May 6

One person was murdered last night in Overlea. Two suspects were arrested after speeding away from the scene and crashing into parked cars.

A hit-and-run in Elkridge left a 58-year-old bicyclist dead.

The woman whose body was found along I-70 in Frederick County has been identified as 24-year-old Dusty Shuck of Silver City, NM. She died from head trauma and a slashed throat.

A 14-year-old girl was electrocuted when she leaned against a fence in Druid Hill Park during a softball game. BGE claims their equipment wasn't involved and it wasn't their fault.

On Thursday evening at 5:00, a 19-year-old woman was raped as she was walking in Columbia.

After being attacked by a group of teenagers outside his house, Gregory Kane contemplates the juvenile murderers behind the deaths of Bryant Jones, Jerrod Hamlett, Jennifer Morelock and Jason Woycio.

A quiet day in the Blotter with only one person getting shot. (Oh, and a quick observation about yesterday's Blotter: A woman was in critical condition at Johns Hopkins Hospital after she was shot Monday morning by a man she knows. The woman was walking in the 400 block of N. Broadway about 9 a.m. when the man began to chase her. During the pursuit, he fired several shots, hitting the woman once in the left shoulder. This puts the shooting somewhere between the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins (401 N. Broadway) and the creatively named "500 Broadway" building at Johns Hopkins. I wonder how much news coverage this shooting would have received if one of those "several shots" hit someone besides the intended target.)

On Friday morning, a white man in his 20s attempted to carjack a woman in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart by the Arundel Mills mall.

The BPD is eating itself from the inside out: One of the accused officers in the Southwestern's Flex Squad was secretly working for Internal Affairs, and is now part of a lawsuit against other officers.

A case against two BPD officers for assaulting a man and two women in Federal Hill was dismissed because prosecutors didn't follow the proper procedures. The victim is "mad as hell."

The new jail in Baltimore County opened yesterday.

Another addition to the department of screwed up web sites: the city government has added fuel to the BGE fire by creating a site that incorrectly calculates your new electric bill rates. BGE claims their equipment wasn't involved and it wasn't their fault.

May 5

Baltimore police have been touting the new Web site, but all but the header/ticker is blank on my browser (Safari). Can anyone else see it?

PGC police closed four homicide cases this week.

WMAR's Keith Mills got nine months' house arrest for stealing prescription drugs from his neighbor who was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Officer Jemini Jones, 28, of the Southwestern District for second-degree rape, second-degree sex offense and misconduct in office. Court documents allege on October 24, 2005 Officer Jones executed a search and seizure warrant at the home of the alleged victim. Jones informed her that she would have to engage in various sexual activities in order to avoid arrest. An arraignment date has not been scheduled. This is a different incident than the one in December in which Jones is accused of raping a woman at the station house.

Kenneth Oakley, 41, was shot in his home in East Baltimore by a man who was chasing him.

Three non-fatal shootings in the blotter, and Shaheed Boyd was identified as the man fatally shot on Elderon Avenue last Saturday.

Alleged murderer/arsonist Daniel Murray's motive? He ws "teased." Murray was arrested after confessing to a co-worker.

Grody. Burnt human remains were found in Charles County.

Former Homeland-Security flak Brian Doyle of Silver Spring is out on bail after being accused of sending pornographic messages and films to (someone he thought was) a 14-year-old girl.

There's a hot new drug on the streets, says the DEA: a mixture of cold medicine and heroin that's being called "cheese."

James Wright, 32, got 20 years for selling crack.

The trial of Kenneth "O?r$a(i?)cl$" Ellis was postponed until May 23, 2006.

The FTC has sued five Internet companies, including Baltimore-based Information Search Inc., for selling consumers' cell-phone records.

May 4

Baltimorean Cindi Rush, 20, has been arrested and charged for the murder of Waldorf restaurant owner Patricia Caniglia.

A Virginia man was arrested for stabbing of 19-year-old William Green III to death in Baltimore County last October.

The second-degree assault trial of police officers Jack Odom, Jr. and Michael Brassell is scheduled to begin at 2 tomorrow afternoon in Hargrove District Court, room 2. Second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

In Curtis Bay, police shot fleeing suspect Scott Fischer.

