September 10

Javon Clark claimed yesterday that he was held hostage by his friend and forced to rob William Bassett.

Why are Baltimore County's police dogs getting sick?

September 9

A Baltimore City jury returned guilty verdicts against Antonio Williamson, 16, of Mello Court, Percy Johnson, 17, of Southeast Avenue, and Sean Howard, 17, of East Fayette Street in connection to the October 21, 2004 shooting of two teenagers in front of Thurgood Marshall High School. The jury heard testimony for two weeks and deliberated two days for reaching its verdicts. Williamson was convicted of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and second-degree assault. He faces a maximum total prison term of 25 years. Johnson was convicted of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and two handgun counts. He faces a maximum total prison term of 53-years. Howard was convicted of reckless endangerment, first-degree assault, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and two handgun counts. He faces a maximum total prison term of 58 years. Williamson, Johnson and Howard shot two teenagers on October 21, 2004 in front of Thurgood Marshall High School at 5700 Moravia Drive. The defendants remain held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 20.

The trial of Joseph DiAngelo, 51, of the 100 block of Wells Avenue, was scheduled to begin at 9:30 this morning. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted DiAngelo April 5 for first-degree assault, witness intimidation and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. Court documents allege DiAngelo hired two individuals to conduct a home invasion/assault on a witness in a pending assault case. The hired individuals entered the home armed with table legs to assault the victim/witness. The home occupants killed one of the individuals. The other individual, William Morton, is facing assault and burglary charges.

The child abuse trial of Darryll Purefoy, 34, of Liberty Road, Randallstown, was scheduled to begin this morning, but was postponed for the FOURTH time, this time because no courtrooms were available. Tthe trial date was originally set for March 8, but the defense attorney was in another trial. Then it was postponed to March 25 by State request. Then the defense requested a postponement until today. And today no courts were available. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Purefoy December 6, 2004 on more than 100 counts of sexual child abuse and related other counts. Court documents allege Purefoy had sexual contact with a minor female between the years of 1995 and 2000. At least said perv is in jail right now, but that poor victim and the witnesses must be, like, so pissed, if they haven't moved out of state by now.

So that's why my neighbor said "I gotsta get me down the bus stop"! Transit police and federal agents have made 23 arrests of people selling prescription drugs* at transit stations.

*excuse my naivete... what are they selling? Oxycontin?

September 8

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Clifton Gee, 46, of the 6700 block of Shaken Wood Road, for first-degree murder today in connection with a homicide that occurred more than 11 years ago. Court documents allege Gee stabbed to death Queen Esther Watson, 29, on May 14, 1994 in her home in the 200 block of South Bethel Street. Gee was linked to this murder by DNA testing conducted by the Baltimore City Police Lab and the Maryland State Police Lab in February 2005. He is currently being held by the Division of Correction where he is serving a five-year prison sentence in an unrelated case. An arraignment is scheduled for October 12.

Opening statements today in the case of 18-year-old Javon Clark, accused of helping murder William Bassett in the Towsontowne mall parking garage.

Police have located dozens of sex offenders who've moved to Maryland from out of state and not registered with local authorities.

Local prisons have become donation collection points for Katrina victims.

A Reston man who traveled to Frederick to meet two 14-year-old "girls" had his conviction overturned on account that the girls were cops.

Someone broke into Lt. Governor Michael Steele's Chevy Suburban and took four cell phones.

September 7

In the murder ink a shooting and Baltimore's third older black woman to be asphyxiated in her home.

The shooting death of Earl Tillman has inspired anti-police tee shirts.

A Woodlawn man stabbed his wife and cut himself.

A murder suspect, James Davis, 16, was spotted by police but evaded capture.

Momoh Abu Conteh, Treasurer to city councilwoman Paula Johnson Branch, was arrested and charged with theft, embezzling and perjury.

BoCo councilman Stephen G. Samuel Moxley got probation for driving drunk in a county-owned vehicle.

