Toddler Missing as Hurricane* Nears!

A city toddler, Ramon Richardson, (left) went missing from the 1800 block of Milton Avenue after his aunt left him outside, alone.

"In the last of its four public hearings, the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment explored yesterday the risk of innocent people being executed"

Peter Hermann gets into the spirit of blogging in a piece on the Colonial Inn's gaming-machine bust: "here are some random obversations [sic]. Don't ask me what they mean."

Maryland State Police, after a two-year-long-investigation, arrested and charged a Glenn J. Raynor, 39, of HarfCo in connection with a 2006 rape investigation.

Car-repair shop arson in the Deener.

* I should say, alleged tropical storm. The NOAA doesn't appear to be predicting anything but less than an inch of rain.

Police Officers Charged with Assault, Endangerment

Today prosecutors filed a criminal information charging Baltimore Police Detective Terry Love, 31, and Baltimore County Deputy Sheriff Michael Herring, 36, of Towson, with second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and dangerous weapon charges. Prosecutors filed the criminal information after a joint law enforcement investigation.

The alleged incident occurred in the early morning of September 8, 2007 at the intersection of Belvedere Avenue and York Road and involves a 42-yr. old black male who was beaten and left unconscious in the road. The maximum penalty under the law is 10 years in prison.

A criminal summons has been issued in these cases and an arraignment is scheduled for October 7, 2008 before the Honorable Sylvester Cox.
-- info from the SAO

18 Shootings this Week

... mapped by Spotcrime.

Five years for Todd Alan Poorman, who allegedly shot his friend to death six times at close range.

Peter Hermann writes about a 66-year-old tourist with a slipped disc robbed in Mt. Vernon.

And a featurette on the John Watch, which, oddly, doesn't include a url or have a link to the blog.
... today the BJW posted a map that makes the high-traffic areas quite clear.

Sperm-Soaked Chihuahuas

... wouldn't commit these kinds of crimes!!

Buried in the Blotter: "A man, 30, was attempting to prevent a gunman from entering his home in the first block of W. 23rd St. about 3 a.m. Wednesday when he was shot in the upper body."
... also, a 13-year-old robbed of shoes and a man robbed of pain pills.

Bmore's making efforts to reduce 911's call volume

A very unusual street robbery in Homeland.

A drive-thru stabbing at the Popeye's chicken in Cockeysville

Cons escape in Queen Anne's County. The bald one is still on the loose.

Wacky: the Iranian government is suing a Baltimore company for damaging $50 million worth of military supplies that were being stored here.

Legislators put new DNA collection regulations on hold

News of the Pervy:
- Touchy teacher Alan Beier will stay in jail in spite of being a target of attacks
- 'Publican pederast and former "Big Brother" Robert McKee is expected to plead guilty to child porn charges.

Fuckwad Holding Hostages

Oh God, another domestic hostage situation. Some asshole has two hostages in Parkville.
Update: Everyone was released unharmed. Phew!

A judge sent Mark Castillo to a psychiatric hospital yesterday.

Bealefeld's canned the commander of the SW, following last weekend's shootathon, and is doing no tail sitting when it comes to the abysmal homicide clearance rate.

Two alleged shooters arrested, one of whom is 16.

WTF?! In PGC, an 8-month-old baby was shot to death!

Buz sez Eddie's has a new item: pistol whip

Stolen in the Northern: iPod, Cadillac, violin, DVDs, coins, etc.

Detoit Mayor to Plead Guilty to Two Felony Counts!!

... and The Detroit Free Press has uplive, streaming video of the whole thing!
We heart the Internets!!
(thanks for the heads-up J!)
... CNN has a better connection.

September 3

"4 killed in 15 weekend shootings in the city" and two more shootings reported last night.

The Ink adds two new names to the toll.

A suspect is at large after robbing a Rite Aid on Security Blvd. and kidnapping an employee.

The Court of appeals has ruled that a prison inmate’s confession to investigators that he molested a child can’t be used against him.

Another "Stop Fucking Snitching" figure is about to get some time. "Tremain Arrnel Tazewell admitted in federal court Tuesday that he worked with a conspirator who bought heroin in New York" (the headline is deceiving, Tazewell faces a max of 20 years but has not been sentenced yet).

New school year, new efforts to increase the peace. (Doesn't Exhibit A have the best covers?!)
And, on John Watch, a fresh hooker 'round the elementary school!

Bail bondsman Valdez V. Fisher Jr.: "an arrestee’s access to freedom is far too immediate and convenient."

