May 10

A man was shot to death this morning in the 300 block of 23 1/2 Street in Barclay.

"MySpace murderer" and former UMBC student John Gaumer was found guilty by a jury in Towson this afternoon.

Brian Cotter, 19, was arrested for the murder of 18-year-old Dundalkian Raymond Zubrowski.

Cleared officer Jemini Jones will get his back pay.

Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, the fourth Tamil Tiger defendant, pled guilty today to "conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempted exportation of arms and munitions."

In the Blotter, arrests for shootings on Tuesday; one William Salmeron was arrested in NC for the 2006 murder of Jose Mendoza.

Damon Holmes, 15, of the 6600 block of Old Harford Road, pled guilty to Second Degree Murder, Use of Handgun of Crime of Violence, and Robbery with a Deadly Weapon; on May 31, 2006, Damon Holmes shot and killed Oumar Bah, 28, (left) in the 7100 block of McClean Blvd. Bah was a cab operator who had picked up Holmes on Northern Parkway. After shooting Bah, Holmes took money from Bah's cab. Sentencing is set for 9 a.m. on June 29 before the Honorable Lynn Stewart, in Room 215 of the Clarence Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse. Holmes faces a maximum of 40 years in prison.

Indictments from the SA's office:

Jonathan Watkins, 53, of the 3000 block of Belmont Avenue on charges of first-degree murder May 4. Court documents allege on March 9, 2007 Jonathan Watkins was the last person seen walking with Anthony Bryan, 36, in the rear of the 3000 block of Rosedale Court. Mr. Bryan was found with a gunshot wound to the head. He died a short time later at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Dajuan Carter, 22, of the 1300 block of Ellwood Avenue on charges of first-degree murder. Court documents allege Dajuan Carter was identified as the suspect in the March 27 shooting of Ronald Harmon, 17. Mr. Harmon was found on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound to the head in the 2500 block of E. Biddle Street. He died a short time later from his injuries.

Korey Harris, 18, of the 300 block of Bridgeview Road on charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder; court documents allege on April 19, 2007 two shootings occurred in the 2400 block of Seabury Road in which Harris was identified as the suspect. The first victim, Christopher Wayman was found with a gunshot wound to the head. The second victim was shot in the back and survived his injuries. Mr. Wayman died a short time later at University of Maryland Shock Trauma.

Orville Earl Cooper, 24, of the 600 block of South Wickham Road on charges of rape, robbery, second, third and fourth -degree sex offense, and kidnapping; court documents allege on January 1, 2006 in the 4200 block of Frederick Road, Orville Cooper approached a mass transit patron, exited his car, threatened the patron into his car with a weapon and committed a first degree sex offense. Court documents also allege on February 15, 2006 Orville Cooper robbed, assaulted and raped a passenger of his sedan transportation service. AND Court documents ALSO allege that on April 2, 2006, Orville Cooper, parked his vehicle several feet ahead of a pedestrian, exited his vehicle, approached the pedestrian with a weapon, and then forced the pedestrian into his car, and robbed, assaulted and raped the pedestrian. AND Court documents ALSO allege that on July 8, 2006, Orville Cooper, approached the window of a parked car, pretended to be a police officer, robbed and assaulted the occupants seated in the car. Crikey!

Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was arrested for DUI in Tennessee after he refused to take a breathalyzer test ... even though he wasn't driving.

Nichole Franklin of Baltimore, Wade Johnson of Annapolis, and James Jones of Annapolis were arrested for forging prescriptions.

... speaking of, somebody sploshed paint on certain looming, flabby jowls on an 83 billboard. Robert Murrow, a spokesman for the city's Department of Public Works: "it looks great!" They Say it'll be fixed by tomorrow, so enjoy the view tonight!

Driver Warning?

From a community listerv.

"At Tuesday's community meeting at the SW District Police Station, we received this warning:

Don't flash headlights at any car with no lights on!

Police officers working with the DARE program tell us that if you are driving after dark and see an on! -coming car with no headlights on, do not flash your lights at them! This is a common "Bloods" member "initiation game." The new gang member under initiation drives along with no headlights; the first car to flash their headlights at him is now his target." He is required to turn around, chase that car and than shoot to kill every individual in the vehicle in order to complete his initiation requirements. Their intent is to have all the new bloods nationwide drive around on Friday and Saturday nights with their headlights off. In order to be accepted into the gang, they have to shoot and kill individuals in the first auto that does a courtesy flash to warm them that their lights are off.

Make sure you share this information with all the drivers in your family!"

I know it's a legend, but the "Tuesday's community meeting at the SW District Police Station" made me wonder if the Bloods had heard the legend and decided it was a good idea... but yes, it is NOT TRUE.... when I called the Southwestern as soon as I said the word "headlights" (didn't even have to finish) the officer who answered the phone was like "no, it's not true, it's an urban legend, the Bloods don't do that and no one in the Southwestern ever said that."
So there you go.

May 9

Four men were murdered "within a 10-hour period between Monday evening and early yesterday in apparently unrelated incidents": Thomas Mouzon, 23, on North Caroline Street, William Don Curtis, 23, shot on Raymonn Avenue, John Lee Graves, 26, killed on Cliftview Avenue near Clifton Park, and Michael Eugene Davis, 25 on Woodbine Avenue in Forest Park.

That. Is. So. Fucked! Juanita Robinson, 27, was arrested for the murder of Andre McBride, 21. She had been charged with first-degree murder of a 16-year-old and convicted, but served only six months of a 10-year suspended sentence.

The Ink: "The death of Abdul Rahim Azzie was added to the [2007] homicide rolls this week despite the fact that police have never found his body."

The U.S. Attorney's office will seek the death penalty against MS-13 members and co-defendants Jorge Rigoberto Amador, 32, Antonio Roberto Argueta, 25, and Juan Carlos Moriera, 27.

Six shootings in the Blotter, including the attempted home-invasion from yesterday. And a helluvalotta robberies.

Joe Guadagnoli, a father of three, was arrested for growing marijuana, and "police say they're proud."
As MD has a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for more than 50 pounds (how it's weighed, I don't know... do dirt or plant pots count? Stems? Seeds?), chances are quite good he'll serve more time than any other perp on this page.
(note: if you're trying to map it, it's one word-- Glenoak Avenue-- in Hamilton)

In this week's CP cover feature, an interview with the "imposing" and "impassive" Hamm.

Truck Stop Games of Chester, Va., which operated slot machines at (where else?) truck stops in Maryland and other states has agreed to pay a $2.5 million criminal settlement for money laundering and gambling.

May 8

Post: "Gov. Martin O'Malley said he is considering whether to sign a bill that would put Maryland among the states seeking to reverse a long trend toward more severe punishment for some drug crimes."

