Monday, November 7, 2011

It's Never to Soon to Ruin Your Life...

14-year-old Nefatea Hector is facing two counts of attempted murder for shooting Joseph Esdelle, 20, in the face, and hitting Anthony Samuel Johnson, 24, with a stray bullet.

For the second time in a week, a 2009 Baltimore County murder has led to federal indictments. Several members of the massive Marijuana trafficking operation were indicted in federal court for their roles in the drug ring and kidnapping-murder 50-year-old Michael Paul Knight.

City police have made an arrest in a quadruple shooting at a city club. Karon Darren Shaw, 19, was arrested for shooting the four men, including two who were club employees.

Police have already arrested 17-year-old Markell Jones for the murder of Freddie Jones Jr. at the turbulent Yau Brothers Carryout on Greenmount, but they are still searching for the other two robbers involved in the killing.

Just two months in jail for Maximilian Bode, 21, the man who killed former Johns Hopkins fencing coach Richard Oles with a snowplow.

An apparent jumper at the Tapco Tower in Towson. The death of the elderly man found in a dumpster near the building is not believed to have involved foul play.

Bail has been denied for accused human trafficker Alarcon Wiggins. Besides being the ringleader of a prostitution ring, Alarcon Wiggins is also apparently a god-awful rapper and deadbeat dad. And as authentic as his talent profile seems, I probably wouldn't call the number he listed.

The jury in the Ulysses Currie trial is still in deliberations on day three. After weeks of testimony the jury has yet to make a decision on the fate of the State Senator and two co-defendants.

A missing Silver Springs man winds up dead in Anne Arundel County. Manuel Enrique Diaz Gomez, 37, was reported missing by his family on Halloween.

The oxycodone overdose death of a quadriplegic Ellicott City man has been ruled a homicide after a lengthy investigation.

Bullets ripped through a Hagerstown home, leaving only one of the homes dozen residents injured.

An Odenton man was caught trying to hang himself in his jail cell Saturday.

Finally, a three alarm blaze occurred at DiDi's pizza in Dundalk, supposedly from two cardboard boxes catching fire.

15 years for Pitcairn killer's accomplice

Lavelva Merritt got a deal for testifying against her crack buddy John Wagner; Wagner got life +20. She also has a hearing in December for violating her probation on a previous drug charges. Tricia Bishop reports that Merritt could be out in as few as six years, plus Merritt's courtroom comments: "making myself depressed ain't going to make it no better ... I'm not going to sit here and let it take over my life."
An unidentified man shot to death in the 4100 block of Parkwood Avenue over the weekend, plus four nonfatal shootings.

Another female Frostburg student stabbed by a female classmate?! Kortneigh McCoy, 19, a sophomore at Frostburg State University and a Poly grad, died following a stabbing early Sunday. Student Shanee Liggins, 23, of Waldorf, is in custody. WTF?

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Back again...

The conviction of Erik Stoddard was affirmed by the Court of Appeals last week. Stoddard was convicted and then retried no fewer than three times before his final conviction for child abuse resulting in the death of a child in 2008. The victim, three-year-old Calen Faith DiRubbo, died of multiple blunt-force injuries in 2002.

And Matthew VanDyke is back, still skinny, still sporting a schmattle and planning to write a book.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Afternoon Round-up: Friday Edition

Three arrests have been made in two police impersonation robberies. Demon Harris, 36, Wayne Kasey, 26, and Donte Driggs, 23 are all facing serious charges for their roles in the robberies.

Two fatal fires in last 12 hours. 20-year-old Conner McKeown was killed in a Harford County fire, while an unidentified man died in northwest Baltimore garage fire.

A 10th grader at Civitas Middle/High School was stabbed by a 14-year-old fellow student yesterday.

A detective in a Carroll County murder case has been charged with perjury.

Two non-fatal shootings in the city yesterday including a 20 year old who was shot in the head.

Jury deliberations in the Ulysses Currie trial continue today.

33-year-old Chad Frobouck got 5 years for growing pot at a strip mall. The moral of the story here, is if you're going to grow weed in your business, make sure to pay your rent on time.


Creepy barber 54-year-old Jung Gon Kim(Pictured Right) was busted for sexually abusing a 13-year-old patron in his shop.

16 years exiled to Federal prison for career criminal Barry Murel, 49, for his 12th and (hopefully) final felony conviction.

A whopping 21 years in the Federal pen for heroin dealer Taurus "Ock" Wiggins, age 43.

Arrest in Yau Bros. Murder

Police say 17-year-old Markell Jones has reportedly confessed to Killing Freddie Jones Jr. at the Yau Brothers Carryout Monday night, after his parents turned him in. Two more suspects remain at large.

Twenty years for Arteesha Holt, the 14-year-old who killed Jose Rodolfo Gonzalez-Coreas after he laughed at her attempt to rob him

What is it going to take?!

to get a standing independent review board in this town?!
In case you haven't heard, the report is out on the criminally negligent "tragic perfect storm" that lead to the shooting deaths of Officer William H. Torbit Jr. and Select Lounge reveler Sean Gamble, and the stupidity within is mind-boggling. Highlights include:

- Torbit left his police identification in his trunk, went into the crowd alone, tried to get some drunk girls to quit hitting a car with their shoes and told Sean Gamble to "mind your own fucking business" when he tried to intervene, escalating the situation.

- many officers didn't let dispatchers know they were on the scene, so the chain of command couldn't be established. As the melee was going on, an officer radioed "That's an officer, he is one of us, stop shooting" and was ignored.

- officers shot into a crowd of people, exhibiting "poor marksmanship and undisciplined shooting."

- investigators didn't log photos of the crime scene.

- officers involved in the incident refused to testify, including Deputy Maj. Marc Partee, the commander on duty that night. If a civilian witness refuses to show up to testify, they get thrown in jail, but when it's an officer shooting someone, apparently they are within their rights to not even make an appearance.

