August 8

Two more murders overnight, both as-yet-unid'd men. The first shooting occurred about 11:15 p.m. in the 1400 block of N. Milton Ave., and the man was pronounced dead at 11:30. The other man died 15 minutes later in the 2300 block of E. Oliver St.
(Thanks M!)

The Ink has 13 murders from July 23 - August 5, plus updates, and Anna says it's "Lorado" and he died on Saturday the 4th on Lombard Street.

Bennie Fullard, 49, was the man arrested Monday for stabbing his girlfriend in Woodlawn after his family turned him in. This morning he waived his right to seek bail. Also, "a man with the same name and born in the same year as Fullard has at least three previous convictions."
That's one wacky coincidence!

Murder victim Eric Ford was id'd as the man killed in the 3400 block of Baltimore street, and four shootings in the Blotter:

• a man walking in the rear of the 4100 block of Stokes Drive about 1:30 a.m. yesterday and gunman shot him in the left arm, - a person fired several shots outside a bar in the 800 block of W. Cross St. about 2 a.m. Sunday, and one of them grazed a guy's left eye ,


• Darrell Smith, 22, whose address was not released, remained in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center after he was shot in the back of the neck about 4 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of E. 21st St. (this item also appeared yesterday),


• and in Towson a man was shot in a leg during "an incident" in a house in the 1300 block of Dartmouth Ave. about 7:40 p.m. yesterday.

The Marcus Brown pension scandal isn't finished yet ... the president of Baltimore's FOP Lodge 3, said that the union has authorized its law firm to explore the possibility of suing the city and the Police Department.

Thank you Luke Broadwater for putting "boyfriend" in quotes there...
if a guy slaughters you in cold blood (all together now ladies) he's just not that into you.
Wow, only 24 homicides in all of Baltimore County so far this year.

How did Kenneth Barnes become the Roland Park pervert? Or is he a misunderstood psychotic? The CP's Chris Landers investigates.
ps. have you noticed there have been almost no perverts reported in a few weeks, after months of having like, two a day?
They must've caught them all...

Fascinating! Freakonomics.com has a Q&A with Sudhir Venkatesh, the then grad-student in the book who studied Chicago gangs. (Turns out they love "The Wire" but not the crack)
Venkatesh makes the excellent points that anti-gang laws are usually racist, won't stand up in court, and too vague to be of any use.
Cases in point, head of the county’s gang-suppression unit Cpl. Thomas Gamble, who says gang indentity is all about "clothes," and the HarfCo elementary-school boy who threw a sign in the class picture.

Speaking of "The Wire," bad news for wannabe Marlos and goatherds: a new City rule allows residents to keep no more than 125 pigeons as pets. And, "you need three acres to have goats, sheep ponies and pigs."
What kind of twisted mutant is a sheep pony?!

Politics: Dixon knows the less she says the better! She's letting her $2 million anti-trash tagline* do the talking and simply not showing up to candidate forums, citing schedule conflicts. But there will be at least one televised debate. We'll have to find a bar with a giant TV for that experience!
*That would be, "Don't make excuses. Make a difference." Said Celeste Amato, the coordinator of the Clean Out Baltimore initiative, "the underlying message is about personal responsibility."

The Sun election blog recaps the Dixon sweetheart-contracts scandal.
Did you know? Not only did her sister work for Utech, a company awarded city contracts against ethics rules, but "the city found, after The Sun's reports, that the company did not have the capacity to perform the public work it was winning."
She also employed "creative" work orders to keep from having to report that she gave her campaign chairman's company half a million bucks! No wonder she didn't want to say anything harsh about the Brown Schammdal!

The Curious Case of Mr. Williams

On August 3 the Sun reported that a man was shot in the head in the 3600 block of E. Lombard St. and died, victim 190.
The next day, the same paper reports that a man was shot in the head in the 3600 block of E. Lombard St. and is "not expected to survive."
And then there's the story of Lorado Williams Jr., shot to death during a robbery in the 3600 block of E. Baltimore St. from today. And now there's also a different guy in the 5th on E. Baltimore St. So now it's two guys, same street.
... Or is it? Now Mr. Williams is back to being shot on Lombard. Or is that his twin brother who also lives in the 600 block of S. Lehigh St., "Larado"?!
Today, Anna says two victims, two different days in two different places, one on Lombard and one on Baltimore, and it's "Lorado."
Who's got it wrong?

August 7

After the William Welch lost-evidence flap, state police have made a "verbal agreement" to handle evidence in cases against city officers in the future.

A rewrite that combines two of yesterday's stories, and additional forensics by Burgersub, clarify a couple of "details":

mr. williams was shot in the 3600 block of e lombard street friday night and died saturday. a 19 year old was shot in the first block of s highland avenue sunday and managed to run to the 3400 block of e baltimore street before collapsing. he died sunday (the same day he was shot). [and,] the sun sucks.

The S has more on the trial of HarfCo suspected serial killer Charles Burns, including a creepy letter the prosecution read. (I'm going to try to copy more primary-source stuff from Sun stories because their links expire in a day).

As I set here I'm thinking of what could've been going through that girls mind, as this was happening to her ... I know if this were me, I'd be saying what kind of 'monster' did I get a ride from. I'd be praying to God please Lord help me.

It's thirty years, yes, that's three zero, for 23-year-old Antoine Oliver, who shot Justice Georgie for $20 at the Divine Unity hair salon on Garrison Blvd. This means Mr. Oliver will likely get out when? ... Anyone? Anyone?
Update: Writes Julie Bykowicz,

Antoine can't get out in less than 15 years because he is convicted of a violent crime. When he does become eligible for parole, the governor will HAVE to sign off on his release, as that is standard operating procedure in all "life sentences" -- even ones with suspended terms like this one.

If he can't get a governor to sign him out of the big house, he'll have to wait until he is "mandatorily released" through "diminution credits," which would maybe happen around year 20. I did an explainer story on this pretty recently ["Pressures dictate plea deals, But sentences in city homicide cases aren't necessarily a bargain for the convicted," July 25, 2007]. Toward the end, it goes into (probably too much) detail about this subject.

Adds Luke Broadwater, wrestling coach/Examiner reporter:

Julie (as usual) is completely right about eligibility for parole. Under Maryland law, if convicted of a crime of violence (as defined by statute) a suspect isn't eligible for parole until he has served half his time. He can be up for his first parole review as early as 1/4th of his time, if he's convicted of a non-violent crime.

Thanks reporters! All quality, those two. So he'll serve at least 15 years.

Blotter: "A 20-year-old Bolton Hill woman was jogging around the reservoir at Druid Hill Park about 3 p.m. Sunday when several young men and women began yelling foul language at her and throwing rocks. The woman was not injured and no arrests had been made."

In the County, another domestic murder, at least the 8th in MD in the past month. Satya Long was found stabbed to death last night at her home in Woodlawn, and a so-far-unnamed man is in custody, turned in by his family after he confessed to his mom.

And a domestic dispute led to a city officer having to shoot one Ronald Bennett, 21. Just in the leg though unfortunately. Apparently there was already an assault warrant out for him but he'd been too busy wailing on his babymom to go to court.

Two yutes have escapes from the Hickey School (Didn't Ehrlich close that place down?). Fifteen-year-old Justin Russell and 16-year-old Davon Julius escaped a week ago.

