11 Days

Baltimore went a full 11 days without a homicide before two separate killings Sunday.

First a man who is officially unidentified at the moment was shot to death on the 2900 block of Edgecombe Circle North. WBAL is currently identifying him as 23-year-old Durrell Burrow, But there is no record of a man with that name anywhere I looked, and no other news sources are identifying him.

Shot on the 3400 block of Clifton Ave. was Catonsville resident Demetrius Lareese Sowers, 33.

An alleged police impersonator has been arrested. 24-year-old Lamel Pierce (Right) is suspected of having committed the first in a string of apparently un-related series of faux police operation robberies.

Two men were shot Friday night in two separate northeast Baltimore incidents.

Good 'ol Judge William D. Quarles has reversed the decision to release city police officer Daniel Redd, 41 on bail, citing "overwhelming" evidence.

Another arrest for weapons at BWI. This time it's Christopher Glen College, 44 who was charged with keeping a loaded .45-caliber gun in his carry on luggage.

A Brooklyn Park man is charged with stabbing his step-father and choking his mother in a late-night attack. Jesse Edward Chapman III was charged with a variety of serious crimes.

Apparent teenage "flash mob" hits a Montgomery County 7-11. Kids these days...

From play fighting with a buddy to stabbing him in the stomach... It apparently doesn't take much to set off 46-year-old John Murray, who is in custody facing attempted murder charges.

Ferndale resident Phyllis Marie Amonica, 38, has been charged with murdering her "boyfriend" 47-year-old James Gray Pfaff.

A case that is slowly unfolding into a very interesting series of seemingly very professional crimes get's new details. Craig Steven Brooks, 49, has been charged with robbery after impersonating a utility worker and robbing a woman who's gas pipe he was claiming to check. Mr. Brooks, mind you, had also been charged back in July alongside 46-year-old John F. Haston with impersonating Pepco workers during robbery turned homicide of a Bowie coin-operated laundry owner.
Craig Steven Brooks (Left)
John F. Hastons (Right)



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In International news:

Charges are expected to be laid against Gary Giordano in Aruba. Giordano, age 50, is currently the main suspect in the disappearance of Frederick resident Robyn Gardner. I'm very curious how a man with fairly recent arrests for shoplifting electronics can afford a 1.1 million dollar house.

In more sad news, Rockville resident Warren Weinstein has been abducted in Pakistan. Mr. Weinstein was in Pakistan to help develop their economy and fight poverty.

I'm Gonna Git You, Schaefer!

The FBI released files detailing death threats made to Willy Don in the 70's

Select Lounge Shooting Video, Pitcairn Murder Trial Testimony, and Much More

Police release video from the Select Lounge shooting.

The girlfriend of John A. Wagner, the man accused of stabbing JHU researcher Stephen Pitcairn to death, took the stand today.

Search for a MD woman missing in Aruba has been called off.

Police need help solving the March 17th killing of Brandon Carter. They hope that releasing video taken from inside the carry-out he was killed in may help.

After only 5 hours of jury deliberation, Antonio "Mack" Hall has been convicted of murdering federal informant Kareem Guest. Hall is apparently believed to be "connected to several drug-related killings in the city." I wonder if we'll ever find out who else he allegedly killed?

Police in Towson are on the lookout for an unidentified woman who is believed to have purchased $14,000 worth of merchandise using stolen credit cards.

Speaking of big money, police find $238,000 in a backpack in a suspected drug dealers car. Antonio Joseph Ward, 34, was charged with a bevy of drug related crimes.

A 20-year-old is in the hospital with a broken femur after being shot 4500 block of North Rogers St. Wednesday.

Bad news for our friends at the Sun. The Sun is looking to buy out between 20-25 employees soon. As you can tell, I rely very heavily on the Sun as a way of giving crime news to you folks, so it's always sad to hear when the Sun is cutting positions, and thus potentially cutting it's crime coverage.

City officer turned drug dealer is set to be released on bail. Daniel Redd, 41, will be held under electronic home monitoring at his mothers house.

Two Baltimoreans have been arrested for a string of PA bank hold-up's. Jason Ronald Dixon, 44 and Renee Fleet, 42 are being held on $300,000 bond.

Connection between suburbia mall robberies and city killing made. Derek Jones, 25, was shot to death just hours after being interviewed by police regarding his involvement in the capers. 20-year-old Deontaye Harvey and 19-year-old Aaron Pratt have been indicted federally for their roles in the robberies.

PG County police "want to talk" to Quindell Mercer, 34 (RIGHT). Mercer is a relative of a mother and son who were shot to death in their home last week. Mr. Mercer has a criminal history consisting of an arrest for Attempted murder from 1997, an arrest for Murder from 2005, as well as being currently wanted for attempted murder in South Carolina.

A true "inside look" into the use of clear televisions in MD prisons. I hate myself for using that pun.

15 years in death of an Annapolis toddler. Timothy Darnell Height, 18, who's picture is very prominently displayed on the page linked, plead guilty to smothering his girlfriends 1-year-old baby.

Woof

Controversy in New York about using service dogs to comfort victims who're testifying in court.

Snoop Cops a Plea, Canton Robber Strikes Again, and More

Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, who's character on the Wire was once described by Steven King as "...the most terrifying villain to ever appear in a television series" has plead guilty to drug charges. She will avoid any prison or jail time with a 7 year suspended sentence.

Testimony in the trial of John Wagner, the man suspected of stabbing JHU researcher Stephen Pitcairn, began today.

Serial robber Jerry Harcum is still on the loose, if you see him, let the cops know.

Document thief Barry Landau was released from jail today, and is now in a "lockdown situation."

14-year-old suspected grandma attacker Hassanhii Garrett will be tried in juvenile court, despite being charged with attempted-murder.

A 20-year-old Baltimore man is in the hospital after being shot several times on the 3800 block of 9th St.