- As we already knew, the police has for years gone against its own policies and failed to conduct "after-action" training reviews of police-involved shootings to prevent future incidents.

and, finally, two years ago Bealefeld justified not releasing the names of officers to the public because their own internal investigations are so thorough. "But the report found that in practice, the internal affairs unit defers to homicide detectives and waits until the criminal case is resolved — which can take months and in some cases more than a year, 'delay[ing] the Department's ability to determine what policies were violated or how it might improve its practices.'"

So what is it going to take to get an independent review board in this town?
So far this year we've had $1.2 million worth of extra tax dollars going to compensate victims of police malfeasance, how many citizens shot by police? 1, 2, 3.. a bunch. Also an officer dealing heroin out of the NW District Police Station, the towing scandal, 30 percent of rape cases being deemed "unfounded" ... what is it going to take?

Without demonstrable integrity, the police department loses its legitimacy. With no legitimate police force, people take the law into their own hands and refuse to cooperate, making community-based policing impossible. Citizens take the law into their own hands. If the mayor, Bealefeld and Robert Cherry are genuinely committed to a fair and responsive police force that holds protecting citizens as its top priority, they would welcome a standing independent review board, one with subpoena power and the ability to make recommendations. Seventeen out of 50 largest cities have this, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Miami, San Diego and Pittsburgh. The fact that the mayor, chief of police and head of the police union support the BPD conducting its affairs in secrecy and answerable to no one is a spitwad on the cheek of every tax-paying citizen in this sorry burg.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Sleazy, sad and evil

Police have released video of the suspects wanted in the murder of Freddie Jones Jr. near the Yau Brothers on Monday. Lowell Melser reports that the robbery netted $13-- the exact same amount Charles Bowman was murdered for, which sounds a little too coincidental to be true.

Two shootings yesterday near Franklintown Blvd & Edmonson Ave

The Dept of Labor is suing Baltimore Behavioral Health for withholding financial records. A Sun investigation uncovered veritable assloads of shadiness at the supposed treatment clinic, including stolen retirement funds, Medicaid fraudsters on the payroll, and family members of the director pocketing six-figure salaries.

Judge Ben C. Clyburn has issued a “stay” on 3,878 debt col­lec­tion cases brought by two com­pa­nies whose busi­ness licenses have been sus­pended

After liberating Libya, Matthew VanDyke is now headed home to work on his memoirs

No bail for a woman arrested here and charged with running a prostitution ring in El Paso

A prisoner named Derontay walked away from a work detail in Glen Burnie yesterday, but was soon recaptured

Down in Bethesda, Brittany Norwood was found guilty of murdering co-worker Jayna Murray

A thoroughly depressing suspected grandson/grandma murder/suicide in Parkville

The City Paper has their election endorsements. Wouldn't it be nice if Pistol Pete got rousted?

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Dead Man Inc. Indictments

22 members of the infamous Dead Man Incorporated were indicted in federal court today. Among the bevy of crimes the 18 men and 4 women indicted were charged with are the 2009 murders of James Flanary, Tony Geiger, Eugene Chambers, & Walter Milewski.

Indicted Members Are:

Perry “Saho the Ghost” Roark, age 42
James Sweeney, age 34
Nicky Cash, age 46
George "Fat Boy" Treas IV, age 28
Dane Shives, age 22
Michael Anthony Quinn, age 28
Michael “Skinny Pimp” Forame Jr., age 40
Brian Mitchell, age 40
Richard Lee Ingram, age 45
Timothy “Fuhrer” Mixter, age 35
John Henry Adams, age 25
Gregory David Cook Jr., age 36
Jeremy Ridgeway, age 22
John William Zion Jr., age 27
Russell Bernard Hartman, age 29
Bonnie Rice, age 35
Kelly Witter, age 26
Charles Robert Gray Jr., age 31
Edward Adam Mueller, age 31
Melanie Holquist, age 28
Scott William Jarriel, age 28
Gary Charles Horton, age 26

Despite the vast majority of members having long, serious, and violent criminal records, information was quite difficult to find on the indicted members. If you find any more information on the indicted, let us know.

"her buttocks had scratches"

The investigation into the shooting of William Torbit Jr. is reportedly complete, with results expected to be released to the public tomorrow (my money's on Friday afternoon, though...)

Walter Bishop Jr. got life without parole, which of course means he's eligible for parole in 25 years. Sentencing for handgun and conspiracy charges are still TK, though.

The accusation of sexual assault at Occupy Baltimore was unfounded, say police. Apparently a woman woke up to find that "her buttocks had scratches" and there was "$1,800 missing from an envelope in her purse." Who could sleep through a buttock-scratching? Who keeps $1,800 in their purse? And what's the next step for these occupiers, anyway?
.. in other protest-y news, a petition is circulation calling for greater transparency and more community participation from the Greater Baltimore Development Corporation, and protestors are gathering at 36 South Charles at 5 p.m. on the 7th, "where some sunlight can hopefully be cast upon these matters"

OH and here's some shady-sounding shiz: The Brew reports that the Board of Estimates has just approved a new no-bid contracting process that will have contractors selected by a five-member board instead of via competitive bidding. I don't see how such a system could possibly invite corruption, do you?

County police are ISO this lumberjack-looking guy for robbing an Essex CVS. He's also guilty of gross and willful fashion violations-- black jeans and white sneakers, yech.

THIS is a good idea: the city got a grant to build a child-custody handoff center. (... how bananas is it that a husband could try to strangle his wife, but still have unsupervised visits with kids?!)

Two drug-toting individuals are in custody after causing a flaming crash a few blocks from City College yesterday

Puke sandwiches: politicians line up to praise the honesty, integrity and overall super-fabulousness of Ulysses S. Currie. Closing statements in that case are apparently going on right now.

Former city solicitor Ralph Tyler, defender of many a police misconduct lawsuit, is joining the local mega-firm of Venable LLP.

Curtis Lopez, accused killer of Jane and William McQuain, is OTW back to MD from NC. .. apparently in these extradition cases the perp actually rides on a commercial airline handcuffed to a Marshall. If that's true, is the perp allowed to get little pretzels and half a Coke?

