Thursday, September 22, 2011

New Helicoptors, Shootings Galore, and Beyond

The BPD go from almost losing their helicopter fleet, to getting an entirely new one.

The victim of a September 7th double shooting has died. Isaiah Roane, 29, died Tuesday. Apparently Mr.Roane had several gun and drug arrests and convictions, as well as a 2006 arrest for attempted murder.

Non-fatal shooting of a 38-year-old woman at the intersection of West Lafayette Ave. and Ashburton St.

Three people were shot over a period of twelve hours earlier this week.

31-year-old Kenneth McDuffie is facing attempted murder charges afterhis 32-year-old girlfriend after leaving an Essex party.

The lawyer for Reuben Dunn, 28, claims that Dunn wasn't driving that fateful day when two Baltimore teens were struck and killed.

90 years in prison for one murderer, a conviction for another. 36-year-old James Fortune has been sentenced to 90 years in prison for a 2008 double shooting that left 25-year-old Sidney Millner dead. Convicted of first degree murder is Charles Thomas, 47. Thomas was convicted of the 2009 daylight killing of Alvin Alston.

We can all sleep easy now, because according to the FBI Baltimore's police force is quite well staffed.

More information on the fatal shooting in Dundalk earlier this week. Robert Charles Nelson, 24, was found dead directly across the street from the site of Joseph Palczynsk's famous hostage taking and stand-off. Based on the tone of the article, police seem very doubtful about the chances of capturing the suspect anytime soon.

Bail denied for the suspect in the Bowie State stabbing. Alexis Simpson, 19, is being held after her arrest for the stabbing death of 18-year-old Dominique Frazier, allegedly over an Ipod.

Studies have found that crime cameras appear to actually be cost effective. The cameras are apparently netting a whopping $1.50 for every dollar spent.

Apples grown at Hagerstown prison are to be sold to local food markets.Interesting they chose the one food already synonymous with hidden razor blades... but potential mouth injuries notwithstanding, these felon fruits will be sold at only 1/10 the price of normal apples.

In a classic case of just deserts, former mayor Sheila Dixon's house was burglarized Monday. Justin Fenton thankfully takes no time to make an allusion to when her home was raided as part of her embezzlement investigation.

Friends turn witnesses in the trial of 20-year-old Michael Hunter, the man accused of robbing and killing 72-year-old security guard Charles Bowman at the oft dangerous Yau Brothers carry-out on Greenmount.

Police are ISO the unpatriotic-SOB who shot a bald eagle in Western Maryland last Friday.

County police are looking for this robbery suspect, who hit a Comfort Inn and tried to hold up the Security Square Malls Macy's building.

A mandatory-minimum 5 year sentence is in store for former P.G. County officer Chong Chen Kim, age 43. Kim plead guilty to his role a massive untaxed cigarette conspiracy alongside former P.G. County officer Richard Delabrer, and small business owners Amir Miljkovic and Chun "Eddy" Chen.

Finally, 15 years in federal exile for 45-year-old Tyrone Slim Dollar" Dale.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Shooting in Waverly

A man shot in the head in Waverly at 4:30 in the afternoon, steps from Waverly Elementary and the 33rd street Y.

The slow wheels of justice

More than three years after hearing arguments in the case, the Maryland Court of Appeals has upheld the death sentence of Jody Miles, as well as the standard that Maryland juries use when deciding whether to impose a death sentence.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Unclassified deaths in Baltimore

State Medical Examiner Dr David Fowler sheds some light on the hangings, shootings, and bodies in the harbor that end up being unclassified deaths

Cordish Swaps Green Cards for Casino Bucks

The WaPo alleges that the Cordish co is trying to lure potential Chinese casino investors with promises of green cards for a $500k investment ... and it's all totally legal. Which makes it not really fodder for this blog... But it's all just too hinky-sounding to resist.

25 years for Antonio Barnes

... alleged to have beaten a four-month-old to death in 2009. ... the only infant homicide I can find on the 2009 toll is one-year-old Janaya Wallace, killed on Kentucky Avenue, near Herring Run Park on the East side and last seen by her father ... wonder if this is the same infant or if Barnes' victim was added later?

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Friday, September 16, 2011

"Kick it out"




Press release from your SAO. On one hand Cheshire is a much cleaner writer than Sviatko was, on the other, could someone please show the man how to send out a text file instead of an image so the Internets will be able to search it & people can read it without magnifying? Does he type it on a manual typewriter or something? Come on now.

Lunchtime Crime

Probably not a crime, but a JV football team in Baltimore County had to forfeit a game over a sexual encounter between a girl and several team members.

Billy Murphy wants to milk the Kennedy Krieger Institute for some serious money over lead paint.

Fatal shooting in Dundalk.

The re-trial of two alleged dog burners has been postponed until November.

There's been an arrest in the fatal Bowie State stabbing.

91-year old Irene Logan was murdered in her home in early August, and now police say they have made an arrest.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Recent Homicides, Toliet Bombs, and So Much More

In a very unfortunate-yet-fitting metaphor for our city, 16-year-old Bruce Benn was shot to death next to a bench proclaiming Baltimore to be the "Greatest City in America."

A 2006 shooting victim, who subsequently died in 2009, has been added to the homicide tally. Gerrod Davis, who was 22 at the time of his death, will become 2011's 147th victim.

Details are sparse at the moment, but a Bowie State student was stabbed to death on campus earlier today.

Duane "Shorty" Davis, the creator of the "Towson toilet bomb" and friend of the blog, has been acquitted of any charges related to his leaving a toilet covered in various articles and writings outside the Towson courthouse back in February.

A 7th Baltimore cop has plead guilty to his part in the major towing scandal that has plagued Baltimore police. Jhonn Corona, 33, plead guilty to sending accident victims to Majestic Auto Repair as well as crashing his own car in order to send false reports to his insurance company.

