Friday, October 21, 2011

Life + 20

for John Wagner.

A press release from the SAO (and look, I can paste it!)
JOHN WAGNER RECEIVES LIFE PLUS 20 YEARS FOR THE MURDER AND
ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY OF A JOHNS HOPKINS RESEARCHER

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles Peters sentenced John Wagner today to Life plus 20 consecutive years for the murder and attempted armed robbery of Johns Hopkins Researcher Stephen Pitcairn.

Pitcairn was fatally stabbed in July of 2010 as he walked home from Penn Station along St. Paul Street.

“We continue to express our deepest condolences to the Pitcarin family and all of Stephen's friends. While the verdict and sentence cannot bring him back, we hope that his family and friends will find some measure of closure in the result.” State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein said. “This case is representative of the State's Attorney's Office continued efforts to successfully prosecute repeat violent offenders, and thereby make Baltimore a safer place."

Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Felsen prosecuted the case.

Co-Defendant Lavelea Merritt’s sentencing is scheduled on November 7, 2011.

Hi-de-ho

John Wagner, convicted of stabbing Hopkins researcher Stephen Pitcairn while robbing him of money for drugs, is scheduled to be sentenced today.

Opening statements in the death-penalty-eligible case of Walter Bishop are scheduled for today in HarfCo

Good Jeebiz! Ryan Jackson, 18, was killed with a hatchet, and his alleged killer, Larry Horton, was tracked down to Bayou La Batre, Alabama. No word on motive, though a county police spokesperson says the 37-year-old killer was "part of a group that the victim knew in that Rambo Court area." Hmmm.

After the mysterious death of Loyola grad Emily Hauze, police are reviewing the file of the other person found in a trash chute at the Park Charles, Harsh Kumar. Kumar and been drinking and taking Ambien, but his death was caused by "massive injuries that included a fractured skull, broken neck and ribs, and a broken nose."

Poor Frederick Douglass High School ... first famous as the alma mater of Cab Calloway and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, then the setting for the dismal-yet-enlighetning documentary "Hard Times at Douglass High," and now in the news after a 14-year-old was videotaped having sex on school property. And now at Milford Mill, three students are charged with a perverted sex act and exposure after doing... something perverted, videotaping it and posting it on the Internet.

More arrests in Charles Village/North Baltimore robberies.

In the county, Jason Gross, 36, was convicted for the murder of 16-year-old Rochelle Battle, though Battle's body has never been found.

Child robbed of video game and "Poo" robbed by "Angel" in the Baltimore Guide's SE blotter

And the Brew lays out how no-bid contracts go on in the city. (Also see: NYmag's playbook of popular tax-dodging strategies)

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Bath Salts, BGF, And More...

Christopher McMillion, 23, has been identified as the man shot to death at the 1500 Block of East 29th St. He is victim number 163 this year.

Gone are the days of legal relaxed bathing, as the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has made an emergency ban on bath salts.

An arrest has been made in a previously unreported police impersonation robbery. 35-year-old Ioannis Vasilios Skordalos has been charged with armed robbery and a variety of other charges for impersonating an FBI agent during the robbery. Apparently this isn't the first time Mr. Skordalos has been charged with impersonating a police officer during a robbery, as he was charged with just that in 2004.

Stabbing in a Westminster Regal Cinemas parking lot leads to the arrest of Michael Fisher, 19.

FDA chemist Cheng Yi Liang, 57, has plead guilty to a variety of charges related to a $3.7 million insider trading scam.

10 well earned years in Federal prison for convicted sex offender and child porn aficionado Vincent Eugene Koerner, 47.


Federal terms for a BGF leader and one of his co-conspirators. BGF leader Ray "Uncle Ray" Olivis, 57, (Left) was sentenced to 11 years after admitting to leading the prison turned street gang. 27-year-old Erik Ushry (Right) plead guilty to several drug charges and received a 57 month sentence.

A quick look into what police are doing to crack down on the suddenly booming cigarette smuggling industry in Maryland.

"I don't know if we should be lauded
or put in an insane asylum."

The Ink has last week's seven homicides, including two deaths from injuries sustained in previous years.