Walter Bishop Dodges Death

A Harford County jury has decided against the death penalty for Walter Bishop, and apparently against life w/o parole as well.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

172, 173

A man was fatally shot in the 2900 block of Greenmount Avenue yesterday evening after being robbed in front of the Yau Brothers carryout, and during prime trick-or-treating hours, no less.

Richard A. Ford Jr., shot in 1998 on York Rd. in Govans, has died of shooting-related injuries.

A man was arrested in the tan van teen gang rape case: one Lucky Christopher Crosby Jr., 22, who was wearing a GPS ankle bracelet at the time.

It is your right to videotape the police. But that apparently doesn't mean they can't threaten to arrest you on some BS charge and erase everything on your phone anyway.

Violence in Waverly

Fatal shooting at the Yau Brothers carryout on Greenmount. This is the second fatal robbery at that establishment in less than two years.

Rape Assault alleged at Occupy Baltimore

Some tension at the Occupy Baltimore protest

Friday, October 28, 2011

Cat mutilator pleads guilty

Ethan Weibman, 20, pleaded guilty to charges related to two cats he mutilated earlier this year. Weibman was busted when he and his girlfriend Jorden Donahue took a beaten, shot cat back to the SPCA... and asked for another cat. This Facebook group went to great pains to copy his profile pictures (lots of weed shots from his Hampshire College days) and contains high levels of seething rage ... rage so conspicuously absent when human children are beaten to death in the city, no?

Buckets of Duckets

Detective Jemell L. Rayam, who TDR reports shot three people in two years, is being sued by the family of his most recent shooting victim. This makes us wonder, how much has the BPD paid out in lawsuits so far this year (and how does that compare to other years)? In March Brendan Kearney tallied up $800,000 in settlements for the first two months of 2011, then in July $100,000 to a 65-year-old man beaten when police thought he was rolling a joint, $30,000 to this guy, then $250,000 for the helicopter-unit whistleblower, $45,000 for a guy who had his arm broken ... Did I miss any? $1.225 million then?

A knife-wielding man hopped in the front seat of a deputy sheriff's cruiser stopped at a traffic light at Walther Avenue and Moravia Road and got himself shot

18-year-old James Johnson was arrested
for the murder of 70-year-old Milton Hill

Another murder at the Perkins hospital-- patient Ragelio Mondragon was killed and one Andre Mayo is charged.

Ppatin will be tickled pink to hear that a HarfCo jury has found Walter Bishop Jr. eligible for the death penalty.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

en fuego!

Mark Cheshire es en fuego! Three press releases from the SAO:
- Life +10 for the killer of Shonte Ellis, shot 16 times while she sat in a parked car outside of The Clubhouse Bar.

- 40 years for Antwane Brown, who shot his neighbor in the back and paralyzed him

- the SAO's office has gotten a grant of $127,984 for a prostitution diversion program. Apparently the city arrests 1,200 prostitutes a year. (Or the same 10 prostitutes every other day.)

The Urbanite publishes mini-essays by prisoners in Michael Corbin's writing class

Accused document thief Barry Landau's assistant (also referred to as his 'associate' or 'young friend' in reports), Jason Savedoff, 24, left, is due in federal court today. Savedoff is from Vancouver and has worked as a model. How he got hooked up with Landau, mommy is dying to know.

Heads up, boozehounds: the state is expanding the ignition interlock system to include DUI first-timers who blow more than .15. Sounds like one of these thingys would be a worthwhile investment. Or just do your drinking and driving in the city, where few police officers can be bothered to haul your drunken ass to central booking.

Two vigils

Fenton reports on the vigil for Marquis Jones, which ended in a stampede of terror fueled by the fact that the killer is still at large, "as is the case in nearly six out of 10 city homicides."

The North Baltimore Patch has a roundup of robberies

Deadline passes, but 'Occupy Baltimore' campers remain, with the mayor restrained yet irritated: "it's not about pitching a tent, it's about getting the work done." (that's what she said... *snicker*).

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The crime beat is tough in Bmore

Even reporters from Scotland have a have a hard time getting the facts from the BPD

Walter Bishop Jr. Guilty

In the murder of William Porter. The Sun's Arthur Hirsch reports that sentencing is scheduled for tomorrow in HarfCo, and Bishop could possibly be the first person sentenced to death since the law was changed to only make eligible cases that involve DNA or videotaped evidence. And the judge (I assume?) has okayed the release of the tape of Bishop describing the murder to a county detective. "I come around the corner, point it, close my eyes and squeeze the trigger."

Afternoon Roundup

A man was rescued after falling into the Inner Harbor at around 2:30 am.

The Federal bribery trial of good 'ol Ulysses Currie is still going, even without Currie actually taking the stand. His trial is expected to go to the jury sometime next week.

An inside scoop into the begining of the lululemon murder trial over in Montgomery County. The Washington Post has someone live tweeting the happenings of the case.

A Howard County police officer is in stable condition after striking a guardrail and flipping his patrol car in order to avoid a deer.

Police have arrested 34-year-old Dionysios Vinias for the armed robbery of a 70-year-old lady at a Glen Burnie Box N' Save. When Mr. Vinias isn't robbing little old ladies he apparently enjoys drawing and the band Tool, according to his Myspace page.

Anne Arundel County police have busted creepy janitor Jason Beatty, 30, for committing some less-than-school-board -approved acts whilst outside a young girls home.

Finally, jury deliberation in the first death penalty case since the implementing of new rules as to what is considered a death-penalty warranting case has begun today.

A tan van

The BPD is ISO a tan van driven by a man who raped a 14-year-old.
Also, whoever wrote this post really needs to learn the difference between a plural and a possessive.

More Sun Layoffs!? Srsly?