Peter Franchot is after tax scofflaws. You mean, you can just ignore tax bills? i thought they'd take your house or something, but I guess not!

Three raids in the 'burbs busted car thieves who've sent thousands of Marylanders' vehicles to Africa and the Middle East.
"It's in vogue to run around in these countries with a license plate on that says Maryland on it or Florida on it," said Ben Jillett, a car-theft investigator with the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Wrestling coach/ reporter Luke Broadwater rides with some unsuccessful bail bondsmen.

August 7th

"Routine Transfer" (Gone Bad, that is): escaped prisoner (and serial escapist) Marvin Jordan (he bolted outside of the court house yesterday noonish) is now on Baltimore's "Dirty Thirty" list. (Dirty Thirty? Really?)

August 6

Suspected serial killer Charles Burns of Bel Air was sentenced to life without parole today for killing Lillian Phelps of Elkton.

Patirica Campbell, the crazy neighbor who abducted 6-year-old Shenika Scott and styled her hair, pled guilty to child abduction as part of a plea deal Friday.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Calvin Puryear, 20, of the 2600 block of Dulaney Street and Lloyd Chase, 17, of the 2100 McHenry Street for first-degree murder and other charges on Friday. Court documents allege Calvin Puryear and Lloyd Chase are responsible for stabbing Christine Richardson, 15, on July 10, 2007 in her home in the 300 block of S. Fulton Avenue. Christine Richardson was stabbed several times and her throat slashed following an argument with the two suspects. Richardson died the same day. An arraignment is scheduled for August 28, 2007 before Judge John M. Glynn, Room 236 Mitchell Courthouse. Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia Banks will prosecute this case.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted James Giles, 21, of the 200 block of Dallas Court for first-degree murder, robbery deadly weapon and other charges on Friday. Court documents allege James Giles is responsible for shooting Robert Perlie, Jr. in the head on May 17, 2007 in the 200 block of Dallas Court during a robbery. Perlie succumbed to his injuries at Johns Hopkins Hospital. An arraignment is scheduled for September 7, 2007 before Judge John M. Glynn, Room 236, Mitchell Courthouse. Chief of the Homicide Division and Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Cohen will prosecute this case.

A boy was shot last night in 3400 block of E. Baltimore St.

Lorado Williams Jr., 27, a victim shot and robbed on Friday in the 3600 block of E. Baltimore St. died (unknown if there's any relationship to the incident above.)

Two more (!) shootings in the Blotter:

Shooting // Police responding to a report of a man shot in the 3000 block of McElderry St. about 5 a.m. Saturday found the victim bleeding from a bullet wound to an upper leg. The victim, 22, was treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Eastern
Shooting // A 25-year-old man was shot once in the upper body in the 900 block of N. Patterson Park Ave. about 3 a.m. Saturday and was admitted in critical but stable condition at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The man, who lives in the 1100 block of N. Carey St. in West Baltimore, was found by police responding a report of a shooting.

The trial of officer William Welch has been postponed. Welch is accused of raping a 16-year-old (alleged) prostitute in the SE district house. Three weeks ago, the police lost (or perhaps "lost") the girl's clothing from the evidence room.

One Clinton Dunnock got 14 years for trying to bring 7 kgs. of cocaine (about 15 1/2 pounds) from NY to Baltimore. Why is the DEA the only organization in the US that uses the metric system?

We love sites like this! Truth About Dixon dishes scandals, outrage

Mayor Dixon has a new project: GunStat.

Matthew R. Dieterle, who killed his AAC "girlfriend" Samantha MacQuilliam in Tampa, had a criminal history including assault, gun violations and burglary.

In lieu of a certain candidate's recent issues, we thought it time to reset the mayoral poll, right.

August 5

Don't forget Neighbor's Night Out!
Join your fellow crimefighters in boozing it up at Max's this minute!
Even if it seems like Dixon is co-oping the event, galt, proceeds do go to the Zach Sowers Recovery Fund, a very worthy cause.

Do you know someone who drives in MoCo in a silver BMW 5 series that now has front-end damage (or their car's suddenly disappeared? Well that said someone may have mowed down 17-year-old prospective chef Esai Lopez, and you should totally narc on them.

"Can we have a police patrol in this area?" a resident of asked Sheila Dixon. But not a peep as to what the mayor's answer was?!

"The reason why we chose Baltimore was, they came in with the highest bid on bodies." -- Maj. Jeffrey Ball in a Sun medical melodrama piece ("A Doctor at War") on how UMM's Shock Trauma trained a doctor for Iraq.

August 4

"A 20-year-old man was shot several times in the 3400 block of Carlisle Ave. in Northwest Baltimore about 12:30 a.m. He was taken to Sinai Hospital for surgery and listed in grave condition, police said. About an hour later, a man was shot in the head in the 3600 block of E. Lombard St., ... The man was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and is not expected to survive. ... Another man was stabbed about 5 p.m. yesterday near Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard in the Forest Park neighborhood."

Police have released a sketch of the suspect who raped an 88-year-old woman, shown at right. Hmm, is that man Asian?

Gus S. on the Zach Sowers case.
Where's everybody going for neighbors' night out tomorrow?
The family & I will be at Mama's on the Half Shell at 6 (the only place in the city that has lobster rolls and a children's menu) ...hope everyone comes out!

Defendant Brandon Morris, accused of shooting Correctional Officer Jeffery Wroten, is such a spaz he'll have to wear a stun belt to court.

As regular readers surely know, killer moms aren't rare.

In MoCo, Francesco Kelly, who at age 16 shot a man because the victim's girlfriend made fun of him on a bus, is a free man.
"The verdict surprised even the defense team."

HBO Trolls Craigslist, Pt. Deux

Since everyone was so jazzed about the last ad...
HBO's "The Wire": Extras needed for Monday Aug. 6th

Reply to: wirebaltimore@gmail.com
Date: 2007-08-02, 2:28PM EDT

Pat Moran and Associates is looking for people wanting to work as background extras on HBO's "The Wire," this coming Monday August 6th. The commitment may be for the entire day so please DO NOT respond unless you are available all day.

We are looking for all types, male/female, Caucasian/African American, age range preferably 25+, although we may need high schoolers as well.

We will also need people who are willing to use their car in the show, if you have a car that is NOT white, preferably darker colors, please specify in your email.

All emails should include a recent photograph, age/height/weight, car make/model (if applicable) and a phone number where you can be reached.

Please send submissions to wirebaltimore@gmail.com

These are Non-Union positions, pay is $50/8 hours, plus a $10.00 bump if we use your car.

www.patmoranandassociates.com

Location: Baltimore
Compensation: Non-Union, $50/8
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

(Thanks Dan!)

August 3

Four Three murders in 24 hours:

• An unidentified man was killed at 1:30 a.m. this morning in the 3600 block of E. Lombard St., in the Baltimore Highlands whoops, wait, he survived!
• Donte Bracey, 20, was shot in the back shortly before 11 p.m. last night in the 500 block of E. 23rd St. in the East Baltimore Midway
• A man was shot in the 3400 block of Carlisle Ave., in Northwest Baltimore, and is in "grave" condition (er, there's only one kind of condition that's appopos for the grave... but it sounds like he's still alive)

The other two murders must be the two unid'd men from yesterday: 7:45 a.m. in the 3700 block of Lyndale Ave. and an 18-year-old man 1:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of Marbourne Ave in Lakeland.