In AA County a policewoman was dragged 45 feet by a car driven by Tony Joseph Wieland of Jessup, a suspect attempting to flee. Wieland was arrested after a brief car chase.

A fuel-delivery driver is accused of stealing gas from the state highway administration.

September 5

Funding for drug treatment has fallen off by more than 10 percent in the past two years due to a decrease in federal funds and private grants. "Ehrlich has pushed for more rehabilitation in prisons and announced last month a new initiative to spur private funding of drug prevention and treatment. But his support for treatment has not been reflected in his state budgets, advocates say."

In Towson, 25-year-old Melvin Dashiel Greene was shot after a fight in a parking lot.

In Millersville, 17-year-old Kevin Michael Weingart was stabbed to death in the parking lot of Marley Station Mall. A 16-year-old was arrested and charged.

In Columbia, 20-year-old Eric McGhee was found lying face-down, beaten and stabbed to death.

In Pittsburgh, Andre Staton, 38, of Baltimore, was ordered to stand trial for murder after an 11-year-old testified watching him stab 26-year-old Beverly K. Yohn to death.

Edward Grunell Howard Jr., 38, was shot to death in Severn.

The death of an inmate at the Howard County Jail is being investigated.

Burglary, assault and a break-in at Killer Trash in the blotter.

September 2

Police are seeking Shaun Donell Joyce of Landsdowne after the shooting of Alfred Parker on Monday on Madison street.

The Cockeysville rapist caught in Oregon has now been implicated in at least six other crimes.

The state has rejected Vernon Evans Jr's claim of racial bias in his death-penalty case.

Two officers are on routine leave after shooting a robbery suspect at a hair salon on McHenry Street.

Some nutjob set fire to a marked patrol car behind police headquarters on Baltimore and Gay streets. He's now in the hospital being treated for burns.

Drunk dad Jaime Martinez passed out cold on the sidealk while taking his seven-month-old baby for a walk in Annapolis. And there were a lot of marijuana arrests.

August 31

Believe it or not, there were only two murders last week. Current toll, 184.

Montese L. Thompson, 22, is scheduled for arraignment 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning before the Honorable Wanda Keyes Heard, Courthouse East. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Thompson August 2 for first-degree murder and deadly weapon with intent to injure in connection with the beating death of Verna Brown, 35. Court documents allege that on June 28 Thompson beat Brown to death in the 1800 block of North Montford Avenue. Thompson assaulted Brown in a house and later followed her outside and beat Brown in the face with a shovel. Brown was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries on July 3.

Samuel McFarlin, 24, is scheduled for a jury trial for first-degree murder and auto theft 9:00 tomorrow morning before the Honorable John M. Glynn. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted McFarlin on February 14 for first-degree murder and auto theft. Court documents allege that on June 6, 2004 McFarlin ran over Dwight Allen Chase, 53, with a stolen automobile. On November 10, 2004, Mr. Chase died from the injuries he received at the time of incident. The Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide.

In Baldwin (BoCo) police have charged 30-year-old John Coles with the stabbing death of Alice Tremper, 34.

The Espinoza/Canela trial has ended in a hung jury. The new trial will begin March 1.

During the Christopher Travon Williams rape arraignment trial was set for November 16, Judge Shirley Watts.

The Danier Baker attempted murder trial was postponed at the request of the Defense to October 27, Judge Glynn.

The Robert Edward Pasik murder trial was postponed to September 26.

The John Leo Blankenship murder trial was postponed to September 20, Judge Wanda Keyes Heard.

The suspect accused of raping a woman in Timonium, David Mollett, was arrested in Oregon.

August 30

The three-day hunt for a fugitive near the PA border ended when the body was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head.

The jury is still deadlocked in the Epinoza/Canela trial.

A murder arrest, a robbery arrest and a lot of stolen stuff in the Blotter. Yesterday there were two shootings and an 18-year-old female stabbed in the eye with a knife.

An 82-year-old deaf man was beaten to death on Greenspring Avenue.