A 32-year-old man shot in the face at 1300 block of North Spring Street in East Baltimore last night

The SAO reports that Baltimore City Circuit Court jury convicted Dajuan Marshall yesterday of "conspiracy to murder and participation in a criminal street gang resulting in death" for the 2008 murder of Kenneth Jones. Jones was forced into a trunk, shot in the head with large-caliber handgun and his body dumped in the 4500 block of Bonner Road in Northwest Baltimore. Says the SAO, "Jones was the leader of the Pasadena Denver Lanes Bloods gang, also known by the acronym PDL. At the time of the murder, Jones's PDL was in a dispute with a rival set of Bounty Hunter Bloods known as the Spider Gang, which was headed by Marshall." Twenty-three PDLs were indicted in 2009 on federal racketeering charges.

The Ink summarizes last week's two murders; noting that 23-year-old victim Antoinne Pratt managed to drive himself for four blocks before expiring.

Inside Charm City reports that the Baltimore Sun Media Group is cutting even more positions: 10 in the Patuxent and Homestead groups. As much as I want to support reporting and such, that is a total dick move ($115 million in management bonuses!!). Also note that if you subscribe to the Sun online they make it nearly impossible to cancel your subscription-- you can't do it online, you have to send them a message and then have someone call you to try to talk you out of it first. If you do subscribe online, good idea to use Amex or another credit card that provides consumer protection.

Jack Young is apparently against paying for police settlements, but made an exception for an officer fired after he blew the whistle on waste and mismanagement in the helicopter unit.

MarylandReporter.com alleges a case of quid-pro-quo back-scratchery when it comes to the new alcohol tax, with the $$ to benefit the districts whose representatives voted to support the tax, not where the funds are needed most. (... don't miss the awkward hilarity that is Len Lazarek interviewing Herman Cain.)

Terry Lee Nolley, 47, of Silver Spring pleaded guilty to transporting child pornography and destruction of records; Nolley was the host of a bulletin board called “Country Lounge” that hosted child pornography for the enjoyment of 142 members.

A peeper busted in Glen Burnie

And, finally, Occupy Baltimore has been asked by the mayor's office to have only two people spend the night. (But where are the campers using the bathroom?! Someone please tell me!)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Victim #170 was ID'd as Sherry Montgomery-Cantey, 43.
County police are ISO a striped-jacket-wearing bank robber responsible for robberies in Towson and Parkville.

BCPD detective Antonio Green is in a hefty lot of trouble for filing some false disability claims.

Speaking of lawmen gone bad, there have been two more guilty pleas in the massive Majestic towing scandal. 25-year-old Jerry Diggs Jr., and 39-year-old Osvaldo Valentine both pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit and committing extortion. Diggs and Valentine both face a max of 25 years when sentenced.

14 years in Federal prison for crack dealing Curtis Bay resident William Bayne.

Over in Howard County, police have busted the mother-daughter tandem of Denia Lyonette Wallace, 35, and Kyresha Shamaya Anderson, 16, for what are now charges of armed robbery after they maced a security officer whilst shoplifting some unknown items.

Yet another murder-suicide in Maryland. It appears a murder-suicide has occurred in Rockville at the National Lutheran Communities & Services assisted living home.

Thomas Anthony Hubbard, 52, is facing serious time in the Federal clink for committing an Upper Marlboro sub shop robbery using a gun and a fake bomb. This is Hubbard's 3rd conviction and 4th arrest for robbery since 1991, so don't be surprised if a hefty sentence is imposed.

Finally, In Harford County, police are frantically searching for the creepers in a black work van who attempted to kidnap a 14-year-old boy off the street.

170

Police tweeted last night: "900 Blk E. 41st St. (Northern District-Pen Lucy Community), 5:22pm, adult female shot. Homicide detectives investigating." then "UPDATE: 41st Street incident is now a homicide, caused by blunt force trauma and not a shooting."

A Baltimore City Circuit Court jury awarded $18.5 million to the family and estate of Philip Parker Jr., killed by inmate Kevin Johns on a prison bus.

The NYT reports that in spite of being in bankruptcy, the Tribune Company executive bonuses could equal $115 million over three years. Kind of makes one feel like a jackass for paying for the digital subscription after all.

And the city has decided to "disperse" Occupy Baltimore on October 26th, reports the group's web site

Monday, October 24, 2011

"Do it and let them gasp"

A 38-year-old man was shot to death in the 2200 block of Linden Ave.

And Fenton Tweets that there was a homicide Friday night in the 2800 blk S. Woodbrook Ave.

A nonfatal shooting on the East side

After 50 years with no murders, two in 13 months at the Perkins Homes (MD's hospital for the criminally insane). The alleged perp, Vitaly Davydov, pleaded guilty in the fatal beating of Rockville psychiatrist Wayne S. Fenton during an office visit in 2007.

The SAO's office reports that a Baltimore City Circuit Court jury convicted Lendelle C. Sanchez for the first-degree murder of Thomas Mouzon Jr. on Friday.

The final two suspects in the Gilmor Homes drug network have pleaded guilty, and they're a father and son team, Dione "Sticks" Fauntleroy Jr. and his father, Dione "Big Man" Fauntleroy Sr. Junior's grandpa, William Herring, also pleaded guilty for his part in the cocaine-dealing conspiracy last month, making for three generations in the big house, reported Fenton. Boy of Baraka Romesh Vance has also pleaded guilty in the case.

Clients up, funding down at Legal Aid

Two 40-somethings have been arrested for an 8-month-long bank robbery spree in PA. And Baltimorean Jenerette Dixon, 37, was exiled (exiled!) to prison for 20 years for his part in robbing the Harbor Bank next to the Charleston restaurant.

Judge Sylvester Cox ruled that Philip Parker Jr.'s family can't claim malice, limiting the amount of damages they can sue for in the prison-bus-slaying case. On Thursday, guards testified that they turned the lights on in the bus twice but didn't notice anything amiss.

A microwave, a toaster and something called a "chorus bag" stolen in the Northern

This story is from last month but I just saw it: a lawsuit is accusing Kennedy Krieger of knowingly exposing children to lead dust(!) for a research study. Not in 1932, but in the 1990s. Dang.

