Not guilty

A not guilty for William Howell in the killing of Tarrence Regan, the case with ties to the slaying of Ken Harris. New details on motions to suppress DNA that lead to Charles McGaney's arrest for killing the councilman.

A man found shot in the 5600 Block of Pilgrim Road has been Identified as Dewayne Holmes, 22.

Maybe he was scared of losing his pension: A Baltimore City Detective is accused of embezzling $10,000 while part of a Federal task force.

One angry man: A Juror has his day in court to explain why he didn't show up.

The Princess and the Peeved: Mayor Blake's Budget incurs the ire of the Commissioner, leader of FOP, and State's Attorney. The Sun offers its view as well.

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Unid'd man, 5600 block of Pilgrim Road

Black Guerilla Family Associate Sentenced to 5 years in Federal prison.

One time truck driver Nelson Arthur Robinson given a 5 year sentence without parole by Judge Quarles of the MD USDOJ.


More information on Nelson Robinson, at City Paper

Administrative judge to legislature: city doesn't have $ or space for more judges

The Ink on last week's six homicides, noting that two were in Charles Village

Van Smith on the IRS's investigations into online gambling

More on the indictment of bail-bond icon Milton Tillman and his son

LOLz

"Relatives of the man who police say was killed by officers after he shot them ... were offended that the city's police commissioner called him an idiot. ... 'If I could meet the commissioner I'd punch him in the mouth,' said Miller's 80-year-old grandmother, Daisy Dawson. 'And I don't care where they'd lock me up. I'd leave my fist inside his mouth.' "

"Police stood by the statement."
...predictably the story and quote generated a lot of outrage

Homicide last night on Grogan Ave.

Stop of a gold Corvette led to guns, drugs, hollow-point bullets and a World War II grenade

and Justin Fenton Tweets, "Police investigating armed robbery on Towson campus - men armed with crow bar, handgun forced way in to dorm room at 3:30 p.m. today" .. more from the Towerlight

Deputy Major

SRB transition teams called the BPD "top heavy" and recommends eliminating the rank of deputy major, an at will position created by PC Clark and O'Malley to eliminate those pesky civil service captains.

Baltimore hates babies

Pregnant woman shot in the throat in West Baltimore

It takes a special person to be a foster parent, having to give a baby back to the relatives. I know foster care is expensive and all, but shouldn't there be zero tolerance for some things?

Bloody weekend

Last count was 8 shooting incidents...

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Carlos Williams, a 50-year-old man on his way to work, shot and killed during robbery attempt at 6 this morning.

Two officers shot

during a traffic stop. Said Bealefeld, "People get cheesed off when I call these guys with guns on our streets idiots and say I shouldn't call them that ... There aren't words harsh enough for me to call them."
One officer was shot in the face.

A man shot "multiple times" at 519 Scott Street, word is it's "drug related" a "domestic dispute"

Barricade

A man had holed up in a row home on Fayette Street after assaulting his girlfriend.

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Twenty-five-year-old man out for a "nighttime stroll" killed in the 3200 block of Belair Road

Wooder dey smewkin?!
"Judge, Lawyer 'Surprised' By Interest In Marriage Case: Judge Says Case Not A Big Deal" ... Judge G. Darrell Russell Jr. tells courtroom that CNN "must be desperate for news" to cover it.
Well, sure, but that's no excuse! More on the case from the Sun

"Congrats" Kwauntre Javar Crudup, Baltimore's new youngest murder suspect at 14, charged with killing Kenly Oscar Wheeler on March 3rd and taking his cell phone.

Cops versus prosecutors, Round 12

Peter Hermann takes a look at the brewing war between cops and prosecutors...FOP to the Jessamy "(you) had better learn to make friends with...criminals.

First-degree?

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Torrez Seymore, 22, of the 4200 block of Ethland Avenue for first-degree murder. First-degree or self-defense... what do you think? The facts of the case:

Court documents allege that on May 28, 2009 Torrez Seymore was responsible for a shooting in the 400 block of W. Lombard Street. Milton Stepney, 22, suffered several gunshot wounds to the body. An investigation revealed Stepney allegedly became involved in a verbal altercation with Seymore after leaving a carryout on S. Eutaw Street. Stepney was then allegedly observed going to the trunk of a vehicle and retrieving a tire iron while still engaged in the verbal altercation with Seymore. The brother of Seymore allegedly attempted to diffuse the argument by pushing Seymore away from Stepney. Stepney began to walk towards his vehicle, but then turned back and announced a robbery, still holding the tire iron. It was at this time Seymore allegedly shot Stepney multiple times. Stepney died at University of Maryland Shock Trauma.

Busy night

Five shootings and a stabbing, including a gun fight at Uzo's bar.

