Weekend

A third trial is sounding more likely for Adan Canela and Policarpio Espinoza. Here's JB's guide to the case with related links

NYT: Supreme Court "Justices Step Closer to Repeal of Evidence Ruling"

More on 2009's homicide victim #20 (and juvenile victim #6), Dewayne Lawrence, who was 17 and his mother's third son to be murdered. Pleads the Deuce, "Stop before any more of her children...or yours end up dead."

Fish pirates accused in elaborate black-market rockfish scheme

Remember the Mt. Washington trader John Rusnak, who brought down Allfirst bank? He's out of jail. (Fun fact: Wikipedia names him as the 14th "biggest loser")

The Sun is ending weekday delivery to Prince George’s, Montgomery and Frederick counties and will stop home delivery to Garrett County. (thnx Colin)

The Department of Justice has instructed agency personnel to "immediately begin to apply the presumption of disclosure to all decisions involving the [Freedom of Information Act]" as per Obama's memo from 10 days ago.
Here's a summary of MD's Public Information Act, FYI.

22

Theodore E. Moore, 44, shot at the intersection of North Pulaski Street and Edmondson Avenue Jan. 23, has died from his injuries.

21

A man was shot to death yesterday afternoon in the 900 block of Poplar Grove St.

More on car-break-ins from the Sun

The feds are working to seize "17 Maryland properties and 14 bank accounts they say are the fruits of an $18 million, illegal video slot-machine gambling operation"

Down at the federal courthouse, a guy who tried to "computer bomb" Fannie Mae

More mortgage drama: Gansler's gotten Countrywide to consent to loan modification and $2.1 million in foreclosure relief

Gawker has the memo the poor Examiner staff got yesterday, if you're interested.
Projected synergies were not realized :(
but pizza was free :)
(more media bad news elsewhere... & how about those "Pampered 'A-Holes' at Time Inc.)

A shooting and/or stabbing on East Lexington -- "Unkown perp info or severity!"

Gary Montrell White, age 38, got 151 months in prison for bank robbing

Touché

Unshockingly, Wells Fargo's lawyers have asked that the "predatory lending" lawsuit against the bank be dismissed, pointing out that Baltimore itself has foreclosed on 600 more properties than Wells Fargo in the last eight years for unpaid water bills.

RIP Baltimore Examiner!

The last issue will be published February 15.
Sounds like the Examiners will go on, though.

Also, The Sun reports that the state plans to close Baltimore's only public psychiatric hospital.

16-Year-Old Killed

A 16-year-old boy was found shot to death in a white Volvo in the 4900 block of Aberdeen Ave. near Moravia Road in NE Baltimore

Depressing details of the murder of Tian Zin Wang: killers shot him, then ate the food he delivered... and later, leftovers

"Murder-trial witnesses recant" in the case of Tevon Allen, charged with the July 2007 killing of Jordan Brown.

Report: murdered mom Jasmine Harris had "an 'ongoing problem' with members of the Black Guerrilla Family"

Police are ISO three teenage boys for the shooting of a man in the 200 block of S. Broadway yesterday evening

Adan Canela and Policarpio Espinoza want a new trial.

Stock up on Salvia divinorum, it might become "controlled"

$872 million

... an estimate of the value of Baltimore's "informal economy". Also plenty of other enlightening info in this week's CP cover story.
Fascinating fact: "federal prosecutors here have doled out sentence reductions for 'substantial assistance'--that is, snitching--at almost double the national rate."

City's 19th Murder

Jasmine Harris, 23, was shot to death in Walbrook.
UPDATE: Kenneth Warren, 24, was arrested after police followed his footprints in the snow

18-year-old Ronald Gamble was charged in the murder of Tian Zin Wang.

A man shot in the hand and back in CHuM.

The city will be taking its predatory lending case against Wells Fargo to federal court today.

Victim was Father of Three

The cab driver murdered in the city was named as 47-year-old of Stephen Mauk, husband and father of three.

Really? Says some guy on JZ, "Maryland is one of four states where child porn is not a felony."

Four correctional officers have reportedly been suspended for not noticing Kandelario Garcia-Ramos' fence-scaling & absence during head count

A(n alleged) attempted rapist was arrested in Owings Mills

Let's Go Smoke Some Crack

"Crack Babies - The Epidemic that Wasn't"

559 shootings in 2008

Mapped and placed on a timeline by Spotcrime.

Cub Scouts Disillusioned

The man shot by police after stabbing a pregnant woman was ID'd as Brendan J. Singleton, 19. He's dead, mom and baby are alive.

Visiting Cub Scouts got a lesson in Baltimore smash-n-grabbery. Hermann: "in the first 10 days of January, 182 cars were broken into."
(... anyone else surprised that the police said they'd come at all? The last time my car was broken into I just got a report number over the phone.)

Community Service, Anger Management for Threats

From the SA's Office:

Michael Moore, 19, of the 1900 block of Edmondson Avenue and Lamont Davis, 19, of the 1300 block of West North Avenue pleaded guilty to two counts of witness intimidation and two counts of conspiracy to commit witness intimidation on Friday, January 23, 2009.

The two men pled to the following facts of the case. On May 29, 2008 Michael Moore and Lamont Davis Johnson went to the Juvenile Justice Center located at 300 N. Gay Street in Baltimore City with the intent of threatening for the purpose of retaliating against a witness in a second-degree sex offense case. While in the building the two engaged in menacing behavior directed at the victim and her father who is a police officer and had come to Court in his law enforcement uniform. The intimidation occurred prior to the victim’s testimony. The abusive verbal language and body posturing was witnessed by several employees of the Juvenile Justice Center. Sheriffs observed their criminal behavior and escorted them from the building before pressing charges. As they were being escorted from the building the defendants became confrontational and threatened the Sheriffs. Following the hearing, as the victim and her father returned to their vehicle, Moore and Davis reignited their hostile and aggressive threats terrifying the father and child.

Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced Michael Moore to a five-year suspended sentence and ordered that he serve 80 hours of community service. Davis received a seven-year suspended sentence and was also ordered to serve 80 hours of community service. As a condition of their probation, both men were also ordered to enroll in an anger management course.

...?

The Sun reports that Sean A. Cox, charged with the attempted murder of Officer Dante Arthur, had been arrested by Arthur in December 2007.

Two Murders

A cab driver from Frederick was found shot to death in the 200 block of N. Bond St. shortly after midnight

Juan Johnson, age 14, was shot and died yesterday.

A man was shot in the upper body in the 2000 block of Clifton Ave. yesterday

City lawyer: taxpayers won't foot the bill for Mayor's defen$e. That reimbursement business was all just a silly misunderstanding!

Controversy over a rabbi's failure to notify members of his shul about a sex offender among them.

Did you know? The 4th circuit has four vacancies. Kind of a lot!

Weekend

Officer Dante Arthur was shot twice in the face and survived; three men have been arrested.

Police shot and killed a man who was stabbing a pregnant woman in the 200 block of N. Luzerne Avenue.

A shooting and stabbing reported Friday night at Edmondson Ave. & Pulaski Highway

Did you know? Hermann says boots over power lines mark drug turf

Michael Phillip Hein Sr., 62, was sentenced to five years in jail for kissing and touching a 6-year-old. Ew, ew, ew. And WTF?! The girl's babysitter saw the Old Dirty Bastard molesting her *twice*, but didn't tell her mom. Huh?!

Methadone Mom Back in Jail

From the SAO:
At a violation of probation [hearing] today for Vernice Harris, 31, formerly of the 4800 block of Old Court Road, Judge Timothy J. Doory found Harris guilty of violating the terms of her probation for violating rules imposed by a drug treatment provider [the Sun reports she was writing love notes]. He sentenced her to the balance of the 10-year suspended sentence imposed in August.

On April 22, 2008 Harris pled guilty to manslaughter for the June 5, 2007 death of her daughter, Bryanna Ashley Harris, 2, who died after ingesting a lethal dose of methadone. Judge Doory sentenced Harris on August 15, 2008 to 10 years in prison and 5 years probation but suspended all but time served and then ordered that she attend and successfully complete alcohol and drug screening and treatment and complete a treatment program at Second Genesis. Judge Doory ruled today that Harris failed to comply with the rules of the Second Genesis program as required by the terms of her probation. He then imposed the balance of her sentence.