Indeed, the "more details" in the "written-off carjacking" are very depressing: not just details that make it clear an armed carjacking really happened and Grimes was the 'jacker, but stolen credit cards that could have helped lead police to Brandon Grimes had police believed the victim and recorded the crime properly.
Like the commentor said, "if somebody really wants to kill somebody else, there's nothing the police can do!"

In Clinton, PGC, Terris Terrell Luckett, 39, shot his wife and then drove to a barbershop to kill a football coach.

Pediatrics & Parenting
Trouble for Mitchell's mayoral campaign: his DAD and treasurer allegedly spent $40,000 of campaign money on personal expenses.

Jessamy vs. Kraft: who's the baby?
Kraft sent Jessamy letters asking her to get tougher on violent crime in his Southeast District, and released one of them to "the media", and Jessamy went ballistic:

"'Councilman Kraft, please grow up,' Jessamy wrote in a letter dated Tuesday. 'Stop being a petulant ‘do nothing’ politician and represent the interest of your constituents. I am willing to work with you, but will not under any circumstances tolerate your attacks.'”

We don't know exactly what Kraft's letter said, but can't help but to notice Jessamy seems to have a whole lot of trouble getting along with others (and is none too PR-savvy either. Had anyone heard of that letter before this?).

An AAC teenager was found "responsible" in juvenile court for the death of her newborn infant found in a trash can.

August 2

Update, if you're following the OC fetus-mom story:
Prosecutors have dropped the murder charges in the case of the 26-week-old fetus found in Christy Freeman's house, but have now charged her with murder of an "infant" "born" in 2003.

Is Nicole Richie still in town? A "vehicle going the wrong way in the 1400 block of Montford Avenue crashed into a police car."
Crazy picture!

Media news:
Dolan Media, owner of the Daily Record and other "niche" business and law papers, has gone public ... and amazingly the public is buying it!

So much for that lull... two more murders, unid'd:
7:45 a.m. in the 3700 block of Lyndale Ave.
and an 18-year-old man 1:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of Marbourne Ave in Lakeland.
The Sun's 187 and 188 = our 192 & 193.

Court of Appeals: the state needs to try harder to comply with convicted rapists’ and murderers’ requests for post-conviction DNA testing, checking the police evidence-control unit isn't enough.

A third suspect was arrested today in the Carl Lackl case, Marcus Antwan Pearson, 26. Also in custody are Johnathan Ryan Cordish, 15 of the 300 block N. Monroe St., and Ronald Wendell Williams, 21. Though it's clear Pearson and the 15-year-old gunboy targeted Lackl, police say there's no evidence that the killing was motivated by Lackl's planned testimony in the Patrick Byers murder trial.

Blotter: A man was shot in the shoulder by robbers in the Northwest; a man was shot in the upper right leg trying to flee an altercation with two other men in the 3300 block of E. Fayette St. about 3 a.m. Sunday, a woman was punched in the face at a gas station in the 2200 block of Linden Ave.; police are seeking several teenage females who attacked two other females, one 19 and the other 16, in the 2100 block of N. Pulaski St. late Saturday night.

Beware the sound of a saw in your driveway: stealing catalytic converters is a profitable and low-risk activity for thieves.

Notable quotable: "Baltimore is a safe city." - Mayor Dixon
Was our mayor lying to our people in uniform?
(Or did she mean relative to Iraq?!)

Notable quotable II: "I'm goin to the hairdresser, I can't do it this way!" - Sheila Dixon, last two seconds of Fox's "Raw News" Mayor Dixon Crime Plan Press Conference
The "officer sentenced" video with the reporter chasing down Joseph Mosmiller and his slouchy lawyer is also a hoot:
"Why would you take pictures of women's breasts? Get ahead of him! She says she's been damaged forever emotionally! You have nothing to say to her? What about to fellow police officers! Fellow police officers!"

The media frenzy surrounding the OC fetus house has prompted police patrols. And no word from police or the prosecutors since Monday, when he told reporters that Freeman caused her baby to be stillborn. (How is that possible? Said a police spokesman, "use your imagination.")

August 2

In the case of murdered witness Carl Lackl, there's been a third arrest: Marcus Antwan Pearson has been charged with first degree murder:

Pearson made telephone calls to Lackl about a car that the Rosedale man was selling to lure him outside of his home, county police said. Pearson was in a vehicle in front of the shooter's car, and pointed out Lackl as they drove by, police said.

Suspects in the Lackl case so far are:
Marcus Antwan Pearson, 26,
Johnathan Ryan Cordish, 15
of the 300 block N. Monroe St., and
Ronald Wendell Williams, 21,

Guard your car's catalytic converter, although I don't think your dealership's repair shop is going to mind too much if they've gotta replace 'em for you.

Awful: the rape and robbery of an 88-year old cancer patient in Southeast Baltimore.

Mayor Sheila Dixon demands accountability from the police:

On Wednesday, the mayor said this isn't the first time she's heard complaints of crimes that hadn't been written up. She called the practice unacceptable in her administration.

Jesus God! Hasn't the misreporting or underreporting or whatever-reporting-of-crime been a big complaint against the police department and the mayor's office for, um, quite some time now? Hopefully, if there's one silver lining from this tragic shooting, it'll be an overhaul of how the police report crimes (and, hopefully, a police department with the balls to stand up to any political pressure it might get to do so).

August 1

A man was fatally shot in the 1200 block of Nanticoke St in Pigtown, South Baltimore.

The man who ran to the mayor's West Baltimore house after being shot has died.

At a hearing today Judge Allen L. Schwait sentenced Antonio Dana Rogers, 28, of the 100 block of Cherryhill Road to life in prison for attempted first degree murder and an additional 25 years in prison, consecutive, for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and prohibited possession of a handgun counts. A Baltimore City jury convicted Rogers June 5, 2007. The story:

On August 23, 2005 at approximately 11:00PM the victim was walking in the 2000 block of McCullough toward the 400 block of W. Presstman St. when she became engaged in an argument with Rogers. As the victim continued toward her home, Rogers followed and pulled out a small caliber handgun, shooting the victim two times – once in the abdomen and once in the arm. When officers arrived the victim told police that “Dana” shot her and that he stays in the Cherry Hill area of the city. Rogers was eventually apprehended and was identified by both the victim and other witnesses. The victim suffered permanent injuries due to the shooting and now has to walk with a cane. She has undergone 14 surgeries since the shooting due to the injuries she suffered.

Today the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Rodney Fray, 39, of the 1800 block of E. Pratt St. for first-degree murder and deadly weapon. Court documents allege that Rodney Fray was responsible for an incident on July 7, 2007 when Ashley Bellosi, 23, was found suffering from head and neck injuries in her apartment in the 800 block of St Paul St. Fray allegedly fought with Bellosi, knocked her unconscious and then left the scene. Bellosi died later at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Hospital. Fray was reportedly Bellosi’s boyfriend.

Domestic Horrors!
An 88-year-old woman was raped in her home by a 20-something black male in South Baltimore.

The family of murder victim Anna Bergman are outraged that she wasn't granted a restraining order. The court commissioner in Catonsville says that Bergman claimed that Ryan Bulter threatened her new boyfriend, not herself. and she was told that he should apply for his own order.