Arrest is made in the slaying of a Baltimore bondswoman Nichole McNair. 21-year-old Dominique Davon McDonald has been charged with first and second degree murder for the cold-blooded killing.

Dante Jeter, 24, who is still awaiting trial for the 2006 slaying of Arundel dentist Albert Ro, has been sentenced to 60 years in the 2008 City shooting of Tyrone Freeman.


There really are evil twins in the world, except this time it's not on board the Enterprise, it's over in Howard County, where 23-year-old Wael Ali is accused of killing his twin brother Wasel Ali back in 2007. The real kicker is that after the murder Wael made several statements to the press and even created a Facebook page in remembrance for the killing. (The Ali brothers pictured right.)

A 21-year-old was shot in the 1000 block of North Arlington Ave at late last night.

Do you recognize this man? He's wanted by the BPD as a person of interest in the 2010 killing of Durell Cartwright.

The trial of Michael Hunter, 20 and one of two men accused of killing 72-year-old Afro paper security guard Charles Bowman, will finally commence soon after being delayed 5 times. Hunter's co-defendent, Troy Taylor, 19, has already been sentenced to 35 years for his role in the killing.

A man has turned himself in for the second slaying in Howard CountyAnthony Patrick Parker, 53, has turned himself in after a warrant was issued for his part in a fight turned stabbing that left 46-year-old Phillip Wise dead.

ATF and state police arrest over 50 suspects, including 15 who were charged federally, as part of a large scale drug sweep. Among the names that pop out to me is that of Howard Drummond, 24. Drummond, as you may remember was charged alongside Joel Ugah, 25 back in 2008 for the murder of Sandy Howard and non-fatal shooting of two others. Both were acquitted of a all charges. Howard was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for various drug dealing charges, and Ugah, who was again charged with attempted murder for a 2010 incident, is currently facing drug and gun charges in the city and county.

This may be a hard sell to some... but a Baltimore methadone clinic wants to pay addicts in order to get them to come in at night and use methadone.

More trouble at Maryland colleges. This time it's at UMD, where police are releasing a video of a person of interest in the on-campus sexual assault of a female student.

A 14-year-old Anne Arundel girl was sexually assaulted, and police are ISO two suspects, including one who sort of looks like John Lennon.

A man in Trappe, MD has been arrested for possession of a handgun whenhis gun fell out of his jacket after he ran into a police officer.

Severn resident Peter Dembrowicz, 30, was found dead in a stream earlier, foul play is not suspected.

State police officially conclude that teacher Alice Davis was in fact murdered by her husband Jess Davis, 57.

New Jersey's Uzodimma Nnamdi Oguh, age 32, has been charged with human trafficking for running a prostitution ring throughout the east coast.

Two years in Federal prison for creeper attorney Patrick Joseph Redd, 33.

Finally, 10 years for 9-time convict Skky Townsend, 29. Townsend got his decade behind bars after being caught with crack and weapons in his Pocomoke home.

Obsessions, compulsions & Conaways

Say what you might about the horn-tooting of the rousing of rabble, it's deserved. Adam Meister helped roust tax cheat Belinda Conaway out of the 7th district by a skinny 648 votes ... by just being Adam and letting Belinda be Belinda with her redunkulous lawsuit. Said the loser, "I don't have any regrets-- none." Neither must her lawyer, who apparently ran up the clock on her before doing an iota of diligence.

Speaking of dumbassery, Baltimorean Matthew VanDyke, who either escaped or was freed from a Libyan prison after aggravating his OCD and losing every last ounce of body fat and with a girlfriend/fiancee waiting at home, decided to stay in Libya to reportedly join the Ali Hassan Juba Katiba rebels. A fine line between bravery, silliness, and Stockholm syndrome. Well don't say Dutch didn't try!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sentencing in Viral Video Beating, Bondswoman Killed, and Even More

Teonna Monae Brown, age 19, whose leading role in the videotaped beating of transgender woman in a Rosedale McDonalds led to national outcry, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Baltimore bondswoman Nichole Bernadette McNair, 42, was found shot to death in a running car in Columbia.

Two consecutive life sentences plus 20 years for 30-year-old Jermaine Johnson. Johnson, was convicted of the 2009 double homicide of Gerry Martin and Darvin Jones. Jones, who was 19 at the time of his death, was said to have committed two 2009 murders himself; that of Herbert Carsten Jr., age 17, and Wayne Robinson age 22.

Police officers involved in the fatal shooting of officer William H. Torbit Jr. have refused to testify before a panel investigating the fatal case of friendly fire.

More missing Baltimoreans, this time, it's 63-year-old Madeline Chavis, missing since Monday afternoon.

The woman accused in a grisly yoga shop murder will not seek an insanity defense. Attorneys for Brittany Norwood have missed the deadline to file such paperwork.

Basketball teacher busted for child sexual abuse. Tyrone Jordan, age 55, has been charged with molesting a 14-year-old boy, the second sexual misconduct related arrest in the last 15 years for him.

A cab driver was shot in the neck Saturday night in the parking lot of a Royal Farms store off of E Fayette St.

Two city high school students are in a heap of trouble for bringing a gun to school.

Police in Baltimore County release a "digital sketch" of a 2009 sexual assault suspect.

The body of a missing Baltimore man has been found in Liberty Reservoir in Carroll County. The body of Christopher Anthony White, 44 displayed no obvious signs of trauma.

Sunday morning sees two men shot in separate indents in the City. A 23-year old was shot in the 1700 block of Lexington St. and a 49-year-old man was shot in the 2800 block of Hilldale Ave.

Curtis Bay weed grower busted. Kwane Owusa Greenidge faces a variety of drug related charges.

Police are seeking help identifying a man who robbed a Baltimore County Giant.

Montgomery County seeks grant to help fight gang problem.

Guilty plea from mother of child beaten to death in Frederick. 21-year-old Jessica Denise Peavy will face only one year in jail when she is sentenced.