Memphis anchorman Ron Meroney, 69, was arrested and charged with child abuse and rape for an incident that happened in Baltimore County more than 30 years ago.

Dundalk murder mom Denise Lechner got 30 years for child abuse resulting in the death of her 3-year-old son, Roy. Another son, Donald, had died mysteriously four months before.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury today indicted Jamal Charles, 16, of Edmonston Ave. and Dwayne Drake, 17, of Dolefield Ave., for first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and handgun counts. Court documents allege that on April 14 Charles and Drake shot and killed Bryan Jones, 42, in the 1000 block of N. Augusta Ave.

A woman's body was found by I-70.

Sun: the flex squad investigation is "dragging," with only one charge after four months of investigation.

A UM College Park student, Daniel Murray, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and arson in the death of 22-year-old Michael Scrocca.

Barbara Gahan, reported missing, was found dead in a creek in Essex.

The trial of Kenneth Ellis, 35, left, charged with malicious destruction of property, is scheduled for trial 8:30 a.m. tomorrow in courtroom one, Hargrove District Court. Ellis is accused of being the graffiti "artist" resposible for the tag "Oricl" or "Oracl."

May 3

The happy-hour auction was won at $660 by an extra-large individual who's fond of tacky watches and gently used boxer shorts! Congrats!

At a hearing today, Kevin Hunter, 37, of Baltimore, pled guilty to first-degree rape. Judge Allen L. Schwait sentenced him 20 years in prison and five years' probation and ordered him to register with the Maryland sex offense registry. On June 25, 1990 Hunter broke into the victim's home and forcibly raped her twice. A suspect was identified at that time but was cleared through DNA testing. In March 2003 Baltimore City police received information from the Maryland State Police that Hunter's DNA matched the DNA collected during a rape kit exam. Hunter is currently serving a 30-year prison term for first-degree rape, first-degree sex offense and attempted first-degree murder for a crime that took place in 1991. Judge Schwait ordered that today's sentence run concurrent to this previous conviction.

Ink: Three murders last week, including 14-month-old Kayah Jackson. That's 87 murders so far, 86 not counting Julia Boussari.

Howard Rote was arrested for attempted murder, accused of shooting his wife, Mary, in the neck.

Andre Staton was convicted yesterday in PA and may face death for stabbing Beverly Yohn with a butcher knife in front of her son. Staton was on parole in MD following another stabbing.

A body found in NY may be that of missing Baltimorean Melvin Sharpless.

Police arrested two adults and "some juveniles" who are linked to more than 115 burglaries in the Baltimore area.

In Annapolis, a second midshipman, Kenny Ray Morrison, faces sexual assault charges.

Judge Richard Palumbo of PGC faces charges of misconduct after dismissing Yvette Cade's protective order, comparing women to buses, making a trooper void his traffic ticket because he was a judge, and discouraging another trooper from writing him a ticket by saying he "knew the trooper's boss." Meanwhile, Cade appeared on "Oprah" today. [Username ho420@yahoo.com; password go2hell]

A former Caroline County deputy, Michael K. Sheward, was the second former member of the sheriff's department charged with felonies related to sexual contact with an underage girl.

Six Duke lacrosse players have applied to JHU.

Pamela Hoffler-Riddick (remember her?), a former teacher, got 6 1/2 years for helping launder drug money.

Time to get like Whitney and stop the madness, stop the madness now.

May 2

Mary Galston, 31, was found stabbed in her home in Brooklyn.

A man was shot on Grayson Street in the Southwestern.

Natalyn Tart-Jones, 49, was stabbed by her ex in Columbia.

Davon David Temple, 17, has been arrested and charged for the murders of Jennifer Morelock and Jason Woycio.

Vernon Evans will have his appeal heard.

Sixty-six people are being held locally on immigration charges following raids on Monday.

For the second time in a month, a man was glued to a toilet seat in Salisbury.

Why is the Harford County sex-offender population on the rise?

May 1

An unidentified man was shot and killed near Wabash Avenue in the Northwestern.

Blotter: A man was shot near Johns Hopkins Hospital, and 20-year-old Ashley McLaurin was arrested for carjacking.

