FRIGHTFUL FRIDAY -- 2 Shot, 1 Dead As Violence Streak Continues

January 2015, One Of The Most Murderous Januaries In Recent History
31 January 2015
By A.F. James MacArthur
Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectator
 
The bitter cold Friday night, accompanied by a bone chilling strong breeze, was not enough to make Baltimore's violence chill out.

With the victim's blood along with some of his clothing still on the sidewalk (towards the left between the stop sign and police car), Baltimore Police investigate shooting scene at N. Bentlou and W. Fayette Streets. /MACARTHUR MEDIA

Two men were shot Friday, adding to the city's already horrific toll of violence this January. Saturday morning Baltimore Police confirmed one man had died. The other had injuries so severe, homicide detectives were called to the scene.


Incident Number One

After a relatively quiet day, Baltimore Police received a call for a person shot on the 3000 block of Liberty Heights Ave. When officers arrived at 6:40 p.m., they found an 18 year-old man suffering from an apparent single gunshot wound to the head.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene to investigate.

Although not pronounced dead on the scene, the man was transported to an area hospital. His official status had him listed in critical condition, but late Saturday morning police confirmed he died of his injuries.



The Baltimore Spectator arrived on scene within minutes after the shooting happened.

Listen to The Baltimore Spectator's initial reported, recorded live on scene.


Liberty Heights was shut down in both direction at the intersection where Dukeland meets Wabash, while police searched for evidence.

With an expansive vacant field on one side, and a large church -- taking up the entire block --  on the other, the immediate vicinity of the shooting has the feel and appearance of a relatively desolate place, compared to many other areas that have been the scene of violent crime.

Police have released few details on the circumstances surrounding the shooting. No motive or information of a possible suspect was given. The victim's identity has not been released.

In 2014, only 45% of all murders were solved.


Incident Number 2

Several hours after the Liberty Heights shooting, The Baltimore Spectator returned to the area attempting to gain further insight into the incident. A short time after arriving back on that scene, the second shooting of the night took place.

A few minutes after 10:00 p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the intersection of N. Bentlou St. and W. Fayette St.

Upon arrival, officers found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

An area resident told The Baltimore Spectator she believes she heard at least five or six shots fired.

Witnesses describe seeing the man laying lifeless on the sidewalk before officials arrived.

He was transported to an area hospital. Like the other shooting of the night, the man's injuries appeared so serious, homicide detectives were called to the scene.

On Saturday morning his last known official status was listed as critical condition.

Like the majority of shootings and murders taking place in Baltimore; police have stated no known suspects or motives. The victim's identity has not yet been released.


With less than half of all murders that happened last year being solved, so far this year, it seems unlikely Baltimore Police will be able to show much improvement.

If the second Friday shooting victim dies, it brings the total murders for the month of January to 23. One of the highest amount of killings ever seen in January.

There is a common perception that violence tends to slow down in the winter months; however, this January, and last January, show no indication of any such winter slow down.

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

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Man Shot In West Baltimore, Next To Elementary School

Same location saw triple shooting homicide earlier this year

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectator

Police were dispatched to the 2200 block of N. Fulton Ave. on Tuesday evening, around 5:12 p.m, for a report of a man shot.

According to a Baltimore Police twitter post, an adult male was shot in the upper torso at the location. Little more is known about the incident, including the condition of the victim, and whether there are any suspects or a motive.

Although there were no reporters at the scene Tuesday, in March there was a triple shooting that left two women and a man dead on the very same block. That incident was widely reported, but apparently more violence in the same location did not warrant digging deeper.

Listen to an audio update, recorded live from the scene.

8 Shot, 2 Dead, 24 Hours! -- LIVE BROADCAST -- Weekend Crime Review

Our 100th Episode!!!

Show begins about 8:45. Extended instrumental intro due to technical glitches being worked out, last minute, just prior to broadcast.

Open Season On Citizens/License To Kill

Police involved shootings seem to be on a disturbing upward trend across the nation. Many questionable shootings seem to be getting a pass by officials, while citizens accept without question, the official version of the story, even when independent witnesses contradict it.

