June 9

Two more homicides: Craig A. Hunter, 29, was shot around 8 p.m. last night and was found bleeding under a parked car in the 1900 block of Collington Ave. And, this morning in the 900 block of East Preston St., a man was found dead on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the head.

Sixty-year-old Robert "Skip" Harrison Junior, son of a long-time Baltimore City state delegate Hattie Harrison, was indicted Friday on one count of felony theft, three counts of failing to file tax returns, and conspiracy to violate election laws.

Tasered man: "My head is, like, fried."

Scammers pretending to be from BGE are targeting area elderly with fake "unpaid dept."

A MoCo grand jury this week indicted Joseph Paul Bungo of Gaithersburg, who's accused of slashing his 14-year-old son with an ax after destroying his room with it in 2004 and gravely assaulting him at least three times, most recently in January.

PGC: 14 people were indicted yesterday on multiple counts of counterfeiting, forgery and theft in connection with what authorities say was "a sophisticated auto theft ring".

At Aberdeen High School, five teens went apeshit after a teacher threw away a bandana that was lying on the ground.

Indictments of the Day from the SA's office

This afternoon Judge Robert Kershaw sentenced Anthony Jerome Miller, 31, of the 4500 block of Runnymeade Road, Owings Mills, MD, to 60 years in prison, 30 years consecutively for two counts of second degree murder. The prison sentence was the maximum allowed under law. Judge Kershaw sentenced Miller after listening to emotional victim impact statements provided to the court by family members of the two victims. A Baltimore City jury convicted Miller March 15, 2007 of two counts of second degree murder following approximately 2 ½ days of deliberation following approximately 5 ½ days of testimony. On April 16, 2003 at approximately 2:30AM police responded to 1917 Gough Street for a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discover the bodies of Jason M. Convertino, 31, and Sean M. Wisniewski, 22, in an apartment inside the building. The medical examiner later rules that both men died as a result of gunshot wounds to the head. Evidence from the crime scene is gathered and secured. In May 2003 a laptop computer owned by Convertino is pawned by Miller. In March 2005 DNA evidence is collected from a piece of evidence discovered at the crime scene, a latex glove, and in November 2005 that DNA is matched to Miller. Assistant State’s Attorney Sharon Holback of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

The Grand Jury indicted George Kensler, Jr., 60, of the 200 block of North Gay Street for first-degree murder; court documents allege on May 27, 2007 he was identified as the person responsible for a stabbing incident at a homeless shelter in the unit block of N. Gay Street. David Percell Bishop, 32, was engaged in an altercation with Kensler when he produced a knife and stabbed Bishop in the neck. Bishop died later that day at Johns Hopkins Hospital. An arraignment is scheduled for July 6, 2007 in the Court of Infernal Affairs (aka Room 236, Mitchell Courthouse). Division Chief of the Homicide Division and Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Cohen will prosecute the case.

Grand Jury indicted Johnny Smith, 22, of the 200 block of North Linwood for first-degree murder; court documents allege on April 2, 2007 he was identified as the person responsible for a shooting incident in the 2600 block of Margaret Street. Darrell Smith, 21, was shot multiple times and later died of his injuries at University of Maryland Shock Trauma. An arraignment is scheduled for July 9, 2007 in Glynn's court. Assistant State’s Attorney Rita Wistoff-Ito is to prosecute the case.

June 8

"It was incredibly disheartening to see a cab driver be shot, especially two doors down from where you live."
Baltimore living tip: Familiarize yourself with the location of the police stations in the neighborhoods that you frequent so if you're menaced by a raging driver, persistent masher, someone tries to pull you over who doesn't look like a cop, etc., call 911 while you drive there!

Police Districts with Maps:
Northeastern: 1900 Argonne Drive, 396-2444
Northern: 2201 West Cold Spring Lane, 367-8491
Northwestern: 5271 Reisterstown Road 396-2466
Central: 500 East Baltimore Street, 410-396-2411
Eastern: 1620 Edison Highway, 396-2433
Western: 1034 North Mount Street 396-2477 (still finding the map)
Southern: 10 Cherry Hill Road 396-2499
Southwestern: 424 Font Hill Avenue 396-2488

Keiffer Mitchell continues his quest for mayor by making big proposals with no specifics, a strategy that is certain to get him elected. The good news, though, is that he's helping to force the issue of crime to the forefront of the election.

