Outdoorsman

Bealefeld holds roll call on 33rd Street.

15 Years for Doubly Deadly Stabbing Spree

From the SAO:

At a hearing today Judge Pamela J. White imposed the agreed-upon sentence for Steven J. Lashley, 32, of the 2000 block of Paulette Road: 30 years in prison suspend all but 15 years, two concurrent five year prison terms and three years probation.

Lashley pled guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree assault May 19, 2010. The State agreed to the plea when the State’s main witness, a woman previously convicted of manslaughter, told the parties that she intended to invoke her Fifth Amendment right and would not testify if called as a witness.

On September 22, 2005 Lashley stabbed three people in the 400 block of Water Street at Commerce Street following an altercation in a nearby New York Fried Chicken restaurant. Stanley Thomas, Jr was killed and two others were injured.

it's curtains for you, Miranda, my dear...

The US Supreme court rules "a suspect who has received and understood the Miranda warnings, and has not invoked his Miranda rights, waives the right to remain silent by making an un-coerced statement to the police."

Another victim

Another man shot dead on West Baltimore Street

Man shot in the head

Man shot in the head and killed on North Fulton.

8 homicides

Domestic stabbing makes it 8 slayings for the weekend.

Carrolton residents angered over surge in voilence.

Rough weekend

Double shooting, two more deaths

What?

???man shot in the leg while driving on Route 100 near Glen Burnie

Lawyer for teen comvicted of shooting a 5 year old girl in the head wants a new trial

Kids lay waste to abadoned rec center in East Baltmore

Homicides

Some mayhem last night, with two homicides occruing minutes and blocks apart.

ACLU on defense

The ACLU has decided to defend a man who recorded a traffic stop with a Maryland State Trooper and posted it on Youtube. He has been charged with...wire tapping!

Taser death, charges dropped in murder case

Man dies after being tasered by county police

Witnesses disappear, charges dropped in murder of elderly man

Bad motel

Bad things happened at this motel...

Former CFO of the MD Legal Aid bureau, Benjamin L. King Jr., charged in scheme to steal $1.1 million from the organization. Fun fact: King's dad was the first African-American to earn a CPA license in MD.

... another crazy family murder-for-hire-scheme! Dundalk bar owner Lee Martin was apparently done in by his brother-in-law at the behest of his wife, who claims to have been a victim of domestic violence. Unlike the crazy byatch in the county, there may actually be evidence to support her allegations. All four suspects are being held without bail.

Biggest loser

Peter Hermann on an arrest tied to the largest collection of child porn ever found in Maryland.

How not to ditch a gun

Rolling it up in your shirt after you just shot someone doesn't work.

Drug lab in Woodlawn

Police believe a illegal drug lab sparked a fire in Woodlawn.

Shootings, questions in bar owner's murder, and rants

Police investigate 7 shootings and one homicide over the weekend

More questions surrounding the shooting of a Dundalk bar owner

I.V. Editor Regina Holmes (and city resident) not pleased that Pat Jessamy said it's okay to pay jailed sex offender taxpayer funded sick leave.

Charges dropped against MTA cop

Charges dropped against MTA cop accused of raping a 15 year old who asked him for directions.

Abductions continued, bar owner slain

Getting snatched off the street is becoming a bigger risk in the drug game.

Popular Dundalk bar owner gunned down over the weekend.

CP has the inside beat on Big Boyz bail bonds pens, apparently in Baltimore putting the name of your business on a writing tool is a subtle but sure stroke of marketing genius.

also, a rally for a theatrical worker struck and killed on Howard. Anyone with info call police

Car thief shot in Mt Vernon

Off-duty cop shoots car thief in Mt. Vernon

Getting in on it

A tax on illegal gambling may soon fill city coffers, Coming soon: the "crack cocaine tax."

'MD Slaps Domestic Violence Victims in Face'

Ms. magazine slams MD's restraining order policies

Police say the 21-year-old felon initially accused of giving a toddler gonorrhea is "'not being considered a suspect' at this time." Notably, the incubation period for gonorrhea is 2 to 30 days.

Abduction, homeless issues

Another possible fatal abduction in Baltimore.

City council wants to expempt the homeless from steeper fines for urinating in an alley, constitutional questions abound.

