Spineless Judges Uphold Same-Sex Marriage Ban

... and the ruling is as confused as Ricky Martin's girlfriend.

Darryl Halsey Indicted for Murder

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Darryl Halsey, 26, of the 4200 block of Sheldon Avenue for first-degree murder. Court documents allege that Darryl Halsey was responsible for an incident on May 16, 2007 when Earl Sonny Cornish, 21, was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the 500 block of Chateau Avenue. Halsey allegedly walked up to Cornish in the unit block of Chateau Avenue struck him in the face, displayed a handgun and shot Cornish in the back following an argument with a female acquaintance of Halsey. Cornish died later at Sinai Hospital. An arraignment is scheduled for October 15, 2007 before Judge Albert J. Matricciani, Room 252, Courthouse East. Assistant State’s Attorney Don Giblin will prosecute the case.

Los federales nab crack dealer, gun-toting Blood, Hagtown pervert, California man who left trailers of asbestos in Severna Park, crooked accountant, a coke supplier to the "Lester Fletcher Drug Organization."

September 18

Two people were killed yesterday: An MSU student was murdered on E. Cold Spring Ln. at 10:45 yesterday morning, and a man in Cherry Hill was fatally shot at 11:30 last night. And not to stir up the pot of racism (and alleged racism) that bubbles here so frequently, but if a JHU student got killed at 10:45 on a Monday morning on N. Charles St., would his death be relegated to two paragraphs on the second page of an article about the escalating murder rate?

Three Sun reporters dig up more on the two domestic killings in Baltimore County over the weekend.

Good news for PG criminals who don't give a damn about UM: In the search for a serial kisser/fondler/rapist, "there are more police per square foot in College Park than virtually any area in Prince George's County."

In the Blotter, stolen beer and an arrest in Christopher Clarke's murder.

Eight months? That's outrageous, even by Baltimore standards.

Another Baltimore jury gets a chance to prove their wisdom, as they deliberate the witness intimidation case against Victor Shuron and Yusef Winston-Bey.

God bless you and your free speech, Mr. Keegan: "If Dixon continues to be nothing more than a machine stooge feeding the tax-fed kleptocracy for friends, relatives and contributors as the only ones who 'Get In On It,' Baltimore will sink. If she continues turning Baltimore into a school-free drug zone, residents the city needs most will flee."

A local blog recounts a robbery of two clubgoers near Pratt and S. Exeter.

At a hearing today Judge David Ross sentenced Anthony Whitley, 29, of Edgewood, MD to 15 years in prison, first five years without the possibility of parole, for two counts each of robbery deadly weapon, first and second degree assault, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and conspiracy to commit robbery deadly weapon. The details:

On December 14, 2005 at approximately 7:45 p.m. two men armed with handguns entered the management office of the Lockwood Garage, 124 Market Place. They duct-taped the manager’s hands to his head and held a woman, nine months pregnant, at gunpoint. They proceeded to remove more than $24,000 from a safe. A coat with one of the guns used in the robbery was found in a stairwell at the garage after the robbery and DNA tests from the coat matched Whitley. Additionally, a duffle bag with a coin box and deposit bags taken from the robbery were located in front of a motel located a mile from Whitley’s house in Harford County. Whitley’s fingerprints were found on that coin box. A co-defendant in this case, Darryl Williams, is scheduled for trial October 29, 2007. Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Martin of the General Trial Division prosecuted this case.

September 17

A fatal shooting by Baltimore City police officers: an unidentified man, #25 shot by police this year (and was the tenth to die). Related: "As violence in city increases, so does use of guns by officers." (See yesterday's comments. --Ed.)

I don't get why they didn't just rob the bank anyway -- y'know, since they were like, right outside -- but it really doesn't matter: the HowCoPoPo popped 'em up right quick. (Maybe the bank is one of those silly ones without weekend hours).

There's a pretty full blotter today.

And, while not Baltimore related: OJ Simpson, back in jail, I'm bettin' he's going to vow to spend the rest of his life tracking down the "real" robber.

If the underage criminal element in the city and its surrounding areas aren't enough to convince kids to lead a clean, honest life, perhaps we could scare 'em straight by taking them for a tour of Maryland's unclean youth offender facilities?

Running a red light may seem like the most minor crime ever, but when it causes you to run into an ambulance, it earns a mention.


Dead dogs and groin bites: to add injury to injury, the victim's dog then got run over by someone at the scene. "Who cares about Pee-Gee?" you say? But dog attacks happen in Balmer, too.

