Saturday, December 8, 2007

December 8

A 15-year-old girl was shot on Rutland Avenue in East Baltimore last night.

According to Friday's plea deal, if Eric Price, Arthur Jeter and Wilburt Martin, three of Zach Sowers' admitted attackers, testify against the fourth assailant, Trayvon Ramos, or if Ramos accepts a plea agreement, their sentences will be eight years, and they will not be charged with murder should Sowers die as a result of the attack.
Arthur Jeter and Wilburt Martin also pleaded guilty yesterday to another robbery two days after the Sowers attack, and Price pleaded guilty to stealing a woman's purse a day after.

Another version of events in the bus attack: Britny (yes Britny) Carter, one of the students charged, says that the incident began when students made fun of Kreager's black eye.
QTD from Britny's mom: "Britny is not a racial person."
Meanwhile, the SA's office has not ruled out requesting that a judge charge the attackers as adults. Fox45 reports that the charges would have to be upgraded to attempted murder for that to happen. Kreager, who the Sun reports was homeless, is now in the city witness protection program.

Area Methodists paid homage to the city's homicide victims yesterday.

More on crazy Mary Gates, the Carroll County woman who tried to hire someone to kill her husband and stepson.

Alleged PsDJ: William Leslie Harrison, 62, of Bel Air, who is being held on a $1 million bond on charges of sexually abusing a 14-year-old who worked for him, "on as many as 200 occasions;" "Uncle Don" of Frederick; and William Edward Wray of Cresaptown, who got 50 years.

Who will replace Judge Joe Murphy as the chief of the Court of Special Appeals, the most bad-azz judge in MD? UB prof Byron Warnken reportedly predicts James R. Eyler.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Three Plead Guilty for Attack on Zach Sowers

At a hearing today and immediately before their trials were scheduled to begin, Wilburt Martin, 19, of the 3900 block of Claremont St., Arthur Jeter, 18, of the 3700 block of E. Pratt St. and Eric Price, 17, of the 3700 block of Claremont St. pleaded guilty to robbery deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery. The attempted-murder trial of Trayvon Ramos, 16, of the unit block of N. Decker St. is scheduled to begin 9:30 a.m. Monday, December 10, 2007 before Judge John C. Themelis.

Judge Themelis told the defendants they face a maximum prison term of 70 years in prison if they fail to complete the terms of their plea agreement, including testifying against Ramos. If they abide by the terms of the agreement they face a 30-year-suspend-all-but-15-year prison term.

Ramos is charged with attempted first-degree murder, robbery and various other counts for the alleged robbery and beating of Zach Sowers on June 2, 2007. According to reports, Price and Ramos carried out the beating while Jeter and Martin waited in the car.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Sites and Angela Worthy will prosecute this case.

Life + 3 for Murder of 16-Year-Old Ronny Martin

At a hearing today, Judge John C. Themelis sentenced Anthony Dickson, 21, of the 2700 block of Yarnell Road to life in prison plus three years for first-degree murder and a handgun count. A Baltimore City jury convicted Dickson October 12, 2007. Details from the SA's office:
On January 1, 2006 at approximately 9:30 p.m. police respond[ed] to the 2600 block of Marbourne Avenue for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival police [found] the body of Ronny Martin, 16, in the rear seat of a parked car. Police recover[ed] shotgun casings at the crime scene and the Office of the Medical Examiner later rules the cause of death as a shotgun wound to the head. A witness identifie[d] Dickson as the shooter and further investigation lead police to execute a search and seizure warrant the next day at an address on Edmonson Avenue where they recover[ed] a shotgun.

A co-defendant in this case, Michael McFadden, was convicted by a city jury August 2, 2007 of second degree murder and concealing a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 33 years in prison.

Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia Banks of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

13 Years for Murder of Shaheed Boyd

At a hearing yesterday, Paul Barton, 26, of the 3200 block of Normount Ave. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Pamela White sentenced Barton to 30 years in prison, with all but 13 years suspended for the murder count, and a concurrent 20 years in prison, all but 13 years suspended, for the handgun count. The first five years are to be served without the possibility of parole. Details:
On April 29, 2006, Shaheed Boyd, of the 3100 block of Westmont Court, was shot one time and died as a result of his injuries. Witnesses were located who indicated that Paul Barton approached the victim and without provocation, shot the victim and then fled in the victim’s rental car. Assistant State’s Attorney Diana Smith of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day

Jury selection is set to begin at 2 p.m. this afternoon in 236 Mitchell Courthouse West for Eric Price, Trayvon Ramos, Arthur Jeter and Wilburt Martin, the suspects who allegedly beat Zach Sowers into a coma.

In an unusual move, the Feds will seek the death penalty against Harry Burton, 28, of the Latrobe gang of East Baltimore. Burton is charged in the murder of Maurice "Smokey" Ireland, the attempted murder of Gary Creek on January 27, 2003 the murder of Michael "Mike-Mike" Jones on May 19, 2003 and in the death Valencia Jones on June 20, 2003.

Broadwater summarizes November's 17 homicides, and notes that four of the killers would have been in jail but for suspended sentences or “good time” credits in prison.

Bus-attack victim Sarah Kreager was interviewed by Fox's Karen Parks. (Unfortunately the audio is cut off in the last few seconds)
Transit police support Kreager's claim that the attack was unprovoked, and police say that at the time the incident reports were taken, no witness reported any spitting or knife being pulled. The MTA spokesman says that there's surveillance video of the rolling hellhole, and that they are investigating "the incident" as a racially motivated hate crime.

In other teenager news, a 41-year-old woman was pelted with snowballs and robbed near Hopkins Hospital, and six more violent street robberies in the Blotter.

QTD: "Crime is like gymnastics. It really is a young person’s sport. If you incapacitate a 15- or 16-year-old for a year, you can prevent more crime than if you imprison a 22-year-old for life." -- FL State Attorney Harry Shorstein

In the county, Lisa A. Dieter was granted conditional release yesterday from a psychiatric hospital. In 2002 she told her daughter, nine-year-old Alana Anne Dieter, to take off her seatbelt, then crashed their car into a tree. The daughter died, Dieter pleaded guilty but was found not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Five- and 25-Year Sentences in Robbery/Murder

At a hearing today just before their scheduled murder trials were scheduled to begin, Kendrick McCain, 16, of the 700 block of McCabe Avenue and Lataye Shyreise King, 17, of the 1900 block of E. 31st Street both pled guilty for their involvement in the murder of Nicole Edmonds, 17. King pled guilty to first-degree murder, and Judge Martin P. Welch sentenced her to life in prison suspending all but 25 years. McCain pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree assault, and, under terms of the plea agreement announced in open court, will be sentenced to 15 years in prison, with all but a cap of five years suspended. Judge Welch scheduled McCain’s sentencing for February 4, 2008. Details:
On November 7, 2006 McCain and King approached Nicole Edmonds and her brother as they exited the MTA Light Rail Train at the W. North Avenue station. Nicole’s brother was thrown to the ground and a jacket was pulled over his head and that as Nicole ran away, she was chased, caught and fatally stabbed by King. Assistant State’s Attorney Paul O’Connor prosecuted the case.

Statement from Mayor Sheila Dixon about Attack on City Bus

city logo

“As we get more information from the Baltimore City Public School System and the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) about Tuesday’s incident on the Number 27 bus, I am extremely concerned. This incident was deplorable. I will not tolerate intimidation or violence anywhere in our city.

I am committed to working with our neighboring jurisdictions and the State Department of Juvenile Services to decrease the incidents of juvenile crime and violence. Reducing juvenile crime is essential to improved public safety in Baltimore City.

I have offered the MTA whatever assistance they need to investigate this incident, and to do our part to ensure the public transportation system is safe for everyone.”

- Mayor Sheila Dixon

# # #

December 6

Three men were stabbed on the Morgan State campus this morning.

