'Medical treatment'

Delegate Curt Anderson, D-43, has introduced a bill to make marijuana legal in Maryland and tax it like alcohol. So sensible you know it can't pass, but call your rep in the House anyway.

Well, that was quick. After about two days on the job, Joseph Smith -- the major, not to be confused with the prophet with Donny Osmond flair -- has resigned as police training director.

An American employee of the embassy of Malaysia was indicted for molesting his adopted daughter* in an unnamed city hotel room while she was here getting medical treatment.

Here come the Levy lawsuits.

County Councilman Todd Huff was charged with DUI in his county-owned Jeep Cherokee, and police are refusing to release his blood alcohol level to the public. This guy owns a business, he can't afford to buy his own car? Heh, he reportedly asked the officer, "don't you know who I am?"* Er.. Lindsay Lohan? UPDATE: the Sun got his BAC-- .20. Damn, son.

The Patch has all your boyfriends' mug shots.

.@baltimorepolice: M&T Bank at Johns Hopkins University (3003 N Charles) was robbed at 10 a.m. this morning
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) February 23, 2013 

Non Fatal Shooting: 510 Winston Ave. Adult Male shot in leg. District Detectives Investigating
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) February 23, 2013

Shooting: 900 block Bennette Pl. at 8:15PM, Adult Male shot multi times. District Dectectives Investigating
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) February 22, 2013

And two other shootings, on York Road and George Street, respectively

As you probably already heard, Berger's cookies was shut down for not paying a $500 licensing fee, probably because the owner, Charles DeBaufre, is in intensive care. But while on the subject, why are health department code violations not public? (or am I just incompetent at finding them?)

Ugh, animal hoarders.

Ugh, Vegas developers.

Beans, beer, pervs, ammo

Cause of death for dirty doc Nikita Levy: helium overdose.* (non-Sun link)

Sixty-five years for Richard Charles, convicted of raping his girlfriend's daughter.*

Female victim of the murder-suicide in Pen Lucy was ID'd as Candace Baird;* her killer husband she worked as a conflict mediator and probation agent.

A man was stabbed and robbed in the 22 block of South Broadway, a bar on Fleet Street was held up for patrons' cash, the contents of the register and two Red Bulls.

John Andrew Blaes

Twenty-seven years for underage-bondage pornographer John Andrew Blaes of Parkville.

Robert Hubbard went to the cupboard to fetch himself some ammo; the ammo was there but a snitch was aware so he got 15 years in the slammo.

The House unanimously passed a bill that would reverse the ruling deeming pit bulls an "inherently dangerous" breed.

Senators are giving constituents lip service to their speed camera objections, the Death Penalty ban is expected to pass the  Judicial Proceedings Committee and the gov's gun-control proposal is up for a vote today.

Jean Brown of Jamaica was convicted in federal court for her racketeering role in the Brown Organization, a vicious pot-smuggling syndicate.

Anastasia Olouch, who was accused of elder abuse and then fled to Kenya, pleaded guilty today and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Hermes makes sweaters?

Steve Pearson, 57 and assaulted last December in Pikesville, is still in a coma.

A 91-year-old man and his 42-year-old passenger are accused of buying drugs in Baltimore and driving them to West Virginia.

The Department of the Environment is cracking down on lead-paint-law violators.

Baltimorean Eric Eugene Walker, 27, was shot to death in Lanham by a guy high on PCP.

Kathleen Machen

In Ocean City, Kathleen Machen, arrested two weeks ago for assaulting her fiance with beers and a can of beans, was arrested again, this time for slapping said fiance after he took the last can of beer.

'Praise God who has not made me a woman'

#24-- a probable murder/suicide involving a man and a woman on Frisby Street in Pen Lucy.* A small child was found at the scene, unharmed.

There were also two unrelated nonfatal shootings last night.

Baltimore Police Department

SHOOTING: 500 blk of E 38TH St. Northern District. Time: 10:26am. Adult male reported shot. Detectives investigating.

Case updates and last week's murder are chronicled in the Ink.

