$4500 for police escort to Miami?

I hope they stood by her beach chair, oiled and flexing

Why so murderous?

The New Yorker asks, "Why is American History so Murderous?"

An off-duty Baltimore police officer shot a man who stabbed him at a strip club in Dundalk

City settles suit over 17 'rogue' officers on the East Side SET team; Daily Record now charging $165.36 for online access

County police officer Parker, shot during a deadly encounter in Overlea is doing “fine”, suspect is still dead

Trial postponed for man accused of beating 66-year-old Franklin Schissler to death in the bathroom of Morsberger’s Tavern in Catonsville

In AAC, Baltimore man convicted of double murder throws candy bar wrapper on floor

Sentencing commission: terms for fraud getting longer

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Joseph Leegreen Taylor, 28, and Allen Mark Johnson, 32, both shot to death in cars.

More on the five shootings last night

Another sexual assault

.. near a bus stop early this morning.

Five shootings yesterday

Pretty busy for a Tuesday

Last week's three murders in the Ink

Prison guard accused of smuggling cell phone gets real bail. Go Prevas!

Hellz yes, you should be able to get wine in the mail.

Media Blabber: The Sun's parent company is going to try to go AP-free next week. Will that mean no international news, and national news only from LA or Chicago? That'll be one thin paper!

The people on the mayor

A few days before Dixon's trial, city residents weigh in on the Mayor's legal woes. "We'd already be locked up"

"Last year the police charged nearly 55,000 people. Of these nearly 10,000 were declined by the prosecutor. A further 15,000 needed substantive changes. That means that in a signifcant number of cases the police were not doing their job properly when it came to charging suspects"

25 years for man who stabbed pregnant babymom

Today the Honorable Judge Gale Rasin sentenced Morris J. Pettigrew, 20, of the 2600 block of Frederick Avenue to 25 years in prison for the April 19, 2008 non-fatal stabbing of his girlfriend, under indictment number 208179002. A Baltimore City jury convicted Pettigrew of false imprisonment, first and second -degree assault and reckless endangerment on September 15, 2009. Judge Gale Rasin sentenced Pettigrew to 15 years in prison for false imprisonment, 20 years suspend all but 10 years, with five years of supervised probation for first degree assault. This sentence is to be served consecutive to the 15 year sentence, for a total of 25 years incarceration. The state requested a 20 year sentence for each crime to be served consecutively. Upon release, Pettigrew is to be on probation for five years during which time he is to have no contact with the victim or her son and he must successfully complete a batterer’s program at the House of Ruth or similar program.

At today’s hearing, the victim provided an impact statement in court. Judge Rasin recognized her courage in coming forward to save herself and her child from Pettigrew’s control. Based on the new conviction, Pettigrew also faces a violation of probation hearing on November 17, 2009 before Judge Shirley Watts for a second-degree sex offense which he pled guilty to in 2003.

The victim testified to the following facts of the case. The woman and her 8-year old son went to visit Pettigrew at his residence in the 2600 block of Frederick Avenue on April 19, 2008. During the visit Pettigrew became agitated with the woman because she did not want to move back in with him. The victim testified that initially she did not call the police because she was in fear for the safety of her 8-year old son. Pettigrew then took a knife and stabbed her in the right upper back. The victim testified that even though she began to bleed profusely, Pettigrew refused to allow her seek medical assistance, instead he continued to make repeated threats to her, forcing her and their young son to accompany him various places, holding them hostage. Finally, on April 22, 2008 in the early morning hours while Pettigrew slept, the victim was able to call 911. Medic #1 responded and transported the woman to University of Maryland, Shock Trauma. As result of the attack, the victim who was 24 weeks pregnant sustained a bruised lip, broken rib (right side) and a stab wound on the rear right shoulder.

Work that, lemme see you drip sweat

Baltimore PoliceDept: 2403 PICKERING, ADULT MALE SHOT WHILE SEATED IN CAR

Baltimore PoliceDept's Photos you'd rather not see - Ray Lewis Works out with Baltimore Police. None my business, but this free Israeli rifle training sounds slightly less humiliating.

Joseph Bonds entered an Alford plea from alleged murderer of former police commissioner Hamm's stepdaughter Nicole Sesker.

Rough housing.

