Questions

Why was Jason Mattison's aunt hanging around with a(n alleged) murderer? What was Jason doing there? And why did it take more than a week for anyone to properly spell the victim's last name?

Police wonder if a woman whose body was found in the 900 block of East Eager Street was a victim of the bus-stop rapist

Suite Ultralounge may be ultra-closed for up to a year

Three men arrested for "brazen" robberies may have insights into the death of Dino Frank

James A. Thompson, convicted of a 1987 rape, burglary and felony murder could get a new trial

Where a kid can be a *blarrrrrugh*!! Chuck E. Cheese food-poisoning lawsuit headed to trial

Greg Kane on Dante Parrish and the Innocence Project

Guilty pleas for adult abuse

From the SAO:

Moments before jury selection was about to begin, and with 100 potential jurors in the courtroom ready to begin voir dire, (a preliminary screening process for potential jurors) Sharon Jones, 26, of the 400 block of W. Franklin Avenue and Tia Sewell, 27, of the 5100 block of Darien Road pled guilty to first-degree vulnerable adult abuse.

Judge David Ross ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for December 28, 2009. Under terms of the plea agreement, announced in open court, Jones and Sewell will face a cap of no more than six years in prison at sentencing. The state will argue for the full six years.

Sharon Jones and Tia Sewell admitted to the negligent care of their mother, April Montford, 40. Ms. Montford sustained severe injuries to her lower abdomen and legs resulting in bed sores, gangrenous open wounds and dehydration. She died March 14, 2008. The medical examiner ruled Montford’s death a homicide as a result of a 1985 gunshot wound. That gunshot wound left her a paraplegic.

Jones and Sewell each posted $75,000 bail in March 2008 and remain released pending sentencing. Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly Burrell of the Felony Family Violence Division prosecuted this case.

20 years for drugs, 7 years for murder of baby

Baltimoreiffic.
From the SAO:

Today the Honorable Judge Wanda Keys Heard sentenced Freddie Jackson, 47, of the 1500 block of N. Montford Street to 20 years in prison for distribution of heroin and 20 years for possession with intent to distribute heroin to be served concurrently.

A Baltimore city jury convicted Jackson on May 1, 2009 based on the following facts of the case: On July 1, 2008 at 4:30 PM in the 2500 block of East Biddle Street, undercover detectives observed Jackson conduct three suspected narcotics transactions. Officers observed Jackson selling suspected CDS from a nearby “ground stash.” When officers stopped Jackson they recovered the stash and found it to contain five gel caps of heroin and $268 in cash were on his person. At the time of these events, Jackson had a total of 10 prior controlled dangerous substance and battery convictions. He was on probation following his release from prison in March 2008 for a 2001 conviction for child abuse resulting in the death of his eight month old son in case number 100167020. Jackson is backing up 18 years in the pending violation of probation.

What are they thinking?

This abortion-disclaimer bill thing is just weird. How could that stand up to any kind of legal challenge, requiring a business to post services it doesn't provide? Prohibiting the dispersal of false medical information would make sense, or requiring a center to clearly identify its religious affiliation, maybe. But a disclaimer?
And why is Planned Parenthood worried about abortion access in Baltimore city? It's not exactly South Dakota.
All very odd.

Cardapalooza

The mayor's trial resumes, with testimony from a housing authority employee who pleaded guilty this year to stealing cards from her honor's trove, and developer Patrick Turner, who bought cards, he says, as a charitable gift for the "children of Baltimore," but never got a thank-you note. (What about a receipt so he could write off the donation?)

Hermann: "Sad tableaux play out in court"

Have you seen Damon Dameo Gray, 17 "recently released from jail on an unrelated crime ... wanted for the attempted murder of a 17-year-old on October 21"

Pigtown

The battle rages on in Pigtown as residents take on prostitutes, johns, drug dealers and even each other.

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A violent weekend leaves the city at 201 murders, victims at the 1900 block of E. Lanvale St., the 2900 block of Garrison Blvd., and a 45-year-old man in a wheelchair shot in a home invasion in West Baltimore.

Teacher of Jason Madison/ Mattison, killed by Dante/ Donte Parrish, writes a letter to Peter Hermann

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Two homicides last night:
Sammie McCullough, Jr., 36, 1200 block of North Avenue, and an unidentified man in the 5100 block of Arbutus Avenue
and two more on Thursday: Michael Anthony McFadden, 51, 2000 block of W. Lanvale St.
and an unidentified man in the 3600 block of Gelston Drive

and yes, looks like the man The Innocence Project freed was that Dante Parrish.

Steala Dixon's new BF took the stand, called their relationship "very challenging."

Slumlord Watch: Accused pit-bull-burning brothers kept their dogs in a vacant house.
Tremayne and Travers Johnson, 17, of S. Pulaski Street were indicted on five counts of animal abuse and cruelty on Friday.

Baltimore PoliceDept Shooting,2400 Druid Hill, adult male shot
25 minutes ago via Twitter
Baltimore PoliceDept Shooting, Alameda/ Crestlyn, juv shot in leg
26 minutes ago via Twitter
Baltimore PoliceDept Shooting, 5100 Arbutus Av, adult male shot
3 hours ago via Twitter

Ten years for a "pimp" and "bottom" who trafficked underage girls on Craigslist, city streets and a truck stop

Former prison guard Terry Robe pleads guilty to attempting to smuggle heroin and cell phones into prison

Police merger in the works

MTA police and MdTA will soon be the....MdTTA?

Nobody don't know nothing

TG!! Dante Parrish was arrested at a local 7-11

Dixon's defense: I thought those gift cards were for me!
Meanwhile, law students relish spectacle of attorneys in action

Did 911 operator and police mishandle calls about the truck that later killed Miriam Frankl?

UM researcher Carrie John died of allergic reaction, not bupe OD

Alleged car thief's dad: "The boys don't know nothing" about Annie McCann's death

Want a swine flu shot? Get yourself arrested!

Media Blabber

Editorial correction of the day (not crime, but too funny)