Media Blabber: CP on the Sun-related blogs.
Lynn Anderson left journalism and moved to France!

What the?!: Two brothers who ran a Philadelphia funeral home have pleaded guilty to selling corpses to a company that trafficked in stolen body parts, including Alistair Cooke's!
(Insert "Master's Pieces Theatre" joke here)

# 147, # 148

Reports the Sun's Sara Neufeld: Reginald Carter Jr., 20, 400 block of S. Longwood St. at 9:10 p.m last night; unidentified teenager, shot in the chest in the 200 block of S. Woodington Road.
-- correction, this is the same as #146.

What the?! "A Baltimore judge has awarded $275,000 to a Hampden tow truck driver who, after complaining about the wait at the city’s impound lot, was badly beaten by the lot attendant."

In Dundalk, a house burgled, the resident murdered, and the teenage co-defendant is out of jail.

Ew. Former Maryland state delegate Robert A. McKee was charged with possessing child pornography and reportedly will plead guilty.

Did you know? Target has its own crime lab!

A break -in and violation of a protective order in the 4500 block of Keswick, a BB-gun shooting at Robert Poole middle school (mascot, the Fightin' Busbeaters) and a pickpocketed gal at the ESPN Zone in the Blotter.

County detention center all finished... but the lawsuits are just getting started.

Hey, the Court of Appeals has three VJJs now!

Lori Responds!

"Thanks for your interest in my whereabouts. b was a freelance gig and responsibilities at my real job have pulled me away from it. My posts linked to all sources. I can't speak on their transition to print, as in this position, I was strictly a blogger and not a one-woman publishing house.Also, nothing's been removed from the archive http://www.bthesite.com/archives/author/loribarrett/."

A milli!

We reached a million hits sometime this morning! That's kind of a lot
(For a little blog like this, anyway!)

Labor Day

As you enjoy your days off (well, most of you):

A man in his early 20s was fatally shot in the safe and friendly neighborhood of Irvington, making him number 146. Even with the offense, it is worth noting the dramatic dip in homicides in the city, which is exactly what the Examiner did.

Brandon Barfield, a 20-year-old little dear, was arrested for multiple robberies in northeast Baltimore yesterday.

The Blotter for Monday features a shooting, a robbery, and a homicide as an addendum to random nonfatal offenses ...

MD Dept. Juvenile Justice = Huge Mess

Jaw-dropper of the week: "Dwayne Price had been arrested 11 times and had run away from state custody at least once. Yet at the age of 18, the state's juvenile justice system gave him one final chance at rehabilitation." Less than a month later, he'd raped an 88-year-old woman, "the second time Price had raped an elderly woman while supposedly under state supervision." ... and it just goes downhill from there.

Sun blogger Peter Hermann writes about murder victim Tyisha M. Brown. Employs sentence fragments. For drama. Like Rodricks. Likes to.

Bealefeld attributes the record-low homicide rate to "a focus on locking up repeat violent offenders," Dixon's office also credits a city health department mediation program.

Har! Raven/genius Derrick Martin was suspended a game and fined after taking his pot to the airport.

MD news:
In QAC, an 18-year-old is charged with hitting an 11-year-old and a 15-year-old with her car (on purpose)

Hyattsville's Wendy Garcia, age 25, got three years in jail for lying to protect members of the Gang that Saves Trout. Also facing the business end of the long Rod of the law: a bank robber, a gun possessor and a guy who defrauded the Small Business Administration.

Looks Gangsta but Isn't Dept:
Converse pulls "gangsta" shoes

Dr. Dre's son was found dead, cause undetermined

# 145

An unidentified man was found shot to death this morning in East Baltimore in the 900 block of Valley Street. No suspects, no motive.

... and the owner of car-repair shop Joe's Garage shot a would-be robber to death. No word on if the owner will face charges.

Murder suspect Demetrius Smith was let out on $350k bail after being arrested for shooting a witness execution-style in the head, then was arrested for shooting a man during a robbery. Page Croyder's got some choice words for Judge Braverman.

Drugs in the film industry? Get outta here!

Speaking of the CP, this is the last day to vote for BOBs.

Brandon Grimes Guilty of 1st-Degree Murder

From the SA's Office:

A Baltimore City jury convicted Brandon Grimes, 23, of the 800 block of Cator Ave. today of first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and wear/carry/transport a handgun. The two-week trial ended yesterday and the jury deliberated approximately four hours over two days before reaching its verdict.