More homicides

Police release details on several homicides dating back to May 8th

Prosecutors: It's okay to defraud the city

This is true, the office of Patricia Jessamy has concluded that sex offender Dennis McLaughlin was entitled to fraudulently obtained sick pay that he received while in prison for sexually abusing a minor. Thus there will be no charges filed against the people who filed the fake leave slips, forged the doctors' notes, or even against McLaughlin, who received the pay while in prison and is now laughing all the way to the bank. btw, he's still in jail for impersonating a police officer, abducting a woman, and sexually assaulting her.

For those of us who live in the city, your tax dollars at work.

Don't speak

School police officer who warded off gang at Carver High is charged for speaking to the media.

Cult Death Sentence Explained

It's a long one, but what the heck. Julie Drake, Division Chief of the Felony Family Violence Division, must still be getting flak about the Ria Ramkissoon sentence, because she released this letter today:

This is in response to e-mail messages that have been forwarded to me by citizens who have questions or concerns regarding the sentencing of Ria Ramkissoon. Ria Ramkissoon was the mother of 16 month old Javon Thompson, who died of dehydration and starvation while living with a cult in West Baltimore. I am happy to respond to questions and comments regarding Ms. Ramkissoon’s closed case, but first it is important to understand the facts which formed the basis for Ms. Ramkissoon’s guilty plea and the trial of her co-defendants.

In April of 2006, Javon Thompson, then 7 months old, lived with his mother (Ria Ramkissoon), his grandmother (Seeta Newton), and other relatives here in Baltimore City. Ms. Ramkissoon was in school, studying to become a pharmacy technician. However, she had two desires. First, she wanted to be able to stay home and care for Javon full-time. Second, although she had been raised in Hindu faith, Ms. Ramkissoon had converted to Christianity, and wanted to live in a Christian household. Around that time Ms. Ramkissoon was persuaded by a friend to join a household run by a woman who called herself “Queen Antoinette”. Ms. Ramkissoon was told that this was a Christian household, where she could devote herself to the care of her child.

Toni Sloan, aka “Queen Antoinette” ran her household under a strict set of rules, which she said were based on Biblical principles. As time passed, the rules multiplied and became more restrictive. Eventually, all members were required to give up their personal possessions (including birth certificates and identification), as well as contact with old friends and family. Members were forbidden to dress in colors other than white, khaki or blue. The children were not permitted to attend school and the women were expected to stay home and home-school and care for the children. With the exception of Queen Antoinette, her daughter Trevia Williams (“Princess Trevia”), and her chief aide, Marcus Cobbs (“Prince Marcus”) no one could leave the house, unless they were accompanied by another member. Queen Antoinette claimed that God had appointed her queen and spoke directly to her; failure to follow her rules would result in damnation.

One morning in early 2007, Javon Thompson, then 16 months old, refused to say “amen” after the blessing before breakfast. Queen Antoinette told the others that Javon possessed a “spirit of rebellion”, and that God told her that the way to purge Javon of this evil spirit was to deprive him of food and water until he said “amen”. At first, Javon became more hungry and irritable. As he cried, Queen Antoinette warned the household members not to feed him. Ms. Ramkissoon was so distraught over this that Queen Antoinette ordered Trevia Williams to take control of Javon – she did not want Ria to disobey her order. When it became clear that Javon was on the verge of death, he was returned to his mother and he died in her arms.

After Javon’s death, Queen Antoinette ordered everyone to kneel and pray for his resurrection. God would bring Javon back to life, she said, but only if they had enough faith. When Javon did not respond initially to the group’s prayers, they placed his body in one of the bedrooms. As the days passed, and Javon’s body began to decompose, the only person who remained by his body, praying, reading and singing to Javon, was his mother. When Ms. Ramkissoon wondered why Javon had not risen from the dead, Queen Antoinette told her that it was her fault – she wasn’t a good enough mother and she didn’t have enough faith. Ms. Ramkissoon believed her.

