Occupy Baltimore

Baltimore Street

Occupy Baltimore, but not my apartment complex.  

Security Information Bulletin: Unarmed Assault and Robbery (ARREST)

bulletin subject:  UNARMED ASSAULT & ROBBERY (ARREST)

LOCATION:  2000 BLOCK E. MONUMENT STREET

DATE:  DECEMBER 14, 2011

TIME:  7:02 AM

Summary:

A staff member from the School of Public Health reported that she was walking in the 2000 block of E. Monument Street after parking her car when she was approached from behind by an unidentified male subject who grabbed her purse and attempted to flee.  The staff member held on to her purse resulting in her being forced to the ground and briefly dragged.  The suspect eventually pulled the purse away and fled on foot in a south-bound direction on Castle Street. The staff member immediately informed a Corporate Security External Security Officer who broadcasted a description of the suspect.  Responding security personnel flooded the area, located the suspect and, after a brief chase, apprehended and detained the suspect for responding Baltimore City Police units.  The suspect was taken into custody and subsequently charged with Robbery, Assault and Theft.  The staff member did not report being injured.

Corporate Security personnel conducted an area search after the suspect was secured and taken into custody by the police.  The victim’s purse and contents were located and returned to her.

All faculty, staff and students are reminded to remain alert and aware of their surroundings while walking to and from the campus. Should you find yourself the victim of a robbery, always remember to stay calm, listen and observe intently, do not resist, give up your property and report the crime as soon as possible.

Employees with access to the Johns Hopkins Medicine intranet can view this Security Alert and others on Corporate Security’s internal website.

Towing Convention

Baltimore Convention Center

National Towing Convention in Baltimore.  They probably all meet to discuss innovative ways to tow our cars.  Sneaky bastards.

Get your weave on!

Baltimore (Balamer) Word of the Week

After living in the Charm City for little over a year now, I've learned that the city has a distinct vocabulary and accent like I've never heard.  

Each week, I'll present a different word with the Charm City spin.

Balamer: refers to Baltimore, or our home town.  

Watch where you walk!

The Department of Health, Safety, and Environment would like to urge all of our staff to be mindful of their surroundings when walking around campus. Having the right of way and walking in the crosswalk does not keep you from being struck by distracted or negligent drivers. Ignoring posted warnings and walking in a busy city street is not only dangerous, it’s simply not a smart thing to do. As the days grow shorter and dusk arrives earlier, the risk will increase.

Two accidents involving pedestrians struck by vehicles occurred on the East Baltimore campus recently. On October 13, a Hopkins employee was struck crossing Washington Street by a vehicle turning left onto Washington Street from Monument Street. On October 25, a pedestrian was struck as she crossed Monument Street at the Northeast Market by a vehicle turning left onto Monument Street from Chester Street. In both incidents, the pedestrian was crossing with the light (had the right of way) and was in the crosswalk. Both occurred between 8 and 9 a.m., so darkness/poor visibility was not a factor.

On the same day as the second accident, we received a report of a pedestrian struck while walking in Monument Street, outside of the construction area at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. While we have not confirmed any details of this accident, we can attest that both Hopkins staff and other pedestrians routinely ignore the signs posted at this location and walk in the street.

 Please, be careful out there.

Class and Style

How Rude?!

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-rudest-cities/15

Tired or Drunk?

Lombard Street

Baltimore City Students' Cell Phone Sex Tape Scandal · Baltimore Fishbowl

Baltimore City Students' Cell Phone Sex Tape Scandal · Baltimore Fishbowl:

In this week's incident, the girl's father has blamed the social networking site's lack of privacy and protection oversights. Others have called foul on the schools and the kids themselves.

Morning Depression?

Baltimore MTA Metro

Two deaths at Park Charles apartment not linked, police say

Two deaths at Park Charles apartment not linked, police say

The death on Sunday of a woman who went down a trash chute at a downtown Baltimore apartment building is not linked to the fatal plunge of a man in the same chute last year, city police said Wednesday.