WTF?!: In Frederick County, Donna Jean Compton, 46, pled guilty to transmitting images of her 14-year-old daughter “in various stages of undress” to a "juvenile acquaintance."

The Murder Ink details homicides from July 23 to 27, and fills in Conrad Strange, 25, killed July 15 on North Gay Street.

In this week's CP, in a "classic" from 1984, John Waters interviews "kinky Gary Gilmore" Arthur Frederick Goode III, "one Maryland native we'd all rather forget."

Fredneck gun-weilding teenager Tia Janae Moore was found guilty of masterminding a 90-minute robbery spree that struck a Wendy's, a Dunkin Donuts and a Domino's deliveryperson. Said Assistant State's Attorney Teresa R. Bean, "Apparently they needed money for shoes."

A good question: "If you have a miscarriage at home, what are you supposed to do with the fetus?"
Not being legally human yet it can't make human remains, so that would fall under "medical waste" and the MDE, right?
Well, the MDE says:

Household waste is exempted from being regulated as hazardous waste. Nevertheless, it should not be disposed of indiscriminately. If you no longer have use for a hazardous product, try to find someone who can use it [an embryologist at Hopkins, perhaps?]. Failing that, contact your county governemt (sic) to determine if they have a household hazardous waste collection day scheduled."

Fun Quiz!

By the Sun's John Fritze: "Here are the mayoral candidates' verbatim answers (trimmed only when their words were not clear; offered in the order that they spoke) to the following question: 'Baltimore has one of the highest murder rates in the country. ... What are your plans to ensure that citizens enjoy a safer Baltimore?'"

Match the candiate to the quotes:

a. "We don't compromise when it comes to our religion, we don't compromise when it comes to our Lord and our God -- we cannot compromise when it comes to leadership."

b. "I've called for a federal program to treat drugs as a public health issue. Addict goes to a clinic, gets what they're addicted to. All the money we've saved on the cops and the courts and the prisons and the low morale in the police because all of this can be used for treatment on demand and a federal jobs program. It would probably cost us far less than what we're spending now."

c. "A wise old owl sat on an oak. The more he heard the less he spoke. The less he spoke the more he heard. I'll try to be like that wise old bird."

d. "This afternoon I had the opportunity to visit one of the officers at shock trauma who was shot last night. I looked in the faces of her parents and I went to visit her. We need more police officers on our streets. We are short."

answers
Further reading: the Sun's Baltimore election blog.

We all knew Brandon Grimes, right, should have been in jail long before he killed officer Troy Chesley Jr., but it gets worse. Grimes apparently carjacked someone days before the shooting, but police "declared the carjacking report unfounded. As a result, there was no follow-up investigation and no lookout was posted for the green van." Not the first time Jayne's reported police dismissing carjacking victims.
Dixon's tepid response: "We really need to find out what happened and why, and make some folks accountable. It's unacceptable."
Yeah, you like, totally do. Good idea. Let me know how that goes!

Former Prince George's County homeland security official Keith A. Washington was indicted yesterday on charges of murder and attempted murder for shooting two unarmed furniture delivery men, Brandon D. Clark and Robert White, in his Accokeek home in January. Washington cried self-defense, but looks like the grand jury decided he meant it.

Ranard D. Brown, 26, was arrested yesterday for shooting the two female officers on Monday.

An unnamed man died Saturday, four months after being shot in the 2900 block of Mosher St.

Who wrote secreted?!
WBAL version of an AP story: "Investigators working on the case of a Maryland mother who allegedly secreted dead fetuses around her home have a task that could stretch the bounds of even fictional forensic specialists on a television show."
("Hid" is used in the in the Capitol's version)

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July 31

A man was shot around 11 p.m. Monday night just a few blocks from mayor Dixon's home on Swann Avenue in West Baltimore; the bleeding man drove himself to her security car for help.

Also: "A man, 25, was shot in the chest about 11:15 p.m. Sunday in the 4500 block of Farring Court," "Three men were fighting in the 3300 block of E. Fayette St. about 3 a.m. Sunday when one man pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and shot another man, 31, in the upper right leg, shattering the hip bone." and a man in the 1400 block of N. Broadway Sunday was struck "several times over the head and body with a piece of wood."

Shot suspect: that was a popsicle in my mouth, not drugs.

The female officers shot yesterday were ID'd as Loretta L. Francis, 34, a member of the force for 14 years, and Karen Brzowsky, 29, an officer for 5 years. Sun: "A source close to the investigation -- who is not named because the source is not permitted to talk to the media -- said the two officers were responding to a call for men gambling in or near the 200 block of N. Port when they were shot." The story also reports that as of Monday there were 445 non-fatal shootings, up from 338 last year.

Serial bank robber Craig Joseph Mills got 6 1/2 years in federal prison.

It's only the second use of MD's fetal homicide law, and Worcester County State's Attorney Joel J. Todd's application is highly irregular, to say the least. First of all, the OC fetuses were all preterm and not born alive. And, if even if Christy Freeman somehow caused her own late-term abortion, that wouldn't be against the new law. One of the bill's sponsors says that the exemption doesn't apply to "wanton or reckless behavior," but, well, the law doesn't actually say anything about that, and it isn't especially illegal to smoke crack while you're pregnant in MD.

July 30

Demetris Downing Sr. (Sr?!) , 25, was shot to death Saturday night in the 2100 block of McHenry St. shortly before 7 p.m., a block from his house.

Two police officers were shot at Orleans Street and Port Streets. both are alive ... and female!

What is going on?! Four horrible domestic murders in two days. Jeremy and Justin Herring, 18 and 20 years old, were murdered by their father in MoCo.

And the third MD dad-on-mom murder in the past three weeks: "Police said Anna Bergman, 20, was shot in the head by her 3-year-old son's father, whose name has not been released, in the 300 block of Westshire Road on Monday morning. Bergman was pronounced dead at the scene." Update: a court commissioner had refused to grant Anna Bergman a restraining order Friday night. The three-year-old, also Ryan Butler, is in custody of the murderer's parents.

The story of Christy Freeman, the taxi-company-owner and Ocean-City-baby-body-collector, is grey-area and getting creepier. WBAL says "four infant cadavers have been found since last week" (a very peculiar word choice, almost always used to describe a body being used for educational purposes), and goes on to say that all of the babies were pre-term and stillborn. Nevertheless, the prosecutor down there says he plans to charge her under the fetal homicide law.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury today indicted Lontona Maria Webb, 38, of the 3600 block of Clarinth Rd., Michael Moore, 26, of the 3600 block of Clarinth Rd. and Latoya Renee James, 24, of the 1300 block of Dalton Rd. on July 26, 2007 in an alleged theft scheme involving the property of detainees at the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Facility (CBIF). The indictments allege that the incidents occurred at CBIF between November 2006 and March 2007. Details from the SA's office:

After hearing testimony, the Grand Jury returned a total of 32 indictments, alleging credit card theft, identity fraud, conspiracy to commit theft and misconduct in office involving 8 victims who were arrested and transported to the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Facility (CBIF) for processing. Webb is charged in 22 separate indictments, Moore in 7 indictments and James in 3 indictments.

Webb is a former Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Correctional Officer. James is still a Correctional Officer.