After a visit from the landlord, Queen Antoinette informed the group that God had told her that it was time to move to Philadelphia. At the insistence of Ms. Ramkissoon, who still believed that Javon would be resurrected, his decaying body was placed in a green suitcase which was taken with the group to Philadelphia. The suitcase was secured in a locked shed in Philadelphia when the group moved on to New York. Meanwhile, Seeta Newton had filed a missing persons report for Ria and Javon. Ultimately the authorities were able to piece the cases together, located Javon’s body, and arrested the cult members. Ria Ramkissoon, Queen Antoinette, Trevia Williams and Marcus Cobbs have been in jail since their arrest. As of the trial date, Ms. Ramkissoon still believed that Javon could be resurrected.

On March 30, 2009, Ms. Ramkissoon pled guilty to child abuse resulting in the death of Javon Thompson. The basis of her guilty plea was her failure to feed Javon or seek medical treatment, after the point when feeding would have been dangerous. Under Maryland law, her admittedly sincere religious beliefs did not constitute a defense. Pursuant to the terms of her plea agreement, Ms. Ramkissoon was required to (1) testify truthfully against Queen Antoinette, Trevia Williams, and Marcus Cobbs at their trial, and (2) participate in and successfully complete a long-term, in-patient program in a residential treatment facility selected by the State’s Attorney’s Office. At Ms. Ramkissoon’s insistence, the court agreed that if Javon is resurrected (not reincarnated), she can come back to court and withdraw her guilty plea. Ms. Ramkissoon received a sentence of 20 years, with all but the time she has already served suspended, and 5 years probation. She testified at the trial of Queen Antoinette, Trevia Williams and Marcus Cobbs, helping to secure convictions of all three on charges of second degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. Immediately after her sentencing and release from Baltimore City Detention Center, Ms. Ramkissoon was driven to the residential treatment facility where she will be held indefinitely.

I will attempt to summarize and answer the questions I have received regarding Ms. Ramkissoon’s case.

(1) Why did Ria Ramkissoon receive probation instead of a lengthy jail sentence?
Isn’t this just a “slap on the wrist”?

There are a number of reasons why one co-defendant receives a more lenient sentence than the others. There were several factors which applied to Ms. Ramkissoon’s case.

First, it was clear to everyone that the central and most culpable defendant in this case was Queen Antoinette. She was the leader of the cult. She was the individual who issued the order to withhold food and water from Javon. Queen Antoinette was the defendant who warned the others not to feed Javon, and who removed Javon from Ms. Ramkissoon’s control in order to ensure that she did not feed him. In order to secure justice for Javon, our first priority was to convict Queen Antoinette of child abuse and murder, and secure a substantial prison term in her case. In order to do that, it was necessary to obtain eye-witness testimony regarding what had occurred. Although Ms. Ramkissoon did not want to testify against anyone, she was willing to tell the truth. Her truthful testimony was essential to obtaining Queen Antoinette’s conviction.

Second, and equally important, I believe that justice was best served by placing Ms. Ramkissoon in a residential treatment facility rather than in prison. It was clear to everyone who interviewed Ms. Ramkissoon that she had been indoctrinated through classic “brain-washing” techniques into a cult. She had no malice or ill will toward Javon; quite the contrary, she believed Queen Antoinette was acting in his best interests by attempting to free him from an “evil spirit”. Nonetheless, she was extremely distraught when Javon began showing signs of distress, and Queen Antoinette actually removed him from her control in order to ensure that she didn’t disobey her order. After Javon’s death, Ms. Ramkissoon spent weeks by his decomposing body, praying for the resurrection Queen Antoinette told her would occur if only she had sufficient faith. This was not an individual who was acting out of a classic criminal intent (e.g. malice, anger, desire for revenge or gain), but rather a mother who has and will suffer anguish over the result of her inaction.

It is important to note that Ms. Ramkissoon’s attorney sought a finding of “not criminally responsible” for his client. (This is Maryland’s alternative to the old insanity defense.) The main reason she was not found “not criminally responsible” is because her “delusions” were of a religious nature and were shared by other people; therefore they could not be classified as a “mental disorder”. This opinion was provided by the State’s psychiatrist. The defense was prepared to present expert testimony that she was “not criminally responsible”.