"Detectives may walk beat in Baltimore" sounds like an encouraging headline, but ... "detectives" includes the city's mere 42 (?!?!?!) homicide detectives, who, in addition to the corpses du jour spend one week a month working on some of the 1,065 unsolved murder cases (according to Janis) that remain unsolved from the past nine years.
Meanwhile, in case you missed it, the homicide closure rate for 2007 is 23.4 percent so far.

The aptly named, Robert Looney, wanted by authorities on an attempted-murder charge, was arrested at about 8 a.m. today after he barricaded himself inside a house on the 2800 block of Gatehouse Drive in West Baltimore.

A reader at the U of MD downtown wrote to ask, "Have you heard anything about a group of teens knocking on doors in Ridgley’s Delight on Monday morning around 10 a.m.? Supposedly, someone in the group shot at the front door of one home, hitting the occupant." Later today she forwarded this warning from the police:

This morning (Monday), there was an attempted home invasion on Fremont Street near South Paca Street. The suspects were seen earlier knocking on doors in the area. It is also believed that they were involved in a shooting on Scott Street in Barre Circle last week.

What can you do?
If somebody knocks on your door, do not open it before checking to see who is there [gee, rilly?!]. If you see people matching the following descriptions knocking on doors, please call 911 immediately and tell the operator that you see suspects matching the description of the shooting in Ridgely's Delight.

Suspect #1
Age: 16 - 19
Race: African American
Skin Tone: Brown/Medium
Sex: Male.
Build: Medium
Height: 5'6"
Hair: Dread locks (shoulder length)
Clothing: Blue and red polo shirt with grey sweatpants

Suspect #2
Age: 16 - 19
Race: African American
Skin tone: Dark
Sex: Male
Build: Medium
Height: 5"6"
Hair: Short curly hair
Clothing: Dark colored hooded sweat shirt
Suspect(s) are known to be armed with a long barreled handgun, possibly a [.]22 caliber. Suspect fled on foot across MLK toward Pigtown. The University of Maryland police are also assisting with the investigation.

Attorney for Roland Park's local perv, Kenneth Barnes (left): let my pervert go!

WJZ: illegal dirt bikes and ATVs are wild on the streets and police won't chase them down, creating a "real stew of trouble."

In the County, John Gaumer's trial for the murder of Hampden's Josie Brown began. The Sun's Jennifer McMenamin has details about the process of the investigation, but Broadwater at the Examiner lets loose with the horrific details that will have you groping for a puke bucket. As reports of horrific murders should, right?

Jamaal K. Abeokuto's death sentence was reduced today to life without parole for the 2002 kidnapping and death of eight-year-old Marciana Ringo.

Better late than never dept: the Gov. signed a bill apologizing for slavery in Maryland. On that note, quote of the day from former slave about mealtime at Hampton Mansion up in Towson:

There was a trough out in the yard where the poured in mush and milk, and us children and the dogs would all crowd 'round and eat it together. We children had homemade wooden paddles to eat with, and we sure had to be in a hurry about it, because the dogs would get it all if we didn't.

And a recollection by a man who'd seen his sister beaten for accidentally breaking a clock:

My old marster took her and tied a rope around her neck-- just long enough to keep it from choking her-- and tied her up in the back yard and whipped her I don't know how long. There stood mother, there stood father, and there stood all the children and none could come to her rescue."

(from James Loewen's excellent Lies Across America, quoting slave narratives collected in the 1930s). Overseers, including the Ridgelys of Hampton, were also known to rub salt into whip wounds, castrate males who ran away, and sell parents of young children to farway plantations, never to be seen again. Gone With the Wind it wasn't!

May 7

Wow! This weekend's murder rate is down 66% from the same period last week. Perhaps the mayor and police commissioner should schedule a meeting to celebrate their success. Yesterday morning at about 1:30, an unidentified man was repeatedly shot in the 200 block of S. Spring Ct. in the Southeastern. He died at Hopkins about an hour later. Early Saturday morning, an unidentified man was fatally shot in the head in the 1300 block of Herkimer St.

Two more of last week's murder victims have been identified. 23-year-old Matthew Davis was the man found in an Acura in the 100 block of S. Mount St. on Thursday evening. 16-year-old Jamal Knox was the boy found in a car in the 500 block of Half Mile Ct. last Monday.

In addition to the newly-identified homicide victims, today's Blotter (linked above) also lists a shooting, two stabbings, a whole bunch of burglaries in the county, and the arrest of Gregory Davenport for the murder of Dewitt Smith.

Soman Thamby was arrested and charged with killing his wife, Lesa.

A PG man was stabbed to death at an International House of Pancakes in Bladensburg early this morning.

Ten teenagers escaped from the Charles Hickey School on Sunday night, and five of them are still at large.

Not only had Brandon Grimes, the man accused of killing Det. Troy Chesley, been arrested 17 times, but the gun that Grimes used in the murder had come to the police's attention twice before.

Pharoah Carr, a witness in the murder trial against LeShawn Green, is refusing to testify in court, so city prosecutors have been granted the right to use a taped interview with police.

Shawn Anthony Jones' trial begins today in Carroll County Circuit Court. Jones is accused of first-degree murder in the death of Donnie Bowman, and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of Lamont Dew.

Opening arguments are scheduled to begin today in the trial of John Gaumer, accused of murdering and raping Josie Brown on their first date. The Examiner article really reflects what a spineless piece of crap Gaumer is.

Someone set a fire in the elevator of a Towson University dorm.

May 6

Lesa Lynn Thamby was stabbed to death on Friday night in Brooklyn Park (AAC). A neighbor described her as "a very beautiful, very sweet young lady who would do anything for anyone."

9-year-old Gabriel Hudgins of Essex has been missing since Friday afternoon, except social services seems to have taken him out of school and into their custody.

Anthony Green wants to use his tragedy to help kids and parents in truant court.

May 5

The two Sudbrook Middle School wannabe-bomber girls are being detained until their trials start. The order came despite compelling statements by their attorneys like, "As you can see, this child is not a danger to anyone."

Ernest Harris Jr. was found not guilty for the 1984 murder of his neighbor, Arden Shirley Epps. The defense claims there were multiple leads that the police failed to pursue, including witness testimony and a person being caught with a gun that belonged to the victim.

A jury rejected Marshall Adams' self-defense claim and convicted him of first-degree murder, despite Adams' claim that he "only stabbed {Leo Morris) seven times."

Coke dealer Nigel Humphrey John Baptiste was sentenced to 25 years yesterday.

"Career criminal" Timothy Dwight Cornwell got 15.5 years for possession of a gun, which he tried to hide in a house's mail slot.

Snow cone stand sex offender Kenneth Barnes was arrested yesterday at his home.

Lots of women were fighting each other this week.

Hey, President Stephanie: If you ever want to be mayor, you should probably stop hiring staffers who try to beat up former Ravens.