And, speaking of motorcycle crashes, -- and because of the job he wanted to do -- police recruit Ruben Renta died, he "was speeding and not wearing a helmet ... lost control of his motorcycle, crashing into a road sign on the 2300 block of Hanson Road in Edgewood, according to the Harford Sheriff’s Department." So, listen: motorcyclers? Always wear your helmet, and don't run red lights (the latter applies to all drivers).

September 16

Three more murders. The unid'd man killed yesterday was identified as Brian Smith-Hopkins. Also, reports JZ:
- At 11:38 p.m. Saturday night, Tyrone Jones, 26, was shot and killed on the 1500 block of North Woodyear. He was pronounced dead at Shock Trauma.
- At 4:30 p.m. Sunday, two men were shot on the 3400 block of Belair Road. Both were pronounced dead at area hospitals.

Antoine Skipwith, who "walked off from the Baltimore City Correctional Center," robbed a bank customer in HoCo with a buddy, then drove his car into a ditch.

How can this article about police shootings not mention the fact that the department is still understaffed by some 200-300 officers? Doesn't it seem pretty obvious that understaffing puts officers in life-threatening, backup-less situations more often, not to mention leaving more criminals out there?
Instead it blames everything from police training to gangs to O'Malley. Huh?

September 15

Three homicides "last night" (so it's unclear if these were Friday or Saturday):

• John J. Christen, 20, shot multiple times in the Top Shelf Lounge at about 1 a.m. in the 200 block of Fredhilton Pass


• Unidentified adult male with a gunshot wound to the torso, 2300 block of East Oliver Street, 11:10 a.m.


• Qafim Kaba, 29, stabbed to death, the 2500 block of Terra Firma Road in Cherry Hill

In the County, in addition to the Cranbourne road muder/suicide, another asshole-male domestic in Essex, a man shot by his lover's jilted swain.

Friday Night

Galt says there was a man shot in the head at Harford & Homestead St. last night at about 10 pm. No links yet to any stories.

A murder-suicide tonight at 1904 Cranbourne Road in Timonium has left two children orphaned. The wife had a restraining order against her husband, but he violated it. Obviously.

Police say two teens were stabbed while riding an MTA bus in southwest Baltimore this afternoon while the bus was coming from Walbrook High School.

WTF? Four sex attacks in 40 minutes in College Park. Police say the suspect is a white male, 5'9", 160 pounds, who always strikes between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and doesn't force his way in but finds unlocked doors and windows. The think he has hit nine times prior to this.

Checking the markets now, pot prices surged in all regions and sectors last quarter, and trading remains heavy on the Maryland Exchange with local prices climbing to $420 an ounce for "Poolesville Train Wreck."
And cocaine prices are expected to continue to surge over the New York Q1 average price of $30,000 a kilo wholesale as the imprisoned Diego Montoya's rivals and lieutenants fight for their share of the world's largest market, which observers expect to fracture into smaller, less efficient operations. "Authorities doubt any would-be cartel leader can maintain his 250-strong private army," the "Machos."

"The Washington and Baltimore field offices of the FBI, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Department; the Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Department; and Loudoun County, Virginia, Police Department arrested 18 individuals and conducted 12 searches as part of a methamphetamine trafficking investigation."

September 14

An inmate stabbed a guard at Jessup last night.

Blotter's got the shootings:
A man in his 30s was being treated at a hospital after he was shot in the neck by an assailant in the first block of N. Ellamont St. near Gwynns Falls Parkway about 2:15 a.m. yesterday, and in the Eastern, "shortly before 3 a.m. yesterday police responding to a report of a shooting in the 2800 block of E. Federal St., near Baltimore Cemetery, found a 20-year-old man lying in the street and bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. He was treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital and admitted. His condition was not available, and no arrest had been made."

Another new low for the White House: they're threatening to take away the only U.S. Attorney we've ever loved and hide his gorgeous suits under a judge-burka!
I HATE YOU SO MUCH GEORGE!!!

A man convicted of sexually abusing his ex-girlfriend’s 6-year-old daughter is entitled to a new trial, the Court of Special Appeals held, finding that the judge at Frederick Roscoe Coates’ first trial erred in admitting statements the girl made to a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (“SAFE”) nurse.

After a challenge from the Attorney General's office, Eastern Correctional Institution has changed its policy on inmate reading materials and will lift an all-out ban on a white supremacist newsletter and distribute copies if they're in line with department policy. No word on when or if the jailbirds will get their "Maxim."
(...speaking of the Eastern Institutions, we're totally jazzed about this!)