Assistant State’s Attorney Julie Drake, Chief of the Felony Family Violence Division, and Assistant State’s Attorney Ernie Reitz prosecuted the case.

Oh, dear

"Oh, dear." Clerk of the court arrested for forging Percocet prescriptions

More scams targeting old people

56 years for robbery, from the SAO:

At a hearing yesterday, Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced Jermaine Southern AKA Jermaine Swilling, 36, of the 400 block of E. Eager Street to 56 years in prison. A Baltimore City jury convicted Southern November 20, 2008 of two counts of armed robbery and two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.

Judge Doory sentenced Southern to two consecutive 18 year prison terms for the two armed robbery counts and two consecutive 10 year prison terms for the handgun counts for a total of 56 years in prison. The first 10 years are to be served without the possibility of parole.

On March 20, 2007 at approximately 9:50PM in the 500 block of Centre St. both victims were walking home from a play at the Baltimore School for the Arts when Southern approached and pointed black revolver at both, ordering them to “give me your bags.” The first victim handed over her bag, which contained her wallet, credit cards, US currency, paperwork, and keys. The second victim threw her bag, which contained her wallet, credit cards, $30-$40 US currency, paycheck, cell phone and keys to the ground and Southern grabbed it. On April 30, 2007, both victims positively identified Jermaine Southern in photo arrays. Further investigation revealed that Southern used the phone within an hour of the robbery to call his sister. No gun was recovered. None of the victims’ effects were ever recovered.

Four Life Sentences

two consecutive, two concurrent, for Nicholas Browning

Conspiracy Conviction in Death of Ricardo Paige

A city jury on Wednesday convicted Trendon Washington, 21, of the 500 block of E 43rd Street, of conspiracy to commit the first-degree murder of Ricardo Paige, 54. Says the SAO:

The jury heard approximately five days of testimony and deliberated two days before reaching its verdict. Judge John A. Howard scheduled sentencing for April 6, 2009 at which time Washington faces a possible life sentence.

The jury hung on the first-degree murder and handgun counts. The State has the option of trying Washington on these charges again and will make that decision at a later date.

On March 20, 2007 at approximately 6:11PM officers were called to the 500 block of E. 43rd street for a shooting. Upon arrival it was learned that Mr. Paige had been fatally shot six times, including a shot into Paige’s mouth. The motive for the murder was that Washington believed that Paige called the police who in turn raided a stash house where Washington kept his drugs. Upon further investigation it was learned that the defendant along with two other persons committed the crime.

Trials are pending against other co-defendants in this case: Jamal Fulton and Kevin Armstead. Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Wiggins of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

The Walbrook Homeland Security Academy is apparently so crappy, schools chief urges students to transfer midyear (P. hermann visited there last October, later noted that "the students heard back from officials that what they said and what I wrote was not appreciated")

A lot of theft in the Blotter, including the thwarted robbery of the York Rd. Dunkin Donuts

Councilman Robert Curran is battling aggressive tow trucks and wants an audit of city parking lots

In the county, Nicholas Browning is to be sentenced today

McDonogh student to plead Guilty

Police say there's a new head of the crime lab in town, one Francis Chiafari

"Lewin C. Powell III, the 16-year-old McDonogh School student who was charged last year with killing his mother with a baseball bat and trying to do the same to his father, intends to plead guilty to a single count of first-degree murder"

Also, 19 guns, Rx pills and cash seized on McHenry st.

Escaped prisoner Kandelario Garcia-Ramos was found, arrested, 6 miles from prison

Six months for Timothy Rhodes, alleged 3rd degree babysitter-sodomizer

35 Years for Murder of Ofc. Perry Brooks

From the SAO:

Judge John Howard sentenced Brandon Wall, 22, of the 2000 block of Hillenwood Road to life in prison suspending all but 35 years today for the first-degree murder of Correctional Officer Perry Brooks. Wall pled guilty November 14, 2008 to felony first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and robbery deadly weapon. Under terms of the plea agreement, Wall faced a maximum of life suspend all but 35 years.

The State requested life in prison suspend all but 35 years. Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia Banks advised the court that on May 25, 2007 at approximately 2:30AM Officer Brooks was parking his car in the rear of the 1900 block of Hillenwood Road. Brandon Wall approached Officer Brooks while in his car with the intention to rob. Wall produced a handgun and fatally shot Officer Brooks. Investigators recovered 9mm shell casings from the scene. Those shell casings matched casings found at the robbery scene of a Morgan State University professor a few weeks earlier at Hillen and Hartsdale Roads. The professor reported on May 10, 2007 at approximately 9:30PM while walking to his car a male matching the description of Brandon Wall approached him and announced a robbery. The professor attempted to get to his car and was shot in the right side of his abdomen. He later identified Wall in a photographic array. After his arrest, Wall confessed to the robbery and murder and attempted to minimize his involvement and implicate other unknown persons. No other suspects were arrested.

The family of Lieut. Brooks was present for the sentencing and his daughter gave a victim impact statement. She described her father as the backbone of the family saying life without him has been a struggle. A childhood friend also submitted a written impact statement outlining the heavy heart and empty feeling he has since his friend’s death.

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

Your Tax $ at Work

Guess who's probably going to get to pay for the Mayor's defense?

We may also get to foot the bill should there be an award in "An attorney’s own wrongful termination case against the Baltimore City Law Department ... Howard B. Hoffman, now 38 and an employment attorney in Rockville, claims he was the victim of racially motivated abuse for nearly two years"

So, do those blinking blue cameras do anything (besides irk residents, stigmatize blocks and make large swaths of the city look festooned for Hannukah)? The mayor's & state's attorney's offices say they believe the cameras may be helpful in certain situations, a report from UC Berkeley casts doubt on cameras' effectiveness at deterring violent crime.

So the city's broke, how is it going to pay for these lawsuits and blue lights?
Time for some "'A' game" "creative" and "newly aggressive pursuit of miscreants"!

Down in Annapolis, the Baltimore delegation has asked for the mayor to have the power to fire the police commissioner at will.

County police are looking for a guy who may have robbed eight(!) banks

Sun: Third Suspect in Ken Harris Killing is 16

A 16-year-old boy is apparently the third suspect in the Ken Harris killing. The Sun's Fenton names him as Jerome "Lil Country" Williams, and reports he appeared in (adult?) court with mysterious, hand-scrawled verbiage on his shirt.

Good news/bad news dept.: car thefts are down, but armed carjackings are up.

Two teens were indicted for murder for killing of 21-year-old Paris Richardson last May 5 at the Jimmy's Chinese Food Carry out on Hoffman and Milton Sts.

Examiner: Killer of Essex grandma Shirley Worcester turned himself in

County police are ISO Sultan Imru Stoute, 31 (also known as “Soo” or “Soo-Tan”) for the attempted murder of a 24-year-old man on January 19 on Barnacle Ct. in Essex.

Murder Conviction in Morgan Case;Arrest for Essex Homicide

Says the SAO: A city jury late Friday afternoon, January 16, 2009 convicted Jason Allen, 25, of the 3200 block of Juneau Avenue of first-degree murder following a four-day trial and approximately one and a half hours of deliberation. Judge John Carroll Byrnes scheduled sentencing for April 21, 2009. Details:

On February 15, 2008 Allen fatally shot Jeff Payne, 20, in the Morgan View Apartment Complex at 1520 Pentridge Road. Mr. Payne was shot while attending a going away gathering for a Morgan State University student. An earlier altercation had carried over to this gathering, resulting in the defendant bringing sawed off rifle in a bag and shooting at Mr. Payne. He died later that day at Good Samaritan Hospital. A co-defendant in this case, Powerful Aguilar, 23, of the 1600 block of Northwick Road, pled guilty November 12, 2008 to accessory after the fact to murder and is scheduled to be sentenced March 20, 2008. Assistant State’s Attorney Charles Blomquist of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

"Baltimore County Police have arrested and charged Warren Jerome Yates, 26, ... with the murder of Shirley Worcester ... Detectives determined that Warren Yates fired the shots that killed Shirley Worcester after it was learned that a witness was involved in the drug transaction with Yates. During the transaction, the witness began running away from scene, and Warren Yates fired several shots at the witness as he was running. One of those shots struck Shirley Worcester."
Here's a picture of the suspect

Obit for Mark P. Cohen, who "as Baltimore's top homicide prosecutor helped take many hundreds of killers off the city's streets"

.. a good day, but still ...