Damon Holmes pleads guilty

15-year-old Damon Holmes pleaded guilty today to Second Degree Murder, Use of Handgun of Crime of Violence, and Robbery with a Deadly Weapon. He faces a maximum of 40 years.

On May 31, 2006, Damon Holmes shot and killed Oumar Bah, 28, in the 7100 block of McClean Blvd. Bah was a cab operator who had picked up Holmes on Northern Parkway. said Josie Kennedy After shooting Bah, Holmes took money from Bah’s cab.

May 4

An unidentified man was fatally shot in the 100 block of S. Mount St, in the Southern neighborhood of Union Square. Richard Irwin and Gus G. Sentementes report that this brings the official toll for 2007 to 95, compared with 88 at this time last year.

Luke Broadwater does a recap of April's murders, including some particularly gruesome details on 16-year-old Brent Flanagan's death.

Devon Richardson got 10 years for murdering 67-year-old Janice Letmate as she walked home from work. Julie Bykowicz' story quotes a partner at the lawfirm where Ms. Letmate worked as saying, "She never said an unkind word about anyone. She never harmed a soul." Apparently, Ms. Letmate was one of those innocent bystanders who our politicians like to say are unaffected by Baltimore's culture of crime.

Police finally found David Robinson, the suspected getaway driver for last month's botched robbery at Fantasies Night Club.

Tivon Wright, Sean Taylor, and Matthew Evans face charges related to last year's jailhouse murder of Anthony Conaway.

A bunch of arrests and burglaries in the Blotter.

It's been a rough week for school kids in the area:

Two Sudbrook Middle School girls tried to blow up their school. The girls have been charged with felony possession of explosive materials, though presumably not for the bottle of water that school officials thought contained material for making a bomb.

A 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at her Baltimore County school bus stop by a white man with braces and a faint moustache.

Danielle Talbot, a teacher at William H. Lemmel Middle School in the city, was arrested after allegedly buying methadone on her way to class.

Sex offender Kenneth Barnes has been spotted lurking among snow cone stands in Roland Park. In 1996, Barnes was convicted of raping a 9-year-old girl.

A jackass on a school bus in Rosedale threw something out the bus window that shattered a passing car's windshield, which got glass in the driver's eye.

47-year-old Joseph Ballmann, a former English teacher at Robert Frost Middle School in MoCo, was charged with inappropriate sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy. (I originally had the former teacher's name misspelled. Interestingly, the original post has been removed by WBAL. Their mistake or mine? Not sure. I try to be very careful about spelling on this site, though, so I apologize if the mistake was mine.)

Two of the four sex offense charges against a 17-year-old Fredneck have been moved from adult court to juvenile court. Michael Thomas Smith is charged with sexually assaulting four female classmates last year.

Sex offender Kenneth Barnes is out of jail and has been spotted at the snowball stand on Falls Road by the County line.

Judge John Prevas sentenced Antwan Smith, 23, of the 6800 block of Lenbern Road to 30 years in prison today for multiple counts of robbery. Details:

On October 23, 2005, the defendants (Smith and Charles Patterson, 26, of the 600 block of Woodington Road) robbed or attempted to rob Lamar Davis, James Anderson, Charlotte Johnson, and Tycara Johnson in the area of 4100 block of Cleve Court of the Brooklyn Homes in South Baltimore, Maryland. During this robbery spree, Anthony Heck came upon the defendants and shot at them from a distance. Antwan Smith allegedly returned fire, hitting and causing the death of Heck. On March 21, 2007, a Baltimore City jury convicted of three counts of Robbery with a Dangerous or Deadly Weapon and one count of Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous or Deadly Weapon. They were acquitted of the murder of Anthony Heck. Patterson will be sentenced May 23, 2007.

May 3

The body of an unidentified man was found in a run-down rowhouse in Barclay last night. It appears that the man was shot.

Marciana Ringo's mother testified yesterday in the trial of Jamaal K. Abeokuto. May 2 would have been Marciana's 13th birthday.

Maurice Mouzon got 20+ years on federal gun and drug charges yesterday, after nearly 12 years of getting slapped on the wrist for his naughty behavior.

A 60-year-old woman is in serious condition at Hopkins after a suspected arson in the 900 block of E. Chase St.

Some kids threw a rock at a Loyola student on Sunday night and hit him in the head.

The Blotter has been much deeper than usual this week, with today's report (three pages!) detailing a rape, several stabbings, and some very bizarre homicide arrests.

An 11-year-old girl who hears gunshots every week and a ninth-grade boy who can't get to school without walking through gang territory were on-hand when the City Council unveiled its new report on tackling gang violence. There was no mention as to whether a report was prepared to report on the effectiveness of previously commissioned reports on gang-violence.

Sheila D. is a fan of drug treatment, but she won't state her opinions on decriminalizing the use of illegal drugs.

Terrance Washington, the inmate who escaped from HarCo officers while he was being taken to the hospital, was caught in Tennessee after stealing a Ryder truck and a Lexus.

Wow. People in HoCo actually have, like, community meetings and stuff when people get a person gets murdered. What a weird concept.

Two officers are appealing a decision in a suit against the BPD regarding libelous search warrants.

Crime tip #1: Don't speed when you're transporting 180 pounds of high-quality wacky tabaccy from Atlanta to New York.

Crime tip #2: When you're fleeing police at 1:00am, crashing into a telephone pole is not the best escape plan.

A wedding photographer is scamming couples in Frederick.

An employee at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources lost a thumb drive with the Social Security numbers of about 1,400 employees, but it's probably just between some bus seats or something.

Afternoon

Fugitive suspect and El DeBarge lookalike Arnaldo Lopes was nabbed for a 1995 Boston murder when he deplaned at BWI.
Oooooooo ... and I like it!

May 2

Larry Brockington, 31, was shot to death in the 900 block of N. Rosedale Street in the Franklintown Road neighborhood on the West Side. Notes Gus G. Sentementes, "It was the second fatal shooting on the street in less than a week. On Friday, 25-year-old Dewitt Smith was killed in the 1600 block of N. Rosedale St."

Three suspicious deaths have been added to our tally (but not the Police's), bringing the count to 98: Phillp Hines, 36, and Dontrelle Nesmith, 29, found 3200 block of Normount Avenue in the Southwestern, and Duane Allen, 42, found "partially submerged in a marshy area in Westport" near the 2000 block of Annapolis Road and Clare Street.

Several homicide victims have been ID'd: 21-year-old Deshaun White was killed on Monday in the 3600 block of Reisterstown Rd.; 24-year-old Eric Queen was killed Monday in the 1900 block of E. Lafayette St.; and 36-year-old Lonnie Plateo was killed Sunday afternoon in the 4600 block of Old Frederick Rd. Also in the Blotter: a 25-year-old man was shot on W. Cold Spring Lane and is in critical condition; a 31-year-old woman was shot while sitting on a neighbor's porch on N. Ellwood St. and is in critical condition; a 34-year-old man was cut on the face when he didn't have any money to give robbers on Eastern Ave.; and a man and woman were robbed of $24 at gunpoint on Baltimore St. Oh, and that's just what happened in the Northern and the Southeastern.

