Police Release Findings in Parente Family Murder/Suicide. Firearms were not involved. The children died from blunt-force trauma.
new word: "familicide"

Tweet, tweet, that's the sound of the police

CRIME STATS UPDATE: Total crime down 12%, violent crime down 13%, non-fatal shootings down 20%, homicide up 15%

not if it's your baloney sandwich

Prostituting in the prison kitchen "be cool while it lasted," says a former guard...
more saucy details of the Black Guerrilla Family indictments from the CP's Edward Ericson Jr.

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A 70-something Calvin Hayes and 63-year-old Harold Able Sr., both shot in their cars in separate incidents last week, were apparently hack cab drivers.

It IS a small town! The CP reports that businessman John Zorzit, owner of Club 410, is now "the nexus for three current federal investigations" and the sentence of the day:

"But the Zorzit case--which received attention after a forfeiture action was filed against him in January because for 14 years he used the brother of Baltimore County Councilman John Olszewski (D-6th District) as a runner to collect the money from his illegal slot machines--is perhaps more interesting for the amounts of money involved (the feds seized close to $1.2 million in bank accounts and more than $41,000 in cash--including some above the ceiling tiles in an office bathroom) and for his links to Harris."

And in other nightclub news, in the County former China Room owner John Giorgilli is "keeping Baltimore County prosecutors busy"

Life Sentence in Morgan Murder

The Ink fills in missing names from the toll.
(Still checking on spelling of Ms. Wright's first name)

Supreme Court: cops need a warrant to search your car

Pot-smoking lawyer suspended for trying to expunge himself

At a hearing Monday, Judge John Carroll Byrnes sentenced Jason Allen, 26, to life in prison for the first degree murder of Jeff Payne. A Baltimore Jury convicted Allen of first-degree murder January 15, 2009 after a week-long trial. Details from Jessamy's office:

On February 15, 2008 at approximately, 12:45 AM Allen entered an apartment in the Morgan View Apartments, a Student Housing Complex catering to Morgan State University Students, where he took out a rifle and shot and killed Jeff Payne. Payne suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest and died at the scene. Immediately after the shooting the defendant fled Baltimore for Yonkers, New York, where authorities eventually apprehended and arrested him April 21, 2008. Exactly one year from this arrest, the defendant was sentenced.

During an emotional victim impact statement, Payne’s family told the judge about how the victim survived years of civil war in Liberia, only to be gunned down in the United States. Despite the loss of their eldest son, the family expressed gratitude to the Baltimore City Police Department for their tireless efforts in bringing the defendant to justice.

A co-defendant in this case, Powerful Aguilar pled guilty to accessory after the fact and was sentenced April 7, 2009 to a suspended five year prison term. Assistant State’s Attorney Charles Blomquist of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

in Owings Mills, "Chinese food, cigarettes items coveted by thieves"

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Qonta Waddell, on parole, shot in an alley near Windsor Ave. "Police also identified Harold Able Sr., 56, of the 1600 block of Latrobe St. as one of the unlicensed cabdrivers, or "hacks," who was found shot in a vehicle in East Baltimore last week."
hadn't heard about the hack shootings.

Suburbanites Unhinged

insane family murder-suicide at the Towson Sheraton of a NY family... in case you didn't hear. More Sun coverage.
This is the second suburban MD family murder-suicide in two days, and in Carroll County a barricaded man killed himself.
Don't stress, white people! It's just money! The government will print more!

an apartment maintenance man shot in the head in front of children in Pikesville yesterday

No lack of outrage when it comes to ferkakta parking fines

Hermann's pleated trousers walked some nutters from the BBC around the loo that is Belair- Edison

Should we bring back dollar homes?

4 shot and 1 dead overnight

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Police tweet: "3115 WINDSOR AVE. Initial report of adult male shot."
also @ 6 a.m. "SHOOTING: reported @ Sarah Ann /Carrollton around midnight. Scene cleared. Victim in stable condition at hospital"
@ 10 p.m. last night: "SHOOTING: 2900 Blk W.Garrison. A patient claiming gun shot wound to knee walked into area hospital. Police investigating.
@ 9 p.m.: "SHOOTING: Reported @ 1508 W. Saratoga. Police working crime scene, avoid the area."

WTF? 4 Dead in Towson Sheraton

reports WJZ
(maybe they ate at TGI Friday's?)

also in Towson tragedies, the Griffin case ends with parents sentenced to 25 years each.

300 pounds is just more of him to love (child pornography)

... happy 420, stoners!

... and my first name ain't "Baby"

QTD: "You don't know me, and we aren't friends. You do not know me, have never met me, and we are not friends. We've never been friends. You do not address me by my first name - period."
-- Guess who!

65 = Stabbing in Linwood

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Tweet the police: "FATAL STABBING @ Clinton / Fairmont occured around 3am, adult male stabbed in head and chest. 1 Arrest has been made."
That area NE of Patterson Park again... I know it's called Linwood but what do people actually call it?

Byers and Goodman Guilty!

Frank Goodman and Patrick Byers were found guilty by a federal jury for the contract killing of Carl Lackl yesterday, after one day of deliberation. Byers faces the death penalty.

Funeral yesterday for 16-year-old Dominic Baker, whose body was found last week in a vacant rowhome, but not much hand-wringing or sympathy from the chancel: "Dominic could've been the trigger puller."

internal drama cont.

IV: "Police trial board chief's unfair treatment of officers led to her firing, black union official says"

and

Detective Terry Love's placement on prosecutor's Do Not Call list criticized by Jack Young

Oh shiz, they got KG, Dee and Ray .. and 21 more Guerrrilla 'Death Angels'

What's more luxurious than crab imperial and Grey Goose?
When it's smuggled into prison for you by your personal staff of "Death Angels"!
A mass indictment announced yesterday by federal and local law enforcement targeting the Black Guerrilla Family has steamy details on the smuggling ring that dealt in slutty guards, bottle clubs and death dealt from prison.
... here's the PR from RJR
and Hermann's take
(there seem to be two indictments, both for conspiracy but for two different groups, one group conspiring to sell heroin and the other for other drugs?)