City College student James Hodge Jr., 16, is missing

The man killed on Ward and Bayard has been ID'd as Jaiwan C. Jones, 26

The Chinese-assault-rifle-toting man shot to death by police in Waverly was ID'd as Larry Reed, 22

Former Commissioner Leonard Hamm talks to the E's Carolyn Pierce. On the allegations against Dixon: "... if this is in fact true, it's awful."
on his murdered stepdaughter, Nicole Sesker: "My daughter was in that lifestyle for a long time, and I understood the risks of that. You prepare for the worst, hoping that it never comes, and if does, you put your faith in a higher power."

New Blog Alert

Baltimore Slumlord Watch

.. this blog's Doppelganger, Pigtown Design, is also noteworthy

16

A reader reported a fatal shooting Saturday night on Bayard and Ward Sts. in Pigtown.

Efrain Bonilla, 52, was shot in the 200 block of South Broadway at 2:28 a.m.

A West Virginia woman was shot twice in the 2100 block of W. Fairmount Ave., "apparently as she was attempting to buy drugs," her condition in unknown.

A double shooting in Edgewood about 12 hours after Obama's visit

Has Operation Safe Streets' conflict resolution style worked in McElderry Park?

Politics
Councilman Jack Young [D-12]: "I think the homicide rate is not factual"

elsewhere
In Salisbury, 27-year-old Brookes Harmon died after being bound with duct tape during a home invasion.

Guess which

... indicted mayor attended Obama's speech, but went very unmentioned?
(is there even a photo of her there?)

Pro-Life Friday

MD's put 5 people to death since 1978. Shiz, city citizens have put about 7,000 people to death since then! Doesn't the state have more pressing concerns?

A 20-year-old man was shot in the face in the 3600 block of Dolfield Ave. in the NW, he's alive as of two hours ago.

Aqil Mubarak Abdul-Haqq, 32, of Hyattsville, sought in the shooting of a woman in Laurel late Wednesday night, apparently killed himself on the shoulder of 95. The woman's alive.

A man who was shot by a city policeman when he was allegedly and reportedly about to point an SKS Chinese semiautomatic rifle at said officer, has died.

What the?! "Councilman Jack Young (D-12) expressed outrage Thursday afternoon after he was escorted out of a police COMSTAT meeting against his will."

67 percent

of 2008's homicides are still open, says the CP.

And names of last week's six murder victims, and the girl "shot to death in the 5600 block of Loch Raven Boulevard on Jan. 4 has been identified as Mayresa Craft, a 15-year-old African-American girl from Towson."

also, "A Map of Recently Seized Baltimore-Bound Drug Packages"

Perhaps you remember the story of Kerri King from last year? Perhaps the photo will remind you? She got 16 years. In the city no less. Says the SAO:
At a hearing today Kerri J. King, 36, of the 100 block of Danford Drive, Elkton, MD pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and two counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Judge Thomas J.S. Waxter sentenced King to 16 years in prison; 10 years for the manslaughter count, five years for the leaving the scene of an accident count and one year for the driving under the influence count. Details:

On December 31, 2007, Kerri King struck and killed Officer Courtney Brooks of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department as he directed holiday traffic at the intersection of Exit 53 on northbound Interstate 95. Evidence presented at the hearing today indicated that King had been drinking heavily for 12 hours prior to 11:20PM accident, that the impact of the collision threw Officer Brooks 79 feet through the air and that she fled the scene, actively trying to elude capture by driving home on back roads following the accident.

M1 Conviction for homicide of Alexander Rose

From the SAO: A Baltimore City jury convicted Shawn Dickey, 22, of the 400 block of N. Collington Ave. of first-degree murder, two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault today following a one-day trial. Jurors deliberated approximately 45 minutes before reaching its verdict. Judge Thomas J.S. Waxter scheduled sentencing for March 17, 2009. Dickey faces a possible maximum sentence of double life plus 65 years in prison. Details:

On May 22, 2007 at approximately 4:16 PM at the corner of Patterson Park and East Fayette Street Shawn Dickey and an unknown male approached victim Alexander Rose and a second man and began shooting at them. One victim was hit in the leg but managed to run away. Rose fell in the 2300 block of East Fayette Street, where Dickey walked over to him, stood overtop of him, and shot him multiple times as he lay in the street. Medics rushed Rose to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The second victim survived.

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

You must wonder what got edited out of this video...

12, 15

#12 = Kipton A. Degree Jr., 23
#15 = Ronald Crosby, 56

Did Liberty Ford's customer service manager knowingly rent his home to drug traffickers? Was 80 pounds of pot mailed to JHU? And did a Pikesville granny hide the money? More fascinating twists in the Milton Tillman Jr. soap opera.

2 Police-involved shootings in 2 weeks

Sheezis! The second police shooting of the year went down last night (1/14) in Worser Waverly-- a man with an assault rifle allegedly pointed it at police and got wounded, police say.
Said the CP last month,

Over the past two years, police-involved shootings in Baltimore have risen sharply: In 2007, Baltimore police officers were involved with 32 shootings, resulting in 19 non-fatal victims and 13 fatalities. So far 2008 has seen 21 police-involved shootings, resulting in 13 fatalities. That's up from 2006, when there were 15 police-involved shootings resulting in five fatalities.

"A 2002 rape case involving a pregnant Pikesville woman has been resolved with the sentencing this week of a construction worker, but his victim" has died of cancer.

Bird Flies, Fotogs Evicted

"City joins 18 jurisdictions across U.S. in fighting foreclosures," and check out that foto, heh heh. Also, her lawyer's name is Weiner.

Guardian Angels "Strider" and "Top Gun" are the city's other men in red

A hostage drama at the 7-11 near Herring Run Park leads to police shooting a suspect

Christopher Williams was arrested for killing his cousin Mario on New Year's Day

More Dixon. Somebody told me Lipscomb and Helen Holton also had an affair. True?
(Obama's coming to town Saturday... I wonder if there'll be a photo op with the mayor?)
And more: Mayor remains upbeat, eats cake, ejects fotogs from luncheon
WJZ: who is employee number one?

From the Sun

"you can un-strikethrough mr. dickey hill road

he died friday night, as it turns out. the sun didnt goof, as chuck put it, but the police told us in the morning that he was dead and then took it back later in the day. but like three hours after they took it back, he did die, and they didnt tell us till today."

Boy stabbed in front of City College

"A 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed last night across the street from City College high school in Northeast Baltimore ... [at] About 7:35 p.m., police officers found the boy suffering from stab wounds to his chest at the intersection of The Alameda and East 32nd Street"

Nathaniel "Stinker" Wallace, 37, of Baltimore was gunned down in a bar-parking-lot fight at Dietrich's Tavern in Glen Burnie.

David Talmage Barnes, 49, was found floating near Annapolis Yacht Club.

The Weiner that roared

PGC's first murder of the year is a 19-year-old shot while riding/driving in a car

What the?! "Math Error To Cost Maryland $31 Million"

Stealing from the poor? So what!

She's accused of taking money from needy families to pay for furs and video games, but "City leaders back mayor".
Of local politicians, only Mikulski seems to have acknowledged the charges.
Olesker: it's the gift cards
Rodricks: it's the sense of entitlement
Vozzella: it's the money laundering, stupid!

William Devereux Zantzinger died-- a S.Md tobacco farmer best known for his role in the death of Hattie Carroll-- you might remember the story from two years ago?

