Friday, July 25, 2008

July 25, 2008

Two killed in a drive-by shooting on Northern Parkway!
Police are looking for a white Pontiac.

An armed purse-snatching right next to Roland Park Elementary!

Both the Sun and the Daily Record cover yesterday's courthouse rally with Anna Sowers and her supporters.
Cham may be tired of this story, but I think it's pretty interesting.
Meister blogs that he has an "inside source" in the SA's office who says that Burns will "probably go quietly sometime before the election."

The man with the bomb at UM- Baltimore was ID'd as one Dallas J. Smith.

An AAC woman who left her newborn in the trash is out of the pokey after serving 8 months.

At a hearing today before his trial was scheduled to begin, George Scruggs, Jr., 34, of the 3100 block of Artaban Place pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Gale E. Rasin sentenced Scruggs to 30 years, with all but 15 suspended, and five years' probation. The facts he pled to:
On August 29, 2007 at approximately 11:42 p.m., Scruggs and the victim, Darnell Thomas, 24, began arguing outside Scruggs’ door. Thomas struck Scruggs in the face with a beer bottle. The argument further escalated with the eventual fatal shooting of Thomas. Scruggs confessed to police but stated he believed the victim was armed with a handgun.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Thursday (and nothing is sacred)

An 82 - allow me to repeat this - Eighty-Two year old woman recalls the mugging and vicious assault she allegedly suffered. Apparently one of the men did it after asking for change for a $5. Lesson learned: Don't give anyone in this city anything.

If that doesn't boil your blood enough, the city blotter features people robbed, cars broken into, and homes burgled, while the county blotter has explosive devices and hate crimes. Business as usual in the Baltimore Metropolitan region, I see.

Though she was to receive mental treatment in return for pleading guilty, Vernice Harris continues to rot in prison
.

My apologies for forgetting Anna Ditkoff's Murder Ink, an invaluable and informative resource here in Harm City...

WMAR TV examines the controversial and -- above all -- local issue of racist license plates. With news mediums like this, who needs propaganda factories? filler?

In a complete and absolute display of her innocence, Mayor Sheila Dixon has retained well known and respected defense attorney Arnold Weiner to represent her in the ongoing perjury/misconduct probe of her office. Weiner, of course, represented former Governor Mandel during his little tryst with the law.

Lame.

State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy released a statement regarding the Sowers case, click here to read it. A statement that you're not going to make a statement? What's the point of that?

Monday, July 21, 2008

WTF? K-Swift Drowned!

At the young age of 27, 92Q DJ K-Swift has drowned in her own pool, while throwing a party!
Apparently no one noticed the hostess was missing, and then when they found her no one performed CPR on her.
WTF?

... The Sun has more
The reporter who broke the Zach Sowers "sleeping baby" story covers the farmer's market protest.

BCPD arrested Edward Leon Medley for a 1980 rape.

Four years later, the courts have finally settled the case of Janet Jackson's tittyflash.

Monday Morning

A man was shot and killed at a liquor store off of safe and reliable North Avenue on Saturday night. More interestingly, this store was the target of shut-down efforts by the local Reservoir Hill Community. Hmm. Methinks this will call for a committee.

A stabbing during an attempted robbery at the Mt. Clare Dollar Store.

This was not a good weekend to be out after 7pm (sorry, Artscape fans), as someone else was found fatally shot in SoWeBo.

As evidence that some press can be bad press, dozens of people gathered to discuss the firing of Margaret Burns, spokesperson for the City State's Attorney's office. Burns, shockingly, could not be reached for comment. Notice a pattern, anyone? Adam Meister posted more information on this little conundrum here.

An inmate died at central booking on Friday evening, and the Powers that Be are investigating
.

It's going to be hot today, cats and kittens, so be sure to bring your bottled water!
Here's what you missed at the rally

The next gathering of aggrieved citizens will be at noon Thursday on the steps of the courthouse.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Weekend

#113: "An unidentified man was shot to death Friday night in Northwest Baltimore, according to city police ... found with a gunshot wound to the upper body about 11:20 p.m. in the 5000 block of Pembridge Ave. near Pimlico Race Course ..."

The most recent female strangling victim (#107) was ID'd. "Friends" and police "departmental reports" (?) claim Brenda Hatfield, 45, had been selling certain skills on the open market. Her family denies it, though, and Hatfield has no drug or prostitution charges on her record.

Matthew Haarhoff, who allegedly helped his mom set her "boyfriend"'s body on fire, is now trying to make a new start.

The NYT has a criminal-justice series running, "American Exception," examining "commonplace aspects of the American justice system that are virtually unique in the world."
The "Baltimore Exception" would be whole other series,
featuring
"Abated by arrest"
gag orders for retiring police officers,
and, of course, a lady Mayor who's going to get indicted!

Friday, July 18, 2008

For-Her Firearms

The News Hole just featured the press release of a .38 gun which is painted hot pink - perfect for that special lady of yours. It's an exquisite piece...

Friday Morning

The jury's still out on the case of Darnell Edmonds, accused of murdering Kenneth Morrell, who was accused of murdering Darnell's Brother Keyyon Makins. This is the second trial after Edmonds first ended in a mistrial.

In a fit of irony, Sherman Kemp - a purveyor of the 'Stop Snitching' culture - essentially snitched on himself when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and gun possession, among other charges.

The US Attorney's Office scored another win when
they clinktified Terrance Gray, who conspired to steal cocaine from a drug dealer. He was sentenced to 15 years. Go, Hot Rod!

Jean Marbella notes an extremely interesting legal theory raised by some penitentiary-bound Baltimoreans. Take that, Clarence Darrow!

Well, it turns out that the fifth woman who was strangled was also a prostitute.

As many of you probably know, The police have, in the past spied on groups they dubbed suspicious. But... as recently as 2006? The Sun investigates spying done by the State Police on peace and anti-death penalty groups.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Sirlilar Jewelle "Juelz," Stokes, 19, was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a 18-year-old Ashley Davis at Robert E. Lee yesterday.
"Prostitute Self Defense Class"

Taking it to the Streets

... like the Doobie Brothers!
We hear there's to be a rally against newspaper layoffs today at noon in front of the Sun building on Calvert Street.

There will also be an anti-Marty-Burns rally at the farmer's market on Sunday.

They don't call this city Mobtown for nothing!

The Story that Refuses to Die

A listener of "The Ron Smith Show" opines that racism twines its way through the Sowers case.
(Thanx Vic)

Speaking of twining racism, it's interesting how when Jessie Jackson drops two "n" bombs, the press won't print or repeat the quote.