Tuesday, January 15, 2008

January 15

"The 9-year-old boy went outside without his godmother's permission. His punishment was to sit in a bathtub as the woman filled it with five pots of boiling water. When he emerged from the scalding water, the lower half of his body was covered in severe burns. The woman waited four days to take him to a hospital."
Judge Glynn gave her six months... and the Department of Social Services allowed her to keep her biological child.

A boy who was 14-ish was sot to death in the 800 block of Bethune Rd. in Cherry Hill last night at about 6:30. (Isn't it amazing that two of our first six murders happened on the same street? I took a ride down Bethune Rd. last week, and I've never seen so many people in one neighborhood wearing so many red clothes. They must all have the same tailor or something.)

The article above confirms that 18-year-old Zecariah Hallback died on Saturday after being shot at a safe and reliable bus stop at the corner of 33rd and The Alameda on Thursday night. I assume that Hallback was waiting for the infuriatingly inconsistent MTA #22, which would have dropped him off a few blocks from his home in the 3200 block of Noble St.

And the same article also IDs 18-year-old Willie Joyner as the guy who was fatally stabbed by an old man in a store in the 400 block of E. 25th St. on Saturday afternoon.

Someone got shot in the crotch on Eutaw, and a cop got bopped on the noggin on Pennsylvania Ave.

Threats against the HarCo Circuit Courthouse were made on Friday, so there's more security in Bel Air during Sean Nelson Smith's trial.

Stupid bitch.

PDJ: Registered sex offender Leon Frederick Richards was charged with stalking an 11-year-old girl in Bel Air.

Beware of teenagers in puffy coats.

Three Lanham teenagers are being held without bond for last week's PG drive-by that killed one teenage girl and injured another teenage girl and a 36-year-old man. Apparently, the girl who died wasn't the intended target.

We must've just gotten some fancy new DNA equipment or something, because two guys were just arrested in two unrelated cases involving two dead hookers from three years ago. If my math is right, we'd have one more living hooker in this town if one of the guys hadn't gotten a suspended sentence on an old assault charge.

Patrick Byers (the accused murderer who allegedly paid someone $1,000 to kill witness Carl Lackl) goes to trial today for the death of Larry Haynes, and Bernardo Leconte and Cordero Taylor are being charged as adults for stabbing a 17-year-old at the Mall in Columbia.

It's a rough time to be an allegedly incompetent social services worker in either Baltimore or DC.

The trial continues for Brandon T. Morris, who is charged with killing prison guard Jeffery Wroten.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Mom Pleads in Death of Two-Year-Old

At a hearing today Destiny D’Urso, 26, of Damascus, MD, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Under terms of the plea agreement, announced in open court before Judge Timothy J. Doory, D’Urso agreed to testify truthfully and honestly against Paul Highfield. There was no sentence agreement, but the maximum prison sentence for manslaughter is 10 years. No sentencing date was scheduled.

On September 12, 2006 Anthony Joseph D’Urso, 2, lived at 1213 E. Patapsco Ave. Destiny D’Urso, the victim’s mother, left for work leaving her son in the care of Paul Highfield. The child was healthy when she left. When she returned, the child was vomiting uncontrollably, and D’Urso noticed numerous knuckle-sized bruises on the child’s abdomen. The child continued vomiting, and was put to bed by D’Urso. The child died during the night. D’Urso never sought medical attention for the child. The Medical Examiner determined that the child died of blunt force trauma.

The murder and child abuse trial of Paul Highfield, 28, of the 4000 block of Security Lane was scheduled for March 17, 2008. D’Urso remains held on $350,000 bail. Highfield is held without bail. Assistant State’s Attorneys Julie Drake, Chief of the Felony Family Violence Division and Patricia McLane will prosecute this case.

Meanwhile, Sam Chambers, the director of the Department of Social Services, has stepped down.

January 14

We listed Zachariah Hallback over on the right side of the site, but the Sun says he's still in critical condition. For Mr. Hallback's sake, I hope the Sun got it right this time. Meanwhile, police can find neither killer nor kin for the man who was stabbed at E. 25th St. and Greenmount Ave. on Saturday.

Also in the Blotter (above link): a home invasion, an unlucky delivery guy in Essex, an arsonist who hates Ford vans in Towson, cigarette thieves in Pikesville, and morons continue to leave their shit in their cars in the Southeastern.

Robert Turner just figured out that the rules are a bit different in HoCo.

Convenience store owners might want to think twice before hiring Tiffany Harris.

Six people were arrested for robbing a bank by impersonating guards from an armored car service.

Whew. Thank goodness we don't have any crime victims, or else we'd have to care about these federal funding cuts.

The teens are triflin', yo.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

January 12

An unidentified man was reportedly found dead of multiple stab wounds about 2 p.m. on the 400 block of E. 25th St. (literally on the street?)

Shoot, Shop & Save: Thursday, a man was shot in the lower torso inside a Harford Avenue grocery store.

City resident Derrin Davon Thomas was the man shot to death in an upscale community near Arundel Mills. Apparently, he was a real good guy.

What not to do when applying for a job.

Police say she cried wolf. Or bad touch. Or bad touch by a wolf. Or something.

The ambulance chasers caught the ambulance stealers.

It pays to show up for court! Down in PGC yesterday, a judge ordered rap star DMX to pay $1.5 million for defaming the mother of his bastard child in a print interview.

Friday, January 11, 2008

January 11

18-year-old Zachariah Hallback is the name of the man who was shot in the head on Wednesday while waiting for a safe and reliable bus at E. 33rd St. and The Alameda. From the way it sounds, things aren't looking so good for Mr. Hallback.

In other Blotter news (link above), a 30-year-old man was shot in the back, and a 45-year-old man got knocked off his bicycle.

An unidentified man was fatally shot in one of the hoity-toity neighborhoods next to Arundel Mills mall.

A man and woman were stabbed this morning in the 2300 block of E. Preston St., and to quote ABC2's brilliant editorial staff, "This morning police care..."

Police have identified the man who is accused of molesting a sixth-grader at Perry Hall Middle School, but they have not arrested him.

Hopefully, Gerard Damon was as tired of being free as he was of being locked up.

In bank robbery news, BaltCo police released a photo of the man who robbed the 1st Mariner Bank on Joppa Rd. in Towson on January 4th, and a clever robber at a Wachovia bank in DC got away with $100G without anyone at the bank knowing they'd been robbed.

17-year-old hammer-beater Tierra Lashawn Powell got 18 months for her violent attack on an 18-year-old woman who gave her and her friends a ride. Good to know that all the wuss judges aren't in the city.

Michael Gagnon, the alleged drunk douchebag who wiped out a Parkville family, was indicted on five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated vehicular assault. He faces up to 50 years.

In other drunk douchebag news, drunken crackhead Fontaine Pridgett pleaded guilty to killing three people who were on their way to receive kidney dialysis treatments in 2006.

The rapist in a 1992 case got nine years after his DNA was matched to evidence.

The trial of Brandon T. Morris begins today. Morris is charged with killing corrections officer Jeffery Wroten during a botched escape.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Officer Gets Probation for 'Misconduct' With 16-Year-Old in Police Station

From the SA's office: Just before his scheduled rape trial was scheduled to begin today, Baltimore Police Officer William Darrell Welch, 41, of Quiet Stream Court, Timonium, Maryland, pled guilty to misconduct in office.

Judge John C. Themelis sentenced Welch to a suspended 10-year prison term, three years' probation and ordered him to tender his resignation to the Police Department by January 14, 2008.

On July 16, 2006 Welch had sexual intercourse in the Southeastern District Station with a 16-year old girl after she had been taken into custody by another officer.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Temmi Rollock and Jennifer Williams of the Sex Offense Division prosecuted this case.

UPDATE: More from Melissa Harris.

January 10

The man found shot to death in a house on North Ave. was 30-year-old Jerrell Brown. Apparently, the house was not abandoned, as Brown was living there.

Also in the Blotter (link above): a catfight near the North Ave. light rail station (remember, the MTA is safe and reliable!), a Buddha thief in the Southern, and a very considerate armed robber in Owings Mills.

Speaking of safe and reliable, a man was found at a bus stop in the 2600 block of Dulaney St. after being shot in the leg, and another man was shot in the head at a bus stop near the City campus at E. 33rd St. and The Alameda. Neither gunshot was fatal. Yet.

An employee of a contractor working at Perry Hall Middle School sexually assaulted an 11-year-old in the girls' bathroom yesterday.

17-year-old Loren Denver White was arrested for the home invasion / robbery of a 62-year-old woman in Owings Mills. Sexual assault has been added to the list of charges against the alleged piece of shit.