Six Shot, 1 Fatally Stabbed, On Violence Filled Saturday

Young Child Among three shot near City Council President's residence on extremely violent day

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

Agitator-In-Chief
@BaltoSpectator

Residents look on as shooting victims being treated in 

ambulances on scene, 1200 block E. Eager St. Also in picture, 

far left near brick wall, is City Council President Jack 

Young, next to James MacArthur. @MolotovFlicker/Baltimore Spectator

A barrage of gunfire on the 1200 block of E. Eager street wounded three people, including a child reported to be seven years old. Just before 10:00 p.m. Saturday, area residents said they heard multiple gunshots fired in rapid succession. 

One of the ear witnesses was Baltimore City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young, a nearby resident: "I grabbed my wife and we dove for the floor. There were so many rounds being fired. Never in my life have I had to hit the floor to take cover in my own house."  

The Baltimore Spectator arrived on scene within minutes of the incident. As a large crowd of about 75 people gathered on the street, several Baltimore City Fire Dept. medic units were still present, treating the victims and preparing for transport.

Mayor's Big Announcement A Lackluster Dud

PR Party Package Continues To Be Long On Symbolism, Short On Substance

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Agitator-In-Chief 
@BaltoSpectator

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner 

Anthony Batts, both deeply concerned about crime and violence in the city.

The 50 shootings and 21 homicides since 21 June, has Baltimore seeming more like a battleground than a city where 10,000 new families might move to. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake appears struggling
to regain public confidence among war-weary citizens. The latest installment of her paper thin, obviously transparent, damage control public relations campaign, designed to simulate an action plan, has become increasingly underwhelming.

After nearly 24 hours of anticipation, the public having been told by the mayor to expect an "important major announcement" in the fight on crime, the media was treated to a carefully choreographed press conference, hardly living up to expectations. Another soundbite, a photo-op event.

On stage was Rawlings-Blake, joined by Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein, Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, and even U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein got in on the action.

As bullets fly and bodies drop, the three B's; Blake, Batts and Bernstein did their best to convince us, that somehow taking a couple city prosecutors and letting them work with federal prosecutors will stem the incessant flow of blood in the streets.

Never mind the over 40,000 outstanding warrants and a warrant task force made up of about a dozen guys, two "new" prosecutors are supposed to save the day.

What They're Not Telling You

With Baltimore Police having such a dismal and embarrassing clearance rate for homicide, and few suspects for most murders, much less actual arrests, what difference would having powerful persecutors make? You don't have to be a legal scholar to know in order for a prosecutor to try a case, there must be an indicted defendant. In this area, Baltimore Police have simply not produced very well.

Each passing year sees the vast majority of our murders (well over 50%!) go totally unsolved. That's a lot of killers on the loose.

Furthermore, of the arrests made, federal officials typically have very little interest, except for a very small percentage that qualify with internal guidelines on case selection. Federal prosecutors tend to prefer guaranteed, slam dunk convictions.

Many cases brought to trial in Baltimore are so rife with issues, fed prosecutors, who have the luxury of picking and choosing cases, want nothing to do with them. Between shoddy evidence, lack of witnesses, poorly written police reports, questionable practices, including rampant civil rights violations and behavior contrary to constitutional conduct by the cops, the cases being brought by Baltimore Police are a bit below textbook perfection.

Snitches Get Stitches

Again we heard from officials a need for increased community cooperation. This, as Batts tried to downplay one of the city's most recent homicide victims having done just that, and possibly paying a high price for his cooperating

Dwayne Robinson Webb was killed, along with his sister Natasha Bates, in broad daylight yesterday, on the unit block of N. Fulton Ave. They were relaxing at their West Baltimore home. He'd cooperated with police and prosecutors, after picking out of a lineup, a man who'd shot him last year, only two blocks away. Now he's dead.

When asked if the killing was retaliation, avoiding a direct yes or no answer, Batt's did his best to deflect, stating: “It scares other people [from cooperating], and we don't know if that's actually what took place.” No mention was made of how shifting two prosecutors could have prevented the bloodshed.

Most readers of The Baltimore Spectator are well aware of the shameful track record of protecting witnesses in Baltimore (for a good case study, see Carl Lackl). To ask for increased citizen participation without solid promises of better protection, courtesy and cooperation coming from police, is nothing but empty, meaningless -- not to mention dangerous -- rhetoric.

Nothing New

Many media outlets got today's announcement wrong, stating two "new" prosecutors were being added to the federal ranks responsible for Baltimore city. Reality rings a bit different.