And here, have two pedophiles, one who directed nude girls to perform "various gymnastic exercises", another a 65-year-old with 1,483 images and 32 videos on his hard drive. Meanwhile, the 'hacktivist' group Anonymous has been targeting servers that host child pornography and uploading clips of "To Catch a Predator." Heh.

Comcast and Verizon have been ordered to release the names of customers accused of illegally distributing copies of "Cuties 2" and "Illegal Ass 2" over BitTorrent. In July, a student at Perdue sued to try to block the release of his/her name from a subpoena.

Down in MoCo, trial for what the WaPo is calling the "Lululemon Killing" starts today. Fittingly, the lululemon athletica inc.'s site's most recent blog post urges visitors to "DO THE CRAZY THING. The hard-to-imagine-but-somehow-you-did thing. Do it and let them gasp."

Friday, October 21, 2011

Life + 20

for John Wagner.

A press release from the SAO (and look, I can paste it!)
JOHN WAGNER RECEIVES LIFE PLUS 20 YEARS FOR THE MURDER AND
ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY OF A JOHNS HOPKINS RESEARCHER

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles Peters sentenced John Wagner today to Life plus 20 consecutive years for the murder and attempted armed robbery of Johns Hopkins Researcher Stephen Pitcairn.

Pitcairn was fatally stabbed in July of 2010 as he walked home from Penn Station along St. Paul Street.

“We continue to express our deepest condolences to the Pitcarin family and all of Stephen's friends. While the verdict and sentence cannot bring him back, we hope that his family and friends will find some measure of closure in the result.” State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein said. “This case is representative of the State's Attorney's Office continued efforts to successfully prosecute repeat violent offenders, and thereby make Baltimore a safer place."

Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Felsen prosecuted the case.

Co-Defendant Lavelea Merritt’s sentencing is scheduled on November 7, 2011.

Hi-de-ho

John Wagner, convicted of stabbing Hopkins researcher Stephen Pitcairn while robbing him of money for drugs, is scheduled to be sentenced today.

Opening statements in the death-penalty-eligible case of Walter Bishop are scheduled for today in HarfCo

Good Jeebiz! Ryan Jackson, 18, was killed with a hatchet, and his alleged killer, Larry Horton, was tracked down to Bayou La Batre, Alabama. No word on motive, though a county police spokesperson says the 37-year-old killer was "part of a group that the victim knew in that Rambo Court area." Hmmm.

After the mysterious death of Loyola grad Emily Hauze, police are reviewing the file of the other person found in a trash chute at the Park Charles, Harsh Kumar. Kumar and been drinking and taking Ambien, but his death was caused by "massive injuries that included a fractured skull, broken neck and ribs, and a broken nose."

Poor Frederick Douglass High School ... first famous as the alma mater of Cab Calloway and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, then the setting for the dismal-yet-enlighetning documentary "Hard Times at Douglass High," and now in the news after a 14-year-old was videotaped having sex on school property. And now at Milford Mill, three students are charged with a perverted sex act and exposure after doing... something perverted, videotaping it and posting it on the Internet.

More arrests in Charles Village/North Baltimore robberies.

In the county, Jason Gross, 36, was convicted for the murder of 16-year-old Rochelle Battle, though Battle's body has never been found.

Child robbed of video game and "Poo" robbed by "Angel" in the Baltimore Guide's SE blotter

And the Brew lays out how no-bid contracts go on in the city. (Also see: NYmag's playbook of popular tax-dodging strategies)

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Bath Salts, BGF, And More...

Christopher McMillion, 23, has been identified as the man shot to death at the 1500 Block of East 29th St. He is victim number 163 this year.

Gone are the days of legal relaxed bathing, as the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has made an emergency ban on bath salts.

An arrest has been made in a previously unreported police impersonation robbery. 35-year-old Ioannis Vasilios Skordalos has been charged with armed robbery and a variety of other charges for impersonating an FBI agent during the robbery. Apparently this isn't the first time Mr. Skordalos has been charged with impersonating a police officer during a robbery, as he was charged with just that in 2004.

Stabbing in a Westminster Regal Cinemas parking lot leads to the arrest of Michael Fisher, 19.

FDA chemist Cheng Yi Liang, 57, has plead guilty to a variety of charges related to a $3.7 million insider trading scam.

10 well earned years in Federal prison for convicted sex offender and child porn aficionado Vincent Eugene Koerner, 47.


Federal terms for a BGF leader and one of his co-conspirators. BGF leader Ray "Uncle Ray" Olivis, 57, (Left) was sentenced to 11 years after admitting to leading the prison turned street gang. 27-year-old Erik Ushry (Right) plead guilty to several drug charges and received a 57 month sentence.

A quick look into what police are doing to crack down on the suddenly booming cigarette smuggling industry in Maryland.

"I don't know if we should be lauded
or put in an insane asylum."

The Ink has last week's seven homicides, including two deaths from injuries sustained in previous years.

The woman found in the trash chute at the Park Charles apartments was ID'd as Loyola grad Emily Hauze, 23. As with the man found last August, police are saying evidence points to an accident, and residents are finding that explanation hard to believe. Report Hermann & Fenton, "The [trash chute] entrances are in rooms off each floor's main hallway. And the heavy, waist-high, spring-loaded doors — about 14 inches wide by 16 inches tall — open like ovens and close quickly. 'It's not like you could just fall in,' said Allison Busby, a 25-year-old who moved out of the Park Charles in May. 'The door would shut before I could even get my trash bag into it. It would slam shut. It was kind of a pain.'"

Luke Broadwater writes about Baltimore's 'urban pioneers.' (...but since when is being a teenager in a hoodie an arrestable offense?) Pull quote from Chris Taylor: "I don't know if we should be lauded or put in an insane asylum."

