December 11

A man was shot to death last night on the 6100 block of Boston St.

Remember the "Sweet 16" murder? The trial is on now, and the most recent news is that prosecutors are having a hard time placing the gun in the suspect's hand-- in spite of a room full of partygoers.

The family of Glen Stewart, 17, whose burning body was found in a Baltimore County park, is appealing to the public for leads.

Davon Pearson was found guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence in the killing of Howard Jones, 36, August 3 of last year.

Joshua Kahn Leslie, 31, charged in a warrant with attempted murder in a shooting June 25 on a street in O'Donnell Heights, was arrested at a homeless shelter in Griffin, Ga., "A district police officer was on foot patrol near the Northwood Shopping Center about 9:25 a.m. yesterday when he was approached by three young males, one of whom had been shot in lower back."

Nearly three years after prosecutors dropped attempted-murder charges against Antonio R. Jackson, accused of bringing a gun to Randallstown High School used in the shootings that left one student paralyzed and three others injured, authorities have found Ronald P. Johnson Jr., the witness that prosecutors said they need to bring the suspect to trial. (And Johnson looks way to happy about it!)

Meanwhile, city middle- and high-school principals are being given the option to have metal detectors installed.

The "boys" who poured lye on a slide and injured a toddler were found 'delinquent.' (is biology to blame?)

An gimme someadem crullers! County police are looking for a suspect with a receding hairline, right, who robbed an Essex Dunkin Donuts-- twice

Ramos Gets Plea Deal

Forty years for Trayvon Ramos, who pleaded guilty to beating Zach Sowers into a coma.

Says the SA's office:

Prosecutors reviewed the evidence in the case that included one fingerprint from Ramos on a car near the crime scene and testimony from a neighbor, who would have testified that, from his apartment window, could not positively identify, he observed a large person using a punching motion. Jeter and Price remained in a parked car around the block from the crime scene and Martin accompanied Ramos, but did not inflict any of the kicks and punches.

In accepting the plea today, Judge Themelis noted that there is a difference between a judge’s and jury’s interpretation of willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted first degree murder. The State proceeded with this plea taking into account the best interest of public safety and after reviewing the evidence and witness statements against the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt required in court.

Sowers' family members are "disgusted" and "in despair."

WBAL reports that during a plea agreement bench conference, Judge John Themelis said, "How am I going to justify this to the victim's wife?" and Ramos' attorney replied, "Nothing you say to this lady is going to make a difference."

MTA: No Video of Beating

A 16-year-old boy was shot this morning in the 4200 block of Nicholas Avenue near Belair Road, he's in critical condition.

MTA source: There is no video of last week's bus beating.

Jury selection begins this morning for Trayvon Ramos, the fourth suspect charged in the near-fatal beating of Zach Sowers.

In the county, three people were stabbed at Lecompte's restaurant at 4015 Annapolis Road and one has died. Suspects are in custody.

"Proposal to Let Noncitizens Join Md. Police Under Review"

Gird your downspouts! Metal thievery is more than a local annoyance, it's an international trend as base-metal prices soar.

The Supreme Court has ruled that judges may impose shorter prison terms for crack cocaine crimes, enhancing judicial discretion.

The Blotter has your robberies and burglaries.

Ideas this town needs: community urinalysis, cold-case playing cards, bulletproof backpacks.

Khan: Save My Torture Tapes

Owings Mills High grad Majid Khan has asked for a court order barring the government from destroying evidence of his treatment whilst he was held in a secret CIA prison.

December 8

A 15-year-old girl was shot on Rutland Avenue in East Baltimore last night.

According to Friday's plea deal, if Eric Price, Arthur Jeter and Wilburt Martin, three of Zach Sowers' admitted attackers, testify against the fourth assailant, Trayvon Ramos, or if Ramos accepts a plea agreement, their sentences will be eight years, and they will not be charged with murder should Sowers die as a result of the attack.
Arthur Jeter and Wilburt Martin also pleaded guilty yesterday to another robbery two days after the Sowers attack, and Price pleaded guilty to stealing a woman's purse a day after.

Another version of events in the bus attack: Britny (yes Britny) Carter, one of the students charged, says that the incident began when students made fun of Kreager's black eye.
QTD from Britny's mom: "Britny is not a racial person."
Meanwhile, the SA's office has not ruled out requesting that a judge charge the attackers as adults. Fox45 reports that the charges would have to be upgraded to attempted murder for that to happen. Kreager, who the Sun reports was homeless, is now in the city witness protection program.

Area Methodists paid homage to the city's homicide victims yesterday.

More on crazy Mary Gates, the Carroll County woman who tried to hire someone to kill her husband and stepson.

Alleged PsDJ: William Leslie Harrison, 62, of Bel Air, who is being held on a $1 million bond on charges of sexually abusing a 14-year-old who worked for him, "on as many as 200 occasions;" "Uncle Don" of Frederick; and William Edward Wray of Cresaptown, who got 50 years.

Who will replace Judge Joe Murphy as the chief of the Court of Special Appeals, the most bad-azz judge in MD? UB prof Byron Warnken reportedly predicts James R. Eyler.

Three Plead Guilty for Attack on Zach Sowers

At a hearing today and immediately before their trials were scheduled to begin, Wilburt Martin, 19, of the 3900 block of Claremont St., Arthur Jeter, 18, of the 3700 block of E. Pratt St. and Eric Price, 17, of the 3700 block of Claremont St. pleaded guilty to robbery deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery. The attempted-murder trial of Trayvon Ramos, 16, of the unit block of N. Decker St. is scheduled to begin 9:30 a.m. Monday, December 10, 2007 before Judge John C. Themelis.

Judge Themelis told the defendants they face a maximum prison term of 70 years in prison if they fail to complete the terms of their plea agreement, including testifying against Ramos. If they abide by the terms of the agreement they face a 30-year-suspend-all-but-15-year prison term.

Ramos is charged with attempted first-degree murder, robbery and various other counts for the alleged robbery and beating of Zach Sowers on June 2, 2007. According to reports, Price and Ramos carried out the beating while Jeter and Martin waited in the car.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Sites and Angela Worthy will prosecute this case.

Life + 3 for Murder of 16-Year-Old Ronny Martin

At a hearing today, Judge John C. Themelis sentenced Anthony Dickson, 21, of the 2700 block of Yarnell Road to life in prison plus three years for first-degree murder and a handgun count. A Baltimore City jury convicted Dickson October 12, 2007. Details from the SA's office:

On January 1, 2006 at approximately 9:30 p.m. police respond[ed] to the 2600 block of Marbourne Avenue for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival police [found] the body of Ronny Martin, 16, in the rear seat of a parked car. Police recover[ed] shotgun casings at the crime scene and the Office of the Medical Examiner later rules the cause of death as a shotgun wound to the head. A witness identifie[d] Dickson as the shooter and further investigation lead police to execute a search and seizure warrant the next day at an address on Edmonson Avenue where they recover[ed] a shotgun.