After 23-year-old Emily Hauze's body was found Sunday in a trash bin at the Park Charles building, detectives reviewed the file of the earlier victim, 30-year-old Harsh Kumar.

Authorities confirmed their earlier conclusion that Kumar's death was an apparent accident. An autopsy report reviewed Wednesday shows that Kumar had been drinking alcohol and had simultaneously taken a powerful sleeping drug before he died.

"There is no link either forensically or through the victims," said Detective Kevin Brown, a police spokesman. He said homicide detectives investigating Hauze's death are "awaiting the medical examiner's ruling to lead us down an investigative path."

Police said they do not know how Hauze died and would not comment on any other aspect of their investigation, including what she was doing at the high-rise apartment building in the 200 block of N. Charles St. or whom she might have been with.

The deaths of Hauze and Kumar, 14 months apart and in a similar fashion, have worried residents of the 26-story Park Charles. Rumors flew through the building in the absence of concrete information from either police or building management.

Many residents have doubted the police theory of a bizarre coincidence and said it is difficult if not impossible to accidentally fall into one of the building's trash chutes, which have small, heavy, spring-loaded doors.

Baltimore police said that they did not reopen the investigation into Kumar's death but reviewed the file.

At the time, police said Kumar fell 16 stories through the chute and ended up in the trash compactor, but gave no indication of how he might have gotten there. The state Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death undetermined.

The autopsy report, reviewed by The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday, shows that Kumar died of massive injuries that included a fractured skull, broken neck and ribs, and a broken nose.

The report says he suffered numerous cuts on his head, face, arms, chest and legs, and that his fingernails were dirty and bloody. It also says that his black tank top had "large tears and blood stains." Kumar was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 156 pounds, according to the report.

The report concluded that Kumar "had been consuming alcoholic beverages prior to his death and also took Zolpidem concurrently." Zolpidem is a sedative that slows the brain to help people sleep and is prescribed to treat insomnia. The manufacturer warns that sleep can come quickly and last several hours, and that the drug should not be taken with alcohol.

Pathologists did not say how much alcohol Kumar had consumed or how many pills he had taken. The report concluded: "The facts of the investigation did not demonstrate overt signs of suicidal intent."

Kumar worked in information technology at the Johns Hopkins University and had lived at the Park Charles for several years. His sister is an anesthesiologist atJohns Hopkins Hospital. She referred questions to her husband, who said the family did not wish to comment.

Hauze's relatives and friends have not responded to interview requests, and a Mass held to remember her this week was private.

Hauze, who grew up in a small central Pennsylvania town near Valley Forge, graduated with honors last year from Loyola University Maryland with a degree in education. The school issued a brief statement this week saying "the thoughts and prayers" of the campus community "are with Emily's family and friends in this difficult time."

Undercover Sex Sting- Only One Block Away

An undercover sex sting involving FBI officials at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor hotel resulted in the arrest last week of a 34-year-old Rochester, N.Y., woman on charges of human trafficking and prostitution, local NBC affiliate WBAL TV reports.

The FBI confirmed that the sting was part of an ongoing investigation into the trafficking of children on social websites, according to WBAL's report.

The story says a 17-year-old was also arrested in the sting.

A Marriott spokesman says the hotel chain is cooperating with the police investigation. See Marriott's full statement below.

According to WBAL's TV report, the Rochester woman, Sharee Thomas, appeared in court on Monday. She allegedly recruited two other women also arrested in the sting in Rochester to work as prostitutes in Baltimore, paying for their bus tickets and hotel rooms.

One of the women's first customers turned out to be an undercover officer, WBAL reports.

On Monday, it was also disclosed that Thomas has a record. She's been convicted in New York, Alabama and Florida for larceny, forgery, drug possession and carrying a concealed weapon, the story says.