The Byers case went to the jury yesterday afternoon

Hermann on BPD's "mess at the top"

Man robs pharmacy 4 times in 5 days, and Janis has video

Police tweets:
HOMICIDE ARREST: Third Suspect (Lyndon Waddell, B/M 21yo) arrested in connection w/ Feb 4th homicide of Bryan Wright 9:55pm · via Twitter
UPDATE SHOOTING: 4806 CLIFTON AVE: VICTIM #3 ADULT MALE SHOT IN THE LEG. PIO RESPONDING TO SCENE 9:26pm · via Twitter

Arsonist, Fraudster & Conspirators Busted by Feds

Geniosity: "Harry L. Easterday, age 28, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to setting fire to a building in which the U.S. Probation Office was located"

"Baltimore fraudster" sentenced to more that 12 years after decades-long identity theft scheme uncovered by Fed inspectors

Also stolen stamps and mortgage fraudsters

shooting on E. Cold Spring

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Police report a shooting at 1120 E. Cold Spring at around 11 p.m. last night, "adult male shot in head and side, victim is conscious, Police investigating."
Wonder if it was at the League for People With Disabilities .. or maybe that spot on the pavement there


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.. and the Ink names 16-year old Dominic Baker as the person found in a "vacant dwelling" in the 1900 block of Wilkens Avenue, above

internal drama

Police head of internal discipline fired.
Says the police information officer, "Balt Sun incorrectly reported that head of BPD internal investigations was fired Employee was head of Trial Boards, not internal invest."

Goucher finds students accused of sex assault not guilty of wrongdoing

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Man shot in the arm on Normount Ave, a man shot @ 5 p.m. in the upper back at N. Milton and E. Monument, which looks like a well-traveled thoroughfare (above).

More on the Herring and Love case from the Sun
and Investigative Voice

New Drug Alert

alcoholism-fightin Naltrexone

Love & Herring Not Guilty

of misdemeanor assault and reckless endangerment. Said Love, "I put my life in jeopardy to save the lives of everyone in the barbershop and if you had been there, I’d do the same thing for you."
Herring now feels differently: "If I see an old lady getting beaten, I’m going to mind my own business."

An unid'd male juvenile was reportedly shot in the ankle by police after four youths set off an alarm near Harlem Park schools

Mom of murder victim Timothy Hebron has "hired a lawyer to investigate" why her son was not in a witness protection program

Lawyers spared! "When the General Assembly trimmed nearly $870 million in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, the final cut did not include funding for the state’s legal services community."

Hermann reports that a "new study coming out today from the Sentencing Project shows that for the first time since the War on Drugs began many years ago, the number of African-Americans jailed for drug offenses has declined."

Pervs:
Police in PA are ISO Baltimorean Robert J. Wardrick II, 33, accused of fondling a 14-year-old, and
Ew, an octogenarian rabbi with busy hands

Media blabbler:
TDR's editorial board on nonprofit newspapers

Senate: MD's gay couples can live happily ever after... so long as one of them's dead!

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The man shot on Christian Street has passed.

Remember the Patterson Park cathouse? Charges were dropped for two women, still stand against alleged pimp (como 'alleged pimp' en espanol?).

Say What? Off-Leash Fines Increased to $1,000 per Pooch?

Says the Smushnose Dog Meetup Group

Dog Owners/Walkers BEWARE

New City laws increase the cost of violations for off leash dogs and/or not picking up the dog’s poop from $100 to $1,000!

The City did not communicate the new laws to the citizens and began to enforce it without notification or advanced warning.

The City has been conducting “raids” at most of the larger parks with Animal Control issuing citations and police officers present to ensure owners do not flee the scene.

Please join us for a conversation with Councilman Ed Reisinger. He has agreed to talk with us about the decisions that have been made at the city council level, why they were made, and to help find a way to address the needs of the entire community.

Thursday, April 16th 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Riverside Park Pavilion [The Mansion]

Let’s show the city how much we care about the welfare of our dogs and their ability to get safe exercise. Bring your friends and neighbors. Show up in packs!!

Doc Cheatham.

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Update: he died



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SHOOTING: 2100 BLOCK CHRISTIAN, ADULT MALE SHOT

Dead End

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Murder victim #63: Quinton Savage, 22, killed on Saturday in the 2800 block of Winwood Court (above) about 2:30 p.m.

House= yay to speed cameras
and DYK? In the city of Baltimore, parking at an expired meter is a crime, not a civil offense.

Easter Bunny Killed on West Side

Just kidding. Man shot at about 1:30 p.m. at 1315 Bloomingdale

The Week that Was

Shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting, double shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting ...

QTD: "Just remember, there are good reasons to live in any of the cities labeled as the "worst.""

Good Friday

Curtis Pounds' brother, also named Curtis, was arrested for his murder

Real classy: prosecutor Larry Doan mocks officers, calls them "whiners" and "common criminals"

Two men were shot last night in front of Jack's carryout in South Baltimore

D'oh! Baltimore County police are looking for a Woodlawn man mistakenly released from the detention center.

Feel-good story of the day: Glen Burnie residents subdue home invader

"A Baltimore County judge has sentenced a county child support enforcement worker to 10 years in prison for stealing child support checks."

Police are ISO bald white guy who robbed Eastern Ave Wachovia

"Lawyer seeks new hearing in 1972 murder conviction"

Oh boy, speed cameras
Also see the CP's "Fast Cars, Loaded Guns and Empty Houses: A brief look at Baltimore City’s Annapolis agenda"

Don't miss Buz buzting some dirty delivery drivers!

