Baltimore MD crime, police, courts and safety news- The Baltimore Banner
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Criminal justice

    A triple shooting left a 52-year-old woman dead in a “working-class neighborhood” in northern Baltimore Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
    Woman killed in Govans shooting identified as a teacher’s aide, grandmother
    The 52-year-old woman who was killed in a triple shooting Wednesday night in North Baltimore was identified by police as Antionette Jennings.
    Federal court documents identify Carlos Ayala as wearing a grey 3M-style painter’s mask and a "Stop the Steal" button at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Ayala was charged with civil disorder and other charges and was pardoned by President Donald Trump.
    Former Maryland elections board member among Jan. 6 pardons
    Carlos Ayala had his case dismissed earlier this week after President Trump issued a blanket pardon to the Jan. 6 participants. Ayala’s trial was scheduled for June.
    Twelve Salisbury University students who were initially charged with hate crimes are facing trial on misdemeanor charges in the next week.
    Salisbury University students face trial in attack on man from Grindr
    Three men face trial in Wicomico District Court for misdemeanors.
    A former aide to Maryland state Sen. Will Smith has been charged with using Smith’s email to obtain a college scholarship.
    Former legislative aide charged with using senator’s email to obtain scholarships
    The aide never applied for a state Senate scholarship but emailed the Maryland Higher Education Commission in July 2022 to say she had been awarded one, according to the documents.
    WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: U.S. President Donald Trump takes a question from a reporter during a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump announced an investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and took questions on a range of topics including his presidential pardons of Jan. 6 defendants, the war in Ukraine, cryptocurrencies and other topics.
    Trump sued by 5 pregnant women, immigrant groups over birthright citizenship
    Five pregnant mothers joined with CASA and Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project to file a lawsuit in the United States District Court of Maryland against President Donald Trump in response to his executive order seeking to overturn birthright citizenship.
    Four decades after Sharon Miller was found dead, Baltimore County Police are asking the public for help solving the unsolved case.
    What happened to Sharon Miller? 42 years later, son still seeks answers in mom’s killing
    When Charles Miller was just 11 years old, his mother was killed. Now, 42 years later, he is still searching for answers about what happened.
    Chris Bendann, a former teacher at the Gilman School, leaves the Baltimore County Courts Building in 2023. He was later indicted and found guilty in 2024 in U.S. District Court in Baltimore of sexual exploitation of a child, possession of child pornography and cyberstalking.
    Ex-Gilman School teacher Chris Bendann ‘overtly unrepentant’ at sentencing in sex abuse case
    Bendann, 40, of Baltimore, was found guilty in 2024 in U.S. District Court in Baltimore of sexual exploitation of a child, possession of child pornography and cyberstalking.
    Maryland’s state government is facing a potentially large settlements for people who suffered child sexual abuse while in state custod — and there's no plan yet for how to pay for them.
    Maryland’s government has no plan to pay for potential child abuse settlements
    Maryland’s state government faces a potentially large bill to compensate people who were abused as children in the juvenile justice system — with no plan to pay for it.
    WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Trump supporters gather outside the U.S. Capitol building following a "Stop the Steal" rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol earlier, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
    Trump pardons more than 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, including those from Maryland
    A Baltimore Police detective’s uniform patch is seen on his shoulder while he observes the crowd in between innings during a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics held at Camden Yards on Wednesday, April 12. The Orioles beat the Athletics, 8-7, to win the series.
    Judge OKs early release for dying ex-Baltimore gun task force detective Hersl
    Federal prosecutors are now supporting early prison release for former Baltimore Police Gun Trace Task Force Detective Daniel Hersl, citing his terminal cancer diagnosis.
    Baltimore County fire officials said they arrived in the Essex community late Saturday night and found a home engulfed by fire.
    Man who caused Essex home explosion that killed dog learns his fate
    Michael Greensfelder, 53, of Essex, pleaded guilty on Thursday in Baltimore County Circuit Court to one count of first-degree arson for setting the fire on April 20, 2024, which caused the home on Crafton Road to explode.
    About 200 residents turned out to a meeting with Baltimore County Police Chief Robert O. McCullough and Councilman Mike Ertel at at Babcock Presbyterian Church in Loch Raven on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
    String of crimes leaves Loch Raven on edge
    Residents of the Loch Raven community in Baltimore County voiced concerns about crime at a recent meeting with county and police officials. The meeting followed a recent mass shooting and other incidents.
    Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, a Montgomery County Democrat, leads a press conference for the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Annapolis.
    Justice reform, health and housing equity top Maryland Black Caucus’ priorities
    The caucus already flagged one component of Gov. Wes Moore’s budget proposal — unveiled the day before — that gives them pause: freezing the amount of money going to community schools that serve high-need neighborhoods.
    The fatal shooting marks the first homicide in Howard County in 2025.
    Police investigate shooting in Columbia after teen found dead in parked car
    Howard County Police responded to the 6000 block of Helen Dorsey Way for a “suspicious circumstances call” on Tuesday evening.
    Man confesses to decade-old killing of 2 people whose bodies were never found, police say
    Scott Barnett, who is from Dundalk and told police he has been homeless, said he wasn’t sure of the victims’ names, but detectives pieced together their identities.
    Deputy Maryland state prosecutor Sarah David.
    Meet the well-connected lawyer challenging Scott Shellenberger
    David, the deputy Maryland state prosecutor, has collected $105,000, according to campaign finance disclosures.
    Former Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie, who pleaded no contest to theft arising out of allegations that he stole more than $23,000 from a union that he led for more than 50 years, can’t get his seat back, a judge ruled on Tuesday.
    Ex-Harford County councilman can’t get seat back after theft plea, judge rules
    Dion Guthrie, 86, of Joppa, a Democrat, claimed in a lawsuit filed in Harford County Circuit Court that he did not actually plead no contest to one count of theft between $1,500 and $25,000 because a judge needed to consent to that action.
    6/16/22—A Baltimore County Police Officer’s polo patch.
    Baltimore County Police investigate double homicide in Woodlawn
    Baltimore County homicide detectives are investigating a double homicide in Woodlawn from over the weekend.
    Federal charges against Luigi Mangione include murder and firearms counts.
    We watched the Luigi Mangione documentaries: Here are our key takeaways
    Neither special on Luigi Mangione includes huge revelations. But if you’re unfamiliar with the details of the killing, they provide decent context.
    Baltimore County arrests man who pointed laser at police helicopter
    Police used the helicopter’s imaging system to locate the origin of the laser: the rear of a home on the 800 block of Rosedale Avenue, according to police records.
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