November 3

Three of 17 members of an east Baltimore drug gang were sentenced today-- Terrence Moody got more than 21 years, and Larry Yarrall and Lashavio Gilliam got 12 years, 7 months federal for various cocaine-related charges.

Patricia Campbell, 37, abudcted a 6-year-old girl and gave her a hairdo. Officer Theo Fleet used crime camera info to help track down the girl within two hours.

Criminy-- a man was stabbed at Paca and Mulberry streets, in the middle of the day. (Thanks burgersub)

Jermaine Isaac, 17, of the 330 block of S. Furrow Street, pled guilty today to second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Martin P. Welch sentenced Isaac to 30 years in prison, suspending all but 14 years for the murder and five years, concurrent, for the handgun count. On November 15, 2005, Darren Parker, 19, was involved in an argument with Isaac, who was 16 at the time, in the 2100 block of Wilhelm St. Isaac then shot Parker, killing him.

A Baltimore City jury late yesterday afternoon convicted Reginald McKever, 20, of Greencrest Road, of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and two handgun counts. Judge Allen L. Schwait scheduled sentencing for January 2, 2007. Say court docs,

On July 18th, 2005, Officer Kevin Simmons of the Baltimore City Police Department, was sitting on a split rail fence in front of 5304 Goodnow road talking on his cell phone. Officer Simmons was off duty but had his police identification and departmental handgun on his person. While Officer Simmons was on the phone, he was approached by two males. One of the men asked Officer Simmons if he had a cigarette to which he responded that he didn't smoke. The two men walked away but returned a couple of minutes later. At that time one of the two men produced a handgun, pointed it at Officer Simmons and stated "kick it out." The gunman, identified as McKever, then told the other male to go through the victim's pockets. It was at that time that Officer Simmons was concerned that if they went through his pockets they would find his departmental handgun and his police identification. Officer Simmons then ran for cover. McKever then fired at the officer, striking him once in the foot. Officer Simmons was able to return fire but did not strike the gunman. The two defendants then ran from the area. While running away, McKever fell down, dropping a Berretta 92 FS handgun. The other assailant remains unknown. Officer Kevin Simmons was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries.

A murder, two attempted murder and a drug arrest in the blotter, Molly's bar in Remington and a lot of other places robbed.

A familiar pattern when it comes to the city's gang-fighting strategy. Sounds like the "state troopers in the city" thing.
1. city gets money or resources to do something
2. officials bicker over who's going to be in charge of the effort, refuse to be involved if they can't be in charge
3. money gets pissed away in one-sided or short-term effort
4. repeat a year or two later, when the same issue comes up again

Closing arguements yesterday in the MS-13 trial. The case may hinge on the testimony of a key informant, "Shorty."

In the County, police are looking for a blonde man who shot a bouncer at Coco's Bar and Grill in the 400 block of Eastern Boulevard.

In Rockville, former Army sergeant Gary James Smith, 24 was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his roommate, Michael Anthony McQueen II, 22.

In MoCo, Josue Ray Dupree, 20, was arrested for stabbing of Ana Elisa Mejia Avila to death at a J.C. Penney loading dock.

Good to know: if you plan to vote, there's going to be four questions on the ballot. Study up!

November 2 - go to bed!

It does seem like more residential break-ins than the usual in the Northern.

Somebody's stealing catalytic converters in the County.

Anybody watch HBO's "Hacking Democracy"? Makes reference to the $55 million MD's given Diebold ... for machines that can be hacked in about 17 ways (at least that have been documented so far).

November 2

A bullet-riddled man is at Shock Trauma after a gun battle in the parking lot of the H&S Grocery in Northeast Baltimore.

Examiner: The city's Medical Examiner's office still has 341 "undetermined" deaths from 2004.

MD prisons' overtime costs have doubled this year because of understaffing.

Lamont Sanders, 30, got more than 26 years in jail for guns-n-coke.

Poor Ray Charles is now a Mosher Street gelcap.

Darry Harrod got 12 1/2 years in the fed pen for crack dealing.

Two of the six suspected weapons-smuggling Tamil Tigers pled not guilty in federal court yesterday.

A "gifted" carjacker is going to juvie.

One of the Bowie ATM thieves, Eric "Dukie" Thomas, got 27 months in jail and must pay restitution.

The Bowie High pimp coach will stay in jail.

More on the MoCo "consentual sex can't turn into rape" case.

HoCo police arrested Ji Hwan Shin for fondling a woman on a bike path.

In Carroll County, Stephani (sic) Jones was charged with stabbing a guy in the shoulder.

A hairdresser in PCG was royally screwed when police mistook him for a fugitive.

Media:
The Sun's circulation is down. Way down.
Media analysts blame not the Examiner, but rather the Sun's general suckage for the decline.
Maybe now the Tribune will sell it to somebody who cares!