An Annapolis police officer has been charged with manslaughter in the DUI death of 19-year-old. James Salyers, 52, was indicted for the October death.

A Germantown argument ends in gunfire. 26-year-old Dmytro Solomatin has been charged with attempted murder in the gas station shooting.

Laurel oncologist Isabella Martire, age 52, has plead guilty purchasing and subsequently giving misbranded drugs to cancer patients.She faces up to 1 year in prison.

In international news...

A Frederick woman is missing in Aruba, and authorities have zeroed in on a suspect, "travel companion" Gary Giordano.

And speaking of Marylanders facing long prison terms overseas, Potomac man Alan Gross has been sentenced to 15 years in Cuban prison after being charged with “crime against the independence and territorial integrity of the state.”

Tradgedy in Anne Arundel, Transgender Beating Plea Deal, and More

A terrible quadruple murder-suicide in Anne Arundel County. Kelly Brian Thompson, 33, shot and killed his wife and her twin 15-year-old children.

5 years for transgender beating suspect Teonna Monae Brown, according to a plea agreement released by County prosecutors today.

No charges will be filed in the Select Lounge shooting.

Police are on the lookout for the man who shot and severely wounded 14-year-old boy.

A city correctional officer has been killed in a weekend motorcycle accident. Devon Lomax, 34, died of his injuries after the Friday night crash.

A Harford county teen has been charged with stabbing a blind man to death. Donnell Graham, 17, has been arrested for the cold-blooded killing.

Police are currently ISO 18-year-old Ottus Maximum Savoy, wanted for the August 1st murder of

Dream's really don't come true, at least for Sen. Ulysses Currie, who surprise surprise, had his plea for dismissal of his bribery charges denied.

Have you seen this man? Jerry Jule Harcum, 26 (RIGHT) is wanted for robbing women all over Canton.

Two teens have been charged with the heartless robbery-murder of a 74-year-old man. PG County police have charged Marcus C. Ferguson, 16, and Kenneth B. Gails, 18, with the murder.

Montgomery County prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Brittany Norwood in the killing of her co-worker at a Rockville yoga shop.

Three weaponless men robbed an Arbutus bank at high noon Friday.

Just out of prison for previous robberies, Randolph Burke Wells, age 46 was sentenced to 17 years in the Federal pen for what is hopefully, his last bank robbery.

Three Baltimore man have been indicted for their roles in a series of armed robberies throughout the city.

Life in Federal lockup for an already imprisoned pedo. 50-year-old Franesiour Bryan Kemache-Webster, will never see the streets again after being convicted of attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Also, apologies for my lack of posting this past week, it seems that a battle between tree branch and my cable wires ended in a decisive victory for the tree branch, and a disappointing loss for my ability to update the blog.

Bwahahaha! Belinda Conaway drops lawsuit against blogger

"I knew in the long run she would end up humbled and humiliated,” crowed Adam Meister.

Guilty plea for McDonald's beatdown

Teonna Brown, 19, accused (& caught on tape) beating transgender woman Chrissy Lee Polis, pled guilty today to one count of first-degree assault and one count of a hate crime, says TDR. Sentencing is scheduled for next month.

Murderous Mid-Week

91-year old Irene Logan was stabbed to death in her Northeast Baltimore home. The article makes it sounds like it was probably a robbery-murder, but police haven't confirmed anything.

A decision on whether to charge the officers involved in the Select Lounge shooting is expected today.

Multiple shootings last night but not too many details.

A Baltimore County man was one of those charged in an international child porn bust.

A fellow named Evan Jackson apparently can't stay away from illegal guns. He has multiple prior gun arrests and is now charged with having an illegal "assault rifle."

Another gun bust at BWI.

There's been an arrest in the I-83 road rage case.

Cop shot in PG County, his injuries are non-life threatening.

Alleged document thief Barry Landau has a bail hearing today. Prosecutors claim he is a flight risk and want him held without bail.

DC sniper Lee Malvo wants to change his name.

One of the women caught on tape assaulting a transgendered woman at a Rosedale McDonalds in April goes on trial today.

Get your weed back

City police officer caught on tape offering to give weed back to suspect in exchange for sex

The Federales are not amused

Antonio Hall is on trial in US District Court for the murder of federal witness Kareem Guest.

Illegal immigrants selling fake documents in Fells Point. The feds do not approve. WJZ says the documents were being distributed from a house on the 200 block of South Broadway.

An Anne Arundel County councilman allegedly failed to file a tax return in 2005.

Road rage on I-83.

Axe attack in Frederick.

There was a police involved shooting in Northwest Baltimore early Tuesday morning. The suspect ended up at Shock Trauma and is in stable condition, the officer is unharmed.

He's Bay-uck

Michael Olesker is back and writing for the Patch, today about the mayor's underwhelming response to incidents in Guilford and Station North.

ps., if you enjoy getting news via blogs and pondering 'digital culture' you might like reading Jaron Lanier's You Are Not a Gadget (he was recently in the NYker).
(the Pratt has a copy & you can also read the first chapter free on Amazon.)

pps, I, the Cybrarian, MJB, have moved of 'relay' mode, if you haven't noticed, after about six years of updating the blog almost every day. I am just too busy. But I am really happy that TAB, PP and Sean have stepped up to keep it going. I find it helpful to read esp. if I'm out of town and want to just check my phone to find out what's been going down in town. SpotCrime is also great resource if you just want the latest quick deets on what is happening around a particular address. ... I wonder if there is a Baltimore Crime/ History/ Sociology book club in town, where one drinks tea or wine and eats snacks and bickers about the city's woes? ... there ought to be.

Say it ain't so!!

But it's true. After 10 years at the Sun, Julie Bykocwicz is leaving to report on Transportation Security for Bloomberg in DC. Her clear, concise and crucial reportage gave such a strong voice to the stories in this town, defining a decade here and in Annapolis. What a loss for us!