Oops.

You know those little glass vials that you step on whenever you're cleaning up after the junkies in your back alley? Those are used for fragrant oils, not smack.

Nancy Jones says she called the police five times after an intruder left a gun in her house, but the police swear she never called.

A man in HarCo was hospitalized after being Tasered by police.

Officer Perv du jour: State Trooper Brian H. Murphy was charged with possessing kiddie porn.

Maybe PG's ability to solve robberies improved after this guy left the force.

Sheila D. says violent crime is down, and today's Blotter certainly suggests the same.

Tiffany hearts Jason.

The Christmas Eve fire in Aberdeen has been ruled an arson.

In other Aberdeen news, a teacher desecrated a student's flag.

HoCo Circuit Judge Dennis M. Sweeney recused himself from the case of Brandon T. Morris after Morris tried to escape from Sweeney's courtroom last week.

Kidnapper / robber / home-invader Ronald Jerome Presco was found guilty of a whole slew of charges in Carroll County

In non-crime news, Cheatham is resigning.

June 7

Interview-room sex! Bleached hair! Flesh-colored lips! Tiffany Weaver goes free!

At a hearing today, Hector Manzueta, 26, of the 1400 block of Anglesea Street in Southeast Baltimore’s Medford neighborhood, pled guilty to second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Manzueta to 30 years in prison for the murder count and a concurrent 20 year prison term for the handgun count. On June 19, 2006 Manzueta shot Katiria De La Cruz, 24, once in the face after she tried to end her relationship with him. Manzueta then turned the gun on himself in an attempt to kill himself. Despite shooting himself in the head, Manzueta survived. Police found the two in his apartment after Manzueta called a member of the family and confessed to what he had done. Those family members, in turn, contacted the Baltimore Police Department and lead the officers to Manzueta’s apartment. Police found Mrs. De La Cruz partially disrobed lying in a pool of blood on a mattress. They recovered the murder weapon – a 9 MM semi-automatic handgun – covered in blood just a short distance away on the floor. Assistant State’s Attorney E. Wesley Adams of the Homicide Division prosecuted the case.

The Grand Jury indicted Anthony Monroe, 28, of the 1500 block of E. 29th Street for first-degree murder and other charges; court documents allege on January 20, 2007 Anthony Monroe was identified as the person last seen with Milan Andrew Walker, 30, seated in a vehicle in the 1000 block of E. Baltimore Street and that witnesses heard gunshots and saw Walker falling out of the vehicle onto the pavement and the vehicle leaving the scene. Walker later died that day at Johns Hopkins Hospital. An arraignment is scheduled for July 3.

An ongoing DEA investigation has led to 20 people being charged for drug-related crimes.

What the?! "A Baltimore County police officer was hospitalized this morning after a man walking near an elementary school in Essex tossed paint thinner in his face."

Eagle: "A Dundalk Avenue townhouse that was the site of a shooting three weeks ago was severely damaged in a two-alarm fire Tuesday. Earlier this week, it was unclear whether the two incidents were related."

Somebody found a body in the Patapsco river.

The Hamm on his plan to have the city's 42 homicide detectives schlepping beats "we’re getting some push-back from our detectives and rightly so ... Whenever you do something new or different, you’re going to get push-back. But I worked homicide. I know our detectives, when they want to work a ballgame [while off-duty], they will put that uniform on and work. If they can do it then, they can do it now."
Nice 'tude!

Blotteratta: A man was stabbed in the torso in the 2700 block of Pennsylvania Ave,; a six-year-old Hyundai was carjacked; police recovered 25 capsules of heroin and nearly $4,500 in cash.

More details on the road rage killing of cab driver Ghulam Mustafa (left).

Two bank robbers are being sought in AAC.

Prince George's County school board member Nathaniel Thomas resigned the day after a grand jury indicted him over an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old. He's also accused of having inappropriate relationships with two other students.

Keith Ray, the man behind last summer's "one-man crime wave" in the Northern, got 50 years in prison.

Verbena Harris, the mother of a mentally troubled man who died in state custody, has filed a $2 million lawsuit following his overdose on prescription medication given to him at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

The city's plan to make a "superblock" on the West side is being derailed by the owner of New York Fashions, who refuses to move.