Oh how I hate these stories: in Essex, mom's 21-year-old boyfriend arrested for murdering toddler, boyfriend says he was just "rough housing"

Rapist(s) Afoot

Five rapes in four days and eight over two weeks, mostly near bus stops in the early-morning hours.

Trial expected to get underway today for teen twins accused of setting dog on fire

188 months in prison for man who brought 80 kgs of cocaine and 100 gallons of PCP to MD

69 months in jail for David Cooley, who stole govmint checks out of the mail

Two charged in HoCo Halloween party shootings

Buz on the problems with drunk driving laws

"Neighbourhood"! "Churlish!" Oh, that's adorable. It's like a crime walk with Kipper!

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Eric Cromwell, shot in July, has been added to the toll

More on the case of Elda Vasquez Adorno, the lady down the manhole

A shooting and an officer pushed down the stairs in the blotter

Today's courthouse happenings from the SAO's office (links added):

Jabiera Handy is scheduled to appear at 11 am in Judge Nance, room 404 Courthouse East for 2nd degree murder in the death of her grandmother, Eunice Taylor, 69.

Lamont Davis is scheduled to appear in Judge Nance at 2 pm for the attempted murder of the 5 year old victim [Raven Wyatt] in a Southwest Baltimore neighborhood.

Thomas Meighan is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing at 2 pm in Judge Fletcher-Hill, room 464 Courthouse West.

Dajuan Marshall and Kedar Anderson are scheduled to appear at 2 pm in room 600 Courthouse West for gang related charges.

"Filings up; judges down in Baltimore County"

"Only a Scrooge would wonder why Whiting-Turner's donation for citywide recreation programs, was used, instead, on a mayor's inauguration party."

It was the best of times...

Link to the reporter-exchange blog, "A Tale of Two Cities"

Background checks

Should the city's homeless be banned from housing assisstance if they have a criminal record? Some adovcates say no, but the housing authority disagrees.

Baltimore = Knackered Loo

How about this reporter exchange?

Blame it on the a a a a a a alcohol

This just in: you don't need white drugs to make a total mess of your life.

Another Halloween in Baltimore

Lots of crazy cats in the county...

A love triangle turned Workplace murder suicide in Eastpoint.

Followed by a police involved shooting in which a officer was shot.

In better news, a whopping 6 people were arrested
for the murder of a Liquor Store owner.

Meanwhile in City news...

A city man recieved 40 years for an attempted murder in Columbia.

The news looks even worse for a man who suffered a seizure after swallowing drugs in a police raid. Word of advice: Remember it's not worth it, your in Baltimore City, the odds are in your favor that you will be in little to no trouble.

And in final City News, a convicted killer is caught with a gun on Mangold St.

And as a little Halloween reminder, make sure It's candy that you're eating, because there are more and more Ecstasy Traffickers these days.

Part II of stop snitching, philly style

Two more homicides

... a man stabbed on Edmonson Avenue and a man shot on the 24th who died.

A fine for Robert Lipscomb, an apology, some community service and a "my wife is truly a great person."

30 years after he plead guilty to sexually abusing two Baltimore girls, George Ogle finaly earned a spot on a sex offender registry. The move was a little late for the two additonal victims he is now charged with molesting in West Virginia.

No cheers for cheerleaders

The liquor board votes to shut down Cheeleaders, the Fells Point bar raided by County police.

Pleas by new managment apparently failed to dissuade.

"Legal obstacles make justice slow in Hopkins student Frankl's death"

Yes! We Have No Abortions

Linskey: "Advocates on both sides of the abortion debate filled Baltimore City Council chambers for a contentious hearing on legislation that would require pregnancy counseling clinics that do not provide abortion services to post signs indicating that policy."

Mayor says she can attend trial, run city

The Ink has more info on last week's murders

Who owns Electrocash?

Dang! Crazy flipped car on Calvert St

Tire-flattening judge must apologize

Catholic diocese of Savannah to pay $4.2 million settlement to victim of priest convicted of molesting two Maryland boys

Stop sntiching philly style

Shot in the head, left for dead, still Maurice Ragland could not be scared off the witness stand.

16-year-old arrested for shooting 14-year-old

FYI

Yale law: Right-to-carry laws don't reduce crime, and are statistically associated with increase in aggravated assaults.