Marriott says it's an "ongoing police matter" and declined to comment beyond this statement:

"We can confirm that on Thursday night federal and local authorities made an arrest at the hotel involving at least one registered guest. We are working with the authorities during their investigation and will continue to cooperate throughout the investigation."

Just another day after work

Outside my apartment complex- Fayette and Howard Streets

7 cop cars raid local bus.

Security Information Bulletin: Armed Assault and Robbery (Off Campus)

bulletin subject:  ARMED ASSAULT & ROBBERY (OFF-CAMPUS)

LOCATION:  2300 BLOCK FAIRMOUNT AVENUE (East of Patterson Park Avenue)

DATE:  SEPT. 19, 2011

TIME:  9:22 A.M.

Summary:

A staff member reported that she was walking in the 2300 block of Fairmount Avenue, east of Patterson Park Avenue, on her way to work when she was approached by an unidentified male subject who lifted up his shirt and displayed an unknown type of handgun.  The unidentified suspect stated, “Give me your money.”  The victim immediately surrendered her shoulder bag, which contained a Mac laptop and her iPhone 4. The suspect then fled on foot eastbound in the 2300 block Fairmount Avenue and out of sight.  The suspect did not point his weapon at the staff member and she was not injured.

This incident is being actively investigated by the Baltimore Police Department and Corporate Security.  If you have any information, please contact the Baltimore Police Department, Southeastern District, at 410-396-2422 or the Corporate Security Investigations Unit at 410-955-9140. The police advise that there have been several similar incidents in the area of this event.  Therefore, all staff and students who reside in the community should be extremely cautious.

Suspect info:

The suspect was described as an African-American male, approximately 30 to 40 years of age and 5’ 6” tall with a dark complexion and close cut hair. The suspect was wearing a button-up shirt and baggy pants.  He was armed with an unknown caliber handgun.

All faculty, staff and students are reminded to remain alert and aware of their surroundings while walking to and from the campus. Should you find yourself the victim of a robbery, always remember to stay calm, listen and observe intently, not resist, give up your property and report the crime as soon as possible.

*Security Alerts and Security Information Bulletins can be accessed by Johns Hopkins employees with JHM intranet access on Corporate Security’s internal website at:  http://intranet.insidehopkinsmedicine.org/security_parking/security/security_alerts.html  

*Due to server maintenance, today’s Security Information Bulletin will not be available online until Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Free STD Testing

Bio Scrip Pharmacy (Howard Street)

Free STD testing at my local pharmacy, as in below my apartment complex.  If anyone wants needs to visit me, you can get your prescription filled as well as find out if you have the herps or not.  WIN!

Charm City's Only Drug Free Zone

Broadway Ave. 

Apparently, the Drug Free Zone in Baltimore is only confined to these areas.  Thanks Baltimore Police Department!

Kids + Alcohol + Cigarettes + Karaoke = Only in Baltimore

Walt's Inn (an alcohol establishment)

Only in Baltimore would a parent bring a kid to bar at 11:30 pm to buy cigarettes.  At least, the Dad let the kid put money in the machine and push the button for his cigarettes.

8 days a week...?

Photo courtesy of M. Kneeland

Apparently, Baltimoreans are on a different schedule than the rest of the world.  Hey, it's one more day to have a flash mob!

Security Information Bulletin: Armed Assault & Robbery (off-campus)

Armed Assault and Robbery (off-campus)

Location: 200 block, S. Wolfe Street

Date: August 13, 2011

Time: 9:05 p.m.

Summary:

A staff member reported that she parked her vehicle in the unit block of S. Wolfe Street and began walking south on Wolfe Street towards Fells Point. While walking in the 200 block of S. Wolfe Street, she was approached by three unidentified males. The victim attempted to flee, but fell to the ground. One of the suspects grabbed the victim by her shoulder and stated, “Just give it to me. You don’t want to get hurt. Just give it to me.” The suspect was pointing a small silver revolver at her. The victim immediately surrendered her purse and contents. All three suspects then fled northbound in the 200 block of S. Wolfe Street. They were last observed by a witness in the 200 block of S. Durham Street. The suspects later returned undetected and took the victim’s vehicle described as a 1999 Honda Accord, black in color with Indiana license tag CAN 237 or 237CAN. The victim was not injured.

