Maryland Maintains Status Among "Most Dangerous" States In Country

Despite Rhetoric And Meaningless Claims, Numbers Tell The Truth
18 January 2015
By A.F. James MacArthur
Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectator

For the second January in a row, Baltimore is going through a scary spike in shootings and murders. Eight people have been shot in the city since Friday. Numerous robberies and assaults have taken place during the same time period.

A 20-year-old shooting victim, a college student, on campus, being loaded onto an ambulance.

Despite all the many good things Maryland has going for it, the inexcusable rate of third-world-like violence remains a permanent blemish on it's record. The seeming silence from politicians and leaders belie the facts of the true hazards to health that living in one of the richest states in the country come with.

Ranking as the eighth most dangerous state in the nation, Maryland would love to delude itself into thinking things aren't so bad. In reality, they are.


It should come as no surprise that Baltimore heavily tilts the balance of the entire state, ensuring it's position on the list. A situation that should concern every Maryland resident, not just those living in Baltimore.

If violent crime isn't addressed in a holistic, comprehensive manner, one that is viewed as a problem affecting everyone, with a sense of urgency, regardless of social or economic status or standing, true solutions will never be had. Expect to see another article exactly like this one, one year from now.

Here are the sobering numbers:

Maryland, the eighth most dangerous state.

Violent crimes per 100,000: 467.8
Population: 5,928,814
Total 2013 murders: 381 (13th highest)
Poverty rate: 10.1% (3rd lowest)
Pct. of adults with high school diploma: 89.1% (24th highest)

Unlike most dangerous states, Maryland’s high crime rate cannot be explained by economic indicators. The state’s median household income of $72,483 was the highest in the country in 2013, and only 10% of Maryland’s population lived in poverty in 2013 — well below the national rate of 15.8%. Also, nearly 38% of residents had at least a bachelor’s degree, more than 7 percentage points above the national rate. Nevertheless, nearly 468 violent crimes were reported per 100,000 residents in 2013. Baltimore’s violent crime rate of 1,401 per 100,000 city residents in 2013 — the seventh highest rate compared to other U.S. cities — may have skewed the state’s overall crime rate.

In a podcast recorded Saturday, James MacArthur candidly expresses seeing little hope for change.
 


Read more: The Most Dangerous States in America - 24/7 Wall St.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Researcher, independent investigator, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur is Baltimore's most well known independent journalist contributor. A member of the underground news network for over 20 years. During this time, he's been a frequent subject of attack by government under the guise of law enforcement. Although closely watched and followed, he's often boycotted from being given any credit for his work by mainstream media.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Get Better Connected With Me


Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook, YouTube channel

10 Homicides in 12 Days - Harm City Hums Along *WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE*

Most Murders In Baltimore Are Never Ever Solved

14 January 2015
By A.F. James MacArthur
Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectator

With the death of one of the victims of a double shooting Monday night, Baltimore is racking up murders in 2015 at a rate that should cause alarm. Especially to those whose job it is to run this city. Even for Mobtown, Bodymore Murderland, this is a bit much.

At this point, other than the usual response from the usual so called leaders, it appears there's nothing new or innovative in the works and we can expect more of the same for the time being. We recently learned the homicide clearance rate for 2014 was around 45%. That's less than half. A failure no matter how you look at it.

Actual homicide scene. Not a movie. Not an actor. Real life.

Painting A Painful Picture

The decision to post a picture of a murder scene was not one tmade lightly. It certainly wasn't done just to gratuitously depict graphic horror either. After going to so many crime scenes over the years, I thought it would be helpful to show people some of what I see, if there is to be any true understanding of what's really going on. Scenes like this are seen by children in the city. Sadly this happens all too regularly. Sometimes while doing something as innocent as walking to or from school.

There are things taking place on a street near you, that will never be shown to you on the news.

Some TV news stations actually deliberately avoid reporting on much of the major crime happening here. If they are your sole source of news, you most certainly have a skewed view of reality in Baltimore. Quite frankly, you're probably a bit clueless. Chances are if you're reading this article, that description doesn't fit you.


Story Telling, Problem And Solutions

Police Commissioner Batts has a new plan. Again!