In Elkton, 20-year-old Matthew Blackburn pleaded guilty to first-degree murder charges in a shooting that prosecutors say was the result of a robbery disguised as a drug deal.

Councilman Jack Young: "We need to have a dialogue about taking the profit motive out of drug dealing and ending the so-called war on drugs."

Police Seeking Pistol-Whipper

Baltimore City are searching for Damian Knight, a dangerous suspect wanted for pistol-whipping and shooting at a woman after she wouldn't give him her phone number. He was last seen with braids, but may be sporting a different hairdo now (right).
He may also be going by the name Donta Carter.

Nine Months of Ankle Bracelet for Horticulturalist

The ordeal of city pot grower Joseph Guadagnoli is over. You’ll recall that May 8 after a 9-month investigation, Federal, County, and city task forces raided Guadagnoli’s home and garage in the 6400 block of Glenoak Avenue in Hamilton and claimed to find some $230,000 worth of wacky terbacky growing there. The investigation began when undercover state police officers witnessed Guadagnoli enter a store called “Maryland Hydroponics” in Laurel. Officers ran Guadagnoli's license plate and found that he lived in Baltimore City and had priors for possession of marijuana, and began observing his house and collecting his trash. A trash inspection found a pot stem in a vacuum cleaner bag. A warrant was obtained and a raid conducted on May 8.

Guadagnoli received a five-year sentence with all but 9 months suspended, which he is serving at home with an ankle bracelet. His wife was also charged and received Probation Before Judgment. In spite of the previous reports, sources say Guadagnoli actually had less than $20,000 worth of marijuana seized (about 3 pounds? What's the going rate for an ounce these days?).

September 13

Carl Lackl's mom, Marge Shipley, talks to the Sun, and it sounds like the SA's office is confirming (via not exactly denying) her shocking allegations that her son was informed that his life was in danger with a form letter, which Shipley says Lackl never recieved.

Brandon Green, 22, and Jerome Whitaker, 23, were arrested and charged with the murder of Christopher Clarke, killed March 13 in the 3100 block of Cliftmont Ave. Clarke was apparently just walking by when the two black rednecks got into a gunfight. Rodricks deems Clarke's death an example of "generational suicide" (huh?).

Also, two men, ages 19 and 21, were shot about 2 p.m. yesterday in the 4000 block of Franklin St. and a man, 19, was sitting on the front porch of a house in the 600 block of McCabe Ave. about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday when an unknown man standing across the street shot him in the left leg.

Me Want Money Woman!
On September 3, "man asked woman for money after she parked car, then punched her in the face and stole the car."
If I lived in Waverly, I would be PO'd to hear about this 10 days later. Shouldn't the whole point of the local news be to inform residents about random stuff like this so they can be wary? Or should every city resident just get a flier when they move in to keep on the fridge:

Welcome to Baltimore! Thanks for buying here!
Whether your street is lined with trees or rat corpses, there are some risks that all city residents should be aware of:

People who approach your car

People who knock on your door

Testifying in criminal trials

Calling police about drug dealing on your street

Males who show interest in your children

Parking your car on the street

Walking or driving near people who are arguing

Opening the windows in your car or home

Purchasing narcotics

You'll find that by simply avoiding these risks, you can have a safe and pleasant Baltimore living experience! Enjoy your new home!

Arrested Peoples
A man suspected of an attempted armed robbery at West North Avenue and Ashburton Street about noon yesterday was captured after he fired at least one shot at pursuing police. No officers were hit and none returned fire. And two men were shot in unrelated incidents, one in the first block of N. Ellamont St. at about 2:15 a.m., another in the 2800 block of E. Federal St. in East Baltimore. Their names and conditions are not known.

More on George Robert Chaney, the murderer who was out enjoying a suspended sentence when he robbed a bank: "Chaney pleaded guilty in April [of what year it doesn't say... this year? 1993?] to second-degree murder for the 1993 killing of Mary Ann Fisher, who was found strangled with a telephone cord under her bed in the Perkins Homes public housing project in Southeast Baltimore."

Darrell Tyrone Avery, 22, was arrested for murdering Diekia T. Davis, 21, sometime between September 8 -10 in the Comfort Inn in Catonsville. Police are asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious there to call detectives.

Perverts:
"William Edward Wray, II, age 50, of Crespatown, Maryland, pleaded guilty [Sept. 12] to two counts of sexually exploiting a minor to produce child pornography."