From Chuck

"Seems the Sun goofed on #12. The guy on Dickey Hill is on life support,
and #12 was actually a guy in the 3600 block of Lombard St. on Friday
afternoon.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-lombard0109,0,2128542.story

or

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.ci.accident10jan10,0,2640153.story

Of course, the guy on Dickey Hill is on life support, so he'll probably
be #13."

Weekend

The top cop says police have solid leads in many of this year's murders.

BPD: it's not in the public interest to release details about problems in the DNA lab

Tree Top Piru Kevin Gary pled guilty to federal racketeering charges

Burning man

"A man died yesterday after catching fire behind a Fells Point building where scenes of Homicide: Life on the Street used to be filmed."

Shooting around 9 o'clock last night in the 2000 block of Braddish st. (near Coppin State)

Holy Crap! Mayor Indicted!

Crazy!
Even by Baltimore standards!
An extramarital affair with a big fat developer .. furs and gift cards... not classy!
The timeline does seem to establish a pattern...
Says Madam mayor, "I am confident that I will be found innocent of these charges."
(Check out these two newspaper front pages. Will be interesting to see how various outlets go about covering this major story.)

And "Killing in Southwest Baltimore brings homicide count to 12"

15 people shot this week

Mapped by Spotcrime

War on the East Side

The commissioner held a press conference at 11 this morning to talk about it. And another East side shooting reported in the blotter, a man shot in the chest on Rutland Ave (thanks gmd).

The woman who was shot in Middle River last night has died, county police ID'd her as Shirley Elizabeth Worcester, 58, and believe it may be a case of mistaken identity.

Hermann: "Trust us, the police say. The problem is that many city residents don't ..."

Charles McGaney and Gary Collins, suspects in the murder of Ken Harris, are due in court for arraignment hearing today; the Deuce has video of the alleged perps perp-walking.
UPDATE: the hearing was postponed.

Zander Richardson has been charged with the first-degree murder of Travis Makofski, killed during a home invasion in Mt. Vernon last month.

11

Triple shooting leaves at least one person dead on North Bond and East Eager. Hermann notes that 6 of 11 of this year's murders have been in East Baltimore

A woman has been shot and is unconscious in Middle River, there may be a second victim

Indicted!

Not the mayor, but Helen Holton and that developer guy!
Holton was previously best known as the city council member who wanted to pass a resolution against baggy pants.

10

David Falkinburg, 45, was found stabbed to death in his home yesterday in Parkville (right by the city line); a 16-year-old was arrested and charged.

Ink: "As 2008 ended and 2009 began, Baltimore City continued its backslide. Though the city's 2008 homicide total was its lowest since 1988, there was an uptick in murders during the last two months of the year. The trend continues into the new year..."

More details on the life and murder of Tian Zin Wang

Read this story right now: the most preventable murders in the city.
You can help by coming out this Friday to show support.

"In policy change, city police will not identify officers who kill, injure"

Shannon Yearby, 30, (a dude) pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree assault for choking a prostitute and was sentenced to time served after his victim didn't show up for court. So he's back out there. Watch out Pigtown!

Apocalypse soonish: via the CP, Abandoned Places: what remains of the soundstage of the Wire

Rueful laff du jour: "Man accidentally leaves crack cocaine at store"

8, 9

Two more murders, the 51-year-old owner of a carryout restaurant, Tian Zin Wang, 51, who was killed while delivering food, and 21-year-old Joshua Harris, reportedly shot near the intersection of Reisterstown Road and Violet Avenue.

In Rosedale in the county, the death of a woman struck by a pickup truck has been ruled a homicide; she was involved in a Judge-Judyesque dispute over truck payments with her alleged killer.

Nate Chapman's in the hoosegow, but his defense attorneys are still slugging it out over fee$.

Another murder over a cigarette, this time in Upper Marlboro (ok, Bladensburg, but that lacks the ironic panache!)

236

Thanks to Anna Ditkoff, we have corrected and updated the list of murders in 2008.

236. David Woodward, 30, intersection of Bennett Place and Fremont Avenue (s. 12/23 d. 12/25);
235. Petro Taylor, 20, 4400 block of N. Franklintown Road (12/30)
234. Antonio Coby, 28, 800 block of Chauncy Ave. (12/29);
233. Edgar Christopher Mazyck, 39, 2700 Edmonson Avenue (12/28);
232. Lisa Bushrod, 42, 1919 N Broadway (12:38 p.m. 12/27);
231. Alaina Ciara High, 800 block of S. Bouldin St. (12/23);
230. Ronald Comer Hall, 46, Broadway East (12/23);
229. Thaddeus McCauley, 19, 1400 block of Homestead (12/19);
228. Gary Mann, 24, 5100 block of Palmer Avenue /3000 block of Spaulding Ave. (7:23 a.m. 12/16)/li>
227. Warren Davis, 5400 block of Fairlawn Ave. (11 p.m. 12/15);
226. Oril Jackson Jr., 21, North Lakewood Avenue and East Chase Street (7:30 p.m. 12/15);
225. Larry Gaither, 44, 1000 block of Jack Place (12/11);
224. Brian Carlos Smith, 37, 3000 block of Pulaski Highway (12/10);
223. Darrell Keith, 24, 5000 block of Denmore Ave. (12/7);
222. Ronald Jackson, 14, 1100 block of Myrtle Ave. (12/7);
221. Travis Mafoski, 28, 700 block of N. Howard St. (12/6);
220. Michael Harris, 37, 2500 block of Garrett Ave. (12/5);

219. Donte Graham, 21, 1100 block of Abbott Court (11/18);
218. Frederick Ward, 25, 2300 block of Barclay Street (shot 11/5, d. 11/25);
217. Alexander Njuguna, 29, 1000 block of Woodson Road (11/26);
216. Leroy Boxdale, 2700 block of Hilldale Avenue (12/2)
215. Donnell Williams Jr. 1800 block of North Washington Street (12/1);
214. Alton Alston, 19, 200 block of S. Clinton St. (12/1);
213. Dawn Williams-Stewart, 41, 4000 block of Parkside Drive (11/31);
212. Troy Brown, 45, 4000 block of Oakford Ave. (11/31);
211. Darren Davis, 26, 4000 block of Oakford Ave. (11/31);
210. Perrish Parker, 14, 4000 block of Oakford Ave. (11/31);
209. Adrian Andrews, 17, 2800 block of Saint Lo Dr. (11/26);
208. Isiah Benjamin, 6600 block of Eberle Ct. (11/22);
207. Voncelle Blackwell, 26, 2900 block of Limond Place (11/25);
206. Adama Diara, 22, 2200 block of Tucker Lane (7:45 p.m. 11/22);
205. Angelo Ford, 49, 1000 block of Leadenhall St. (6 p.m. 11/22);
204. Richard Green, 39, 1300 block of W. North Ave. (5 p.m. 11/22);
203. Markel Williams, 15, 2800 block of N. Dukeland St. (11/21);
202. Lyle Dimeler, 53, 400 block of Calhoun St. (11/18)
201. William Hightower, 45, 3000 block of Woodhome Ave. (11/15)
200. Veronica Williams, 28, 1400 E. North Avenue (10/20);
199. Eunice Taylor, 69, 3100 block of Mary Avenue (10/20);
198. Valando Goodman, 32, 2200 block of Jefferson Street (shot 1996, d. 6/29/08);
197. Charles Hogans, 45, 2000 block of N. Dukeland St. (10:20 a.m. 11/18);
196. Steven Graham, 14, near the intersection of Maude Avenue and 4th Street (7:30 p.m. 11/18);

195. Joseph Robinson, 30, 500 block of S. Smallwood St. (11/17);
194. Charles Norman, 48, 4800 block of Palmer Ave. (11/16);
193. Larry Franklin Jr., 22, 2000 block of Robb St. (11/12);
192. Gregory Hines, 30, 2200 block of Linden Ave. (11/11) ;
191. Leroy J. Taylor, 45, the intersection of Sewell Street and Argyle Avenue (11/7);
190. Takira Leray Johnson-Bey, 27, first block of Custom House Ave (11/7);
189. Ernest McFadden, 39, near West Saratoga Street and Carrollton Avenue (11/3);
188. Anthony Rainer, 25, unknown location (11/2);
187. Mark Henson, 1500 block of McKean Avenue (11/1);