August 27

Police are seeking an armed fugitive who evaded capture near the PA border Thursday. Also, police seek help in solving the mysterious murder of 19-year-old Darryl Smith Jr., shot to death March 2 in Westport.

Rodman Durham got 75 years for murder, conspiracy and robbery in the April 2003 Colonel Brooks Tavern case.

A County rapist has been ID'd as one 35-year-old David Mollett, right. Police believe he's fled that state and that he was last spotted in Missouri.

A Baltimore prosecutor was forced to throw out conspiracy and gun charges yesterday against three alleged juvenile members of a gang after a missed deadline to hand over a surveillance videotape to defense attorneys.

August 26

In Manassas, the man suspected of being the Route 29 Stalker pled guilty to the minor charge of unlawful wounding and could be out of jail in a matter of months. Ladies (and gentlemen) if you are out of the road and someone who is not a cop follows you and signals you to you to pull over, 1. don't do it 2. get the hell out of there, fast and 3. write down the vehicle's license plate number, okay?

Albert G. Antonelli of Queenstown became the luckiest cop-killer in the world when he got just three years for auto manslaughter for a hit-and-run on Route 50 that killed extremely hot officer Duke G. Aaron III, left, last July 20. Especially considering "police found a small bag of cocaine, trace amounts of marijuana, six syringes and the prescription drug Suboxone" in Antonelli's truck.

James William Fling kidnapped a woman in Arbutus, tied up traffic by the airport and eventually was pepper-sprayed and arrested on Aviation Boulevard.

Stop Snitchin t-shirts are becoming Baltimore's calling card to the world.

Snockered White People Dept.:
More on the meth raid in Severna Park that resulted in the arrest of alledged lab operator Brian Kauffmann, 33.

Dan Rodericks' drama amp goes to 11, but this is nevertheless a touching column about the heroin-overdose death of Ralph "Casey" Kloetzli.

The Iguana Cantina, down in the Lomard St. Marketplace area, is in agua caliente after some kids from Howard County did some underage drinking on the premesis.

August 25

Nineteen members of MS-13 were indicted on federal racketeering charges in Greenbelt.

"Specific acts of violence charged in the indictment include six murders and six attempted murders in Maryland, as follows: the April 20, 2003 beating and murder in Langley Park of rival gang member Noel Gudiel; the June 10, 2003 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a rival gang outside of High Point High School in Beltsville; the November 22, 2003 stabbing and death of Eliuth Madrigal in Silver Spring; the November 22, 2003 shooting death of gang member Randy Calderon in Mount Ranier; the May 21, 2004 beating and murder of Ashley Antonio Urias at the Washington National Cemetery in Suitland; the September 17, 2004 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a rival gang outside of a nightclub in Langley Park; the October 25, 2004 kidnapping in Adelphi of two juvenile females, resulting in the murder of one and attempted murder of the other; the March 26, 2005 drive-by shooting in Hyattsville resulting in the death of a juvenile male; the June 8, 2005 attempted murder of a high school student outside his home in Langley Park; and the June 14, 2005 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a rival gang and his friend in Silver Spring."

A 15-year-old shot to death in Severn, Keisha Shardae Lane, was a runaway from Hagerstown.

The murder trial of Terrence Wynn, 21, and Christopher Minor, 21, iis scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge John M. Glynn. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Wynn and Minor September 23, 2004 for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Court documents allege that on August 30, 2004 Wynn and Minor shot to death Marshall Giles, 15, inside a home in the 3200 block of Lyndale Avenue.

At the juvenile transfer hearing of Percy Johnson, 17, Sean Howard, 17, and Antonio Williamson, 16, the boys were ordered to remain in the adult system. Court documents allege the defendants shot two teenagers on October 21, 2004 in front of Thurgood Marshall High School.

Jurors deliberating on the E/C murder trial claim to be hung.