Hey, you in the 'burbs... you might get murdered too. But don't let it get you down.

In AAC, Marley Middle School was put on lockdown after a child was seen with a gun.

Evening

This city is looking for:
- Someone in a "dark colored car" who shot Yellow cab driver Mustafa Ghulam on 28th and Maryland.
- a Hagtown murder suspect who frequents Baltimore, one 26-year-old Stephen Lamar Urquhart (left).

Slacking landlords:lead paint fines are getting handed out left n right.

And is in need of: financial responsibility like Baltimore County's.

While drug dealers should heed online-only NY Magazine's insights on drug-dealing profits: "Sell to many users in small quantities. 'It’s like taking a pound of coffee and selling one grain at a time ... If you sell by scoops, you’ll make a couple thousand dollars, but if you break it down into quarter grams and work for a few days, you’ll make tens of thousands.'”
or, one could concentrate on one's "social capital."

At Least 5 Years for Canton Cops-Robber

At a hearing today, Jean Sierra, 21, of Owings Mills pled guilty to two counts of armed robbery, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and attempted armed robbery. On January 16, 2007 at approximately 2:30 a.m. Sierra robbed a group of three off-duty law enforcement officers (in town the funeral of Officer Troy Chesley) in the 2800 block of O’Donnell Street. Police responded and searched the area and detained Sierra, who was then identified by the victims. Judge Glynn sentenced Sierra to 20 years in prison suspending all but eight years, the first five years without parole for armed robbery and the handgun count and concurrent 20 years suspend all but eight years in prison terms for the second armed robbery and attempted armed robbery counts.

Next!

When asked who would make a good replacement for Commissioner Hamm, Ed Norris suggested "the police chief who got thrown under the bus after Katrina," aka former New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass.
Who do you think should be the next Commissioner?
And when do you think Hamm will resign-- if ever?

June 6

A jailhouse search after the Muslim/Bloods prison riot uncovered 80 weapons.

At a hearing late today Keith Ray, 37, of the 4000 block of Rexmere Road, pled guilty to a total of 13 counts of armed carjacking, armed robbery and related charges. Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Ray to a total of 50 years in prison. Ray was responsible for several robberies and carjackings over a two month period in June and July 2006. Ray's crime spree galvanized the neighborhoods where they took place and many victims cooperated with law enforcement. The teamwork of community, police and prosecutors resulted in many victims willing to testify against Ray if this case had gone to trial. Many were present in court this afternoon to offer victim impact statements.

A cabbie was shot and killed in Charles Village last night during a road rage incident.

Luke Broadwater and the Examiner look back at the deadliest month of the year (so far).

Twelve murders and a bunch of updates in this week's "Murder Ink," and the updated map.

Gus G. Sentementes interviews the parents of the four-year-old boy who was hit by a stray bullet yesterday afternoon in the 2200 block of Corona Ct. in the Northeastern.

The 30-year-old who was killed in "CHUM" yesterday morning has been identified as Tyrone Willie Bonner.

An 18-year-old woman was stabbed by three other women on Sunday night as she was walking to a friend's house in Edgewood.

A house that burned in Dundalk yesterday is owned by a man who was shot by his wife's alleged boyfriend.

A 16-year-old in St. Mary's offered a free pickup truck to anyone who would kill his mother and stepfather.

Jacqueline Simmons is charged with a hit-and-run that injured three children and a teenager at a Charles County school bus stop. Simmons claimed she was on her way to a methadone clinic.

You've gotta love these multi-page editions of the Blotter:

• Page 1: two drug arrests at Lafayette Market and a 35-year-old man who was shot while sitting on a stoop in the Eastern.
• Page 2: A double shooting in the Northwestern, a carjacking and a shooting in the Southern, two separate shootings in the Southwestern, a stabbing and a shooting in the Western, and a 60-year-old woman robbed in the Southern.
• Page 3: A 17-year-old was thrown to the ground and robbed in Essex, and Dunkin Donuts was robbed in Cockeysville.

And that's just a small fraction of what Richard Irwin covered for us today.

Due to an error by a federal judge in Baltimore, Solomon Levi Jones got his drug conspiracy sentence reduced from from 60 years to about 21 years.

Despite his dependence on heroin and a felonious mother, David Burton got 70 years for stabbing Denny's manager Michael Fredrick 32 times during a robbery last year.