A co-defendant in this case, Michael McFadden, was convicted by a city jury August 2, 2007 of second degree murder and concealing a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 33 years in prison.

Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia Banks of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

13 Years for Murder of Shaheed Boyd

At a hearing yesterday, Paul Barton, 26, of the 3200 block of Normount Ave. pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Pamela White sentenced Barton to 30 years in prison, with all but 13 years suspended for the murder count, and a concurrent 20 years in prison, all but 13 years suspended, for the handgun count. The first five years are to be served without the possibility of parole. Details:

On April 29, 2006, Shaheed Boyd, of the 3100 block of Westmont Court, was shot one time and died as a result of his injuries. Witnesses were located who indicated that Paul Barton approached the victim and without provocation, shot the victim and then fled in the victim’s rental car. Assistant State’s Attorney Diana Smith of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day

Jury selection is set to begin at 2 p.m. this afternoon in 236 Mitchell Courthouse West for Eric Price, Trayvon Ramos, Arthur Jeter and Wilburt Martin, the suspects who allegedly beat Zach Sowers into a coma.

In an unusual move, the Feds will seek the death penalty against Harry Burton, 28, of the Latrobe gang of East Baltimore. Burton is charged in the murder of Maurice "Smokey" Ireland, the attempted murder of Gary Creek on January 27, 2003 the murder of Michael "Mike-Mike" Jones on May 19, 2003 and in the death Valencia Jones on June 20, 2003.

Broadwater summarizes November's 17 homicides, and notes that four of the killers would have been in jail but for suspended sentences or “good time” credits in prison.

Bus-attack victim Sarah Kreager was interviewed by Fox's Karen Parks. (Unfortunately the audio is cut off in the last few seconds)
Transit police support Kreager's claim that the attack was unprovoked, and police say that at the time the incident reports were taken, no witness reported any spitting or knife being pulled. The MTA spokesman says that there's surveillance video of the rolling hellhole, and that they are investigating "the incident" as a racially motivated hate crime.

In other teenager news, a 41-year-old woman was pelted with snowballs and robbed near Hopkins Hospital, and six more violent street robberies in the Blotter.

QTD: "Crime is like gymnastics. It really is a young person’s sport. If you incapacitate a 15- or 16-year-old for a year, you can prevent more crime than if you imprison a 22-year-old for life." -- FL State Attorney Harry Shorstein

In the county, Lisa A. Dieter was granted conditional release yesterday from a psychiatric hospital. In 2002 she told her daughter, nine-year-old Alana Anne Dieter, to take off her seatbelt, then crashed their car into a tree. The daughter died, Dieter pleaded guilty but was found not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

Five- and 25-Year Sentences in Robbery/Murder

At a hearing today just before their scheduled murder trials were scheduled to begin, Kendrick McCain, 16, of the 700 block of McCabe Avenue and Lataye Shyreise King, 17, of the 1900 block of E. 31st Street both pled guilty for their involvement in the murder of Nicole Edmonds, 17. King pled guilty to first-degree murder, and Judge Martin P. Welch sentenced her to life in prison suspending all but 25 years. McCain pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and second-degree assault, and, under terms of the plea agreement announced in open court, will be sentenced to 15 years in prison, with all but a cap of five years suspended. Judge Welch scheduled McCain’s sentencing for February 4, 2008. Details:

On November 7, 2006 McCain and King approached Nicole Edmonds and her brother as they exited the MTA Light Rail Train at the W. North Avenue station. Nicole’s brother was thrown to the ground and a jacket was pulled over his head and that as Nicole ran away, she was chased, caught and fatally stabbed by King. Assistant State’s Attorney Paul O’Connor prosecuted the case.

Statement from Mayor Sheila Dixon about Attack on City Bus

“As we get more information from the Baltimore City Public School System and the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) about Tuesday’s incident on the Number 27 bus, I am extremely concerned. This incident was deplorable. I will not tolerate intimidation or violence anywhere in our city.

I am committed to working with our neighboring jurisdictions and the State Department of Juvenile Services to decrease the incidents of juvenile crime and violence. Reducing juvenile crime is essential to improved public safety in Baltimore City.

I have offered the MTA whatever assistance they need to investigate this incident, and to do our part to ensure the public transportation system is safe for everyone.”

- Mayor Sheila Dixon

# # #

December 6

Three men were stabbed on the Morgan State campus this morning.

"Baltimore will no longer ask certain potential employees whether they have been convicted of a crime, under a policy change approved yesterday intended to prevent discrimination against former convicts."

Bus beating update:
The perps were released yesterday and are now back on the street. Super.
The mother of one of the suspects says the victim, shown left, provoked the attack by spitting in the face of one of the girls.
Reports are still conflicting as to where the attack took place, with the Sun reporting E 33rd in Waverly and the Examiner and other sources reporting W 33rd in Hampden.
The E also reports the race of the suspects.
And, for what it's worth, as "Marc" points out, the victim is "no stranger to the legal system," with a rap sheet that includes arrests for forging prescriptions, domestic violence and assault.

Mayor Dixon says the NAACP's Doc Cheatham is "heroic" for privately apologizing to 14 firefighters about the whole fake-noose business.
(So far no comment on the bus driver who intervened and possibly saved the life of the victim above.)

The BK robbery suspect shot by police has died.

Blotter: burglary, robbery, theft, burglary, robbery, theft.

The Bloods and Crips are hot in the 'burbs.

Teenagers Attack Woman on Bus

WtFingF? Nine evil 14 and 15-year-olds from Robert Poole Middle School "attacked and seriously injured [26-year-old Sarah Kreager] after they tried to prevent her from finding a seat on the bus." After beating her on the bus, they dragged her off the bus at 33rd street* and beat her some more.
The perps were all arrested and charged as juveniles, and "It was not immediately clear today if the suspects remained in custody at the juvenile detention center or if they had been released to their parents."
*Fox reports they dragged her off at W. 33rd and Chestnut Streets in Hampden

An 18-year-old and a 15-year-old boy were each stabbed about 9:30 p.m. Monday during "an incident" in the 1300 block of Myrtle Ave.

The Ink reports on murder victims from November 26 to December 2: Michael Crowder, Quentin Reddick-Flowers, Tywonde Jones, Eugenio Harrison, and Lonnie Foote, a man beaten by a tree branch October 27.

An officer shot a man suspected of robbing the Burger King on Eastern Avenue.

The Sun details how Baltimore city, with the help of AAC and the county, managed to lose crazed Metro-stop rapist Eugene Waller.

Counties
In Carroll Co, one Mary Gates was arrested for trying to hire a state trooper to kill her husband

In HarfCo officers are looking for a suspect who fired a shot in a gas station.