Judge Timothy J. Doory ordered a pre-sentence investigation be completed and scheduled sentencing for October 21, 2008.

In the early morning hours of January 9, 2007 Brandon Grimes fatally shot Baltimore Police Detective Troy Lamont Chesley, Sr. in the 4500 block of Fairfax Rd. as Chesley was returning home from his shift.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Wiggins of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

More from the Sun's crime blog and Melissa Harris.

A 22-year-old man was shot to death on the West side.

The death of Ankush Gupta, found in the Harbor, is considered "suspicious."

Officer Tommy Sanders III pleaded not guilty this morning in the death of Edward Lamont Hunt.

What the?! A stadium employee was kidnapped!

Don't miss Page Croyder's blog at the Center for Emerging Media.

13 Shootings This Week

... mapped by Spotcrime.

And girl-on-girl robbery action on St. Paul Street.

Correction: Jayne Miller is Not a Biter

Van Smith of the CP tells us that Jayne has been on the Tillman tip for a while. Unlike Lori Barrett, she is not a biter. We hear she's also quit smoking! Yay Jayne!
BCrime regrets the error.

ps., right before the CP's article appeared, Lori Barrett went "on vacation" and hasn't been heard from since.

"Die Bitch Die"

Yike, Baltimore John Watch reports that a working girl was attacked by a tall, skinny man with "calcium deposits" on his face.

Media Blabber

WBAL= total biters!
Not long after the City Paper published court documents re. the Tillman raids, the NBC affiliate is patting itself on the back for "obtaining" them.
I guess clicking on a .pdf is strenuous if you smoke as much as Jayne Miller does!
Here's much more on the Tillman antics from the News Hole.

Also a biter: Lori Barrett of "b"

Don't miss CP's story from last week on the Sun's miseries.

Will Brandon Grimes go free again? "A city crime lab employee left his own DNA on the pistol police say Brandon Grimes used to kill an off-duty Baltimore police officer, according to testimony during Grimes' murder trial this morning." And also, ew.

In Rockville, "Ex-Teacher Charged With Giving Students Cocaine"!
It's a hell of a drug!

The new "Baltimore Crime Beat" column is on the arrest in the 1986 murder of wino Charlie Neeper

A guy who had his azz beat by county police after they accused him of stealing his own car is suing for $850k

Baltimore City Councilwoman Rochelle “Rikki” Spector (5th District) got a lucky break when the officer who issued her that disappearing traffic ticket somehow never got a summons.

Busy-handed octogenarian urologist survives plane crash, gets busted with doobage

Afternoon...

A 16 year old boy suffered from a nonfatal offense when he was shot last night in Northeast Baltimore.

Who will test the testers? Apparently the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board will.

In a twist of irony beyond hilarity, Anthony P. Wallnofer wrote the rule he's accused of allegedly breaking. You'd figure he'd have been smart enough to draft a loophole...

Daily Blotter, where it notes $30 worth of soft drinks stolen in Pikesville. What, tap water wasn't good enough for you?

Anna Ditkoff tracks the murders in Baltimore as few others can do, noting two from this past week in the process.

#142

Ink: former professional boxer Eddie VanKirk, 45, was shot by a crackhead on November 19 of last year and died on June 22 of this year; his death has been ruled a homicide.

Grand jury: "bupe" safe, effective

State police: let's just throw out that ACLU lawsuit, shall we?

Harley David, son of a bitch*!
*anyone who gets that reference gets major points!

Fan-freaking-tastic: Issues at the BPD crime lab may be a factor in the case of little dear Brandon Grimes.

Crooked government officials working in Baltimore? Kind sir, surely you jest!

Holy Pasta Fagioli! 5,000 gallons of Olive Oil spilled into the harbor and had to be cleaned up last night.

"Would you like my wallet to go with that pepperoni?"

And our daily crime blotter tells us what it is to be malicious, criminal, and male...

This Kitten Has Claws

Miss Washington County was arrested for breaking into her ex's home and punching his new girlfriend.
(thanks again J!)

August 25, 2008

Albert Edward Driscoll III was shot to death on a boat in Sparrow's Point. Mysterious!

A man and a woman shot in the NW

A follow-up on the six-year-old who was shot on Saturday.

Tragic: Lt. Gov. Brown's cousin was shot to death on Saturday by her crazed ex-boyfriend.

News of the hilarious: North Jersey ninjas take on drug dealers, end up in pokey
(thanks J!)

LOLZ!

BJW is putting the "fun" in "funky corner hookups"!

A six-year-old was wounded by a stray bullet in the NE.