Media Blabber

"Riding the Internet Crime Wave"

Whatthe?! 21 motor-vehicle convictions? A four-and-a-half hour wild ride and a pee break? Mind = blown!

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A suspiciously dead body found behind a house in Winchester.

Man stabbed multiple times on the East side at around 8 p.m. tonight. Different incident than the person stabbed to death at 5 a.m. in CHUM.

Did the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center violate state law by isolating juveniles for long periods of time?
Also see "Is Solitary Confinement Torture?" .. and Ppatin's comments.

Heart-warming, yet stomach-churning: Lawyers step in to help victim impregnated by aunt's boyfriend

Hey whaddayaknow, that furry-moobed guy who threatened Keith Daniels with a shotgun was telling the truth-- he really isn't Thomas Meighan Jr.! The actual Meighan is still in the can and has only been charged with traffic violations so far. WTF? "Witnesses told police that after that accident, he drove to Northeast Baltimore, where he struck an SUV on Bel Air Road, and ran from the scene of that crash."

Unfortunate Day for Baltimore Police

An off duty county officer is killed in a tragic motorcycle accident.

In less tragic but still unfortunate Baltimore police news, a off-duty officer pointed a gun at a House of Screams employee dressed as "leatherface."


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And the news keeps getting weirder as a man in drag was found stabbed to death today in the 1500 block of Montpelier St. Baltimore police have not yet identified the victim.

Undutiful

According to city councilwoman Belinda Conaway, a whole lot of city residents skip jury duty, which is why she's calling council hearing on the subject her father vowed to probe two weeks ago.

Amy Castillo tells her story to Tricia Bishop

more details on the arrest of the man charged with killing Hopkins student Miriam Frankl.

Boozehound Arrested

for Hopkins hit-and-run

Bad education

Horribleness. Glen Burnie man convicted of killing his 8-year-old stepson in Japan

Shawn Stokes, aka "Mother of 14-year-old shot by officer" says her son had dropped his gun... and Sun readers are puh-issed (thx non)

A dorm-room pervert at MICA

Police dept. attorney who also found time to moonlight as a criminal defense lawyer has resigned from her BPD job

Check out the piles of files at the domestic violence unit

Sonja Sohn using "The Wire" as teaching tool.

Math is Hard!

Were hundreds of criminals given the wrong sentences because lawyers messed up a basic work sheet?

A few Baltimore city pols think the BPD needs a makeover, after the resignation of EEOC chief Kim Johnson

Gay-inclusive hate-crimes bill has passed the Senate

Juvenile shot by police

Baltimore PoliceDept P/O Involved Shooting-700 Blk Lexington St-Juvenile male shot in the stomach

The BPD's EEOC director resigned this morning, after a fake memo was planted in the EEOC file of an African-American officer.

20 Years for Couple Who Shot Hotel Worker

From the SAO:

At a sentencing hearing yesterday, Judge Paul Smith sentenced Darryl Newsome, 20, of the 900 block of North Bradford Street and Keya Gardner, 24, of the 800 block of N. Montford Avenue to 35 years suspend all but 20 years in prison and 30 years suspend all but 20 years in prison, respectively for attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Judge Smith also ordered both defendants to serve five years probation upon their release. The state had asked for life prison terms.

A Baltimore jury convicted Newsome and Gardner May 12, 2009.

Witnesses testified that on October 24, 2007 Keya Gardner got into a heated argument with Sean Levy, 21, while they were both working at the BWI Hilton. Shortly after the argument witnesses testified they overheard Gardner talking on her phone telling someone to “bring that thing.” Witnesses believed Gardner was referring to a gun. The state presented evidence proving that phone conversation was with Darryl Newsome, the boyfriend of Keya Gardner.

Because of the argument, Gardner and the victim were told by management to leave for the night. The victim went to his vehicle with another co-worker. During that time witnesses saw Darryl Newsome arrive in a silver vehicle with three unknown persons. Witnesses testified they heard Gardner speak to Newsome and point out Sean Levy to Mr. Newsome. Shortly after Gardner got into her vehicle with another co-worker. Sean Levy also got in his vehicle with a different co-worker to take that co-worker home. Witnesses reported Gardner began to follow the victim in her car. A high speed chase ensues along the I295 northbound corridor into Baltimore. Eventually, as they arrived near their destination, the victim reports that as he made a right turn. Gardner was unable to follow him. Witnesses then saw the same silver vehicle Darryl Newsome was driving earlier turn down the same street. As Sean Levy was parking his car he and witnesses saw the silver car pull up. Darryl Newsome then got out on the passenger side of the vehicle and began shooting at Sean Levy and his car. Sean Levy was shot multiple times in the upper torso and is now paralyzed from the waist down.