In essence all that's happening is two current city prosecutors will be deputized and detailed to work in cooperation with Rosensteins office. At that level, the direct contribution this will make to reducing ongoing street level violence is murky at best. But of course attempt was made to portray this as a reactive response having immediate tangible impact..

According to The Baltimore Sun's Justin Fenton, the move was approved by the mayor and a part of the budget for some time. Despite the timing of today's announcement and best efforts being made to convince otherwise, it was not in response to the summer crime wave and recent violence.

There's only so many "safety walks" these guys can go on before the repeating scenes, night after night on the news starts getting old and more people see through it. They had to do something different to show "concern," but action that is going beyond demonstrations done for show is desperately needed.

The call continues for real and impactful strategy. No doubt, reducing crime is a complicated, complex affair, but endless staged events seems sadly missing the mark in a city that continues to be held under siege by a rising tide of violence and mayhem.
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After an unconstitutional imprisonment lasting 6 months, denied bail, tortured, assaulted and forced to endure inhumane conditions in the notorious Baltimore City Detention Center, perennial gadfly A.F. James MacArthur, the original independent, established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting  emerged undaunted and unafraid. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel

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Baltimore Youth Killed In Record Numbers

An open letter from a concerned citizen


Dear Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake:

I am a Baltimore city resident and I pay taxes.

Something this year has me very concerned, that is the increase in homicide deaths of young people 18 and 19 years old.  In 2009 and 2010 there were 16 homicides in that group, in 2011 only 10.   This year by November 18 there have been 21 young people in that age group brutally killed in Baltimore City and the year isn't over yet.

 It is clear to me that circumstances for this group of teens have changed for the worse.  I worry that some of these teens have suddenly become homeless on their 18th birthday because their parents lose their welfare, foodstamps, housing and other government benefits and their parents don't see the point in keeping these new adults in their homes.

And we all know that some of these troubled kids can't find any legal job that is lucrative enough to support even a subsistence lifestyle.  Perhaps you can tell me what has changed recently to tell me why this group suddenly start being killed in record numbers and what you plan to do about it, if anything?

I care, but I doubt you or anyone else does.   Years from now the CDC might release the results of some study that will show the same results but by that time many more will have died.

I'd rather have you get out in front of this problem right now, if you can fit it into your busy schedule.

Thank you,

Cham

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At The Scene Of The Crime -- It's Been An Eventful Week So Far

It started with mass mayhem, a mob scene and a shooting in Towson early Sunday morning. A broad daylight shooting on Pennsylvania Avenue hours later. Followed up by a murder on Chesterfield Ave in East Baltimore that very night. That's three crime scenes in one day.

Wednesday morning was a man found dead (also murder) on Old York Road, leading up to a double shooting, including a four-year-old boy that night in Waverly. Each of these events found me live-on-scene, reporting via twitter, updating several thousand readers with the latest news of crime and grime on the gritty streets of Charm City. 

The incident in Towson was actually broken by me on twitter. Besides myself, there were no reporters ever on scene, at what would become one of the bigger local crime stories of the week. It's not uncommon for me to be first on location or first with the news.

In most cities this would be an eventful week for the average newspaper reporter, but for this reTIRED crime correspondent, it was just a small sample of how hectic things get covering the breaking news crime beat in Baltimore. 

To be honest, this has been more or less an average week. Folks in Baltimore have grown so used to a high level of violence, that what seems horrific and terrifying to people living in other places, is now quite routine and normal in Baltimore. In this city, the crime truly never stops and the violence knows no bounds.

The News Comes To Me

People unfamiliar with my crime reporting exploits could be forgiven for thinking I'm some sort of police scanner addicted, always on the go news hound, but the truth is somewhat different. More often than not, minding my own business, I suddenly find myself at the scene of the crime. Might sound unbelievable to some, but I promise you it really does happen that way. At first I had trouble coming to grips with it, but I've learned to accept and embrace it.

The sheer volume of crime and violence that's taken place in my immediate vicinity all throughout this city is staggering. Whether I'm simply driving down the street and come upon a scene just begging to unfold, or out for a walk and hear sporadic gunfire nearby, people who've followed me over the years know I simply have a nose for the news.

It should be made clear, while this week has found me at a number of incidents, I'm still technically retired, so there should be no expectations that this is some sort of return or comeback and that this will continue. No longer a staff writer at a news website, or crew member at a radio station, I'm simply a man with a smartphone, lurking in the shadows. The one, the only, Baltimore Spectator.