In MoCo, Ruth Sendejas, 18, was arrested for killing her two-year-old son Giovanni. She told police they'd been the victims of a home invasion.

The county driving instructor featured in 'Borat' is suing Twentieth Century Fox and Sacha Baron Cohen.

December 4

Johnathan R. Cornish, 16, will stand trial in the county as an adult, accused of being the triggerman in the killing of witness Carl Stanley Lackl Jr.. Defense attorney Warren Brown says the case is going federal.

Donald Maynard, the firefighter who "discovered" a "noose," was dismissed for not completing his EMT training. He will not face criminal charges.

Charles Carroll was acquitted but he's still in jail on charges of violating his probation, and his family is furious.
Update: The violation of probation hearing of Charles Carroll, scheduled for today, was postponed at the request of the State until January 16, 2008.

A seventh suspect in the "Edgewood melee" has turned himself in.

Walter Jones of Essex, a former assistant manager at Bank of America, has been arrested and charged with money laundering in a tax scam that may have cheated the government out of more than $44 million.

What the?! Art Bracke, 61, allegedly tried to burn down his New Jersey home with his son inside, got drunk, drove to Harford County with two unregistered handguns, was involved in a head-on collision and was arrested. In Nj he's being charged with arson and first-degree attempted murder.

Alleged PDJ: David Millea Shanklin, right, of the 6500-block of Golden Ring Road in White Marsh, has been charged with the sexual abuse of two foster children in his care between January 1995 and August 2007. County police are asking any other victims to contact the Baltimore County Police Department’s Family Crimes Unit at 410-853-3650.

December 3

Saturday night, two people were arrested after Baltimore police said they tried to run over officers.

Three shootings last Saturday: a 17-year-old boy walking in an alley in the Eastern, a 30-year-old man "walking in the 200 block of Dallas Court abut 2 p.m.," and a 20-year-old woman sitting in her living room.

Looking on the sunny side: "North Branch Correctional Institution inmates spend up to 23 hours a day in their cells, but activities such as basketball are available."

Weekend

A man was reportedly shot to death tonight at Windsor Mill Road and Forest Park Avenue near Kernan Hospital.

Quentin Reddicks-Flowers was beaten with a tree branch Tuesday and later died, police have arrested 17-year-old Jermaine Cornish.

Gor called it! Turns out that the "noose" "found" at the fire station was put there by the firefighter who "found" it, one Donald Maynard, who's black. But the NAACP's "Doc" Cheatham doesn't blame Maynard for his actions, because the poor guy is a victim! "... evidently things have reached a stage that even an African-American does an injustice to himself and his own people as a result of a negative culture in that department."

More on the killing of Ty'wonde M. Jones, 13. Wonder why his seemingly able-bodied and available parents couldn't care for him?

Probation violations can lead to jail time even after acquittal-- and these three prosecutors look positively gleeful about it

A 17-year-old boy was stabbed outside Landsdowne Shopping Center Friday in the county.

Dixon on the state investigation of city contracts: "I don't know what it is [or] why they're doing this witch hunt."

Dixon on the other fire department scandal: there's "strong evidence" that firefighters cheated on a promotional exam-- by looking at the test questions from 2001. (Isn't looking at past exam questions how you're supposed to study?)

On Friday the Court of Appeals began hearing the disciplinary case against tart-tongued County Circuit Judge Bruce Lamdin.

"A year and a half after Baltimore-based A&B Check Cashing collapsed, $17 million is still missing, one owner is dead and the other one isn't talking."

A a woman was assaulted and robbed on Taplow Rd. in Homeland; an 83-year-old woman bringing in her trash can was robbed in Essex; two robberies at gunpoint near the Hopkins Homewood campus, also a locksmith on Charles Street and woman on Woodbourne Ave robbed at gunpoint.

Did you know? The Johns Hopkins News-letter reports that "Councilwoman fraternities say neighborhood relations tense," but an ordinance that went into effect last month that "will allow police to 'padlock' or effectively shut down houses for a year that have received more than two complaints over six month period."

Thirteen-Year-Old Killed

13-year-old Tywonde Jones was stabbed to death last night in the 5000 block of Cordelia Avenue, and about two hours later a man was shot in the chest on a street nearby.

"City police statistics for this year in Baltimore indicate a 16 percent increase in forcible rape, and a 25 percent increase in other sex offenses."

... so Bealefeld says that overall crime in the city is down 7 percent. But homicides, shootings and sex offenses are up. So what's down?

"Youths tried as adults and housed in adult prisons commit more crimes, often more violent ones, than minors who remain in the juvenile justice system, a panel of experts appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report."

Marco Smoot Indicted for Murder

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Marco Smoot, 28, of the 300 block of S. Pulaski Street for first-degree murder and other charges. Court documents allege on August 28, 2007, Marco Smoot was identified as the person responsible for a shooting incident in the 400 block of S. Payson Street. Lacy Edward Hazel, 28, was found in the rear yard of a vacant building in the unit block suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He died later the same day from his injuries. An arraignment is scheduled for December 26, 2007 before Judge Albert J. Matricciani, Room 230, Courthouse East.

November 29

A shooting at the Clifton Avenue Rent-A-Center was caught on tape, above.

An unidentified 26-year-old man was shot twice in the back and once in the left shoulder last night while riding a bicycle across Orleans Street in East Baltimore.

Another robbery that used gasoline as a threat.

Homicides are down by 50 percent in Cherry Hill.

In HarfCo, police have arrested the 31-year-old mother of a 16-year-old girl who is charged with attempted murder as part of the 50-person brawl in Edgewood that paralyzed a man. Said the mom, "she's in jail for something she didn't do ... There was a million people there ... How could they pinpoint four little girls? The police needed somebody, so they grabbed them." Sob! Fox reports that the "four little girls" (who are being charged as adults) were in a gang called "WMD"-- "World's Most Dangerous."
WJZ has video of the mom being hauled off to jail, and grandma working her potty mouth.
... on Fox last night a "guy on the street" commented that Edgewood has had problems since people were relocated there from the Murphy Homes (the West Side public housing project imploded in 1999).

In the county, jurors heard a jailhouse tape of Michael B. Martin, the alleged perv who allegedly wanted to kill a prosecutor, a developer and an old lady.

The UTech scandal isn't over yet! The state has raided the offices of Doracon Contracting, the company that subcontracted Dixon's sister's company to do city work.

Five Years for Assault Caught on Tape

At a hearing today, Bernard Ramseur, 17, of the 1300 block of N. Gilmore St. pleaded guilty to armed robbery and third degree sex offense. Judge Althea Handy sentenced Ramseur to 20 years suspend all but five years for the robbery and a concurrent prison term of 10 years suspend all but five years for the sex offense. Judge Handy also ordered that Ramseur have no contact with the victim, attend sex-offense counseling, register as a sex offender, and continue his education. Details from the SA's office:

The State presented the following facts as part of the plea agreement in open court. On June 14, 2007 at approximately 12:45 a.m. police responded to an armed robbery in progress in the 600 block of N. Paca St. A camera operator at the CitiWatch Crime center observed a suspect, later identified as Bernard Ramseur, had backed a victim against a corner wall. The operator immediately directed police officers to the scene, leading to his apprehension and arrest. Assistant State’s Attorney John Park of the Sex Offense Division prosecuted this case.