Kent County police are ISO a missing full gas tanker, that was stolen after someone cut through a fence and hot-wired a vehicle.

An unidentified body has been pulled from the Back River. No known cause of death has been given, but no obvious signs of injury have been found.

Like a modern day Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid, Two Washington County teens are on the run after stealing a van from a juvenile facility.

A man was shot to death in Landover. 21-year-old Aaron M. Jones, who was wanted for several charges including attempted murder at the time of his death, was found in the 8100 block of Manson St.

A Glen Burnie man is facing charges of attempted murder after stabbing a gas station clerk several times during an attempted murder. Joseph Earl Schrump, 22, whose face is a testament to why you don't mess with gas station attendants, was arrested in a nearby cemetery shortly after.

Police warn citizens to be weary of potential robbers on Craigslist. Bad intentions of Craigslist? Impossible...

15 years in the Federal clank for Catonsville bank robber Troy Antoine Boatwright, age 37.

Willie Ray Bryant is moving on up... from state to federal prison that is. 41-year-old Bryant plead guilty to sending a threatening letter to a Maryland judge.

Speaking of poorly planned crimes, we end this post with a look at 61-year-old James Anthony Welzenbach, who decided to rob the Talbot Bank of Tilghman located on Tilghman Island, an area home to around 800 residents. Shockingly, Welzenbach was quckly identified and arrested. He and subsequently plead guilty in Federal court, and now faces 25 years in the Federal pen.

Missing teenager


Police and family are ISO Kesley Ashwood, aka "Lil Woman"

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Sad and weird

The case of murdered one-year-old Dalyire Damion McFadden just gets stranger. The mom locked up the house for the night, yet found her ear-biting, male-model babydad Hari Close III (left) somehow inexplicably in the house, then, went to bed with him, no questions asked, and in the morning left the one-year-old home alone...? weird weird weird. And how about that wacky misquote on Close's FB page:
"'I have learned that success is not measure by the position one has reached in life; but rather by the obstacles which he or she is striving to achieve.' - Booker T. Washington"

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Murder Arrests, Disbarments, and so Much More...

Police have arrested a man in the stabbing death of Baltimore DPW worker David McClaughlin Jr. Terrence Fitzhugh faces charges of first and second degree murder.

Veteran attorney Stanley Needleman has plead guilty to tax evasion.Needleman, whose office was raided back in April, has agreed to disbarment and will pay over $1 million in fines.

Police investigate a double shooting in the 3300 block of Belle Ave.

Guilty plea in December 2010 stabbing death of a Severn pizza delivery man. Darrius Lynne Bullock, 19 faces 10-21 years for the for the fatal stabbing of Ghulam Farooq.

A guilty plea from Maximilian Hopkins Bode, 21, the driver of a snow plow that struck and killed a renowned former JHU fencing coach.

County police are investigating the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Tyran Smoot (Picture Right)

Police make a quick arrest in the first killing in Annapolis this year. Clifton William Tutt, 55, has been charged with the shooting death of 19-year-old Teon Wallace. Wallace, who in June beat charges of attempted murder, was wanted by police for Armed robbery charges at the time of his death. Of course his killer was no saint either having a criminal record dating back to at least 1990 including a 3 year prison term for a conviction related to an arrest for Attempted Murder.

Bonrick Lee Barksdale, the suspect in a North Carolina kidnapping and attempted rape was captured recently after escaping from an Annapolis courtroom.

20 years in prison for multi-time sex offender and newly convicted rapist James Mason III, age 30.

Arrest in a non-fatal stabbing in Howard County. 23-year-old Christopher Thomas Hecker has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing Brian Black Jr., 29.

The parents of a 14-year-old girl struck by a car, are pleading for the driver to turn themselves in.

Pennsylvania police have arrested Vincent Lloyd Minto, 41, wanted in Montgomery County for the 2009 murder of Clarence Rankine.

31-year-old Carroll County resident Zachary Scott Shanaberger has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. As part of his plea deal, Shanaberger admitted his role in bank robberies in Delaware, Georgia, and North Carolina.

The husband of a Wicomico County teacher was found dead in his home Wednesday. Jesse Davis, 58, was the main suspect in the disappearance of his wife, a 28 year veteran teacher at Parkside High School.

A Chevy Chase scientist has been convicted of espionage. Stewart D. Nozette, 54, who was caught on tape selling goverment secrets to what he thought was an Israeli intelligence officer will be sentenced to 13 years in prison.

10 years in Federal prison for Latin Kings #2 man Remy "King Remy" Heath. The 26-year-old gang leader plead guilty to racketeering charges back in November of 2010.

Also being sentenced to Federal prison time is 24-year-old Christopher Jackson. Jackson, exiled for being a felon in possession of a gun, was sentenced to 10 years in prison as well.

Finally, 5 very well deserved years at Club Fed for child pornography advertiser Michael Moskal, age 45.

In Non-Maryland news:

Former New Mexico Governer Bill Richardson made a surprise visit to Cuba in the hopes of securing the release of Marylander Alan Gross, who was serving a 15 year prison sentence in Cuba.

An appeal to be released from jail to Aruban authorities by Gary Giordano has been denied.

Virginia police obtain a warrent for Johnny D. Guillen Pimentel, 40, AKA the serial butt-slasher. Pimentel, who is still at large, is believed to be responsible for a series of attacks against Virginia area women earlier this year.

Many, many apologies for my extended absence from updating. A major change in schedule, a series of internet disabling events, and my own crippling lazyness have contributed to my time away. Again, my apologies, and i look forward to continuing to bring you the crime news of Baltimore, and beyond. -TAB

Here we go again

A date has been set for the third trial of Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Espinoza Canela. Their previous conviction for murdering three children back in 2004 was thrown out on appeal this summer.

Don't miss

an enlightening interview with Shorty Davis on the Marc Steiner podcast.
Pull quote: "Why did I get arrested for the toilets? Because of the names on the toilets."