Man steals hair, paper uses cliche for headline.

Dept. of non-breaking news: prostitution is a nuisance, and some hookers have drug habits.

One month left to get that pet monkey.

In Wicomico County, Baltimorean Steven L. Pratt was found guilty of impersonating a police officer and was fined $157.50.

April 30

Two men were shot dead near a business complex in Linthicum.

Attorneys for the two officers accused of failing to intervene during a rape at the Southwestern District station house have filed motions to dismiss charges.

April 28

Police identified murder victims Kimberly Skyers and Larry Greene.

A woman was stabbed in the stomach and back at her home in Waverly by a friend of her husband's.

Yes, it's for real! You can bid on eBay for a "Happy Hour" with Hamm and Jessamy! (Disclaimer: happiness not included.)

At a hearing today, wheelchair-bound Jerome McCardell, 32, got a total of 20 years after he pled guilty to first-degree murder for shooting and killing Thomas Robert Pratt, 26, on December 9, 1991, guilty to use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, and also guilty to an unrelated attempted armed robbery from January 2, 2004.

Roger Hargrave was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and assault. WBAL has the horrifying video.

Baltimorean Craig Scott got 12 1/2 years for drug trafficking.

Two people were indicted for bilking the city school system of about $12,000.

Lavar Clark got 90 days for driving the getaway car for an Overlea robbery. Lavar is the brother of Javon Clark, convicted getaway-car driver in the William Bassett murder.

Nice! Cops are getting new cameras and computers to help them post pictures of sex offenders.

Erik Stoddard, charged with second-degree murder, pled not guilty at an arraignment this morning. His trial date was scheduled for August 10, 2006. On December 8, 2005 the Maryland Court of Appeals vacated Stoddard's second-degree murder conviction, citing evidentiary issues regarding the testimony of a three-year-old witness. A Baltimore City jury convicted Stoddard March 13, 2003 of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death for the death of Calen Faith Dirubbo, 3. Court documents allege that on June 15, 2002 Dirubbo was pronounced dead at her home, where she lived with her mother and Stoddard. Dirubbo died as a result of multiple beatings over a period of at least a month; the fatal blow, which severed her bowel, occurred June 15, 2002.

CBS National News reported that more than 90 percent of witnesses in Baltimore murder cases face intimidation. (Yet judges give career criminals and intimidators such as Clyde Meadows probation.)

April 27

Ghafour Asemani, 38, of Ellicott City pled guilty to attempted second-degree murder for choking his ex-wife, Samira, who remains in a coma.

Blotter: A 24-year-old man was shot four times in the Western, and there's a whole lot of stealing going on.

Baltimore thieves stole $9,000 worth of gas from two stations.

Details on the sad case of the PGC 12-year-old who stabbed his mother and 9-year-old brother to death, if you're not depressed enough already.

Why was a Howard County police officer creeping around his wife's office building at 3:30 a.m.?

In AAC a man was stabbed in the hand and a crackhead left his dog in a hot car, which led to his arrest on outstanding warrants. And did you know PCP comes in a bottle?

April 26

A Baltimore Circuit Court Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts this afternoon in the first-degree murder trial of Mohammed Biglari, who sounds like a total psycho. Sentencing is set for June 15 at 11 a.m. before Judge Allison. This was Biglari's third trial for the 1991 murder of Barbara Halsey, a Veteran's Hospital employee and mother of two. His two previous murder convictions were vacated by the Maryland Court of Appeals.

The BCGJ returned two indictments charging Baltimore City police officer Walter Jackson-Hill, 36, of York, Pennsylvania with two counts of Bribery, two counts of Extortion by Government Employee and two counts of Misconduct in Office. Jackson is accused of taking cash bribes in exchange for failing to appear in court.

The BCGJ returned an indictment charging Baltimore City police officer Che Christopher Jackson, 35, of Randallstown, with one count of Felony Theft. If convicted Jackson could be sentenced to up to 15 years and/or fined $25,000. The indictment alleges that between January 4 and January 6 Jackson removed four 20-inch Rox Fossill rims and four Wanli tires valued at $1800 from a 2000 Cadillac Deville belonging to Lisa Smith. Ms Smith's vehicle had been seized as a result of an investigation into a shooting. The rims and tires were removed while the vehicle was being stored at the Northeastern police district. The tires and rims were subsequently located on a 1999 Cadillac Deville belonging to Jackson.