Roderick Gene Parks, age 42, of Berlin, Maryland, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Sept. 12 followed by a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting a minor to produce child pornography. What worse, Parks has AIDS and the boy must now have yearly HIV tests.

In PGC, Jafet Hernandez got life for raping a woman as she was on her way home from a Riverdale park bus stop.

Jablow Gets a Real Job!

Contrary to the rumors, Jablow, formerly MD's Most Useless Public Relator, will now be producing America's Most Wanted. Vozzella:

So America's Most Wanted viewers should expect to see lots of Baltimore cases, right? Wrong. Charm City has more than its share of crime, but generally not the kind that makes for good TV. Fugitive drug lords, serial killers, missing children - that's entertainment. Drug dealers popping other drug dealers, not so much. Said Jablow: "They're looking for really compelling narratives."

(Wow, way to massage a quote for the 'happy' ending!)

Lackl Mom Livid at SA's Office

Carl Lackl's mom is on Ed Norris saying that the State's Attorney's office never informed him that he was in danger, much less reached out and offered protection. The State's Attorney's office claimed that they sent a letter, Lackl's mom says that he never got it.
"They destroyed his life, they destroyed his baby's life."
"I want them to admit that they court system really sucks. That they let people who shoot people out of jail ... they cost me my son by their stupidity, and now [the State's Attorney's office is] blaming the victim."

September 12

It's official, thanks in part to an abysmal turnout, Dixon and Stuffame Galling-Flake will be leading whoever's left in Baltimore into the future. At least opium production is up in Afghanistan so we can dull our pain on the cheap.

This week's Ink names victims, updates stories, adds stats about how things have been since the duo above have been in charge:

• "So far, 18 females have been murdered this year in the city; 10 of those murders took place in the last three months" and "at least eight" women have been charged with 2007 homicides.


• There have been 20 juveniles murdered this year since September 8


• Last week marked the 25th police-involved shooting this year; nine of the shootings were fatal.

This week brought the 26th ... or is it 27th? police shooting, this one shortly after 3 a.m. on Park Heights Avenue. The "victim," who pointed a gun at an officer, survived.

A doozy of a blotter; in addition to the usual robberies, stolen cars and burglaries:

Northwestern
Arrest // Following a nearly month-long investigation, district drug enforcement unit officers armed with a search and seizure warrant yesterday raided a house in the 3300 block of Elgin Ave. and arrested a man on drug distribution and deadly weapon charges. When officers entered through the front door by force, the man tried to escape. Sgt. Ronald Beverly, head of the unit, said officers entered the house about 4 p.m. and that a search resulted in the finding of a quantity of cocaine valued at $12,000 hidden in various rooms. Found hidden under the floor boards of a second-floor room was an unloaded 9 mm Israeli-made Uzi machine pistol and 50 rounds of armor-piercing ammunition, Beverly said. He said the suspect, Artis Dirton, 28, of that address, fled to the roof but was captured. Beverly said Dirton was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a firearm and was being held at Central Booking and Intake Center. Beverly said an investigation showed that drugs were being distributed from the house to dealers in Southwest and Northwest Baltimore.

Robbery try/shooting // A male, 18, was standing the rear yard of his home in the 4300 block of Groveland Ave. about 2:30 p.m. Monday when a gunman approached and demanded his money. When the victim resisted, the gunman shot him in the left leg then fled. The victim was treated at Sinai Hospital.

Northern
Shooting // A man, 21, was reported in good condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center after he was shot in the back, the head and a leg by an unknown assailant about 9 p.m. Monday in the 700 block of Beaumont Ave. Police said the man was a walk-in patient at Good Samaritan Hospital, where his condition was stabilized before he was transferred to shock-trauma for emergency back surgery.

Southeastern
Stabbings // Two brothers, 36 and 44, were walking in the 400 block of S. Newkirk St. about 2:15 a.m. Sunday when they became involved in an argument with two other males. During the argument, one brother was stabbed in the back and the other was stabbed in the stomach. Both brothers were treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital and were listed in fair condition. No arrests had been made.

Family of Isaiah Simmons III, who died after six counselors at Bowling Brook Preparatory School near Taneytown allegedly held him down for three hours, are asking the state for a single trial for all six defendants.

Gabby County circuit judge Bruce Sewell Lamdin (remember him?) may be suspended for his off-the-cuff commentary.