Hey, Lenny: More homicide investigators might help close more homicide cases.

A headline in the Sun plays on fears about MS-13 in Maryland, but one sentence at the end of the article paints a slightly different picture: "A recent estimate by Baltimore police put the number of known or suspected gang members at 2,600, including 400 Bloods, 100 Crips and a few dozen members of MS-13."

Looks like there are a bunch of future city politicians employed by the city school system.

June 5

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Deontae Carter, 23, of the 2800 block of Violet Avenue today on first-degree murder and other charges. On April 6, 2006 Deontae Carter was identified as the person responsible for a shooting incident in the 2000 block of North Longwood Street. Curtis Mitchell, 19, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a rowhouse in the unit block. Mitchell died later the same day from his injuries at University of Maryland Shock Trauma. llegedly on May 6, 2006 an investigation revealed the handgun retrieved from the defendant on an unrelated handgun charge matched the gun used in the shooting incident of Curtis Mitchell. An arraignment is scheduled for July 12, 2007 before Judge Wanda K. Heard, Room 550, Courthouse East. Assistant State’s Attorney Don Giblin will prosecute this case.

“Baby girl, I’ll bring my hose out front so you can spray it off. ”
... Anger Hangover reports on a girl shot in the leg last Friday night in Pigtown. Plus an update.

Capt'n Mike Perry hovers above where a four-year-old was shot in the leg and police are seeking a suspect around the 2200 block of Corona Court near the NE county line.

A 30-year-old man was fatally shot and died at 12:33 this morning in the 1700 block of E. 30 St. in the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello ("CHUM") neighborhood.

Police and family fear that Shirley Cooper (who, they say, was 72, not 78, and lived "in the historic Temple Gardens apartment building at 2601 Madison Avenue," not Madison Street) was stabbed to death by someone she knew.

Blotterania:

• "Police identified yesterday John Drew, 26, of the 2400 block of W. Lexington St., as the man shot about 1 a.m. May 30 near his home by an unknown gunman."
• A Dundalker was stabbed in the stomach
• County drunks assaulted an officer at Mother's Grille
• A 14-year-old boy was hit on the head with a bottle
...and lots of robbery, burglary and theft

The Sun has a local crime story on the front page: "Death on the Streets" about the 2006 UCR numbers. Also, Dixon's floundering plans, and what other candidates have to say about the "crime issue."

Dept of Irony: "The Postponement Subcommittee" gets 'er done!

... Newsflash...Scooter Libby just got 2 1/2 years in jail for his role in outing spy Valerie Plame.
The Post's story includes an entertaining sidebar of other high-level government-official sentences for bilking, lying and obstructing.

June 5

Many of the 41 Sun employees who took the most recent buyout enjoyed their last day Friday and have now left the building; more layoffs are possible.

A Wicomico County Grand Jury on Monday indicted Tracy Ross Sparpaglione, a recently fired Salisbury police officer accused of raping a woman he arrested late last month.

June 4

At a hearing today, Judge John C. Themelis sentenced Simmeon Anderson, 31, of the 2800 block of Hollins Ferry Road, to a total of 50 years in prison: 25 years for first-degree assault, 20 for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and five without parole for being a felon in possession of a handgun. Judge Themelis also sentenced Anderson to a concurrent six-year prison term for solicitation to commit murder. On March 23, 2007 a Baltimore City jury convicted Anderson of two counts of first degree assault, two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, two counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of felon in possession of a handgun and wear/carry/transport a handgun. Anderson pled guilty March 26, 2007 to solicitation to commit murder. On September 12, 2000 Anderson pulled Derrick and his aunt Lisa Kittrell out of a vehicle in the 1600 block of Olmstead Street and shot Derrick Kittrell, Lisa Kittrell, was not harmed. This case was tried once before, in 2004, and a mistrial was declared. It has been postponed 27 times until last March’s trial and was the oldest pending trial in Baltimore Circuit Court.

The BCGJ indicted Kennis Lambert, 17, of the 6200 block of Alumure Way for first-degree murder, court documents allege on April 29, 2007 Lambert was identified as the person responsible for a shooting incident in the 6200 block of Elliott Street. Azerwoine Walker, 30, was found suffering from a gunshot wound and transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital, he died later the same day of his injuries [#88]. An arraignment is scheduled for July 2, 2007 before Judge Glynn.

