It's Saturday Night Crime... Live... Sort Of

The assistant to historian Barry Landau pleads not guilty. Jason Savedoff, 24, plead not guilty to his role in the theft of several historic documents.

The body of university professor Yulia Pogrebenko, 54, has been found in the Chesapeake Bay. No cause of death has been given yet.

New information comes to light in the Lemuel Wallace murder trial. Including the fact that Kevin Pushia, the pastor turned murder suspect had planned to murder his then boyfriend and his family.

An Ellicott City 17-year-old was secretly arrested by the FBI for allegedly being a co-conspirator of "Jihad Jane." The then 15-year-old identified only as Mohammed K was suspected of soliciting funds to help commit Jihad, and at one point had threatened to commit a school shooting.

He pissed off the wrong people... 37-year-old Braderick Green was sentenced to 11 life terms plus 185 years for shooting at city police officers. Of course life never really is life, so Mr.Green is actually eligible for parole in just 65 years, at the ripe age of 102.

It just keeps getting worse for Travis Vaughn, 19, who was not only shot in the shoulder by an off-duty security guard, but was also charged with attempted murder to boot.

When I see the words "Ravens Player, Inner Harbor" I tend to expect the worst. But this time I was pleasantly surprised to find that Ravens WR Tandon Doss was in the role of peacemaker.

An 18-year-old wanted by police for the May robbery of a local grocery store was shot at by police Wednesday. Lamont Thomas escaped injury but now faces a variety of serious charges.

I severely apologize for my long absence from posting, my computer broke recently and I have finally been able to replace it. Please note this is not a complete posting as i wanted to get something out before i possibly lose my power due to the storm.

Baltimorean sprung!

from Tripoli pen! Not only is Quaquacky really out & hiding in some tunnel like a tacky Hitler, but Matthew VanDyke's 31- or 2-year-old rump could (possibly) be ensconced on AirBama manana for surf & turf with Dutch!
What a happy twist, eh?

ps. he 'described his ordeal' to the BBC today (8/25), but the story doesn't say where he was when doing the describing. Pull quote: "I have OCD and I have it pretty bad and being in a filthy Libyan prison was not good for it at all. It was torture."

Baltimorean missing

... In Libya, in case you hadn't heard. Matthew VanDyke, 31, has been missing since March and has still not been found.

Art -> Life

Snoop's lawyer: she's innocent but pled guilty to get on with her life. Hmm, where have I heard that before? (.. & I love how if you google "republican bathroom" he pops up immediately)

Shootings & stabbings over the weekend, and a man died at Central Booking (coincidentally, it sounds like)

and don't miss the poetic stylings of Sen. Catherine Pugh. ("Some think politicians . . . / Are much like magicians . . . " Frank Conaway's rap is not all that bad, by comparison-- full of piquant disses! ("Frank Conaway, how you going to get a fair chance in the race when all you gonna worry about is where his daughter stay .... don't take advice from the gift-card bandit, dammit .... Catherine Pugh, that ain't the only thing I smell in the room ...")

Crazy, man!

Stats say MD's crime rate hit a 35-year-low, and no one knows why. ... but it would seem to disprove once & for all a causal connection between crime and the economy, non? ... and already the DPP is using the stats to retroactively defend parole officers' massive caseloads.

John Wagner Convicted Of Killing Stephen Pitcairn

More on that from WBAL. .... and, apparently well aware that this is the case that got him elected, Gregg Bernstein held a rare Q&A session at about 9:30 tonight to take questions from the press.

Lunchtime Crime

Football players behaving badly: former Ravens player Jermaine Lewis (not to be confused with coke dealing former Raven Jamal Lewis or justice obstructing Raven Ray Lewis) was released on bail after getting tased and arrested. Cops came to Lewis's home after he was seen driving erratically.

Crime in Maryland is at its lowest level since 1975.

A guilty plea to first-degree from Michael Brooks. Prosecutors say they intend to ask for a 30-year sentence.

Alleged pervert and a burglar on the loose in Anne Arundel County.

Ralph Edward Thomas is in big trouble with the feds. He allegedly stole $800,000 from clients who included a child with birth injuries and a woman with dementia.

The commish defends the Baltimore PD on the Marc Steiner Show.

Cherice Ragins's family is still looking for her.

Drunk driving and illegal street racing are a deadly combination.

I'm not certain how I feel about this. City police will start taking crime reports by phone.

11 Days

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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In International news:

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

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

I'm Gonna Git You, Schaefer!

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

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

Police release video from the Select Lounge shooting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Woof

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In international news...

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

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

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

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

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

No charges will be filed in the Select Lounge shooting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bwahahaha! Belinda Conaway drops lawsuit against blogger

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

Guilty plea for McDonald's beatdown

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

Murderous Mid-Week

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

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

Multiple shootings last night but not too many details.

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

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

Another gun bust at BWI.

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

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

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

DC sniper Lee Malvo wants to change his name.

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

Get your weed back

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

The Federales are not amused

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

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

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

Road rage on I-83.

Axe attack in Frederick.

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

He's Bay-uck

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

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

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

Say it ain't so!!

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