More from blogger Twinlova

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Man killed outside of Eastside BP station

The Ink on last week's five murders

The CP has more on the lawsuit against correctional officer and alleged Bloods member Antonia Allison
and notes that Jefferey Anderson has moved to The Washington Times, :(, where he continues to cover government-sponsored groups with close gang ties that may or may not be effective.

The Belvedere's Suite Ultralounge is padlocked.

Stealing from a yeshiva, oh no! The assistant principal, no less! Writes the SAO,

At arraignment yesterday, Jay Kenneth Wagner, 32, of the 3400 block of Labyrinth Road pled guilty to continuing theft. Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced Wagner to a suspended two-year prison term and two years probation. Wagner paid $13,717 in restitution in court yesterday.

Between January 18, 2007 and May 19, 2009 stole over $13,717 from Maimonides Academy/Yeshivat Rambam School. Wagner worked as assistant principal at the school. The theft was discovered by the school and involved a series of school checks taken by Wagner which were either cashed or deposited into his account. Assistant State’s Attorney and Economic Crimes Division Chief Elizabeth Ritter prosecuted this case.

'Shotgun?'

is this classy Sykesville resident Miriam Frankl's killer?

More on the Cherry Hill triple shooting that injured teens: "It's ridiculous, and for whoever did this, there's a real place called hell. Hell will be their home."

County police are ISO "ARMED and DANGEROUS" Bryan Sheppard, age 16

Annie McCann's parents want to know why charges weren't filed against the men who stole her car.

DNA implicates suspect in '80s rapes

Cars set on fire at Koons Collision Center off of Belair Road

Dumped

3 DPW employees have been busted and charged with illegally dumping while on the clock

A triple shooting last night in Cherry Hill

Good reading: "Fellow Inmates Ease Pain of Dying in Jail"

City to take more land for casino

Who says torts are dull? Jon & Kate, funky chicks and dirty movies in this week's TDR MD law roundup.

15 years

... for man who bit a chunk of his "girlfriend's" nose off.
From the SAO:

Bowers pled guilty September 8, 2009 to first-degree assault.
On September 27, 2008 police responded to the 300 block of South Street for a domestic assault call. Upon arrival the officer observed the victim with a paramedic; she was bleeding profusely from the nose and holding gauze to her nose in an effort to stop the bleeding. The officer asked the victim to remove the gauze pads and he observed that 1/4 to 1/2 of the victim’s nose was missing.  She reported that she and her former boyfriend, Darrel Bowers, were having a dispute over a house key that she had lent to him. During the course of the argument the victim told police that Bowers bit her in the nose so hard that he bit a portion of it off. Photographs were taken of the victim’s injuries and to date, she has had to reconstructive plastic surgeries, and will require several more.

Hollins homicide

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"Man shot on Hollins St. is city's 181st homicide" ... update: he was ID'd as Brock Tatum, 21

Man charged with with conspiracy to manufacture, possess or distribute a destructive device after setting off homemade "Drano bomb" on city bus.

The justice dept. has issued a new medical marijuana policy

City cop suspended for raising his voice at COMSTAT meeting is reinstated. Meanwhile the mayor has promised to investigate fake evidence planted in the officer's EEOC case file.

Barricade situation this morning

A reader listening to county police radio at 2:30 this morning reported a barricade situation last night in Owings Mills:

Though he wasn't mentioned by name, they referred to him
as the  just demoted police major from Baltimore  city. It was a pretty extensive thing, a staging area was set up at a local school, negotiators brought in, requests for floor plans of the house he was in and calling some friend of his from Rodgers Forge  to come and try to talk to him ... The original call was for a "suicidal suspect" and the address was on Eiderdown Ct,, 21117.

Unconfirmed reports ID the barricaded officer as a former deputy major from the central district.
Says a source, "The standoff started around 1:30 a.m. and lasted until 11:30 a.m.; he had to be Tased and was taken to a hospital."