November 1 evening

Three homicides, of Antonio Williams, 32, Johnathan Savage, 35, and Gregory Welsh, 32.

Dasheem Washington, a 19-year-old freshman at Morgan State, was shot in the pelvic area while taking out the trash in the 1500 block of Coldspring Lane.

A 14-year-old was shot in the foot near a PAL center in the SW.

Eight girls and a boy were charged with disorderly conduct, and one with assault, after a brawl at Edgewood High.

Baltimorean Ryan Crosby is accused of hitting a man on the head with a baseball bat in a Vermont trailer park.

A shooting near Charles Herbert Flowers High School in PCG put the school on lockdown.

Somebody tried to ef with election judges.
Meantime, Fortune on Diebold: "First get into a business you don't understand, selling to customers who barely understand it either. Then roll out your product without adequate testing. Don't hire enough skilled people. When people notice problems, deny, obfuscate and ignore. Finally, blame your critics when it all blows up in your face."

November 1

Murders 229 and 230 were in the 800 block of E. 41st Street and the 4400 block of Powell Avenue, respectively.

Anna Ditkoff: 228 murders
Glenard Byrd, 19, in the 1000 block of North Bond Street
Travis Wake, 23, 300 block of West 27th Street
Donte Johnson, 20, 1500 block of Shields Place
Leonard Brown, 25, 1400 block of North Milton Avenue
Kevin Washington, 28, 1700 block of Ashburton Street
Arnilo Handy, 30, 2700 block of Tivoly Avenue (at right)

Jermaine Bell, 31, and Roosevelt Spann Jr., 38, who had previously been charged with federal drug conspiracy, were accused yesterday of involvement in the murders of of Torrence Johnson, Kenyatta Harris and Angelo Stringfellow five years ago.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Eddie Levar Hawkins, 28, of the 3400 block of Tulsa Road, for first-degree murder. Court documents allege that on September 2, in the 3500 block of Lucille Avenue, Darren Terrell Wilson was called by the defendant, and when Wilson approached, Hawkins revealed a weapon then shot him numerous times. Wilson died later at Sinai Hospital. An arraignment is scheduled for November 22 before Judge Gale E. Rasin

Two shootings, a stabbing and burglary and robbery in the Blotter.

Todd Sheridan, a pathologist at Johns Hopkins now charged with automobile manslaughter, appeared before Judge Althea Handy for a bail review hearing today. Judge Handy ruled Sheridan to be released on his own recognizance. He will be arraigned December 8, 2006.

In the County, an officer fired at a car that nearly ran him down in a crosswalk.

Two men were shot in Laurel.

In Harford County, possible serial killer Charles Eugene Burns was indicted for the murder of Lillian Abramowicz Phelps.

In Carroll County, Cory Lee Slemaker, 23, got five weekends in jail for buying Bud Lite for teenagers.

In Frederick County, Michael Smith, 17, is charged with two attempted rapes at Tuscarora High School.

In Rockville, MoCo, a 15-year-old boy was arrested after a homemade bottle bomb exploded.

Erlich on Park Heights murder rumors: "I don't know if it's true or not true ... Either way, people of the community deserve an answer."
Park Heights bicyclist to Ehrlich: "shut up, you turkey!"

State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy will join Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. for brief comments and greetings to the Baltimore meeting of MARGIN (Mid-Atlantic Regional Gang Investigators Network) at 9:45 a.m. tomorrow at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, 3920 Buena Vista Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21211. The State's Attorney and Governor will comment on the need for a continued crime-fighting partnership and strategy that addresses gang prevention, education and proposed legislation.
Not an endorsement by the SA, but pretty close ...

October 31 afternoon

On October 27 the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Davon Gardner, 20, of the 2500 block of Loyola Northway and Gerryl Boatwright, 17, of the 4100 block of Park Heights Avenue. on first-degree murder and other counts. Court documents allege on October 2, Antonio Manley, 17, and Master Davis, 16, were walking in the 1700 block of Castle Street when two men identified as Gardner and Boatwright began firing at the two men. Mr. Manley suffered gunshot wounds to the lower back and survived his injuries, however, Mr. Davis did not survive his injuries. Gardner and Boatwright were observed getting into a gray or silver Subaru, and fleeing from the scene. They were later stopped by Baltimore Police Officers who recovered a handgun and handgun shells wrapped in a red bandana.