It is also important to note that Ms. Ramkissoon was not simply released to freedom. A condition of her probation is that she remain in and successfully complete a long-term, in-patient, residential treatment program. This residential treatment facility was selected by DeVera Gilden, L.C.S.W.-C., a clinical forensic social worker, who works for the State’s Attorney’s Office in the Felony Family Violence Division. After reviewing many options, and visiting this facility, it was her judgment that this intensive program would offer the most appropriate supervision and therapeutic services necessary for Ms. Ramkissoon’s slow process of rehabilitation. Should she leave the facility “AMA”, fail to successfully complete the program, or violate any other condition of her probation, she could be incarcerated for 20 years (with credit for the 19 months she has already spent in jail).

(2) Why did the judge agree to let Ms. Ramkissoon withdraw her guilty plea if Javon is resurrected?

If Ms. Ramkissoon’s religious beliefs are correct, and Javon resurrects, then it would be legally appropriate for her attorney to file either a “Bill of Actual Innocence” or a “Motion to Reconsider Based on Newly Acquired Evidence”. That said, I do not share Ms. Ramkissoon’s religious beliefs, and I believe the likelihood of Javon’s resurrection in my lifetime is too remote to be a concern. (I carefully specified on the record that this condition involved resurrection of Javon’s body – not reincarnation into another body). Since Ms. Ramkissoon insisted on this condition, the State had no objection to it. The court simply accepted the plea agreement between the State and Defense.

(3) Did Ms. Ramkissoon receive special treatment because she is not “white”?

No.

(4) Did Ms. Ramkissoon receive special treatment because she is a submissive woman?

No. Marcus Cobbs was offered a plea deal, which his attorney rejected.

(5) Where was Javon’s father?

Javon’s father has not been involved in his son’s life to any significant degree. At the time of Javon’s birth, he was in jail. He has been physically abusive to Ms. Ramkissoon and other members of her family.

(6) Is the prosecutor too lenient?

As a prosecutor, my ethical obligation is to do justice, not to secure a conviction or the maximum possible sentence. In the case of Ria Ramkissoon, I believe the guilty plea and sentence were just – to her, to her mother, Seeta Newton, and to Javon. I believe this outcome is what Ms. Newton wanted and what Javon would have wanted. In other circumstances I would make different sentencing recommendations. In my last case, in which I prosecuted Mark Castillo for drowning his three children, I asked for and received a sentence of three consecutive life terms without parole. This was the harshest sentence the defendant could have received. It is my belief that justice requires a meticulous review of the facts and the evidence, the role of each defendant, and the wishes of the surviving, innocent family members. That is what I did in this case. I respect the fact that not everyone will agree with me, but I would ask those who disagree to take a careful look at the factors I considered, before rushing to judgment.


Julie Drake
Division Chief
Felony Family Violence Division
Office of the State’s Attorney for the Baltimore City

Mortgage Fraud

Some good stuff from CP's Ed Erikson on the role investors in the city's Well Fargo lawsuit. Looks like committing Mortgage fraud is lot easier and safer than being a drug dealer,

Jury to start deliberations on home invasion and murder of Baltimore businessman who was shot in the back of the head after he was only able to come up with $1500.

Lawsuit settled, puppy beaten

SupCo: "the federal government can keep 'sexually dangerous' prisoners in custody past the completion of their sentences, overruling arguments that only states hold such power."
Also, no life terms for juveniles who haven't killed someone

Whistle-blowing police officer settles lawsuit with city

Puppy beaten to death on golf course

More from the "Crime Beat" on the search for missing man/ homicide victim Matthew Martin

Body found in patapsco park

Is identified as a Baltimore area man who disappeared last month.

B-more goes national

City officials who paid a sex offender while he was in prison for sexually abusing a minor are now getting national attention for their generosity.

67

Police tweet, "STABBING - 2800 Harford Rd. Adult male fatally stabbed."
also
"SHOOTING - 1000 N. Broadway. Adult male shot. Alert and responding at this time. District Detective Units Investigating. about 8 hours ago via UberTwitter

UPDATE - 3313 PATON AVE. INCIDENT IS A HOMICIDE BY SHOOTING."

Pigtown bar gets crazy, the council gets mad

A sign filled with racial slurs posted on the front of recently shut-down Pigtown bar leads to arrest of rowdy owner.

Meanwhile, BPD Commish Bealefed and the city council sqaure off over allegations racism in the department.