Troy Chesley's former partner Terry Love took the stand in his own defense yesterday.

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Man found shot in the head in an abandoned rowhouse in the 1900 block of Wilkens Ave.

A nonfatal shooting on Whitelock St.

"I didn’t know who shot Larry for real. I just made it up.”
"The only surviving eyewitness to have claimed to see Patrick Byers kill a man on a Baltimore street corner in 2006 recanted his story before a federal jury Wednesday"

IV: The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office "revealed" Wednesday that last Saturday's murder victim/ murder witness Timothy Hebron was not in the witness protection program (which in Baltimore city = two people)

MDR: Baller Chris Bosh's baby custody & support case bounces between MD and Texas

Children Lost and Found

Kenneth Warren Hager has been missing from Baltimore since April 9, 1947.

... and seriously? This very cute little boy was found "wondering the street" almost a year ago, but no one has come forward to claim him!

61?

The Ink updates the murder toll, adding Curtis Pounds, who was killed last Sunday near Herring Run park, and names Zachary Thompson as the man stabbed to death on Watty Court. Oddly, the Sun names this victim as William Clayborne, 32. are there two victims?
Also ID'd is David Williams, shot to death in a car March 31.

410 86'd

Says our Facebook friend the BPD: "PADLOCK NOTICE: Club 410 (4500 blk BelAir Rd) deemed a public nuisance. Police Commissioner issues padlock order effective 5pm tomorrow"
or as WBAL puts it, "City To Padlock Trouble Club"

also apparently posted at 4 a.m.: "SHOOTING: Police investigating @ 23 Penn St. Adult male shot, walked into hospital."

It is a small world after all

IV: Prosecutors say Timothy Hebron, shot to death 4/4, was a key witness in the murder of Terrence Regan. Regan's murder in November 2007 happened to take place outside of the home of Charles Y. McGaney, on the 1600 block of Lochwood Road. Charles McGaney has been charged with first-degree murder in Councilman Ken Harris's death.

We Need Bullet Control

The woman shot and killed on Gough Street Sunday [4/5] was Doreatha Wright, 42, possibly the victim of mistaken identity
Related: "'MY MAMA'S BEEN SHOT!'- Spate of Fells Point violence gets liquor board's attention"
and it's attack of the mappers on Hermann's blog.

Northeast Baltimore murder victim is identified: "Timothy Hebron, of the 4200 block of Welbourne Road, was shot about 1 a.m. [4/4] as he got out of a car to toss out trash, one block north of the Northwood shopping plaza"

"A 19-year-old man is in critical condition Tuesday after he was stabbed Monday [4/6] night" in Washington Village

"Baltimore police said Sunday that they were investigating the shooting of a man late Friday in Fells Point. The adult man, whose name and age were not released, was found lying on the pavement in the 1600 block of Lancaster St. shortly before midnight Friday [4/3]."

Confused? this info-dense paragraph puts straight the details of week's victims, as does the Spotcrime shooting map covering 4/1 to 4/7

Datwan Ramsey, 23 charged in double slaying at the Yau Brothers carryout (Spotcrime has added a street view, so no carryout shall ever have to remain unnamed)

"Man Stabbed, Robbed Outside Towson Starbucks" Saturday night

IV: CLOSE CALL - Gang member in Columbia dodges murder conviction

Anna Ditkoff has some problems with the BPD's tweets

Supreme Court: suspects can't be made to sweat it out for more than six hours

Hey Dog Walkers

The heat is on! Animal-control officials are ticketing off-leash dogs in the Northern-- we've heard of tickets being given out to owners at Wyman Park, Ston(e)y Run and Robert E. Lee. Fines start at $100 per dog and can go up to $1,000 for repeat offenses.

That's so Baltimore

"Feds Say Utz Potato Chip Stand at Baltimore's Lexington Market Used to Sell Guns"

I Should Hope So

IV: Officer's criticism of fatal shooting of elderly man is free speech, Appeals court rules

Mussmacher case

goes federal

Investigative Voice goes inside the mind of Kevin Johns
and
"The campaign of veteran lawmaker State Senator Nathaniel McFadden and State Delegate Jill Carter are among the 42 campaigns with officials facing criminal charges of failure to file finance reports."
and
More on the Bloods trial in HoCo: "A Bloods gang member took the stand Tuesday in Howard Circuit Court and told jurors that he did not order the alleged gangland slaying of a Columbia man last May."

Love & Herring

What the?! Investigative Voice says the case was dropped Tuesday, but I got this press release from the SAO today:

Opening Statements in the Second-Degree Assault Trial of Baltimore Police Detective Terry Love & Baltimore County Deputy Sheriff Michael Herring Scheduled to Begin at 10AM TODAY

Baltimore, MD – April 2, 2009 – The second-degree assault trial Terry W. Love, Jr., 31, of Baltimore and Michael Herring, 36, of Towson is scheduled to begin with opening statements at 10:00AM today before Judge George L. Russell, III, 420 Mitchell Courthouse, 110 N. Calvert Street.

The alleged incident occurred the morning of September 8, 2007 at the intersection of Belvedere Avenue and York Road and involves a 42-yr. old black male who was allegedly beaten and left unconscious in the road. Second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office filed a criminal information charging Love and Herring September 5, 2008 following a joint law enforcement investigation. A criminal information is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by a criminal information is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

General Trial Division Chief Lawrence Doan and Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Martin will prosecute this case.

###

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1500 W. Fayette St.

Q For Readers

What can you do if someone writes you bad checks?