Despite the departments failing to effectively investigate murder, regarding 2014, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts claimed in an interview on WBAL Radio's C4 Show; "we hit a home run this year [2014]..." You can listen to the entire interview in the player above.

Raw statistics have a sort of sterilizing effect. They do not tell the story of the realities taking place. Numbers are readily categorized and compartmentalized while the bigger picture is totally lost sight of.

To be clear, I do not have, nor do I pretend to be one bearing solutions. That isn't my job, it's not why I'm here.

My purpose and the purpose of this site is to tell stories of crime and politics in this city. To offer a sort of raw realism that you'll seldom find elsewhere. It's painting a clear and vivid picture of some of what's really going on.

In my view, to downplay or minimize the extent of horrific carnage taking place in our city, would be
a dishonor to the victims and their families. A sort of writing them off, almost as if there lives never existed and never really mattered.

It's very easy to collectively ignore the violence and simply see it as something that only happens to "other" [mostly poor and black] people. Sadly, it is impossible to have a sustained peaceful and prosperous existence when this level of crime is happening all around you. Sooner or later it will come to you. When you least expect it. Not if, but when. If not you, then someone you know. Someone close to you. Sometimes in ways you'd never imagine.

Baltimore has huge issues in crime categories other than murder too. Don't let our focus homicide cause you to lose sight of all the other areas we need to do so much better in,

Rape and various forms of sexual assault rarely make the news. But it's taking place literally hundreds of times each year, causing permanent physical and psychological damage to victims, extending far beyond themselves. Affecting their family, friends and coworkers too.

Serious assaults and beat downs, causing permanent life altering damage is something that's also rarely reported on. But they're happening at an absolutely devastating rate as well. Even if you survive an attack, it's difficult to be productive or raise and provide for a family, if permanent disability -- as a result of violence -- prevents this. No one really mentions this much either. But it's very, very common here.

Let's not even going into the thousands of robberies. Some reported to police and appearing on statistical charts, while many remain unreported by victims living in fear. Thereby allowing the numbers to paint a more optimistic picture than is reality, and police getting to pretend things are a way they know isn't so.

For reasons of space, we will avoid talking about the many crimes by cops happening in Baltimore. Were we to ever get a true and accurate figure of just what's really going on, we'd probably discover we're near leading the nation in that category as well.

The Baltimore Police Department is one that is deeply corrupt with criminal misconduct. The criminality knows no bounds, involving top commanders, right on down  to rank and file officers on the streets.

Having covered more crime and emergency incidents than any other independent corespondent in Baltimore, I've become pretty good at outlining in great detail what our problems are. It's going to take others to work on coming up with solutions.
 
Pretending the problem isn't a problem, or that it's less of a problem just isn't helping anything. Neither is not talking about it because it's grotesque or depressing.

If you live or work in Baltimore, what's happening here is your business. The problems here are your problems. It's all our problems.

At this point it should be quite evident the solutions needed will not be coming from government. I've stated this years ago on this very same site, and it's still true today.

Over the past ten years, though the number of homicides have fluctuated somewhat from year to year, overall there's been little appreciable progress. This town still has a shameful, inexcusable level of death and destruction of lives. And where there's lives being destroyed, eventually other things are too. The economy, vibrancy and livability of any city is all inextricably tied in to it's crime rate, particularly violent crime.

I'm very curious to see where we go from here.

What are your ideas? What would you do, or think should be done to address the city's violent crime problem? Feel free to use the comment section or hit up The Baltimore Spectator Facebook page.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Researcher, independent investigative journalist, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur has been a member of the underground news network for over 20 years. During this time, he's been a frequent subject of attack by government officials under the guise of law enforcement. Although closely watched and followed, he's often boycotted from being given any credit for his work by mainstream media.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Get Better Connected With Me


Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook, YouTube channel

Commissioner Bealefeld Ignores Major Issue

Top Cop Misdirects Attention To Avoid Department Scrutiny

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L., Managing Editor

Well, you really did it this time Commissioner Bealefeld. The words you said actually pissed me off and they hit home with me. A hit below the belt that is. Recently you had a much ballyhooed appearance on a local talk show. As usual, I agreed with so much of what you said, but on a few points, I must differ with you in the most fierce manner possible.