November 28

Police don't know why one guy stabbed another guy at about 2 o'clock this morning at Roland and 36th streets in Hampden.

The death of 2-year-old Bryanna Harris of the 1700 block of E. 25th St on June 5 is being investigated as a homicide, the Ink reports that her death was caused by combination of methadone intoxication and blunt-force trauma.

Also ruled a homicide was the death of Martay Powell, 22, shot in the head following a struggle with his girlfriend. The Ink also adds Robert Gray, "a 36-year-old African-American man from Jacksonville, Fla., was found lying in the street in the 1000 block of Boyd Street near Hollins Market. He had been shot repeatedly in the head, back, legs, and butt. He died at Maryland Shock Trauma Center less than an hour later."

Loony homicidal pervert alert! [Michael "Martin, 46, of Lutherville, is charged with trying to hire an inmate in the Baltimore County jail to kill the prosecutor who handled a 2005 sex-abuse case against him, injure another prosecutor, break the knees of a police detective and set fire to the home of an elderly woman who had told people at Martin's church about the abuse case."

Robbery, burglary and screwy formatting in the Blotter.

WTF?! "Bats, knives used in Harford melee involving up to 50 people"

WTF?! in in MoCo: "A former firefighter accused of fatally beating his girlfriend's ex-husband in 1993 and then setting the man's Montgomery County house on fire to cover up the crime pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter yesterday and was sentenced to no jail time beyond the seven months he served while awaiting trial." Defense attorneys called the prosecutors' plea offer "extraordinarily generous." No kidding!

About 160 tombstones were overturned at the B'nai Israel Cemetery on Southern Avenue.

Headline of the Day: "Residents Oppose Condemning Sagging Pants"

Web diversions: the site "Death by Booze" can help you determine how much hooch it'll take to souse yourself to death. (Thanks Vic)

Evening

From Zach Sowers' wife Anna:

"... as much as I've tried to raise awareness, meet with city officials and other advocacy groups - NOTHING has changed. I've called the mayor's community liaison to ask what exactly the Mayor's crime plan is in my district and was told the mayor wouldn't know that information and that I'd have to contact my police district - unacceptable answer. I've tried contacting the NAACP to how we can work together and after several months, still no meeting. I spoke to Pat Jessamy, Baltimore City States Attorney, asking what she plans to do differently since status quo isn't working; she gave me a runaround response. Thank goodness the prosecutors assigned to this case are diligently working to make sure that everything is done correctly. But pretty much everybody just wants to point fingers at everyone else."

Anna Sowers also reports that there's a new crime blog just for Southeast Baltimore, "South East Baltimore Crime Watch."

The Baltimore City Grand Jury has indicted Tyres Taylor, 23, of the 4700 block of Creekside Circle for first-degree murder, robbery deadly weapon and carjacking. Court documents allege on August 6, 2006, Tyres Taylor was identified as the person responsible for a shooting incident in the 4100 block of Rollins Avenue. Gregory Moore was found lying in the alley in the unit block suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Taylor was allegedly seen leaving the scene in a vehicle. An arraignment is scheduled for December 21, 2007 before Judge Albert J. Matricciani, Room 230, Courthouse East.

A reader from Medfield reports on some "considerate" car thieves:

Last night, some thieves stole a car parked right in front of my rowhouse, apparently leaving behind another car they'd stolen previously. They took my neighbor Joe's Dodge mini van. Joe is an elderly WWII vet and he has some difficulty walking. The thieves left the walker Joe had in the back seat of the van, on the grass next to where the van had been parked.

Headline of the Day: "Dead Cat Surrounded By Forks Found In Shoebox"

November 27

Shezis! "Police were seeking a man who robbed a Texaco station in the 2600 block of Gwynns Falls Parkway shortly before midnight Saturday after pouring gasoline on the attendant and threatening to ignite it."
As 'non points out, this is the same Texaco where 18-year-old Himank Karki was shot to death three months ago.

"Two people, one a teenage boy, were shot last night by a man who entered the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Recreation Center in the 2500 block of Seabury Road in Cherry Hill and opened fire as several youths played basketball, police said." Both victims are expected to survive.

The family of Gerard Mungo Jr., the seven-year-old arrested for sitting on a dirtbike, is suing the city for $40 million.

More on the horrid Pumphrey family quadruple-murder/suicide-- apparently the parents were engaged in an acrimonious custody dispute and, unshockingly, dad sounds like a real a-hole.

W. David Stoffregen, the construction executive who paid then-Maryland state Sen. Thomas L. Bromwell more than $190,000 for his influence, and later agreed to testify against him in a public corruption case, was sentenced in federal court yesterday to 6 1/2 years in prison.

Luke Broadwater has a chat with future judge Rod J. Rosenstein.
QTD: "Mysterious suicides are often very strange."

ps. to Shayne-- the mom who egged on Megan Meier's suicide was id'd by the Smoking Gun as one Lori Drew. And look, the police report has her address, so you can mail her a dog turd!

November 26

Back to town...

A 33-year-old man was shot in the head this morning in the 2400 block of Presbury St. in West Baltimore.

Scary robberies in the Blotter, including a woman abducted with her four-year-old son, robberies of a teenager and some older people and one 27-year-old Daniel Sullivan arrested Saturday, nine months after he was accused of attempting to shoot his girlfriend during an argument.

Police arrested two men for firing shots at an officer in Lutherville.

Three people, a woman, an elderly man and a teenager, were wounded in unrelated shootings on Friday.

The sad tale of a girl who was allegedly assaulted in a middle-school math class by seven students while the teacher allegedly did nothing.

Yuck, a quadruple-murder/suicide in MoCo on Thanksgiving. And more coverage from the Sun's Tyeesha Dixon and James Drew.
"I thought he was very good to the children."

Elsewhere, Quiet Riot's Kevin DuBrow was found dead in a Vegas hotel room.
And Trent Lott is resigning, possibly due to a forthcoming rent-boy scandal.

November 21

Maryland correctional authorities are investigating the death Monday night of Baltimore City Detention Center inmate Xavier A. Tilghman, 21, as a homicide.

The Ink reports four murders from November 10 - 18 and names names: Carlos Smithson, John Morris, Kendrick Bowman and Herbert Lemon. Plus updates.

Police have arrested Makel Sheheed, 18, for shooting a woman November 14.

"Baltimore police are spreading 'misinformation' in an attempt to trick people out of filing false-arrest lawsuits, the Maryland ACLU said Tuesday."