The woman found in the trash chute at the Park Charles apartments was ID'd as Loyola grad Emily Hauze, 23. As with the man found last August, police are saying evidence points to an accident, and residents are finding that explanation hard to believe. Report Hermann & Fenton, "The [trash chute] entrances are in rooms off each floor's main hallway. And the heavy, waist-high, spring-loaded doors — about 14 inches wide by 16 inches tall — open like ovens and close quickly. 'It's not like you could just fall in,' said Allison Busby, a 25-year-old who moved out of the Park Charles in May. 'The door would shut before I could even get my trash bag into it. It would slam shut. It was kind of a pain.'"

Luke Broadwater writes about Baltimore's 'urban pioneers.' (...but since when is being a teenager in a hoodie an arrestable offense?) Pull quote from Chris Taylor: "I don't know if we should be lauded or put in an insane asylum."

Police have released a sketch, left, of a man wanted for raping a 13-year-old

In Cockeysville, one Samantha Steck was arrested for stabbing her "boyfriend" in the chest

Deeply depressing: in MoCo, police gather evidence against William McQuain's stepfather. And also in MoCo, another stepfather has been charged with killing his stepchild; David Rich Hang of Gaithersburg was linked by DNA to the sheath of the knife used to kill 12-year-old Jessica Nguyen.

In Severn, a guy with bizarre ear-holes arrested for child sex offenses.

In bankruptcy news, managers at the broke-azz Tribune Co are getting bonuses, and the ridiculous catfighting restructuring planning at Alter Communications has been extended for another 30 days

Once again, a judge has blocked Baltimore's lawsuit against Wells Fargo. Meanwhile, Baltimore now has 20% more homeless people.

Bwhahaha! Russian 'reporter' asks the City Paper for some help with a story.

A rare press release from the SAO-- 17 extra years for a guy who had a cell phone in prison (why a press release on this case and not any of the high-profile cases in the past month, one wonders?)

Speaking of rare events, don't forget the BCrime Crappy Hour tomorrow at around 5, email or check our FB page for location.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Location, location

Life in prison for Kevin Pushia. And a conviction for the rape, torture and murder of Sintia Mesa, killed over her boyfriend Jemarl Jones's drug debts.

Police say the death of Ryan Jackson, 18, found on Pennington Ave, did, in fact, go down in the county, on Rambo Court.

Gregg Bernstein may not issue many press releases or make many public statements, but he does go to community meetings. Such as this one in Charles Village, where he got to hear this bon mot from Joe Giordano: “I tell people I live at 26th and condom."

And one Dwayne McCoy was arrested for the robbery and shooting of a Charles Village resident. The bad news: he's out on bail already!

Keep an eye out for James Whittlesey, 52, a wanted bank robber with an exceptionally fluffy butt cut.

And a former resident wins a $40k bedbug lawsuit against the apartment managers of her building. Shudder. Skeeve.

Monday, October 17, 2011

A recent homicide victim has been identified. 24-year-old Louis Ingram has been Id'd as the man shot to death at the 2400 block of E. Lafayette St. From what I can tell he does not appear to have any relation to Anton Ingram, the 32-year old man killed 8 days earlier.

Police are still searching for 11-year-old William McQuain, who's been missing the last two weeks, and whose mother was found murdered last Wednesday.

A second tainted letter found at the Harford County Detention Center has many people worried.

An arrest has been made in what is now believed to have been a double stabbing at a Dundalk bar. Adam Wayne Church, 21, (pictured right) has been charged with attempted murder for the stabbing of the 29- and 21- year-old men.

Gary Giordano, 50, the man held in Aruba for his alleged role in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner has had his appeal to end his being held in Aruban custody denied.

An ex-lawmaker testifies at the trial of Ulysses Currie, and spoiler alert, what he had too say wasn't too nice.

12 years in the Federal pen for Raymond Eggleston, the 51-year-old leader of a Severn drug organization.

Also starting a 12 year Federal bid is Crip gang member Tyrone Moore. Moore, 21, received the stern sentence after committing a 2007 carjacking.

Over in tiny Crisfield, MD, 27-year-old Micah Blue (Pictured Right) is facing charges of attempted murder after committing a double shooting.

As you are well aware, 35 members of the South Side Brim Bloods were federally indicted last week. Here is a listing of all those indicted, as well as any information I could find on specific members.