Also on October 27, 2006 the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Braynell Gilchrist, 21, of the 2400 block of Wilgrey Court for first-degree murder. Court documents allege that on September 15, a witness reports, while in the company of Braynell Gilchrist in the 2300 block of Norfolk Street threatened to kill David Galloway. The witness reports Gilchrist approached the victim and the two men engaged in conversation, moments later Gilchrist shot the victim several times, killing him.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Earl Bazemore, 20, of the 2500 block of E. Fayette Street, and Victor Miller, 21, of the 2000 block of W. Eutaw Street, of first-degree murder and other counts. Court documents allege on September 27, 2006, Earl Bazemore and Victor Miller were in a gold colored Honda Accord that was stopped by the Baltimore City Police Officers in the 6300 block of Hudson Street. A handgun was recovered from the vehicle. The ballistics examination performed revealed the gun recovered from the vehicle was the same gun used to shoot and kill Andrew Levi Jackson, 26, on September 25, 2006.

More on the story of Sierra Swann, Nathaniel Broadway, the two infants they starved and beat to death and how not a thing has changed to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future. Pass the Prozac, this is easily, by far, the most depressing thing I've ever read about in this town, and that is saying a lot.

Zukael Stephens, charged with arson and murder in the death of Marcus Rogers in Mt. Vernon, was let out of jail by accident -- but he's back in now.
Update: The court ordered Tony Stephens Zukael, AKA Zukael Stephens, charged with murder, held without bail today. The court scheduled a preliminary hearing date of November 28, 2006.

CSA: A woman's consent to sex can't be withdrawn.

More methadone for everyone! (I thought "bupe" was the new thing?)

Rod Rosenstein is hot on the trail of child pornographers.

In White Marsh, Vernon Harris was charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 46-year-old Floyd Harp.

October 31

Is it not bad enough Hopkins pays no taxes? Must we also tolerate unwitting flip-flopped hatboys with nothing to give back to this town but date rape and lawn urine? Does the school have any kind of standard of conduct beyond making profs ho a grant quota?

October 30 afternoon

Before the jury selection process began today, and as the jury pool waited in the courtroom, Nathaniel Broadway exercised his right to a plea agreement in the case of State vs. Nathaniel Broadway and pled guilty to two counts of 2nd degree murder in the deaths of one-month old twins Emunnea and Emonney, who were found starved, beaten and dead in a basement apartment with no electricity and no running water. Johns Hopkins Hospital released the children to their 17-year-old mother, Sierra Swann, in spite of being aware that she ws a drug abuser and had lost custody of her two-year-old child, and that Broadway was "beating on" Swann in the hospital room the day after she gave birth. The case outraged people nationally, but it doesn't sound like Hopkins or the DSS has changed any procedures since, in fact, funding for the DSS has been cut this year. The state will seek 50 years suspend all but 30 years. Sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2007 before Judge Allen Schwait.

The SA's office announced that Todd Brinsley Sheridan, 30, of Fallstaff Road, was indicted for automobile manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with the death of 22-year-old woman Latrice Nicole Smith. On July 8 on Interstate 83 South, Sheridan's car struck a vehicle operated by Smith. She was flown to Shock Trauma but later died as a result of her injuries.

October 30

Leonard Brown, 25, was killed Thursday in the 1400 block of N. Milton Avenue (he may be 225 or 227).

Would-be abortion-clinic bomber Robert Weiler (left) pled guilty Friday to that and having an illegal firearm and a destructive device (the pipe bomb).

Citizens in Park Heights gathered Saturday to protest what they say are serial murders of women in the NW going unreported by the Medical Examiner's office. (The ME's office denies the rumor).

Gregory Kane takes us back to the days when he local head of the Black Panther Party was harrassed by police by being arrested "for everything from 'attempted murders' down to parking tickets 'that weren't parking tickets.' ... "the charges were thrown out. None went to court."
TG nothing like that ever happens today and all of those uncomfy "race problems" are far behind us!

According to a publishing company that appears to exist just to dole out awards to various states, Baltimore is now the 12th-most-dangerous city in America. (The "most dangerous" "award" includes most cities of more than 75k people and compares their FBI UCR numbers in basic six crime categories). Last year Baltimore was sixth. But in cities with a population over 500,000, we've moved up to #2 (stats weren't available for New Orleans).

In Hebron, Wicomico County, Wendy Floyd was murdered (allegedly) by her estranged boyfriend, Jeffery Ryan Rohleder.

Speaking of domestic violence, anyone catch last week's Savage Love? That's how it starts, ladies (and fey gentlemen). Don't date that guy!

A serial rapist appears to be abducting women in DC and taking them to PGC.

If you can still read about politics without gagging, the Post has some good poll numbers.
The Examiner did indeed heed my call and dug up a Democrat who voted Ehrlich last time and plans to switch back (from which we are to extrapolate a larger trend, I assume).
Unsurprisingly, the Sun has endorsed O'Malley.
The gov. admitted over the weekend that his communications director was subpoenaed by federal prosecutors as part of a probe into contacts between the administration and various gambling interests. The Sun Lies has the whole exchange (and lots of other interesting stuff too).