Surprise! man sought in sexual abuse of toddler has previous convictions

Shooting

Shooting in East Baltimore.

What the?!

"Gonorrhea confirmed in 18-month-old"

From Jay Z to Barbie

SRB lets it all hang out on her ethics disclosure form

2 shootings

2 shootings in North Baltimore in no time

More funny

... Baltimore tourism promotion ad running on Facebook

testifying against "Turkey" ... asking for witness protection... dialing 911 and getting put on hold... writing assailant's name in blood on carpet...?

Getting tough on city employees

Rough times for city employees, SRB says they have fess up when they've been arrested, and might have to give up their job while in jail.

Also, city taxpayer=not happy

"Boyfriend" Andrew Jackson charged with strangling his pregnant girlfriend, Betsy Sue Riggin, 29. Riggin was 5 months pregnant, fetuses are generally considered viable after 28 weeks.

Three men plead guilty in $20m pawn shop scheme

O'Malley: MD's crime lowest since 1975

I am not making this up

... Baltimore's unveiled a new tourist slogan, and it is...
"find your happy place" !!!
Lolz!

Woman forced to confess by gang, IG issues report

The woman who told police she stabbed her boyfriend last year was lying...turns out gang members had scared her into confessing to cover up their role

Inspector General: The city paid Dennis Mclaughlin $12,700 while serving a jail sentence for sexually abusing a minor, including 5 holidays!

Three dead over the weekend

Three dead and a few shootings this weelend.

Homicide in South Baltimore, triple shooting

A man was beaten to death in South Baltimore, triple shooting in Southwest.

More on the salon shooting from Peter hermann.

Dixon strikes again

Former Mayor Sheila Dixon billed city taxpayers $11,000 for make-up work.

3 city police officers charged with kidnapping

Alleged Killers of Ken Harris to be tried in August

Marty Burns of the SAO writes,
"Monday, May 3, 2010 UPDATE on NEW TRIAL DATE: Prosecutors have been notified that the new trial date in this matter is August 30, 2010 before the Honorable David Ross. This matter is specially assigned for a date certain. MTB"
.. what does that mean?

Parking ticket amensty, mayhem

The city council wants to give scofflaws a second chance.

Man found face down on Baltimore Street with several gunshot wounds. One Hickey School escapee is caught.

Two shot

Two men shot on the way to work

16-year old killed.

Once again, the trial for the alleged killers of city councilman Ken Harris is postponed.

Short Search is Over

A quick search ended today whith the arrest of Troy "TJ" Traylor and Damon Bradford Olivari relating an armed robbery in Towson.

Car stop

Do police need to rent an infinti to bust drug dealers?

Bus stop stripper

A young woman in need of cigarette money decided to take it all off at city bus stop.

Jive Turkeys

Only two murders this week, only 53 so far this year!

35 years for "Turkey," associated with organization responsible for murder of Sintia Mesa

Anguished mom sees 2nd conviction for 2nd murdered child

... there's a headline: "U.S. ARMY SOLDIER SENTENCED TO OVER 17 YEARS IN PRISON FOR OPERATING A BROTHEL"; perp was a 23-year-old from Chillicothe, Ohio operating out of Millersville.

Day late & dollar short dept: after teacher Hanna Wheeling was murdered at Cheltenham, the Department of Juvenile Services "instituted several safety measures, in terms of increased lighting throughout the campus [and] implemented the buddy system for employees." In the meantime, Donald DeVore, head of Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services, honored Wheeling's years of service and brutal murder by shirking a requested appearance at the state house.

Man-up

City employee arrested trying to put manhole in car to sell for scrap.

Home evasion

City Solicitor says Council Prez Jack Young did not commit crime when he put his name of the deed of his sister's home that was purchased with federal aid.

Dad shot in head during home invasion in Park Heights

School.cop/coach to be fired

School police want to fire a cop who warded of a gang threatening one of his players. Turns out he wasn't authorized to coach that the time the gang spat occured

Boys gone wild

Two murders this past weekend

Cleaven Williams Jr., accused of stabbing his wife outside of the courthouse after she secured a protective order against him, has been declared competent to stand trial.