CP recounts the tragic tale of 15-year-old Vatell Murray, murdered on the last day of 2005.

The Ink recounts last week's seven murders. In case you haven't heard, crime is up in every category in Baltimore (by 4 percent city-wide, says the Sun) and we're up to 86 homicides.

Student mathletes filed a motion in court demanding $800 million and the removal of the school board.

Harry Hudson Conway got 12 years and 7 months federal for robbing two Towson banks.

Scary: a man trying to call 911 about an assault in progress was transferred four times and hung up on by operators.

Tainted heroin is causing addicts' deaths in PA, NJ and possibly Maryland's Eastern Shore.

April 25

Judge Stephanie Lynette Royster, 45, passed away last night after a long battle with cancer. Last November Royster was appointed to the 8th Circuit for Baltimore City by Gov. Ehrlich. Prior to her appointment she spent 15 years working for the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office, most recently serving as Chief of Staff and Deputy State's Attorney. She went to Western High School and earned her BA in philosophy from Loyola College, then spent 10 years with the advertising agency W.B. Doner before earning her JD from the University of Maryland School of Law.

The Commander of the Northern District, Maj. Steven Lukaskik, has been reassigned to the property crime division. The new man in charge will be Michael Pristoop, formerly of the Western. And Maj. Richard C. Fahlteich is retiring again.

Blotter: three people were arrested and charged with attempted murder for shooting a 20-year-old man on Barclay Street March 28. And in the Western, a man was shot in the head and lived.

Burning victim Yvette Cade testified against her estranged husband and alleged attacker Roger Hargrave.

The trial of Donta Allen, accused of murdering Linda Trinh, has been postponed until September because the prosecutor is busy on another case.

County police are looking for five possible witnesses to the murders of Youani Alvares and Joel Gonzales, found in a field near Shelbourne Avenue. They were last seen at the Club Mate & Lounge in South Baltimore.

Wonder if Patricia C. Jessamy got the "little lady, you should know better than to leave things of value in your car" speech.

Oy vay, JZ. A "pitbull" was shot after allegedly attacking a child in Pasadena. Charges are pending against the "dogs owners." Here's the story in English.

April 24

The murder trial of Brian Christopher Cooper, 21, is scheduled for 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Shirley Watts. A Baltimore City jury convicted Cooper of first-degree murder April 28, 2003 and he was sentenced to life in prison June 26, 2003. The Court of Special Appeals vacated that murder conviction July 6, 2005 ruling Cooper's Miranda rights were violated. Court documents allege that on April 16, 2002 Cooper and Elliott Scott, 21, argued in front of an unlicensed taxi stand in the 2600 block of West Fairmount Avenue. After the argument, which occurred shortly before midnight, Mr. Scott walked toward his home with a female neighbor. Cooper got a "hack" to drive him home where he got a knife and returned to the neighborhood looking for Mr. Scott. Cooper allegedly found Mr. Scott on North Catherine Street, chased him into the alley behind his home in the 2500 block of West Fayette Street, and stabbed Mr. Scott three times. Mr. Scott underwent emergency surgery at the Shock Trauma Unit and described his assailant before succumbing to his injuries.

The murder trial of Keith Garrett, scheduled for today, has been postponed until June 1 before Judge Wanda K. Heard because there were no courtrooms available.

Pregnant Jennifer Morelock, 25, and her companion Jason Woycio, 29, of Carroll County, were shot on the West side.

Good(?) news: Arrests without charges are down to 11.7 percent from 23 percent.

Harold Medan was arrested for the murder of Aaron Mackley, and a student at Thurgood Marshall High was arrested for the attempted murder of Antoine Matthews, 18.

A middle-aged guy with a beard is robbing banks.

What the ?! is up with PGC? A 12-year-old boy was arrested for stabbing a 9-year-old boy and a 31-year-old woman to death, and 14-year-old Dominick Edelin was arrested at school for sexually assaulting girls.