Blagh! Blargh! Blergh! Bleck! New details are emerging about the deceased pervy Hopkins gynecologist Dr. Nikita Levy, and gird ya loins girlfriends, because they are foul. The Sun is reporting that he used a hidden spy camera inside a pen* (like this one) and multiple other recording devices planted around the room. WJZ is strongly suggesting in a weasel-words sort of way that he posted the recordings to the Internet, and that some videos were of underage girls. "Investigators have growing concerns and are checking to see if Dr. Levy may have recorded underage patients ... WJZ has learned gynecology fetish porn is all over the Internet." I'll just take your word for that, there, Mike Schuh. The Deuce reports one mom saved her daughter when her perv alarm went off: "That's a little weird, never seen a doctor so eager." Can Hopkins be held liable for his actions? Considering he had more than 1000 patients, local attorneys are salivating at the possibility and are eager to give press quotes to anyone who'll listen.  (I wonder how he was found out. Did someone borrow his pen?)

Remember when a 13-year-old girl was dragged into a vacant house and raped on N. Caroline Street? Her attacker, Alvin Ray Wright Sr., was convicted based on DNA evidence and faces life in prison,* WBAL reports six life terms.  Which probably means he'll get 15 years, amirite? We'll find out May 15.

Oo, another delicious Van Smith feature: the life and times of local cocaine dealer Richie Rich (nee Richard Anthony Wilford), who may be set free because of the illegal use of warrantless "slap on" GPS devices to track his dealings. That Tom Chalkey illustration gets A+ (and probably a peevish letter from Harvey Comics).

Out in Frederick County, WTF and outrage after a man with Down syndrome died while police tried to remove him from a movie theater.

Down in Germantown anti-family-planning protestors are making hay after a 29-year-old woman died from a late-term abortion early this month. The deceased was a Catholic and her child was apparently much wanted, but found to have serious abnormalities. How activists got her name, photos and personal medical information is a mystery.

No sex at the wildlife expo

Homicide #23: a 47-year-old man shot in the 4300 of Adelle Terrace in Irvington*

A man is dead after a triple shooting at a bus stop in Middle River

Trial starts today for Jason Scott, who the Deuce deems a "criminal mastermind." 

Perry Hall shooter Robert Gladden Jr. pleaded guilty today to attempted first-degree murder.*

Batts pledges to review the BPD's use of weapons.* Whatever. Since it's unlikely the public will ever be allowed to see the results of the review-- given not even a federal judge can compel the department to disclose its current procedures-- filing this under "hollow lip service to placate the pissed."
Fenton: "The agency-wide review of use of force would be a first, at least in the department's recent history. Officer-involved shootings have been on the decline since 2008 — 33 people were shot that year, but the number was cut to 21 in 2009, 10 in 2010, and 15 in 2012. City officers have shot six people so far this year, one of them fatally. But the number remains high — the New York Police Department, which has more than 10 times as many officers as Baltimore, shot 28 people in 2011."
Related: WaPo OpEd on building public trust states obvious

Johns Hopkins Medicine · 30,234 like this

18 hours ago · 

• On Feb. 4, 2013, after being alerted by an employee, Johns Hopkins security department initiated an investigation about concerns involving Nikita Levy, M.D. It was determined that Dr. Levy had been illegally photographing patients with his personal photographic and video equipment and storing those images electronically. Tragically, today we learned that Dr. Levy apparently has taken his own life.
  
  Any invasion of patient privacy is intolerable. Words cannot express how deeply sorry we are for any patient whose privacy may have been violated. We continue to work closely with the Baltimore Police Department and will assist them in any way possible.
  
  We have set up a call center for Dr. Levy’s patients and are also offering them counseling. The number is 855-546-3785.

  More from the WaPo. Yes, he was a gynecologist. Eugh. Can you imagine this happening to you and then being willing to go back to Hopkins for counseling? Thanks, but no thanks. And if you were a victim do you get to see your own pictures? So skeevy on so so many levels...