This week's "Murder Ink" covers seven homicides -- including the police-related death of Damion Baker -- and provides updates on four other murder cases.

No shit, Sherlock: "City residents want to see more police walking streets."

In response to yesterday's Examiner stories on unsolved murders, Sheila D. says we have to trust our police. She did not mention whether or not she is forming a committee to examine if, in addition to trusting the police, we should stop killing each other.

The good mayor is also pulling for a data analysis system to help track gun crimes. There have been 204 shootings so far this year, compared to 162 at the same time last year.

Ann Barone was forced out of her house by the city's nuisance laws. One neighbor said, "There was drugs going on, drug dealers living in the house, drugs being sold in the house."

Jury selection is scheduled to begin today in Baltimore County for alleged MySpace killer John Gaumer.

There may be a breakthrough in the case against Nancy Jean Siegel, who is accused of killing her 76-year-old boyfriend 11 years ago.

Perv du jour: Cmdr. Kevin Ronan has been accused of making video recordings of midshipmen having sex with their girlfriends.

Convicted murderer George Robert Chaney was indicted for robbing a Provident Bank on E. Monument St. in April.

Denise Rosado got 6 months for stealing $33,000 from her job at the state. Donna and Wilson Lam, however, defrauded the state of $1.7 million, but no criminal charges have been filed yet.

Urban adventurer Michael Arndt broke into the wrong Columbia warehouse.

Leon Loved Crabcakes

Dear Charles, did drop by the cookbook party for the Family Bereavement center this afternoon. Included was a a submission for crab and salmon cakes from the family of the first victim of 2007, Leon Nelson, left, shot to death at the China Garden. If you didn't already, thought you'd like to know what he looked like.

May 1 Afternoon

A woman's body was found amidst the trash outside a vacant house in the 2900 block of Ellicott Drive. June 17 of last year, a 28-year-old African-American man, identified by police as Blackburn John, was found lying facedown in the 2800 block of the same street.

A group of University of Maryland law students are working to bring positive change to Cherry Hill, a city neighborhood that contains the largest concentration of public housing this side of Chicago. (The article actually says "west of Chicago," but I'm assuming nobody moved Cherry Hill to the other side of the Ol' Mississip while we weren't looking.) The article's claim that no murders occurred in Cherry Hill since December 2006 was destroyed on April 19, when Christopher Wayman was shot to death on Seabury Rd.

Shanda Harris' reckless endangerment trial has been postponed at the request of the defense. Harris allegedly knew that her babysitter, Melvin Lorenzo Jones Jr., was a registered sex offender when she allowed Jones to babysit her 11-year-old son Irvin. Irvin was stabbed to death last summer, and Jones was arrested and charged with the killing.

Bobby Collins of Brooklyn, NY, allegedly called Baltimore 911 more than 250 times within one month.

May 1

Two more people were murdered in our fine city last night, bringing the year's official death toll to 91* and the death toll since Friday to eight**. An unidentified man was shot to death in the 1900 block of E. Lafayette St. last night at about 10:00, and another man was shot and left in a parked car in the 500 block of Half Mile Ct. at about 7:00 last night. Meanwhile, the man who was killed on Sunday in the 300 block of S. Payson St. was identified as 22-year-old Leroy Sanders.

The Examiner published five stories on cold-case murders this morning. Apparently, 43% of murderers in the city are never caught, and 75% of those who are sent to prison are out again within 10 years. Profiled are the cases of Juan McMahan, who was murdered at a birthday party in July of 2004; Georgio Washington, who was killed on Kenwood Ave. on Dec. 20, 2001; Robert Russell, who was killed on Garrett Ave. in November of 2004; and Cameron Curtis, who was killed in South Baltimore in October of 2004. Curtis' mother, a teacher at Bentalou Elementary, said her son was a married father of three with no criminal record, and she asked, "How can I teach the children I have [at Bentalou] that if you get a job and be productive, you’ll be OK? I can’t teach them that, because that’s not what happened for my son."

The two men who were killed at the Arbutus birthday party shootout have been ID'd as Edward Wayne Johnson of Cherry Hill and Michael Johnson of Windsor Mill. BaCo police spokesman Bill Toohey is still frustrated that out of 100 possible witnesses, none have spoken up.

Shocking news, Sheila: people who live in blighted neighborhoods want a safe city! "I can't even bring my kids outside. I'm scared to bring them outside because of the drugs."

A HoCo General Hospital forensic nurse says most sexual assaults are not reported.

James McCoy Turner got 15 years for guns and drugs.

Sixty families who have been helped by Kim Holmes and the staff at the Family Bereavement Center -- the city organization that assists families of murder victims -- contributed recipes to "Tasty Treasures," a cookbook and an "elegy to a city in pain." If you'd like a copy, call Kim at 410-396-7351.

It looks like the cheerleader didn't do it.

A fight over a boy in Westminster led to second-degree assault charges against a 15-year-old.

* The Baltimore Crime murder toll sits at 93, due to bodies that were found in Leakin Park and near Cherry Hill earlier this year.

** The city's homicide count since Friday is four times greater than Howard County's murder count so far this year, and is twice the total annual number of homicides in HoCo last year.

April 30 Afternoon

Her Honor has announced the strategy to fight crime that so "many in the public and the media has been wanting me to share and express," and it's some seriously radical stuff! State troopers walking the beat, full staffing of the police force by the end of the year, Ed Norris will be restored as commissioner ... oh just kidding, it's the same old soporific crap!

The Supremes are some busy codgers: they heard a police-chase case and will hear a death-penalty case, but won't get involved with a married-lesbian-child-custody thing.

Fredneck police say Deysi Benitez, 25, the mother of four children who were slain by their father in March is "probably alive."

April 30

A birthday party at a hall in Arbutus ended in a shooting that left two dead and three wounded. The precinct commander said, "nothing like this in Arbutus before." In a surprise turn of events, witnesses are being "less than fully cooperative."

It's been a busy weekend in the city: six homicides and nine non-fatal shootings since Sunday. Early Monday morning, an unidentified man was fatally shot in the 3600 block of Reisterstown Rd. On Sunday, an un-ID'd man in the 300 block of S. Payson St. was repeatedly shot and died at Shock Trauma; an un-ID'd man was found in the condemned Updand Apartments in the 4600 block of Old Frederick Rd. with gunshot wounds; Azerwoine Walker was fatally shot in the 6200 block of Elliott St. in O'Donnell Heights; and Ronald Daniels was fatally shot in the head outside the Cameo Lounge in the 4700 block of Harford Rd, marking the first time in just over a year that anyone has been murdered at the notoriously violent bar. (Nehemiah Johnson was killed there on April 3, 2006, and the Sun reports there were multiple shootings in 2002.) On Friday night, Dewitt Smith was repeatedly shot and was found lying in the street (the article doesn't say which street) in the Southwestern.