Mayor Dixon "Frustrated" Over Shooting Of Five Year Old

Two weeks after the shooting of five year old Raven Wyatt, Mayor Sheila Dixon appeared on a local talk radio show, and questioned why the suspect, Lamont Davis, was not wearing the GPS monitor around his ankle that state juvenile officials require the teen to wear. After meeting with juvenile justice officials recently, the Mayor expressed she was not happy with the explanation; "There were some processes that needed to be tightened up, and to be honest, I was very frustrated."

Read More On WBAL

Baltimore Crime, One Day Review

City Claims Of Crime Decline Seems Unfounded

Here’s a look at some of the serious incidents reported via Baltimore Police Twitter in the last day as of 0700:

SHOOTING: Reported @ North/Greenmount, adult male shot multiple times 21 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

SHOOTING: Reported @ Fayette / Belnord, adult male shot. Life threatening injuries, police investigating about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

UPDATE: Stabbing @ Tunbridge is now a homicide about 8 hours ago from TwitterBerry

STABBING: 600 blk Tunbridge, adult male stabbed in chest, critical condition Police investigating about 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry

SHOOTING: Reported at North/Madison Ave, adult male shot. 2:21 AM Jun 18th from TwitterBerry

Inner Harbor, Baltimore’s Green Zone/Open Letter To Mayor Dixon

To The Honorable Mayor Sheila Dixon,

I've been quite impressed with the recent increase of police presence at the inner harbor. For a while it seems we were about to lose control of the last bastion of peace and tranquility in Baltimore City. With the neighborhoods resembling combat zones in physical appearance, level of danger, and the hopeless mentality pervading the residents, it’s nice to have a place where you can let your guard down. Thank you for reassuring us there is at least one safe place left. After all, the rest of us don’t get 24/7 armed bodyguards like you do.

When I look to my left and I look to my right, all I can think of are my neighbors that were murdered in cold blood inside their homes. Home invasion murders, even indoors, there were not safe. Not to mention the street robberies that have also ended in murder, several within the last weeks.

My have all abandoned this city and urge me to do the same; they worry for me more here than they did when I’ve been overseas, in combat zones or places experiencing civil unrest and near total anarchy.

What will it take for a stepped up police presence in the hood? I know there’s little potential for well to do whites getting hurt there, so reducing the violence won’t provide nice photo ops and political PR points?

As a homeowner, for years I’ve watched the property values in my neighborhood fall, just as I’ve watched the bodies of those murdered around me fall. And yes, I have literally seen the bodies.

Honestly, I’m sorely disappointed in you and your administrations lack of comprehensive effort in truly attacking the problems we in our neighborhoods. I knew all along you didn’t really care about us, but more and more, you remind me just how little regard you have for our safety.

Open air drug dealing is tolerated despite repeated calls to police. This place is a gang stronghold, yet the gang unit is understaffed, with few actually pounding the ground gathering needed intelligence.

From where I stand, there appears to be no sincere desire to clean up this part of town. I guess it’s because we’re not on the beautiful waterfront, we don’t have the shops, restaurants and lots of white tourists. TV cameras only come around here when one of us fall victim to the murderous thugs permitted to rule the streets.

With one of the home invasion murders being right next door to me, I feel quite unsafe even in my own house. If I really want to feel safe I could always start sleeping on a bench at the Inner Harbor right? Not really, Bealefeld and his bullies would find a reason to arrest me then. Not like they need probably cause. Lack of it has never been stopped the Baltimore Police Before.

Commissioner Bealefeld told me it’s safe at the Inner Harbor, but he wants people like me to stay in our neighborhoods. He wouldn’t dare be so bold as to say it’s safe where I live.

So tell me Madame Mayor, what have you done to make us safer out in the neighborhoods, and what’s the current plan, where do we go from here? Oh yeah, that whole crime is down thing, seriously now, we’re not buying it, and from where I stand, honestly, I just don’t seen. Tell that to the family of Dr. Woah-Tee, they’re the ones crying.

Sincerely,

A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

A city resident living in fear of his life on a daily basis.

P.S. Since you’ve ignored all the private letters I’ve sent you, I’m quite sure you’ll ignore this one too. It’s ok Madame Mayor. I’m used to it now. Didn’t vote for you last time, and at this point, I’ll be glad to work tirelessly to see no one else will next time.