  
  

  A "flash mob" stole cell phones at the Sprint store at York & Belvedere roads

  
  

  Crime-scene cleanup company is accused of gouging customers

  
  

  "Assault Weapons in the Line of Fire" -- I see what you did there, JZ

  
  

  If you're planning to get extra sameach this Purim, note that the Northwest Citizens Patrol will drive your  drunk ass home for free (and anonymously).

  
  

  Fast times in AAC: one drug bust netted 87 ounces pot, guns, a grey-faced guy and two fat people,  another 5 grams, some crack and a guy with a neck tattoo. Also in AAC, man charged after having sex at wildlife expo.

Asylum and Training School for the Feeble Minded

"A Baltimore City Circuit Court jury convicted Eugene Emmett Bates for murdering a man in a vacant house, burning his body in attempt to destroy any evidence, and stealing his vehicle."

Eight shootings (1 fatal) in Baltimore over the past 14 days; last year, city averaged 22 every 2 weeks
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) February 18, 2013

"Missteps in trainee shooting ran afoul of standards.*" Ya think? Among the "missteps," the director of the program didn't know that training was being done in an abandoned psychiatric hospital, the former Asylum and Training School for the Feeble Minded. With no supervisors, apparently. Batts is set to give the training instructors a verbal spanking* tomorrow, and a new director has been named, one Maj. Joseph Smith. And yet, even after being told by a federal judge that police training policies and procedures are public documents,* the BPD refuses to release them. So I imagine the verbal spanking will go like this: "here I am making a mad face and shaking my finger for the camera and giving lip service to accountability! Blah!"
... an aside, while neighboring states such as Virginia forcibly and routinely sterilized the "feeble minded" back in the 20's, Maryland never did this. Go Maryland! 

Senators have introduced a bill requiring gun owners to carry liability insurance.

On Friday night the BPD held a "tweetalong," where they Tweeted like sorority girls during a shift. Anyway, one of the (two) incidents was a suspected robbery at 300 Homeland Southway. Apparently a guy followed the victim home and then robbed her.

A tipster sent in another picture of Deonte Smith's stabber, unfortunately it is not much better than the other pictures.

One of the employees of Roland Park firefighter/pimp Jamar Simmons was a woman from South Dakota. If the graphic with the story is to believed, the pimps pimped their (underage) sex workers via Twitter as @BigCityDates. The account is still up, but the pictures of Cherrish, Bambi, Unique and the other #applebottom #freak(s) are not, though you can still find pictures of underage girls here. 

Adorable: city spends $585k to figure out how to save money*

Nine years for gun-toting felon Justin Harris, 28.

Baltimore guns showed up on the Bronx black market.

RoFo Robbers Caught!

Funeral was held yesterday for Jennifer Conyers, killed by a guy she met on a dating web site. According to Cham, of 22 murder victims so far this year, 15 have no violent criminal history.

(Alleged) RoFo robbers caught, finally! Check out that list of stores. Dayum. How they were caught and why it took so long police won't say, but Cham points out that they apparently did their research and carefully avoided stores near crime cameras. Naturally the trio-- Omar Sharif Hance, Willie James Vinson and Darrell Nathaniel Blackwell-- have plenty of priors. And yes, Omar Hance's middle name is Sharif-- apparently his mom had a ladyboner for swarthy guys. "Truly, for some men nothing is written unless they write it."

Some cojones: even after being told by a federal judge that police training policies and procedures are public documents,* the Police Department still refuses to release them to the public. .. as much as Aneglinos apparently despise the LAPD, it's actually considerably more transparent and responsive than Baltimore's police force, with a Board of Rights that includes officers and a civilian, has the power to recommend penalties and publishes a public record of its findings. We should all be so lucky.

Remember that Roland Park firefighter who was pimping on the side? (Or was he a pimp who did some firefighting on the side?) He and his partner were indicted. My favorite part of the story has to be the chalkboard with hooker rules and tips on it ("Just 10 minutes from downtown!"... "Ask about law enforcement!!)

Aiee-- 38-year-old Larry Horton was convicted for murdering 18-year-old Ryan Jackson with a hatchet in Towson.