Damion Baker was the man killed by police early Saturday morning. The 25-year-old suspected gang member had a well-developed criminal record.

A pharmacist at a Frederick CVS was shot during an attempted drug robbery.

Three UMES students were shot or stabbed in two incidents on Friday.

An elderly man in Cockeysville pretended to have a heart attack and fell to the floor during an ATM robbery, but the robber assaulted him anyway and stole all his money.

In news that the human race is not complete and utter slime, support from strangers is keeping Payton Potochney's family's spirits high.

An Anne Arundel cheerleader made death threats against other students on the cheerleading squad.

April 29

Annie Linskey explains how Joseph Ensey, who was shot in 1991 in passed last November, got added to '07's grim tally, though the shooter will never be charged.

News from the Left Coast:
Annals of Correction: California's pay-to-stay jails offer privacy and extra privileges for $70-$100 extra per night.
Still, the cells are "roughly the size of a custodial closet, and share its smell and ambience."

Web finds: the homicide blog of the LA Times, describled as "a weekly listing of all homicide victims reported by the Los Angeles County coroner, combined with updates every few days from law enforcement agencies of new homicides not yet listed" which "seeks to reverse an age-old paradox of big-city crime reporting, which dictates that only the most unusual and statistically marginal homicide cases receive press coverage, while those cases at the very eye of the storm -- those which best expose the true statistical dimensions of the problem of deadly violence -- remain hidden."
Word.

April 28

An 11-year veteran Baltimore City officer shot and killed a suspect on West North Avenue after the man fled and then allegedly drew a weapon, the third fatal police shooting so far this year (thanks Burg!).

Police are still looking for a third suspect, one David Robinson, left, after the "wild, strip-club shootout" at Fantasies. He may be driving an Audi with the MD tag 2CFR05.

Police have arrested Korey Harris, 17, for the murder of Christopher Wayman on April 19.

After all these years, will we ever cease to be offended at the way the Blotter marginalizes (literally) horrible violent crimes? Tuesday and Wednesday, by the way and p. fucking s., a 17-year-old was shot in the leg, a 25-year-old was shot in the back, and three people were stabbed in two different incidents.

A missing 18-year-old from Dundalk, Raymond Zubrowski Jr., was found in a shallow grave in Dorchester County.

April 27

HoCo's second murder of the year -- 40-year-old Alevtina Y. Zhilina, a clerk at a 7-11 store -- is making Columbia residents nervous. Running Brook Elementary was on lockdown yesterday due to the killing.

Kirk Fonseca and Lewis Edward Rich are in custody for fatally stabbing 18-year-old Ernest Buchanan in a downtown McDonald's yesterday. The killing is making Baltimore workers nervous. In breaking news, the city of Baltimore will be put on indefinite lockdown. (Only kidding. Sorry. Not funny.)

Sintia Mesa's family is upset because there has been no justice for her murder. Welcome to Baltimore, hon.

Two women and a man were shot on the corner of N. Luzerne and E. Preston in East Baltimore yesterday, and an officer was injured in an accident while on the way to the scene. A neighbor was quoted as saying, "We’ve lived here one year, and we’ve already seen three or four shootings... This is no way to live." In yesterday's comments, Supreme gives his take on the getaway: "the shooters probably headed right up the street to a liquor store on N. Milton or Orleans and then walked directly back to the crime scene and laughed about it!!!"

The 14-year-old boy who brought papa's 9mm to school earlier this week was trying to protect himself after he was jumped when he got off the bus on his way home from school. In addition to regular beatdowns, he is now facing expulsion.

A juror in the sentencing trial of Jamaal Abeokuto, the convicted murderer of 8-year-old Marciana Ringo in 2002, "just can't do this."

Three Molotov cocktails were thrown at a house in the 2000 block of Ellsworth Ave early Wednesday morning.

Some victims and convicted criminals are meeting face-to-face.

Perv du jour: MoCo middle school math teacher Charles Robert Bouma allegedly pulled down his pants while driving a convertible and showed his goods to a school bus full of Catholic schoolgirls.

Stat of the Day

The unbeLIEvable manpower shortage downtown has sunk the city to a new state of anarchy!
The director of the Crime Lab, Ed Koch(!) says the city has about 900 900 guns "stacked up in carts" awaiting ballistics examinations.

The good news: in as few as three to seven years of training, you too could be making more than six figures as a gun examiner!
(Thanks Galt!)

April 26

A man was stabbed to death at 11 a.m. this morning at the McDonald's on 31 S. Calvert Street (about two blocks from the courthouse).

Yesterday, I forgot to add a link to this week's "Murder Ink." Joseph Ensey Sr. died on April 20 from complications related to a gunshot wound he received in 1991; his death is considered one of 2007's homicides. Also covered this week are the deaths of Kevin Randall, Johnnie James, Christopher Wayman, Van Johnson, and Damon Dubose.

43-year-old mother, grandmother, and 28-time arrestee Uywanda Peterson died behind a bar on Belair Rd. after being shot with a stun gun by police. Surprisingly, witnesses and police have completely different stories to tell.

Three teenage boys were shot last night while sitting on one of the boys' front porch.

Sierra Anderson turned herself in to police after being missing for 10 days.

Suspected Blood Nicholas Brunson was arrested on Monday for the murder of Brent Flanagan.

Counties
HoCo:A 40-year-old woman was shot to death by a masked man at a 7-11 store in Columbia early this morning.

MoCo police officer Luke Hoffman died after another officer hit him with a police car while chasing a drunk driver.

AACo: Edward Spiker was arrested in Pasadena after pushing an elementary school girl, attacking another with a rock and spitting on her, and threatening one of the girls' mothers with a knife.

A 14-year-old student from Milford Mill Academy was caught with his father's 9mm. The boy allegedly told police he was packing heat because he felt intimidated at school.

Tiffany Weaver pleaded guilty to stealing a lawyer's identity so she could get it on with her incarcerated boyfriend.

29-year-old Anitra Fonte Jones is missing, and left messages that she was going to hurt herself. She's a black woman, 5'5", 170 pounds, possibly driving a gray Toyota Camry with Maryland plates "NITA-BOO."

Two automatic weapons and several other guns are missing, according to a Baltimore County police inventory audit.

A cute little dog named Millie was attacked and killed by two pit bulls in Woodlawn.

Note to aspiring authors: Don't make jokes alluding to strippers and groupies when asked to sign a 10-year-old girl's forehead.