"Baltimore will no longer ask certain potential employees whether they have been convicted of a crime, under a policy change approved yesterday intended to prevent discrimination against former convicts."

Sarah Kreager, 26Bus beating update:
The perps were released yesterday and are now back on the street. Super.
The mother of one of the suspects says the victim, shown left, provoked the attack by spitting in the face of one of the girls.
Reports are still conflicting as to where the attack took place, with the Sun reporting E 33rd in Waverly and the Examiner and other sources reporting W 33rd in Hampden.
The E also reports the race of the suspects.
And, for what it's worth, as "Marc" points out, the victim is "no stranger to the legal system," with a rap sheet that includes arrests for forging prescriptions, domestic violence and assault.

Mayor Dixon says the NAACP's Doc Cheatham is "heroic" for privately apologizing to 14 firefighters about the whole fake-noose business.
(So far no comment on the bus driver who intervened and possibly saved the life of the victim above.)

The BK robbery suspect shot by police has died.

Blotter: burglary, robbery, theft, burglary, robbery, theft.

The Bloods and Crips are hot in the 'burbs.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Teenagers Attack Woman on Bus

WtFingF? Nine evil 14 and 15-year-olds from Robert Poole Middle School "attacked and seriously injured [26-year-old Sarah Kreager] after they tried to prevent her from finding a seat on the bus." After beating her on the bus, they dragged her off the bus at 33rd street* and beat her some more.
The perps were all arrested and charged as juveniles, and "It was not immediately clear today if the suspects remained in custody at the juvenile detention center or if they had been released to their parents."
*Fox reports they dragged her off at W. 33rd and Chestnut Streets in Hampden

An 18-year-old and a 15-year-old boy were each stabbed about 9:30 p.m. Monday during "an incident" in the 1300 block of Myrtle Ave.

The Ink reports on murder victims from November 26 to December 2: Michael Crowder, Quentin Reddick-Flowers, Tywonde Jones, Eugenio Harrison, and Lonnie Foote, a man beaten by a tree branch October 27.

An officer shot a man suspected of robbing the Burger King on Eastern Avenue.

The Sun details how Baltimore city, with the help of AAC and the county, managed to lose crazed Metro-stop rapist Eugene Waller.

Counties
In Carroll Co, one Mary Gates was arrested for trying to hire a state trooper to kill her husband

In HarfCo officers are looking for a suspect who fired a shot in a gas station.

In MoCo, Ruth Sendejas, 18, was arrested for killing her two-year-old son Giovanni. She told police they'd been the victims of a home invasion.

The county driving instructor featured in 'Borat' is suing Twentieth Century Fox and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

December 4

Johnathan R. Cornish, 16, will stand trial in the county as an adult, accused of being the triggerman in the killing of witness Carl Stanley Lackl Jr.. Defense attorney Warren Brown says the case is going federal.

Donald Maynard, the firefighter who "discovered" a "noose," was dismissed for not completing his EMT training. He will not face criminal charges.

Charles Carroll was acquitted but he's still in jail on charges of violating his probation, and his family is furious.
Update: The violation of probation hearing of Charles Carroll, scheduled for today, was postponed at the request of the State until January 16, 2008.

A seventh suspect in the "Edgewood melee" has turned himself in.

Walter Jones of Essex, a former assistant manager at Bank of America, has been arrested and charged with money laundering in a tax scam that may have cheated the government out of more than $44 million.

What the?! Art Bracke, 61, allegedly tried to burn down his New Jersey home with his son inside, got drunk, drove to Harford County with two unregistered handguns, was involved in a head-on collision and was arrested. In Nj he's being charged with arson and first-degree attempted murder.

shanklin alleged sex offenderAlleged PDJ: David Millea Shanklin, right, of the 6500-block of Golden Ring Road in White Marsh, has been charged with the sexual abuse of two foster children in his care between January 1995 and August 2007. County police are asking any other victims to contact the Baltimore County Police Department’s Family Crimes Unit at 410-853-3650.