186. Harley Johnson, 27, 2200 block of Echodale Avenue (10/31);
185. Mark Vines, 21, 600 block of McKewin Ave. (10/29);
184. Jason Betts, 25, 2400 block of Loyola Southway (10/25);
183. Derrick Phillips, 42, 1800 block of North Regester Ave. (10/25);
182. Gregory Boston, 48, 2700 block of Oswego Ave. (10/23);
181. Dontay Monroe, 18, 1400 block of Exeter Hall Avenue (10/22);
180. Marshall Nelson, 23, 3500 block of Pelham Ave. (10/22)
179. Shawn Crosby, 178. 600 block of North Clinton St. (10/21);

178. Carlton Tremain Bethea, 29, 500 block of W. Preston St. (10/20);
177. Delvon Butts, 15, 200 block of S. Smallwood St. (10/19);
176. Suspicious human remains, 1900 block of E. Lanvale St. (found 10/18);
175. Rubin Nelson, 26, 1900 block of N. Rosedale St. (10/14);
174. Justin Berry, 19, Pennsylvania and Lafayette Avenues (10/12);
173. Howard Grant, 18, Pennsylvania and Lafayette Avenues (10/12);
172. Darius Burton, 18, 4300 block of Davis Avenue (10/12);
171. Modesto Smith, 21, 700 block of Alleghany Place (9/30);
170. Cyprian Jackson, 29, 2500 block of Madison Ave. (shot 2000, d. 9/8/08);
169. Clayton Oxendine, 24, 300 block of S. Fulton Ave. (10/6);
168. Darrell Gulliver, 500 block of S. Catherine St. (10/6);
167. Craig Colvin, 23, 3100 block of Virginia Avenue (10/6);
166. William Haskins, 32, 1800 block of Penrose Ave. (10/4)
165. Baby Blevins, 2600 block of St. Paul St. (10/4);

164. Michael Wilson, 24, 3000 block of Belair Road (10/1);
163. Helen Reightler, 43, Pratt and Charles Streets (stabbed 9/18, d. 9/29);
162. Kevin Rouzer/ McDowell, 29, 1700 block of N. Broadway (9/28);
161. Jarell Laws, 17, alley behind the 5300 block of Cordelia St. (9/26);
160. Derrick "Terrell" Reed, 15, 2500 block of Aisquith St. (9/23);
159. Kenneth N. Harris Sr., 45, 1500 block of Havenwood Rd. (9/20);
158. Barry Graham, 24, 700 block of W. Lexington (9/14);
157. Lloyd Milton, 2100 block of Boston St. (9/14);
156. Darien Sawyer, 29, 1500 block of Wadsworth Way (9/11);
155. Dominic Faw, 29, 200 block of N. Eutaw St. (shot 1995, d. 3/22/08);
154. Robert Wilson, 23, 2000 block of Boone Street (9/9);
153. Andre Harris, 23, 200 block of Harmison Street (9/6);
152. Shirley Johnson, 44, 1100 block of Woodington Road (9/6);
151. Tyrone Bowie, 26, 2100 block of Ashland Avenue (9/3);
150. Demarco Brown Jr., 25, 800 block of N. Milton Ave. (9/8);
149. Floyd Jones, 56, East North Avenue and North Port Street (8/26)
148. Wilbert Flowers, 31, 800 block of East 43rd Street (shot 8/28, d. 8/25);
147. Reginald Carter Jr., 20, 400 block of S. Longwood St (9/1);
146. Durrell Aldridge, 24, 4200 block of Frederick Ave. (9/1);
145. Levon McCray, 23, 900 block of Valley Street (8/30);

144. Clarence Hamlett Jr., 22 Laurens and North Stricker Sts. (8/27);
143. Eric Brown, 1000 block of Edmondson Avenue (8/19);
142. Eddie VanKirk, 42, 300 block of South Parrish Street (shot 11/19/07, died 6/22/08);
141. Tavon Garrison, 28, 2400 block of E. Lanvale St. (8/22);
140. Brandon Robinson, 23, 2800 block of Oakley Avenue (8/14);
139. Michael Sewell, 29, 1000 block of Brantley Avenue (8/12);
138. John Person, 17, 2900 block of Garrison Blvd. (8/16);
137. Kiuna Jackson, 19, Herring Run Park (8/15);
136. Vernon Paige, 21, Patapsco Avenue and Savoy Streets (8/13);
135. Rudy M. Guzman, 22, 3300 block of East Fayette Street (8/8);
134. Shawn L. Weaver, 37 or 38, 1000 block of Shellbanks Road (8/8);
133. Robert Buckner, 19, Club Rios parking lot, 1300 block of Bloomingdale Road (8/6);
132. Javon Thompson, 21 months, 3200 block of Auchentoroly Terrace (2007);

131. Michael Little, 28, 4100 block of Barrington Avenue/ 3700 block of Eldorado Ave (8/12);
130. George Blaine, 30, 1700 block of N. Bradford St (8/9);
129. Mathew Scarborough, 16, 500 block of Castle St. (1:30 a.m. 8/7);
128. Jeffrey Alston, 23, 1700 block of W. Fayette St. (8/5) ;
127. Ralph Hall, 37, 4700 block of Greenspring Ave. (7/30) ;
126. Unidentified man, 1200 block of Orleans St. (7/30);
125. Bernard Soloman, 23, 2700 block of Manokin St. (7/28);
124. Brandon Eveline, 23, East North Avenue and North Wolfe Street (>10 p.m. 7/28);
123. Tyrone McCray(SP?), 28, Ivanhoe and Tunbridge (7/27);

122. Ralph McKnight, 50, 800 block of Bridgeview Road (6/1);
121. Troy Wilson, 17, 400 block of Aisquith St. (7/29)
120. Quinton Hogan, 23, and Donell Rogers, 21, Northern Parkway/Rogers and Wabash Avenues (7/25);
119. Ruby Johnson Mosby, 1200 block of Limit Ave. (7/21);
118. Elizabeth Queensbury, 51,1200 block of W. Pratt St. (7/21);
117. Justin Harrison, 27, 3800 block of Park Heights Ave., (7/21)