Andre Ricardo Roach, age 34;
Monique Marie Hagler; age 27, of Suitland, Md;
Theodore Clifton Matthews, age 29, of Baltimore;
Richard Demoan Hall Jr.,age 27, of Cumberland;
Matthew Owen Colllins, age 27, of Cumberland;
Brandon Isiah Fossett, age 27, of Frederick;
Durell Jarric Clayter, age 26, of Frederick;
Altonia Manley, III, age 22, of Frederick;
Marcel Anthony Williams, age 20, of Frederick;
Dominic Antonio Grey, age 27, of Frederick;
Jimarr Tyrell King, age 23, of Frederick, Md;
Derell Len Prue, age 20, of Frederick;
Gerald Lee Dorsey, Jr., age 24, Frederick;
Kennea KeithDiggs Jr., age 32, Frederick;
Paul Travis Cox, age 20, of Frederick;
Van Johnson Weedon, age 19, of Frederick;
Morris Jermaine Goodwin, age 19, of Frederick;
Courtney Alan Gates, age 28, of Frederick;
Fitzgerald Donald Reid, age 21, of Frederick;
Kylynn Charmonix Williams, age 19, of Frederick;
Richard Lee Thompson, age 22, of Frederick;
William Michael Black, age 22, of Stevensville, Md;
Dontell Lamont Guy, age 24;
Yancy Lamont White, age 23, of Salisbury, Md;
Antonio Jovan Dennis, age 29, of Stevensville;
Kyle Alexander Carey, age 20, of Salisbury;
Justin Rashaad Harris, age 19, of Eden, Md;
Antonio Javier Landers, age 24, of Howard County;
Aurelio Manuel Barahona, age 24, of Howard County;
Donnell Antonio Lewis, age 30, of Annapolis, Md
Donnell Moses Stewart, age 24, of Severn, Md;
Renard Mitchell, age 25, of Baltimore;
Darryl Rashad Smith, age 29, of Howard County;
Joseph Aaron Artis, age 22, of Howard County;
Alex Antonio Mendoza, age 23, of Howard County.

Many apologies for my long absence(again). Unfortunately the new computer I got to replace my old one, went and broke on me as well,last time I said something like this would not happen again, but I appear to have jinxed myself. So instead, I will simply say: sorry.

Yes and yes

The Baltimore Algebra Project and some other groups are hosting a Town Hall meeting on juvenile jails this Saturday at the Hilton on West Pratt:

165

Marquis Jones, 20, found shot to death in the rear alley of the 2200 block of Aiken Street early yesterday morning

A woman's body has been found in a Dumpster of the Charles Towers apartments in the 200 block of N. Charles.*

Maryland District Court Judge Jamey Hueston is trying to set up a nonprofit to support The Baltimore City District Adult Drug Court and make up for funding cuts.

The trial of Walter P. Bishop Jr., accused of carrying out the murder-for-hire of William R. Porter, is kicking off tomorrow in HarfCo. It will be the first death-penalty eligible case in the state since the law was changed to only make eligible cases that link the suspect with DNA evidence, or as applies to Bishop, a videotaped confession, reports the Sun's Arthur Hirsch.

CBS has footage of "writer turned warrior" Matthew VanDyke sporting a dirty schmattle, firing a giant gun and saying he's "willing to kill people for freedom."

The county's 18th homicide is Joseph A. Miranda, 19, run over by a Bobcat in 2006. Also in the county, four people injured in a drive-by shooting in Turners Station.

And a special session of the legislature is about to go down in A-town, and the fur is sure to fly. Marylandreporter.com has links to stories from every source on the subject, iffin you care.

And North Baltimore's Robert E. Lee Park, closed for years as a result of dog poop contamination and for renovations, has reopened! But note parks department staffers will be there, ticket books in hand, waiting to bust violators of city leash laws. There is a leash-free area but you must join and pay $35 to use it.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

163, 164

Two more homicides so far this weekend, including a man stabbed on the street in the middle of the day. And two nonfatal shootings in the NE.

And the BPD is supposed to have been conducting "after-action" reviews of police-involved shootings, but apparently that hasn't been happening. For years.

A new commander for the city's "vaunted but scuffling homicide unit".

Two guys with machetes, sisters fighting with steak knives and a bicycle-jacking in the Baltimore Guide blotter.