Blotter: a man was shot during a robbery in the Southern, a guy was jumped by four people for his wallet on Eastern Avenue, and the 25th Street Subway was robbed by three guys, one with a semiautomatic handgun.

"The Baltimore fire and police departments are investigating an incident with apparent racial overtones that occurred early today at a fire station in which two paramedics said they found a threatening note and a piece of rope." The rope wasn't in a noose, but a knot, if you believe Gus instead of the local TV stations. Said the note, "we can't hang the cheaters but we can hang the failures." (Not without a noose you can't!)

No noose is good noose Whom do you believe-- was there a noose or knot? Gus at the Sun -- it was just a knotted rope Local TV stations-- it was a noose Current Results

November 20

Melvin Gilbert and Darron Goods were indicted for shooting witness John Dowery last Thanksgiving.
Here's the original story. Gilbert & Goods are allegedly members of the "Special" drug gang. (Was it hard to find spinning rims that fit the wheels on the short bus?)

Scandal! Last night Dixon suspended Anthony W. McCarthy, her communications director, "pending an investigation by the Baltimore County Police" regarding "inappropriate behavior." Please God, let it be gay bathroom sex!
UPDATE: JZ reports that County police spokesman Bill Toohey "said standard procedure in 'such cases' is to 'talk to the victim first and then, if necessary, to interview the subject.'" So someone was victimized by inappropriateness! Juicy!

The Post on the now-unraveling forensic trail that led to the conviction of county police sergeant James A. Kulbicki.

Nationwide, hate is haute, but Baltimore city isn't following the trend. Said NAACP president Jenkins Odoms, "Baltimore City is outrageous. It shows you how bad and how unprofessional that police department is.”
Here's a quality hate crime article from New York, and more on the increase in hate crimes from TDR.

Blotter: a woman stabbed her brother in the stomach, someone poured a bottle of gefilte fish in a Jewish family's mailbox, Charm City Cupcakes was burgled, an old guy was mugged by teenagers in Hampden, and more!

A federal jury rejected a former legal secretary’s claim that she was wrongfully fired from the Baltimore office of McGuireWoods LLP for taking time to care for her ailing mother.

Jail time for convicted poodle-slayer Celeste Rainone.

The Liz Taylor of Fraud!

James Adjei Kyem pleaded guilty in federal court today to marriage fraud, perjury and passport fraud related to his nine sham marriages.

Meet the Alleged Child Molester of the Day

David Christopher Cross, 30, shown right, charged with two counts of child abuse and two counts of a third-degree sex offense. Cross, who lives in the 100-block of Daycoach Circle in the County is accused of victimizing two children that he knew. One was a girl who was six years old when she was first victimized in 1998. The abuse continued for four years. The other victim, a nine-year-old girl, reported being abused once this summer. Police are looking for other victims.

November 19

At a hearing today David Robinson, 35, of the 4000 block of 34th St., pled guilty to attempted armed robbery and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge M. Brooke Murdock sentenced Robinson to 15 years in prison, the first five of which must be served without parole. Details:

On April 5, 2007 at 1:45AM at Fantasies Nightclub Robinson’s co-conspirators Alexander Reiff and Gregory Eaton allegedly entered the club armed with a 9 mm Ruger handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun, announced a robbery, and ordered approximately 20 patrons and employees to the ground. Eaton then discharged the shotgun into the ceiling. Two off-duty police officers removed their service weapons and shot Reiff and Eaton. Eaton succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to Shock Trauma. Reiff also was shot but survived his injuries as he was wearing a bullet proof vest. His trial is scheduled for January 28, 2008.

Robinson was outside the club in a getaway Ford pick-up truck that they had stolen in Hyattsville earlier that night. Robinson fled the club and the abandoned truck was found near a relative’s house in Glen Burnie.

At a hearing today, Judge John M. Prevas sentenced Mark Lee Johnson, 26, of the 2600 block of Quantico Avenue, to 50 years in prison following a guilty verdict of second-degree murder and handgun counts. Details:

A Baltimore City jury convicted Johnson September 28, 2007 of second degree murder, attempted second degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Prevas sentenced Johnson to 30 years for the second degree murder count, 20 years, consecutive, for the handgun count and a concurrent 20 year prison term for the attempted murder count.

On January 22, 2006 at approximately 3:30 PM in the 3300 block of West Belvedere Avenue, Johnson approached Antwoine Armstead, 21, and Andre Gibbs, 22 as they were getting into a parked car. Johnson walked to the passenger side of the car and shot Armstead multiple times. Gibbs ran from the car and Johnson shot at him as he ran across West Belvedere Avenue. Armstead suffered seven gunshot wounds and was taken to Sinai hospital where he died a short time later.

Assistant State’s Attorney Joshua Felsen of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

"Baltimore Ranks 12[th] On Dangerous Cities List"
Only 12th?!

Police have arrested Lewis K. Lucas for the murder of Lawrence D. Jones, 17.
"In 2003, Lucas pleaded guilty to attempted murder and illegal use of a handgun. His 20-year sentence was suspended, and he was placed on probation."

Thwap! Zap! "An hours-long standoff with a man in Southeast Baltimore ended this morning when police subdued him using a bean-bag gun and a Taser, city police said."

Blotter: A man was shot about 8:35 p.m. yesterday in the 1400 block of Pennsylvania Ave. and was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Police said the victim was not cooperating and that details were not available.
Also a Paca St. robbery, and two 17-year-old girls robbed and stabbed a classmate with a steak knife at the Owings Mills light rail station.

A Bealefeld interview:
"We can't [attack the drug problem] and give burglars and car thieves and robbers a pass."
"this really is ground zero for stop snitching."
"The state's attorney's office, this is where we want to devote our energy."

Olesker's holding a pity party for the Bromwells, and everyone's invited!

The City Council will soon vote on legalizing feral cat colonies.

Weekend

A man was shot to death Friday afternoon in the 3000 block of Rosiland Avenue.

The T.U. community is tense after someone phoned in to threaten "harmful action" on campus tomorrow. School officials note that "The nature of the threat calls into question its credibility."

NYT: Does the death penalty save lives? and if so, does it save more lives than hiring more cops would?

A man was stabbed at the Edge Sports Bar and Grill in Edgewood.

PDJ: William Henry Ransley III, age 60, of Finksburg, sentenced to five federal years for child porn. Ransley also had sex with the 14-year-old girl in the pictures; he met her on the Internet and had relations with her on an elementary-school playground. The related sex-offense charges were dropped to let the feds pursue their case.

TMI Alert! Pat Jessamy tells the Sun that red peep-toe pumps make her feel "sexy."
Fun fact: the Stuart Weitzman peep-toe was also worn by Nicollette Sheridan's character Edie Britt on Desperate Housewives, in an episode titled "Nice She Ain't."