Police have released a sketch, left, of a man wanted for raping a 13-year-old

In Cockeysville, one Samantha Steck was arrested for stabbing her "boyfriend" in the chest

Deeply depressing: in MoCo, police gather evidence against William McQuain's stepfather. And also in MoCo, another stepfather has been charged with killing his stepchild; David Rich Hang of Gaithersburg was linked by DNA to the sheath of the knife used to kill 12-year-old Jessica Nguyen.

In Severn, a guy with bizarre ear-holes arrested for child sex offenses.

In bankruptcy news, managers at the broke-azz Tribune Co are getting bonuses, and the ridiculous catfighting restructuring planning at Alter Communications has been extended for another 30 days

Once again, a judge has blocked Baltimore's lawsuit against Wells Fargo. Meanwhile, Baltimore now has 20% more homeless people.

Bwhahaha! Russian 'reporter' asks the City Paper for some help with a story.

A rare press release from the SAO-- 17 extra years for a guy who had a cell phone in prison (why a press release on this case and not any of the high-profile cases in the past month, one wonders?)

Speaking of rare events, don't forget the BCrime Crappy Hour tomorrow at around 5, email or check our FB page for location.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Location, location

Life in prison for Kevin Pushia. And a conviction for the rape, torture and murder of Sintia Mesa, killed over her boyfriend Jemarl Jones's drug debts.

Police say the death of Ryan Jackson, 18, found on Pennington Ave, did, in fact, go down in the county, on Rambo Court.

Gregg Bernstein may not issue many press releases or make many public statements, but he does go to community meetings. Such as this one in Charles Village, where he got to hear this bon mot from Joe Giordano: “I tell people I live at 26th and condom."

And one Dwayne McCoy was arrested for the robbery and shooting of a Charles Village resident. The bad news: he's out on bail already!

Keep an eye out for James Whittlesey, 52, a wanted bank robber with an exceptionally fluffy butt cut.

And a former resident wins a $40k bedbug lawsuit against the apartment managers of her building. Shudder. Skeeve.

Monday, October 17, 2011

A recent homicide victim has been identified. 24-year-old Louis Ingram has been Id'd as the man shot to death at the 2400 block of E. Lafayette St. From what I can tell he does not appear to have any relation to Anton Ingram, the 32-year old man killed 8 days earlier.

Police are still searching for 11-year-old William McQuain, who's been missing the last two weeks, and whose mother was found murdered last Wednesday.

A second tainted letter found at the Harford County Detention Center has many people worried.

An arrest has been made in what is now believed to have been a double stabbing at a Dundalk bar. Adam Wayne Church, 21, (pictured right) has been charged with attempted murder for the stabbing of the 29- and 21- year-old men.

Gary Giordano, 50, the man held in Aruba for his alleged role in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner has had his appeal to end his being held in Aruban custody denied.

An ex-lawmaker testifies at the trial of Ulysses Currie, and spoiler alert, what he had too say wasn't too nice.

12 years in the Federal pen for Raymond Eggleston, the 51-year-old leader of a Severn drug organization.

Also starting a 12 year Federal bid is Crip gang member Tyrone Moore. Moore, 21, received the stern sentence after committing a 2007 carjacking.

Over in tiny Crisfield, MD, 27-year-old Micah Blue (Pictured Right) is facing charges of attempted murder after committing a double shooting.

As you are well aware, 35 members of the South Side Brim Bloods were federally indicted last week. Here is a listing of all those indicted, as well as any information I could find on specific members.

Andre Ricardo Roach, age 34;
Monique Marie Hagler; age 27, of Suitland, Md;
Theodore Clifton Matthews, age 29, of Baltimore;
Richard Demoan Hall Jr.,age 27, of Cumberland;
Matthew Owen Colllins, age 27, of Cumberland;
Brandon Isiah Fossett, age 27, of Frederick;
Durell Jarric Clayter, age 26, of Frederick;
Altonia Manley, III, age 22, of Frederick;
Marcel Anthony Williams, age 20, of Frederick;
Dominic Antonio Grey, age 27, of Frederick;
Jimarr Tyrell King, age 23, of Frederick, Md;
Derell Len Prue, age 20, of Frederick;
Gerald Lee Dorsey, Jr., age 24, Frederick;
Kennea KeithDiggs Jr., age 32, Frederick;
Paul Travis Cox, age 20, of Frederick;
Van Johnson Weedon, age 19, of Frederick;
Morris Jermaine Goodwin, age 19, of Frederick;
Courtney Alan Gates, age 28, of Frederick;
Fitzgerald Donald Reid, age 21, of Frederick;
Kylynn Charmonix Williams, age 19, of Frederick;
Richard Lee Thompson, age 22, of Frederick;
William Michael Black, age 22, of Stevensville, Md;
Dontell Lamont Guy, age 24;
Yancy Lamont White, age 23, of Salisbury, Md;
Antonio Jovan Dennis, age 29, of Stevensville;
Kyle Alexander Carey, age 20, of Salisbury;
Justin Rashaad Harris, age 19, of Eden, Md;
Antonio Javier Landers, age 24, of Howard County;
Aurelio Manuel Barahona, age 24, of Howard County;
Donnell Antonio Lewis, age 30, of Annapolis, Md
Donnell Moses Stewart, age 24, of Severn, Md;
Renard Mitchell, age 25, of Baltimore;
Darryl Rashad Smith, age 29, of Howard County;
Joseph Aaron Artis, age 22, of Howard County;
Alex Antonio Mendoza, age 23, of Howard County.

Many apologies for my long absence(again). Unfortunately the new computer I got to replace my old one, went and broke on me as well,last time I said something like this would not happen again, but I appear to have jinxed myself. So instead, I will simply say: sorry.

Yes and yes

The Baltimore Algebra Project and some other groups are hosting a Town Hall meeting on juvenile jails this Saturday at the Hilton on West Pratt:

165

Marquis Jones, 20, found shot to death in the rear alley of the 2200 block of Aiken Street early yesterday morning

A woman's body has been found in a Dumpster of the Charles Towers apartments in the 200 block of N. Charles.*

Maryland District Court Judge Jamey Hueston is trying to set up a nonprofit to support The Baltimore City District Adult Drug Court and make up for funding cuts.