P.P.S. To my supporters; should you suddenly not here from me, know that they're up to they're old tricks again. Probably pulled another underhanded mob tactic. We know how our leaders can't take criticism.

Bealefeld's Bogus Bad Guys With Guns, & Other Bald Face Lies Of The Baltimore Police

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

When the Baltimore Police Department tells us crime is down, we’re supposed to B E L I E V E? Much like when then Mayor Martin O’Malley told us to, I’m still not quite sure just what to B E L I E V E? Funny thing is, Martin never told us. Good thing the FBI quickly released official statistics showing we lead the nation in crime. So even if it’s down, why are you celebrating. This city is a war zone and we all know it.

Now here comes Commissioner Bealefeld and his so called bad guys with guns. Or should I say, Black Guys With Guns. It’s a well known fact that the first wide scale gun grab of legally owned fire arms was conducted in the deep south by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Sometimes it was done under the guise of law enforcement by day, other times, during the night, the same cops, hiding behind white sheets came by as the Midnight Riders. Hitler taught them, if you’re gonna take advantage of a race of people, you best be sure they can’t fight back.

“UPDATE ON FIGHT AGAINST BAD GUYS W/ GUNS: As of today, BPD has seized 1,200 illegal guns and 568 people arrested for gun offenses since 1/1.” – Baltimore Police 15 June 2009

For the Baltimore Police Dept. to release these figures shows just how desperate and dishonest these guys are. Just what constitutes a bad guy with a gun? Just because you arrest someone with a gun, does this make them a bad guy? What if the gun was legally owned, and the man arrested is exonerated in court, and his gun is given back to him? What will you say then? I suppose the police are now in the business of handing out verdicts. Typical for a police state? The kind history has shown us where Secret Police ran the show. The same kind that snatched people up, even 16 year olds, and they were never seen again.

In a town were a large sum of arrests never lead to conviction, one really has to take this claim with a grain of salt. Many arrests made by Baltimore Police are thrown out because of sloppy police work, lack of evidence, no probable cause, and a host of other reasons. In short, a citizen was arrested, chances are roughed up, and imprisoned, for now valid reason. Space does not allow me to elaborate at this time, but I have before, and I will in the future. So they claim the guns were illegal, well, we’ll have to see if the prosecutors, the jury and the courts agree won’t we?

The 568 people claimed arrested, were they all indeed criminals? Should we B E L I E V E just because you say so? How many have been convicted? To claim any sort of victory, without a trial or a guilty finding is shallow, hollow, and desperate. With crime out of control, Commissioner Bealefeld is willing to do anything to convince the people of Baltimore this is not so.

Better known for harassment and false arrests, and now kidnapping, Baltimore Police do little by way of protecting and serving. More like serving their own best interest, arresting easy targets of opportunity, the proverbial low hanging fruit. When it comes to making residences feel safer, the department has been an utter failure for some time.

Seeing the Commissioner walk a foot post over the weekend on the Inner Harbor reminded me of a scene from the Titanic. As the ship sank, the orchestra played soft soothing music and pretended everything was ok. It was a show. A show of denial and deception.

I’m not sure if Bealefeld is a musician, but the next time he plans to get on stage, he really ought to add some background music, it would make his words go down easier. I’ll be glad to assist in production if he calls.

An upcoming piece will dig further into some direct lies spouted by Commissioner Bealefeld and other empty misleading claims of the Baltimore Police Department. Like the time he boldly stood in City Hall and claimed he had to hide the names of officers who shoot people because 83 threats to police were investigated last year. Of course, it wasn’t until confronted by local press that he admitted not on of the threats were related to police involved shootings.

Or like the man who witnessed say was shot in the hand by police, but mysteriously later on his shooting turned into a self inflicted wound from attempting to flee officers.

What’s next, I’m found dead and it’s deemed suicide? Nice try boys, the Baltimore Sun may buy into it, but lots of others won’t. The despicable level of official corruption and criminality surely tops anything in Chicago or New Orleans. The people just don’t know about it due to Baltimore’s lack of comprehensive media, or reporters with guts.

I guess players will keep on playing, police will keep on shooting, and Commissioners will keep on messing with numbers to justify their existence and protect their jobs. Makes it seem as if they’re actually doing something about making us safer.