And finally, this terrifying Vanity Fair article on the state of California's economy brought to mind the CP's article on police and fire pensions. Two years after the CP article the city is still afloat, which is kind of incredible, no?

and a great article in the NYker this week about Portugal's decriminalization of drugs

Bleach thrower speaks

The drama continues, but the bleacher thrower blames the man, not her victim.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Crime news of the day, paywall edition

A man was shot in the back in a UMMC parking garage

Horrific: 11-year-old William McQuain is missing from MoCo, his mom was murdered and his stepdad is under arrest.

Holy moly! Thirty-five alleged Bloods gang members ("South Side Brims") have been indicted for racketeering, murder, kidnapping and other crimes. It took more than 100 officers to round them all up.

James Owens, one of the first people in MD to be cleared post-conviction by a DNA test, is now suing the city, SAO and BPD for $15 million.

Another kid attacked by a dog.

And finally, a new PSA from the Mayor. Ok, if you're drunk, it's a little bit your fault. (Kidding! Kidding!)

Thursday, October 13, 2011

A brief civics lesson

Two men were arrested and charged with drug smuggling after they gave a state trooper permission to search their truck.

Ok, now a bit of editorial commentary. I cannot wrap my mind around why a law-abiding citizen would ever consent to a police search. For someone who is trafficking drugs to consent to a car search takes the stupidity to a whole new level.

There is no reason for anybody to ever say yes to a consent search. Contrary to what many people believe saying "no" to a search does NOT give the police a reason to dig through your car, and if they have no PC they have no choice but to let you go on your way. You are not being difficult or acting suspicious by refusing a search, you are simply exercising your constitutional right not to have your private belongings pawed through.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Waverly beating

The Patch reports a man was severely beaten in Waverly this afternoon, 700 block of McKewin Avenue.

And on Union Ave in Hampden, "An unknown person entered a man’s home, hit him in the face and cut him with an unknown weapon, police said. A friend tried to intervene and was cut on the abdomen with an unknown object."

Police issued a warrant for the person they believe shot a man in the 2600 block of St. Paul Street in the course of a robbery last week.

Fenton Tweets

Homicide on East Lanvale Street yesterday according to Justin Fenton's Twitter feed.

Apparently the commish is also claiming that murders and non-fatal shootings are down, but overall gun crimes are up when you include robberies and home invasions.

'I think he had braids'

Jeezum crow, a 17-year-old high school student killed Monday night , Devearl Singletary, was the second kid from his school to be murdered this month. And two more murders: in Broadway East (a rare picture of a victim's feet sticking out of a sheet) and 20-year-old Kevin Pierre was shot to death in the 200 block of Belnord Ave.

The Ink covers last week's two murders, Anton Ingram and Marcius Perkins, plus case updates.

Two guys shot last night in the 6200 block of Carbore Way in the SE.

14 years for a guy who robbed Baltimore banks with a fake bomb

The woman who tossed Pine-Sol and bleach at her romantic rival at a Walmart has an unlikely ally: her babydaddy's daddy. "I’m not going to defend my son when he’s wrong. He’s wrong," Fred Culp told the jz.

Jury selection begins today in the civil suit brought by the parents of Philip Parker Jr., an inmate strangled on a prison bus; meanwhile Judge Sylvester Cox is considering letting jurors tour the bus in a darkened garage.

A writer's house was shot at in Woodberry, and he and the wife are thoroughly annoyed that took a half-hour for police to get to the scene.

A $490k fine for a MD telemarketer
who broke Mississippi's no-call laws

Oops! Lawyer for St. Joe's stent patients loses their medical records on the Light Rail

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear arguments in a case in which a UMBC pro-life student group claims its free speech was inhibited by having to relocate a graphic anti-abortion display. Meanwhile, Congress is preparing to debate the "Embryos Before Hos" bill.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Heartbreaking post

from imprisoned Oriole-cum-crackhead jailbird Sammy Stewart

'probably provoked'

The WaPo profiles Rod J. Rosenstein, the Quiet Storm. Fun RJR facts = he was on Kenneth Starr's team investigating Whitewater; he keeps his desk very clean; he enjoys hanging out at the Bethesda Barnes & Noble.