Tally Just Keeps Going Up...

The murder tally continues to proliferate with new victims...

118-120: So far Identified as Billy Lovitt, age 58, his 36-year-old stepdaughter, and an unknown 27-year-old male, were all shot to death in a terrible triple homicide and fire.

121: Dwayne Hawkins, 25, was added 3 years after his death during what was once believed to be a accidental fire.

122: Ryshawn Cox, 21, was found shot to death in the 900 block of N. Belnord Ave.

123. 47-year-old Unidentified Male was shot to death in a car at around 2am last night. in the 3600 block of Chesterfield Ave.



A look at how DC's murder rates have taken a completely opposite turn than that of Baltimore's.

The man convicted of throwing a chunk of concrete that killed an off-duty officer, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Sian James, 26, received the maximum possible sentence for his involuntary manslaughter conviction.

Prosecutors believe that the men who stole thousands of historical documents, may have flushed at least one important document down the toilet.

The then 14-year-old girl arrested for shooting two men, killing one, who laughed at her during an attempted robbery, has plead guilty. Arteesha Holt, now 15, faces up to 50 years when sentenced.

44-year-old Timothy Gaskins was sentenced to 54 years in prison for the attempted murder of two women outside Johns Hopkins Hospital. As you may or may not recall, Timothy Gaskins son; Timothy Gaskins Jr, 22, a suspected member of the Lueders Park Piru Bloods, was shot and killed on Memorial Day last year.
Also: Here's some more information on the Lueders Park Piru Bloods. And no, this information has not been verified... so read at your own behest.

Arrest in a Parkville Honda dealership heist. 22-year-old Walter Lafferty Jr.(Right) was charged with Burglary and Theft over $10,000. Police are still ISO a second suspect.

17-year-old Derrell Emmanuel Mason has been charged with stabbing to death Leonard R. Smith-Matthews, 21, outside a Hyattsville shopping center.

An arrest in the murder of the man found in the Choptank River. His step-daughter, Charlene R. Weddle, 45, and her friend, 34-year-old Mary S. Chider have been charged with first degree murder.

In PG County, Mount Rainier police officer Gene Gillette, age 27, has been arrested for attempted murder and various sexual offenses after he allegedly shot and attempted to sexually assault a man.

3rd life term for 41-year-old Darren Witmer, after being convicted of strangling his cellmate, 48-year-old Jeffrey Kay in the Western Correctional Institute.

An Overlea home was one of several places raided by Federal authorities in the crackdown of a multi-state prostitution ring.

City woman Viola Gregory, 69, is missing. If you see her, call the authorities immediately.

Two more members of the notorious 4x4 neighborhood drug ring in Baltimore have been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Shaun Hopkins, 21, and Larry Carlos, 23, will both spend a dime in Federal prison.

Monday Crime Roundup

One drug dealer too many in his Facebook pics for the newly canned former head of police internal affairs.

Convicted child killer Arthur Tyler Felton, 38, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for carjacking. He won't be eligible for parole for 10 years. Here's a story from when he was sentenced for the childs killing.

117, has been identified as promising basketball player Marcus Harvell, 18.

Police have arrested 38-year-old Dante Alexander Williams, for pushing his girlfriend out of a moving car on I-95.

More info on 20-year-old Chey Jordan, the man police believe shot an officer with a high powered rifle.

County Police seek two men, including one with a sweet semi-mohawk for the killing of George Bryant at the Club Baltimore.

Baltimore Police Officer/jilted ex, Lynette Glover, 35 has been arrested for shooting at her ex-guy pals house.

Two men are injured in non-fatal shootings in the city early Monday.

Two people shot in the county.

A pair of teenagers, Ryan Mackenzie McLean, 17, and Elrich Delona Smith, 18, have been arrested for the murder of 17-year-old Katelyn Messina and attempted murder of 22-year-old Darnell Hill in Randallstown. Random to note, but Elrich Smith's father, and namesake, was at one point an outdoor barber in East Baltimore.

"East Coast Rapist" Aaron Thomas, 39, has been linked to yet another PG County rape.

The death of 71-year-old Louis Nichols, who's body was found in the Choptank River, has been determined as a homicide.

Believe it or not; Senator Ulysses Curriewants his charges dismissed.
And I want a paid vacation to Sweden, but life's just cruel like that.

Few details.. but apparent "acid bomb" was thrown on city construction workers.

A Maryland state trooper is recovering after a man attacked and stabbed him on the Capital Beltway.

A Baltimore County trooper is in the hospital after breaking his arm while chasing two robbery suspects.

Two respectable looking gentleman, Russell Hartlove, 47 (Left) and Richard Poling, 41, (Right) were arrested for an Anne Arundel County burglary.

Police are investigating a "Pizza City" robbery.

A 52-year-old man was injured in an attempted robbery in Linthicum.

Howard police seek more information after a weekend shooting.

Classic road-rage solution tool: wooden club.

3'11 murderer, and suspected MS-13 member, Henry Chavez, 28, who spent several months on the lam in El Salvador, has been sentenced to 30 Years.

80 Years for Oxen Hill man John Howard Dunn, for the August 2010 killing of Brian Grant.

Raymond "Money" Moore, of the notorious 4x4 neighborhood, has been sentenced to 10 years in the Federal Pen.

Lunchtime Update

Col. Terrence Sheridan is retiring from his post as Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. MdTA police chief Marcus Brown will be his successor.

Non-fatal stabbing at a bar in Middle River.

No bail for alleged crooked cop Daniel Redd.

Policarpio Perez and Adan Canela will be tried a third time for allegedly decapitating three kids in 2004.