"Baltimore City’s Residents Give Voice to What’s Needed to Fix the Criminal Justice System" from the Justice Policy Institute

"Mother pleads guilty in infant son's death, will be released if child is resurrected"

"A 20-year-old man was gunned down in West Baltimore last night and died this morning from his wounds, police said. The shooting happened about 11:20 p.m. in the 1700 block of McCulloh St. ... "

BCPD: "Benjamin Wayne Shorter has been arrested and charged in the murder of Franklin Schissler. Mr. Schissler, 66 years old, was beaten to death inside the bathroom of Morsberger's Tavern in Precinct 1/Wilkens yesterday."

Lock up!

Spotcrime reports a bunch of burglaries in the Northern, on Gittings, Halwyn Ave, Guilford Ave., St. Paul Street.

Tweet, tweet, that's the sound of the police

"Police investigating questionable death: N. Abington Ave/Elbert St. Adult 23-25yrs old male."

Lactivational: Prisoners babysit tot found running on highway.

another floater!

Is solitary confinement torture?

The NYker asks: is solitary confinement torture?

the victim of the shooting yesterday in the 700 block of W. North Avenue has died

Crazy melee at Coppin State ends in 11 arrests

A man shot in an alley in the 2000 block of Belair Road, condition unknown

There may be no more bottles poppin in da Club 410 soon (Q: is Club Choices still open?)

Shawn "Goo" Gardener, apparently an enemy of the Rice organization, got two life terms for a laundry list of crimes, including racketeering and murder

Wayward teens get a talking to at Jessup

Who knew so many MD. lawmakers have experienced domestic violence?

Shooting on N. Avenue

Reports the BPD: "SHOOTING: 732 W. North Ave-Adult male shot multiple times. Police investigating, PIO on scene"

also "Fresh details about Baltimore's City Hall corruption case emerged Thursday morning as prosecutors and defense attorneys for Mayor Sheila Dixon met for the first time in open court."

From HoCo, Luke Broadwater tells the tale of J-Rock, Wild Out, Soldier and their little friend Peaches.

The Death Penalty bill has passed, and neither side is happy

CNN's hero of the week is Dr. Carnell Cooper, founder of the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) at shock trauma.

Stabbing, Charles & 22nd

2-3 males reportedly cut in the early morning hours

Headline of the Week: "SILENCE OF THE SCAMS - MVA will not comment on alleged license-plate fraud"

"It's hard to drum up much sympathy for a convicted three-time murderer" (or, for that matter, out-of-touch editors of a failing newspaper)
related: Peter Moskos on media coverage of the four officers killed in Oakland: "he was a monster... Sometimes there aren't two sides with the truth lying somewhere in between."

Stranded on Death Row/ And now I'm servin a lifetime sentence/ There'll be no repentance...

Jessamy and Cummings want more $ for witness protection

50

Man, shot in torso, 5800 block of Edgepark Road. No suspect, no motive.

Brendan Kearney at the Byers trial: how County Detective Gary Ruby got alleged triggerman Johnathan Cornish to admit his role

Some good news: homicide clearance rate improving!

Double Life Plus 175 Years

Yes, an actual sentence and appopos for the batshit-craziest road-rage murder ever.
Says the SAO:

Judge Charles G. Bernstein sentenced Adrian McFadden, 31, of the 700 block of N. Payson St. to a double life sentence plus 175 years without parole yesterday after he was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted armed carjacking and multiple handgun and assault charges November 7, 2008. The jury deliberated just over five hours in November 2008 before finding McFadden guilty of murdering George Johnson following a petty traffic dispute that escalated on a summer day in 2007.

The jury acquitted co-defendant Anthony Davate Miles, 25, of the 400 block of Mt. Holley St. of murder, but found him guilty of multiple assault charges. The jury convicted both defendants of attempted armed carjacking charges in the 700 block of N. Payson St. The attempted carjacking followed a traffic dispute that led to the murder of George Johnson, the attempted murder of Avon Ball, and the shooting of an innocent bystander on July 6, 2007.

On July 6, 2007 George Johnson and Avon Ball, foster brothers who did not know the defendants, were traveling in the 700 block of N. Payson St. to retrieve clothing items in a house in that same block, when they were forced to turn their vehicle around due to a memorial block party for a young child who was fatally injured by a vehicle days earlier. Although they turned the vehicle around without incident, McFadden and Miles followed the vehicle’s occupants and walked up the street to confront Avon Ball and George Johnson, the driver. Avon Ball’s infant son was a passenger in the car.

Testimony at the trial showed that the accusations by McFadden and Miles escalated, as they demanded the car with the child. Ball testified in the three-week trial that as he pleaded for his life, his foster brother, George Johnson said, “shoot me”, at which point McFadden shot Johnson four times as he ran up Payson St. and then pointed the gun at Ball, shooting him. Ball suffered life-threatening injuries and has had major reconstruction surgery. Testimony also revealed that McFadden shot an innocent bystander, a 17-year old girl and family friend, as he chased his victims. Trial testimony also showed that after McFadden shot the victims he walked over to Johnson and asked, “Is he dead yet?” and walked down the street polishing his gun with his T-shirt. The State also presented evidence and testimony that McFadden attempted to thwart the testimony of a State’s witness by sending a girlfriend to visit the mother of the witness to convince her to have the witness change her testimony.

The jury deliberated about five hours after the State presented nearly a dozen witnesses in a trial that lasted three weeks before the Honorable Charles Bernstein.

During sentencing proceedings yesterday, Judge Bernstein admonished a defense witness who testified on behalf of the defendant. He noted and advised the State’s Attorney’s Office to use more “tools in their toolbox” to pursue perjury charges against witnesses who fail to testify truthfully. He doubted the truthfulness of her testimony saying that he found as a matter of fact, and beyond a reasonable doubt, that she lied on the witness stand and that college officials and the a professional licensing board should be notified as she continues to pursue a nursing degree.