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

OMFGDFS!!

A ONE-YEAR-OLD boy was stabbed to death in SW Baltimore. His parents reported him as abducted, then his body was found in the basement, a la JonBenét. As if that wasn't horrifying enough, the boy on Riggs Avenue isn't the only one-year-old on the list, the death of Davon Booth Jr., who died a month ago of head trauma, has also been ruled a homicide.

And James and Kareem Clea were found not guilty in the death of Lemuel Wallace, the disabled man stabbed to death in a Leakin Park bathroom. Gregg Bernstein released a (very rare) statement expressing disappointment in the verdict*. And in today's edition of the Sun, the unappetizing deet that James Clea had a "sexual relationship" with former Arc employee Kevin Pushia; James' brother Kareem was accused of being the triggerman.


AND the man shot to death Sunday, Tony Laws, was the grandson of late local "point of light" Bea Gaddy.

*I'd publish Bernstein statements more, but they're rare, and in spite of my entreaties they come over as pdfs, and I just don't have the time or will to retype them with my other jobs and whatnot. This is how democracy fails, via a thousand little inconveniences that effectively bar access.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Barnes' sister filed restraining order

A city judge denied request filed by the sister of Phylicia Barnes seeking to keep her ex-boyfriend from contacting her.

Also, the tow scammers are back in business, so watch where you park near the Manufacturers and Traders "Emmittea Banks" Trust Company Raven® stadium.

Old-man enemy

Can you call someone a "boyfriend" if they're 51 years old and commit the unfriendliest of acts? In any case, Gary Allmond, 51, has been arrested for the murder of official victim #140, an unidentified woman.
Update: Woman Id'd as Janice Drayton, 51

Four people were shot this weekend and one victim, 31-year-old Antonio Laws, has died.

Cult mom Ria Ramkisson, now living in a "faith-based treatment center," gave an interview to the AP's Ben Nuckols.

And two pervs du jour, a balloon artist nabbed after trying to have sex with an age-regressed picture of a police officer, and a Christian-camp operator. (So 6c means 6" long and circumcised? Blogging is so educational!)

Speaking of 14-year-old boys, one in Lutherville was charged with attempted burglary after trying to break into a couple of houses.

And a Baltimorean with a chin-strap beard was arrested after allegedly driving all the way to Ohio to flash and attack Asian women.

Monday, September 5, 2011

but what about the clown cannons*?

Hot trend in conservative criminal justice circles: rehabilitation (!!)
It's not just for California and Newt Gingrich anymore!
Crazy stat: "If our nation were to return to the rates of incarceration we had in the 1970s, we would have to release 4 out of 5 people behind bars."


*a reference to one of my favorite blog comments of all time: "if you all vote for me as mayor, I'll transform some buidling to a local Gitmo where multiple felons will be locked up without trial until I['m] stripped of power or I find a clown cannon from which to launch them into the Inner Harbor."

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Lunchtime Crime

Should a convicted sex offender be allowed to keep his real estate license?

Ah Baltimore, where parents think it's acceptable to let their elementary school age kids wander around alone at 1 AM.

Cops are looking for the driver from a fatal AA County hit and run.

ACLU sues Baltimore Police over right to videotape.

Phylicia Barnes's family isn't happy with the progress of the investigation into her death.

Dramiara Johnson died as a result of "massive head trauma," and now her mother has been charged in her death.

14 years after she went missing the remains of Toni Dee Vogel were identified. Her skeleton was found in Westminster in 2009.

Attorney Stanley Needleman has been charged with tax evasion.

William Hillar gets 21 months in prison for fraudulently pretending to be a former Special Forces officer.

Assault by live power line in Silver Spring.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Cops to Bernstein: Quit Drag-assing

The homicide closure rate is apparently way down (43%), homicide detectives are blaming prosecutors, and the police spokesman is blaming police (?!). Not. A. Good. Sign.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

It's Saturday Night Crime... Live... Sort Of

The assistant to historian Barry Landau pleads not guilty. Jason Savedoff, 24, plead not guilty to his role in the theft of several historic documents.

The body of university professor Yulia Pogrebenko, 54, has been found in the Chesapeake Bay. No cause of death has been given yet.

New information comes to light in the Lemuel Wallace murder trial. Including the fact that Kevin Pushia, the pastor turned murder suspect had planned to murder his then boyfriend and his family.

An Ellicott City 17-year-old was secretly arrested by the FBI for allegedly being a co-conspirator of "Jihad Jane." The then 15-year-old identified only as Mohammed K was suspected of soliciting funds to help commit Jihad, and at one point had threatened to commit a school shooting.

He pissed off the wrong people... 37-year-old Braderick Green was sentenced to 11 life terms plus 185 years for shooting at city police officers. Of course life never really is life, so Mr.Green is actually eligible for parole in just 65 years, at the ripe age of 102.

It just keeps getting worse for Travis Vaughn, 19, who was not only shot in the shoulder by an off-duty security guard, but was also charged with attempted murder to boot.

When I see the words "Ravens Player, Inner Harbor" I tend to expect the worst. But this time I was pleasantly surprised to find that Ravens WR Tandon Doss was in the role of peacemaker.

An 18-year-old wanted by police for the May robbery of a local grocery store was shot at by police Wednesday. Lamont Thomas escaped injury but now faces a variety of serious charges.

I severely apologize for my long absence from posting, my computer broke recently and I have finally been able to replace it. Please note this is not a complete posting as i wanted to get something out before i possibly lose my power due to the storm.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Baltimorean sprung!

from Tripoli pen! Not only is Quaquacky really out & hiding in some tunnel like a tacky Hitler, but Matthew VanDyke's 31- or 2-year-old rump could (possibly) be ensconced on AirBama manana for surf & turf with Dutch!
What a happy twist, eh?

ps. he 'described his ordeal' to the BBC today (8/25), but the story doesn't say where he was when doing the describing. Pull quote: "I have OCD and I have it pretty bad and being in a filthy Libyan prison was not good for it at all. It was torture."