Lornell Felder is getting $100k from the City. In the spring of 2009 he was beaten by two plainclothes police officers and held for several days after the cops mistook a cigarette he was rolling for marijuana. If Felder's allegations are even vaguely true then I can't fathom why the two cops named in the suit haven't been fired.

Stabbings Galore... and More

Yet another fatal stabbing downtown yesterday. as well as the revelation of a previously undisclosed murder victim.

Two separate shootings leave one man dead and a woman injured.

A city officer was shot, and apparently not injured much at all, while responding to a domestic disturbance.

16-year-old Keymo Tubias Martin Jr. has been charged with attempted murder in the near-fatal shooting of two security guards.
Interesting to note; Mr.Keymo Martin Sr. was stabbed and killed by his then girlfriend Erin Monk (who was not Jr's mother) back in 1995.

Judge to review history in of Officer Gahiji Tshamba in order to help decide a proper sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for August 16.

Federal press release offers more information regarding Ofc.Daniel Reed's drug trafficking conspiracy.

Teen being sought for a double stabbing at the Patapsco light rail stop.

Denation Kent, 37, who was into his 16th year of a 60 year attempted-murder conviction is wanted for walking away from his work release job. As to why after only 16 years of a 60 year sentence he was ut on work release is an entirely different question.

Murder trial of the then 14-year-old girl who shot a man for laughing at her during an attempted robbery isdelayed.

37-year-old WCI inmate and former Baltimore resident Michael Boyer, who was serving a 50 year sentence, has beencharged for the murder of his cellmate; 37-year-old former Baltimore resident Timothy Davis who was serving a 50 year sentence as well.

Speaking of murders at the Western Correctional Institute, 28-year-old Kim Hargett has been charged with the February killing of Blas Ramon Mata Aguilar.

A skull that showed up on a Kent county beachshows signs of a homicide.

Man who was shot in the 900 block of Herndon Ct. is in grave condition.

Police are investigating a triple stabbing that took place Tuesday night.

Recognition isn't always great... 5 city schools make list of most dangerous in the nation.

Padonia swim club owner Ira "Fred" Rigger, 56, has plead guilty and will receive an 18 month sentence.

Harford County police are searching for clues as to whether a string of armed-robberies are related.

A German rape suspect is extradited to Maryland after 10 years. Klaus Von Mahr, 51, has plead guilty and will face up to 25 years at sentencing.

Guilty plea by city landlord Cephus Murrell, 68, relating to his involvement in an ongoing series of lead paint violations

"Professional criminal/believed serial killer Jason Thomas Scott,, 27, has been convicted of a gluttony of charges, facesat least 97 years. Scott is also believed to have been responsible for the home invasion of MMA fighter Lloyd Irvin before a partner in crime was disarmed by the veteran MMA fighter.

City officer charged with drug conspiracy

Daniel Redd is his name.. and the FBI is involved. The BPD says Redd was previously fired for falling asleep on the job, but rehired by court order with back pay.

112, 113

112: Rodney Mandotis Johnson, 30 was shot and killed.

113: An as of yet unidentified 21-year-old male was found shot to death on the 1200 block of Ward Street.
Update: The victim has been identified as Rasheed Abdullah, a man who was apparently very well known to our own Baltimore Crime blog reader Cham and many Pigtown residents as a reputed drug dealer who residents tried multiple times to evict.

More information about Rodney Johnson;
Besides prior arrests for armed robbery, and rape, as well as a drug dealing conviction, Mr. Johnson was also arrested back in 2007 for the murder of Todd Dargan. Arrested alongside Mr. Johnson was 45-year-old Ronald Cox. Mr. Johnson was eventually acquitted and Ronald Cox was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for the murder. Ronald Cox eventually appealed and had his case brought before the MD Court of Appeals on the grounds that he had a right to confront Mr.Johnson at trial citing the Confrontation Clause. His appeal had not been formally decided on as of May of this year.

The murder of Nicole Sesker

A behind the scenes look at the murder of former BPD commissioner Hamm's step daughter.

Well, that's depressing

Annals of Epidemiology: Black men survive longer in prison than out

110, 111

110: Jawan Vonel Weeden, 30, died 2 days after being shot Tuesday night.

111: An Unidentified Male was shot to death Friday afternoon at the intersection of N. Franklintown Rd. and W. Baltimore St.

4 people were seriously injured in Thursday night shootings, including 2 security guards who are both seriously injured.

Two plainclothes police officers open fire on an armed man during a traffic stop gone awry.

1st degree murder charges have been dropped in the deadly July 4th stabbing.

The NSA employee accused of espionage has been sentenced to probation for leaking classified information.

85-year-old Daniel J. Minnick; co-owner of Minnick's Restaurant, and brother of Del. Sonny Minnic, has been charged alongside 3 others for running illegal gambling machines.

The harrowing story of a woman and her child who were forced to jump out of their car after being carjacked by Terron Alvin White, 22.

"Marshall Law - The Life & Times of a Baltimore Black Panther" has been banned by a Maryland prison.

Padonia pool pedo Fred Rigger, 52, will soon plead guilty to possession of child pornography.

Baltimore resident Brian Hill, 20, has been convicted in the shooting of a Carroll County deputy.

Baltimore resident Amr Gamal Shedid, age 24, was arrested for possessing 13 knives at BWI Marshall Airport.

An attempted kidnapping of a 2-year-old boy at a Best Buy was prevented thanks to the quick action of the boy's father and several other witnesses. 23-year-old convicted felon Jermaine Palmer was arrested at the scene.

90 years for Montgomery county sicko Nathanial Hart, age 35.

Salisbury drug kingpin sentenced to 10 years in the Federal Pen thanks in part to the the IRS.

'He had class'

The Atlantic Wire has a picture of Barry Landau, a man whose love for presidential documents allegedly turned criminal at the MD Historical Society

8-Year-Old Boy Abducted, Later Found Safe

8-year-old boy found safe in an abandoned house by a fast thinking good Samaritan.