Here's the link to the New York Times story about Leonard Hamm's heroin-addicted stepdaughter, Nicole Sesker. Also interesting details about the police's public relations campaign to get people to "change their lifestyles." (And how Smalltimore that Cummings and Hamm live next door to each other and they both went to City College with Schmoke)

Are O'Malley and the gov's ideas of tracking sex offenders too out there?

In Timonium, Baltimore county, another report of a big black rapist.

In Elkton, the man charged with starving the mother of his children to death has asked for a change for venue from Cecil County.

Gilbert Sapperstein, owner of a boiler business and a liquor license broker, got 18 months in jail for trying to steal more than $3.3 million from the school system in a 12-year scheme. And in Stevenson, 40-year-old Daniel Llewellyn of Towson pled guilty to stealing more than $55, 000 from the Odyssey School (which serves dyslexic children).

The DOJ has reports of some recent coke and meth arrests in Annapolis and Severna Park, respectively.

Dirty bird dept: pugalistic pitcher Sydney Ponson was arrested on 95 for a traffic violation, DUI and DWI.

August 24

A shooting victim in the Northwest was identified as Derrell Mark Stanley, 46, a ticket scalper. There was also a on-fatal shooting on the 5500 block of the Alameda.

A man was shot dead late Saturday night/early Sunday morning near Patterson Park. Source' on the Sun News Talk says that the victim was a white man named Richard Boroughs and one indivdual reports:

... just got back from visiting the parents of the young man. He said it happened around 3:00a.m. around Eastern Ave & Patterson park ... From talking to the girl who was assaulted here is what he told me: Around 3am his son was taking a shower when three black men in ski masks broke in through the back door. His girlfriend was then pistol whipped and basically beaten the **** out of her. She was on the floor trying to cover her face with a blanket as they repeatedly kicked her about the head and face. My neighbor's son came out of the shower and they proceeded to shoot him in the face 3-4 times. What, was taken, I don't know. I'm sure there is more to it.

I talked to Officer Troy Harris with Public Affairs, who confirmed that the victim's name was Richard Paul Boroughs, a white man age 25, born June 14 1980. He was pronounced dead at Hopkins shock trauma at 3:52 a.m. Said Harris, "he was in the house with his girlfriend and in ths shower, three black males entered the home, beat her, asked her where the money was, then they went into the bathroom and shot the victim multiple times. That's all we have right now."

Note to the people who are outraged that there's no coverage of it in the Sun: I'm outraged also about the lack of coverage of murder and violence in general, that's why I do this job (that and to avoid my other job). But have you heard anything about any of this week's other murder victims other than in the ink either? Did you hear anything about 20-year-old Tavon Granger? There's no conspiracy-- that's just how common and unremarkable murder and death is in our and so many other American cities.

The juvenile transfer hearing of Percy Johnson, 17, and Sean Howard, 17, is scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge John M. Glynn. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Antonio Williamson, 16, November 12, 2004, Johnson November 22, 2004 and Howard December 1, 2004 with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and handgun violations. Court documents allege the defendants shot two teenagers on October 21, 2004 in front of Thurgood Marshall High School at 5700 Moravia Drive. A juvenile transfer hearing motion has been heard and denied for Williamson. A trial date will be scheduled once the transfer hearing motions for Johnson and Howard are heard. All three defendants are currently being held on a no bail status at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Nine years later no one knows who killed Johns Hopkins graduate student Alicia Showalter Reynolds, but police believe it was part of a string of attacks on women by the so-called Route 29 Stalker, who may or may not be 37-year-old Darrell D. Rice.

It's day seven of deliberations in the Espinoza/Canela trial. The AP reports that these jurors are asking a lot of questions.

Andre Staton was arraigned Tuesday. He is accused of stabbing 26-year-old Beverly Yohn to death in Pennsylvania, and was arrested 18 months ago after fleeing to Baltimore and standing off with city and federal authorities.

Last Saturday cops found a collection of 69 "strange" guns, including an Uzi, MAC-10 and big game rifle, from the home and garage of Anthony Felicetti. (Thanks Jay. Is Delwood down in the area the realtors call "West Virginia?").

