Media Blabber

TDR reports that the Sun's managing editor, Robert Blau, has quit, two months after the deputy managing editor did the same.

The CP has deemed Margaret Burns the "Best Flack"
Page Croyder's got the "Best Insider Perspective"
and Adam Meister's got the "Best Local Blog"
That's going to be one interesting party!

Rotten Teens on the Loose

Police are ISO a pair of dim-looking teens who allegedly robbed the Parkville High's.

Guilty Pleas in Nightclub Murder

From the Office of the Head Ho Slappa:

At a hearing today, Tony Hawks, 30, of the 3700 block of Ravenswood Ave. and Eugene Darnell Parker, 33, of the 3900 block of Cranston Ave. plead guilty to second-degree murder, handgun use in a crime of violence and conspiracy to murder. A third co-defendant, Dwayne Gwynn, 35, of the 5800 of Gist Avenue pled guilty to conspiracy to murder.

The co-defendants were scheduled for trial before Judge John C. Themelis when the plea agreement was negotiated. Parker received a total sentence of 40-years in prison, first 5-years without parole, for conspiracy to murder, handgun use in a crime of violence and second-degree murder. Hawks received a sentence of 40-years in prison suspend all but 20-years with 5-years probation for second–degree murder, handgun use in a crime of violence and conspiracy to murder. Hawks was previously convicted of second-degree murder and was released on parole. Dwayne Gwynn will serve 20-years in prison for conspiracy to murder.

Each of the defendants pled to the following facts: the co-defendants were attending a party at the Club International, 2301 W. Baltimore Street on February 11, 2007. Harold Robinson worked at the club as a bouncer. Several persons attending the club became angry at Mr. Robinson after he removed a partygoer for urinating on the dance floor. Later, Gwynn, Hawks and Parker conspired to retaliate. Hawks and Parker entered Club International and randomly fired several shots, fatally injuring Harold Robinson. Two employees of the club fired handguns and chased Hawks and Parker as they attempted to flee the scene. Both were struck and apprehended by police.

Assistant State’s Attorney Diana Smith of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

(Why does the SAO hyphenate so oddly?!)

50 Years for Attempted Murder of Palsied Victim

From the office of the Head Ho Slappa:

Judge Thomas J.S. Waxter sentenced Aaron Speaks, 23, of the 2100 block of N. Guilford Ave today to 50 years in prison for attempted first-degree murder and a concurrent 20 years in prison for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. A Baltimore jury convicted Speaks June 6, 2008. The State had asked for the maximum penalty allowable under law, life in prison plus a consecutive 20 years. Details:

On August 6, 2007 at approximately 4:18PM the victim, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was walking in the 300 block of East 21st St. when Speaks crept up behind him and shot him one time at close range in the back of the neck. A CitiWatch pole camera captured Speaks feeling the scene. Witnesses testified that only one person approached the victim, only one shot was heard and only one person fled the scene. Another witness testified that shortly after the shooting the defendant admitted to shooting the victim. This shooting left the victim paralyzed from the neck down; he remains on a ventilator and is unable to speak without medical intervention.

Assistant State’s Attorney Tonya LaPolla of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (F.I.V.E.) Division prosecuted this case.

Johnnie, This Heroin is SO Enjoyable!

New details from last week's hair-ron raids, including some high-larious wire-tap transcripts, helpfully translated by a DEA officer.

Blotter: an arrest in the murder of Jeffrey Brown; mugged Morgan students.

How Sick Can it Get?

Police: William V. Brown was a drug dealer and serial killer and rapist who cut the ears off a prostitute.

'Deener disabled man sentenced to home detention for kiddie porn

Shot Man Allegedly a Wanted Murderer

The man shot by police this morning in the 1700 block of North Fulton was ID'D by JZ as Emory Lewis, 25, who was wanted in the county for the murder of 22-year-old Felicia Ann Stratley. Turns out Lewis wasn't even the guy they were looking for, they were ISO one Dante Bradford (who was also arrested).
The shot officers have been released from the hospital.

A gal walking in Charles Village at 5:15 a.m. this morning was urgently requested to "Kick out the money."

Two Sheriffs shot in early morning

The Baltimore Sun is reporting that two Sheriff's Deputies were shot in the early morning while serving a warrant. Both are expected to live.

#159

Barry Graham, 24, died following a quadruple shooting this morning in the 700 block of West Lexington. No suspects, no motive.

Also on West Lexingon, stolen property recovered.

Dan Rodricks does some hand-wringing over Roger Shifflett, the guy (allegedly) responsible for the Overlea hostage situation. Every fuckwad is some mother's baby!

Illegal immigrant slavery at the Chinese buffet? Wo bu shi!

#158

Two men shot, one fatally, in front of the Captain James (you know, the restaurant on Boston St. that looks like a big boat). WBAL reports that a fight started inside & got finished on the street. The deceased victim was named as one Lloyd Milton.

To The Piss-Lined Tank from Old Latrobe

Big (or is it Lil?) Harry of the Latrobe Organization got 60 years for three murders.

The statements of William R. "Billy" Ferandes, 17, accused of fatally shooting 16-year-old Joshua Gibson, can be used at trial, a County judge ruled Friday. You may recall that little Billy and friends allegedly picked Gibson at random and shot him to death on the street, for chuckles.

News of the stupid: The Court of Appeals threw out a vehicular manslaughter conviction and 15-year prison sentence because the jury that rendered the guilty verdict hadn't been sworn in.

Local (allegedly) racist development Co Cordish is in agua caliente with the ACLU of Kansas over their "no white t-shirts" policy.
(QTD: “I like the dress code. It’ll keep out the crap.”)

In Annapolis, a double-shooting and the city's 7th murder.