Plus Van Smith on the indictment of Tillman

Tillman indicted

Feds say he collected pay for a no-show job while in Brazli

Oversights and loopholes

Hopkins security officer Daniel Dixon fatally shot during a gas station robbery

Sun: Making oversight law retroactive could have saved Rajahnthon Haynie

DNA-testing backlog clogs up the system

Frederick Allen Christian of the city charged with killing his "girlfriend" in Virginia

Hermann: it's not just the city but the whole state that's effed

Free live entertainment!
City council to take up the issue of the mysterious Baltimore City Foundation tonight at 5

... and March 25 (Thursday after next) author Antero Pietila will be in the Pratt's Poe Room to talk about his book Not in My Neighborhood: How Bigotry Shaped a Great American City

Inner Harbor, cop in Central Booking

Police make arrest in Inner Harbor stabbing, meanwhile the Sun's Tricia Bishop reports a city cop spent the night in jail for failing to appear as a witness at a gun possession trial.

School police, gangs

School police officer facing termination after gang encouter in Carver High School gym speaks out about his ordeal.

Intersting article byPeter Herman on the death of alleged gang member and his run-ins with police.

Downtown stabbing

Man stabbed in the chest downtown.

Bank robbery action photo

Police are looking for this man.

ME rules on baby's death

It's officially a homicide. Police are now questioning the mother.

BPD reports that the mom is one Lakesha Haynie, F/B/1981, the infant's name is Rajahnthon Haynie. -- MJB

Warrant issue

The SA's office has pulled the detective investigating the downtown murder of a secuity guard off the case, looks like the detective didn't get the okay to arrrest one of the suspects.

Dead baby

Police found a dead baby stuffed in bag in Druid Hill Park

29, 30? 31?

Alleged high-ranking Young Gorilla shot to death in Charles Village yesterday, 2602 N Calvert St.
Also last night, a serious stabbing at 4409 Maine Ave.

...and early this morning, a suspiciously-dead person found at a gas station at the intersection of West Mulberry and North Greene streets

Congratulations, Desmond "Dazy" Sims, Baltimore's youngest murder suspect so far this year. Dazy is accused of killing 19-year-old Jeffrey Ward to impress the Bloods.

One Anthony Wiggins backed out of a plea deal but admitted guilt, a move that could earn him extra years on his sentence

Mr. Sifrit wants a divorce

Good news, bad news: ex-cop Percel O. Alston is running against Vallario. Bad news, can't find this Alston anywhere on the web, which doesn't bode well for his campaigning or fund-raising efforts.

WTF?! "A Maryland senator and delegate are the targets of a flier that attacks them as "'bagel brain Jews'"

Child Neglect Bill Vote Today in House

Our favorite Delegate Jill Carter reports that the House is scheduled to vote today on HB 962, which would make child neglect a felony:

"We will vote on this today in the same amended form we passed in 2008. I believe the Senate killed the 2008 bill that passed our committee and the House."

... MD is the only state that doesn't currently consider child neglect a felony.
Critics say the bill will make family members less likely to report neglect. Jessamy's office opposes the bill. Julie Drake told the CP's Erin Sullivan, "So you're saying that rather than provide substance-abuse treatment to the parent, you want the parent to sit in jail."

.. maybe we could compromise and say jail is the substance-abuse treatment?

UPDATE: Reports Carter, "Bill was held."

Secret payout

The BDP did somebody wrong, but how much taxpayers have to fork over to make good is a total freakin' secret.

Sanctuary! Sanctuary!

Will 2,500 of Baltimore's 42,000 (!!!) wanted fugitives voluntarily turn themselves in at "Safe Surrender" in June?

Fun fact! For about 1,000 years, English law prohibited arresting someone in a church .. but apparently there's no such law in the American books.

BWW to face DP?

Prosecutors say Karla Porter could face the death penalty.. though it doesn't sound like her case would meet the new legal requirements, unless there's a videotaped confession we don't know about (and contract killings are eligible).
Porter's lawyers say her representation will include "at the very least a battered-spouse syndrome defense."
Don't miss those mugshots.

Double shooting

Double shooting in Southeast

[Fenton's got a photo, and tweets that unconfirmed reports are that one victim is 13 years old - MJB]

Speedbumps on the white line highway

The guy who tried to bring 13 pounds of coca into Baltimore on a chartered jet got almost 22 years in the big house

... yet Shawn Green, a fugitive convicted of conspiracy to distribute 330 pounds of the same and also implicated in a mortgage-fraud scheme, got 12 years. It pays to plead guilty!

Sex-related robberies?

Feb 4's victim was apparently an Internet pimp, and "Police are exploring reports that two women might have been involved in sex-related robberies in North Baltimore."

Legislation would make a few more cases death-penalty eligible . Also in A-town, debate on the booze tax

Lots on interesting stuff in the Crime beat blog today.. most upsetting is this tale of revolving-door justice that let an killer out again and again

Dixon's fur coats, camera and Xbox are for sale on ebay today

the daily dismal

Last week's four murders in the Ink

Mexican murdered in Cockeysville

An arrest in the murder of security guard James Ball

And an arrest in the South Baltimore pub-crawl stabbing

City police mad at school police for not reporting 8-year-old with gun

Seriously? The CP reports that Maryland is the only state in the nation without a criminal child-neglect law. Bills 962 and 757 would change that, but child advocates say the legislation is flawed.