Court documents allege that between November 2006 and March 2007 various defendants were processed at Central Booking and Intake Facility (CBIF) and reported their credit cards stolen and used during their period of incarceration. Investigation showed that defendant Lontona Webb, who was employed as a correctional officer during this time, and Michael Moore, of the same address, conspired to use the cards to purchase items in both Baltimore City & County. Lontona James worked the same shift at CBIF as Webb, and also allegedly took a credit card and used it in Baltimore County.

Baltimore County police said they've arrested four men and charged them in the shooting of 24-year-old student Herve Massaba, who is now paralyzed from the chest down.

More on the suicide of murderer Donald Webb Jr. and his victims. The Sun reports that the 13-year-old boy is recovering at Johns Hopkins Children's Center after surgery for multiple bullet wounds.

There was another male-on-female domestic murder/suicide 15 days ago in Arbutus; Donta Antwon Gross, 30, shot Tashema Tameka Fitzgerald, 21, then himself in the 4800 block of Westland Blvd.

In Ocean City, 37-year-old Cindy Freeman was charged with the murder of an infant and "Maryland investigators have found three tiny bodies" in her home.

Three MD and DC metro stations were shut down and the FBI was called in after a pest-control contractor neglected to clean up some dead birds. The Takoma station shut down for almost four hours awaiting NIH clearance.

Remember AAC's Officer Joseph Francis Mosmiller, who photographed himself honking a teenage motorist's boob?
He pled guilty to misconduct and will spend six days in jail.

July 29, Evening

Taming a Violent City - The Baltimore Sun asks an "array of experts" on how, exactly, to do that. Interesting, but why no prosecutors or ex-police *cough*Ed*cough* chiefs on the list?

24-year old Brandon Reed mugged a woman fifty years his senior and was apparently so overcome by shame that he allegedly hung himself in a HoCo jail cell, the fourth person to do so since 1999.

July 29

Donald Webb Jr., 48, who killed his wife and shot his stepson Friday night, is still at large! was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in upstate New York.
Webb is was a chubby corrections officer, shown at right & last seen in a blue 2006 Chevrolet pickup with Maryland license plate 24R856.

A crime wave has hit the Roland Park subdivision of Evergreen, with cars broken into and houses robbed in broad daylight on Wilmslow and Cable Streets. Lock your doors & windows, especially in the daytime when you're at home!

"The fault line between work and family” is “precisely where sex-based overgeneralization has been and remains strongest." -- says the Chief Justice in the NYT Mag article "Family Leave Values"

Julie Bykowicz answers our voir dire questions.
(Schwait turned over a conviction because of his own error? Wacky!)
From law.com: "Jury practices vary widely across the Nation"

"An apparent Sinful Secret was Exposed in Harford County Last Night ... Mike Hellgren has the disturbing allegations ... A warning, though, for some of you, this is very graphic stuff ... Deacon Kevin Glenn ... groin area ... buttocks... feeling up ... played a game called hide the money ... cash ... undergarmets ... and when one of the girls confronted him, he read her Scriptures."

July 28

Horrid. Donald Webb Jr. shot his 13-year-old son and his wife, wounding to the boy and killing his mother in the 900 block of West Lombard Street.

Nathaniel Treat, a 27-year-old Annapolis man was recovering at Johns Hopkins Hospital yesterday after he was stabbed three times in the stomach while trying to save someone he saw being beaten in Charles Village.

One instance and one quote is no argument for any kind of trend, but it does give Greg Kane the opportunity to bitch about that perinneal Baltimore juror, The Lady Who Won't Convict The Black Man.

This should be good! Mayoral candidate Del. Jill Carter will co-host the Ed Norris Show this Monday from 11-1.

City council candidate Adam Meister will be guest-bartending upstairs at the Ottobar tonight from 5:30-8:30, with tips going to the campaign. Downstairs, a collection of "the wildest, weirdest, most obscene bands".

Evening

Today a Baltimore City jury convicted Elliott McLain, 31, of the 5200 block of St. Charles Ave. of first degree murder, conspiracy and other related handgun counts. The jury deliberated for approximately one day following four days of testimony. Judge Robert Kershaw will sentence McLain October 3, 2007. He faces a maximum possible term of life plus life plus 25 years in prison. Details from the SA's office, edited for clarity:

On June 1, 2004 at approximately 1 a.m. in the 600 block of Hazel Street, McLain and co-defendant Kevin Fletcher approach the victim, Tidell Harris, on the street. They each pulled a gun. Fifteen shots were fired and the victim was hit five times, twice in the chest and three in the face and head. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. Fletcher confessed and had a plea deal in which he was to testify against McLain (Life, suspend all but 25 years). But Fletcher refused to testify in January when called to the stand during a pretrial motions hearing, so the court sentenced Fletcher to life in prison plus 20 years. Fletcher did testify in this case but his court testimony was inconsistent with his taped police confession, which was played in court. Assistant State’s Attorney Tonya LaPolla of the FIVE Division prosecuted this case.

Thirty-four-year-old Ida Susan Robinson pled guilty and got 20 years for stabbing her shack-up boyfriend to death in front of his eight-year-old son in Woodlawn.

An eagle-eyed PA trooper apprehended Lorenzo Presha II, wanted for rape in the county.

Whatever did they talk about? Dixon and Ed Norris met privately at a Hunt Valley hotel bar.
('on the QT'? What does that stand for?)

July 27 - the 1,000th post

Samuel Epps, 30, was chased and then shot to death at about 2:15 a.m. in the 1700 block of W. Baltimore Street.
And the victim found in the trunk of the car was indeed a homicide, killed by blunt-force trauma.

J'heart Judge Brooke Murdock! Not only did she shoot down the state's same-sex marraige ban, but she Reservoir Hill drug dealer Omar Parker the full 20 years for witness intimidation.

This week's Ink provides names and more details for last week's victims.

Maryland's Court of Appeals ruled that says that police officers can be sued for libel if they make false statements to obtain a search warrant.

Eleven boys have come forward to accuse Dundalk perv Robert Paul Layton of various sex offenses. He also faces federal indictment on child pornography charges. Gross. You may remember Layton as the guy with a pool table in his basement who plied young boys with booze and weed (<- WBAL audio link from last February).

In HoCo, Pastor Gerald Griffith, 41, got 15 years yesterday on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

Following the Michael Vick business, Baltimore is stepping up its investigaton of dogfights.

Some half-baked and twisted Chubby Hubbies broke three glass windows at the Inner Harbor Ben & Jerry's.

July 26

Baltimore City has identified five of its schools as "perpetually dangerous": 'to get on the list, 2 1/2 percent of its student body must have been suspended for arson, possessing a weapon or drugs, assaulting a teacher or other student, or sexual assault.' The list includes 'Calverton Middle School, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Dr. Roland Patterson Academy, Dr. W.E.B DuBois Senior High School and the Liberal Arts Academy at Walbrook Campus'. The really amazing thing? Fewer than 200 students have transfered out of those schools, despite the fact that the designation allows any student who wishes to transfer.

A Lot of Jays: Jarrett Johnson, 22; Jerard Kane, 20; and Jonathan Kane, 21, identified as the three men who shot and wounded a man early yesterday morning.

So much for that murder-free streak: Body Found in Trunk. I guess the question is when, and how, he died. (I mean, if he was playing hide-and-seek and couldn't get back out of the trunk...)