Effed up in Fredneck:
A four-year-old boy was poisoned by his attention-seeking mom
and
a 20-year-old man, Jarrell Grey, died after being TASERed by cops. (FYI TASER is a brand name and an acronym)

November 16

Love it! Baltimore County sheriff’s deputies arrested 28 deadbeat parents.
Here's a link to the louts' gallery (thanks PP).

Former senator Thomas L. Bromwell got seven years in jail... and his wife got time too!

Blotter: Jamal Louis Randall, 18, was arrested for attempted murder.
And Shevon Green, 25, was busted for driving with 2,000 tabs of methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

Sentencing is scheduled today in Towson for tot-dragger Lazara Arellano De Hogue. UPDATE: She got 10 years.

HoCo police are urging residents to lock doors and windows and be on the lookout for a shoeless, Tasering home-invader/rapist.

Insomniac edition

An officer was shot in the leg and a suspect was shot dead tonight on E. Monument Street (police-involved shooting #32).

It's official: RJR has been nominated to the 4th circuit.

The family of slain 72-year-old Shirley Cooper filed a $14 million lawsuit against the Temple Gardens apartment complex, alleging that their lax security is to blame for letting her murderer in.

Murder suspect Brandon Wall: I meant to pistol-whip the victim, not shoot him

Dundalk chickenhawk Robert Layton got 25 years.

We can all sleep a little easier knowing that city police arrested an individual today whom they believe to be responsible for the copper downspout thefts in Homeland.
Scarier than pipe theft: electricity theft that can set your shit on fire

Not Baltimore, not a crime, but no doubt one of the most effed-up stories you will ever read (thanks JB).

November 15

Double-shooting this morning around 2:30 a.m. at the 7100 block of McLean Ave/Boulevard. One male, shot in the head, is dead. Another is critical with gunshots to the back. Police estimate 15 rounds fired.
Thanks galt

Police have warned Loch Raven residents about a gang of four robbers.

County police say that Tyrone Barnes, Jr. has been identified as the man fatally shot in the doorway of his home on Langs Road in Essex last night.

Former Howard County teacher Kirsten Ann Kinley was sentenced today in Circuit Court to serve 18 months in the county detention center for improper sexual conduct with a 15-year-old boy at her Columbia apartment more than two years ago.

Hours (well, minutes) of fun: take the "Fox News Anchor or Porn Star?" quiz! (Thanks Vic)

Night Update

Serial robber Brandon Wall, 21, has confessed to murdering Lt. Perry Brooks last May.

"Last month, Baltimore City's State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy surprised a meeting of law-enforcement professionals with the claim that unscrupulous bail bondsmen seized homes put up as collateral to get their loved ones out of jail. To date, however, the City's State's Attorney's office has supplied no evidence of people losing their homes."

Lots of robberies in the Blotter.

A missing Rhode Island mother of two with postpartum depression was found living in a less stressful environment: a downtown homeless shanty.

November 14

Another witness killed: "Carlos Smithson, 22, who was killed on Grogan Avenue at 6:28 p.m. [last Sunday], was expected to take the stand today against Vincent Berry, 19."

"Former Baltimore City Police Commissioner Kevin P. Clark and two of his former division chiefs have filed an multi-million dollar lawsuit against Gov. Martin O’Malley, former City Solicitor Ralph S. Tyler III and four police officers, claiming violations of their constitutional and civil rights in connection with the group’s firing in November 2004."

Two "delayed" deaths are being counted towards this year's homicide tally: Trent Earll, shot a decade ago, and Frederick Davis, beaten in 1999.
(Thanks PP)

The Ink reports the murders of Terrence Regan and Leonard Hunt.

In the County, a member of the Bloods pled guilty to a murder he committed at the tender age of 14.

A federal judge in Baltimore has unsealed the financial records of the Westboro Baptist Church. Meanwhile, the church is, of course, appealing the $10.9 million judgment.

WTF? "[Mary Pat] Clarke, who represents the 14th District, said several [robbery] victims were intoxicated at the time and suggested that they were setting themselves up to be victimized. Clarke said residents should lobby for a midnight bar curfew."
... she went on to add that several rape victims in her district had been wearing short skirts, some gay-bashing victims had been queening around, and some robbed banks had advertised themselves as being in the business of handling money!

County police are asking the public's help to identify a burglary suspect who stole lottery tickets and cigarettes from the Safeway on Baltimore National Pike.

Controversy about the murder of Calen Dirrubo continues in the February 27 comments section.

Copper Downspout Theft Alert.

From a Homeland neighborhood alert:

Over the weekend, the following areas had copper downspouts stolen:

5100 block of St. Albans Way

5200 block of St. Albans Way

300 block of Thornhill Road

5300 block of Springlake Way

300 block of Taplow Road

THESE ARE IN ADDITION TO THE THEFTS LAST WEEK (5200 block of Tilbury, 200 block of Goodale Road and 200 block of Tunbridge Road)

Ms. Dixon, why isn’t the city shutting down the scrap dealers who are accepting stolen copper???

... or all the other stolen metal?

November 13

Private school teacher Charles Carroll was acquitted of sexually abusing a student in August and now city prosecutors have dropped the remaining two cases against him.

State police are looking for an armed, dangerous escaped prisoner, 39-year-old Kamarra Muhammad, left. He was last seen barefoot in a white hospital gown and speaks in a West African accent. UPDATE: never mind, he's been captured!

Sunday's murder victim was identified as Carlos Eugene Smithson, age 22, of the 400 block of N. Robinson Street.

Antonio Brown, the little boy taken from the hospital by his 34-year-old (?!) grandmother was found yesterday in the 1800 block of Guilford Ave.

Fill in the blank: "Parents blamed _______ Monday for failing to prevent a fight that erupted after a football game between Baltimore City College and Polytechnic Institute and ended with the arrests of 28 girls" on Saturday.

Police cadet accused of robbing McD's: it wasn't me

Suckers! The Sun bit on an old story that the Catholic church has been touting since 2004-- the John Jay report that priests are no more likely to be child molesters than your average guy. That may be true, but on the other hand, not many employers spent decades helping perverts cover up their crimes and moving them into new positions with fresh victims, either!

November 12

A man was shot to death in a moving car that crashed at the intersection of N. Carey and Baker Streets on the west side.

The murder this weekend was on Grogan Avenue on the East side, still no details... other than that the shots disrupted a vigil for 16-year-old Shawn Tiller, murdered a year before.

Abdul Kareem Alvez-el, 23, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for shooting Ricky Medley, 19, and Martrell Brown, 16, as they sat in Medley's car.

Last Thursday, a man shot at police officers-- and lived.

Some happier news-- The county has opened an off-leash dog park!

Weekend

Fox reports that police are investigating a murder in the 2600 Block of East Grogan Street (which doesn't exist).