Creepy: a Ray Rice impersonator set up a Facebook account to try to meet girls. Hopefully just for sex and not death by hatchet.

RJR is going after doctors and dentists who aren't paying back their student loans. Animals! 

The head, the heart and the senses

The Ink details last week's three murders; since last week one Aaron Knox was also shot to death in the 1100 block of North Stricker Street.

The BPD identified the police officer who accidentally shot a recruit in the head as William S. Kern. Five other staff members have also been suspended.

A man was stabbed in Fell's Point Tuesday night.

Charming Charlestownian floral designer faked heart attack, stole thousands

Charles Village crime watcher Steve Gewirtz reports that there's seemingly less crime in Charles Village than usual; Adam Bednar reports that residential burglaries are down but commercial robberies are way way up in the Northern.

And are you flipping kidding me, the RoFo has been robbed again.

Good news, HoCo mallgoers, they caught that big fat flasher.

Love in the Time of Cholera

Oh shiz. Two students are dead near the University of MD in College Park after a murder/suicide.

A custodian was attacked this morning at Gwynns Falls Elementary school.

A man was shot in the leg and jaw in the 1100 block of N. Stricker Street.

We've heard a lot of crazy here at the blog, but this takes the crazy cake. SRB wants to start charging a fee for trash pickup.* She also wants firefighters, who already make 25% less than their counterparts in surrounding areas (see right), work more than 42 hours a week. No details yet on the trash proposal, but if it means that payers are surrounded by the garbage and rats from their non-paying neighbors (while the house burns down), Baltimore, dude, baby, cookie, you know I love you, but I am outta here. I'll do a lot for love, but gotta draw the line at heaps of rotting garbage, rat orgies and plague.

Habitual drunk driver Thomas Green, who mowed down two Hopkins students, was taken into custody after trying to drive his car drunk twice while it was outfitted with an interlock device. Fox reports that Green has 18 points on his license (warning, link has audio).

Web site The Robing Room = Yelp for judges. Judge Themelis ("a gentleman") is at the top for the city, at the bottom (Retired) Judge John Glynn ("a crank"), Evelyn Cannon ("chemical imbalance") and Yvette Bryant ("a nasty person").

In case you're wondering, here's who has drones. All the federal agencies, of course, and in MD, Queen Anne's county.

File under amazing but true: NBC News tracked fatal shootings over the MLK Jr. weekend and neither Baltimore nor Chicago had any (Melissa Davis was stabbed to death, however).

A rare disbarment for Paul W. Gardner II, aka the lawyer who repped Snoop.*

This is brilliant. Not the easiest thing on the ears, but brilliant.

Don't date, don't drive, and never, ever buy tickets

Monte Carter

Another online-dating murder?! Jennifer Conyers, 32, was murdered and her house set on fire allegedly by a guy she met online.* She was murdered Friday and Monte Delano Carter, 38, was arrested Saturday, driving her car and with blood *still* on his pants and shoes. FWIW he (allegedly) used her ATM card to get cash and buy stuff he traded for heroin. How about instead of doing a background check on someone before dating them, just never dating anyone ever.

Inside: Delightful Chinese New Year party. Outside: Stabbing on Charles Street. Metro Gallery hemmed by crime scene tape. #Baltimore
— Julie Bykowicz (@bykowicz) February 10, 2013

Also on Friday, a shooting on Homestead St.


Really, Daily Record?! "Capital Punishment Already Dead in Maryland" ... just because a crass headline comes over the wire it doesn't mean you have to publish it, geeze

"Just give us the cash, yo." Nice-guy Medfield robbers let a victim keep his wallet, reports the Patch.

Haha, winning. The Sun obtains the Mayor's office's bitchy emails about speed camera coverage.* Also, Larry Young of WOLB apparently helped provide the Mayor's office with "talking points." Shady.

Carl Stokes wants to vacate the never-enforced law that bars high event-ticket surcharges.

Not Baltimore, but worth a mention: MSN claims that Christopher Dorner, a guy allegedly stalking and targeting members of the LAPD, is the "first drone target on U.S. soil." Not true, that honor goes to one Rodney Brossart of North Dakota. Also unless the drone is equipped with Hellfire missiles, not sure how it is any different than using a helicopter.