Monday, December 3, 2007

December 3

Saturday night, two people were arrested after Baltimore police said they tried to run over officers.

Three shootings last Saturday: a 17-year-old boy walking in an alley in the Eastern, a 30-year-old man "walking in the 200 block of Dallas Court abut 2 p.m.," and a 20-year-old woman sitting in her living room.

Looking on the sunny side: "North Branch Correctional Institution inmates spend up to 23 hours a day in their cells, but activities such as basketball are available."

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Weekend

A man was reportedly shot to death tonight at Windsor Mill Road and Forest Park Avenue near Kernan Hospital.

Quentin Reddicks-Flowers was beaten with a tree branch Tuesday and later died, police have arrested 17-year-old Jermaine Cornish.

Gor called it! Turns out that the "noose" "found" at the fire station was put there by the firefighter who "found" it, one Donald Maynard, who's black. But the NAACP's "Doc" Cheatham doesn't blame Maynard for his actions, because the poor guy is a victim! "... evidently things have reached a stage that even an African-American does an injustice to himself and his own people as a result of a negative culture in that department."

More on the killing of Ty'wonde M. Jones, 13. Wonder why his seemingly able-bodied and available parents couldn't care for him?

Probation violations can lead to jail time even after acquittal-- and these three prosecutors look positively gleeful about it

A 17-year-old boy was stabbed outside Landsdowne Shopping Center Friday in the county.

Dixon on the state investigation of city contracts: "I don't know what it is [or] why they're doing this witch hunt."

Dixon on the other fire department scandal: there's "strong evidence" that firefighters cheated on a promotional exam-- by looking at the test questions from 2001. (Isn't looking at past exam questions how you're supposed to study?)

On Friday the Court of Appeals began hearing the disciplinary case against tart-tongued County Circuit Judge Bruce Lamdin.

"A year and a half after Baltimore-based A&B Check Cashing collapsed, $17 million is still missing, one owner is dead and the other one isn't talking."

A a woman was assaulted and robbed on Taplow Rd. in Homeland; an 83-year-old woman bringing in her trash can was robbed in Essex; two robberies at gunpoint near the Hopkins Homewood campus, also a locksmith on Charles Street and woman on Woodbourne Ave robbed at gunpoint.

Did you know? The Johns Hopkins News-letter reports that "Councilwoman fraternities say neighborhood relations tense," but an ordinance that went into effect last month that "will allow police to 'padlock' or effectively shut down houses for a year that have received more than two complaints over six month period."

Friday, November 30, 2007

Thirteen-Year-Old Killed

13-year-old Tywonde Jones was stabbed to death last night in the 5000 block of Cordelia Avenue, and about two hours later a man was shot in the chest on a street nearby.

"City police statistics for this year in Baltimore indicate a 16 percent increase in forcible rape, and a 25 percent increase in other sex offenses."

... so Bealefeld says that overall crime in the city is down 7 percent. But homicides, shootings and sex offenses are up. So what's down?

"Youths tried as adults and housed in adult prisons commit more crimes, often more violent ones, than minors who remain in the juvenile justice system, a panel of experts appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report."

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Marco Smoot Indicted for Murder

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Marco Smoot, 28, of the 300 block of S. Pulaski Street for first-degree murder and other charges. Court documents allege on August 28, 2007, Marco Smoot was identified as the person responsible for a shooting incident in the 400 block of S. Payson Street. Lacy Edward Hazel, 28, was found in the rear yard of a vacant building in the unit block suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He died later the same day from his injuries. An arraignment is scheduled for December 26, 2007 before Judge Albert J. Matricciani, Room 230, Courthouse East.

November 29


A shooting at the Clifton Avenue Rent-A-Center was caught on tape, above.

An unidentified 26-year-old man was shot twice in the back and once in the left shoulder last night while riding a bicycle across Orleans Street in East Baltimore.

Another robbery that used gasoline as a threat.

Homicides are down by 50 percent in Cherry Hill.