If you're going to deny showing your junk to high school girls, you might not want to admit to it while the police are recording your call.

The trial against alleged cop perv William Darrell Welch is scheduled to begin today in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

The stabbing at the Mall in Columbia appears to be drug related. Visitors to the mall were reported as saying crazy things, like 'this is horrible' and 'people need to make better decisions."

The Maryland DHR is being investigated for how they handled the case of Bryanna Harris.

The victims of the Pigtown burglar speak out.

A devastated block in a city of devastated blocks is being torn down.

The old 'fireworks in the gas tank' trick.

$30 reward offered to HoCo snitches.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

A man was shot in the head at a bus stop tonight at the intersection of 33rd and the Alameda. He is reportedly still alive.

Freakonomics does "The Wire"

Sudhir Venkatesh (best known for his gang studies that were analyzed in Freakonomics) evaluates the authenticity of "The Wire" with a bunch of older and experienced thugs.

More on the economics of "The Wire" from blogger "YouNotSneaky!"

January 9

Homicide #3: an unidentified man's body was found in an abandoned rowhouse in the 3000 block of W. North Ave. yesterday morning.

This week's Ink covers the last murder of '07 and the first two of a remarkably calm new year. (And for all you Anna Ditkoff fans, there's a staged reading of the 2007 Murder Ink columns by the Single Carrot Theatre. 7:00pm at 45 W. Preston St.)

A memorial service was held yesterday for the Parkville family that was killed by alleged drunk driver Michael Gagnon.

A 17-year-old was stabbed in a parking lot at the Columbia Mall, and is in critical condition at Shock Trauma.

The victim of yesterday's home invasion / robbery was a 62-year-old Owings Mills woman.

Down in PG, two teenage girls were shot in a driveby, and a 30-year-old man was accidentally hit as well.

In other DC news, crackhead Tonya Bell apologized for being such a crappy driver.

Kerri King was granted a postponement. HarCo prosecutor Dair Pillai described her as a "threat to the public and community."

The lawyer for Sean Nelson Smith said it wasn't murder, it was self-defense.

Joseph Ellis admitted he's a perv, but not that kind of perv.

Security guard Rodney Corban was acquitted, and the doctor who was allegedly attacked -- who has a $30M lawsuit pending against UMMC -- played the race card.

The 9-year-old girl who was attacked by a pit bull on Bonaparte Ave. is still in the hospital. The dog, whose body showed signs of potential dogfighting and whose owner cannot be identified, was euthanized and is being tested for rabies.

Parking agent H. West was suspended in November, and Inspector General Hilton Green is investigating the fake parking tickets.

City Paper has the first half of an interesting story about Baltimore dealer Fred Brooks.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

281 in 2007

This site recorded 281 official murders in 2007, one less than "Murder Ink" has reported for the year. There are also 10 individuals that have not been officially declared homicide victims as far as we know (in fact, one of them may not be dead).
The 10 are
- Unidentified man, 1500 block of McCulloh Street (4 a.m. 5/25)
- Dontrelle Nesmith, 29, 3200 block of Normount Ave (3/21/07)
- Unidentified person, Leakin Park
- Unidentified woman, 2900 block of Ellicott Drive (5/1/07)
- Burnt body in field near Patapsco and Potee
- Unidentified decomposed body, in the Jones Falls near Chestnut Avenue (found 8/30)
- Suspicious body floating in the Harbor in Fell's Pt. near Bond Street (6/24)
- Duane Allen, 42, found floating in a swamp near the 2000 block of Annapolis Rd. (4/18/07)
- Tracy Watford, 40, in the harbor near the 2400 block of S. Hanover St. (found 12/5)
- Unidentified man, 20, 3400 block of Carlisle Ave. (before 1:30 a.m. 8/3)

And 2007's victims are:

291. Todd Dargan, 25, 900 block of N. Caroline St. (12:30 p.m. 12/28) 290. Kevin Bacon, 46, 1700 block of N. Dallas St. (noon 12/26) 289. William Harper, 36, 2400 block of Reisterstown Road (7:40 p.m. 12/24) 288. Toby MacCombie, 30, 6600 block of Vincent Lane (1:45 a.m 12/24) 287. Jason Milton Allen, 25, 2300 block of Druid Hill Ave. (8:20 p.m. 12/21) 286. Michael A. Weathers, 19, 2600 block of S. Paca Street/ 2300 block of Atlantic Avenue (12/20) 285. Lezli Williams, 22, 3200 block of Walbrook Ave. (12/18) 284. Jabari Stocks, 3, 900 block of E. Patapsco Ave. (6/8) 283. Jamal Rowlett, 20, 2500 block of Calvert St. (12/15) 282. Richard Lawson, 24, 2900 block of Chelsea Terrace (12/14) 281. Tracy Watford, 40, in the harbor near the 2400 block of S. Hanover St. (found 12/5)* 280. Artavius Tubman, 24, 6100 block of Boston St. (8:15 p.m. 12/11) 279. Lonnie Foote, 58, 2800 block of West North Avenue (d. 11/6, ruled 12/2) 278. Eugenio Harrison, 19, Forest Park Avenue and Windsor Mill Road (p.m. 12/2)
277. Ty'wonde M. Jones, 13, 5000 block of Cordelia Ave. (>9 p.m. 11/29) 276. Quentin Reddicks-Flowers, 31, 4000 block of W. Rogers Ave. (11:45 a.m. 11/27) 275. Bryanna Harris, 2, 1700 block of East 25th Street (6/5) 274. Martay Powell, 22, 2100 block of Crimea Road (10/12) 273. Michael Crowder, 33, 2400 block of Presbury St. (2 a.m. 11/26) 272. Robert Gray, 36, 1000 block of Boyd Street (10:20 p.m. 11/23) 271. Herbert Lemon, 31, 3000 block of Rosiland Avenue (11/16) 270. Kendrick Bowman, 7100 block of McLean Blvd. (11/15) 269. Frederick Davis, Fulton Avenue (beaten 2/19/99, died 6/25/07) 268. Trent Earll, 35, 4400 block of Belair Road (shot 3/27/97, died 9/4/07, ruled 10/10) 267. John Morris, 42, N. Carey and Baker Streets (11/12) 266. Carlos Smithson, 22, 2600 block of E. Grogan Avenue (p.m. 11/11) 265. Leonard Hunt, 44, 2600 block of Oswego Avenue (10:20 a.m. 11/8) 264. Terrance Regan, 16, 1600 block of Lochwood Road (10 p.m. 11/6) 263. Norman Smith, 30, 1600 block of East Eager Street (11/4) 262. Lawrence Jones, 17, 1400 block of Bonsal Street (11/2) 261. Robert Tyson, 24, 3300 block of Elmora Avenue (11/2) 260. Nathaniel Footman, 18, alley behind 3000 Woodland Avenue (9:40 p.m. 10/31) 259. Naim M. King, 31, 2400 block of Brentwood Ave. (12:30 p.m. 10/31) 258. Unidentified person, minivan parked in the 5900 block of Radecke Ave. (reported 10/29) 257. Alexander Robertson-El, 24, 700 block of Bartlett Ave. (11:15 p.m. 10/30) 256. Marlon Beckford, 31, 5800 block of Edgepark Road (4:40 a.m. 10/30) 255. Veronica Fludd, 26, Lyndhurst St. (a.m. 10/26) 254. Christopher Burden, 23, 700 block of E. Patapsco Ave. (10/25) 253. Donte Davis, 25, 4200 block of Audrey Ave. (2 a.m. 10/19) 252. Darren Mebane, 21, 1800 block of Walbrook Avenue (2:45 p.m. 10/18) 251. Qurran Holloway, 19, 3200 block of Woodland Avenue (2 p.m. 10/18) 250. Andre Bryant, 27, 2800 block of Quantico Avenue (3:38 p.m. 10/15) 249. Henry Mazyck, 39, burning car in 2100 block of Allendale Road (8 p.m. 10/15) 248. Dione Biggs, 33, 2600 block of Quantico Avenue (7 p.m. 10/14) 247. Deron Hope, 16, 1700 block of LaTrobe Street (12:45 a.m. 10/13) 246. Kevin Ware, 40, 1100 block of West Baltimore Street (9 p.m. 10/11) 245. Kwame Osafo, 21, 3400 block of Winterbourne Road (6:38 a.m. 10/10) 244. Montaz Askew, 20, 1600 block of Normal Avenue (1:30 a.m. 10/9) 243. Darwin Kelly Jr., 20, 1700 Homestead Street (2. a.m. 10/6) 242. Damon Coleman, 35, he east side of the basketball court in a public housing project, 1400 block of May Court (6 a.m. 10/6) 241. Tyrone Blanding, 30, 2300 block of Eutaw Place (evening 10/5) 240. Jason Fortune, 800 Freemont Ave. (2:40 p.m. 9/28) 239. Robert Rutledge, 2800 block of Parkwood Ave. (9/22) 238. Unidentified man, 600 block of N. Brice St. (10 a.m. 9/26) 237. Virginia Jones, 81, 3600 block of Rosedale Road (6/3) 236. Unidentified man, 5200 block of Fairlawn Ave. (6:30 p.m. 9/25) 235. Keith Ray, 24, Wyman Park, 600 Wyman Park Drive (reported 9/25)* 234. William Diven, 46, under the 41st Street Bridge, reported 9/22 233. Monea Gorham, 22, shot at the American Legion Hall in West Baltimore in 1999 (d. 9/20) 232. Darrick Harris, 40, rear alley of 2600 block of E. Chase St. (7:09 p.m. 9/19) 231. Glenn Conley, 25, 2900 block of Round Road (11:30 p.m. 9/17) 230. Richard Asare, 24, 1300 block of E. Cold Spring Lane (10:45 a.m. 9/17) 229. Channing Myrick, 26, 3400 block of Belair Road (4:30 p.m.9/16) 228. Deion Morris, 23, 3400 block of Belair Road (4:30 p.m. 9/16) 227. Tyrone Jones, 26, 1500 block of North Woodyear (11:38 p.m. 9/15 jz or 8/16 Sun) 226. Brian Smith-Hopkins, 2300 block of East Oliver Street ( 11:10 a.m. 9/15) 225. Qafim/Qasim Kaba/Kabah, 2500 block of Terra Firma Road (after midnight 9/15) 224. John J. Christen, 20, 200 block of Fredhilton Pass (1 a.m. 9/15) 223. Khonji Walton, 27, 3600 block of Elmley Ave. (12:15 a.m. 9/10, shooter Antonio Clyburn killed himself) 222. Unidentified man, 800 block of North Chester Street (2 a.m. 9/8) 221. Pauline Borum, 60, 6100 block of MacBeth Drive (8:15 a.m., 9/4) 220. Jasmine Borum, 17, 6100 block of MacBeth Drive (a.m., 9/4) 219. Davon Qualls, 17, 2500 block of Garrett Ave. (9/4) 218. Gary Watts, 21, 1300 block of N. Rosedale St. (10 p.m. 9/2) 217. Unidentified decomposed body, in the Jones Falls near Chestnut Avenue (found 8/30)* 216. Sean Blackwell, 20, 2000 block of E. Fairmount St. (8/31) 215. Kahlil Taylor, 23, 3000 block of Normount Ct. (9:30 p.m. 8/30) 214. Darnell Thomas, 23, 3100 block of Artaban Pl. (12:15 a.m. 8/30) 213. Lacy Hazel, 44, 400 block of S. Payson St. (2:45 a.m. 8/28) 212. Himank Karki, 18, Texaco station, 2600 block of Gwynns Falls Parkway (after 2 a.m. 8/27) 211. Matthew Sivells, 26, 1900 block of Cecil Ave (2 p.m. 8/26) 210. Andre McNaire, 28, 3500 block of East Baltimore Street (2:22 a.m. 8/26) 209. Dwight McDaniel Baker, 3300 block of Powhatan Avenue (after midnight, 8/25) 208. Ishmael Cooper, 15, 1400 block of Riggs Ave. (8/23) 207. Darius Cox, 17, 2400 block of Woodbrook Ave. (11 p.m. 8/18) 206. Karen Kutchey, 51, 5000 block of 5th St. (8/16) 205. Frederick Moore, 27, 700 block of Brune St. (8:20 p.m. 8/15) 204. Ramona Bradley, 40, 1100 block of Harper Way (8/13, d. 11 p.m. 8/16)
203. Byron Dickey, 28, 2100 block of Barclay St. (4 p.m. 8/12) 202. Davon McCargo, 20, 1300 block of West Lafayette Street (5 p.m. 8/11) 201. Troy Richardson, 30, 3400 block of Dupont Ave. (2 p.m. 8/9) 200. Joseph Antoine Bryant, 29, 2300 block of E. Oliver St. (1:45 a.m. 8/8, Dwayne Erving, 17, arr. 8/8) 199. Taavon Mitchell, 27, 1400 block of N. Milton Ave. (11:36 p.m. 8/7) 198. Eric Ford, 19, first block of S. Highland Ave. / 3400 block of E. Baltimore St. (11:45 p.m. 8/5) 197. Lorado Williams Jr. 27, 3600 block of East Lombard Street (shot 1:30 a.m. 8/3, died 8/4) 196. Unidentified man, 20, 3400 block of Carlisle Ave. (before 1:30 a.m. 8/3*) 195. Donte Bracey, 20, 500 block of E. 23rd St. (before 11 p.m. 8/2) 194. Keenan McCargo, 28, the 3700 block of Lyndale Ave. (7:45 a.m. 8/2) 193. William Johnson, 18, the 2400 block of Marbourne Ave. (1:30 a.m. 8/2) 192. Jordan Brown, 21, 4600 block of Rokeby Rd., at Swann Ave. (shot 7/30, died 7/31, Tevon Allen, 18, arrested 8/13) 191. Carl Eugene Barnes, 35, 2400 block of Westwood Ave. (11 p.m. 8/1) 190. Eghosa Miaes, 20, 1200 block of Nanticoke St (2:20 a.m. 8/1) 189. Kenneth Mitchell, 44, 2900 block of Mosher St. (shot 3/20, died 7/28) 188. Demetris Downing Sr., 25, 2100 block of McHenry St. (7 p.m. 7/28) 187. Cynthia Webb, 900 block of West Lombard Street (7/27) 186. Samuel Epps, 30, 1700 block of W. Baltimore Street (2:15 a.m. 7/27) 185. Christopher Robotham, 37, trunk of car, 1600 block of Waverly Way (7/26) 184. Donte Chase, 17, 3000 or 3100 block of Belair Rd., near Clifton Park Terrace (3:30 p.m. 7/19) 183. Steven Brandon Sr., 41, 2800 block of Round Road in Cherry Hill (5 p.m. 7/18) 182. Daniel Santiago, 29, 6100 block of Fortview Way (11 p.m. 7/17) 181. Perry Costley, 18, 3400 block of St. Ambrose Ave. (12:20 a.m. 7/17) 180. Earl Thomas Williams, 26, 2100 block of Koko Lane, (12:20 a.m. 7/16) 179. Wayne G. White, 24, 5700 block of Radecke Ave. (10:30 p.m. 7/15) 178. Maurice G. White, 22, 5700 block of Radecke Ave. (10:30 p.m. 7/15) 177. Conrad Strange, 25, 1800 block of N. Gay St. (4 a.m. 7/15) 176. Yemel McMillian, 20, 2800 block of Boarman Ave. (3 a.m. 7/15) 175. Timothy Johnson, 37, 200 block of S. Herring Court (1:30 a.m. 7/12) 174. Jerry Crosby, 24, 400 block of N. Bouldin St. (7:30 p.m. 7/12) 173. Ashley Marie Bellosi, 23, 800 block of St. Paul St. (beaten 7/7, died 7/11) 172. Christine Richardson, 15, 300 block of S. Fulton Ave. (2 a.m. 7/10) 171. Clayborn Johnson, 59, 4400 block of Parkton St. (7/10) 170. Mario Mauro, 53, died as a result of a beating on the 3000 block of Rosekemp Ave. (7/7) 169. George Thomas Johnson, 25, 800 block of N. Payson St. (d. 10 p.m., 7/6, Adrian McFadden, 30, arrested 7/16) 168. Phyllis S. Johnson, 40, 1700 block of N. Broadway (10:40 p.m., 7/3) 167. Philip Airey, 36, 4800 block of Pennington Ave. (6/19) 166. Antonio Tracey, 31, 1100 block of Greenmount Ave. (soon after midnight, 7/3, Michael Kennedy charged 7/24) 165. Allen Burton, 39, 2000 block of Guilford Ave. (noon, 7/2) 164. Nathaniel Price, 30, 4900 block of Greencrest Rd. (sometime between 6/28 and 7/2) 163. Christopher Barrett, 52, in a trash can behind rowhouse in the 1500 block of Bond St. (6:52 p.m., 7/1) 162. Gerard Smith, 25, car in the 4800 block of Herring Run Drive (7:20 a.m., 7/1) 161. Davon Turner, 21, 800 block of N. Patterson Park Ave. (2:30 a.m., 7/1, Frank Williams arrested 8/3) 160. Paul Cornish, 28, 1000 block of Granby St. (9:00 p.m., 6/30) 159. Joseph Milton Johnson, rim theif, 29, 4000 block of Cedardale Rd. (5:20 a.m., 6/29) 158. Jewels Cook, 36, 2300 block of Cylburn Ave. (5:45 a.m., 6/27) 157. George Williams, 52, 7-Eleven in the 1100 block of E. Cold Spring Ln. (beaten 8/29/2005, died 7/16/06, death was ruled a homicide on 6/20/07) 156. Suspicious body* floating in the Harbor in Fell's Pt. near Bond Street (6/24) 155. Kyle Lewis, 27, 1500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, near W. Mosher Street, (3 a.m. 6/23) 154. Demetrius Burnette, 31, 3600 block of Bonview Avenue (d. 11:45 p.m. 6/7, Leroy Adams, 19, arrested 7/12) 153. Voltaire Conway, 40, 1900 block of Presstman St. (7:00 a.m., 5/25) 152. Tarik H. Tynes, 35, Executive Inn, 3600 block of Pulaski Highway (5/19) 151. George Wilson, 24, 3100 block of Ellerslie Ave. (12:20 a.m. 6/21) 150. Ronnie Bundy, 21, 2900 block of Miles Ave. (1:00 a.m. 6/19) 149. David Carter, 26, 3400 block of St. Ambrose Ave. (9:30 p.m. 6/18, suspect was Perry Costley, 181) 148. Riley Pettus, 43, Gwynns Falls Park near the 1300 block of N. Woodington Road (decomposed body found 6/17) 147. Alvis Harris, 40, 3300 block of Annapolis Rd., (2:30 a.m. 6/16) 146. Marcarian Grimes, 23, 2600 block of Fairview Ave., (2:00 a.m. 6/17) 145. Richard Jones, 37, 1900 block of W. Pratt St., (10:20 p.m. 6/15) 144. Maurice Gordon, 15, 2500 block of Linden Ave. (2:30 a.m. 6/13) 143. Tyree Williams, 22, 3200 block of Phelps Ln. (12:30 a.m. 6/13) 142. Sterling Carr Jr., 28, 2400 block of N. Ellamont St. (12:22 a.m. 6/13) 141. Curtis Washington, 17, 1600 block of Montpelier Street (1 a.m. 6/12) 140. Barbara Griffin, 18, 220 block of N. Bentalou St. (6/11) 139. Juan Taylor, 44, 3200 block of Brighton St. (2:20 a.m. 6/11) 138. Michael Simms, 18, first block of S. Chapel Street (6/10) 137. Melvin Jordan, 32, 900 block of East Preston St. (1:30 a.m 6/9) 136. Craig A. Hunter, 29, 1900 block of Collington Ave. (8 p.m. 6/8) 135. Ghulam Mustafa, 33, 100 block of West 28th Street (9:30 p.m. 6/5) 134. Tyrone Willie Bonner, 30, 1700 block of E. 30 St., (12 a.m. 6/5) 133. Curtis Alexander, 28, 1900 block of W. Lanvale St. (10 a.m. 6/3) 132. David Elijah Washington, 24, alley near 2600 block of Violet Ave. (1:40 a.m., 6/2) 131. Shirley Cooper, 72, 2600 block of Madison Avenue (6/1 or 6/2) 130. John Drew, 26, 2400 block of W. Lexington St ( 1 a.m. 5/30) 129. Neil B. Rather, 18, parking lot at 3400 Clifton Avenue and Denison Street (3 p.m. 5/29) 128. Laron Henderson, 27, 1600 block of Moreland Ave. (1:30 a.m., 5/29) 127. Jourman Parson, 17, Jemella's Cut Rate Liquors, 1800 block of W. Mosher St. (10:30 p.m. 5/28, Adrian McFadden arr. 7/16) 126. David Bishop, 32, 200 block of N. Gay St. (3 p.m. 5/27) 125. Amin Reed, 30, 700 block of N. Payson St. (10:12 a.m. 5/26) 124. Davon Williams, 3600 block of Dudley Ave. (5:15 a.m. 5/26) 123. Brian Johnson, 31, 1600 block of Vincent Court (2:30 a.m. 5/26) 122. Renard Maith, 52, 4000 block of Belvieu Ave., (6:25 a.m. 5/25) 121. Unidentified man, 1500 block of McCulloh Street (4 a.m. 5/25)* 120. Lt. Perry Van Brooks, 48, 1900 block of Hillenwood Road (2:30 a.m. 5/25) 119. Jasman Elmore, 18, 2300 block of Frederick Ave. (5/23) 118. Curtis Taylor, 22, Mt. Royal Ave. and Guilford Ave. (5/23) 117. Adrian Smith, 19, 200 block of E. 21st Street (5/22) 116. Alexander Rose, 23, 2300 block of East Fayette Street (5/22) 115. Alvin Parson, 22, run over by men with whom he was arguing near the first block of N. Gorman Ave. (5/10) 114. Robert Perlie, 16, 200 block of N. Dallas Court (5/17, James Giles was indicted 8/3) 113. Earl Sonny Cornish III, 21, 500 block of Chateau Avenue (5/16)112. Deandre Salmond, 19, 500 block of South Smallwood Street (5/15) 111. Nathaniel Hicks, 30, 2500 block of Garrett Ave. (5/14) 110. Todd Little, 29, 1700 block of N. Dallas St. (5/12) 109. Antoine Deshawn Hawkins, 29, 2200 block of Robb St. (5/12) 108. Gerald Lamont Wilson, 22, 900 block of N. Chester St. (5/11) 107. Deandre Hatcher, 17, 300 block of 23 1/2 Street (5/10) 106. Abdul Rahim Azzie, 20, possibly Middle Branch Park near Cherry Hill (3/8/05) 105. William Don Curtis, 23, Raymonn Avenue, Belair-Edison (5/8) 104. Thomas S. Mouzon Jr., 23, 1400 block of N Caroline St (5/7) 103. Michael Eugene Davis, 25, Woodbine Avenue (5/7) 102. John Lee Graves, 26, Cliftview Avenue (5/7) 101. Rocky Bottoms Jr., 1400 block of E. Fayette St. / 200 block of N. Spring Ct. (5/6/2007) 100. Adrian Beasley, 1300 block of Herkimer St. (5/5/2007) 99. Matthew Davis, 23, 100 block of S. Mount St. (5/3/2007) 98. Derius Harmon, 18, abandoned house on 2200 block of Barclay St. (5/2/07) 97. Duane Allen, 42, found floating in a swamp near the 2000 block of Annapolis Rd.* (4/18/07) 96. Dontrelle Nesmith, 29, 3200 block of Normount Ave* (3/21/07) 95. Larry Brockington, 31, 900 block of N. Rosedale St. (5/2/07) 94. Unidentified woman, 2900 block of Ellicott Drive (5/1/07)* 93. Eric Queen, 24, 1900 block of E. Lafayette St. (4/30/07) 92. Jamal Knox, 16, 500 block of Half Mile Ct. (4/30/07) 91. Deshaun White, 31, 3600 block of Reisterstown Rd. (4/30/07) 90. Leroy Sanders, 22, 300 block of S. Payson St. (4/29/07) 89. Lonnie Plateo, 36, Upland Apartments, 4600 block of Old Frederick Rd. (4/29/07) 88. Azerwoine Walker, 30, 6200 block of Elliott St. (4/29/07) 87. Ronald Daniels, 35, Cameo Lounge, 4700 block of Harford Rd. (4/29/07) 86. Dewitt Smith, 25, 1600 block of N. Rosedale St. (4/27/07) 85. Ernest Buchanan Jr., 18, in the McDonald's at 31 S. Calvert St. (4/26/07) 84. Damon Dubose, 23, 3500 block of Woodland Ave. (4/22/07) 83. Van Maurice Johnson, 29, 1900 block of W. Lombard St. (4/22/07) 82. Joseph Ensey, Sr., 45, died in November 2006 from complications related to a 1991 shooting in the 4100 block of St. George's Ave. (death was ruled a homicide on 4/20/2007) 81. Christopher Wayman, 23, 2400 block of Seabury Rd. (4/19/07) 80. Johnnie James, 25, 300 block of S. Bentalou St. (4/18/07) 79. Kevin Randall, 45, 200 block of N. Mount St. (4/18/07) 78. Brent Flanagan, 16, 2600 block of W. Coldspring Ln. (4/12/07) 77. Tavon Campbell, 20, 2600 block of E. Madison St. (4/11/07) 76. John Daughtry, 25, 100 block of S. Morely St. (4/9/07) 75. Eric Zurawski, 39, 1300 block of W. Ostend St. (4/8/07) 74. Darrell Smith, 21, rear of even side of 3600 block of St. Margaret's St. (4/2/07) 73. Andre McBride, 21, 6600 block of Knottwood Ct. 72. Estefany Gonzales, 16, 6300 block of Toone St. 71. Pelvin Derrien, 23, 6800 block of Sturbridge Drive 70. David Johns, 3400 block of Noble St. March 30 69. Ronald Harmon, 17, 2200 block of E. Biddle St. 68. Artesha Moses, 18, 700 block of N. Carey St. 67. Theresa Parker, 39, 1200 block of Treeleaf Ct. 66. Shawn Lamont Weaver, 17, 900 block of McCulloh St. 65. Charles Hargrove, 20, 2600 block of Rayner Ave. 64. Ricardo Paige, 54, 500 block of E. 43rd St. 63. Unidentified person, Leakin Park* 62. Edwin Mathews, 30, 2900 block of E. Madison St. [Candice Page arrested 8/22] 61. Rodney Dewitt, 21, 4900 block of Queensberry Ave. 60. Charles R. Erdman, 65, 5800 block of Erdman Ave. 59. Michael Stuckey, 49, 100 block of Diener Pl. 58. Christopher Clarke, 18, 3100 block of Cliftmont Ave 57. Antwan D. Askins, 2500 block of List Ave. 56. Steven Washington, 17, 1600 block of Cliftview Ave. 55. Tyrone Jackson Jr., 19, 6500 block of Brook Ave.
54. Mark Robinson, 48, 2700 block of Harlem Ave. 53. Damon Smith, 40, alley in the 5000 block of Denmore Ave. 52. Allen Coates, 36, Maceo's Lounge, 1900 block of N. Monroe St. 51. Anthony Bryan, 37, 3000 block of Rosedale Ct. 50. Richard Stuckey, 17, 1100 block of N Ellamont St. 49. Anthony Brown, 19, shot in the 700 Block of N. Curley Street 48. Thomas Terry, 19, shot in the 100 block of West Hamburg Street 47. Michael A. Woods Jr., 28, 2000 block of Smallwood Street 46. Vernon L. Carter, 25, 1800 West Lanvale 45. William R. Duck IV, 21, found face down in the street at the intersection of Fulton Ave. and W. Pratt St. 44. Vic Roy Fenner, 17, Guilford Ave. and E. 21st. St 43. Antonio Harris, 18, 1600 block of McKean Ave. 42. Charles Pace, 22, 2300 block of Barclay 41. Brian Lessane, 19, 1000 block of N. Broadway near Branch Water Ct. 40. Daniel Savage, 32, 1500 block of N. Bradford St. 39. Andre S. Jones, 28-year-old Video Poker Player, 1800 block of Clifton Ave 38. Darnell Cain, 37, 2300 block of E. Fayette St. 37. Burnt body in field near Patapsco and Potee* 36. George Baskerville, 3700 block of Oakmont Ave. 35. David Frasier, 1000 block of Branch Water Ct. 34. Harold Robinson, Club International, 2300 block of W. Baltimore St. 33. Alusine Kamara, alley in the 1800 block of W. Baltimore St. 32. Dwight Evans, 2400 block of E. Madison St. 31. Darnell Gaither, Walter P. Carter Recreation Center, E. 43rd St. 30. Desmond Tucker, Sugar Hill Tavern, 2300 block of Druid Hill Avenue 29. Ryan Holliman, Club Mate, 3600 block of South Hanover Street 28. Stephanie Stevens, 800 block of Hilton Street 27. Sintia Mesa, 7200 block of Brook Crest Way 26. Vernon Dredden, N. Chester St. 25. Kevin Fowlin, 3900 block of W. Rogers Ave. 22. Ronald Lewis, McCulloh Homes, 500 block of W. Preston St. 23. Tio Floyd, 1700 block of East Biddle Street 24. Jermall K. Ford, 2100 block of Madison Ave 21. David Thomas, 3100 block of Brighton Street 20. Anton Jones Jr., 5400 block of Cedonia Avenue 19. Milan Walker, 1000 block of E. Baltimore St. 18. Bonita Madden, 1300 block of North Calhoun Street 17. Dante Watson, 2200 block of Fleetwood Avenue 16. Melissa Stefanski, 23, 600 block of Washburn Ave. 15. Antwaine Curbeam, 30, 5200 block of York Road 14. William Davis, 26, 1200 block of N. Caroline Street 13. Gregory Rochester, 25, 200 block of E. 25th Street 12. Rodney Gardner, 21, man shot in the chest at 3100 Ravenwood Rd. and dropped off at the Johns Hopkins Hospital emergency room 11. Detective Troy Lamont Chesley Sr. 10. Richard Crane, 37, shot to death Jan. 13th in the 1500 block of east 29th street. 9. Marcus McDowell, 16, 5100 block of Harford Road 8. Edward L. Canupp, 500 block of Maude Ave. 7. Ray William Alston, 27, 300 block of W. North Ave. 6. Michael Cunningham, 46, 5200 block of Ready Ave. 5. Yule Antonio Henderson, 21, 1800 block of N. Montford Ave. 4. Thomas Joseph MacKenney, the 5900 block of Northwood Drive near Chinquapin Run 3. Nelsene Hattie Burnette, 44, 2000 block of W. North Avenue 2. Eddie Golf, 26, at Windsor Forest apt. complex, 4900 Challedon Road 1. Leon Nelson, 17, China Garden