Judge Bernstein also praised the bond of love between brothers Avon Ball and George Johnson, and said that it was similar to the US Marine Bond and worthy of commendation.

7th Bounty Hunter Charged

A shooting and stabbing last night at Greenmount & 33rd

The Ink has last week's five murders.
.. srly, does anyone else find the repeated references to race kind of odd?

IV: "BOUNTY HUNTED - Feds join Bounty Hunters murder case as 7th suspect charged"
Background on the Bounty Hunters
Another alleged Baltimore Bloods murder trial today in Hoco.

Officer Patrick Dotson, right, "charged with attempted murder Monday put his gun to the head of a prominent west Baltimore businessman just eight hours earlier, an attorney said." Also, that skeevy 2/3rds of a moustache is not doing him any favors.
Another officer, Fontaine W. Smallwood, was also suspended as a result of the Canton incident.

Carjacking, robbery and burglary in the blotter

January's raid on an Eastern Shore turtle factory was part of a broader effort: Operation Shellshock.

RIP Circuit Court Judge Roger W. Brown

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Yesterday's murder victim has been named as 23-year-old Kara Lawson.

Missed this report from last week: Andrew Goodwin, 22, was shot on Friday March 13 on Normandy Avenue and died.

City officer Patrick Dotson to be charged with attempted murder, accused of firing his service weapon during an off-duty fight outside a Canton nightclub this month

The BPD reports
"SHOOTING: Police investigating at 1600 block of Ruxton Ave. Adult male shot in upper body." The Sun has TV in the newspaper

At the Byers trial, "17-year-old Johnathan Cornish sat in the witness box and vacantly described how he killed [Carl Lackl] as part of a Baltimore Bloods gang mission."
The defense says Byers didn't have a motive.
More on cell phones in prisons from hermann

Charging docs: At age 14 Radames Reyes shot and killed 22-year-old pizza deliveryman Adam Diarra

Media Blabber: Ben Cardin says newspapers should be given nonprofit status

Having a flare-up

Spotcrime has heat maps, making the city's murders look like a case of hives

Says the SAO:
Judge Martin P. Welch sentenced Michael Truesdale, 40, of the 700 block of Appleton Street to 29 years in prison, the first 10 years without the possibility of parole.A city jury convicted Truesdale January 23, 2009 of three counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of attempted robbery deadly weapon. The jury acquitted Truesdale of attempted first and second-degree murder counts. The State had asked for 40 years in prison. Details:

On July 27, 2007 Baltimore Police responded to an apartment at 826 W. North Avenue for a reported non-fatal shooting. Upon arrival, the victim advised police that a man, later identified as defendant Truesdale, knocked on the door, pushed his way into the apartment, grabbed the victim by the hair pointing a handgun at the victim’s head while demanding money and property. A second victim in the apartment heard yelling and came to the first victim’s aide [sic]. The second victim gave $5 to Truesdale, who demanded more money. The second victim attempted to get Truesdale out of the apartment at which time Truesdale started shooting, hitting the second victim. Both victims positively identified Truesdale as the person responsible for this incident. Assistant State’s Attorney Jessica Paugh of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (FIVE) Division prosecuted this case.

48

The woman found shot on N. ElLwood Ave. has died.

Justin Fenton guest-blogs for Hermann re. the perils of crime reporting

County
Sounds like Sunday's murder in Wilkens may have been a case of self-defense

IV: Part II of the series, "What the ef is up with Edgewood?"

Police are ISO two guys (including one with a really bad haircut, right) who robbed a barber shop

N. Elwood?

Tweets our Facebook friend the BPD: "SHOOTING: Police investigating @ 500 block of N ELWOOD AVE."
Google maps says there's no such street in the city. Are there unexplored, primordial and unGooglized parts of the city?

47

A body was found by train tracks in Cherry Hill. Also a 3rd body found in the Harbor, cause of death unknown.

Kevin "I've got a fetish for blood" Johns, found not criminally responsible by reason of batshit insanity in the death of inmate Philip Parker was found dead at Supermax.

Opening statements to start today in the Patrick Byers trial.
UPDATE: Prosecutors say Byers was somehow able to get another cell phone at Supermax, which he used to threaten another witness and make "thousands" of calls over the past month!

"A federal judge has granted class action status to two categories of people in a civil suit that claims officers at Baltimore's Central Booking and Intake Center regularly and illegally detained certain arrestees too long and strip-searched people without cause."

Two county murders Sunday night: James Faulcon, 28, shot in his car, and a man robbed and stabbed to death in Wilkens

Investigative Voice: What happened to Edgewood?

NYU study: MD's monthly parolee fee should end, as "some consider committing crimes to pay."

We hear Judge Prevas was in he hospital over the weekend. Feel better, Judge!

46

The Baltimore Spectator reports the city's 46th homicide, Marty Williams Jr., 20-something. This is apparently the murder on Maisel St. the police Tweeted about.
ps. be forewarned, this video takes a very long time to load.

Coconuts Killer in Custody

Arrested for the triple shooting and murder outside Coconuts, one Sharone Newton, 34. A source tells us that the shooting was not the result of a dance floor bump, as charging documents report, but was instead rooted in a long-festering love triangle.

And for the quadruple shooting in the 4000 block of East Lanvale Street on February 26, one David Hunter, 21

Woman shot in the face

A woman was found shot in a car near the intersection of Parkwood and Edgemont avenues this afternoon. Her injuries are serious but she is apparently still alive.

Says my Facebook friend (the BPD): "SHOOTING: Police investigating a shoting in the 2600 block of Maisel St. PIO not responding"
(What's PIO?)

East Side Badness

A man was stabbed by three people in the 2400 block of East Baltimore St. on the north side of Patterson Park.