Those thugs who acid-burned a toddler are to be tried as juveniles. Big surprise, the victim's mother wasn't happy and

broke into tears and walked out of the courtroom.

"I hope you guys are happy," the mother, Carol Duschl, later yelled at the defendants as they walked down a hallway. "A slap on the wrist. It's OK."

Drowning victim? Maybe the water in the Patapsco River is so polluted the river itself wants to get in on the homicide action!

AACo: South River High teacher gets charged for enjoying too much touching his underage students.

The Baltimore County Police Department's version of the Vietnam Memorial is "inaccessible". Wait, does Baltimore City PD have their own memorial to fallen officers? Because if Baltimore County = Vietnam, then Baltimore City = ______?

Rear Windowesque: the video of a street drug deal/robbery/shooting is on YouTube (and you can read the article, too).

An armed robbery of a Korean grocery is reported in the blogosphere after being ignored by the mass media: "Yesterday. July 25, at about 1:30 PM, three men came in to the store with handguns, and pointed them at customer's heads demanding money, cell phones, credit cards, etc.. but a BPD unit happened to be out front a few moments later (they were not alerted - just on rounds), and they captured the assailants. Today, [the owner] looked quiet, scared, sad, and uncertain. Mostly traumatized. This needs to stop - now." Amen.

July 25

The Baltimore branch of the NAACP wants citizens to get windowastic to display their outrage over the city's homicide rate.

Yesterday, I posted about a potential plan to create a gun registry, similar to the sex registry which already exists. Orlando Yarborough can be on both registries! What a lucky guy, huh?

CNN: Processed cheese stands in for a bomb during a possible terrorist dry-run in Baltimore, and other fun news from an unclassified TSA advisory.

Either I'm confused or WJZ is confused (or maybe we're both confused): isn't a "home invasion" generally a rather violent event which happens when the family is home? Because that's sort of always how I've taken to understand the phrase. I guess it's just another way of saying "burglary", and hopefully a.) no one gets hurt and b.) they get the dog back.

Baltimore City might take lessons from Baltimore County's squadPolice CAT Squad:

"A soft-spoken guy, Martin explains how the CAT Squad operates. "You throw a rock in some water, the rock is concentrated action there,” he says. “It disperses the water. We try to do the same thing with crime, by dispersing the crime, reducing the crime and get it out of different areas."

Hey, the headline writes the blurb: Pressures dictate plea deals, But sentences in city homicide cases aren't necessarily a bargain for the convicted.

A friend of mine once said Baltimore City was a lot like Mexico City: if you stick to the touristy areas, you'll be fine. Not quite so much -- three arrested in a shooting that left a man wounded in downtown last night.

There's a tidbit in that above article: "the city's last homicide occurred Thursday afternoon." Is this deserving of a celebration or just the result of dumb luck?

July 24

The City Police Union likes Mitchell for mayor, a decision that

the city's rank and file is dissatisfied with her policing decisions.

"We believe we will see change and progress under him," Blair [president of the city's police union] said. "And he'll be a mayor that realizes that law enforcement is very critical in the city and would make it his top priority that we're properly staffed and given the proper equipment and leadership."

Ouch.

Speaking of "new leadership", ex-commish Kevin Clark wants his old job back.

“As I see it, the city is in crisis, but I could turn this around in no time ... It’s my job.”

Continuing the theme of "new leadership" ... some of the "old leadership" is getting canned (er, sorry, "retiring.")

A busy weekend for police in AACo, and a bad weekend for dangerous fugitives!

There's only one thing you should be doing behind the wheel of a car: not text messaging, not reading the paper, not playing with yourself or receiving favors from your loved one leaning over from the passenger seat (remember that scene in Parenthood?). Not even daydreaming! Nope, the only thing you should be doing behind the wheel of a car is paying attention. This is a lesson Christopher Austin Carey, 17, will hopefully be more aware of in the future.

In a case of car v bike, the car wins --

An 8-year-old boy riding a bicycle was struck by a car in Southwest Baltimore shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday and was taken to the Johns Hopkins Hospital's pediatric intensive care unit for treatment of a minor head injury, police said.

I don't think it's going too far out on a limb to say the driver "wasn't paying attention." Also: don't play in the streets, kids.

Mayor Dixon Proposes Public Registry of Gun Offenders: Too far? Or not far enough? I guess we'll know if the NRA gets itself involved.

A Baltimore resident, and member of MS-13, is off to jail. I wonder how the accommodations are?

Timothy Hartlove's sentence revisited: four years for "conspiring to distribute methamphetamine worth about $50,000." His original sentence was six years.

Former state Senator Bromwell pleads guilty for racketeering and tax evasion. A guilty politician? Perish the thought.

July 23

Maybe they've been throwing out seafood in the department's dumpster? Have you ever smelled a dumpster full of rotting fish? Gag on a stick! Seriously:

Something at the Baltimore City Police Department smells fishy to mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell, who on Sunday called for a federal audit of the city’s crime statistics.

The Baltimore City councilman will deliver a letter today asking for a Federal Bureau of Investigation audit, he said.

Mayoral candidate Del. Jill Carter has called for an independent audit of the city’s crime statistics, which show a 16 percent increase in homicides and a 32 percent increase in shootings, but a 17 percent decrease in violent crime.

In response, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon’s spokesman Anthony McCarthy said, “If we can find a third party to audit crime statistics, we’re all for it.”

A long time ago I worked at a place where we made "soda missiles." We'd take bottles of soda, shake them up, stand at the top of the parking lot, and hurtle them towards the dumpster down the hill. When they hit, they'd explode. We did this when no one was around, of course (because they would've told on us). However, "soda bombs" are a bit more serious, even if hearing the term makes me chuckle:

“It’s nothing like a pipe bomb or dynamite, ... but it’s still in that category,” said Jason Mowbray, deputy chief state fire marshal.

What do the members of MADD do at a police checkpoint? Smack the drunks with rolled up pamphlets? They should!

In the blotter, lots of break-ins. Be on the lookout for the landscaper thief:

A lawnmower, three ladders, a gas-operated leaf blower and two hedge trimmers were stolen over the weekend...

Brief Update: Dan Roderick has reprinted an anonymous e-mail from a Baltimore City Police Detective regarding the state -- or lack thereof -- of police leadership in the department:

First of all, "Zero Tolerance" is not currently the "Mission Statement" of the Baltimore City Police Department. I can't tell you what the Mission Statement is, because I don't know. Many of us in the rank and file do not. I don't really even think there is one. Oh, sure, we have had "pep talks" given by then Deputy Commissioner Bealefeld (now Acting Commissioner) and by Mayor Dixon, but those speeches focused on a general idea of what needs to happen in the City. There was no clear plan laid out... just ideas such as "omnipresence" and "getting back into the community."

Before I go, I must say I hope that Mangalore Chetan (or wait, is Mangalore a place?) will write more essays about our city that go into greater depth than "A City Called Baltimore - Pride Owner of Great Ethnic Variety"

Some of the streets of Baltimore give you a feeling of being in the outskirts of Mumbai, with tiny houses, lack of hygiene, people loitering about doing nothing. ... But how did it all happen? Just in the neighborhood of the Capital of United States, such a misery?