City police are looking for Belinda Brown, a 34-year-old grandmother (?!) who kidnapped 2-year-old Antonio Brown from Hopkins Hospital.

The price of cocaine has gone up 44 percent and methamphetamine is up 58 percent since January due to an increase in enforcement here and abroad.

MD State police documents: Hispanic men = macho, knife-toting drunks

The Department of Corrections is fighting rumors that murdered Officer David McGuinn had been the target of death threats and had been transferred away from the housing units as a result, but was then returned to the housing-unit assignment, where he was killed.
("Great moogly ooglies"?!)

What the ... ?! Crazed Annapolitan Shannika Douglas allegedly spit at children, chased them with a kitchen knife and then tried to run them down with her car (cue cuckoo-clock sound effect).

The man found in a house in the NW Thursday was identified as Leonard Hunt, 44, of Lumberton, North Carolina.

The family and friends of Ralph "Redz" Simmont, shot October 29 by an officer "took to the streets" this weekend.

Officials: "H. West" wrote as many as 10,000 fake tickets.

A prison guard in Cumberland has pleaded guilty to buttlegging.

PJD: Kent Eugene Turnbaugh, 55, who pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to distributing child pornography and attempting to "entice a minor [a 13-year-old girl from Alabama] to engage in sexual activity."

Post: "Montgomery County appears poised to join the ranks of 13 states and the District this week by passing broad protections for transgender individuals in housing and employment. But when the County Council takes up the issue for a vote Tuesday it will not include a controversial reference to their use of public restrooms, something opponents equated to indecent exposure."
(Wow, they make units that can pee in a urinal now?!)

RIP Norman Mailer! If you haven't read "The Executioner's Song," (the one about Gary Gilmore) you really should.
Update: this bio is better

Sentences

Johnny James Smith pleaded guilty today to first-degree murder and use of a handgun in a crime of violence before the Honorable Albert J. Matricciani. Smith was sentenced to life suspend all but 30 years with five years supervised probation on count 1 and 20 years, the first five years to be served without the possibility of parole on count 2. Details from the SA's office:

On April 2, 2007, at 2:16 AM, the victim, Darrell Smith, age 21, was found lying face down in the 3600 block of St. Margaret Street, with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and upper torso. The victim was transported to the hospital and died at 2:54 AM. An autopsy was performed and the victim’s death was ruled a homicide. The investigation revealed that the victim and his girlfriend’s former boyfriend were having a continuing argument when they entered 3720 St. Margaret Street. The girlfriend of the defendant lived at 3720 St. Margaret Street. When the defendant found out the victim was in the house, he went to the location and confronted the victim as the two walked out of the residence. The defendant pulled out a revolver and shot the victim multiple times at close range.

Jesse “James” Lynch, also known as James Langley, appeared before Judge Sylvester B. Cox and pleaded guilty to retaliation against a witness and was sentenced to 5 years. He was also found to be in violation of his probation and sentenced to 21 years, suspended, and placed on four years supervised probation upon his release from incarceration on the plea and sentence. Details from the SA's office:

Lynch was convicted of 2nd degree murder and handgun violations and was sentenced on February 9, 2006 to 25 years suspend all but 4 years and placed on 4 years probation upon his release. He was released from prison on January 25, 2007. Shortly after his release, on March 28, 2007 he was charged with riding a dirt bike on North Wolfe Street in the wrong direction, doing wheelies, and then fleeing and eluding when the police officer tried to stop him.

On September 20, 2007 Jesse Lynch went to trial on those charges. During a break in the trial Jesse Lynch was walking by the police officer who charged him and threatened him by stating he would get him back. A Baltimore City jury later acquitted the defendant.

While leaving the courthouse Lynch again saw and spoke to the charging officer and shouted to him, “I’ll get out in a week and I am going to shoot … you.” Based on these actions, the State’s Attorney’s Office filed a criminal information charging Jesse James Lynch with retaliation against a witness.

November 9

Horrifying blog post at AngerHangover: "... imagine my surprise when I read that I have been summoned to appear as a witness for the state in a jury trial for a man I’ve never even heard of." (Thanks AG)

Police are looking for 15-year-old Akir'e "Angel" Lane of Hamilton, right, who went missing after attending religious services in Hamilton on Sunday.

One bogus-parking-ticket-writing DOT employee, the mysterious "H. West" will be suspended today.

Blotter:
"A man was shot multiple times in the upper body shortly after 1 p.m. yesterday in the 800 block of Woodington Road and was admitted to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. His condition was not available. The victim was found lying in the street..."
A man in his early 20s was shot in the leg about 6:40 p.m. yesterday in the 500 block of Dolphin St.; Also, a 13-year-old boy was assaulted by "at least four young males," and in Parkville a man was shot in the head by a teenager trying to steal his Xbox.

Is dancing a crime? A teenage boy was arrested for doing the "Crip Walk."

Maryland has joined California's lawsuit against the EPA, claiming that the federal agency has failed to act in a reasonable length of time to force the auto industry to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

RJR has a new boss.

Double Shooting in Park Heights

WBAL tv reports that at about 10:20 a.m. a workman found two men in a house in the 2600 block of Oswego Avenue, one man was shot to death and the other is in critical condition at Sinai hospital.

November 8

Some guy has himself barricaded in a home in West Baltimore this morning. That can't end well...
UPDATE: "Gee, this guy is really stubborn!" It appears that police surrounded the house for seven hours... but there was no one inside!

The police cadet who was on suspension while being investigated for the robbery of a Parkville McDonald's, one Aaron Victor Seivers, has been fired... and is being charged as an accessory to the crime (is that all?).

More on yesterday's juvenile transfer hearing for Eric Price, accused in the robbery and beating of Zach Sowers. Julie and Gus report that the day after the Sowers beating, the four-man team robbed a woman at gunpoint a few blocks east of Patterson Park. And three days after that, they allegedly robbed and assaulted another man.
But they're locking up our babies!

In the County, a 90-year-old woman is being stalked by a crazy man.

Go judge! The video of Judge Ward grabbing Richard Sher's leathery lapels is a hoot!

Robber/ Carjacker Gets 35 Years

Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Aaron White, 21, of the 800 block of North Curley Street, to 35 years in prison-- 23 years for armed carjacking and 12 years for armed robbery -- ordered that the sentences run consecutively. A Baltimore City jury convicted White October 22, 2007 of armed carjacking, armed robbery and several other counts. Details from the SA's office:

On July 31, 2006 the victim, Anthony Carpinello, of New York City, was in the 1800 block of Ashburton Street, traveling from one work site to another. Mr. Carpinello is the president of a construction company working on a $22 million city contract to repair/install underground sewer lines near Liberty Heights Blvd. He became involved in minor traffic dispute and offered the other driver $100 to resolve the dispute, which satisfied the driver who then drove off. White witnessed this exchange and approached Mr. Carpinello, displaying a handgun White demanded the money he had seen in Mr. Carpinello’s hand, so Mr. Carpinello handed over in excess of $4,000 cash. As Mr. Carpinello began to close the driver’s side door, White kept the gun pointed at his head and said “no, I’m taking that, too.” White then drove off in the vehicle, a 2006 Range Rover.