In HarfCo, police have arrested the 31-year-old mother of a 16-year-old girl who is charged with attempted murder as part of the 50-person brawl in Edgewood that paralyzed a man. Said the mom, "she's in jail for something she didn't do ... There was a million people there ... How could they pinpoint four little girls? The police needed somebody, so they grabbed them." Sob! Fox reports that the "four little girls" (who are being charged as adults) were in a gang called "WMD"-- "World's Most Dangerous."
WJZ has video of the mom being hauled off to jail, and grandma working her potty mouth.
... on Fox last night a "guy on the street" commented that Edgewood has had problems since people were relocated there from the Murphy Homes (the West Side public housing project imploded in 1999).

In the county, jurors heard a jailhouse tape of Michael B. Martin, the alleged perv who allegedly wanted to kill a prosecutor, a developer and an old lady.

The UTech scandal isn't over yet! The state has raided the offices of Doracon Contracting, the company that subcontracted Dixon's sister's company to do city work.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Five Years for Assault Caught on Tape

At a hearing today, Bernard Ramseur, 17, of the 1300 block of N. Gilmore St. pleaded guilty to armed robbery and third degree sex offense. Judge Althea Handy sentenced Ramseur to 20 years suspend all but five years for the robbery and a concurrent prison term of 10 years suspend all but five years for the sex offense. Judge Handy also ordered that Ramseur have no contact with the victim, attend sex-offense counseling, register as a sex offender, and continue his education. Details from the SA's office:
The State presented the following facts as part of the plea agreement in open court. On June 14, 2007 at approximately 12:45 a.m. police responded to an armed robbery in progress in the 600 block of N. Paca St. A camera operator at the CitiWatch Crime center observed a suspect, later identified as Bernard Ramseur, had backed a victim against a corner wall. The operator immediately directed police officers to the scene, leading to his apprehension and arrest. Assistant State’s Attorney John Park of the Sex Offense Division prosecuted this case.

November 28

Police don't know why one guy stabbed another guy at about 2 o'clock this morning at Roland and 36th streets in Hampden.

The death of 2-year-old Bryanna Harris of the 1700 block of E. 25th St on June 5 is being investigated as a homicide, the Ink reports that her death was caused by combination of methadone intoxication and blunt-force trauma.

Also ruled a homicide was the death of Martay Powell, 22, shot in the head following a struggle with his girlfriend. The Ink also adds Robert Gray, "a 36-year-old African-American man from Jacksonville, Fla., was found lying in the street in the 1000 block of Boyd Street near Hollins Market. He had been shot repeatedly in the head, back, legs, and butt. He died at Maryland Shock Trauma Center less than an hour later."

Loony homicidal pervert alert! [Michael "Martin, 46, of Lutherville, is charged with trying to hire an inmate in the Baltimore County jail to kill the prosecutor who handled a 2005 sex-abuse case against him, injure another prosecutor, break the knees of a police detective and set fire to the home of an elderly woman who had told people at Martin's church about the abuse case."

Robbery, burglary and screwy formatting in the Blotter.

WTF?! "Bats, knives used in Harford melee involving up to 50 people"

WTF?! in in MoCo: "A former firefighter accused of fatally beating his girlfriend's ex-husband in 1993 and then setting the man's Montgomery County house on fire to cover up the crime pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter yesterday and was sentenced to no jail time beyond the seven months he served while awaiting trial." Defense attorneys called the prosecutors' plea offer "extraordinarily generous." No kidding!

About 160 tombstones were overturned at the B'nai Israel Cemetery on Southern Avenue.