Monday, August 22, 2011

Baltimorean missing

... In Libya, in case you hadn't heard. Matthew VanDyke, 31, has been missing since March and has still not been found.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Art -> Life

Snoop's lawyer: she's innocent but pled guilty to get on with her life. Hmm, where have I heard that before? (.. & I love how if you google "republican bathroom" he pops up immediately)

Shootings & stabbings over the weekend, and a man died at Central Booking (coincidentally, it sounds like)

and don't miss the poetic stylings of Sen. Catherine Pugh. ("Some think politicians . . . / Are much like magicians . . . " Frank Conaway's rap is not all that bad, by comparison-- full of piquant disses! ("Frank Conaway, how you going to get a fair chance in the race when all you gonna worry about is where his daughter stay .... don't take advice from the gift-card bandit, dammit .... Catherine Pugh, that ain't the only thing I smell in the room ...")

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Crazy, man!

Stats say MD's crime rate hit a 35-year-low, and no one knows why. ... but it would seem to disprove once & for all a causal connection between crime and the economy, non? ... and already the DPP is using the stats to retroactively defend parole officers' massive caseloads.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

John Wagner Convicted Of Killing Stephen Pitcairn

More on that from WBAL. .... and, apparently well aware that this is the case that got him elected, Gregg Bernstein held a rare Q&A session at about 9:30 tonight to take questions from the press.

Lunchtime Crime

Football players behaving badly: former Ravens player Jermaine Lewis (not to be confused with coke dealing former Raven Jamal Lewis or justice obstructing Raven Ray Lewis) was released on bail after getting tased and arrested. Cops came to Lewis's home after he was seen driving erratically.

Crime in Maryland is at its lowest level since 1975.

A guilty plea to first-degree from Michael Brooks. Prosecutors say they intend to ask for a 30-year sentence.

Alleged pervert and a burglar on the loose in Anne Arundel County.

Ralph Edward Thomas is in big trouble with the feds. He allegedly stole $800,000 from clients who included a child with birth injuries and a woman with dementia.

The commish defends the Baltimore PD on the Marc Steiner Show.

Cherice Ragins's family is still looking for her.

Drunk driving and illegal street racing are a deadly combination.

I'm not certain how I feel about this. City police will start taking crime reports by phone.

Monday, August 15, 2011

11 Days


Baltimore went a full 11 days without a homicide before two separate killings Sunday.

First a man who is officially unidentified at the moment was shot to death on the 2900 block of Edgecombe Circle North. WBAL is currently identifying him as 23-year-old Durrell Burrow, But there is no record of a man with that name anywhere I looked, and no other news sources are identifying him.

Shot on the 3400 block of Clifton Ave. was Catonsville resident Demetrius Lareese Sowers, 33.

An alleged police impersonator has been arrested. 24-year-old Lamel Pierce (Right) is suspected of having committed the first in a string of apparently un-related series of faux police operation robberies.

Two men were shot Friday night in two separate northeast Baltimore incidents.

Good 'ol Judge William D. Quarles has reversed the decision to release city police officer Daniel Redd, 41 on bail, citing "overwhelming" evidence.

Another arrest for weapons at BWI. This time it's Christopher Glen College, 44 who was charged with keeping a loaded .45-caliber gun in his carry on luggage.

A Brooklyn Park man is charged with stabbing his step-father and choking his mother in a late-night attack. Jesse Edward Chapman III was charged with a variety of serious crimes.

Apparent teenage "flash mob" hits a Montgomery County 7-11. Kids these days...

From play fighting with a buddy to stabbing him in the stomach... It apparently doesn't take much to set off 46-year-old John Murray, who is in custody facing attempted murder charges.

Ferndale resident Phyllis Marie Amonica, 38, has been charged with murdering her "boyfriend" 47-year-old James Gray Pfaff.

A case that is slowly unfolding into a very interesting series of seemingly very professional crimes get's new details. Craig Steven Brooks, 49, has been charged with robbery after impersonating a utility worker and robbing a woman who's gas pipe he was claiming to check. Mr. Brooks, mind you, had also been charged back in July alongside 46-year-old John F. Haston with impersonating Pepco workers during robbery turned homicide of a Bowie coin-operated laundry owner.
Craig Steven Brooks (Left)
John F. Hastons (Right)



----------------------------------------------------
In International news:

Charges are expected to be laid against Gary Giordano in Aruba. Giordano, age 50, is currently the main suspect in the disappearance of Frederick resident Robyn Gardner. I'm very curious how a man with fairly recent arrests for shoplifting electronics can afford a 1.1 million dollar house.

In more sad news, Rockville resident Warren Weinstein has been abducted in Pakistan. Mr. Weinstein was in Pakistan to help develop their economy and fight poverty.


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Select Lounge Shooting Video, Pitcairn Murder Trial Testimony, and Much More

Police release video from the Select Lounge shooting.

The girlfriend of John A. Wagner, the man accused of stabbing JHU researcher Stephen Pitcairn to death, took the stand today.

Search for a MD woman missing in Aruba has been called off.

Police need help solving the March 17th killing of Brandon Carter. They hope that releasing video taken from inside the carry-out he was killed in may help.

After only 5 hours of jury deliberation, Antonio "Mack" Hall has been convicted of murdering federal informant Kareem Guest. Hall is apparently believed to be "connected to several drug-related killings in the city." I wonder if we'll ever find out who else he allegedly killed?

Police in Towson are on the lookout for an unidentified woman who is believed to have purchased $14,000 worth of merchandise using stolen credit cards.

Speaking of big money, police find $238,000 in a backpack in a suspected drug dealers car. Antonio Joseph Ward, 34, was charged with a bevy of drug related crimes.