Afternoon Update

Vernice Harris, a 30-year-old "mother" has been charged in the murder of her two-year-old daughter, Bryanna Ashley. Along with the beating death of 3-year-old Jabari Stocks, the most depressing story of '07.

Former Hopkins doctor Dr. Todd Brinsley Sheridan pleaded guilty to automobile manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol. He killed 22-year-old Letrice Smith by driving the wrong way on the JFX-- he drove a rather remarkable 4.5 miles after entering on the the North Avenue ramp before the accident, says the SA's office. Under terms of the plea agreement, Sheridan faces a maximum of three years in prison. Judge Robert Kershaw scheduled sentencing for April 21, 2008. Sheridan had previously been convicted of DUI in 2004.

County police are seeking a home-invasion/robbery suspect driving a 2003 white Honda Civic Maryland registration JYC928.

January 8

More than 2,000 mourners attended the funeral for Courtney Brooks.

Three teenage boys and a woman were injured during a shooting at a carryout joint in the Southwestern.

The link above also mentions that Ronald Lee Moore's suicide attempt was successful.

The county police have released a sketch of one of three suspects who shot a man during a robbery / cigarette-bumming in Woodlawn last November. Is it just me, or is that bad man wearing a polka-dot neckerchief?

Apparently, Gerard Damon got bored with prison, so he just kind of walked away.

Oedipus is running for Carroll County School Board.

Sean Nelson Smith's murder trial might provide some mighty fine drama.

Christopher James Haarhoff got five years for helping his mother ditch the body of her boyfriend.

26-year-old Joseph Ellis pleaded guilty to being a perv.

Pigtown patrol points police to Peacock.

A pit bull attacked a 9-year-old girl on Bonaparte Ave., and neighbors are "beefing." Uh, okay. (And hey... don't hate the dogs, hate the owners.)

Monday, January 7, 2008

Putting the "new" in "news"

The following is from a "Top Stories" link on the FoxBaltimore web site. Like most of their "Top Stories," it doesn't have a link directly to the "Top Story." Make sure you read the last sentence, the one I put in bold.
Man Shot in Barber Shop
A barber waiting to be picked up by his wife after work is killed in west Baltimore. It happened in the 1100 block of West Baltimore Street at Reflections barber shop just before 9 p.m. last night.
Police say a shooter entered the store and opened fire. 40-year-old Kevin Ware was hit several times. Ware was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are looking for a black male who ran from the scene.
Last Updated: Friday, October 12 2007, 06:13 PM

Ahhh, Fox Baltimore, I aspire to your level of journalistic integrity. One day, Fox Baltimore, I will surpass the stature of lowly blogger, and I will join your ranks as the mostest elitest reporters in Baltimore.

January 7

The service for Cpl. Courtney Brooks is taking place this morning. Part-time stripper Kerri King still has not been charged in his death, but continues to be held for not showing up at court for an unrelated DUI charge.

A woman was raped in her car near S. Caroline St. and E. Baltimore St. at about 4:00 in the afternoon on New Year's Day, and police have no leads.