116. Gary Cooper, 200 block of North Hilton Street (7/20);
115. Omar Phillips, 35, Linden Bar and Liquors, 904 W. North Ave. (7/19);
114. Kervin McKnight, 45, 5000 block of Pembridge Ave. (11:20 p.m. 7/18);
113. Unidentified shot male skeleton, 4800 block of Strathdale Road (January '08);
112. Patrice Marable, 1100 block of Gleneagle Road (7/6);
111. Tony Smith, 3200 block of Lyndale Ave. (2:30 a.m. 7/13);
110. Calvin Ray, 17, 3700 block of Liberty Heights Ave (3:42 a.m. 7/12);
109. Unidentified man, 1800 block of Braddish Ave. (11:45 p.m. 7/11);
108. Brenda Hatfield, 45, 4500 block of Old Frederick Road (7/7);
107. Kenneth Baker, 28, 2600 block of E. Preston St. (3:20 a.m. 7/6);
106. Nicole Sesker, 38, 3900 block of Garrison Ave. (5:30 a.m. 6/27);
105. Chicas Santiago, 38, 2600 block of E. Baltimore St. (beaten on 6/23, died 2:55 p.m. 6/26)
104. Phillip Gaddy, 41, 1700 block of Abbotston Rd. (2:34 a.m. 6/24);
103. Romie Ziegler, 21, 500 block of Bloom St. (8:30 p.m. 6/22);
102. Amanda Marie Bishop, 22, 1300 block of Nanticoke St. (6:10 a.m. 6/22);
101. Stephan Walters, 24, 200 block of E. Montgomery St. (2:45 a.m. 6/22);
100. Marcus Caldwell, 23, 3200 block of Sequoia Avenue (12:30 a.m. 6/22);
99. Keyva Bluitt, 35, 800 block of Battery Avenue (9:15 p.m. 6/20);
98. Brian Goodwin (Goodwyn?), 21, 500 block of Bloom St. (night, 6/19);
97. Donta Gregory, 32, W. 28th St. and Huntington Ave. (11:40 p.m. 6/19);
96. Ronnie Ware Jr., 18, Clifton Ave. and N. Monroe St. (10:30 p.m. 6/17);
95. Sandy Howard, 23, 4100 block of Mariban Court (6:00 p.m. 6/17);
94. Samuel Bobrow, 30, 2900 block of Hamilton Ave. (found 6 a.m. 6/14);
93. Justin N. Amis, 22, 4200 block of Shamrock Ave. (2:30 a.m. 6/14);
92. Bryant Price, 23, 4200 block of Shamrock Ave. (2:30 a.m. 6/14);
91. Andre Wallace, 27, 3100 block of Brighton St. (2:20 a.m. 6/13);
90. Djuan Anderson, 17, 1500 block of Moreland Ave. (3 a.m. 6/12);
89. Darrius Harrison, 17, 1500 block of Moreland Ave. (3 a.m. 6/12);
88. Elizabeth Garrett, 25, 3500 block of Buena Vista Ave. (5:48 p.m. 6/11);
87. Kenneth Cooper Jones, 26, 4500 block of Bonner Rd. (12:15 a.m. 6/9);
86. Unnamed male newborn, 300 block of S. Monroe St. (4 p.m. 6/7);
85. Darrien Brown, 19, 2000 block of East North Avenue (2 a.m. 6/7);
84. Tyrone Wells, 33, 4100 block of Rockfield Rd. (6/3);
83. Unidentified person, 5400 block of Crismer Ave. (3:00 a.m. 6/3);
82. Derrell E. Smith, 22, 3100 block of Clifton Ave. (8:30 p.m. 6/2);
81. Omar Spriggs, 27, 2300 block of E. North Ave. (shot 5/15, d. 5/28);
80. Josephine House, 63, 1700 block of N. Port St. (5/27);
79. Cedric Yarborough, 19, 1100 block of E. North Avenue (5/25);
78. Ronald Crowell, 21, 1600 block of Normal Ave. (2 a.m. 5/24);
77. Carlos Cervantes, 37, 200 block of S. Broadway (9 p.m. 5/19);
76. Jeffrey Gause, 42, 1700 block of Hollins St (12:20 a.m. 5/18);
75. Valerie Barnes, 18, 800 block of Pontiac Ave. (midnight 5/18);
74. Michael Morris, 46, 4200 block of Colborne Road (5/16);
73. Marcellus Hall, 1500 block of N. Mount St., at Baker St. (9:40 p.m. 5/15);
72. Tony Allen, 52, 2300 block of E. North Ave. (6:00 p.m. 5/15);
71. Marvin Lucas, 21, 300 block of S. Dallas Ct. (9:00 p.m. 5/14);
70. Timothy Swann Jr., 27, unknown location, died after being dropped off at Shock Trauma (3:20 a.m. 5/11);
69. David Henderson, 18, 2800 block of Hillen Rd., at Harford Rd. (10:20 p.m. 5/9);
68. Robert Johnson, 39, 1200 block of James St. (5 p.m. 5/7);
67. Kenneth Carter, 17, 3000 block of Presbury St. (2:15 a.m. 5/7);
66. Ellsworth Monroe, 73, 3900 block of W. Belvedere Ave. (4/25);
65. Paris Richardson, 21, Jimmy's Chinese Carryout, 2500 block of E. Hoffman St. (1 a.m. 5/5);
64. Tyrone Freeman, 25, 2100 block of Orleans St. (7 a.m. 5/4);
63. Sean W. Henderson, 35, 3200 block of Belair Rd. (2 a.m. 5/4);
62. Dawn Lynn Shipley, 29, 500 block of Brunswick St. (1:00 a.m. 5/3);
61. Michael Wilson, 23, 4100 block of Newbern Ave. (2:00 a.m. 5/1);
60. James Daniels, 51, 600 block of N. Clinton St. (night of 4/11, body burned and dumped in Essex on 4/12);
59. Michael Ellerby, 24, 500 block of N. Stricker St. (12:15 p.m. 4/21) ;
58. Nancy Schmidt, 74, 200 block of W. 31st Street (5:30 a.m. 4/21);
57. Stanley Johnson, 25, 3400 block of 6th St. (2:45 a.m. 4/20);
56. Tavon Smith, 27, 2900 block of Garrison Blvd. (9:30 a.m. 4/14);
55. Shaundretta Griffin, 14, 1900 block of N. Patterson Park Ave. (3:00 p.m. 4/16);
54. Anthony Izzard, 25, 1700 block of W. Lexington St. (12:30 a.m. 4/12);
53. Yolanda Brown, 36, 3600 block of Winterbourne Rd. at Gwynns Falls Park (6:00 a.m. 3/20; declared murder ~4/8);
52. Gerrald Megginson, 20, 400 block of S. Stricker St. (9:15 a.m. 4/3);
51. Darius Bunch, 31, 800 block of N. Franklintown Rd. / 700 block of N. Longwood Ave. (1:23 a.m. 4/1);
50. Lamar Skinner, 20, 2400 block of E. Hoffman St. (9:20 p.m. 3/31);
49. Anthony Castillo, 6, Marriott Hotel, 100 block of S. Eutaw St. (1:15 p.m. 3/30);
48. Austin Castillo, 4, Marriott Hotel, 100 block of S. Eutaw St. (1:15 p.m. 3/30);
47. Athena Castillo, 2, Marriott Hotel, 100 block of S. Eutaw St. (1:15 p.m. 3/30);
46. Ronald Joyner, 27, 1000 block of Billie Holiday Ct. (5:30 a.m. 3/30);
45. Javon King, 19, 5400 block of Nelson Ave. (1:08 a.m. 3/30);
44. Tyrone Bahia, 19, 100 block of S. Addison St. (1:38 a.m. 3/27);
43. Zach Sowers, 28, 300 block of S. Robinson St. (10:00 p.m. 3/25);
42. Robert Long, 36, 400 block of S. Stricker St. (9:30 p.m. 3/24);
41. April Montford, 41, 400 block of W. Franklin St. (died due to neglect, 3/14)
40. Jeffrey Butler, 3400 block of Wilkens Ave. (6:40 p.m. 3/23);
39. David Andrew Rankin, 21, 3700 block of Ravenwood Ave. (7:20 a.m. 3/23);
38. Andre A. Jones, 18, 2900 block of Garrison Blvd. (10:15 p.m. 3/15);
37. Jamal Alphonso Harrison, 22, 1900 block of N. Rosedale St. (6:10 p.m. 3/13);
36. Lemell O. Barnes, 22, 2800 block of Spelman Rd. (11:00 p.m. 3/12);
35. Tavon Burks, 16, 2500 block of Edgecombe Circle (3/11);
34. Marcus Hughes, 36, 1800 block of E. 28th St. (3/10);
33. Levette Johnson, 35, 700 block of Wildwood Parkway, near New Cathedral Cemetery (3/9);
32. Latasha Harris, 30, 200 block of Atholgate Lane (3/5 or 3/6);
31. Dalion Stanley, 45, 700 block of Druid Park Lake Dr. (3:40 a.m. 3/4);
30. D'Andre Jackson, 35, 2800 block of W. Lafayette Ave. (10:55 p.m. 3/3);
29. Anthony Underwood, 29, 5000 block of Denmore Ave. (1 a.m. 3/1);
28. Bernard R. Wallace, 44, 1300 block of Bloomingdale Rd. (7:15 a.m. 2/29);
27. Rebecca Meekins, 16, 1500 block of Mt. Royal Avenue (6 p.m. 2/27) ;
26. Edward Tyree Baylor, 32, 1500 block of Mt. Royal Avenue (6 p.m. 2/27) ;
25. Eric Jones, 23, 700 block of W. North Ave. (12:15 a.m. 2/25);
24. Julius Pressley, 23, corner of N. Milton Ave. and E. Chase St. (8:40 p.m. 2/24);
23. Henry Davis, 48, 1100 block of North Chester Street (2/20);
22. Murriel Chew, 20, 1000 block of Russell St. (2:40 a.m. 2/18);
21. Tyisha Brown, 15, 3400 block of Woodland Ave. (1:10 a.m. 2/16);
20. Shenera Norris, 31, 4400 block of Fairview Ave. (9 a.m. 2/15);
19. Jeff Payne, 22, Morgan View Apartments, 1500 block of Pentridge Road (1:15 a.m. 2/15);
18. Kermia Hair, 25, 1800 block of Bolton St. (3 p.m. 2/7);
17. Emmanuel M. Bryant, 500 block of N. Loudon Ave. (12:45 p.m. 2/7);
16. Cumberland Richardson Jr., 62, 1600 block of Federal Street (9 a.m. 2/5);
15. Victor Couther, 19, corner of East Federal and North Bond streets (10:44 a.m. 2/2);
14. Edward Lamont—he was the police-involved at the beginning of the year that was later ruled a homicide.
13. Sidney Millner, 25, B&W Liquors in the 400 block of N. Stricker St. (shot 5:40 p.m. 1/24, d. 1/27);
12. Michael Johnson, 24, 2000 W. Lafayette Ave. and Payson St. (4:30 p.m. 1/25);
11. Irvin Lawson, 32, 900 block of W. Pennsylvania Ave. (12:30 a.m. 1/25);
10. Lisa Holley, 38, 2700 block of Pelham Ave. (domestic, beaten 1/16, d. 1/21);
9. Effrem Devon Kearney, 20, 1500 block of Holbrook St. (9:30 p.m. 1/19);
8. Collin Mazyck, 24, 2700 block of Tivoly Ave. (11 p.m. 1/18);
7. Isaiah McKeiver, 19, 3500 block of Cliftmont Ave. (7 p.m. 1/18);
6. Edward Smith, 14, 800 block of Bethune Road (1/14);
5. Willie Joyner, 18, 400 block of E. 25th St., multiple stab wounds(1/12);
4. Zachariah/Zechariah/Zecariah Hallback, 18, bus stop at The Alameda and East 33rd St., shot during a robbery (d. 1/11);
3. Jerrell Brown, 30, 3000 block of W. North Ave., found at his home (1/8);
2. Jerome Waters, 32, 2800 block of Kentucky Avenue, shot on street (1/4);
1. Linwood Colvin, 28, 28, 800 block of Bethune Road, shot during a robbery