The trial of Walter P. Bishop Jr., accused of carrying out the murder-for-hire of William R. Porter, is kicking off tomorrow in HarfCo. It will be the first death-penalty eligible case in the state since the law was changed to only make eligible cases that link the suspect with DNA evidence, or as applies to Bishop, a videotaped confession, reports the Sun's Arthur Hirsch.

CBS has footage of "writer turned warrior" Matthew VanDyke sporting a dirty schmattle, firing a giant gun and saying he's "willing to kill people for freedom."

The county's 18th homicide is Joseph A. Miranda, 19, run over by a Bobcat in 2006. Also in the county, four people injured in a drive-by shooting in Turners Station.

And a special session of the legislature is about to go down in A-town, and the fur is sure to fly. Marylandreporter.com has links to stories from every source on the subject, iffin you care.

And North Baltimore's Robert E. Lee Park, closed for years as a result of dog poop contamination and for renovations, has reopened! But note parks department staffers will be there, ticket books in hand, waiting to bust violators of city leash laws. There is a leash-free area but you must join and pay $35 to use it.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

163, 164

Two more homicides so far this weekend, including a man stabbed on the street in the middle of the day. And two nonfatal shootings in the NE.

And the BPD is supposed to have been conducting "after-action" reviews of police-involved shootings, but apparently that hasn't been happening. For years.

A new commander for the city's "vaunted but scuffling homicide unit".

Two guys with machetes, sisters fighting with steak knives and a bicycle-jacking in the Baltimore Guide blotter.

And finally, this terrifying Vanity Fair article on the state of California's economy brought to mind the CP's article on police and fire pensions. Two years after the CP article the city is still afloat, which is kind of incredible, no?

and a great article in the NYker this week about Portugal's decriminalization of drugs

Bleach thrower speaks

The drama continues, but the bleacher thrower blames the man, not her victim.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Crime news of the day, paywall edition

A man was shot in the back in a UMMC parking garage

Horrific: 11-year-old William McQuain is missing from MoCo, his mom was murdered and his stepdad is under arrest.

Holy moly! Thirty-five alleged Bloods gang members ("South Side Brims") have been indicted for racketeering, murder, kidnapping and other crimes. It took more than 100 officers to round them all up.

James Owens, one of the first people in MD to be cleared post-conviction by a DNA test, is now suing the city, SAO and BPD for $15 million.

Another kid attacked by a dog.

And finally, a new PSA from the Mayor. Ok, if you're drunk, it's a little bit your fault. (Kidding! Kidding!)

Thursday, October 13, 2011

A brief civics lesson

Two men were arrested and charged with drug smuggling after they gave a state trooper permission to search their truck.

Ok, now a bit of editorial commentary. I cannot wrap my mind around why a law-abiding citizen would ever consent to a police search. For someone who is trafficking drugs to consent to a car search takes the stupidity to a whole new level.

There is no reason for anybody to ever say yes to a consent search. Contrary to what many people believe saying "no" to a search does NOT give the police a reason to dig through your car, and if they have no PC they have no choice but to let you go on your way. You are not being difficult or acting suspicious by refusing a search, you are simply exercising your constitutional right not to have your private belongings pawed through.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Waverly beating

The Patch reports a man was severely beaten in Waverly this afternoon, 700 block of McKewin Avenue.

And on Union Ave in Hampden, "An unknown person entered a man’s home, hit him in the face and cut him with an unknown weapon, police said. A friend tried to intervene and was cut on the abdomen with an unknown object."

Police issued a warrant for the person they believe shot a man in the 2600 block of St. Paul Street in the course of a robbery last week.

Fenton Tweets

Homicide on East Lanvale Street yesterday according to Justin Fenton's Twitter feed.

Apparently the commish is also claiming that murders and non-fatal shootings are down, but overall gun crimes are up when you include robberies and home invasions.

'I think he had braids'

Jeezum crow, a 17-year-old high school student killed Monday night , Devearl Singletary, was the second kid from his school to be murdered this month. And two more murders: in Broadway East (a rare picture of a victim's feet sticking out of a sheet) and 20-year-old Kevin Pierre was shot to death in the 200 block of Belnord Ave.

The Ink covers last week's two murders, Anton Ingram and Marcius Perkins, plus case updates.

Two guys shot last night in the 6200 block of Carbore Way in the SE.

14 years for a guy who robbed Baltimore banks with a fake bomb

The woman who tossed Pine-Sol and bleach at her romantic rival at a Walmart has an unlikely ally: her babydaddy's daddy. "I’m not going to defend my son when he’s wrong. He’s wrong," Fred Culp told the jz.

Jury selection begins today in the civil suit brought by the parents of Philip Parker Jr., an inmate strangled on a prison bus; meanwhile Judge Sylvester Cox is considering letting jurors tour the bus in a darkened garage.

A writer's house was shot at in Woodberry, and he and the wife are thoroughly annoyed that took a half-hour for police to get to the scene.

A $490k fine for a MD telemarketer
who broke Mississippi's no-call laws

Oops! Lawyer for St. Joe's stent patients loses their medical records on the Light Rail

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear arguments in a case in which a UMBC pro-life student group claims its free speech was inhibited by having to relocate a graphic anti-abortion display. Meanwhile, Congress is preparing to debate the "Embryos Before Hos" bill.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Heartbreaking post

from imprisoned Oriole-cum-crackhead jailbird Sammy Stewart

'probably provoked'

The WaPo profiles Rod J. Rosenstein, the Quiet Storm. Fun RJR facts = he was on Kenneth Starr's team investigating Whitewater; he keeps his desk very clean; he enjoys hanging out at the Bethesda Barnes & Noble.

Man, cars shot on Riggs Ave last night; 25-year-old man shot near Park Heights and Belvedere avenues early yesterday morning

Friends & family of Theresa Jefferson, the alleged Walmart bleach-n-Pine-Sol attacker, are coming to her defense: "she was probably provoked." (My question: why do crazy-jealous bitches never go after the guy?)