A College Park bar's "Ladies Lockdown" raged, in spite of a table full of superciliously non-partying school officials.

April 22

Jarell Adams, 20, and an unidentified man were fatally shot on Thursday (so there were four homicides that day-- two in the South, one in the East and one in the West).

Kendall Charles Alexander got 27 years federal for robbing the Wachovia Bank on Northern Parkway, twice.

Twenty-five-year-old Kondwani Martin got 10 years for being a felon with a firearm and admitting to being involved in a gunfight with police outside the Upper Deck Grill last year. Less-lucky Harold Greene, 32, a felon in possession of a gun who didn't shoot at anyone, got 17 years.

April 21

The murder trial of Keith Montrell Garrett, 34, is scheduled to begin 9:30 Monday before Judge Althea Handy. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Garrett January 15, 2004 for first-degree murder, kidnapping, and abduction in connection with the disappearance of Timothy Antonio Washington, 7, who was last seen on September 11, 1992 in the 800 block of Hilton Parkway. The body of the victim has never been recovered. Garrett remains held without bail. Assistant State's Attorney and Homicide Division Chief Mark Cohen will prosecute this case.

Two homicides in South Baltimore yesterday: Robert Atkinson, 47, was found shot on a kitchen floor. Vincent Paige, 23, was shot and died at Harbor Hospital.

A 16-year-old boy was shot in the back at a bus stop in Essex.

In the blotter, arrests for murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.

In Towson, Jeffrey Ricardo Jones Jr. got 25 years for stabbing his ex-girlfriend Lesley Dunlap with a steak knife outside the Venable law firm.

Remember the bizarre killing of Ralph Amadi, shot on his front lawn in White Marsh last March? The FBI now has a suspect: Duane Latoye Geiger, 32.

In Westminster, 23-year-old Jasen Weigman is in custody and has confessed to assaulting the 7-year-old boy at the Ruby Tuesday's.

This blog got its 100,000th hit this morning, a reader from Silent Flute. Don't miss the link to these rare and fabulous V103 mixes: priceless Baltimorerfernalia.

April 20

A second suspect, Dwayne Drake, 16, faces first-degree murder charges in the sweet 16 murder.

A shooting in the Southwestern, three attempted murder arrests, theft, robbery and burglary in the blotter.

Tonya Tyson, who worked at Ferris, Baker Watts in D.C., was one of five Marylanders indicted for investment bank fraud in a scheme to launder drug money.

A former mental health counselor, Moses Ige, was sentenced to probation for defrauding Medicare of $6k.

In Cumberland, kids aren't just dabbling heroin and meth, but are also getting hooked on fentanyl pain patches.

Men for Others Dept:
In Montgomery County, officials at Georgetown Prep sent home a letter to parents to inform them that that sexual abuse charges against former teacher and priest Garrett Orr were "substantially true."

In Westminster a 7-year-old boy was molested in a Ruby Tuesday's bathroom.

In Anne Arundel County, associate pastor Enoch Hill of the Essex House of God Church was arrested for molesting a boy.

April 19

Oswald V. Voigt pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 years for choking Robin Hoey with an extension cord.

Ink: eight murders last week, 80 this year.

The Baltimore Police Department is facing four federal lawsuits for allegedly retaliating against employee/critics.

Police are seeking the public's help in locating Emani Baxter, a 15-year-old runaway from Pikesville.

April 18

In PA, jury selection is underway in the case of Baltimorean Andre Staton, accused of stabbing his girlfriend Beverly Yohn to death. Staton has an extensive record going back to the 80's that includes arson, battery, thefts and obstruction of justice.

On August 9, 2005, police discovered the body of Robin Hoey inside a safe located in the 3100 block of Lorena Avenue. The Medical Examiner concluded that Hoey died as a result of asphyxiation and ruled her death a homicide. Tomorrow, the murder trial of Oswald Victor Voigt, 49, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Allen L. Schwait. A Baltimore Grand Jury indicted Voigt on September 9, 2005 for the first-degree murder of Robin Hoey, 36. Court documents allege that on August 18, 2005 Voight confessed to murdering Hoey. State's Attorney's office: "Don't hold your breath on this actually going forward...."