Meet the two old white guys who will be head of the Tribune Co. .. apparently the CEO sees the news audience as old and male, so which came first? Does the news reflect old male perspectives because old males are the primary consumer, or are old males the primary consumer because the news is from an old male perspective?

Thar he blow'd

His name is Don Dwyer, and he's an alcoholic. Good gracious, .24. Kind of amazing he could stand. Related: drug treatment programs in MD are facing a $4.5 million budget cut; advocates went to A-town today to protest. And thar blows the pirate-cruise industry: drunken sailing has now been declared unlawful.*

(Alleged) Perry Hall High shooter Robert Gladden is to be tried as an adult. He also wants everyone to know that he was not bullied, rather, he was a bully.* Duly noted.

A guilty plea from a "financial advisor" who defrauded his clients

A stripper is suing Norma Jean's Gentleman's Club for unpaid wages (TDR login required). You may recall that Norma Jean's was Cherrie Gammon's workplace before she was murdered.

Ugh, another murdered toddler. FYI all two-year-olds are possessed by an evil spirit.

A guy threatened a bank teller at the SECU in Towson with a screwdriver,* lighter and scissors. Hrm.

And a pair of HoCo serial burglars were tracked down in FL.

Realtionship status: complicated

Police Tweeted a photo of Deontae Smith getting stabbed on Tuesday, and another of the suspect. And Cham found Smith's Facebook page.

One Jason Hamel was convicted of murder for killing Keyva Bluitt over a drug deal gone bad in Federal Hill; Bluitt sold Hamel a $5,000 t-shirt.

The State's Attorney's office has released some vivid pie charts re. its conviction rates.

Blaes & Jones

Margaret Ellen Jones of Parkville pleaded guilty to charges of producing child pornography, she and her BDSM partner, John Andrew Blaes, met a 15-year-old from North Carolina online, took explicit pictures, distributed them, and are now facing 15 to 30 years. Six in 10 of the DOJ's press releases so far this month have to do with sexually exploited minors.

A man caught trespassing at North County High School in Glen Burnie was arrested after he was found to have a shit ton of guns in his house, including an AK-47 and an Uzi. Won't someone think of his human rights?! Related: PolitiFact fact-checks gun-law arguments, NYMag has a piece on the history of the firearms in Adam Lanza's arsenal, a photo of Senator Jamie Raskin allegedly playing chess on his computer during testimony yesterday has gone viral-ish

Confirmed Shooting: Washington Blvd & W. Cross St. Southern District. Adult male shot in the arm. District Detectives are investigating.
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) February 6, 2013

Katie Ann Hadel

One Jeffrey Shiflett (DOB 5/1979) was arrested for the murder in Garrison of 33-year-old mom Katie Ann Hadel. Police spokesperson: "We don't believe there's any current romantic relationship between the victim and suspect at this time. However, we do know they are acquaintances from several years ago." Shiflett was charged in the past with robbery, assault and making harassing phone calls. UPDATE: Kevin Rector reports that Hadel committed the robbery with Shiflett, and then testified against him, Hadel had a protection order out against him and was told by police not to go home but did.* Oddly, Hadel also has at least three different Facebook profiles.

Duane "Shorty" Davis and his toilets have returned to Towson.

Also in the county, the police union is suing the chief for using police pension funds to improve the county recycling center. Speaking of pensions, why are certain media outlets just now starting to freak out about how the city can't afford the ones it's committed to? I thought this was old news and common knowledge? Oh well, better late than never.

A man was robbed of his wedding ring at gunpoint in Charles Village 

Van Smith: Inmate beating by 14 officers at Roxbury strong evidence that prisoner abuse is/was institutionalized

Tom Kiefaber barred from the Senator Theater again, ordered to take anger management classes

Boy Scouts Uphold Traditional Values

From the law firm in Portland that uncovered them, the Boy Scouts' "Perversion Files" from Maryland 1965-1985, including media clips and sordid reports, and also a collection of stories about more recent cases (some links are expired, but you can search the alleged perp's name to find out more). The firm estimates that 6,000- 24,000 boys have been sexually abused as Scouts. And apparently more recent Perversion Files are TK in the near future.