A 20-year-old is in the hospital with a broken femur after being shot 4500 block of North Rogers St. Wednesday.

Bad news for our friends at the Sun. The Sun is looking to buy out between 20-25 employees soon. As you can tell, I rely very heavily on the Sun as a way of giving crime news to you folks, so it's always sad to hear when the Sun is cutting positions, and thus potentially cutting it's crime coverage.

City officer turned drug dealer is set to be released on bail. Daniel Redd, 41, will be held under electronic home monitoring at his mothers house.

Two Baltimoreans have been arrested for a string of PA bank hold-up's. Jason Ronald Dixon, 44 and Renee Fleet, 42 are being held on $300,000 bond.

Connection between suburbia mall robberies and city killing made. Derek Jones, 25, was shot to death just hours after being interviewed by police regarding his involvement in the capers. 20-year-old Deontaye Harvey and 19-year-old Aaron Pratt have been indicted federally for their roles in the robberies.

PG County police "want to talk" to Quindell Mercer, 34 (RIGHT). Mercer is a relative of a mother and son who were shot to death in their home last week. Mr. Mercer has a criminal history consisting of an arrest for Attempted murder from 1997, an arrest for Murder from 2005, as well as being currently wanted for attempted murder in South Carolina.

A true "inside look" into the use of clear televisions in MD prisons. I hate myself for using that pun.

15 years in death of an Annapolis toddler. Timothy Darnell Height, 18, who's picture is very prominently displayed on the page linked, plead guilty to smothering his girlfriends 1-year-old baby.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Woof

Controversy in New York about using service dogs to comfort victims who're testifying in court.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Snoop Cops a Plea, Canton Robber Strikes Again, and More

Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, who's character on the Wire was once described by Steven King as "...the most terrifying villain to ever appear in a television series" has plead guilty to drug charges. She will avoid any prison or jail time with a 7 year suspended sentence.

Testimony in the trial of John Wagner, the man suspected of stabbing JHU researcher Stephen Pitcairn, began today.

Serial robber Jerry Harcum is still on the loose, if you see him, let the cops know.

Document thief Barry Landau was released from jail today, and is now in a "lockdown situation."

14-year-old suspected grandma attacker Hassanhii Garrett will be tried in juvenile court, despite being charged with attempted-murder.

A 20-year-old Baltimore man is in the hospital after being shot several times on the 3800 block of 9th St.

An Annapolis police officer has been charged with manslaughter in the DUI death of 19-year-old. James Salyers, 52, was indicted for the October death.

A Germantown argument ends in gunfire. 26-year-old Dmytro Solomatin has been charged with attempted murder in the gas station shooting.

Laurel oncologist Isabella Martire, age 52, has plead guilty purchasing and subsequently giving misbranded drugs to cancer patients.She faces up to 1 year in prison.

In international news...

A Frederick woman is missing in Aruba, and authorities have zeroed in on a suspect, "travel companion" Gary Giordano.

And speaking of Marylanders facing long prison terms overseas, Potomac man Alan Gross has been sentenced to 15 years in Cuban prison after being charged with “crime against the independence and territorial integrity of the state.”

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Tradgedy in Anne Arundel, Transgender Beating Plea Deal, and More

A terrible quadruple murder-suicide in Anne Arundel County. Kelly Brian Thompson, 33, shot and killed his wife and her twin 15-year-old children.

5 years for transgender beating suspect Teonna Monae Brown, according to a plea agreement released by County prosecutors today.

No charges will be filed in the Select Lounge shooting.

Police are on the lookout for the man who shot and severely wounded 14-year-old boy.

A city correctional officer has been killed in a weekend motorcycle accident. Devon Lomax, 34, died of his injuries after the Friday night crash.

A Harford county teen has been charged with stabbing a blind man to death. Donnell Graham, 17, has been arrested for the cold-blooded killing.

Police are currently ISO 18-year-old Ottus Maximum Savoy, wanted for the August 1st murder of

Dream's really don't come true, at least for Sen. Ulysses Currie, who surprise surprise, had his plea for dismissal of his bribery charges denied.

Have you seen this man? Jerry Jule Harcum, 26 (RIGHT) is wanted for robbing women all over Canton.

Two teens have been charged with the heartless robbery-murder of a 74-year-old man. PG County police have charged Marcus C. Ferguson, 16, and Kenneth B. Gails, 18, with the murder.

Montgomery County prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Brittany Norwood in the killing of her co-worker at a Rockville yoga shop.

Three weaponless men robbed an Arbutus bank at high noon Friday.

Just out of prison for previous robberies, Randolph Burke Wells, age 46 was sentenced to 17 years in the Federal pen for what is hopefully, his last bank robbery.

Three Baltimore man have been indicted for their roles in a series of armed robberies throughout the city.

Life in Federal lockup for an already imprisoned pedo. 50-year-old Franesiour Bryan Kemache-Webster, will never see the streets again after being convicted of attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Also, apologies for my lack of posting this past week, it seems that a battle between tree branch and my cable wires ended in a decisive victory for the tree branch, and a disappointing loss for my ability to update the blog.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Bwahahaha! Belinda Conaway drops lawsuit against blogger

"I knew in the long run she would end up humbled and humiliated,” crowed Adam Meister.

Guilty plea for McDonald's beatdown

Teonna Brown, 19, accused (& caught on tape) beating transgender woman Chrissy Lee Polis, pled guilty today to one count of first-degree assault and one count of a hate crime, says TDR. Sentencing is scheduled for next month.

Murderous Mid-Week

91-year old Irene Logan was stabbed to death in her Northeast Baltimore home. The article makes it sounds like it was probably a robbery-murder, but police haven't confirmed anything.

A decision on whether to charge the officers involved in the Select Lounge shooting is expected today.

Multiple shootings last night but not too many details.

A Baltimore County man was one of those charged in an international child porn bust.