Police have arrested 20-year-old Nathaniel Booker. (Pictured Right) Another suspect, Raheem Taylor, 21, is wanted as a possible accomplice.

Guilty pleas in the Baltimore police towing scandal, or "Towmageddon" as I affectionately call it. Hernan Alexis Moreno and Edwin Javier Mejia, brother/co-owners of Majestic Auto Repair have plead guilty in federal court.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene of a serious double shooting Monday evening.

Investigators are widening their probe into the attempted theft of priceless Maryland artifacts.

Frederick police are searching for Melvin William Smith, 27, wanted for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, 33-year-old Tranice Richardson.

In happier news, Officer Teresa Rigby has been released from her rehabilitation center.

Second scumbag rock-climbing instructor 31-year-old Michael Lyons has been charged with sex offenses against a minor.

25-year-old Ravon Tyrone Anderson arrested in AACO for a a street brawl turned stabbing.

Finally, 15 years in Federal prison for career criminal Steven Butler, age 24. Found with a loaded 9mm, cocaine, and a respectable chuck or cash.

107, 108, 109

Three people killed in the last 12 hours. Richard Mills and Jerel McFadden were stabbed and shot to death respectively last night. An unidentifed woman was found dead this afternoon.

More woes for city nightclub Sonar, as its principal owner, Daniel McIn­tosh, has been indicted in a massive federal drug conspiracy.

Charges are likely in raid of bar that is co-owned by Delegate Sonny Minnick.

10 years for 35-year-old Charles Dean Novak for secretly recording over 260 women. I know one person who wouldn't mind seeing him receive 260 years... but to the best of my knowledge Judge Hackner never requested my opinion.

July 4th Stabbing Arrest, Fatal Stabbing, and More...

Arrest in July 4th inner harbor stabbing. Marcus Harris, 32, turned himself in today for the murder of Joseph Calo.

A still unidentified 25 year old man was stabbed to death downtown.

A one year look into the progress of improving city sex offense investigations.

A federal judge has denied a Stay in the Ehrlich robo-call case.

26-year-old Frederick Williams has been charged with theJune 21st shooting, and eventual death of Sterling Kelly.

Police discover a man's body in back of a locked trunk in city impound lot.

Tapes from scene of where Baltimore Police Officer Teresa Rigby was thrown off I-83.

Edvin Giovanni Ceron Reyes, 23, and Santiago A. Gonzalez-Miner, 43, have been charged with arson and attempted murder in a Howard County attempted firebombing.

Trial date for yoga shop killing has been set.

Second conviction, for fraudster David Garth Thompson II, 31, nets federal prison term.

Mistakes, mistakes...

Baltimore man Hasen Champion, 22 (Pictured Right), was mistakenly released from Central Booking. Police are still on the lookout.

In another corrections snafu, Baltimore convict David Rogers, 31, is wanted for leaving his work release.

Frederick residents be on the lookout for 27-year-old Melvin Smith, wanted for the murder of his former girlfriend.

Weekend Crime Roundup... and More.

More information regarding the July 4th Harbor violence including photos of a person of interest, and an update on the recovery of the 4-year-old boy who was shot.

Baltimore's mayoral candidates chime in with their opinions on the recent July 4th violence.

A crazed man attempts to attack a speed enforcement officer on the beltway this morning, and police are still ISO the 50-60 year old white male who is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Keep your eyees peeled for a group faux police officers committing armed robberies throughout Baltimore.

Police release city wide crime stats for the year so far. Statistics to note include an increase in non-fatal shootings, robberies and rapes, but a decrease in total violent crime and arrests without charges, which was well documented in an earlier Sun story

Lavelva Merritt, one of two people accused of participating in the robbery-murder of JHU research technician Stephen Pitcairn, has almost worked out a new deal with city prosecutors.

28-year-old Brian Lamont Eggleston Jr., has been arrested in the murder of his his girlfrind, Alicia Avery, who happened to be a city murder witness, and her daughter.

An unexpected confession in the 1998 killing of a Maryland doctor
by 57-year-old Tennessee gun dealer Dale Mardis.

An argument between neighbors escelates to the point of gunfire in a Baltimore parking garage.

Corrupt local bail-bondsman Milton Tillman Jr. and his son are to be sentenced in Federal court on Friday.

Life in prison for Frederick Christian in the 2009 murder of his then girlfriend Jereyell Foster.

Skyesville scumbag Donald Ray Pevia Jr. gets 60 years for the murder of his ex-girlfriends 8-month-old child.

Anther guilty plea from one of Baltimore's finest. 33-year-old Luis Nunez plead guilty to his involvement in the large scale towing kickback scheme.

City police have pulled a body from the Patapsco River. Defined for the moment as a "possible suicide."

An as of yet unidentified 20-year-old man was shot in the head and killed Saturday.

A Dundalk couple has been charged with for astabbing in a High's convenience store. Shawn Allen Novak, age 28, and Ann Marie Preston, age 27 have been charged for the drug related stabbing.

36-year-old George William Bryant Jr. was shot to death infront of a Rosedale nightclub early last Saturday.

Harford buisness owner robbed in his own parking lot. No arrests have been made.

Oh dosn't he wish it were all a dream... 48-year-old Michael Anthony Hickson, leader of Dream Home mortgage conspiracy, was sentenced to 10 years in Federal prision.

3 years in the Federal pen for an Oxen Hill man, who was caught impersonating an FBI agent.

Post fireworks mayhem at the Inner Harbor, four year old shot and man stabbed to death.

The murder of Melody Smith

A behind the scenes look at the murder of Melody Smith.

Inside the mind of a murderer

Former BDP homicide detective takes a look inside the mind of killer William Jones, who murdered a teenage girl and her amputee mother in drunken rage.