Baltimore County officers found the vehicle the next morning at the Regal Motel, located at 8005 Pulaski Highway. Regional Auto Theft Task Force members conducted surveillance on the vehicle for about an hour, at which time White attempted to enter the vehicle and was then arrested. Recovered from White and the vehicle were the victim’s two cell phones, more than $1600 in cash and the victim’s wallet.

Assistant State's Attorney Michael Leedy, of the General Trial Division, prosecuted this case.

Near-Deadly Robberies Update

A juvenile transfer hearing for 16-year-old Eric Price, the final of four co-defendants charged in the beating of Zach Sowers, is scheduled for this afternoon at 2:30 p.m., in Room 215 of the Mitchell Courthouse, before Judge Stewart. Witnesses are expected to give statements. The other three defendants' motions have been denied.
UPDATE: Eric Price's motion was denied also.

Yesterday, a man was robbed, then and shot in the head and face in Owings Mills.

November 7

The Ink reports eight murders from October 29 through Sunday the 4th: the unidentified body in a minivan, Marlon Beckford, Alexander Robertson-El, Naim Muhammad King, Nathaniel Footman, Lawrence Jones, an unidentified man on Elmora Avenue and Norman Smith.
Last week marked a yearly low for the Sun's crime coverage, apparently, with the last three of the murders listed above unreported.

Feel-good story of the week: 80-year-old retired judge Thomas Ward tackled, restrained a robbery suspect preying on the home of George & Jessica Dailey, owners of On the Hill Cafe in Bolton Hill.

Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver in a white vehicle who killed someone in the middle of the afternoon in the 3300 block of Eastern Avenue.

Judge Marvin Garbis began the process of divvying up the assets of Cockeysville fraudster Alan B. Fabian.

The CP asks the very good question, "Hilton Green Is Highly Qualified To Investigate Baltimore's Department Of Housing-- So Why Isn't He?"

The feds gave Jermol Antonyio Chin 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

PsDJ: Victor William Kunst Jr., 56, of Columbia, who was indicted on one count of receiving child pornography and one count of sending illegal images, and Harold Leroy Rivers, 62, of Pikesville, indicted on six counts of possessing and receiving child pornography images.
Also, an ironic (or horribly un-ironic) pervert: the chief operating officer of the National Children's Museum in Washington.
And just a plain old (allegedly) gross guy, Gregory Trakney of Taneytown, accused of assaulting his kids' babysitter. Euch, I need a shower now.

Myth Debunking Dept.

How accurate is FBI criminal profiling? About as dead-on as your average 1-900 psychic, writes Malcolm Gladwell in this week's NYker

Pot makes teens social? According to a Swiss study, "teenagers who only use cannabis, not tobacco, seem to function better than teens who consume both ... the researchers also found that those who just used cannabis were more socially driven and had no more psychosocial problems than those who had never taken either of the two substances."

November 6

Wait, the 6th, there's something important about today... isn't election day or something? Don't forget to get out there and vote for Elbert Henderson and Maria Allwine!
Unless like most Baltimoreans you're cool with the surging murder rate, the city going without a police commissioner for six weeks, foot-dragging on the probes of the parking-ticket scandal and the fire-department exam scandal, still no explanation of the Marcus Brown pension scandal... and with hardly anyone bothering to vote, your vote counts (almost. Maybe. Well, not really.)

Terrance Regan, 16, was shot to death near Morgan State University.

Blotterata:

• The teenager killed in the NW was identified as Nathaniel Footman, 18. But still no clue as to whom official murders 252 and 253 are.
• Five teenage boys were arrested after going on a robbery spree in Hampden at around 1 a.m. Saturday.
• No good deed goes unpunished: "A man, 31, was driving through Druid Hill Park and was nearing the former reptile house when he stopped to help three men whose car appeared to have a flat tire. When the victim, 31, left his car, one of the men pulled out a handgun and another a knife."

Latar C. Bradshaw and Gregory G. Kulla have pleaded guilty for the attack on aged Sun reporter Carl A. Schoettler. And get this: "Carter was standing at a bus stop with Bradshaw when Schoettler was involved in a minor traffic accident with Kulla. After Schoettler got out of his car to speak with Kulla, Carter attacked him and split Schoettler's money with Bradshaw. Prosecutors said Kulla, who did not know the two men, did nothing to stop the attack, then agreed to drive Bradshaw and Carter away from the scene."

Martin O'Malley may enjoy his first-ever senate veto Thursday, on a law that regulates how government agencies are permitted dispose of guns.

Maybe the roof rack was full?: "According to officers, they stopped the van, with two people inside for unknown reasons."

Police Shoot Armed Man

Police shot a suspect with a gun in the shoulder in the NW, he's expected to live. This is 2007's 31st police-involved shooting.

Horrible things done to children dept.

Lazara Arellano de Hogue was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter and six other counts in Towson this afternoon and is scheduled to be sentenced November 16 for the death of three-year-old Elijah Cozart. Judge John Hennegan deemed it "the most unsatisfying" verdict of his life.

In other bad news about kids, Venable LLC on behalf of Baltimore’s foster children has asked a federal court to hold the city accountable for "failing to reform its foster care system as promised" in 1988.

... the 1984 lawsuit alleged that pervasive abuse existed within the Baltimore foster care system, including improper placement of children, substandard health care and sporadic caseworker visits.

Bummer stat: according to advocates, there are 55% fewer foster homes for children than there were six years ago.
Update: More on MD's foster-care nightmare from the Sun's Lynn Anderson.

Interesting Q raised by this NY Mag piece, "Saving Justin Berry" (remember him?): should it be legal for journalists to download child pornography in the course of reporting a story?

November 5

Broadwater's Examiner monthly murder roundup gripping, informative

Two teenagers were shot this weekend, two men were shot in the Southern and Northwestern Districts.

MVA employee* Candace Nicole Green, got 19 months and car-dealership employee Ana Maria Lorena Creque got 30 months in prison for conspiring to produce and sell Maryland driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.
*I'd assume she's now a former employee... but then again They Say it's really hard to get fired from a state job...

City police arrested an a-hole in HarfCo after he rammed a police cruiser in the Southeast and led them on a chase up 95 to Bel Air.

As women get out of the sex trade, more drugs need housing. And another rehab story. All part of a Sun series on Baltimore's epidemic of hookers and HIVvies.

Carol Ott's got some justified criminal activity

Not Baltimore Crime but whatever dept.
Eww... more beef recalled due to poop germs!

Prosecutors who locked up "American Gangster" heroin dealer Frank Lucas say movie is a "bunch of lies"