A fellow named Evan Jackson apparently can't stay away from illegal guns. He has multiple prior gun arrests and is now charged with having an illegal "assault rifle."

Another gun bust at BWI.

There's been an arrest in the I-83 road rage case.

Cop shot in PG County, his injuries are non-life threatening.

Alleged document thief Barry Landau has a bail hearing today. Prosecutors claim he is a flight risk and want him held without bail.

DC sniper Lee Malvo wants to change his name.

One of the women caught on tape assaulting a transgendered woman at a Rosedale McDonalds in April goes on trial today.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Get your weed back

City police officer caught on tape offering to give weed back to suspect in exchange for sex

The Federales are not amused

Antonio Hall is on trial in US District Court for the murder of federal witness Kareem Guest.

Illegal immigrants selling fake documents in Fells Point. The feds do not approve. WJZ says the documents were being distributed from a house on the 200 block of South Broadway.

An Anne Arundel County councilman allegedly failed to file a tax return in 2005.

Road rage on I-83.

Axe attack in Frederick.

There was a police involved shooting in Northwest Baltimore early Tuesday morning. The suspect ended up at Shock Trauma and is in stable condition, the officer is unharmed.

He's Bay-uck

Michael Olesker is back and writing for the Patch, today about the mayor's underwhelming response to incidents in Guilford and Station North.

ps., if you enjoy getting news via blogs and pondering 'digital culture' you might like reading Jaron Lanier's You Are Not a Gadget (he was recently in the NYker).
(the Pratt has a copy & you can also read the first chapter free on Amazon.)

pps, I, the Cybrarian, MJB, have moved of 'relay' mode, if you haven't noticed, after about six years of updating the blog almost every day. I am just too busy. But I am really happy that TAB, PP and Sean have stepped up to keep it going. I find it helpful to read esp. if I'm out of town and want to just check my phone to find out what's been going down in town. SpotCrime is also great resource if you just want the latest quick deets on what is happening around a particular address. ... I wonder if there is a Baltimore Crime/ History/ Sociology book club in town, where one drinks tea or wine and eats snacks and bickers about the city's woes? ... there ought to be.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Say it ain't so!!

But it's true. After 10 years at the Sun, Julie Bykocwicz is leaving to report on Transportation Security for Bloomberg in DC. Her clear, concise and crucial reportage gave such a strong voice to the stories in this town, defining a decade here and in Annapolis. What a loss for us!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Tally Just Keeps Going Up...

The murder tally continues to proliferate with new victims...

118-120: So far Identified as Billy Lovitt, age 58, his 36-year-old stepdaughter, and an unknown 27-year-old male, were all shot to death in a terrible triple homicide and fire.

121: Dwayne Hawkins, 25, was added 3 years after his death during what was once believed to be a accidental fire.

122: Ryshawn Cox, 21, was found shot to death in the 900 block of N. Belnord Ave.

123. 47-year-old Unidentified Male was shot to death in a car at around 2am last night. in the 3600 block of Chesterfield Ave.



A look at how DC's murder rates have taken a completely opposite turn than that of Baltimore's.

The man convicted of throwing a chunk of concrete that killed an off-duty officer, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Sian James, 26, received the maximum possible sentence for his involuntary manslaughter conviction.

Prosecutors believe that the men who stole thousands of historical documents, may have flushed at least one important document down the toilet.

The then 14-year-old girl arrested for shooting two men, killing one, who laughed at her during an attempted robbery, has plead guilty. Arteesha Holt, now 15, faces up to 50 years when sentenced.

44-year-old Timothy Gaskins was sentenced to 54 years in prison for the attempted murder of two women outside Johns Hopkins Hospital. As you may or may not recall, Timothy Gaskins son; Timothy Gaskins Jr, 22, a suspected member of the Lueders Park Piru Bloods, was shot and killed on Memorial Day last year.
Also: Here's some more information on the Lueders Park Piru Bloods. And no, this information has not been verified... so read at your own behest.

Arrest in a Parkville Honda dealership heist. 22-year-old Walter Lafferty Jr.(Right) was charged with Burglary and Theft over $10,000. Police are still ISO a second suspect.

17-year-old Derrell Emmanuel Mason has been charged with stabbing to death Leonard R. Smith-Matthews, 21, outside a Hyattsville shopping center.

An arrest in the murder of the man found in the Choptank River. His step-daughter, Charlene R. Weddle, 45, and her friend, 34-year-old Mary S. Chider have been charged with first degree murder.

In PG County, Mount Rainier police officer Gene Gillette, age 27, has been arrested for attempted murder and various sexual offenses after he allegedly shot and attempted to sexually assault a man.

3rd life term for 41-year-old Darren Witmer, after being convicted of strangling his cellmate, 48-year-old Jeffrey Kay in the Western Correctional Institute.

An Overlea home was one of several places raided by Federal authorities in the crackdown of a multi-state prostitution ring.

City woman Viola Gregory, 69, is missing. If you see her, call the authorities immediately.

Two more members of the notorious 4x4 neighborhood drug ring in Baltimore have been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Shaun Hopkins, 21, and Larry Carlos, 23, will both spend a dime in Federal prison.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Monday Crime Roundup

One drug dealer too many in his Facebook pics for the newly canned former head of police internal affairs.

Convicted child killer Arthur Tyler Felton, 38, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for carjacking. He won't be eligible for parole for 10 years. Here's a story from when he was sentenced for the childs killing.

117, has been identified as promising basketball player Marcus Harvell, 18.

Police have arrested 38-year-old Dante Alexander Williams, for pushing his girlfriend out of a moving car on I-95.

More info on 20-year-old Chey Jordan, the man police believe shot an officer with a high powered rifle.

County Police seek two men, including one with a sweet semi-mohawk for the killing of George Bryant at the Club Baltimore.

Baltimore Police Officer/jilted ex, Lynette Glover, 35 has been arrested for shooting at her ex-guy pals house.