Police release sketch of 2009 sex-assualt suspect

Something happened at Eden's Lounge over the weekend that required police cars, fire trucks and a ambilance. UPDATE: three people were stabbed.

Wanna buy a rec center? The Brew reports that the city is hoping to privatize its 55 centers.

... today starts the paywall at the Sun. You get 15 free page views, then you have to make with the credit card.

ps. Save the date! BCrime Snappy Hour = October 20, 5 p.m. until whenever. Join our FB group or email for location.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Bad ideas

A man is dead after shooting his ex-wife in the neck and then getting into a gun battle with police; the police spokesman says it's not clear yet if he was shot by police or shot himself.

The Court of Special Appeals overturned the first-degree murder conviction of one Jamar Anderson last week, "saying the trial judge had violated the defendant’s right to a fair trial by asking prospective jurors if they could convict someone without scientific evidence."

Jean Marbella follows up on the story of Baltimorean-cum-Libyan "revolutionary fighter" Matthew VanDyke. Meanwhile at the prison that VanDyke escaped from, a Quadafi-era mass grave has been unearthed.

At the Court of Appeals last week, the City Paper and Van Smith fought the revival of a defamation suit brought by Nicholas Piscatelli, the former owner of the Redwood trust nightclub.

A county officer was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly stripping off his shirt and brandishing his weapon in the middle of the street.

In the County, brokedown heifer Theresa Jefferson, 33, allegedly hurled bleach and Pine-Sol at her romantic rival, putting her and 18 other Walmart shoppers in the hospital.

Finally... could this possibly be a good idea? Keiffer Mitchell says that control of city schools should revert to the Mayor.
.. speaking of the Mayor, saw SRB in the Roland Avenue Starbucks Friday, Suburban illegally parked, flanked by a security guy with an earpiece and wearing giant aviator sunglasses in the (very dim) shop. She didn't speak, smile or acknowledge anyone, barely even the barista-- just nodded or shook her head to his questions. ("Would you like anything else?" Shake. "Do you want your receipt?" Shake.) Most strange.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

October 6

A couple of robbery related shootings. One took place in Lauraville, the other in Charles Village very close to the spot where Stephen Pitcairn was murdered. Both shootings appear to have been non-fatal.
[So far! It sounds like a lot has been happening around Charles Village. There always is this time of year, in terms of scary robberies and assaults. ... wonder what John Pontolillo is up to these days? I heard something on the news about a CV resident stabbed in the face when he confronted someone who broke into his place, anyone else hear about that? - ED]

Murder in Woodlawn.

If you're going to rob and murder a pizza delivery man it's a bad idea to place an order using your own cell phone. This was a really sad story (poor guy was working hard to support his family in Pakistan) and it looks like the perps got away with second-degree murder convictions and relatively light sentences.

Spray-paint artist Mark Chase refused a plea bargain and insists he wants to go to trial.
[I love this quote: 'Your constitutional rights have nothing to do with the law,' the officer [Chase][reportedly] said." Good for him! ... I hope Bernstein announces they won't hassle street artists. It will bring us one step closer to a little Seine in the Jones Falls/Harbor. - ED.]

Already convicted on federal drug charges, Johnny Butler has gone on trial again for torture and murder.

Here's some good news for once: Missing 16-month old found.

Fatal car crash on Route 100 after the driver allegedly behaved like a maniac.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

159

Maricus Kyle Perkins, 20, shot on Monday, has died of his injuries.

The Ink covers murders 154-157: Aldrick Hamilton, Dwight Montgomery, Keith Parker, and Antonio Blackwell (any relation to Maurice, J.R. or Steven, I wonder?)

Your check, sir... ? MD Reporter says the Attorney General's Office began sending out large, un-itemized bills for its indirect costs.

More fake cops robbing houses

No more liquor license for the Rancho Manila of Upper Fell's Point. "police were called to the bar nearly 100 times in a six-month span, including a homicide call in April."

Cat burned in alley

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

PoPo a Gogo

52-year-old man shot to death by police whilst brandishing a pellet gun was ID'd as Steve Mach, former member of the Vamps.

An attempted break-in at the Rendez-Vous and the Cold Spring RoFo robbed (again)! In the North Baltimore Patch blotter.

No bucks and an unsuccessful appeal for the family of Gerard Mungo, Jr., a seven-year-old illegally arrested for leaning on a dirtbike.

Robbery suspect Vincent Avila, 25, escaped from a police car after weaseling out of handcuffs and shackles, was later recaptured. County police note 30(!) robberies since September in the Falls Rd.- corridor area, though story/police aren't saying if this slippery suspect is connected to them. "in almost all of them entry was made either through an unlocked door or forcing open a locked door and half the time the suspect/s have entered through the front door." Lock yr doors, people, duh!! ps., is a security chain still the best thing to secure a front door, or is there a better technology out there?

editorial note...

Hi readers and bloggers, from time to time I get requests by people asking that I take their name off of the blog. I am glad to honor these requests-- criminal justice should be doled out by the judiciary, not Google and not in perpetuity. But the request needs to come from the owner of the name, not from a third party (e.g. your mom, girlfriend, boyfriend, brother, public relations firm or blowhard lawyer). If you want your Bcrime record expunged, just email me, address is at the bottom of the screen. Kthanksbai!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Charles Village Sexual Assault

Below is a report from the October 3 JHU Security Daily Incident Report.
Sexual Assault – 3200 Blk. Lovegrove St.– On Oct. 1st at approximately 1:20 AM, a student was sexually assaulted by an unknown male while in the alley/parking area. The student received minor physical injuries and was treated and released from Union Memorial Hospital. Baltimore Police are investigating the incident.

Description of Suspect: Black male, medium complexion, 20- to 30-years old, between 6’0” and 6’2” tall, muscular build and wearing a navy blue/black hoodie. Direction of travel was unknown.