July 22, Evening

Hey'all! While Cybrarian's away on vay-kay-shun, I'm holding down the fort here at Bawlmerkram until her return (don't worry, she'll be back Thursday, so I won't have many opportunities to screw up, hopefully).

In AACo, guns and alcohol don't mix. Or, to be specific, badges and alcohol don't mix.

Very To Be Mildly Confusing Word Order, JayZee!, in Very Censorship Disturbing? In future, for great controversy avoidance, perhaps for to be arresting for when not anti-Bush buttons selling. (Am I overdoing it? For surely!)

July 22

A gunfight at round 2 .am. last night near Power Point Live, and 25-year-old 25-year-old army Corporal Alexander Larkin lost to a city cop.

Friday, brand-new commissioner Bealefeld took the genius step of firing notoriously unhelpful police spokesman Matt Jablow, replacing him with one Sterling Clifford. Said the CP of Jablow last September,

"he's declared himself an obstructionist to some of [the CP staff], saying we can only get information from him at the end of the statutory limits of the Maryland Public Information Act. He chalked this line for us in a threat, issued to try to keep us from printing on-the-record comments of his that he regretted. Then he took to ignoring some of our calls altogether."

Rodericks: give zero-tolerance a chance

Stat of the Day: "Blacks in the United States are imprisoned at more than five times the rate of whites, and Hispanics are locked up at nearly double the white rate," according to a study released Wednesday by the Sentencing Project, a "think tank" that opposes mandatory minimum prison terms.

July 21

Was the killing of Rosedale resident Carl Lackl really because he was planning to testify in a murder case? "Or was his death a drive-by shooting for no other reason than the shooter’s desire to do something 'crazy?'"

The city police pension board may have let Marcus Brown's million-something retirement payoff stand, but Chairman of the Police Pension Board, Steven Fugate, is still fuming, calling Marcus Brown a "crooked cop."

Former Senator Thomas "I don't use the N-word, but he was an N" Bromwell pled guilty to federal racketeering and tax crimes, "ending one of the state's largest corruption investigations in many years."
Will he soon resign from the board of First Mariner Bank?

In MoCo, a Liberian immigrant raped and molested a 7-year-old relative, but because of the difficulties finding an interpreter, after three years the case was dismissed.

July 20 evening edition

Monday the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Tracy* Asbury, 37, of the 4800 block of Pennington Avenue for first-degree murder and other charges. Police arrested Asbury in Talbot County today. Court documents allege Tracy Asbury and two other co-defendants were responsible for an incident on June 20, 2007 in which the body of Phillip Calvin Airey Jr. was found in a burning car on Route 295 in Linthicum. Airey had been beaten and stabbed before the car was set on fire. Robert Speake and Michael Martin were indicted on the same charges. An arraignment is scheduled for August 17, 2007 before Judge John M. Glynn, Room 236, Mitchell Courthouse. Homicide Division Chief and Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Cohen will prosecute this case.
* A male name in the South and a girl's name to Yankees, so could be male or female.

Two dead baby stories in one day! Sarah Wolf, 20, of Baltimore, was charged in VA with with improper disposal of a dead body after putting her newborn in a Dumpster after giving birth in a public restroom.

Sherman Kemp, featured in "Stop Fucking Snitching," was indicted on cocaine-related charges.

Two non-fatal shootings this afternoon in Northeast Baltimore: a man was shot in the back in the 1600 block of Ramblewood St., and a man was shot in the side in the 3500 block of East Northern Parkway.

July 20

A man was shot to the death in the 3100 block of Belair Road, and a man was shot in the Northwest.

An acquaintence of the comatose Zach Sowers recounts how the teenaged suspects smirked and laughed during the arraignment.

Another prolicide case goes to court: Megan Patria, 17, who presumably sucessfully hid her pregnancy from the world, gave birth on a toilet and threw the baby away in a plastic bag. The next day, says the SA, "she showed off her slimmed figure, watched a movie at home with a friend and went out to dinner with family and friends."

"Mr. Hamm could be excused for feeling a bit of whiplash; an absurd moment came this summer when 85 homicide detectives in this homicide-burdened city were taken off the job and dispatched, temporarily, to augment street patrols."
Whose decision were the foot patrols? Boo, passive voice!

How many times do we have to tell you people, if you're driving with 30 pounds of drugs in the car, watch the road!!

AAC caught itself an airport hooker.
(A most popular & lucrative profession)

A woman died after falling off the 65-foot roof of the Museum of Industry as she tried to climb onto a neon sign.

Evening

Meet the new commissioner (for now), Frederick H. Bealefeld III, who will likely keep the job until at least after the election. Will he have a plan of his own, or be expected to work his way through Dixon's PowerPoint? (Or was it his PowerPoint all along?)
Her Honor said nothing about the Brown pension scandal, the missing documents or the murder rate, but instead attributes the resignation she says that she asked for was because she "wasn't feeling the results" and "wasn't feeling that drive like I wanted to" and that the decision was difficult, but not because of Keiffer telling me to do this."
Yeah, well, I for one don't buy it... I don't think she had a clue!
She was just talking a month ago about what a bad idea a change of leadership would be!

Madison Smartt Bell has a piece about his Baltimore jury duty experience (MD vs. Crudup) in the Oxford American (a regional-interest magazine that slants itself as "the Southern New Yorker")

Jessamy: Dixon Wants my Opinion!

Jessamy's office released a statement on the Hamm resignation:

“It appears that the failed policing strategies of the O’Malley years have finally come to an end. For the first time, after a succession of eight police commissioners serving the Mayor O’Malley administration, Mayor Dixon has sought my opinion and counsel on how we can work together in the best interest of our citizens. I believe that this type of partnership will make a difference and end this deadly grip of violence on our city.

In a period of almost eight years, the former mayor never sought my input on any crime strategy or plan, technology or legislation that would help reduce crime in Baltimore. It is a refreshing and welcome change that Mayor Dixon sees the importance of such a collaboration. I am energized by the Mayor’s vision and optimistic that this commitment will yield results for our citizens and I pledge my support to her efforts. I believe in Baltimore. I want what is best for our citizens.

I am delighted that Mayor Dixon has asked for my participation in the Mayor’s national search efforts. I am happy to serve in this capacity.

Finally, I applaud the many hard working police officers who put their lives on the line every day and I stand by their efforts to make our citizens safe. They deserve our full appreciation and support.”

Patricia C. Jessamy, Baltimore City State’s Attorney
July 19, 2007

July 19

On Tuesday, a 29-year-old man was shot in the neck died in the 6100 block of Fortview Way.
Wednesday, Steven Brandon Sr., 41, was shot in the head about 5 p.m. in the 2800 block of Round Road in Cherry Hill and died a short time later at Harbor Hospital.

More on the Hamm story. The Sun reports that Dixon asked him to resign Tuesday night.

"Bupe" works okay, but not as well as methodone.

Why didst God smite the Baptist Church? Probably for buying a $150k Bentley Arnage with church funds rather than by paying their hefty debts!
(Then again, maybe the insurance check is God's way of repaying them for their abundant faith!)

Speaking of abundant faith, nervy candidate Jill Carter will be spending the night tonight at the crime-ridden intersection of Milton and East Biddle Streets, and tomorrow she'll be at Fayette and Monroe. Says Carter, "It is sending a message that we will not accept that our corners will be taken over."