So upsetting

The woman found murdered at the Welcome Inn Apartments with her 4-year-old daughter was a witness in an upcoming city case.

...

Patch has your Northern-District robberies

Julie Bykowicz talks Same-Sex Marriage bills, NY vs MD

A-town court employee's civil suit for alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act reaches SCOTUS

Jurors stick it to the man with punitive damages for Exxon in the lastest twist in the epic case of Jacksonville's leaky service station

New term of the day: SLAPP suit (thanks CO), a BS suit brought to punish someone for griping about the government (fait attention, Belinda Conaway...)

.. and Cafe Hon's Denise Whiting has been granted a restraining order against protestor Steve Akers... & it looks like Akers' Boycott Cafe Hon & No One Owns Hon Hon FB pages have been taken down?

The fading “exclusionary rule”

Interesting SCOTUS Blog post about how the Supreme Court has slowly been whittling away at the Exclusionary Rule.

Why Do We Kill?

Former homicide detective Kelvin Sewell and IV reporter Stephen Janis try to answer that question in their new book which includes the inside scoop on some of the city's worst homicide cases

You Tell 'em Marta Mossburg

Marta Mossburg muses on the raison d'être of the Baltimore Development Corporation: "Is it for the sake of taxpayers or for the sake of itself and a few developers who have benefitted at the same time the city sheds thousands of jobs each year?"

Indentities and so much more...

Several Recent Homicide Victims Identified:

94. 6 person shooting death Id'd as Charles Lassane, age 55.

95. Still unidentified at the moment.

96. Edge-tomb Circle victim Id'd as 52-year-old Anthony Carr.

97. Id'd as 23-year-old Andre Womack.

27-year-old Thomas Green has been arrested for the hit and run of two Hopkins students from early May.

Police release new details, actually, 8 pages worth of new details to be exact, regarding the February 2010 shooting of unarmed informant Dennis Gregory.

Newly convicted cabbie-killer Robert Lee Murphy was sentenced to Life plus 20 for the killing of a Frederick cab driver.

An inmate facing Capital murder charges for the 2006 killing of a now defunct "House of Correction" prison guard loses his pretrial appeal.

Youth is fleeting, especially when you spend it in prison... is what 14-year-old Shemarr Gilbert will realize, after being arrested on first-degree rape charges.

PG County congressman Jack Johnson's wife will plead guilty next week to charges relating to her husbands political corruption.

In keeping with a recent disturbing trend in Maryland courts, the 1994 Manslaughter conviction of Ricky Savoy has been overturned.

A Baltimore priest has been banned from Catholic ministry in light of a recent child sexual abuse case.

In the first of what will soon become a flurry of guilty pleas, two Baltimore cops plead guilty to extortion relating to their involvement in the Baltimore Police towing scandal. 28-year-old Jermaine Rice and 41-year-old David Reeping are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

Watch out Maryland bath salt enthusiasts! Bath salts have now been officially banned in PA, adding to the growing number of states to have officially banned the sale of the drug.

Gilmor Homes drug dealer "Mud" is sentenced to 13 years in the Federal pen.

Unsubtle

Study: lighter-skinned women get shorter prison sentences (in North Carolina anyway)

Welcome to reader

.. Duane Davis

97

A man fatally shot on McClean Blvd

Shocking! Cheating & fraud found at two city public schools

Julius Henson's lawyer accused Gansler of trying to "score political points." (Gansler is expected to run for governor in 2014, really?)

Officer mowed down

on Northbound 83, police spokesperson says she was thrown down a 30-foot embankment

Meister to file motion to dismiss

as Belinda Conaway's lawyer owns up to his client's 'inadvertent' tax fraud

Liberties

Len Lazarick does a nice little state politics roundup if you're into that kind of thing. He always seems fair and balanced, though I hear the MD Reporter is funded by the Franklin Center, a "right leaning" North Dakota group with ties to the libertarian Koch brothers and pro-Walkerites in Madison, WI. Most interesting...

Edge-tomb Circle

Man shot to death last night in the 2900 block of S. Edgecombe Circle (a rue familière to regular readers)

Gitit gurl!

... the local news is full of corpses today, but they can stay dead because I am giddy with happiness that finally a Baltimore musician has achieved International-level celebrity (the first since Mario, right?) ... if you haven't checked out Rye Rye yet you oughter, she's an M.I.A.-protege now with a soon-to-heavily rotate 104.3-ful single with Robyn. Here she is performing somewhere in Baltimore (& awesome official video for "Hardcore Girls", is that her grandma?) ... & a Britney Spears cover with a video that looks like it was filmed in juvie. You must love her!

Ok, back to corpses...

Henson -> Icing -> Cake

Slumlord Watch reports that alleged robo-calling mastermind Julius Henson is also owner of a weed-tree riddled aspiring crack house on Liberty Heights Ave.

That's going to hurt

The Maryland Court of Appeals has overturned the convictions of triple-child killers Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Canela.

Rats!

Ehrlich's aides Julius Henson and Paul Schurick were indicted for conspiracy to violate election laws for those "relax" robocalls, and Bykowicz + Linskey have all the deets. Apparently the call list came from Henson's previous clients...

TDR bullet-points the Office of Legislative Audits' shocking discoveries in Frank Conaway's office

"'Beware the Ides of March,' Julius Caesar was warned before he was stabbed to death on March 15. But Michael Smith, an inmate in the Maryland correctional system, had no such warning on March 15, 2007," sayeth Van Smith, when members of the Bloods gang, allegedly angered by his performance as a behind-bars pot dealer, stabbed him in a prison van. Now his meticulous lawsuit exposes the City Detention Center's piss-poor non-efforts at controlling gang networks

Blog comment of the day: "dontae nichols u need to die for shootng montrell williams i hope brun in hell"

Owner of Cockeysville's Padonia Park Club, a "swim and child care center," charged in child porn case. "... detectives seized a Dell laptop computer with images of young girls that Rigger allegedly used at the Jennifer Road pool and at his home." Wait, what?

and don't miss Rat Bites Cop, replete with a photo of the perp in a baggie

Oh, Frank

What is it going to take for the city to get rid of this doddering bozo whose incompetence cost taxpayers $7.8 MILLION in just one year?