Murder of Darren Green Jr., aka Miss Dee, April and Kelly Bundy, "sheds light on misunderstood [transgender] community"

County police are ISO a home-invasion suspect who should be pretty easy to find with his giant neck tattoo.

Suspicious death

Body found in Park Heights.

Knife waving at the firehouse

The city's Inspector General said a knife waving incident that resulted in the arrest of a city firefighter was the result of taunting and harrassment condoned by supervisors.

Former police spokesman suspended

Troy Harris, the former police spokesman who was transferred to patrol for sending a nude picture to WBAL TV is in trouble again.

Crime Odds and Ends

In a bit of good news, an arrest is made in the killing of a 72 year old man.


Have you seen this man? He's wanted in connection with a slaying from earlier this month.


In yet another incident of bar violence, five people are stabbed near the Carlos O'Charlie's bar. Expect to see Carlos O'Charlie's facing severe padlock pressure from the BPD.


Watch, they'll still probably acquit him; a man is arrested after shooting another man in front of both security cameras and two city detectives.


And finally, life in prison for career offender and heroine kingpin David Rich.

Probation for Mom in Toddler Cult Death

Said prosecutor Julie Drake, "Ria and her child were just pawns in the Queen's fantasy world"

Media blabber

"Tribune Co. and its creditors agreed Monday to accept the appointment of an independent bankruptcy examiner in the Chapter 11 case, opening the door to further scrutiny of Tribune Co. Chairman Sam Zell's 2007 leveraged buyout of the Chicago-based media conglomerate." reports... the Tribune.
Malkovich Malkovich!

Rough week for the BPD

Another officer suspended for playing with his gun, this time a BPD sergeant is alleged to have pistol whipped a man in Atlantic City New Jersey.

Abductions

Street snatching are becoming a popular tactic.

A couple of DC middle school students abducted their teacher.

Justice Stevens speaks out for pot

Interesting take on the retiring supreme court justice and his public questioning of the war on drugs.

County Police versus city

Justin Fentpn tells an interesting tale of some county cops wrestling a city cop to the ground. Looks like the city guy was being impolite with his gun.

Bodies in the habor

A friend of the most recent hispanic male found in harbor last week say foul play can't be ruled out.

Another child murder?

Police have charged a Baltimore man with child abuse in connection with the death of his 2 year-old daughter.

Get ready to pay

Open container fines and urinating in public are about to get a whole lot pricier.

3 homicides last night

Mayhem and violence and at least 3 dead.

Helping a sex offender get paid by the city while in jail

May get you fired...maybe, I mean he was sick.

Lamont Davis Convicted

... of attempted murder for the shooting of Raven Wyatt

What the?! Foster mother rejected by DHR for not serving pork

What the?! MD's speed cameras not catching enough violators to earn their keep

and WTF? Toxic waste from mobile meth labs blights highways

Body found in water in Fells Point

A floater near the water taxi.

New laws, bad lists

Two new laws - one that would expunge peace orders that judges later toss, another that would allow juveniles charged with a crime to be tested for lead poisining.

Also, police are pretty PO'd at Jessamy for placing detectives on the "do not call" list.

Pit Bull miss

A polcie officer got off a few shots at an attacking Pit Bull last night

F Your I

Says the SAO: "Closing arguments are to be set approximately at 11:30AM today in the Lamont Davis trial in court room 509 Courthouse East."
Hope someone not on the Sun editorial board drops in to report their impressions.

Payroll scandal

City employees who helped a sex offender stay on city payroll while in jail may face criminal charges.

no good deeds...

LOLZ! Feds say gang outreach program started with $400k of city money used as cover for Black Guerilla Family

Reisterstown Medicine Shoppe pharmacist gets six years in federalle prisonne for conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone

Keith and Kinard pled guilty to armed carjacking-- they were caught after the victim jumped out of the car at a red light!

What the ?! Colombia weirdo given 10 days in jail for wearing fake navy uniform

'Our view'

Thanks for pointing out this bull doody, non:
"At Lamont Davis’ trial, it was hard to tell the victims from the perps; all these young people have been betrayed by society’s indifference and neglect"

ps. I love how the url for this story ends "bs-ed-davis-trial-20100409,0,5637313.story"
Somebody at Sunspot knows what time it is!