This incident is being investigated by the Baltimore Police Department and Corporate Security. If you should have any information, please contact the Baltimore Police Department, Southeastern District at 410-396-2422 or the Corporate Security Investigations Unit at 410-955-9140.

Suspect Information:    

One suspect was described as an African-American male, approximately 18 years of age, 6’ tall, weighing 200 lbs., with short black hair, wearing a white t-shirt and dark shorts, armed with a silver revolver. The second suspect was described as an African-American male, approximately 18 years, with short black hair, wearing a white t-shirt. The third suspect was described as an African-American male, approximately 5’11” in height and weighing 160 lbs.  He had braided hair and was wearing a green shirt.

All faculty, staff and students are reminded to remain alert and aware of their surroundings while walking to and from the campus. Should you find yourself the victim of a robbery, always remember to stay calm, listen and observe intently, do not resist, give up your property and report the crime as soon as possible.

Employees with access to the Johns Hopkins Medicine intranet can view this security bulletin on Corporate Security’s internal website.

Find out more about crime prevention tips, including what to do if you find yourself a robbery victim.

Security Information Bulletin: Larceny from auto/vandalism (off-campus)

Corporate Security has been made aware of several incidents involving the vandalism of, and in some cases the subsequent theft of property from, vehicles owned by staff members and students who are parking in communities to the west of our campus. Yet-to-be-identified suspects are shattering car windows and then entering and ransacking vehicles for whatever property the car may contain worth taking. Recent incidents have occurred on Central Avenue between Orleans and Monument Streets, and near the intersection of Madison and Eden Streets.

Corporate Security has extended its external mobile patrols into these areas and is partnering with the local police district in order to prevent additional incidents and/or arrest and prosecute those responsible.

Staff and students are reminded not to leave anything of value, no matter how small, in plain sight when securing and leaving their vehicles.

Won't you be my neighbor?

Baltimore Street

I love my neighborhood.  Only two blocks from Camden Yard, two blocks from the University of Maryland, and four blocks from the inner harbor.

More importantly, there is a police station, fire house, and hospital all within walking distance.  WIN!

Bad Decisions...

Fells Point

Yes, a lot of bad decisions are made throughout the Charm City, not only at this bar.

Celebrate Baltimore: The City That Reads

Barnes and Noble: Inner Harbor 

This is false advertisement, Barnes and Noble!  Does the recent Baltimore City School System cheating scandal play any part of this? 

Baltimore City Schools Cheating Scandal

Thou shall not kill

Baltimore MTA

Just in case anyone forgot, the Baltimore transportation system would like to remind it's patron "Thou shall NOT KILL".

Thanks Baltimore MTA system!  What would I do without you in my life?

Oh, just another night out

Baltimore City Police Sub-Station

If I was homeless, I would want to sleep outside the police station too.  I would feel "safe", it's close to the inner harbor, and it's the best location in town to people watch.

Parking Garage Sign

Charles St. Parking Garage

Only in Baltimore would a sign located in a parking garage tell patrons NOT to drink and do drugs.  Not only are Baltimore parking garages random people's home, but a hot spot to day drink and do drugs.

Security Information Bulletin

ARREST – THEFT FROM AUTO (off-campus)

A male suspect was observed breaking out the window of a vehicle that was parked and unoccupied in the 900 block of N. Castle Street at approximately 10 a.m. by a Corporate Security hidden surveillance team who had been deployed to the area because of a number of similar incidents in the last few weeks. After breaking the window, the suspect entered and removed some unknown property. The suspect was approached and detained by officers assigned to Corporate Security’s Special Response Unit who were involved in the deployment.