Sun self-reflects: we're fucked

Right off the plane to hear that 15 men and women from the Sun's news department are out of a job as of today, no idea who(m).
More from the LA Times.

Victim impact statement

Johnny Johnson's victim impact statement in the trial of Phillip Carter is incredibly powerful. It was quoted in Julie Bykowicz' piece on Carter's sentencing, along with the fact that Mr. Johnson wouldn't testify at the trial because he was afraid to leave his house. The simplicity and sadness of his statement says a great deal about our city.

My name is Johnny Johnson. I am a resident of Baltimore City and was a victim of assault by one Mr. Phillip Carter on February 26, 2006 on Fulton Avenue and Baltimore Street. I would like to take a minute to explain to you how this has affected my daily life. As a result of this crime I currently cannot find peaceful sleep and am afraid to walk the streets of our fair city.

April 25

Hamm gave an interview to the Examiner, and it's worth reading whether you like him or hate him. He points out that 61 of the first 72 homicide victims in 2007 had a criminal record. Allow me to point out that 11 of the first 72 homicide victims had no criminal record, which suggests that 11 innocent people have been murdered in the first 3 1/2 months of the year.

Human remains were found in a shallow grave in Dorchester County.

One teenager was arrested and others were being sought for a home invasion assault and robbery in the Central against a woman who had ordered them off of her property.

Charles Eugene Burns was found guilty for the murder of Lillian Phelps.

Suspected Boston murderer Earnest Ferguson was arrested in Baltimore after being profiled on America's Most Wanted.

The six Bowling Brook staff members who were charged with reckless endangerment in the death of Isaiah Simmons III have surrendered or agreed to surrender; five of the six have been released on personal recognizance.

Phillip Carter got 30 years for attacking 73-year-old Sun reporter Carl Schoettler and 65-year-old Johnny Johnson.

Jody Hudson got three years time and five years probation for causing life-threatening injuries while on drugs. She was coming off a crack and methadone high and was driving with her 9-year-old son when she hit a father and son who were changing a flat tire. Both of the victims lost a leg due to the accident.

Perv du jour: 51-year-old addictions counselor Emerson Davis was found guilty for assaulting two of his female patients last August.

School bus rage in Edgewood.

Now that felons who have completed their sentences can vote in Maryland, we'll definitely get some good political leadership.

A MoCo cop in a car hit a MoCo cop on foot, then crashed into a tree. Both officers were chasing an alleged drunk driver who was fleeing on foot.

Racist vandals are running amok at the UB law school. (Well, at least if you call one case of flier defacing "running amok.")

Two Indonesian men got 366 days each for "attempting to illegally export night vision devices and money laundering." Now, if WJZ will explain to us how one would export money laundering, we'll all feel a little bit better.

April 24

Damon Dubose was shot to death on Sunday night in the 3500 block of Woodland Ave.

16-year-old Keonya Christian-Cannon helped 13-year-old shooting victim Angel Burrell. Burrell was a bystander when a fight broke out over West Baltimore gang turf on Friday.

County police are seeking two tall white men in a small maroon pickup truck. On April 14, the men hit another car in White Marsh, stabbed one of the passengers in that car, then rammed the other car repeatedly. Meanwhile, city police are still searching for the man who killed Charles Erdman after a minor traffic accident on March 3. The driver was a black man in a Ford Explorer with stolen plates (link goes to video of accident), and there were 1 or 2 passengers in the SUV.

Early Saturday morning, Anthony Crowder Jr. opened fire in the parking lot of a Baltimore County bar and wounded four people. He faces four attempted first-degree murder charges and four charges of first-degree assault.

Baltimore Bloods member Jamal Winchester pleaded guilty to two charges of murder.

Sunday's fire at a Dundalk office building was arson.

The defense rests for Charles Eugene Burns.

Ballistics fraud Joseph Kopera and a Baltimore County ballistics expert came to essentially the same conclusions in James Kulbicki's case, but reached those conclusions in very different ways.

Hamm remembers viewing the BPD as a model of "how not to police," and wants to changes the department's ways.

Note to criminals: When going to court on charges that you scammed a car dealership, don't drive a stolen car.

April 23

29-year-old Van Maurice Johnson was fatally shot in the back early yesterday morning in the 1900 block of W. Lombard St.

Cheyenne Hoope, 27, was throwing a party at his White Marsh house when he was stabbed to death by a party crasher. 26-year-old Jason Madigan was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Matthew Tracy was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash after he hit a Pennsylvania man who was changing a flat tire early Sunday morning.

On Saturday, Donnell Brown was shot in the back on McCulloh St. On Friday, a 57-year-old Washington man was shot outside a house in the 300 block of Scott St.

A 24-year-old man was shot by police in Morrell Park on Sunday after hitting an officer and throwing him off the porch. On Saturday morning, a BPD officer shot a man on S. Bentalou St. during a police chase.

A suspicious, three-alarm fire mysteriously broke out in two separate places within the same Dundalk office building.

The Rockville High School principal suspended 26 students for cutting class for a party.

April 21

Antonio Moore may have been caught, but Michael Francis and Sierra Anderson are still missing.

A 13-year-old girl was shot in the stomach as she watched a fight on the street in the Western. (Also in the same link, someone started a fire at Moravia Park Elementary School, and Charles Bernard Carder got one year for sharing his online collection of 1,800 child porn photos.)

Perv du jour: Robert Bower Reeves got six years on federal charges of possessing child porn. He still faces state charges for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl.

Turns out that Troy Gross, the guy who got shot by a retired cop while robbing the Wachovia Bank on Northern Parkway in February, was a witness in the trial of Corey McMillon. McMillon was facing murder charges in the Remington group home killing from last year, but now those charges are dropped. McMillon, however, is still serving life for another murder.

Speaking of bank robbers, Robert Nathaniel Brown got 11+ years for a September bank robbery. Brown was caught after leaving behind an envelope with his fingerprints on it.

Former gun dealer and 2nd Amendment activist Sanford Abrams is being charged with multiple firearms violations.

Doc Cheatham is writing a letter to the FBI to tell them he disagrees with their findings on Robert Clay.

April 20

Three people were killed within three hours. Kevin Randall was shot to death in the 200 block of N. Mount St. at 9:45 on Wednesday night; about an hour later, Johnnie James was shot in the head in the 300 block of S. Bentalou St.; and shortly after midnight, Christopher Wayman was shot in the head in the 2400 block of Seabury Rd. Another man was shot at the same time as Wayman, and is in critical condition at Shock Trauma.

A man's body was found next to railroad tracks in New Windsor.

A 17-year-old was shot yesterday morning in the 1300 block of N. Gilmor St.

Essex 16-year-olds Kyle Meredith and Mateusz Dybala will both be charged as adults with first-degree assault in the burning of Payton Potochney.