Shooting victim on Rutland and Oliver subject of BPD's first Twittered incident.

Police have officially ended their investigation into Annie McCann's death

"The House Judiciary Committee voted 14-7 Friday to support a bill that restricts the use of the death penalty to murder cases with biological or conclusive videotaped evidence."

Fabulosity! The City That Breeds has mapped Baltimore neighborhoods on Google!

"There's no overall plan"

Page Croyder has lots to say to the Investigative Voice.

And LOLZ!! "Jenna Bush Secret Service limo towed for unpaid parking tickets"
... er, make that a van

man shot in East Baltimore

Northwestern High catfight broken up with mace

Charges dropped against the alleged killer of Jasmine Harris, apparently no one photographed footprints in the snow.

Eric "Nation of Cowards" Holder visits Baltimore

Body afloat near dragon boats, the 2nd Harbor corpse in 10 days

Dog-shooting leads to the state Senate approving a bill to require law enforcement agencies to issue monthly reports to the attorney general on SWAT team deployments.

Ew. McCormick sues equipment manufacturer over paint chips in cinnamon

This press release from the SAO should be in the reading-comprehension section from the SAT. Try to follow this plot:

On February 20, 2009 Linwood Buckson, 39, of the 3200 block of the Alameda was convicted of car theft and second degree [sic] assault following a Baltimore City jury trial prayer from district court. (Case number 809050026) He was sentenced to three years in prison by Judge Alfred Nance. Today, in a violation of probation hearing before Judge Charles G. Bernstein, Buckson was found guilty of violating his probation for this new conviction and sentenced to the balance of the
9-year suspended sentence he received on January 16, 2007.

Buckson faces 9 years in prison after rigorous prosecution and law enforcement coordination between local, state and federal agencies that serve on the Baltimore Violent Repeat Offender Task Force.

The facts are as follows:

On January 14, 2009 at 9:20 am, Officer Garrett was dispatched to the 500 block of North Ave for a reported stolen automobile taken December 27, 2008. The officer observed the Black Suzuki at a red light being driven by Linwood Buckson. The officer with the assistance of back up attempted to initiate a traffic stop of the vehicle by activating lights and sirens but Buckson refused to stop the vehicle. Mr. Buckson then rammed the driver side of a marked patrol vehicle occupied by Officer Moody in an attempt to flee. Even after ramming the police vehicle, Buckson began running on foot until he was ultimately apprehended in the rear of the 3300 block of The Alameda. Officer Moody did not sustain any serious injuries. The victim’s car suffered severe damage.

At the time of arrest Mr. Buckson was on probation for theft over $500 involving a vehicle. He was placed on probation January 16, 2007 after receiving a 10-year sentence with 9-years [sic], 6 months suspended.

The facts of that case are as follows:

On October 31, 2006 at 12:30 AM, in the 2500 block of West North Avenue, a patrol officer was performing random stolen checks on vehicles. The tag of the car Buckson was observed driving was reported stolen on October 30, 2006. Buckson gave the police officer a license belonging to someone else. Buckson’s driver license had been revoked and suspended.

Mr. Buckson’s arrest record spans 21 years with 29 arrests. His convictions include robbery deadly weapon, possession with intent to distribute, three convictions for CDS possession, theft over $500, unauthorized use, trespass, and two convictions for violation of probation.

During his violation of probation hearing today, the Honorable Judge Bernstein sentenced Linwood Buckson to nine years in jail consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving.

?!

What the?! Teenage girls support Chris Beat-her-down Brown. Huh? Wha? And would HB 845 make any difference?

Noel lawsuit underway

Hermann: the wrongful-death suit of Cheryl Noel's family against the BCPD is underway in District Court. Noel has become a national symbol of the civilian casualties of the drug war and the perils of "no-knock" warrants. Word has it that the officer who shot Noel, Carlos Artson, received a Silver Star for shooting the Bible-toting mom.
Blog The Agitator has salvaged Joe Giordano's pieces from the Dundalk Eagle

How tough is the economy? Even the drug dealers are hurting in what FHBIII calls a "cocaine drought."

A triple drive-by shooting on Marble Hall Road

Police: cuckold to blame for the stabbing death of William Smith Tuesday

43, 44, 45

Two men killed at the Yau Brothers Chinese Food Carryout on 29th and Greenmount,
a man stabbed to death in the 6500 block of Cleveland Ave.

Eastern District police commander Dan Lioi has been suspended pending an investigation into text messages he exchanged with Cleaven Williams, Jr., accused of killing his wife outside a North Avenue courthouse last year.

City council: no parking fine amnesty

... going away this week. Check out the many fine blogs & sites at right, and please don't rob my house. -- MJB

Quote of the month

"Facebook, we're gonna get MySpace, LinkedIn -- all of the social networking sites... to really get our message out there."
-- Baltimore City Police Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi

42

A man shot in the 1900 block of Pulaski Street at around 10:20 p.m has died.

Police are looking for Rochelle Denise Battle, 16.

Don't miss Buz's latest notes on crime & security.
Also worthwhile commentary on the media situation from Clay Shirky

New Blog Alert

The Baltimore Scofflaws, fighting parking ticket fine insanity!
Writes the founder,

Last week, we the current and former citizens of Baltimore were informed the city will be extorting us to fill its dwindling coffers. Their weapon of choice comes in the form of excessive late fees associated with a variety of parking tickets, in some cases, many years old. According to NBC, 80,000 of us have been contacted concerning 183,000 citations totaling $132 million dollars. Some of us have now been individually saddled with THOUSANDS of dollars in fines to ease City Hall's debt ... we are furious the city views our bank accounts as their personal ATMs, for which THEY write the rules for withdrawal.