This just in...

Hamm = out!
...but is it at Dixon's request? Sounds like she didn't even know he was planning to resign until JZ leaked the news!

At a hearing today James Summerville, 18, of the 800 block of N. Arlington Ave. pled guilty to second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon (knife). Judge Lynn K. Stewart sentenced Summerville to 30 years in prison suspending all but 20 and four years probation. On March 3, 2007 in a house on the 700 block of N. Carey Street, Summerville assaulted Artesha Moses, 19, his girlfriend and the mother of his two-year old son. On March 27, 2007 Summerville fatally stabbed Moses at the same location, seven days after she sought a restraining order. Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Phelps prosecuted this case.

As expected, the four alleged assailants of Zach Sowers pled not guilty today.

July 18

An unidentified 29-year-old man was killed shortly after 11 p.m. in the 6100 block of Fortview Way in O'Donnell Heights.

The City Paper covers this week's murders and has updates:

• Christine Richardson, 15


• Clayborn Johnson, 59


• Ashley Bellosi, 23


• an unidentified man in an alley in the 200 block of Herring Court near Fells Point


• Jerry Crosby, 24


• Yemel McMillian, 20


• an unidentified man shot several times in the 1800 block of North Gay Street


• Wayne White, 24


• Maurice White, 22


• Earl Williams, 26

Blotter: Two teenage boys and a girl were shot in the chest, a man was slashed in the chest, plenty of break-ins.
(The Sun has a new look, but the Blotter is still in progress!)

A convicted cat stomper has been freed after being sexually abused in jail.

“It reminded me to buy Mace again,” said Katherine Kunkel of Burtonsville of the Columbia mall stalking/fondling incident.

More on the Cummings/PJ request for $90 million for U.S. Marshals to protect witnesses (the current Baltimore City witness assistence program consists of two people, I believe).
Like the new "comments"!

O'Malley is endorsing Stephanie for City Council President.

O'Malley's endorsement of Stephanie Rawlings-Blake...	... makes me more likely to vote for her ... makes me less likely to vote for her ... doesn't matter because I would never vote for that bitch reminds me of why I fell in love with her in the first place
	Current Results

Today a city jury convicted Myron Merrill Gladney, 20, of the 1600 block of Shady Side Road, of attempted first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and witness intimidation. The jury deliberated approximately 1:40 following one day of testimony. Judge John C. Themelis scheduled sentencing for September 5, 2007 and Gladney faces a possible maximum prison term of life plus 25 years. Details...

Evidence introduced at trial proved that Gladney approached Stephen Arrington as he waited for a bus in the 3400 block of The Alameda on April 6, 2005 and told him not to come to court. Arrington was scheduled to testify against Gladney’s brother in a homicide trial the next day. Myron Gladney left the area then returned a few minutes later with a handgun and chased Arrington across The Alameda where he eventually shot him in the back.

Arrington eventually did testify in Anthony Gladney’s murder trial and Anthony Gladney was acquitted of murder by a city jury July 20, 2005. Arrington also testified this week and positively identified Myron Gladney as the man who shot him.

Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Phelps said calling this case “witness intimidation does not adequately describe the horrific and brazen nature of what Gladney did to the victim in this case.”

Congressman Elijah Cummings plans to ask Congress for $90 million to help the city fight witness intimidation, he recently met with Alberto Gonzales to talk about the issue.

July 17

A man was shot to death last night in the 3400 block of St. Ambrose Ave. in the NW (#181).

More witness intimidation: Myron Gladney, brother of murder suspect Anthony Gladney, is accused of shooting a witness while he waited for a bus on The Alameda.

With four suspects expected to plead not guilty to attempted murder tomorrow, Zach Sowers remains in a coma. Family and friends have organized a "Neighbors Night Out Against Crime" in various bars for August 5 to help raise money for Sowers' medical bills.

Kevin "Chopper" Barnes, former star of the MTV reality show "Making the Band 2" pleaded guilty to robbing a couple with a BB gun six years ago when he was 16. Now a judge has issued a bench warrant for his arrest for failing to meet with his probation officer.

Clothing confiscated from a police officer accused of sexually assaulting a teenager at a precinct house has gone missing from the police department's evidence control unit.

History corner: Baltimore's most murderous year was 1993during the Schmoke Years, when, with a population of about 724,000, 353 people were killed. As the body count piles up for 2007, Dixon blames the judiciary, and Judge Glynn blames The People: "If the citizens want to know what the problem is, I suggest they look at themselves. And, of course, the politicians are no better than citizens. But the heart of this problem lies with the citizens of Baltimore. They commit the crimes. They don't testify against the criminals. And they don't vote to convict the guilty."

The City Council race is "neck-and-neck" between the two 'legacy' candidates.

Tune in...

.... I'll be on the Marc Steiner show on 88.1 FM at noon tomorrow.

July 16

It was, they say, one of the deadliest weekends of the year, with five murders:

• Earl Thomas Williams, 26, lying in the middle of the street in the 2100 block of Koko Lane, in West Baltimore's Panway/Braddish Avenue neighborhood;


• Maurice G. White, 22, and Wayne G. White, 24, who were not related, killed in the 5700 block of Radecke Ave. in the NE;


• An UnID'd 24-year-old man, shot in the 1800 block of N. Gay St.;


• and Yemel McMillian, 20, was shot several times in the 2800 block of Boarman Ave. in Northwest Baltimore

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Michael Martin, 28, of the 200 block of Allwood Road and Robert Speake, 19, of the 4900 block of Brookwood Road for first-degree murder and other charges. Court documents allege Michael Martin and Robert Speake are the suspects responsible for an incident on June 20, 2007. The body of Phillip Calvin Airey Jr. was found in a burning car on Route 295 in Linthicum. Airey had been beaten and stabbed before the car was set on fire. An arraignment is scheduled for August 17, 2007 before Judge John M. Glynn.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Maurice Crosby, 19, of the 5200 block of Ready Avenue and Erica Ammenhauser, 21, of the 200 block of Durham Street for first-degree murder and other charges. Court document allege that Maurice Crosby and Erica Ammenhauser was responsible for a stabbing incident on June 10, 2007 in the unit block of S. Chapel Street. Michael Simms, 19, was involved in an altercation with the two individuals when he was stabbed. He died later at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

A relative of a female witness to the Christine Richardson murder tells the Examiner that neighbors have driven her out of the city with violent threats.

PG County had their second-deadliest weekend this year, with three murders in six hours.

Montgomery County also had a violent weekend, with a man shot in Rockville and another guy stabbed in his Silver Spring condo.

City Solicitor George A. Nilson said Marcus Brown's sweetheart pension deal was "within both the letter and the spirit" of the law.

What the?!! "Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon holds a formidable lead over her rivals in this year's Democratic primary campaign, even though nearly half the voters surveyed believe the city is on the wrong track."

Near Elkton, Maryland's second patricide in a week: Eugene Pritchard Junior, 30, was arrested after his van crashed into a tree, with Eugene senior, 69, murdered inside (?).

In the county, a man was stabbed in the stomach at Delli's Bar in the Golden Ring area.

WBAL and Fox alarmed early-morning viewers with a "loud beep" and fake Amber alert.

July 15

Pollsters: Baltimoreans are "obsessed" with crime.