Man, cars shot on Riggs Ave last night; 25-year-old man shot near Park Heights and Belvedere avenues early yesterday morning

Friends & family of Theresa Jefferson, the alleged Walmart bleach-n-Pine-Sol attacker, are coming to her defense: "she was probably provoked." (My question: why do crazy-jealous bitches never go after the guy?)

Police release sketch of 2009 sex-assualt suspect

Something happened at Eden's Lounge over the weekend that required police cars, fire trucks and a ambilance. UPDATE: three people were stabbed.

Wanna buy a rec center? The Brew reports that the city is hoping to privatize its 55 centers.

... today starts the paywall at the Sun. You get 15 free page views, then you have to make with the credit card.

ps. Save the date! BCrime Snappy Hour = October 20, 5 p.m. until whenever. Join our FB group or email for location.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Bad ideas

A man is dead after shooting his ex-wife in the neck and then getting into a gun battle with police; the police spokesman says it's not clear yet if he was shot by police or shot himself.

The Court of Special Appeals overturned the first-degree murder conviction of one Jamar Anderson last week, "saying the trial judge had violated the defendant’s right to a fair trial by asking prospective jurors if they could convict someone without scientific evidence."

Jean Marbella follows up on the story of Baltimorean-cum-Libyan "revolutionary fighter" Matthew VanDyke. Meanwhile at the prison that VanDyke escaped from, a Quadafi-era mass grave has been unearthed.

At the Court of Appeals last week, the City Paper and Van Smith fought the revival of a defamation suit brought by Nicholas Piscatelli, the former owner of the Redwood trust nightclub.

A county officer was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly stripping off his shirt and brandishing his weapon in the middle of the street.

In the County, brokedown heifer Theresa Jefferson, 33, allegedly hurled bleach and Pine-Sol at her romantic rival, putting her and 18 other Walmart shoppers in the hospital.

Finally... could this possibly be a good idea? Keiffer Mitchell says that control of city schools should revert to the Mayor.
.. speaking of the Mayor, saw SRB in the Roland Avenue Starbucks Friday, Suburban illegally parked, flanked by a security guy with an earpiece and wearing giant aviator sunglasses in the (very dim) shop. She didn't speak, smile or acknowledge anyone, barely even the barista-- just nodded or shook her head to his questions. ("Would you like anything else?" Shake. "Do you want your receipt?" Shake.) Most strange.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

October 6

A couple of robbery related shootings. One took place in Lauraville, the other in Charles Village very close to the spot where Stephen Pitcairn was murdered. Both shootings appear to have been non-fatal.
[So far! It sounds like a lot has been happening around Charles Village. There always is this time of year, in terms of scary robberies and assaults. ... wonder what John Pontolillo is up to these days? I heard something on the news about a CV resident stabbed in the face when he confronted someone who broke into his place, anyone else hear about that? - ED]

Murder in Woodlawn.

If you're going to rob and murder a pizza delivery man it's a bad idea to place an order using your own cell phone. This was a really sad story (poor guy was working hard to support his family in Pakistan) and it looks like the perps got away with second-degree murder convictions and relatively light sentences.

Spray-paint artist Mark Chase refused a plea bargain and insists he wants to go to trial.
[I love this quote: 'Your constitutional rights have nothing to do with the law,' the officer [Chase][reportedly] said." Good for him! ... I hope Bernstein announces they won't hassle street artists. It will bring us one step closer to a little Seine in the Jones Falls/Harbor. - ED.]

Already convicted on federal drug charges, Johnny Butler has gone on trial again for torture and murder.

Here's some good news for once: Missing 16-month old found.

Fatal car crash on Route 100 after the driver allegedly behaved like a maniac.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

159

Maricus Kyle Perkins, 20, shot on Monday, has died of his injuries.

The Ink covers murders 154-157: Aldrick Hamilton, Dwight Montgomery, Keith Parker, and Antonio Blackwell (any relation to Maurice, J.R. or Steven, I wonder?)

Your check, sir... ? MD Reporter says the Attorney General's Office began sending out large, un-itemized bills for its indirect costs.

More fake cops robbing houses

No more liquor license for the Rancho Manila of Upper Fell's Point. "police were called to the bar nearly 100 times in a six-month span, including a homicide call in April."

Cat burned in alley