Michael Johnson Guilty

Justin Fenton

Jury finds Michael Johnson Guilty of second degree murder in the killing of Phylicia Barnes

His attorney is speaking to reporters now.
Johnson faces a maximum 30 years in prison
Sentencing will be March 21

10 for 10

The teenager stabbed to death during yesterday's Ravens parade was ID'd as Deontae Smith, 15.* And a block away (but 10 hours before the parade) 22-year-old Darius Parks was stabbed to death.* Fenton notes, 

There have been 10 people killed in the past 10 days in Baltimore; murders up 43% over this point last year
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) February 6, 2013

Day 770 of the Phylicia Barnes case, and the jury is deliberating.* Deliberations began yesterday; Judge Nance reportedly asked the jury if they wanted off to watch the Ravens parade and they declined.*

The Ink covers last week's seven homicides

A woman was found dead in Pikesville, and two children were found unharmed.

Baltimore's Inspector General, David McClintock is departing for the less-ethically-compromised climes of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. He will be replaced by a chimp with a stick.

A seemingly extreme number of robberies in the Southeast this past week.

'Where is Baltimore at?'

The city's 18th homicide victim was a woman shot in the face* in the 1600 block of McKean Avenue, allegedly by her "boyfriend" during the Superbowl last night. Victim #17 was a man named Christopher Samuels, shot to death on Wheeler Avenue.

Ian Duncan has more* on the murder of Lois Jean Vance Smyth-- apparently she and her killer, Kenneth Todd Brunetti, were romantically involved. And his Facebook page is still live; he enjoys Ultimate Fighting and the movie "Hitch."

Scott Dance Tweets/reports (Tweeports?) that the defense has rested in the Phylicia Barnes case, after calling just one witness, Michael Johnson's co-worker, who testified that he was a good worker who nevertheless called in sick the day Barnes went missing. Here's more from Fenton* on what Judge Nance had to say about the circumstantial evidence in the case; prosecutors have moved to add a second-degree murder charge.

Baltimorean goes to NOLA, steals Superbowl tickets from Georgians, gets arrested

Also during the game, a barricade situation in Edgewood

188 months in prison for Danilo Garcia, who the feds say was the leader of a large heroin distribution ring

... so did anyone else find themselves having to say more than once yesterday, "he's not a murderer! He just let the killers ride in his limo!"well, this piece would have come in handy. Also, the lead detective on the case now says Ray Lewis should never have been charged with murder. Well, duh.

A would-be cellphone robber stabbed a guy in the neck in Harwood

Have you seen an awkward-looking ponytail'd white guy with a truck named Franklin? (see right)

A spate of robberies on the East side, including cell phones stolen by a pack of 10 or 11 guys, and a burglary in which a size 11 Prada shoe was left behind (Cinderfella?)

I guess a protest at Gregg Bernstein's house did happen on Saturday, though when I drove by at around 2 p.m. I didn't see anyone.

Twitter: where there are people who don't know where Baltimore "is at" and aren't ashamed to admit it.

The Stupidbowl

A triple shooting in the NW early this morning, with one fatality.

Life + 25 for Kenneth Brunetti, the Facebook friend of Lois Jean Vance Smyth who was convicted of her murder/robbery.

An indictment for Kyle "Cappo" Stevens of Remington, accused of dealing drugs and "use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug conspiracy related to two murders"

And 50 years for Randall Martin Jr., who tried to burn down his ex-girlfriend's house while she, her 5-year-old son and two other people were inside.

A Middle River family's Taser lawsuit can go ahead, rules 4th circuit.*

Ten years for Brian Williams, 28, accused of videotaping boys at urinals* at two MD rest stops.

A guilty plea from a woman accused of defrauding the National Guard.