The family of Michael Gagnon seems genuinely sorry for the drunken actions of their brother/son.

Maryland's program to prevent aggressive driving has largely failed. Of course, this guy won't be driving like a jackass anymore.

A fire in Dundalk is being investigated as suspicious.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin today in HoCo Circuit Court for the case against Brandon Morris, who is accused of killing prison guard Jeffrey Wroten.

The Guardian Angels are seeking volunteers for their Baltimore patrols.

As ppatin reminds us in the comments, arguments against the lethal injection are being heard by the Supreme Court today.

The Wire, Season Five

Thoughts?

Sunday, January 6, 2008

January 6

Jerome Waters was fatally shot at about 11:30 Thursday night in the 2800 block of Kentucky Ave. in the Northeastern. In a shocking twist, Baltimore police suspect that the killing might be drug-related.

Way to go there, Scrappy! "Baltimore City Police say a resident of Eutaw Place fought off two teens who tried to rob him at gunpoint last night."

Kelvin Poke wrote that he wasn't born in prison and he wasn't going to die in prison.

Two PG teens are in the slammer after they stole a couple of cars and tried to run down a cop.

That about sums it up: "No Happy Ending in Dickensian Baltimore"

Saturday, January 5, 2008

January 5

Galt wrote in the comments that someone was fatally shot on Thursday the 4th in the 3500 block of Howard Park Dr., but this hasn't been reported anywhere that I've seen.

The head of Dimensions Healthcare System says no more non-emergency prisoner patients until the state can get its act together. And when Dimensions calls you a screwup, you know it's bad.

New charges were brought against the bus beaters.

Ronald Lee Moore, the accused sex offender who was captured in Louisiana after being accidentally released from the Baltimore City Correctional Center, tried to kill himself. No word on whether he used a cattle prod in his suicide attempt.

A 19-year-old was arrested and charged with arson after allegedly setting five fires in a Pikesville apartment complex. (WBAL has a charming headline for their video: "Man Arrested In Complex Arson." Would he have been let go if it had been a simple arson?)

"There are no 'bad' kids in Baltimore." Go Gregory.

Two trials that are scheduled to start on Monday: The first-degree murder trial of Earl Bazemore and Victor Miller, who are accused of killing Andrew Levi Jackson on September 25 2006, and the second-degree assault trial against Rodney Corban, who is accused of beating a Muslim doctor who was washing his hands and feet in a bathroom at UMMS.

The Wegman's that is slated to replace the Wire soundstage in Columbia is meeting some opposition.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Juan Hernandez indicted

From the State's Attorney's Office:
The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Juan Hernandez, 19, of the 1000 block of Foxchase Lane in Essex on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Court documents allege that Juan Hernandez is responsible for a shooting incident on March 30, 2007 in the 6300 block of Toone Street. Allegedly Hernandez entered the 6200 block of Toone Street in a dark colored vehicle, parked, exited his vehicle, walked toward the rear of the block and began firing at Estefany Gonzales,16, striking her in the shoulder. Hernandez allegedly fled the scene in the vehicle. Gonzales died later at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

An arraignment is scheduled for January 28, 2008 before Judge John P. Miller, Room 428 Mitchell Courthouse.

January 4

Kelvin Poke was being guarded by one correctional officer when he escaped. The second guard was on break.

Habitual drug dealer Michael A. Weathers was the man who was killed on Dec. 20 on the corner of Atlantic Ave. and S. Paca St.

If I were apologizing for a family member who killed five people because he was driving the wrong way down a freeway, I probably wouldn't use the words, "turn around unexpectedly."

HarCo businessman William Harrison has been charged with 218 counts of child sex abuse.

Convicted coke dealer DJ Nelly Nell is going away for 11+ years.

Corey Lehnhoff, the alleged instigator of the Mount Hebron HS fight that left one teenager dead, will be tried as a juvenile.

A federal cop's stolen gun is still missing.

Police are searching for an armed robber with a penchant for dresses who hit the Boscov's in White Marsh Mall on Wednesday night.

Also at White Marsh, a man with a star under his eye stole a leather coat from the Mens' Wearhouse. Could this be the man?

A current Raven and a former Raven are going at it in court.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

January 3

The man killed at a New Year's party in Cherry Hill was 28-year-old Linwood Colvin.

The man killed in Edgewood on Sunday was ID'd as 23-year-old Tyree Eugene Brown.

Kerri King is one classy lady.

Kelvin Poke could've taught Samuel L. Jackson a thing or two about being a bad motherfucker.

Better to be distraught than dead, jackass.

A teenager was stabbed on Seagull Ave. in Cherry Hill last night, but was able to run to the Southern police station.

Assault charges against bus beating victim Sarah Kreager have been dismissed.

Anthony Showell's family swears that the cops have got the wrong guy.

If you see a 6' white dude walking around Highlandtown, call the police. (If there's no post here tomorrow, then you called the cops on the wrong 6' white dude.)

Brian Keith Scott is in jail after robbing a Westminster Subway shop.

Steven Vernarelli's lawyers are preparing a $100M lawsuit against the BPD after claiming that three officers sexually sodomized him near Hopkins Hospital.

Judge Richard D. Bennett told Ponzi schemer and repeat offender David McDowell Robinson that "a lengthy prison term is clearly going to be imposed by me."

Convicted murderer James Kulbicki won't get a new trial, no matter how many college degrees Joseph Kopera lied about.

Rodricks reaches out to future murderers and murder victims.

Jews rule.

The Philly City Paper pays respect to David Simon and takes a shot at those of us who prefer low-hanging fruit to the sweet nectar of truth.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

January 2

A bit more about the circumstances that surround 2008's first murder, and some additional info about the investigation into whether Kerri King killed Courtney Brooks with her SUV.

Speaking of alleged asshole drunks, a 24-year-old construction worker from Ohio is being arraigned today on five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. He received minor injuries in the crash that killed a mother and four kids from Parkville.

Luke Broadwater's long-awaited recap of Baltimore City's 2007 homicides has been published, along with a list of December's murder victims.

Three victims are listed in today's Murder Ink.

Salisbury had their first homicide of 2007 in mid-December.

A curious comment in article about Edgewood citizens who are tired of local violence: "Without the ability or authority to discipline their children, parents end up ceding that responsibility to police." Ummmmm... so why exactly don't parents have the ability or authority to discipline their children?

A 31-year-old genius refused to drop the gun he was firing into the air to celebrate the New Year, and was rewarded with a police bullet to the gut.

We've come to expect stabbings and armed robberies, but for the love of God, leave our vodka alone!

The investigation into Anthony McCarthy's rather mysterious "inappropriate behavior" has been completed.

A bunch of cars in Canton were vandalized.

Sheila D. will be attending a screening of The Wire at the Senator on Saturday. David Simon is going after the fine folks at the Sun this season.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

January 1, evening

We made it almost 60 minutes into the new year without a murder.

Police arrested 40-year-old Elkton resident Kerri King, the owner of the green SUV being sought in the hit-and-run death of MdTA officer Courtney Brooks. King was being held on charges related to a September DUI arrest. Her Ford Explorer had heavy damage to the front end.

Francisco Pascual, the Gwynn Oak man charged with smuggling and raping an underage girl from El Salvador, had his bail doubled to $2M. I don't know anything about Milford (CT) State's Attorney Kevin Lawlor, but he just might be my new hero.

New Year's Eve hit and run

Officer Courtney G. Brooks was hit and killed while he worked a traffic detail last night at the intersection of 95 & 395. He was a 13-year police veteran. Police are looking for a green Ford Explorer with temporary Delaware tags XB719820.

(I almost feel bad for my snide comment about WJZ in the previous post. Almost.)

January 1

Lewis Lee Cochran was arrested in the Edgewood home invasion on Sunday that left one man dead.

A Maryland Transportation Authority officer was the victim of a hit and run last night near 95 and 395. WJZ says he was killed, but WJZ says a lot of things.

The man killed outside the Stop, Shop & Save on N. Caroline St. last Friday has been ID'd as 25-year-old Todd Dargan.

Also in the Blotter (above link), the carjacker who desperately needed a '91 Blazer got arrested, the guy who got shot finally remembered where it happened, and teenagers in the metro area just aren't being very nice to each other.

Bringin' in the new year at juvie.

Looks like at least a few of the teens charged with beating Sarah Kreager on the MTA's No. 27 bus tried to claim that Kreager started the fight.

William A. Hendry IV allegedly taped he and his ex-wife having sex without her consent.

A 43-year-old man in Annapolis was stabbed after four men accused him of an earlier robbery.