Two men are injured in non-fatal shootings in the city early Monday.

Two people shot in the county.

A pair of teenagers, Ryan Mackenzie McLean, 17, and Elrich Delona Smith, 18, have been arrested for the murder of 17-year-old Katelyn Messina and attempted murder of 22-year-old Darnell Hill in Randallstown. Random to note, but Elrich Smith's father, and namesake, was at one point an outdoor barber in East Baltimore.

"East Coast Rapist" Aaron Thomas, 39, has been linked to yet another PG County rape.

The death of 71-year-old Louis Nichols, who's body was found in the Choptank River, has been determined as a homicide.

Believe it or not; Senator Ulysses Curriewants his charges dismissed.
And I want a paid vacation to Sweden, but life's just cruel like that.

Few details.. but apparent "acid bomb" was thrown on city construction workers.

A Maryland state trooper is recovering after a man attacked and stabbed him on the Capital Beltway.

A Baltimore County trooper is in the hospital after breaking his arm while chasing two robbery suspects.

Two respectable looking gentleman, Russell Hartlove, 47 (Left) and Richard Poling, 41, (Right) were arrested for an Anne Arundel County burglary.

Police are investigating a "Pizza City" robbery.

A 52-year-old man was injured in an attempted robbery in Linthicum.

Howard police seek more information after a weekend shooting.

Classic road-rage solution tool: wooden club.

3'11 murderer, and suspected MS-13 member, Henry Chavez, 28, who spent several months on the lam in El Salvador, has been sentenced to 30 Years.

80 Years for Oxen Hill man John Howard Dunn, for the August 2010 killing of Brian Grant.

Raymond "Money" Moore, of the notorious 4x4 neighborhood, has been sentenced to 10 years in the Federal Pen.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Lunchtime Update

Col. Terrence Sheridan is retiring from his post as Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. MdTA police chief Marcus Brown will be his successor.

Non-fatal stabbing at a bar in Middle River.

No bail for alleged crooked cop Daniel Redd.

Policarpio Perez and Adan Canela will be tried a third time for allegedly decapitating three kids in 2004.

Lornell Felder is getting $100k from the City. In the spring of 2009 he was beaten by two plainclothes police officers and held for several days after the cops mistook a cigarette he was rolling for marijuana. If Felder's allegations are even vaguely true then I can't fathom why the two cops named in the suit haven't been fired.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Stabbings Galore... and More

Yet another fatal stabbing downtown yesterday. as well as the revelation of a previously undisclosed murder victim.

Two separate shootings leave one man dead and a woman injured.

A city officer was shot, and apparently not injured much at all, while responding to a domestic disturbance.

16-year-old Keymo Tubias Martin Jr. has been charged with attempted murder in the near-fatal shooting of two security guards.
Interesting to note; Mr.Keymo Martin Sr. was stabbed and killed by his then girlfriend Erin Monk (who was not Jr's mother) back in 1995.

Judge to review history in of Officer Gahiji Tshamba in order to help decide a proper sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for August 16.

Federal press release offers more information regarding Ofc.Daniel Reed's drug trafficking conspiracy.

Teen being sought for a double stabbing at the Patapsco light rail stop.

Denation Kent, 37, who was into his 16th year of a 60 year attempted-murder conviction is wanted for walking away from his work release job. As to why after only 16 years of a 60 year sentence he was ut on work release is an entirely different question.

Murder trial of the then 14-year-old girl who shot a man for laughing at her during an attempted robbery isdelayed.

37-year-old WCI inmate and former Baltimore resident Michael Boyer, who was serving a 50 year sentence, has beencharged for the murder of his cellmate; 37-year-old former Baltimore resident Timothy Davis who was serving a 50 year sentence as well.

Speaking of murders at the Western Correctional Institute, 28-year-old Kim Hargett has been charged with the February killing of Blas Ramon Mata Aguilar.

A skull that showed up on a Kent county beachshows signs of a homicide.

Man who was shot in the 900 block of Herndon Ct. is in grave condition.

Police are investigating a triple stabbing that took place Tuesday night.

Recognition isn't always great... 5 city schools make list of most dangerous in the nation.

Padonia swim club owner Ira "Fred" Rigger, 56, has plead guilty and will receive an 18 month sentence.

Harford County police are searching for clues as to whether a string of armed-robberies are related.

A German rape suspect is extradited to Maryland after 10 years. Klaus Von Mahr, 51, has plead guilty and will face up to 25 years at sentencing.

Guilty plea by city landlord Cephus Murrell, 68, relating to his involvement in an ongoing series of lead paint violations

"Professional criminal/believed serial killer Jason Thomas Scott,, 27, has been convicted of a gluttony of charges, facesat least 97 years. Scott is also believed to have been responsible for the home invasion of MMA fighter Lloyd Irvin before a partner in crime was disarmed by the veteran MMA fighter.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Sunday, July 17, 2011

112, 113

112: Rodney Mandotis Johnson, 30 was shot and killed.

113: An as of yet unidentified 21-year-old male was found shot to death on the 1200 block of Ward Street.
Update:
The victim has been identified as Rasheed Abdullah, a man who was apparently very well known to our own Baltimore Crime blog reader Cham and many Pigtown residents as a reputed drug dealer who residents tried multiple times to evict.

More information about Rodney Johnson;
Besides prior arrests for armed robbery, and rape, as well as a drug dealing conviction, Mr. Johnson was also arrested back in 2007 for the murder of Todd Dargan. Arrested alongside Mr. Johnson was 45-year-old Ronald Cox. Mr. Johnson was eventually acquitted and Ronald Cox was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for the murder. Ronald Cox eventually appealed and had his case brought before the MD Court of Appeals on the grounds that he had a right to confront Mr.Johnson at trial citing the Confrontation Clause. His appeal had not been formally decided on as of May of this year.