.. and anyone else find it odd that the same paper that (rightfully) kvetches about the BPD not releasing officer's names doesn't have editors sign their own editorials?

47

(really 46.. but 47th noted here) "An adult male, the apparent victim of a shooting, was also found dead [yesterday] about 8:30 a.m. in the 5300 block of Denmore Ave." .. and three others wounded in shootings over the weekend.

Court records via Hermann: "Youth leader" Angleo Dangerfield shot over pit bull

It's the last day of the 2010 Annapolis session, and the sex offender bill is stalling. Is it just me, but did they not pass a whole lot of anything this session?

... not crime, but dingdong that's a lotta kablingy! Minority contractors score $84.6 million in federal dollars under the "stimulus package"

Clay family wants the iG report

The family said it will pressure SRB to release IG report on the death of Robert Clay, with hopes of getting the feds to open a civil rights case.

46

A man shot and killed Sunday evening on the corner of North Avenue and Aisquith.

Fatal carjack case dragged back to court

OMG! THIS case-- Bernard Eric Miller, charged with dragging Pam Basu to death with her own car as she tried to save her toddler. In 1993 my friend was a reporter at the Sun, and I went with her to the Towson courthouse for lack of anything better to do and ended up thoroughly traumatized. As awful as it sounds, the crime scene photos are worse. And I remember that lawyer-- his pants were too short and his hair was too long and he looked like he just rolled out of bed.
How awful this must be for that family. Ugh, ugh, ugh.

SC Justice Stevens stepping down

this summer.
More on SCOTUS' most venerable member from the NYKer last month

Media blabber

Sun's corporate parent, the Tribune Co, is preparing to exit bankruptcy. Reports the WSJ:

The settlement signals that the creditors have agreed to wipe out much of Tribune's roughly $13 billion in debt. In return, under Tribune's plan, the lenders would own the media company.

More tax dollars at work

City pays $30K to four DPW workers arrested after failing to come to the aid of police officer during an arrest. Says their attorney, the officer was white, his clients were black, 'they could have been shot.'

"Bill on relationship violence flags in session"

How Far can it Go?

City amends, refiles lawsuit against Wells Fargo

Rise & Shine with the BPD

From Twitter:

GUN ARREST - Great job Central Dist. Raid @ 2100 blk Brookfield Ave yields 106 cocaine vials, 18 capsules heroin, .357 handgun. 5 arrested. 3 minutes ago via UberTwitter

GUN ARREST - Chris Swinson (3/30/90) arrested for illegal .22 cal gun, & 25 ziplocks marijuana @ 2100 blk of Bolton. 34 minutes ago via UberTwitter

SHOOTING, 2901 GREENMOUNT, ADULT MALE SHOT, about 4 hours ago via UberTwitter

SHOOTING, 5300 YORK, ADULT MALE SHOT. HOMICIDE UNIT REQUESTED about 4 hours ago via UberTwitter

... IV reports that the shooting on Greenmount was fatal, the victim an elderly man
... the Sun reports he was at a carryout.
Another victim at the Yau Brothers?

A car chase ended in a crash in front of Captain Larry's in South Baltimore

Police and prosecutors disagree on the utility of crime cameras. How about saving $ by cutting off the blue lights? They've got to be thoroughly annoying (and humiliating) to people who have to live next to them. Wonder if any residents or homeowners have asked the city to remove the lights from their property sight lines?

Two homicides in Northern district

Two men shot and one suspicious death.

Your tax $ at work

A $7.4 million judgment against the BPD for family of man who died in custody .. according to the Sun, the victim, arrested for public urination, was allegedly killed after officers put him cuffed without a seat belt in the van, then intentionally drove recklessly, fracturing his spine.

Info sought on pack of juveniles that stoned a dog

No show

The ME's office says they won't show for a council hearing on "undetermined" deaths.

Triple shooting, one dead

Triple shooting in Northeast Baltimore last night

White powder

Someone keeps sending letters containing suspicious white powder, this time in a census office

After 50 years, "Pajama killer" mystery solved

No pot at the pharmacy this year!

Not so transparent

We may never know how a sex offender ,managed to stay on the city payroll while serving a prison term for sexually abusing a minor.