Fatal Police Shooting #5

"A Baltimore City man was shot and killed by police Saturday morning after he barricaded a 4-year-old inside his home with a machete, police say."
and guess what? the BPD identified the officer involved in the shooting as Garfield O'Toole.

Ew du jour: a Goucher prof was fired after admitting to having <600 child porn pix on his PC.

Delegates: Help us, Rod!

"Calling an uptick in police shootings troubling, two state delegates and the head of the local NAACP called on the federal government today to investigate a recent fatal shooting by a Baltimore police officer who has shot three people since June 2007."

41

14-year-old shot in the SW!

The stabbing death of 17-year-old Shawn Green (#14) has been ruled self-defense, he's being removed from official murder rolls.

Hermann: The Baltimore Police Department wants to be your Facebook friend

And the Sunpapers invite you (yes, you!) to sit in on the daily front-page meeting!

Parking Fine Insanity!

Baltimore's ballooning parking fines may be the highest in the country, and now the city is threatening to sue scofflaws for an average sum of $1,625 per violation. (Even, presumably, violators whose license plates were stolen by MVA employees!)
City spokesman: "we have a budget deficit."

Baltimore encourages surrender

"To ease warrant backlog, Baltimore encourages surrender" (by fugitives).

Use in a sentence: "particular heterosexual contribution"

Asking for Trouble

Police are ISO a man wanted for shooting two people.
And WBAL asked someone to come and steal two laptops. Da!

Hermann has lots to say about naming police who shoot citizens.

At a City Council hearing [Tuesday March 10] ... members were angry at the department's explanations. They should have also been angry at themselves for the childish way they acted at a previous hearing when they blew their chance to ask Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III tough questions about this policy. Instead, they bought the department's line to the point where they fawned over the top cop and abdicated their roles as public watchdogs.

The police now say they will review the policy. And the feud between Jack Young and FHBIII heats up! You know you're in trouble when dad's "disappointed"

Do you really want to relive the horror of the Palczynski hostage situation, nine years ago this month? If so, check out WBAL's special, "A Legacy of Pain"

Big damage$ in the Jacksonville leaky Exxon case.

Gansler will be testifying in A-town in favor of HB 1055, aka the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act.

Sixth 'Bounty Hunter' Arrested

A sixth suspect arrested in the "Bounty Hunter" killing, in which Petro Taylor was set on fire while he was still alive. Two guys, Terrell Greg and Anthony O. Williams, are already in custody, as are three teenage girls, (left to right) Sierra Pyles, 19; Tenisha Lawson, 18; and Grechauna Rogers, 16.
More from Justin Fenton

So today and tomorrow the legislature is holding hearings on the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. Oddly, there doesn't seem to be a word on this in the Sunpapers.

The Heroes Who Shall Remain Nameless

Irony alert: police officers "receive highest honor for actions under fire," but 1/4 of the recipients would not be name-able under the department's new policy.
(And doesn't this WMAR story read like it was translated from a Chinese newspaper?)

"Two men were shot Tuesday night while standing at an intersection in the Ellwood Park-Monument neighborhood in East Baltimore."

This week's four murders in the Ink.
The words "African-American" take up a lot of space.

Man who lied about the murder of his son gets 5 years

Outrage of the day: of course energy bills are going up, BGE has a lot of political contributions to make!

Trial Date Set for Mayor

Sept. 8. Lipscomb and Holton got dates too.

Pant Fires in the BPD

Accusations of police lying about evidence, parts I and II.

42

Shawn Cannady, shot by an unnamed officer on Friday, has died of his injuries, the fourth fatal police-involved shooting this year.
Meanwhile,
Heavy hitters took to the Marc Steiner show this evening to discuss the new Baltimore Police non-disclosure policy: Anthony Guglielmi, Director of Public Affairs for the Baltimore Police Department; Robert Cherry, President of the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police and a former homicide detective; David Rocah, staff attorney for the Maryland ACLU; and David Simon (read the essay).
If you're short on time, skip to the last half.
Are the police going to live up to the promise to volunteer all info journalists deem pertinent other than a name? And if they don't, then what? It's not really a negotiation, is it?
More thoughts on this issue from Buz

Non-intentional non-justified homicide #42 was Roger Dennis, shot at age 13 in 1997 in the 300 block of W. North Avenue, who died last August from his injuries.

Because of the definitions of criminal homicide as per the FBI, Dennis is on 2009's homicide tally, Cannady is not.

Feds Subpoena Flex Squad Records

"A federal grand jury has subpoenaed run sheets, log books, and personnel files of at least five members of the Baltimore Police Department's disbanded Southwest 'Flex Squad' ..."

Murder of 17-year-old Herbert Carsten Jr. (39) may have been gang-related

Your tax $ at work: "Suit reveals millions in city pension giveaways"

County
"Baltimore County Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a vehicle and two men wanted for the assault on a Baltimore County police officer that occurred on March 1 at approximately 2:16 a.m. in Precinct 9/White Marsh."

Have you seen this short, pudgy (alleged) perv with circumflex brows?

41

A man shot to death in the 3300 block of E. Baltimore St. last night

A man arrested for setting his 85-year-old grandmother on fire

A man shot at a thrift store on W. North Avenue

A man shot in the face at Park Heights & Reisterstown Rds.

Jury selection has begun for trial of the man accused of ordering the murder of Carl Lackl from jail

"Maryland police databases have rich harvest of names"

Stolen cars and robberies in the Blotter

Maryland Title Co. of Baltimore loses license over allegations of stealing <$700k

Orthodox law firm takes Shabbat seriously

Homicide victim #39 was Id'd as Herbert Carsten Jr., age 17, a life apparently not worth more comment than the insomnia its end inflicted.

40-- oh shiz!!

A fight on the dance floor led to murder in the street after closing at Coconuts, and the gunwoman is at large!