A potty-mouthed mom reports that a cashier and security guard at the White Marsh (Nottingham) Wal-Mart accused her of abducting her own child. She ran home and notified the media, naturally.

Awkward! "Some fifth-graders at Glenn Dale Elementary School in Prince George's County thought they were going to watch "Star Wars" on DVD, but instead, they got a glimpse of a pornographic movie."
... why are fifth-graders watching "Star Wars" at school?!

If you were alarmed to hear a scratchy Amber Alert break into the evening's 6 p.m. 'Simpsons' episode, don't worry, the one-year-old has been found.

Two Years for Hit-and-Run Driver, Murder Indictments

Today Judge Allen L. Schwait sentenced Keionna Baker, 27, of Waterspout Court in Owings Mills, MD to five years, all but two years suspended in the hoosegow, and three years supervised probation after a city jury convicted Baker July 2, 2007 of leaving the scene of an accident where serious bodily injury resulted. Details:

On July 30, 2004 at approximately 10:00 p.m. the victim, Doreen Winters, 49, and her husband were crossing the 900 block of East North Avenue at Cecil Avenue when Baker struck and killed Mrs. Winters with her vehicle. Mr. and Mrs. Winters were on their way to a local club to sing karaoke. Baker left the scene of the accident that night and was not arrested until June 2006 when she was charged with a single count of leaving the scene of an accident where death occurred after an investigation conducted by the Baltimore Police Department and the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Andre Haskin, 22, of the 2100 block of Garrison Boulevard for first-degree murder and handgun charges on Monday. Court documents allege that Andre Haskin was responsible for a shooting incident on May 29, 2007 in the 3400 block of Clifton Avenue. Neil Rather, 18, was found shot in the parking lot on Clifton and Denison Avenue. The two men were allegedly engaged in an argument over a $20.00 debt when Rather was shot. He died later at Sinai Hospital. His co-defendant, Christopher Ford, was indicted on June 28, 2007 on the same charges. His trial date is set October 15, 2007.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Sandra Milton, 46, of Cumberland, Maryland on a charge of first-degree murder today.
Court documents allege that she was responsible for an incident on August 13, 200 in which Milton and Ramona Bradley were engaged in an argument over money while on the corner of Harper and Armistead Way. The victim’s friend approached and advised the victim to walk away. As Bradley and her friend walked away, Milton approached Bradley and allegedly pushed her from behind, causing her to strike her head on the curb. As a result of a serious head injury and other serious complications stemming from the incident, Bradley died a few days later at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

At a violation of probation disposition hearing today, Judge Martin P. Welch sentenced George Chaney, 46, of the 1000 block of North Chapel Street to 15 years in prison. Judge Welch ordered that this sentence be served consecutive to a 15 year federal prison term handed down against Chaney yesterday. Chaney pled guilty to robbery with a deadly weapon October 12, 2006 and was sentenced by Judge Welch on March 8, 2007 to 20 years suspend all but 18 years in prison and five years probation. The guilty finding in federal court violated the terms of that probation. The Collateral Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuted Chaney’s Violation of Probation.

September 11

"Trained to fight and bred to kill, police say a dogfighting ring was busted last week."
(I know there's been a lot of shootings lately, but isn't that a bit of a harsh way to speak about our officers?)
Speaking of, one of the men shot Sunday was id'd as Darryl Harcum, 45, who, police say, was trying to stab his brother.

Robbery, burglary, a woman sliced with a box cutter and a man shot in the buns in the Blotter.

In HarfCo, a 45-year-old man was beaten and robbed in front of his family in an Abingdon movie theater parking lot Friday by four teens he shushed during 'Rush Hour 3.'

Don't forget to vote, Baltimore!

So it turns out rainy weather doesn't make your vote count more!
You still get a .000001 % say.
And while it does seem Mayor Dixon's a done deal, City Council president matters a lot, and district representitve races are important too (and with those your vote may actually count, even Jean Marbella says so).
Here're the City Paper endorsements.

Murderer on Parole Gets Time for Bank Robbery

George Robert Chaney, a city murderer out on parole, got 188 months federal for a bank robbery he committed a month after he was released.

Lavon Caldwell, age 25, of Baltimore pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Caldwell and co-schemers used fraudulent driver’s licenses at stores to open credit accounts in the names of victims, and then used the temporary credit cards to buy high-priced goods that were then sold for cash.

Police in Colombia say they've arrested a man they call the biggest drug boss in the country, Diego Montoya, allegedly responsible for producing "tons" of cocaine for the US market.