Today's tip for stupid criminals: Don't ask a cop to move his car when (a) you're carrying around nearly 9 grams of wacky tabaccy, and (b) you're the reason the police were called in the first place.

The Examiner has a bunch of pretty neat year-end recaps that include updates on some major stories. Here's the one for Baltimore City.

Vandals in HoCo painted hateful messages on cars, houses, and driveways in well-to-do Clarksville.

Monday, December 31, 2007

December 31

Five members of a Parkville family were killed by a drunk driver in Ohio.

A Gwynn Oak man got his ass kicked -- both physically and legally -- after allegedly raping an underage Salvadoran girl who he smuggled into the country.

Josh Mitchell takes a look at differences in the motives that drive suburban and urban homicide.

Two men in Edgewood were shot by Crips yesterday.

Police have the victim and the bullet wound, but nobody knows where it happened. (Also in the Blotter, a grocery store owner was stabbed and robbed, a man was carjacked of his nearly 20-year-old Chevy, and a blonde woman in the Southeastern is armed with a bad sense of fashion.)

A Bel Air man is attributing a Molotov cocktail attack on his house to "a rash of vandalism in his neighborhood."

Be on the lookout for a 5'9" black man with a graying goatee who is wearing blue jeans and robbing banks. Wait a second... I think there's three of him working in my office as we speak!

MTA Police Chief David Franklin says the buses are safe; one of the nine kids who attacked Sarah Kreager doesn't agree.

If the slackers at the Dunkin Donuts in Berlin, MD kept their stupid store open 24 hours like every other DD on the face of the planet, these morons wouldn't have stood a chance.

Rodney Bethea just wants to talk, man!

Pat Jessamy's staff is looking into bogus parking tickets in the city.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

December 30

The Sun does their year-end homicide wrap-up without any sensationalist headlines. Depressing QOTD from Julie B.: "The increase, though slight, underscores a troubling trend in homicides that leaves Baltimore standing virtually alone among major American cities."

A look at the strategies of some of those other American cities.

HarCo reduced their homicide rate by nearly 50%.

More details on the delivery driver from China Spring who was robbed and shot in Glen Burnie last week.

I missed an interesting article from yesterday's Sun about dealing with violence in the city's schools. (On an unrelated note, did you know that we have a Homeland Security Academy in West Baltimore? Does that seem creepy to anyone but me?)

I don't entirely understand the details, but protective orders in Maryland are being standardized to offer more consistent protection to victims of abuse. Or something like that.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

December 29, Evening Edition

A corpse was found on I-97 near Annapolis, and an abandoned car was found nearby.

A man in his late 30s committed suicide at Lexington Market this morning.

Joseph Brown was allegedly selling a handgun when he was murdered. There's an important lesson here for aspiring illegal gun dealers: don't give loaded weapons to your potential customers.

You mean Christmas Eve isn't the traditional day of desecrating tombstones?

Gotta love those JZ headlines that inform us of genuinely surprising local developments: "Baltimore's Murder Rate Continues To Climb".

December 29

A 25-year-old man became victim #282 yesterday afternoon outside the Stop, Shop & Save on N. Caroline St.

The man murdered in Pikesville has been ID'd as 22-year-old Joseph Edward Brown.

Very disturbing details on the child abuse allegations against Towson parents John and Susan Griffin.

A man was shot by police last night in the Southwestern, probably because society forced him to try to run over a cop.

The Bus Beaters aren't getting charged with hate crimes. No word on whether they'll be charged with being assholes.

Shoplifters and armed robbers run amok in the Blotter.

Friday, December 28, 2007

December 28

A Towson couple was arrested after their 3-year-old, 14-pound son died. According to the boy's parents, he had the flu and a Christmas tree fell on him.

The body of a man in his 20s was found in a rarely used alley in Pikesville, and authorities aren't sure who he is or how he got there.

A few victim IDs in the Blotter: William Harper was the guy who was killed on Christmas Eve on Reisterstown Rd., and Kevin Bacon was the man who was killed on Wednesday on N. Dallas St. Police are still looking for info about the man who was killed on 12/20 on S. Paca St. in Mt. Winans.

Today's Blotter is chock full of good times, Baltimore style. Did you know that we have a T&A Mart, and it's not on the Block?

Also in the Blotter, a man was stabbed in the neck at a bus stop on North Ave. Everybody together now: "M - T - A. Reliable and Safe. M - T - A. Reliable and Safe."

Speaking of reliable and safe, apparently it's those meddling kids who are causing all the problems on the buses.

A city resident is behind bars in HoCo after allegedly being too much of a wuss to move on after his girlfriend dumped his ass for another guy.

No bail for David Winters.

If I'm understanding the poorly worded article correctly, a home invasion in Cumberland left a victim and an assailant wounded.

Alleged sexual offender Ronald Lee Moore was caught breaking into a house in Louisiana. He was accidentally released from the Baltimore City Correctional Center last month.

Today's helpful hint for stupid gun owners: don't stash your gun beneath the cushions of your couch if you have a 5-year-old kid.

Okay, do we really expect a guy who can spend weeks sitting on top of a bar to be financially responsible?

Ahhhhh... we'll be seeing much more of this as the mortgage mess continues to unfold.
I'll be on 105.7 with Luke Broadwater at noon-- tune in!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

December 27

A man was fatally shot yesterday in the 1700 block of N. Dallas St. (Copy editors at the Sun are apparently on vacation this week: "where he was died during surgery...")

Jason Milton Allen was ID'd as the man who was fatally shot in the 2300 block of Druid Hill Ave. on Friday night.

In MoCo, recent Marine recruit David Winters claimed a bunch of scary men attacked him and his father. Police didn't buy the story, and charged Winters with killing his dad.

Five non-fatal (so far) city shootings were reported in this morning's Sun, including a 24-year-old woman who was driving with her family on Orleans St. by Hopkins early on Christmas morning, and a 19-year-old man who was carrying a pistol and some crack when he got a bullet lodged in his skull and flipped his car. Sucks to be him.

A delivery driver was shot and robbed in Glen Burnie last night.

A 55-year-old inmate at Jessup was stabbed and taken to Shock Trauma. No word yet on whether or not he was able to escape from the hospital.

If you live in an upstairs apartment, it's probably best if you don't shoot randomly through your floor.

Rodney wishes he'd stopped bitchin'.

Project EXILE charged 18 people with federal gun offenses in December, including Rodney's poor, victimized friend Akiba.

One of Sheila D.'s minions said yesterday's bus shooting was unacceptable, because "we need for (public transit) to be reliable and safe." Huh. Obviously these people don't ride the bus.

Oh, hey... look at that. A 17-year-old girl and her 8-year-old brother were robbed at gunpoint while waiting for an MTA bus. Reliable and safe, my ass.

The zoo is safe, as long as you don't take the bus to get there.

Beware of phony cops who call and ask for credit card info on your customers.

Okay, somebody has to know what happened on Christmas night on the corner of S. Broadway and E. Pratt. We Baltimore Crimers slave over hot computers day and night for you, so the least you could do is fill in a missing gap here and there. Or don't. We don't really care anyway. Whatever. (Uh-oh. All the passive-aggressive family holiday fun is spilling over.)

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

December 26

One of the three Christmas Eve shooting victims mentioned on Tuesday succumbed to his injuries, and another fatal Christmas Eve shooting was reported.

This morning, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the leg on the No. 15 bus in West Baltimore.

Hey Kevin... generally speaking, we shouldn't stab our friends.

The Greater Baltimore Committee has statistics that prove Baltimore's a pretty great place to live.

It's got nothing to do with crime, but 16 cats died in a Cockeysville fire, and a 300-pound man and his dog died in a fire in the Southwestern.

Something went down around 11:00 last night at the corner of S. Broadway and E. Pratt. Does anybody know what happened?

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Weekend

Friday night, a man was found shot to death at the intersection of North and Druid Hill avenues.

Baltimorean judicial suckitude has pissed off the Beantown PD!:
Boston police officer Lt. David Murphy allegedly punched his girlfriend off a Baltimore barstool and fled from cops, but because "the Baltimore judgment amounted to a dismissal of legal charges," the Boston police Commissioner says his department has no choice but to let Murphy return to work-- gun, badge and all.

Police are looking for a suspect in a fatal shooting in Edgewood.

What's new in "Stop Snitching 2"? Marketing savvy, and one Kenneth Morris, who "serves as a Virgil to the Dantes lost in Baltimore's Inferno."

An officer was accidentally shot by a bullet meant for a dog.

Friday, December 21, 2007

December 21

Four nonfatal shootings and a stabbing the Blotter.

There was a fourth arrest in the Glen Stewart murder.