.. two more fatal shootings bring the mid-year toll to 93.

& shiteous father->mother- & two-daughter stabbing this morning in Crofton.

and Baltimoreans' life expectancy is a smidge better than it was a decade ago, but still some sobering numbers, eg. "average life expectancy in Hollins Market is 20 years shorter than in wealthier Roland Park." (also see "Shocking Stats Dept.")

What's going on at Hopkins? A whole lotta shroomin'!

Closet-peeping HoCo video pedocop pleads

Former Laurel police officer pled guilty to receiving kid porn about a year after HoCo police discovered he'd placed a hidden camera in a minor female’s closet and possessed sadomasochistic images and videos of children under 12. And in Bowie, one John Shutt pled guilty to possessing and distributing child porn, a hobby he admits to dabbling in for the past quindecade.

... In honor of these pervs I've added Tiger, Tiger to the librury-- horrific-but-enlightening memoir of a woman's 14-year relationship with a pedophile. Also the Gift of Fear, which I now have to re-read to get over being traumatized by the memoir.

BPD Police Admin chief leaving

amidst rumors of some re-shuffling in top command....

Killing us softly

Check out this report on the city's water quality. Chloroform?! Radium and Uranium?!?!

Elijah Cummings' Nephew Fatally Shot in Random Robbery

... not here in Baltimore, but at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Tragic.

in other news, no murders since two on Thursday night, it looks like. Whoops, I take that back, a 23-year-old man fatally shot in West Baltimore at 1:54 p.m. on Sunday.

"Dollar" got 25 years for illegal possession of a firearm and admitted to the 2009 murder of Kinlaw Jones

Eighteen months in the can for Tracy Queen, who was busted bilking the city for bogus tutoring by Brew contributor Joan Jacobson. Jacobson says she's still "waiting to find out what the city school system has done to prevent this theft from happening again.”

Thirty-seven months for Alicia Simmons, a former corrections employee accused of smuggling heroin and other goodies to imprisoned BGF members

Former ministry director at Loyola University accused of sex abuse of two minors in HoCo

Baltimore cop to attend Harvard Law

"A former Montgomery County police officer who pleaded guilty to illegally using computers to help her drug-dealing fiancé is set to be sentenced"

.. and here's something to burn yr britches: "The Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents, allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted their attention." Right on the heels of the conclusion of the Thomas Drake case, in which we learned that the government has been spending billions to stockpile citizens' every text and email. (How incredible to go in one generation from being worried about the Reds taking over to seeing our own government adopt the Stasi style, right down to the Division of Garbage Analysis (and without even the paper trail of accountability)

No word on Select Lounge shooting

But lots more training for the BPD. Maybe they could just tell us....

Killer Keystone Kops

Gahiji Tshamba was convicted of manslaughter but acquitted of murder.

Former prison guard and gang member Alicia Simmons received a 37-month prison sentence for smuggling phones and drugs.

Two shootings, one death. The fatal shooting was in Park Heights, the non-fatal one was on Erdman Avenue in NE Baltimore.

18 months in prison for tutoring fraud.

Alleged Baltimore MS-13 member and murder suspect arrested in Minnesota.

Loma International Business Group is in trouble for running an immigration scam.

Tshamba verdict expected soon

The judge has recessed to review evidence. Tshamba took the stand yesterday, testifying he was "scared" before shooting Tyrone Brown 12 times.

BPD officer pleads guilty

The first officer to admit he took money to refer business to tow company.

Alleged rapist in custody

A woman moving into Mt Vernon on Tuesday got a welcome-to-the-neighborhood sex assault, police arrested one Kareem Mason for the deed(s)

Profiling?

Gun rights advocates accuse city police of profiling.

Bad brothers

Three bad brothers have now been arrested for a double homicide in Pikesville. BaltoCo homicides are up to 13 for the year.

Burning car with a body in it in Laurel. No other details available yet.

Anonymous

The prosecution wrapped up its case against Gahiji Tshamba without calling key witnesses

Court of Appeals approves anonymous juries

Don't miss Fenton's excellent Sunday object lesson on the swift retribution of street justice

Not Baltimore, but can't stop thinking about this very upsetting story of slave labor in Iraq.

Sex offender can keep sick pay receieved whle in prison

Former DPW worker earned it, even though the IG concluded it was fraudulently obtained.

Unhooked?

Is the city's tow industry crooked and need of repair?

84, 85, 86, 87

A flurry of recent city homicide victims were identified;

#84: Payton Rivers, 34
#85: Maurice Gray, 35
#86: John Kelly, 25
#87: Durran Banks, 25

As well as two previously unknown victims that were not disclosed by police: 27 year-old Anthony Sherman and 57 year-old Kevin Jones.

Baltimore states attorney Gregg Bernstein revealed his new division Friday. The "Major Investigations Unit" will investigate repeat violent offenders, and will be headed by Thiruvendran Vignarajah.


Police are still ISO missing firefighter recruit Rodney Goggins Jr.

An 80 year old woman is in the hospital after a pit bull visciously attacked her.

Police have arrested 23-year-old Anthon Lavar Diggs for the May 21st murder of Jalil Al-Salim.

An KFC robbery turns into a attempted murder in Harford County when a female employee is stabbed by a would be robber.

When you can't trust "e-gold," what can you trust? The U.S. Attorney's Office has seized over 19 million dollars and is looking to seize 8.6 million dollars from e-gold, Ltd.

Mysterious!