In PGC, a 12-year-old was killed by teenagers playing with a shotgun.

Oh, that Judge Motz, once again making an example of a man condemned from birth to join the Bloods and firebomb houses. Everybody just wants to pick on poor Terrence!

Child killer Mark Castillo: I did it and I'm not crazy

Snoop says she never got the summons to appear as a murder witness.

Look Who's Blogging Too

Gus G. Sentementes on the happenings at the Sun

Look Who's Blogging Now

The Sun has a new crime blog. Their blogger's previous experience is most apt-- covering the Middle East!
Fill in the blank: the main difference between the Middle East in Baltimore and the one where the ferners live is______

August 22

Two shootings last night, one of them killed a 28-year-old man.
The past week's 11 shootings mapped by Spotcrime.

The woman found strangled in Herring Run Park was id'd: "Kiuna Jackson, 19, of the 1300 block of Windemere Ave. in the Ednor Gardens-Lakeside community had no criminal record or associations with criminals."

"Snoop" was "arrested on minor drug charges yesterday after police picked her up for refusing to cooperate as a witness in a murder trial, records show." Her bail review will be at 11 a.m. today at Central Booking.

Issues with crime lab contamination "sure to arise in court"

Docs: Fractured Hyoid Bad for Health

City health officials are holding an emergency meeting Friday to discuss the slayings of prostitutes as a public health issue.
Janis reports that 26 women linked to prostitution have been murdered since 1997. Only six of those cases have been closed by arrest. Since April, five prostitutes have been strangled to death.
The latest victim, still unidentified, was found in Herring Run Park six days ago.

Murder #141

Eric Brown, 20, shot last night.

The little darling who was the cameraman for the "Stop Snitching" video is off to the clink. But he had a bright future!

Brandon Grimes was connected to the gun used to kill Detective Troy Lamont Chesley by his ex-girlfriend. One quote I find particularly disgusting:

Authorities say it's unlikely that Grimes approached Chesley knowing he was a police officer. Carter, now Grimes' former girlfriend, echoed that sentiment.

"I'm not saying Brandon is a saint, but I can't see him taking an officer in uniform," Carter said.

So if its a cop, he wouldn't have (allegedly) shot him, but a normal peon is fair game. Outstanding - good to know there's some degree of honor.

In Baltimore, it's no longer safe to even walk outside of your house, as proven last night when a man was shot outside his front door.

Even more little dears hard at work, according to the blotter.
According to a Vanderbilt Professor, the key to insuring safe schools is understanding. Well done article overall with a couple of gems I'd like to include here:

Blacks, particularly boys, are too often assigned to special-education classes and left out of gifted classes, Ford said, because their teachers have low expectations for them and misinterpret their behavior. Low expectations can be manifested in several ways. Most obviously it is not pushing them into advanced placement classes, and more subtly it is dumbing down language that teachers use in the classroom.

"Remind yourself to talk up to children," she said, adding that use of complex vocabulary should be standard no matter how young the children or how poor their backgrounds.

She also said that African-American students do not revere teachers as Asian-American students do and that teachers must earn their respect.

"African-Americans have an attitude that says, 'When you respect me, I will respect you,'" Ford said. When teachers seem detached or uninterested in their students, black students see that as a sign of disrespect, she said. Students who don't feel the teacher likes or respects them are then more likely to talk back and be disruptive, leading to a classroom that can be more out of control.

I'll leave the rest for your imagination. Thoughts on it?

Don't miss...

Posted yesterday but worth a bump: the CP's article collection and search warrant affadavits from Monday's Tillman raid.

That Jose Morales guy is a piece of work, even by Mobtown standards! On August 18 he was arrested in TX for trying to charter a plane for $180k worth of yayo.

August 20

"Edgar Koch, director of the Baltimore Police Department crime laboratory, was fired yesterday in part because of recently discovered contamination in the lab's DNA section."

Witness intimidation works!
"Witnesses Donta Robinson and Jamal Carter had once identified alleged cop killer Brandon Grimes as the man who carjacked them at gunpoint. But Monday both men drastically changed their stories.
'I ain’t never seen that person in my life,' Carter said."

Here's the Ink, with two murders previously unreported, including Michael Sewell, 29, and an unidentified man on Oakley Avenue.

A 1986 murder was solved by some good-old-fashioned dick work

Trial is underway for Kazeem Akinyoade Akinniyi, 26, accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend

"Agents from the FBI on Monday raided several offices connected to Milton Tillman Jr., the man with several criminal convictions who prosecutors say controls about 80 percent of Baltimore City’s bail bond market." Here's the CP article collection for the backstories as well as affadavits that list the searched premises.

