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

    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.
    Adnan Syed, right, speaks to reporters while his brother, Yusuf Syed, and mother, Shamim Syed, accompany him in support on Sept. 19, 2023.
    Adnan Syed should not do more prison time, Baltimore state’s attorney says
    Syed’s attorneys, Assistant Public Defenders Erica Suter and Brian Zavin, had filed a motion for reduction of sentence under the Juvenile Restoration Act.
    The exterior of the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal building, home of the Maryland Supreme Court, in Annapolis, MD on September 10, 2024.
    Maryland Supreme Court agrees to take up case about expungement and probation
    The Appellate Court of Maryland, the state’s mid-level appeals court, ruled in 2022 that people whose probation is unsatisfactorily closed after a violation cannot receive an expungement
    Trayvon Ocain died after suffering an apparent medical episode at the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center.
    33-year-old man dies after apparent medical episode at Baltimore jail: ‘This is not fair’
    Trayvon Ocain, 33, died in a facility that is under scrutiny for its health care system. His family wants answers.
    Baltimore police investigating man’s death, first homicide of 2025
    A man was shot and killed in Northeast Baltimore on Thursday afternoon, marking the city’s first homicide investigation of the new year.
    6/16/22—A Baltimore County police car sits outside of the Public Safety Building and Police Department in Towson.
    Baltimore County Police arrest 3 men in Towson Town Center carjacking
    Baltimore County Police have charged three adults in the armed carjacking of a restaurant worker at Towson Town Center in November, authorities said Wednesday.
    Korryn Gaines and her son, Kodi, in an undated photo.
    Baltimore County Police shot a 5-year-old boy in 2016. Will the Supreme Court hear the case?
    Baltimore County police shot Kodi Gaines in 2016 while serving a warrant on his mother. Now the Cato Institute is siding with the boy's lawyers and arguing that the shooting violated Kodi's constitutional rights.
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