Former BPD officer James Kulbicki got life for the shooting death of his mistress, Gina Nueslein. Now, a new gun expert for the defense claims that Kulbicki's gun could not have killed Nueslein, and the testimony of fake forensics expert Joseph Kopera was completely wrong.

The feds say that Robert Clay committed suicide.

Charles Eugene Burns' defense lawyer says some blood and a hair from Lilly Phelps isn't enough evidence to convict his client.

Steven Ellison, the man who died in December after struggling with several AAC officers, died from "cocaine induced agitated delirium" not police induced beatdown.

The family of Ernest Oliver has filed a $25 million wrongful death suit against the city. Oliver was killed by a police officer last August when he was shot in the back.

A warrant has been issued for former BPD officer Michael Nelson, who is charged with participating in an insurance scam.

HoCo police are using MySpace to help solve crimes.

Thanks for the arsenic, Allied Chemical.

Evening

The Public Defender's Innocence Project has taken over the case of Sgt. James Kulbicki, who has been in jail for 14 years for the murder of his babymom.

Kenneth Mahai, 28, of the 2800 block of Galuline Way was indicted on first-degree murder and other counts. Court documents allege on October 25, 2005, Jermaine Morrison, 24, was found with multiple stab wounds in the 1700 block of Malvern Street. The defendant was identified [by someone?] through photo arrays. Morrison died as a result of his injuries at Hopkins Bayview Hospital. An arraignment is scheduled for May 9, 2007 before Judge Martin P. Welch, Room 228, Courthouse East.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Michael Ellerbe, 24, of the 2500 block of Marbourne Avenue, on first-degree murder and other counts. Court documents allege on February 11, 2007, a triple shooting occurred in the 1800 block of West Baltimore Street. The first victim, Alusine Kamara, at left, was fatally shot and was the 33rd murder victim recorded in the city so far this year.

Police have issued a report about the arrest of Gerard Mungo Jr., age 7. But according to the link there at WBAL, it's only one page long. Says the page, among other things, "The issue in this matter is not whether the arrest itself was legal in the eyes of the law. Operating a dirt bike in Baltimore City is illegal pursuant to Baltimore's Public Local Law, and arresting juveniles seven years old and older is authorized by State law." ... wasn't the point that Mungo was sitting on and not operating said bike?

Dropping by North County High School in drag to visit Sierra Monet Anderson was a bad move for attempted-murder and kidnapping suspect Antonio Moore, who was arrested today on Holbrook Street.

Yes indeed, A $12K raise (8 percent) for Hamm.

Yet another (alleged) attempted insurance-company-grifting cop in the city! Michael Nelson and his wife Tierra are charged with faking a car theft and accident. It says a warrant has been issued, which must mean he's at large. Never ef with an insurance company!

WTF?! A Gaithersburg man, Larry D. Moore, called his child's elementary school and made threats involving VA Tech after being told the school wouldn't keep his kid indoors for recess.

Customs agents have seized 300 pounds of cocaine from the ship Alianca Shanghai, which "which originate in Ecuador and was on its way to New York."

WTF?
Not Baltimore, but surely a national lowpoint in child custody... Alec Baldwin leaves a fucktified message for his ten-year-old daughter Ireland at his ex Kim's house, calling her a "little pig." We know some of you hate it when tabloid news gets passed along here. But imagine someone who's kind-of-famous saying these things knowing someone could tape it... what must happen in private to the not famous?!

April 19

New precedent: the Supreme Court upholds the 2003 Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. Quote of the day: "I wish I was a girl so I could get an abortion!" --John Waters, 101 Things I Hate

A man's body was found in a marshy area of Westport in the Southern yesterday. His death has been ruled suspicious. Over in the Southwestern, the bodies of a man and woman that were found on March 29 in a Normount Ave. rowhouse have been identified as Philip Hines and Dontrelle Nesmith. Their deaths have also been deemed "suspicious."

Life + 20 for Party Shooter
Tuesday Judge M. Brooke Murdock sentenced Ricardo Watson, 35, of the 1000 block of East Hoffman Street to life in prison for murder and a consecutive 20-year prison term for a handgun count. A Baltimore City Jury convicted Watson February 13, 2007 of first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. On March 25, 2006 Watson and the victim, Darren Green, 21, were attending a party at a house in the 1200 block of Maple Leaf Court in the Oldtown neighborhood. Watson shot Green eight times at point-blank range in the torso.

Kevin Klink was indicted yesterday on murder charges for the death of Robert Brazell. Klink also faces riot charges related to the fight at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City.

Perv du jour: 24-year-old Richard David Morris, a registered sex offender, almost succeeded in his plans to take three 8-year-old boys on a vacation to Florida.

April 18

Eight AAC schools went on lockdown after an appearance by wanted alleged killer Antonio Moore at North County High.

Ink recounts the murders of Tavon Campbell, Brent Flanagan and John Daughtry.

Six former staff members of Bowling Brook Preparatory School were indicted for the death of Isaiah Simmons. Meanwhile, Simmons' family says misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment against the employees are grossly inadequate.

The family of Payton Potochney says charges against two 16-year-olds who poured acid on a Middle River slide are also grossly inadequate

Lilly Phelps was the first of four women found murdered in Harford County last summer, and jury selection in the trial of suspected killer Charles Eugene Burns began yesterday.

Gregory Kane writes about the three consecutive life sentences that were handed to group-home killer Derrick Taylor.

17-year-old Brandon Burton was arrested and charged with the November 21 murder of Tereem Taylor.

Annapolis police arrested Carlos Rice and charged him with murdering Aaron Brown last Sunday on Madison St. in Annpolis.

Allan Clark, a homeless man in AAC, was arrested for the April 5 murder of another homeless AAC man, 53-year-old Michael Evans.

Sheila D. tells Park Heights residents that help is on the way. In a shocking turn of events, the Mayor and Pat Jessamy are forming a sub-committee to "come up with a strategic plan at all levels."

Zoning Board says no to JoHo bros.

A pole-dancing contest, "Miss Polemiscuous," has the Frederick liquor board examining the Big Easy tavern.

Beware of the Goodwill Lotto fraud.

