Braggarts and dinguses

Update on last night's violence: The first two days of Baltimore have seen 8 shootings, 4 of them fatal with a 5th victim in grave condition
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) January 3, 2014

Update, said victim has just died, five murders already this year.*

Meanwhile, Baltimore County is crowing that it had the lowest homicide rate since the 70's. Oh, shut up, Baltimore County. You want to rub it in about the low taxes too? How about the schools, how are those? I'm so happy for you.

A lot of interesting info in Fenton's crime chat. Por ejemplo, the fact that 95 percent of last year's homicide victims were black is the highest rate in a decade, five bodies were pulled out of the Harbor last year and most of the deaths were somehow alcohol-related (so far this week two bodies have been found in the water), and indeed, Anthony Gugleimi didn't really say anything police brass wasn't already thinking and/or hasn't said itself many times since his firing.

For fart's sake, people! Yet another crappy guardian was arrested after leaving a kid in a freezing car to go do some stupid thing. Today's idiot, grandpa Juan Carlos Calva Diaz, 47, allegedly left his kid in the car in freezing temperatures while he shopped for three hours at Arundel Mills Mall.

"Police find destructive devices in home" *cough* meth lab *cough*

Shooting: Kavon/Shamrock Avenue. Man reported to be shot. Homicide detectives called to the scene. Dispatch time 6:04pm.
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) January 2, 2014

Missing Person: Jesse Roosevelt Taylor (77) 5'9",197 lbs. Last seen at 500 Fallsway wearing 49ers coat and jeans. pic.twitter.com/ypQvaLW8Id
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) January 2, 2014

Keyon Paylor was arrested by #BPDSES in the 600 Block of Barlett Ave. for a handgun violation. #ASaferBaltimore pic.twitter.com/ejUGJlDCus
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) January 3, 2014

Davon Morton was arrested by #BPDWD in the 1100 Block of N. Calhoun St. for a handgun violation. #ASaferBaltimore pic.twitter.com/5GIi3X1Bt5
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) January 3, 2014

5 shootings in 5 hours

last night and another shooting today,* making 28 shot since Friday, helpfully mapped by Spotcrime.

Members of Special Enforcement Section just carried out raid in 600 block of N Kenwood, blk south of quintuple shooting; drugs, guns,arrests
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) June 26, 2013

Meanwhile Anthony Gugliemi has been reassigned following his unsatisfying remarks after last weekend's record-breaking wave of violence. ("I can see how it looks bad" apparently not a sufficient apology/explanation). So who's the new flak? And police hit the streets ISO tips.*

Milton Tillman Jr.

Milton Tillman III's notorious bail bond company 4 Aces may be put out of business by a new ruling that requires it to quit stalling and actually pay its bonds.* Don't hold your breath, though, the company is masterful at stalling and dodging. Tillman reports that the company has $300 million in liabilities (though the court is only asking for 1/300th of that for the moment). What's kind of amazing is that someone convicted of tax fraud is allowed to own a bail bonds company.

Employee of Charles Street GameStop threatened with death by robbers.

Thirteen years for accused hairron dealer Antonio Lamont "Tracey" Johnson

The Guardian (UK) revealed that the NSA has 850,000 analysts checking phone records, calls and emails. Meanwhile, Bradley Manning's trial is continuing in its 4th week down at Ft. Meade.

TIL in 1983 Johns Hopkins Hospital offered treatment for "severe pedophilia." Wonder what that entails? Also between 1960 and 1985 the Boy Scouts had 1,365 reports of "perversion" in its ranks.