Kim Trueheart was let back into City Hall

The guy who says he sold Ray Lewis deer velvet antler spray brought spray and a pair of perky nipples to New Orleans, told the press that he's gotten death threats

'This is Not Judge Judy!'

Day 765 of the Phylicia Barnes case: the state has rested, and Fenton Tweeted that Judge Nance "gave a long speech" the essence of which was that he was "not impressed with the State's case." Also today prosecutors played an unintelligible jailhouse recording* and a neighbor testified he saw Johnson with a blue tote.

Adam Meister popped in on The Spectator's 3rd bail hearing, apparently it was actually a different judge, who was most focused on the possibility that AFJMcM might "Tweet" instead of showing up for trial. And naturally "It would not be a MacArthur hearing without audience drama," an audience member stood up prompting the Judge say "this is not Judge Judy." ... if only everything were Judge Judy. Put your hand down, MADAM!

Stolen in the Northern: Newports, stromboli, a makeup bag.

An arrest in yesterday's stabbing in Owings Mills

Still No Bail for the Spectator

Man shot and killed at the Continental Arms shooting range* in Timonium

Two teenagers were shot last night in Edgewood

Metaphor fail: Republican E.J. Pipkin calls the gov's handgun-licensing requirement a "poll tax." Because you're not really participating in democracy if you aren't equipped to shoot yourself or others in the head.

Carrie Wells reports that the officer who shot a man Tuesday* was also implicated in the shooting of Donnie Chestnut in 2007 (which you may remember as the "Popsicle-stick case")

Though rape charges were dropped against one of the owners of the Blue Agave, Cheshire says the investigation of the incident is ongoing.*

Really?! Some senators want to change the speed-camera law to give camera operators even less oversight, letting "specified persons" review tickets instead of requiring police officers to do it. Some nerve!

And, shocking to no one, the Spectator has been denied bail again (for the third time) by the same judge he yelled at at the last bail hearing.

Hardworking defectives

Sounds like Michael Johnson's goose is cooked, stuffed and served up with a nice Chianti, but you never can tell what a jury might do. Today prosecutors read text messages from Johnson to his baby's mom, Tabitha Fickling, in which he said he was thinking about fleeing to where he couldn't be prosecuted.

WBAL just lost a poop-ton of credibility with a fawning report on the glories of Catholic schools. "more Baltimore-area Catholic school students are finishing high school and going onto college." But, laments the school Superintendent, "The challenge is always being enrollment." Gee, why might that be? "These economic times are challenging," she concluded. Oh, that must be the only possible reason why.

A 15-year-old was shot in the foot; but rest assured, WMAR reports that "defectives are working to figure out who shot him."

A Spanish-speaking man was stabbed in Owings Mills

Release the hounds

Dayum. Day 764 of the case against Michael Johnson, and yesterday's witness sounds like a doozy.* Drifter James McCray aka Jason Lee says he saw Phylicia's body and gave Johnson advice on disposing of it/her, and that Johnson told him he killed her because he raped her and then she wouldn't stop crying.

A man was shot to death yesterday in the 4600 block of Laurel Avenue (south of Sinai hospital and north of Cold Spring), the 14th murder of the year; a man was shot yesterday in Barclay.

Cham ID's the man shot to death in Lauraville yesterday as Travis Jennings, age unknown. The Ink has more details on last week's murders.

The world is again safe for queso: after reviewing the video of New Year's Eve at the Blue Agave, prosecutors have dropped all charges against the restaurant's co-owner.

In Glen Burnie a 22-year-old man is accused of strangling his 66-year-old aunt.

A man was robbed, punched and kicked near Belvedere Square.

The Patch reports that twice in the past week, booted vehicles have driven away.

They know how to take care of business in Rogers Forge: two Hamdenites were arrested after a resident saw them trying car door handles. Down in the city you'd be lucky to get a lackadaisical police drive-by a half-hour after such a call, but up in the county officers set up a perimeter and brought in dogs. "The Forge" always seemed kind of like Camazotz to me, but that level of service makes it darned appealing.

And finally the third bail hearing for Baltimore Spectator Apollos James MacArthur is tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. in the Mitchell Courthouse.