Meanwhile all of the brass jump into their city owned, personally assigned take home vehicles, and get the hell outta the city when their work if done? Thought it was getting safer? Why do so many of you refuse to live here, and use our money to fund your commute? That includes you too Anthony Guglielmi. Aren’t there enough jobs closer to DC? Why have you come up here to lie to us all and attempt to lull us into a false sense of security, but meanwhile you drive 100 miles to get back to your home in Alexandria?

P.S. To the Commissioner, to the Department, to the City, or anyone else, if you don’t like what I’m writing, if you think I’ve been inaccurate or untruthful, how about suing me and taking me to court instead the usual underhanded mob style tactics you use? False arrests, the wrongful imprisonments, illegal search and seizures, continual harassment, so uncivilized. I’ve suffered it all due to the piss poor lack of professionalism, honor, or dignity regularly put on display by so many wearing the uniform of the Baltimore Police Department. Just look at the story below this one.

By the way, if you do sue, remember, in discovery, lots of records will be subpoenaed, people will be compelled to testify and lots of dirt will be exposed. So go on, keep harassing and trying to hurt, harm and discredit me. I’m just a wee little blogger remember? Let’s see what you clowns do next. How obvious will you be this time.

A Desperate Department -- Baltimore Police And Baltimore Sun Team Up To Mislead

Talk Of Crime Decline Is Premature And Shows Desperation

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

It's way too early to say one word about a decline in crime. WHAT A FREAKING JOKE! Any appearance of making headway can be wiped out in less than 30 days. In this town, a sudden spike in crime is not unheard of. Hey guys, why don't we slow down a bit on celebrating, we're only five months into the year.

With officer morale low, and public perception of the effectiveness of the Police even lower, Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld and his Baltimore Police Department has been under a continuous barrage from all sides. When you're being attacked and cornered, you become desperate. And desperation is just what we're seeing right now.

To speak about crime being down compared to a year ago is totally meaningless. A sham! In a city with more violence than most, what's there to brag about? So instead of a shooting or two every couple of days, NEWSFLASH we got three shootings TODAY, and it's not even noon yet! (see more on three shootings so far today). I guess with all my cries for transparency in government, I'm finally getting my wish. I can see right through this phony PR move! Now that's clear!

There's been so much violence lately. The now bankrupt Baltimore Sun, our once venerable little local newspaper, can barely keep up. After reducing their newsroom staff to a skeleton crew, there's simply not enough reporters to rush out and dig into these stories. With less serious reporters around, a few things could slip by and no one would know.

Have we really become that naive that we no longer B E L I E V E governments engage is cover ups and misleading actions? Seriously folks! We're not in Kansas anymore. Hell, even there they're probably doing it too!

A recent above the fold headline boldly states crime is down? How can we say this when day be day the tally grows? The final count isn't in. There are dead bodies found with causes undetermined, there's a ton of unreported crime, officers not taking reports, and so much more. Can we at least wait till the end of the year before we take account of where crime truly is? At least then if there's a reason to celebrate no one will accuse you of being a lush for breaking out the bubbly.

I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures. And a desperate man with a department in the doldrums will be quick to embrace a so call decline in crime. Even if it is farce! Commissioner Bealefeld is coming near the max life expectancy of a Baltimore Police Commissioner, so understandably, he wants to keep his job. Positive headlines in the paper are helpful. Sadly, our local daily diary was all to willing to lend a hand.

DOUBLED HITTER SUNDAY: Southwest Baltimore Checks In

NEVER STOPS: Man Stabbed To Death, East Baltimore

Bodymore Murderland! -- 16 Year Old Girl Charged With Murder

For Pete's sake, say it ain't so

Not to be outdone by the fellas, even the girls here are getting in on the action. In a case with few details released, we learn 16 year old Greshauna Rogers of the 2900 Block Of Ridgewood Ave. was arrested for the murder of Petro Taylor, age 20. You might remember Taylor's body was dumped in the lovely Leakin Park this past December.

Such a beautiful park, why must they keep dumping bodies there?

Kudos to the Warrant Apprehension Task Force on this one (thank you Ed Norris)

Bodymore Murderland! -- Killings Continue

Double shooting bring city's homicide count to 29 this year, an increase of more than 60 percent over the comparable period in 2008 as police struggle to match last year's controversial 20-year low. Justin Fenton reports in The Sun