Edward Williams got 85 years for robbing an off-duty police officer and her then-5-year-old daughter at gunpoint in January.

University of MD law students helped get some indigent non-violent detainees released.

Rilly? GBC says that the city is growing in "prestige, population."

WYPR continues coverage of ex-offenders re-entering society

QTD: "The thing that always amazes me is what people think that we do and what we're capable of. They think that we're some place between a super hero and the Pope with a law degree." -- Maynard Edwards re. the Ed Norris show. ("we"?)

Good news! If you've turned 17 since November 4 of this year, you can now register to vote, and vote in your party's primary! Just download the forms and mail them in.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

December 20

A man was shot to death in the 2600 block of S. Paca Street this morning. Sentementes reports that this is official murder #277.

Lezli Williams, 22, was strangled to death Tuesday afternoon in her apartment, and police are seeking a suspect.

"A man who refused to surrender to police for several hours after a domestic situation yesterday afternoon in an apartment in the 2700 block of Greenmount Ave. in the Barclay community was taken into custody and faces domestic assault charges."
And "A man was shot in the chest about 8:30 p.m. yesterday in the 900 block of Pennsylvania Ave."
Plus lots of robbery in the Blotter.

The girl stabbed on the #51 bus reportedly participated in the brawling.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Indictment for the Murder of Carl Eugene Barnes

The Grand Jury today indicted Brandon Holland, 25, of the 3800 block of Delverne Road for first-degree murder and handgun charges. Court documents allege on August 1, 2007, Brandon Hall was identified as the person responsible for a shooting Barnes several times in the unit block of 2400 block of Westwood Avenue.

It's Stop Snitching 2!

Just in time for Christmas! Says the DVD's site, Stop Snitching 2
The highly controversial “Stop Snitching” DVD gained national attention and multimedia coverage raising the bar for what is considered real in urban America. Fearing their message was too powerful Baltimore City and Maryland State officials attempted to pass legislation to prevent the filmmakers from producing a sequel but to no avail Producer Rodney Bethea and Host Skinny Suge bring you “Stop Snitching” Part 2 and continue to show the reality of hard times on hard streets.

Learn the truth behind the rumors of the first “Stop Snitching” DVD. Find out the real story behind who was arrested and why? The role the media played spreading lies and what they didn’t want you to know!
... and local media and the mayor are giving them plenty of free press!
UPDATE: More from the Sun.
QTD: "Jessamy said she is a bit flattered by the mention of her name in the sequel, attached as it is to some salty language."
Hope this one has subtitles knowhatimsayin?

December 19

Our 275th official murder was three-year-old Jabari Stocks, who died of a head injury.

Your tax $$ at work:Ronald Lee Moore
A portly and violent rapist, Ronald Lee Moore, was accidentally released from an AAC jail. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Tracy Morgan at 410-222-3466 or 410-222-8610.

Nine plaintiffs have joined the ACLU's illegal-arrest-practices lawsuit against the BPD.

"Maryland paid welfare benefits to about 52,000 residents who in 2006 did not provide Social Security numbers or used invalid ones, according to a state audit of the Family Investment Administration." That's about 17% of total welfare cases.
(Did you know? The Washington Times is owned by Reverend Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church!)

A police officer got glass in his eye responding to a domestic call on Sunday; a 49-year-old woman stabbed a man in his home; a chainsaw, methadone, Greek god statue and half a bottle of rum purloined in the Blotter.

The machete-wielding man shot by police in Catonsville was awaiting trial on charges of making his foster children watch pornography.

Police arrested some big-deal jewel thieves in Timonium.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Three Bus Attacks in Three Weeks!

A teenage girl was stabbed in the arm today on the #51 bus near Mondawmin! Have city buses always been rolling hellholes, or are we in the throes of some widespread teenager freakout?

Remember Kenneth Barnes, whose visit to a Falls Road snowball stand got him arrested and triggered a panic a la "Little Children"? Now the victim of the original case says she lied. His mother is asking the public to call the governor to ask for his release for Christmas.

The Ink reports on the murders of Artavious Tubman, Richard Lawson and Jamal Rowlett.

The CP, and excellent reporter Van Smith, are being sued for $12 million by Nicholas Piscatelli, who claims that the paper accused him in two stories in 2006 of murdering Jason Convertino and Sean Wisniewski or arranging their murders.

25 Years for Murder and Robbery of Jose Mendoza

From the SA's office:
At arraignment today, William Salmeron, 21, of Owings Mills, Maryland pled guilty to second degree murder, attempted robbery deadly weapon and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Lynn K. Stewart sentenced Salmeron to 25 years in prison for the murder count and a concurrent 20 years for the robbery and five years for the handgun counts.

On January 16, 2006, Salmeron was among a group of people who entered a restaurant in the 400 block of S. Newkirk Street announcing a robbery. Salmeron, who admitted to police to belonging to the gang MS-13, told the court today that he and the others were riding around and needed money. He and the unknown assailants with a shotgun attempted to rob the establishment when the owner, Jose Mendoza, 42, grabbed the weapon. A struggled ensued and one of the assailants shot Mendoza in the head. He died at Johns Hopkins Hospital the same day.

Salmeron is already serving a 26-year prison sentence handed down for a murder in North Carolina and is facing murder charges for a pending case in Baltimore County.

Assistant State’s Attorney and Homicide Division Chief Mark Cohen prosecuted this case.

Lawyers: Teens Demeaned

Unshockingly, lawyers for two of the alleged teen-boy bus-beaters held a press conference to say that their clients are innocent and were misidentified.
UPDATE: you can watch the press conference on the Sun's web site. Yawn.

Boy vey! The Sun reports that Israel Shapiro (not to be confused with rabbi Ephraim F. Shapiro, or "Dateline" rabbi David Kaye), a former bar mitzvah lessons teacher in Baltimore's Orthodox Jewish community, was charged yesterday with sex offenses that allegedly occurred nearly two decades ago against a then-12-year-old boy and his brother.

December 18

Lance H. Walker and Nadirah V. Moreno were arrested for the murder of Marlon Beckford (#256). Fox reported that Walker has a gigantamic rap sheet and was supposed to have been serving 50 years for his various crimes.

In better news, "Operation Safe Holiday" has led to the nabbing of 141 criminals.

More details on the arrests for the murder of Glen Stewart.

Lay the smack down, Baltimore: The Sun reports on "Bupe" in depth.
... and the wine glass too. Lawyer Bruce Robinson doesn't buy that there are no DUI quotas. (BTW, did you know that field sobriety tests are optional?)

"The Court of Appeals clarified the process for terminating parental rights ... The high court held that because a presumption exists that it is in a child’s best interest to remain with a parent, courts must expressly find that a parent is unfit or that other exceptional circumstances exist before parental rights can be terminated."

The bus-beating story has gone national, hitting MSNBC as well as far-flung CBS affiliates.

Remember this guy? HoCo's Jack Schroeder will spend a month in jail for feeding his neighbor's yappy dog chicken bones and antifreeze.
Fun fact: only 25% of BCrime readers think Schroeder was in the wrong.

Monday, December 17, 2007

December 17

Two murders this weekend: Friday, Richard Lawson, 24, was found shot to death at his home in the 2900 block of Chelsea Terrace. On Saturday, Jamal Rowlett, 20, was shot after leaving Club Choices on Charles Street. In March 2006, pregnant Ashley Harris was shot to death outside of the same club.

Arrests in the death of 17-year-old Glen Michael Stewart, who was shot and his body burned in a county park. Police identified the men charged as Joseph William Payne, 24, arrested Friday; Jason Michael Bond, 23, arrested Saturday; and Desmond Hideji Willis Jones, 19, also arrested Saturday.

Five years for rim-thief shooter Charles Brockington.

An armed robbery this morning at the Stop Shop & Save in the 2700 block of W. Cold Spring Lane.

Messenger crime log: A home invasion in the 2700 block of Calvert street, a robber using a brick as a weapon, gifts stolen and a hamburgling in Park Heights.

Blotter: "A man, 55, was walking in the 700 block of Cumberland St. about 3 a.m. Thursday when a gunman forced him into an alley and robbed him of $100, a silver watch and a cell phone. Before the gunman escaped into a car driven by a second man, he ordered the victim to disrobe." ... and plenty more burglary and robbery. It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Bmore living handy tip: don't leave the house or answer the door until after Christmas.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

This is Why I'm Shot

The stepfather of Coby Brown, shot by police after he robbed a Burger King in Fells Point and pointed a gun at an officer, apologized to police and citizens for raising a thief who put an officer's life at risk. Syke.

In the county, police shot a man who pepper sprayed an officer and brandished a machete.