Friday! Friday! Friday!

This Friday at 7:30 at the Theatre Project there will be a staged reading of 2008's Murder Ink by everyone's favorite crime reporter, Anna Ditkoff, to benefit the House of Ruth.

Seven murders in five days

The 17-year-old boy shot in the head on Friday, Andre Thorpe, has died.

A female (reported both as a woman and a teenage girl) and a 16-year-old boy were killed last night in an apartment building in the 5600 block of Loch Raven Boulevard.

Lougene Williams III, 20, was shot to death in Waltherson

A 51-year-old deliveryman was shot multiple times in East Baltimore

"As investigators probe the disappearance of cars removed from Baltimore City's impound lot without owners' consent, the absence of the stolen cars from the city's auction list raises questions about how vital automobile information was acquired by alleged thieves."

A man was shot in the shoulder near Mondawmin mall last night; a man was stabbed in the side at 3:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of McHenry St. (this morning I assume)

Weekend

Will the mayor be indicted, or will the whole episode evaporate? We'll find out soon...

Three people were shot Jan. 2, including a 17-year-old shot in the head by a gunman in a white or grey car.

Have you seen missing alleged criminals Edward Reisch or Antonio Emmanuel Queen?

Luke Broadwater counts the 234

Cheeky

MD begins DNA collection, but will the state crime lab be able to process all of those samples?

Two days, three murders

A double homicide at the Forrest Street apartment complex, one man in black killed in the parking lot, the other found in a stairwell.

A man shot while walking in Edgewood

Hermann reminisces about hands-on police commissioners of days gone by (check out Ed Norris with hair!)

... so maybe the drop in homicides doesn't make everybody feel safer, but still, that represents 40-something lives, a Greyhound bus full of people. And maybe it indicate that the BPD is effectively applying evidence-based methods. (Or maybe it means we have 48 more undetermined deaths this year. Bur our New Year's resolution is to be less cynical).

The 233 of 2008

... see corrected list posted on 1/6

Ding Dong!

"Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld rung in the new year by personally arresting two people and seizing two sawed-off shotguns"

.. murder #1 happened at 12:50 near Patterson Park.

The Year in Homicide

Who reported it best?

"Murder count falls, hopes rise in city" by Justin Fenton of the Sun

"Baltimore not as bloody in '08 with fewer killings" by Ben Nuckols, AP

Reporter Showdown!
Who wrote it best?	Justin Ben
	Current Results

Life w/o Parole for Cop's Killer

At a hearing today Judge Timothy J. Doory sentenced Brandon Grimes, 23, of the 800 block of Cator Ave. today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and a consecutive 18-year prison term for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. A Baltimore City jury convicted Grimes August 29, 2008 following a two-week trial and deliberating approximately four hours over two days. Prior to the shooting, Grimes had been arrested 17 times in 3 1/2 years.
Details in this case, from the SAO:

In the early morning hours of January 9, 2007 Brandon Grimes fatally shot Baltimore Police Detective Troy Lamont Chesley, Sr. (right) in the 4500 block of Fairfax Rd. as Chesley was returning home from his shift.

Judge Doory told a courtroom filled with friends and family of Det. Chesley that this case “calls out for punishment” and described the murder as “brazen, cowardly, cruel and unjustified.” Det. Chesley’s mother and brother both delivered victim impact statements to the court prior to the sentencing today.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Wiggins of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

Rite Aid Robber Dies

"A suspect in a robbery of a Rite Aid store in Precinct 11/Essex has died of gunshot wounds suffered in a confrontation with a police officer this morning."

The Ink

The Ink includes the previously overlooked murder of David Woodward, 30, shot Dec. 23, died Christmas Day.

27 minors murdered in 2008

Including baby Blevins (#164).

Gary Mann, shot to death in the 5100 block of Palmer Avenue at 7:23 a.m. on December 16 at the age of 24, also appears to be a new addition to the toll that brings the count to 234-- or is he one of our unid'ds?

233?

"Baltimore City police said a man's body was found Tuesday afternoon in Gwynns Falls Park, and they called the discovery a suspicious death"

"Racial disparity still plagues Maryland corrections system"

MD judges lose a week of vacation!

231, 232

Sunday the 28th, Edgar Christopher Mazyck, 39, died after being shot at Edmondson Discount Mart. Mazyck left the store and was shot by an unknown assailant as he walked back inside.

Last night, a man and a woman shot near Druid Hill park, the man has died, the woman is in critical condition.

Four old people charged with murder of Brooklyn teen

Forty-six-year-olds Joseph Richardson and Lawrence Lewis, 43-year-old Virgil Hitchen and 53-year-old Patricia Trusty are being held without bail in the fatal shooting of Steven Graham, 14. According to charging documents, the suspects were seeking retribution for a robbery at a Brooklyn home Nov. 18.

Best Buy Cares Indeed!

So I had a washing machine delivered this morning from the Timonium Best Buy, and on the way out the delivery guy have me this card requesting that I "please take a few minutes to answer some questions" regarding my "delivery experience" ... and he told me that if he didn't get at least two customers to go online every day to delivery.bestbuycares.com and fill out the survey then Best Buy would dock his paycheck!!

That can't be legal, can it?

County police need help to ID gunshot victim

"Baltimore County Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the body of an adult male, believed to be Hispanic, discovered deceased in the roadway. His body was found in the eastbound lanes of Pulaski Highway east of Stevens Road, 21162 in Precinct 11/Essex."