A Reisterstown company got busted and fined for using a fake Orthodox Union kosher certification mark (though after that Iowa-slaughterhouse nastiness, the probably wish they'd stolen somebody else's!)

County police nabbed a PA perv.

Peter Hermann, Baltimore's only crime blogger, received an angry missive from a Boone St. resident.

Aw hellz naw... they got Turkey and Doughboy!

A fatal shooting reported yesterday afternoon in the 1500 block of Wadsworth Way.

A man was reportedly shot twice in the back about noon Tuesday in the 900 block of Belgian Ave. in the Pen Lucy neighborhood.

Drug raid targets named: "Turkey" "Deadeye" and "Doughboy".
... what's your gangsta name?

Evidence collected following a broad search warrant will be permitted at the trial of the Rogers Forge couple accused of starving their toddler to death.

Turns out the guy shot by police in Dundalk just had a BB gun.

The mystery deepens in the case of the missing GMC Acadia

Chang K. Yim, owner of the Linden Liquors, is protesting outside of city hall. (? "Yim handed out a three-page typewritten statement - available, along with other documents, on the Baltimore Crime Blog.")

Enjoy watching foot chases? WBAL's got video!

Two-Standoff Night

Twenty-seven drug raids last night, and only one standoff, at a house where men "often watched pornography on television without bothering to cover their windows." The Sun has pictures (of the raids, silly!)

A double shooting in Druid Heights.

A man was shot and killed by police in Dundalk after barricading himself in a house and waving a gun out the window.

Genius teens try to rob undercover cop

What happened to the impounded GMC Acadia?

Busy blogger Peter Hermann goes to Boone Street, laments Mouse, Wooly and Woo Woo, updates us on the case of the robbed 66-year-old tourist with the herniated disc.

"Police union calls order for foot patrols ‘ridiculous’"

News of the weird: Essex CC student who happened to be carrying $1400 robbed and beaten by attackers, including a man with an "F" carved in his hair

News of the weird II: Thurmont mom who put kids in trunk of car now in trouble for giving teens vodka

Conviction in Dice-Game Shooting

From the SAO:
A Baltimore City jury yesterday convicted Jamal Smith, 20, of the 1800 block of E. Federal St. of attempted first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The jury deliberated approximately five hours after a three-day trial. Judge Robert B. Kershaw scheduled sentencing November 14, 2008. Smith faces a maximum possible prison term of life plus 20 years. Details:

On June 12, 2007 at approximately 1:07 a.m. police responded to the 2000 block of E. Hoffman St. for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival they found the victim lying in the street suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Investigation revealed that the victim, Smith and others were involved in a dice game. The victim and Smith had a dispute over $2 and Smith pulled out a gun, aimed at the victim’s head and shot him one time in the temple area.

Three witnesses positively identified Smith as the shooter via photographic arrays. DNA consistent with the defendant was located on the dice recovered from the scene. The victim remains in the hospital in an unresponsive state as a result of this shooting.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Tonya LaPolla and Bethany Durand of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (F.I.V.E.) Division prosecuted this case.

Drive-by Mowdown

in East Baltimore injured five ... make that six ... and killed 23-year-old Robert Wilson.
(Thx glt)

What the?! Justin Fenton reports that police- and corrections-officer uniforms were found at the scene of Reginald Carter's murder.

A bevy of stolen stuff in the Blotter, including a 42" TV in Roland Park and an excavating machine removed from a city construction site.

More on that Catonsville stabbing: "The fight involved several men and a variety of weapons, including a metal pole, a knife and a 40-inch wooden sword."
A 40-inch wooden sword?!

The Baltimore County driving instructor who sued "Borat" has had his case tossed out of court.

And now, your quote of the day with Radio host Ron Smith:

If one were to grade the Baltimore state's attorney's office on conviction rates and public relations skills, it would get maybe an F. But if one were to grade State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy and her sidekick spokeswoman Margaret T. Burns on the fine art of political stonewalling - that is, the outright refusal to answer inconvenient questions - the grade would have to be an A+.

Via the Ink, three homicides have been added to the BCrime toll: Andre Harris, Shirley Johnson and Tyrone Bowie.

A man who was shot 13 years ago has died and has been added to the toll.

What Happened at the Barber Shop?

A witness says Homicide Detective Terry Love was "brave" and "doing his job," Jessamy's office says it was criminal assault and endangerment, and Love's lawyer questions the timing of the charges. (Wonder if they were filed before or after Love's EEOC complaint?)

15 Years for Killer of Ashley Bellosi

From the SAO:
Immediately before opening statements were set to begin in his murder trial, Rodney Fray, 39, of the 1800 block of E. Pratt St. [pleaded] guilty to second-degree murder today. Judge Paul Smith sentenced Fray to 30 years in prison, suspending all but 15 years, and five years probation.

On July 7, 2007 at 3:36AM paramedics responded to 817 St. Paul Street Apartment 804 and observed the victim Ashley Bellosi, 23, lying on the bedroom floor inside of her apartment. Bellosi was unconscious and suffering from numerous injuries to the head, neck, torso, and limbs. She was transported to Shock Trauma in critical condition and on July 11, 2007 Bellosi died as a result of her injuries. On July 12, 2007 OCME performed an autopsy on the victim and determined that the cause of death was homicide and the manner of death was blunt force trauma to the victim’s head. A witness positively identified Fray as being the person who fought with the victim and caused her injuries. Fray was Bellosi’s boyfriend and had recently moved into her apartment. After being arrested and read his Miranda rights Fray gave a taped statement admitting to fighting with the victim in the victim’s apartment.

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

Astounding Assholism!

Someone burned down the playground at the 33rd street Y!