Police Commish Leonard Hamm revealed that his daughter is a drug addict.

August 23

Jurors in the Epinzoa/Canela trial were reprimanded for not participating in deliberations.

In the trial of Javon Clark and John Kennedy, Clark tried to put the blame on his younger co-defendant for the shooting of St. Paul's dean William Bassett at the Towsontown Mall.

A bail hearing will be held this afternoon for the third defendant in the Smoot murder case.

John William Smith, 40, is scheduled for arraignment 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Wanda K. Heard in connection to a stabbing at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church on June 18. Smith was indicted by the Baltimore City Grand Jury on July 25 for first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and weapons counts. Court documents allege Smith stabbed Rodney Dickerson, 42, once in the chest. Smith and Dickerson allegedly began arguing in the church's dining area while eating dinner. Police arrested John William Smith on July 1.

Murder arrests, a gunman on the loose and a thirty-year sentence for home invasion in the Sun's Metro digest.

Stolen cell phones and cash in the blotter.

August 22

A Howard County District Court judge set bail for alledged Smoot murders James Hatcher and Nathan Colbert this morning at $100,000.

August 19

A man was arrested in the body-in-the-safe case.

On Tuesday the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted former correctional officers Dameon Christopher Woods, 33, of Baltimore County, Nathan Delmont Colbert, 42, of North Loudon Avenue and Leonard Hatcher, 43, of Thomas Avenue, for second-degree murder in connection to the beating death of Raymond K. Smoot, 51. Second-degree murder carries a maximum possible prison term of thirty years. Smoot was in custody in his cell May 14 at the Central Booking and Intake Facility. Colbert and Hatcher were arrested today and are in custody. There is a warrant issued for Woods' arrest. At the time of the indictment, arrest warrants were issued. A bail review will be scheduled for next week in Baltimore City Circuit Court. An arraignment will be scheduled at a later date.

Shane Burton, 20, of North Clinton Street, Ronald Sturgiss, 21, of Parkton and Dominic Warren, 21, of Parson Avenue were scheduled for arraignment at 9:30 this morning. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted all three men for first-degree murder and conspiracy to first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Jerry Evans. If convicted, the maximum sentence the defendants could face is life in prison. Court documents allege that on June 16 police officers responded to the 1100 block of McAleer Court for a shooting. Evans was later pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The defendants were identified through eyewitness accounts.

Crazy shit in the countryside dept.: Sixty-seven year-old Ralph Manna was convicted of trying to solicit the murders of his ex-wife and his own son from jail (Myersville is out west between Frederick and Hagerstown). There's a big black rapist on the loose in Hebbville. And in Elkton, Kathleen Zeman was acquitted after being accused of starving her boyfriend's wife to death.

The CP covers Bmore's surveillance cameras, and the murder ink includes some gruesome tales.

Maryland is the second stop in sniper John Muhammad's four-state court tour.

August 17

At a hearing today, Bradford Mulcahy, 25, of Towson, pled guilty to automobile manslaughter before Judge Lynn Stewart. Under terms of the plea agreement announced in open court, Mulcahy will receive four-years in prison when formally sentenced October 12. On February 15, 2005 Baltimore City Police observed Bradford Mulcahy engaged in a possible narcotics violation and attempted to pull his vehicle over to investigate. Mulcahy failed to stop and proceeded the wrong way in the 1500 block of West Baltimore Street where he struck and killed a pedestrian, Stephen Cage, 46. Mulcahy crashed into a building in the 1200 block of West Baltimore Street and was apprehended after a brief foot chase.

A peek behind the petticoats of Baltimore's liquor license trade.

Suprise to no one Dept.: in Cumberland a guy the neighborhood kids called Mr. Tickles has been arrested for trying to abduct and eight-year-old.

August 15

Two men in their early 20's were fatally shot in separate incidents in South Baltimore and Edmonson Village.

Closing arguements went down today in the Espinoza/Canela trial, and the jury has begun deliberations.