Bernstein is holding a press conference at 4 today to "announce the formation of a new unit and to introduce the division’s chief."

Lawyers gone bad

Attorney Stanley Needleman has been charged with stealing a law textbook from a judicial clerk.

The trial of Gahiji Tshamba starts today. Two other police officers are prepared to testify that Tshamba appeared drunk when he put a dozen bullets into Tyrone Brown.

A shooting on E. Eager Street and a burnt body in Northeast Baltimore.

83 murders so far this year, and it looks like Lois Smyth has the dubious honor of being the second white Baltimore murder victim of 2011.

Police arrest two brothers in Pikesville double homicide.

First-degree murder conviction for the 2009 death of Kenneth Johnson at a family cookout. This looks like a rare case where city prosecutors are seeking life w/o parole.

Another burned kitten. Stories like that are really too depressing to comment on.

Looks like it is legal to take pictures of the Light Rail after all.

Yet another depressing story. Darian Kess was a promising wrestler in high school but then screwed up and started breaking the law. He cleaned up his act, got cancer and beat it, and then was stabbed to death in a home invasion.

School fighting

Teachers are getting their collective asses kicked in city schools, according to recent injury claims.

Your tax dollars at play

City pension board charges taxpayers for 6 night stay in South Beach to attend a two-day conference.

Goldbergian 80

At Liberty Heights & Eldorado aves, a man in an SUV is shot to death then mowed down a pedestrian, who survived with a broken leg.
Will we ever find out who was gunning for the driver and why? .. unlikely, but you never know...

Firefighter -v- trans

A Baltimore city firefighter who got into a physical altercation with a transsexual woman was awarded a nice chunk of change by the city despite the objections of CC President Jack Young

RIP

12-year old Sean Johnson died of his injuries on Thursday night, two days after he was shot.

NS Sherlock

Report from the Urban Land Institute slams Mayor's pet development projects, agreeing with everyone but the mayor and her tax-break-crazed developer comrades that the West Side can't support large retail.

Page Croyder comes out of her shell to rail against Bernstein's prosecutors for letting Turtle the carjacker off easy

Kids these days

17-year-old Dashawn Brown stabbed to death in the 3100 block of Edmondson Ave (in a house? on the street?)

An undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy in Florida nets a BaltCounty children's entertainment magician in a sex sting.

.. and we're number 5! Crime is down, but not here as much as elsewhere.

So Appalled!

Have you seen these mind-boggling revelations about the extent of domestic spying?!basically every e-mail you ever sent is on a government server. Did we fight the cold war to be East Germany?! Puketifying! I surely hope there will be a vast and wide swath of citizens protesting at whatever Baltimore courthouse this will be in on June 13.

Speaking of training

The mayor's office wants to know if teaching city cops to bust someone in the Vegus nerve is worth the cash.

Training days for ASAs

Keeping his campaign promise, Bernstein hired a training director for the ASAs.

19 year old shot and kiled

19 year old shot and killed near Brooklyn Homes.

Snoop Pleads Not Guilty

She's too pretty to go to jail!

The guv pledges his support to legal protections for transgendered people; the Sun has related video

Marylandiana: a Cecil Calvert half dollar on sale at PropertyRoom.com. Who was that confiscated from, I wonder?

A sweet little missive

in the archives from September 13, 2007:

People make mistakes. Wheather their criminals or what they are human. And the comments affect the family. Let them do their time who are u to say anythang. To kia family my heart goes out to u for your lost. Things never shoulda turned out this way. Darrell is family and never will our backs by turned on him. Wish we could go back and change it. Both families are severly damaged.* missing you relly*

(I wonder why that particular archive page attracts memorials?)

Heifer McPsycho Indicted for Hate Crime

An indictment in Baltimore County on hate crime charges and felonious assault for Teonna Monae Brown, 18, and for her 14-year-old alleged accomplice in juvy court. If convicted Brown could get 20+ years on the hate crime charge, says JZ.

Remember Stephen Pitcairn?

His alleged stabber Lavelva Merritt cut a deal with Bernstein & Co "for a total of about 15 years followed by three years' probation"

And Fenton Tweets, "Body found in the Inner Harbor last week identified as Wayne Paige, 25, of Pikesville, who went missing from Baltimore County on May 7."

Man shot to death

3:05 a.m. Saturday, Marble Hall Road in New Northwood, says Laura Vozzella(?)

Shooting: 1600 block Vincent Court. Adult male shot in the ankle, says police FB

Youth jail delayed, and Bernstein fires Jessamy's community coordinators

.. and $4.3 million in anonymous donations flowed into the 2010 state election cycle, reports Julie B. Hmm!

Ha to the ha ha!

That Belinda!
Belinda Conaway's mutarded lawsuit against Adam Meister has hit the AP-- From the Fred News-Post:

Baltimore councilwoman sues blogger for libel

BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore Councilwoman Belinda Conaway is suing a political blogger and his publisher for $21 million for libel and defamation over a column that alleged she did not live in the city.

The suit filed Tuesday alleges an Examiner.com column by Adam Meister is meant to fool the public into thinking that Conaway lives in Baltimore County and force her out of office.

On election documents, Conaway lists a Baltimore City address used by several members of her politically active family.

Conaway’s attorney, Thomas Maronick, said Wednesday that the Randallstown home in Baltimore County is listed on tax records as a primary residence since Conaway and her husband file jointly and he lives there part-time. He said Conaway is seeking to correct the records.

Conaway said this could happen to anybody.

Meister said he backed up his allegations with documents and is honored to be sued over the matter.

Justin Jimenez, a spokesman for Denver-based Examiner.com, said the company has no comment and hasn’t been notified of the lawsuit.

Yes, it could happen to any lyin' tax cheat, Belinda Bear!
I hope the IRS makes an example out of you & you do get forced out of office-- though who would want that office? The seat is up for election this year? ...... any takers?