Twin-brother burglars arrested

"Dwyer undeterred still on Gansler impeachment effort"

A change to MD's child-support guidelines

and now a batshit white woman

How about the Lifetime drama of this tale: buttleggin' Karla Porter, who allegedly enlisted her quinquagenarian siblings, a nephew and some random guys to help kill her husband, blamed the murder on a "black male," got found out when she tried to pay a witness to leave town, showed up at the victim's funeral with plagiarized poetry and wildflower-seed bookmarks; got arrested, pulled the "abused wife" card ... oh just read the story already.

Not guilty

Alleged Crips member Elliot Wilkes, aka "Shitty" was found not guilty of killing Gary Wills, even with seemingly compelling eye witness testimony.

Inspector General

Has just wrapped up his work on the case of sex offender who stayed on the city payroll while serving time for sexually abusing a minor.

Tort-ure

After 26 years, a settlement in special-ed lawsuit Vaughn G. et al vs. The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.

Douche du Jour

Sounds like PGC Rep. Vallario made a huge ass of himself in front of FHB III in Annapolis last week-- apparently he didn't read his own handouts. Long-time loyal readers may remember some of his other greatest hits: In 2007, he was reportedly the only guy standing the the way of a new Sex Offender Evidence Bill. In 2006 he voted against House Bill 320, which was to strengthen Witness Intimidation Reforms for women and children victims of felony sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. Wonder what they see in him down in PGC?

"Grieving widow" arrested in murder of Towson Hess station owner (at his funeral!)
.. more from the Sun.

Body found in car

Woman's body found in car on the 4900 block of Greenspring

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Fenton Tweets "The man shot last night in the 2100 block of W. Fayette St. died. The city's west side continues to be the most violent this year, easily"

Life + 35 for Roland Park Rapist

From the SAO:

At a hearing today, Judge John A. Howard sentenced Roger Len Ervin, 48, [right] of the 3100 block of Oakley Avenue to life plus 35 years in prison.

Judge Howard ordered Ervin serve a life term for first-degree rape, a consecutive 25 year term for first-degree assault and a consecutive 10 year term for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. A Baltimore jury convicted Ervin December 15, 2009 of these counts and burglary, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit burglary and sex offense counts after a three-day trial and approximately one hour of deliberation.

On August 23, 2007 Ervin broke into the victim’s Roland Park home, assaulted and raped her. He also burglarized the home and robbed the victim of personal possession while pointing a gun at her. Police recovered DNA from the victim and eventually identified Ervin with a DNA search of the Combined Offender Data Index System (CODIS) in March 2008.

The victim delivered an emotional impact statement to the court in which she relived the attack in graphic detail, noting how two of her vertebrae were cracked. She recounted the months of painful physical therapy and how to this day her range of mobility is affected. She told the court that she is no longer able to be as active with her grandchildren.

Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer McAllister of the Sex Offense Division prosecuted this case.

... and Ervin's accomplice is still unidentified and out there somewhere, as far as we know.

Fun fact! In 1983, Ervin sued the Department of Corrections for "excessive imprisonment"

Feats of Tenacity

Four are charged with attempted murder (and more, one hopes) after abducting a teenage girl at the Executive Inn, trying to extract ransom out of relatives, and torturing, shooting and stabbing her in a vacant house near Patterson Park on Sunday, then leaving her to die in a flooded basement. But she survived, escaped and named her attackers as Torrence Jerome White, 23, Adesha Richardson, 27, Keonay Hill, 20 and Morris James, 22.

A 23-year-old shot to death at Nicholas & Belair Rds.

Also, a 43-year-old man has died after being punched in the face. (Can't find a link to this story... but apparently fatal face punches are not as rare as one might think: in the past month there have been face-punching murder cases in Austrailia, Wisconsin [twice!], Idaho, and NZ)

A double shooting near the Velvet Rope club, site of a small riot last week; the club's manager says they can't be responsible for what happens after patrons leave.

The Kevin Clark case goes on and on... today it's being heard at the Court of Appeals.

The family John Yates, killed in a hit-and-run while riding his bicycle, is suing contractors Potts & Callahan for $5 m

If grain alcohol is the blackouteriffic secret ingredient in your jungle juice recipe, stock up now.

Guns in schools

A 8-year old at Leadenhall Elementary school packing heat got nabbed by an alert school adminstrator yesterday before he could carry out his threats.

Please hammer

Carrol county hammer attacker nabbed in GA.

Mayor is hospitalized

Mayor Rawlings-Blake was taken to the hospital this morning after complaining of chest pains.