The 14-year-old who was shot to death last Saturday was identified as Raymond Revley.

A group of four or five men went on a robbery and carjacking spress in PGC and DC Easter Monday afternoon.

Prince George's County homicide detectives held a funeral for their littlest victim, a newborn found by a pond in Riverdale Park.

Ehrlich-appointed Republican Delegate Terrill "Terry" R. Gillelan Jr., left, was arrested nine months ago after drunkenly crashing his Mercedes and stumbling into traffic, unkempt and drooling. District Judge Thomas Pryal acquitted him of drunk-driving charges due to faulty evidence. Gilleland is up for election this year.

Finns: salmon is the new prison saltpeter.

April 17

Following a bail review hearing this morning, Judge Nancy B. Shuger ordered the "Sweet 16" (alleged) killer Jamal Charles charged with first-degree murder and held without bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 12 in room 3, Hargrove District Courthouse.

Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Marvin Dorsey, 23, of West Lombard Street, to life in prison for first-degree murder and 20 years in prison for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Heard ordered that the sentences run consecutively and said that it was her hope and desire that Dorsey "never see the streets again." On January 20 a Baltimore City jury convicted Dorsey of the murder of Raymond Savoy, 16. On October 27, 2004 Dorsey shot Savoy eight times with a .45 caliber handgun in the 200 block of South Caroline Street. Asst. State's Attorney Matthew B. Fraling III prosecuted the case.

Melissa Harton got 10 years in prison for the killing of Natasha Bacchus Magee. The AP reported that she could be out on parole in as little as a year and a half.

What the ... ? A Dundalk family couple is being terrorized by a 16-year-old hoodlum/witness intimidator who, says a police dept. spokesperson, the State Juvenile Justice Department refuses to deal with.

A man in the NW was arrested for the possession of a stolen Glock 9 mm.

April 14

Two teenage boys were shot on Cardenas Avenue in East Baltimore. Both survived.

A 23-year-old man was shot Wednesday on the 1100 block of East Lanvale.

Loco Rodney Bethea tried to hang himself in the NE District Station, then hit an officer over the head with a halogen light bulb and held a woman hostage in an office with a pair of scissors.

Tavon Wilson, 21, got 16 years in prison for shaking his girlfriend's toddler to death.

Felon Jerome Henderson, 42, got 15 years for a gun charge.

Benz-driving Kawasaki owners pled guilty to immiglation ferony and money raundeling. They stole tips, too.

University of MD police: help us arrest this drunken, hooting hatboy.

William D. Chase, 49, is the new head of the FBI's Baltimore office.

A 15-year-old Aberdeen boy is in critical condition after a gang-related shooting.

What's up with the Sun's coverage today? It's, like, on 'roids all the sudden (this time steroids, not hemorrhoids).

April 13

An as-yet-unnamed man is dead after a double shooting at 6:40 in Reservoir Hill. A woman was also wounded.

Dick Irwin especial: 371 words for the past seven days' murders:
Last Thursday: Curtis Mitchell, 19, was fatally shot to death.
Saturday: Darnell Butler, 24, was fatally shot in the NW.
Sunday: Homeless Julia Kimberly Boussari, 34, died of a stab wound to the chest; A woman was found suspiciously dead on Druid Hill Ave.
Tuesday: Charles Sparrow, 53, got a fatal chest-stab wound at a house on Glydon Avenue.
Police found the body of a woman who died of head injuries in a vacant home.
Wednesday: The body of a burned man was found inside a rowhome in West Baltimore.
And yesterday, three boys were shot in the Northwestern near Liberty Heights Avenue.

Devin Jamele Milbourne, 21, of Edgewood, was arrested for attempted murder in the shooting of 15-year-old Tyrone Orr in Aberdeen.

The Sun gives the police department's Kristen Mahoney a chance to respond to Jessamy's accusations that numbers prepared by the Police Department were an intentionally misleading attempt to discredit the office of the prosecutor. "'The information that Mrs. Jessamy provided yesterday added no value to the discussion,'" said Mahoney. (What discussion?)