Marc Mitchell, 18, and Tavon Hammond, 23, were arrested and charged in the attempted murder of another man in a shooting last week at the Northwood Shopping Plaza.

Harsh! "‘RAT’ carved in back of inmate who wore wire"

The city's got a lot of nasty sewage leaks, but don't tell the EPA

Grimes Trial to Start Tomorrow

A jury has been seated in the murder trial of Brandon Grimes. Opening statements are scheduled for 9:15 a.m. tomorrow before Judge Timothy "the stupidity is astounding" Doory, 226 Mitchell Courthouse.

Just Asking

Bykowicz's article got us (and a lot of people) thinking: Is a regional jury pool feasible? Would it be Constitutional? (How about a national jury pool, while we're at it?)

August 19

Steven T. Hollis III, 18, of Randallstown and Juan L. Flythe, 17, of West Baltimore were "held without bail yesterday in the death of a Randallstown High School student who was stabbed and stomped to death after his fellow Bloods gang members found messages on his phone that suggested he was gay."

A 17-year-old was shot on the East side.

And another shot 17-year-old has died of his injuries.

Janis reports: How parking tickets go wrong

Like, duh: colleges say the drinking age is "not working"

Morning

A 17 year old was found shot in an East Baltimore home last night. Another one, who was shot on August 7th is now dead.

To other shootings occurred during robberies in Baltimore, lending credibility to my theory that the 'safest' place to be in Baltimore is in your home with heavy security.
Jean Marbella wonders about Jessamy's Frustration over the Abell report... that would make two of us.

Linden's Liquor is out of business. But where will I get my Alizé now?

A few leaders of local colleges signed a petition to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18, which could make lives for local Residential Advisors even more hellish

Things Looking Up for Alleged Cop-Killer

Accused cop-killer Brandon Grimes' prosecution "suffered a setback Monday when a judge ruled that jurors could not hear evidence linking the defendant to a carjacking days before the homicide." More from the deuce.

County police are ISO robber/attempted murderer Jonathan Duvon Lowe, 19.

Four words that are never good together: Baseball coach, kiddie porn.

Tune in

Julie is on the Ed Norris show right now talking about the jury study and Jessamy's reaction

August 18

"The medical examiner has ruled that a woman found Friday morning in a northeast Baltimore park was the victim of homicide -- the sixth woman to die of strangulation in the city this year." The special prostitution task force was on the scene, Janis reports.
Here's all six strangulations mapped by spotcrime.

Jessamy is "furious" at an Abell foundation study that found "jurors in nearby counties are 30 times more likely than their city counterparts to convict a defendant of the most serious charge."

Two robberies, two shot victims last night.

Three teenage boys shot in the SW yesterday.

Another shooting, a cutting and a robber on a mo-ped in the Blotter.

Weekend, August 15-17 '08

No way! Yet another inmate mistakenly released last Tuesday-- though this time we didn't hear about it until he was recaptured "last night" (Friday if you go by the date on the story, Saturday if you go by when the story was published). Either way-- five or six days of someone armed and fuckacta enough to assault an officer wild on the streets, and the police don't think the public has a right to know about it? Anyone else find that just a little bit unsettling?!

Police fired shots at a suspect in the NE, but it's unclear if any bullets found human flesh.

Way to grow a pair, Baltimore city! Linden Liquors will be shut down for a year starting Monday under the recently de-loopholed nuisance law.

Judge Doory found a treatment slot for methadone mom Vernice Harris.
Speaking of methadone, the NYT says it's the "fastest growing cause of narcotic deaths" in the U.S., and MD has started giving the stuff to strung-out jailbirds in the hopes of keeping them off the horse.

Boxing coach helps kids funnel rage-- just like that guy on "The Wire"!

Turns out Clark Rockefeller's real name = Christian Gerhartsreiter

Steve Sachs needs someone to properly tailor those pants.

12 Shootings This Week

Mapped by spotcrime.

"A woman's body was found this morning under a bridge by a jogger in Herring Run Park in Northeast Baltimore, city police said."

Starved toddler's grandma: I called DSS and "They said I am probably just making it up"

A 15-year-old girl with a wacky weave, left, was arrested for two stabbing attacks that injured three people.

Sex offender Rodney Elmore Joseph was charged with the murder and rape of Chontrell Sample in Cherry Hill a year after DNA linked him to the crime.