39

A quadruple shooting has one fatality so far in the Southeast

Another police-involved shooting, and the third in four years for the unnamed 28-year-old officer. What's his/her deal? A training issue? An itchy trigger finger? Bad luck?
And why would the police department under FBIII divulge this officer's brow-raising track record?

A personal e-mail plea from Delegate Craig Rice set the tone for the preservation of MD's death penalty

What the?! The vice president of Baltimore's NAACP chapter arrested for heroin, bupe & mj possession

Jury Convicts Man for Murder of Byron Dickey

The SA's office reports that a Baltimore City jury today convicted Donnell Johnson, 35, of the 700 block of E. 21st St. of first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The jury deliberated approximately three hours after hearing three days of testimony before rendering its verdict. Johnson faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole. Judge John C. Themelis scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2009. Details:

On August 12, 2007 at or around the 2100 block of Barclay Street Johnson became involved in a fight with the victim, Byron Dickey. During the fight Johnson brandished a .32 caliber handgun at which time Dickey began to run. Johnson chased Dickey, firing the handgun repeatedly at him as they ran. Dickey was struck three times and eventually collapsed due to his injuries. Police arrived on scene and secured the area and medics transported Johnson to John Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Lead detective Donald Bradshaw pulled footage from police pole cameras on both Barclay and Greenmount Streets and video footage did capture a portion of the incident where an individual generally matching the description of the defendant was running down Barclay Street with their right hand extended in a manner consistent with possessing a handgun. Further investigation revealed witnesses who were able to positively identify Johnson as the individual who shot and killed Dickey.

A most unusual trial for MD: an anonymous jury and the feds seeking the death penalty in the case of Patrick Byers Jr., accused of ordering the murder of Carl Lackl from jail.

Only in Baltimore: the twisted tale of attorney Kim Y. Johnson's apparent conflicts of interest between the police department and her own clients.

Should police still be investigating-- and should Hermann still be writing-- about the death of Annie McCann?

3rd time's a charm

Gunman charged in third murder

Your daily badness

Ink: two murders last week, both stabbings
Meanwhile, two alleged stabbers apprehended.
Alleged murderer Lewis Brock, alias Keshawn Brown, Luis Brown and Lamar Smith, has been arrested about 20-something times for guns and drugs, and in 2002 for attempted first-degree murder with a handgun, a case that was noll pros'd.
The other accused deadly shanker, Eddy M. Castillo-Diaz, is an illegal immigrant from Honduras.

330 pounds? That's a lot of coca!

So let me get this straight, if you have less than an ounce of marijuana and a case of insomnia, your biggest worry is being fined $100?

On the left coast, gay rights, Chris Brown go to court.

how about them earmarks?
A million buck$ for the Cal Ripken foundation of mentors as 'crime prevention' -- is Cal Sr. running the PAL centers now?
vs.
1/4 of that for the ferkakata crime lab
and 34.7 times that much for a Metrorail. Because the metro has been such a success.

... Just how selected is this list?
... is that the sum total of 'criminal justice' earmarks?
Nothing was requested for juvenile justice, the courthouse, etc.?
Where was Cummings, aka the one who was supposed to have his snout in the trough for us?

Welcome, tourists

A body was found near Broadway pier in Fells Pint. "Initially, they thought the person may have been unconscious, but the person had died."

50 Years for Murder of Edward Jeter

From the SA's office:
"A Baltimore City jury today convicted Troy Levi Dukes, 39, of the 3600 block of Echodale Avenue of second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Charles G. Bernstein sentenced Dukes to 30 years for second-degree murder and 20 years for use of a handgun in a crime of violence consecutively for a total of 50 years in prison. The jury deliberated two days before returning with a guilty verdict.

Dukes shot and killed Edward Jeter, 28, on March 31, 2006 at a residence in the 900 block of Luzerne Ave. Police responded to the scene and discovered Jeter lying face down on the floor suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses identified Dukes as being in the residence arguing with Jeter immediately before hearing a gunshot."

Sounds like...

... we're keeping the death penalty but making it harder to apply.
Hassan Giordano: Dems dropped the ball

Tats for Tots

"TATS FOR TOTS - Illegal tattoos show juvenile gang membership growing"

"CRACKING THE SHIELD - The inside story of how Baltimore Police Officers William King and Antonio Murray were sentenced to a combined 454 years in prison on corruption charges."

County police are ISO a couple of chunky-looking white guys believed responsible for a series of burglaries in Cockeysville.

How sweet! UHF celeb/Personal injury lawyer Stephen L. Miles gave up ambulance-chasing to be a dad.

Is the Chandra Levy mystery finally going to be solved?

What the?! In PGC, a woman found her missing, murdered daughter's body in home they shared

Morning Media Blabber

Hearst media to begin to charge for digital news.

... meanwhile, Reader's Digest may file for bankruptcy!

Only 1 in 27?

Study: 1 in 27 Md. adults in correction system ... in 2008, it cost $86 to confine an offender in Maryland per day
(incredibly, the percentage of city residents is not much higher-- about 1 in 22, if this article's estimate of 28,000 is accurate)

A man shot during an attempted robbery/carjacking, a stickup in the ToonTown Center garage.

More on the Bounty Hunters, a citywide subset of the Bloods "ruthless enough to burn one of their own alive"

Senate to "employ a rarely used legislative maneuver" to bring death penalty bill to a vote

Last year's bogus-parking-ticket scandal may have been the result of MVA employees stealing license plates

Paige Croyder: maybe expungement isn't such a great idea

Hermann ranks the state's biggest drug busts
("reefer"? "grass"? Is that what the kids of today are calling it?)

#38

A stabbing incident in Hampden left 29 year old Nelson Gause dead (#38) and one injured on Sunday morning.