Quote of the day: "I think jail has a telling effect on some people, especially if they are young and dumb like your son is."
-- Baltimore County District Court Judge Bruce S. Lamdin

At a hearing today, Judge Roger W. Brown sentenced Derrick Taylor, 27, of the 4000 block of Ridgecroft Road, to three consecutive life-without-the-possibility-of-parole prison terms and another consecutive 60 years for three use of a handgun in the commission-of-a-crime-of -violence counts. A Baltimore Jury convicted Taylor February, 27, 2007 of three counts of first-degree felony murder (murder committed during the commission of a felony), three counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The jury also convicted Taylor of several handgun counts but failed to reach verdicts on first-degree murder (premeditated) and several second degree murder counts and assault counts. Judge Brown declared a mistrial on those counts and the state entered a nol pros on those counts following the sentencing hearing today. On January 10, 2005 Taylor shot and killed Nathan Gulliver, 49, Antwon Arthur, 38, and Steven Matthews, 36, at a drug and alcohol recovery house in the at 540 block of West 27th Street. A second defendant in this case, Corey McMillon, is serving a prison term of life plus 20 years for a previous murder conviction and faces an April 20, 2007 trial date for his alleged involvement in this case.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury has indicted Keith Vaughn, 34, of the 4500 block of Pen Lucy Road for the first-degree murder of Antonio Brown, 16. Court documents allege on September 6, 2006 Keith Vaughn and two other suspects approached Antonio Brown and two other persons in 100 block of Diener Place, and Vaughn produced a handgun and shot Antonio Brown to death. Vaughn is held without bail at the Baltimore Detention Center. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2007 before Judge Lynn Stewart.

At a hearing today Judge Allen L. Schwait sentenced Reginald Williams, 35, of the 400 block of East Eager Street, to five concurrent life in prison terms. Williams was the serial rapist who struck around the Read Street area in the Central District. He pled guilty October 26, 2006 to three counts of first-degree sex offense, one count of third-degree sex offense, one count of rape and three counts of second-degree assault. Judge Schwait also sentenced Williams to a concurrent 30 years in prison, 10 years for three separate counts of second degree assault. Williams is eligible for enhanced penalties due to his criminal record and the State filed its intent to seek those penalties. Williams faced the maximum penalty, life in prison, for each of the sex offenses. Williams sexually assaulted five women over the span of three weeks between December 3-22, 2005. On December 22, 2005 police attempted to arrest Williams in the 1200 block of W. Saratoga Street when he fled into an alley and pulled a gun. Officers shot Williams in the leg.

Scheduled tomorrow:
Re-arraignment for Brandon Grimes, 21, of the 800 block of Cator Ave. 9:30AM tomorrow before Judge Martin P. Welch.
The City Grand Jury indicted Grimes February 12, 2007 for first-degree murder and attempted robbery deadly weapon. Court documents allege on January 9, 2007. Brandon Grimes fatally shot Baltimore City Police Detective Troy Lamont Chesley, Sr.

The murder and child abuse trial of Annette High, 48, of the 1600 block of Mountmore Court, 9:30AM tomorrow before Judge John M. Glynn. The BCGJ indicted High August 28, 2006 for first-degree murder and child abuse. Court documents allege that on April 17, 2006 High beat Kayah Jackson, 14 months, about the face and neck while acting as caretaker in her home. The baby died at University Hospital on the same day.

April 17

The woman's body found in a creek in AAC has been identified as 46-year-old Svetlana Coontz.

Johnnie Toomer, the alleged shooter who attacked three kids and one adult last week, is being held without bail.

Idle Hands: The theories of who poured sulfuric acid on a slide in Middle River Saturday may prove right: two 16-year-olds have been arrested. Apparently they were just curious and wanted to see "if the chemical would burn the plastic."
The toddler who was burned by the acid underwent surgery yesterday.

Police labeled Michael Jay Francis as "critically missing" after recovering the car that was used in Francis' kidnapping and finding his bloody clothes inside the trunk.

A bad breakup led to the drive-by shooting that left an 18-year-old man and 17-year-old girl wounded in Darlington. Two 18-year-olds were arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Perv du jour: Baltimore County substitute teacher Stephen Williams Stauffer pleaded guilty to stalking a 10-year-old girl, sometimes with binoculars and a gun in his car. He didn't get any jail time, but he's totally not allowed to stalk her anymore.

Honorary perv du jour: Phillip Wilson of Finksburg, who was found guilty of fourth-degree sexual offense and second degree assault against two young girls.

Dead perv du jour: Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro, who may have molested hundreds of children prior to his death in 1989. The Jewish Times ran the story because "There are young men whose lives were changed forever because of his acts. Some of these men are more figuratively 'dead' than Rabbi Shapiro will ever be."

Someone vandalized the MARC signal house at Dorsey Station.

April 16

One of the students injured at Virginia Tech today by a currently unknown gunman was sophomore Justin Klein, a graduate of Catonsville High.

A 16-year-old-boy was shot in the arm, and arrests: Kenneth Mahai for the murder of Mark Robinson [#54 of 2007] and Keeco Stern, 18, and Kwamie Stern, 17, for killing Jermaine Morrison (2005).

More on the Middle River acid-on-the-playground incident and its toddler victim, Payton. There was a similar event in Austin, TX park on Thursday (though this involved muriatic acid instead). Creepy.

Johnny Toomer was ordered held without bail at his bail review this morning.

A baby shower turned deadly in PGC, ending with the death of uncle-to-be Jerrod A. Falls in a hail of bullets.

Maryland State Police shot Scott Perry to death after a car chase down your boyfriend's street in Elkton, Cecil Co. Fortunately Trooper Nitz sustained no permanent damage.

The Liquor Board has new legal power to check IDs and applicant backgrounds. Cheers!
(Is it illegal for a child molester to own a bar?)

Dalesios's of Little Italy has been cleared of harboring typhoid.

You know we couldn't go a single day without one ... a sex offender, that is. Today we have Raymond Strong of Port Deposit, who's charged with four counts of raping a 15-year-old he met on MySpace.

Bad Times in AAC:
- AAC and city police are looking for shooting victim Michael Jay Francis, 21, last seen being forced into the trunk of a stolen car, driver/shooter Antonio Moore, 20, and Moore's girlfriend, Sierra Monet Anderson, 18.
- Aaron Brown, 44, was shot to death in Annapolis.
- The body of a middle-aged woman was found floating in a tributary of the Patuxent River Tuesday in Davidsonville (down the southeast by Bowie).

April 15

WTF?! Someone poured sulfuric acid on the playground equipment at Victory Villa Elementary in Middle River, sending a two-year-old to the hospital.

Oh good, the Sun says our gang problem's hemorrhaging.
Actually, it sounds like the problem's doing pretty well for itself.
For would-be Blood teens, "you get a secret handshake, you get some special clothes, and automatically, you've got 300 friends" and may get to learn Swahili. As for cops, "having gang members openly wearing colors and identifying themselves publicly makes it easier to track criminal activity." And the neighbors get BBQs!
...though (in Part I) gang founders admit "we never fed the people like the Black Panthers did."

PdJ: Bethesda dentist David E. Fuster of MoCo, who fled to Mexico after being accused of drugging a 15-year-old with nitrous oxide and raping her.

Jemini Jones wants his job and reputation back.

BMore living tip: if you suspect someone's overdosed, give e'm mouth-to-mouth instead of trying to set their fingers on fire.

Four-Legged Neighbors

In the most recent poll, 35 percent of you said that it would be okay under some circumstances to poision a neighbor's obnxious dog to death!
Tough town!