A 17-year-old Marcus Bradford of Bowie has been charged as an adult in connection with a shooting the buttocks of a 21-year-old student on campus at the University of Maryland.

In Salisbury six-month old hit-and-run victim Briana Braxton died, and both her father Brian and her mother are under arrest.

Robert Manger of South Baltimore got 15 years for child sexual abuse.

A former Jessup corrections officer, Rasheem Jamal Robinson, is under arrest for dealing coke.

Two attempted-murder arrests, a stabbing and lots of stealing in the blotter.

Maryland's juvenile offenders may be sent to Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Trial starts tomorrow for Patrick Walsh, accused ringleader and cheeky monkey in the Charles County arson case.

August 14

Frank McCreary of Crofton and Carmelo Vizzi of Perry Hall got one and two years for bribery. McCreary was a Realty Specialist with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Baltimore who steered property repair contracts to Vizzi in exchange for kickbacks of $250 to $600 per contract.

"Hello, Finksburg police? Rascals have purloined my latex gloves and back issues of Black Inches from my Ford Probe!"

Escaped convict Eric Curley was captured in Camden, Delaware.

Ed Norris gave an interview to JZ.

Teenagers buying drugs were stabbed at Laurel Mall.

The Mid-Atlantic Cold Case Homicide Investigators Association held its first convention in Annapolis.

August 12

Today the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Euerildo Vasquez, 27, of Belair Road in connection with the kidnapping of a two-year old boy. Court documents allege that Vasquez took the boy from the El Salvadore Restaurant located at 207 South Broadway, hailed a cab, and forced the child inside. The taxi driver became suspicious and signaled two Baltimore City police officers that were in the area. They arrested Vasquez and the boy was retuned to his parents in the restaurant. Vasquez is currently being held on $500,000 bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

James Smith and Jason Mack will get a new attempted-robbery trial because the defense was not allowed to present evidence to the jury proving that some white people can't tell one black guy from another.

Willies Dept.
The body of 37-year-old Robin Hoey was found in a safe in a South Baltimore business, and there's a "person of interest" being sought in the case. "The owner of Safes and Security Systems on Lorena Avenue called police Tuesday evening after he noticed a strange smell and found a pool of blood."

Richard E. Kyle, a public school teacher in Frederick, was found guilty of second-degree assault for kissing and touching a 17-year-old who was one of his daughter's friends.

An arrest in the shooting of Sharrice Cabbagestalk, six stolen crabs, domestic assault etc. in the blotter.

Reports of an escape attempt at Jessup on Wednesday that was thwarted. And in OC the manhunt continues for an escaped prisoner, 34-year-old Eric Curley.

What is with these hit-and-run drivers? In Salisbury a man fled the scene of a two-car crash where his six-month old child and his babymomma were injured.

Speaking of crappy fathers, Maryland's 12 days of child support amnesty ends tomorrow.

August 11

I'm glad to hear that the hit-and-run killer of 11-year-old Damon Jackson Jr. has turned herself in.

In Baltimore, local police helped tarheels get their man. Jesus Rios, 24, was arrested for a murder three years ago in Charlotte, NC. He was on Charlotte's 10 most wanted list but he's now awaiting extradition.

The defense rested in the Espinoza/Canela trial.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Steven Richie Craft, 39, for the attempted first-degree murder of Baltimore City Police Officer Edward Mendez via striking him with a stolen vehicle. Craft was also indicted for first-degree and second-degree assault and car theft. Court documents allege that on July 16 Officer Mendez Edwards approached the stolen 2005 Toyota Camry at a gas station when Craft put the vehicle in reverse and at a high rate of speed struck Officer Mendez, sending the officer into the air. The officer was transported to Shock Trauma due to head, back, and shoulder injuries. Craft was later arrested on July 17.Craft is being held at the Detention Center on a no bail status. An arraignment is scheduled for September 11 before Judge Lynn Stewart.

In the always-saucy Hometown Annapolis beat, some loud-partying women, some crack, attempted murder and a jailbreak.