Curtis Alexander, 28, was found shot in the 1900 block of W. Lanvale St. about 10 a.m. Sunday by a Western District police officer responding to a report of shots fired.

Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Dale Fauntleroy, 22, of the 2500 block of Woodbrook Ave. to 35 years in prison, 20 years for conspiracy to commit robbery and a consecutive 15 years in prison for armed robbery. A Baltimore City jury convicted Fauntleroy February 1, 2007 of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon. Judge Glynn gave him the maximum possible prison term today. On January 9, 2006 a City jury acquitted Fauntleroy of armed robbery and handgun counts and hung on the remaining counts that prosecutors retried in February. On October 29, 2004 Fauntleroy attempted to rob an off-duty Mass Transit Police Officer with an unknown caliber handgun while they were both inside a Chinese Food Carry-Out in the 2700 block of Pennsylvania Ave. Police shot Fauntleroy twice as he fled the robbery scene.

"A police search of a common hiding place for drugs -- between the cheeks of the buttocks -- needs to be done as privately as possible to be considered legal, even if a suspect is wearing very low-hanging pants, said the CSA in a ruling that invalidated a search of a Fallston man "done in the presence of his friends at a deserted car wash."

Speaking of ... things transportational, MO'M Marcus L. Brown, formerly Hamm's #2, says he's pumped to patrol 83, as commanded by his arm patch.

Ew, County police arrested the already-registered-sex-offender at right for raping a 12-year-old on a camping trip near Bengie's Drive-In.

Thanks to Galt for posting the latest FBI numbers. It's official, our population went down ... but murders and car thefts went up!

June 3

Shirley Cooper, 72, was found stabbed to death yesterday in her apartment in the 2600 block of Madison Ave near Druid Hill Park.

David Elijah Washington was fatally shot early Saturday morning in an alley near his home on Violet Ave.

A man was critically injured in a triple shooting in the 2100 block of Sherwood Ave. in the Northeast on Friday afternoon. Homicide detectives are investigating.

Jada Gordon, 1, and Jerrell Wise, 3, who'd been missing from Cherry Hill since Wednesday have been found, but police are still looking for Tyronda Smith-Carroll, the 14-year-old girl who was taking care of them when they were reported missing.

Crime scene video from the stabbing of 57-year-old Karen Harris, who was stabbed in the back last Sunday afternoon during a robbery in the 2600 block of St. Paul St. in Charles Village. George T. Dyson was charged in the attack; he was charged with a similar attack in 2004, but did not serve time because of a mental disorder that prevented him from being found criminally responsible.

Gary Singley, age 40, of Baltimore was sentenced Friday to 167 months (almost 14 years) in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. "A cooperator in the case purchased more than 50 grams of crack cocaine from Singley through Keith Richardson ... Richardson pleaded guilty to drug charges and was sentenced to over 10 years in prison [in] 2005."

PGC MS-13 member Edgar Alberto Ayala got 35 years for racketeering.

The fight at the Metropolitan Transition Center was apparently between two rival gangs. Fortunately, the situation was not a riot, because a "riot is when you lose control of a prison."

Completely unrelated to the story above, two Jessup inmates attacked each other with homemade knives on Saturday. Meanwhile, all prison classes on making homemade knives have been temporarily suspended.

Related to the above story, there's a neat timeline detailing the history of violence at the Maryland Pen.

Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Cavanaugh, as quoted during the double murder trial of "Six" Sowers: "With all due respect, ma'am, a mistake is when you miscount your change, not when you murder two people." Sowers got 100 years.

Two students -- one of them a 16-year-old freshman -- at Milford Mill Academy beat and tried to rob a 15-year-old student.

Racist arsonists (or maybe arsonist racists?) destroyed a portable classroom at Perryville High School on Friday morning.

Murderous perv du jour: Frank Portanova allegedly tried to hire a hit man to kill the 11-year-old boy he allegedly molested. The boy's mother was targeted also.

James Abu Bangura and Dartanion Antwon Wallace got a bunch of prison time for robbing a bunch of banks.

A panel has found that two fire department officials should be canned for mistakes that contributed to the February death of trainee Rachael Wilson.

Gregory Kane seems to think wannabe HoCo escapee Brandon T. Morris is a bit short-sighted.