No S, no M in quintuple shooting

A quintuple shooting: "some of the victims were found Sunday along Wheeler Avenue near West Fayette Street. More victims were found along North Gorman Avenue and in the 100 block of North Benatalou Street." Three victims were female, one was a 16-year-old boy. No suspects, no motive.

The 22-year-old woman found shot to death in Canton last weekend was identified as Alaina Ciara High, apparently a frequent and habitual drug user.

"I have to kill someone for my family," said a 13-year old boy who broke into a woman's home at 10 in the morning, armed with a knife

Police are searching for two missing Landsdowne teens, one of them is suicidal

"Community activists and families of people whose deaths remained unclassified are planning to hold a candlelight vigil outside the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore on Wednesday evening. The vigil, scheduled for 6 p.m., is being held to honor the hundreds of people in Baltimore whose deaths have been ruled 'undetermined' during the past decade."

Take a guess: how many MD law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty so far in '08?

Under-trained OB/GYNs lead to a deadly c-section rate in MD

Crazy-driving dad saves day

In PGC, a kidnapped family is saved by dad's erratic driving!

An arrest in the Edgewood Christmas Eve murder

The MD Court of Appeals is considering how much privacy blog commentors deserve.

For what it's worth... reader opinions of the death penalty haven't changed much since last year.

230

An unidentified woman reportedly found murderized on the property of William C. March Middle School at 1919 N Broadway.

Prison-Industrial Complex

"... the fastest-growing, least-examined type of incarceration in America, an industry that detains half a million people a year, up from a few thousand just 15 years ago. The system operates without the rules that protect criminal suspects, and has grown up with little oversight, often in the backyards of communities desperate for any source of money and work."

Related Rodricks: Immigrants pay taxes

The good, the evil and the stupid

Early this morning two people were shot at Club 410 at Belair & Moravia Rds. in the NE.

"Police have relocated an 87-year-old after a firebombing attempt on her home in the Walbrook neighborhood, authorities said yesterday. The incident occurred early Saturday morning, two days before she was to appear in court to face her alleged attacker in a March home invasion."

Hermann: "Adrian McFadden was pointing a black six-shot revolver at Avon Ball Jr.'s face and threatening to pull the trigger. Ball's foster brother, George T. Johnson, stared back at the gunman and pleaded, 'Don't shoot him, shoot me.' The gunman obliged ..."

A man was shot at E. Monument and N. Port streets.

Tales of the stupid: A Baltimore man stopped for speeding in Easton was arrested for impersonating a police officer after flashing a defunct Loyola College security badge.

229

A 22-year-old woman was shot to death in Canton last night in the 800 block of S. Bouldin St.

Ronald Comer Hall, 46, was shot to death at Broadway and E. Lanvale

228

An unidentified man was shot in the head at North Fremont Avenue and Bennett Place.

Hermann follows up on the story of Carlos Woods, a boy caught in crossfire at age 3, now 10 years old.

Trooper fired after getting drunk, kidnapping man, subjecting him to white-knuckle ride in Towson

Three gun-toting felons got some Rod time, including Jermaine Bell, accused of paying $45k for the murders of three harewin-trade rivals (and the DOJ is now publishing press releases as PDFs, how annoying)

Media blabber: Tim Franklin, editor and VP of The Sun, has jumped ship. His successor will be the guy who was the mastermind behind the launch of that wildly popular paragon of intellectual progress, "b." And only good can come of that.

The End

Michael Johnson Jr., suspected serial rapist, shot himself twice and died in a boarding house near Albany, N.Y.

Just asking

A program in Mexico pays poor people to take their children to doctor's visits and send them to school. Could it work here?

Hearth and Home

More details on the murder of Travis Makofski/Mafoski, 28: he was shot during the course of a home invasion, in which a gun was held to his mother's head. No word on if the suspects were caught (but odds are they haven't been).
Especially between now and Christmas, don't open the door to anyone if you're not sure who it is! It's the most dangerous time of the year right now!

"Police advise crime victim to move"

"Two veteran Baltimore city homicide detectives are facing an internal investigation after allegedly refusing to cooperate in attempts to evict a public housing tenant."

"A Goucher College student who allegedly was sexually assaulted has come forward but is not cooperating with Baltimore County police, police said."

What the?! Dept:
"A man who was convicted of four sex offenses involving a 14-year-old girl is entitled to a new trial because of the way the last member of the jury was chosen, the Court of Appeals held."

"A Prince George's County police lieutenant charged four times this year with driving under the influence passed out behind the wheel of a running police cruiser in one incident, had to be Tasered and pepper-sprayed in another and was at fault in a hit-and-run in a third"

227

Thaddeus McCauley, 19, was shot to death in the 1400 block of Homestead.

In the county, a man stabbed his "girlfriend" to death

A guy was shot in the leg near City College

LOLZ!! "Chief judge exempts other judges from pay cuts"

In better news, the Medical Examiner's office has complied with the Freedom of Information Act and released information on unclassified deaths as requested by the Examiner.

10 people shot

this week, mapped by Spotcrime.

The futility of it all

An excellent, very depressing CP article about Anna Sowers: "one woman's futile attempt to confront a city's most entrenched problems."

Murder news updates in the Ink, and a sobering stat: if we had NYC's homicide rate, we would have had 38 murders this year (!!)

Why does MD keep hiring other state's rejects? The latest prize pick is deputy secretary for Behavioral Health and Disabilities Renata Henry, run out of Delaware on a rail for her alleged mismanagement of the state's psychiatric hospital.

Arrests for the murder of Rubin Nelson.

What the?! The MVA hired a man convicted of stealing cars, who then allegedly proceeded to ... steal cars.

What the #2?! City police executed a search warrant on the home of Bealefeld's father-in-law.. ISO child porn!

The Innocence Project has filed a complaint with the State Police against the problem-plagued city crime lab

Melanie Blevins, mother of the baby found dead behind St. John's church, was officially charged with murder. Charging docs say the baby may have also experienced "pressure to the neck." Sigh.

QTD: "Honey ... your ex-boyfriend needs an attitude adjustment. The kind given in the workshop sponsored by those famous and esteemed Americans Mssrs. Smith and Wesson."

Report challenges conventional wisdom: Postponements have little effect on conviction rates.

Seven students were arrested after a brawl at Overlea High, and a student's father was arrested for interfering while his child was being arrested. He should hook up with this lady.

Yo

Total male in total jail

Fugitive Shawn Green was arrested in PA.

224, 225, 226

A fatal shooting this morning near Pimlico race course

A fatal shooting yesterday evening on the east side at North Lakewood Avenue and East Chase Street

A man was shot to death last night on Fairlawn Ave., reportedly the 3rd person this year to be killed near the Rogers Avenue metro station.

The man stabbed to death on Jack St. last week was ID'd as Larry Gaither, 44.

What the?! A mother was taken to Central Booking and her son and another boy were hauled to juvie after a fracas with a school police officer

Police have obtained a warrant seeking the arrest of two alleged accomplices of Juwann Smith in connection with the theft of cars from the city's impound lot.

it's nice to see someone being exposed to literature

The drama!

A rooftop chase in Washington Village led to the arrests of two attempted robbers

Not one but two idiots incidents in the blotter in which would-be victims grabbed the guns of would be-robbers.

Good news: police report that violence against prostitutes has gone down

'Domestic incidents'

Dashia Jones-Jenkins, 20, was shot in the 1900 block of Madison Avenue, police say it was a 'domestic incident'

The tragic story of Veronica Williams, killed by her abusive husband in front of the North Ave. courthouse

The Sun reports that the tough economy can "push frustrated men into acts of violence."

Have you seen Quinzell Tyrell Covington, left, wanted for first-degree murder? Note giant teardrop tattoo.

A man shot in the eye; a man shot in the leg

Chinese Cuisine shooting victim Marvin Edmonds to Luke Broadwater: 'I felt like a piece of nothing'

College students and an employee of the state's attorney's office busted on hairron conspiracy charges

Good point, Greg "Kan": what happened to that $58 million?