Watch out Willie Don!! Somebody burgled a 95-year-old woman's apartment at the Charlestown retirement community.

Brent Jones and the A. Meister went to a police administrative meeting re. Linden liquors and came away with two rather different takes.

Why do people send us this stuff?!

Enquiring Minds Wanna Know

So I finally got around to filling out CP's Best of Baltimore poll.
OBviously this is the best blog*, and the metal transsexual in front of the train station is the best eyesore, but what about the rest? What did you guys pick for Best Scandal? Best TV newsperson? Best print journalist?

* Actually i think Anger Hangover is the best... but who doesn't want to go to that party?!

Life + 18 for Philip Airey Murder

From the SA's Office:

Judge John Addison Howard sentenced Michael Martin, 28, of the 200 block of Allwood Road to life plus 18 years in prison for the murder of Philip Airey. A Baltimore jury convicted Martin May 23, 2008 of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit assault and wear/carry a dangerous weapon. Judge Howard sentenced Airey to life in prison for the murder count, 15-years, consecutive, for the conspiracy count and three-years, concurrent, for the dangerous weapon count.

On June 20, 2007 Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to the scene of a car fire in a field next to an off ramp leading to West Nursery Road off of I-295. The firefighters noticed the 1993 Geo Prizm gas cap was missing, license plates were missing and the area around the car was burned. When fire officials popped the trunk they found decomposed remains of a body later identified as Philip Calvin Airey Jr., 36.

Statement of facts. Philip Airey’s mother reported him missing on June 19, 2007. She last saw her son on June 18 just before he left to meet Tracy Asbury at a local bar. According to witness statements, Airey arrived alone, ordered two drinks before Asbury showed up at the bar. The two were observed by witnesses having drinks and playing pool together for several hours before Asbury left the bar alone at midnight. Asbury was observed on her cell phone as she left the bar. Cell phone records revealed that Asbury was calling Michael Martin and Robert Speake. Airey ordered his last drink after Asbury left at 12:07 a.m. Cell phone records indicate Asbury made several cell phone calls to Airey between 12:40 and 12:42 a.m. Shortly after that time Airey arrived at the house on Pennington Avenue. According to witnesses, upon his entrance to the house, he was met with fists, kicks and punches in the living room. The fight moved into the basement where he was further assaulted and ultimately stabbed to death. Witnesses at the house at the time of the assault gave statements that they saw Michael Martin, Tracy Asbury and Robert Speake assault Airey and later saw a body wrapped in a blanket and a sleeping bag in the basement of the house. Another witness gave a statement that the next day, in the early morning, he saw Philip Airey’s Prizm in the alley and that Tracy Asbury was standing next to the vehicle and the trunk of the car was open. Witnesses gave statements that Asbury had spoken openly about an elaborate plan to assault Airey over the course of several weeks.

Speake, 19, pled guilty April 7, 2008 to second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon (knife) with intent to injure. Under terms of the plea agreement Speake was to testify truthfully in the Martin trial. Today, Judge Howard sentenced Speake to 58-years in prison, suspend all but 43-years.

Asbury, 38, pled guilty May 14, 2008 to second-degree murder and conspiracy to assault. Under terms of the plea agreement, Asbury was to testify truthfully in the Martin trial. Today, Judge Howard sentenced Asbury to 55-years in prison, suspend all but 33-years, and five-years probation.

Assistant State’s Attorney Theresa Shaffer of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

August 14

Vernon Paige, who was shot yesterday, has now died.

Okay, let me get this straight. The state's Public Defender... is calling on our State's Attorney... to review cases conducted by a former State's Attorney... that is now a Public Defender? This is a level of idiocy so high that it could only happen in Baltimore Government.
(Also see CP's "Why did Ronald Hinton's lawyers not see documents that could have exonerated their client?")

A 15 year old girl's been arrested for two stabbings last May.

Mayor Dixon swears that she is trying to crack down hard on the slayings of prostitutes that have been happening. Good to know she's working hard at something.
(Also see "Love of heroin greater than fear of danger for Baltimore sex worker" and prostitute murder map from Spotcrime)

Some would call it sad, some here would call it poetic justice: A man suspected of selling drugs on his bike was hit by a car.

We'll soon know the fate of Linden Bar and Liquors.

It wouldn't be Baltimore if a few people didn't get shot or burgled, so here's the blotter. Go go gadget nonfatal offense!

- The Cynic

Really? MD is one of the few states that specifies at what age children can be left home alone.