Other Agencies Need To Step Up

While it may be true that other city agencies need to help bear the burden of reducing crime and violence in this city, there's something I didn't hear you mention a single word about. GETTING RID OF THE DIRTY COPS! The Baltimore Police Department is full of them and we all know this. Their presence make the good guys look bad. It makes the jobs of the honest ones more difficult too. The police have ZERO CREDIBILITY with the black community, including those of us that abide by the law.

For too long we've seen a pattern of wrongful arrest, harassment, physical abuse, deliberate and malicious false statements and testimony. How much of this has changed? When will this be addressed squarely? Oh sure, there's been a high profile conviction or two, but the problem runs deep, real deep. We know that even your brother, Charles Bealefeld's name came up a few times in investigations. Want my respect and those of others in the black community? Then let's hear you talk more about cleaning up the department.

Yes, Doc Cheatham may consider you a friend, but you know what? The black community at large does not trust you. We ain't buying it! Like it or not, this is a plain hard fact. Not only do we not trust you, we don't trust your men either. The women aren't seen much differently.

As long as so many of us are looked at as either suspect or victim by the police, the problems will continue. It doesn't take a degree in psychology to understand the deeply ingrained damage done to the collective psyche of Baltimore by this department. If I assembled the full list of abuses and illegal activity committed by members of the Baltimore Police Department, it would resemble the rap sheet of large organized crime family. Sad thing, for many, the police and the criminals are hard to tell apart.

Commisioner Bealefeld, have you ever been beaten up and arrested by a cop on your front porch simply because you were not able to produce ID when a cop demanded it? Probably not right? Well I was. What message do you think this sends to my children, my neighbors, the community at large? Don't know about you, but typically while I'm relaxing on my own property, I don't have my wallet on me. On my own private property, as a law abiding citizen, there's no valid legal reason why I should have to show ID to anyone! Especially some thug chop. Go out and protect and serve why don't you! STOP ABUSING AND HARASSING THOSE OF US THAT ARE NOT CRIMINALS! I thought we went to war with foreign countries that did this sorta thing?

The culture of corruption and abuse that runs rampant in the Baltimore Police Department has done so much to undermine crime fighting. It's not just the uncooperative and overly lenient State's Attorney office. probably not the first time you've heard this, but the police lost the hearts and minds of the people, a long, long time ago.

Without citizen cooperation, and right now there is none, good luck solving crimes. If I were you, I would not be celebrating too much right now. The reported minimal decrease in crime does not amount to much. The homicide closure rate is still dismal and well below average. Most killers in Baltimore are still getting away with murder! Remember, there's still seven months to go. When the numbers were high, you told me to stop focusing on them. Now they're a little bit lower, and you guys are crowing?

My issues with your department, it's policies, and actual practices on the street run much deeper than what's been stated so far. If the goon squad doesn't fabricate another phony arrest on me in yet another attempt to see me silent, I will be providing much more details. The ongoing attempts at suppression and intimidation have been absolutely sickening. I openly state this so the next time I disappear, the people will know it's nothing but another cowardly act of reprisal, an attempt to silence a voice of truth that cannot be refuted. The facts are what they are. The dastardly deeds continue.

As an American citizen, as a black man, as a resident of Baltimore, I am disgusted that not only do I have to watch my back for violent street thugs, but I have to look out for the Baltimore Police too. The beatings, abuse, rapes, and misconduct at the hands of dirty cops in Baltimore are on par with those of any notorious street gang.

How can a department filled with so many criminal gangsters effectively protect us from the same? They won't, they can't! Until there's been a major housecleaning, this place will be forever plagued.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With years of practical, theoretical and academic experience in criminal justice and criminology, A.F. James MacArthur is a frequent commentator on crime and justice and a harsh critic of Baltimore City government corruption and politics. A one time street level law enforcer and college instructor, MacArthur has been recently selected as a lead instructor for the soon to be chartered Baltimore Urban Institute.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Baltimore Spectator On Twitter

Join the Office of The British Prime minister, The Baltimore Sun, and many of Charm City's top journalists. Become one of our followers. Get updates and random musings from the mad mind of A.F. James MacArthur. Baltimore crime, grime and politics with a sprinkling of nonsense thrown in for good measure. twitter.com/baltospectator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------