Headline of the Day: "Residents Oppose Condemning Sagging Pants"

Web diversions: the site "Death by Booze" can help you determine how much hooch it'll take to souse yourself to death. (Thanks Vic)

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Evening

From Zach Sowers' wife Anna:
"... as much as I've tried to raise awareness, meet with city officials and other advocacy groups - NOTHING has changed. I've called the mayor's community liaison to ask what exactly the Mayor's crime plan is in my district and was told the mayor wouldn't know that information and that I'd have to contact my police district - unacceptable answer. I've tried contacting the NAACP to how we can work together and after several months, still no meeting. I spoke to Pat Jessamy, Baltimore City States Attorney, asking what she plans to do differently since status quo isn't working; she gave me a runaround response. Thank goodness the prosecutors assigned to this case are diligently working to make sure that everything is done correctly. But pretty much everybody just wants to point fingers at everyone else."
Anna Sowers also reports that there's a new crime blog just for Southeast Baltimore, "South East Baltimore Crime Watch."

The Baltimore City Grand Jury has indicted Tyres Taylor, 23, of the 4700 block of Creekside Circle for first-degree murder, robbery deadly weapon and carjacking. Court documents allege on August 6, 2006, Tyres Taylor was identified as the person responsible for a shooting incident in the 4100 block of Rollins Avenue. Gregory Moore was found lying in the alley in the unit block suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Taylor was allegedly seen leaving the scene in a vehicle. An arraignment is scheduled for December 21, 2007 before Judge Albert J. Matricciani, Room 230, Courthouse East.

A reader from Medfield reports on some "considerate" car thieves:
Last night, some thieves stole a car parked right in front of my rowhouse, apparently leaving behind another car they'd stolen previously. They took my neighbor Joe's Dodge mini van. Joe is an elderly WWII vet and he has some difficulty walking. The thieves left the walker Joe had in the back seat of the van, on the grass next to where the van had been parked.
Headline of the Day: "Dead Cat Surrounded By Forks Found In Shoebox"

November 27

Shezis! "Police were seeking a man who robbed a Texaco station in the 2600 block of Gwynns Falls Parkway shortly before midnight Saturday after pouring gasoline on the attendant and threatening to ignite it."
As 'non points out, this is the same Texaco where 18-year-old Himank Karki was shot to death three months ago.

"Two people, one a teenage boy, were shot last night by a man who entered the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Recreation Center in the 2500 block of Seabury Road in Cherry Hill and opened fire as several youths played basketball, police said." Both victims are expected to survive.

The family of Gerard Mungo Jr., the seven-year-old arrested for sitting on a dirtbike, is suing the city for $40 million.

More on the horrid Pumphrey family quadruple-murder/suicide-- apparently the parents were engaged in an acrimonious custody dispute and, unshockingly, dad sounds like a real a-hole.

W. David Stoffregen, the construction executive who paid then-Maryland state Sen. Thomas L. Bromwell more than $190,000 for his influence, and later agreed to testify against him in a public corruption case, was sentenced in federal court yesterday to 6 1/2 years in prison.

Luke Broadwater has a chat with future judge Rod J. Rosenstein.
QTD: "Mysterious suicides are often very strange."

ps. to Shayne-- the mom who egged on Megan Meier's suicide was id'd by the Smoking Gun as one Lori Drew. And look, the police report has her address, so you can mail her a dog turd!

Monday, November 26, 2007

November 26

Back to town...

A 33-year-old man was shot in the head this morning in the 2400 block of Presbury St. in West Baltimore.

Scary robberies in the Blotter, including a woman abducted with her four-year-old son, robberies of a teenager and some older people and one 27-year-old Daniel Sullivan arrested Saturday, nine months after he was accused of attempting to shoot his girlfriend during an argument.

Police arrested two men for firing shots at an officer in Lutherville.

Three people, a woman, an elderly man and a teenager, were wounded in unrelated shootings on Friday.

The sad tale of a girl who was allegedly assaulted in a middle-school math class by seven students while the teacher allegedly did nothing.

Yuck, a quadruple-murder/suicide in MoCo on Thanksgiving. And more coverage from the Sun's Tyeesha Dixon and James Drew.
"I thought he was very good to the children."

Elsewhere, Quiet Riot's Kevin DuBrow was found dead in a Vegas hotel room.
And Trent Lott is resigning, possibly due to a forthcoming rent-boy scandal.