The vehicle owner was identified as an employee of one of the contractors working on the new clinical buildings. The victim said that a pair of sunglasses and an unknown amount of pocket change were removed from his vehicle. All property was recovered. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody by responding officers from the Eastern District. Charges are pending.

Faculty, staff and students are asked to remain vigilant and not leave property of any kind that is visible to the public in their vehicles.

This security information bulletin can also be accessed by Johns Hopkins employees with JHM Intranet access on Corporate Security’s internal website at http://intranet.insidehopkinsmedicine.org/security_parking/security/security_alerts.html .

Just another night in the Charm City

Apparently, celebrating America's birthday entails a shooting and stabbing following Inner Harbor fireworks.

Shooting, stabbing follow Inner Harbor fireworks display

The night ended with a couple of arrests below my apartment complex. It's an urban "upcoming" neighborhood, or so they say.  The pictures below explains it all...

Two police cars

Arrest

Going into the back of the van

Happy Birthday, America!  Baltimore style!

Security Information Bulletin- Email Scam

Email Scam (Fraudulent FBI Rep)

A new scam is active that involves a letter which appears to come from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security regarding an immigration clearance certificate. 

The emails list the contact person as the Reverend Frank Tim Kelly, or sometimes just Reverend Frank Kelly. The email is an attempt to gain your name, address and telephone number along with a fee of $350. There is a warning that legal action will commence if the recipient of the letter does not respond within 48 hours.

Corporate Security has confirmed that these emails are fraudulent and nothing more than a financial scam intended to defraud recipients and possibly expose them to additional identity theft.  You are urged to delete these emails upon receipt.

Red flags evident in these cases

·         The FBI is not involved with immigration-related matters.

·         The federal government sends its official communications via the United States mail and not through unsolicited emails.

·         Recipients of these letters are almost always United States citizens without immigration issues.

·         The contact person identifies himself as legal counsel to the government but uses ‘Reverend’ in his official title.

·         There are grammatical errors throughout the document: punctuation, improper capitalization of words and improper verb tense. 

·         There is no contact telephone number.

·         The sender uses a personal email address rather than a government email address as a contact point.

·         The sender indicates that the International Court of Justice will file legal action even though this purports to be a document from the United States federal government.

More information on this scam can be found at the following sites online

Sample Email
http://www.419baiter.com/_scam_emails/0-rzy-09-07a/scam-email-047721.shtml

Article
http://vicksburgonlinenews.com/19/?p=2984

FBI Warning

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/internet-alert-scammers-sending-fake-fbi-e-mails-seeking-personal-information

This Security Information Bulletin can also be accessed by Johns Hopkins employees with JHM Intranet access on Corporate Security’s internal website.

Dead Bird

Near Bayview Medical Center

Nothing like almost stepping on a dead bird when getting out of your car.  The bird probably died from choking on a chicken bone scatter throughout the city.

Forget Dog Bites Man -- try Rat Bites Cop

Every Baltimore resident has a rat story.

Marc J. Camarote, a Baltimore police sergeant, has a tale for the tabloids.

Early Wednesday, the 15-year veteran was riding shotgun in an unmarked cruiser, speeding down Hanover Street to a robbery call in South Baltimore. He felt something on the back of his neck, and thinking his partner was playing a joke, he took a swipe with his arm.

That's when he discovered a large rodent had crawled up his back.

The rat bit the palm and thumb of Camarote's right hand. The two struggled, and the sergeant was finally able to throw the rat out of cruiser and onto the southbound lanes of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Bridge.

His partner rushed to nearby Harbor Hospital, and they were told they needed to go back and find the rat, to have it tested for rabies. They returned to the scene of the crime, and according to a well-placed police source, found the suspected rat limping along Hanover Street.

A struggle ensued, the police source said, but in the end, Baltimore's Finest won the battle. A cop beat the rat to death with an umbrella. Must not have been carrying his Espantoon.

The officers bagged the rodent and it's being tested for disease. The sergeant is out on medical leave, awaiting to see if the rat is diseased.

Details, including the sergeant's name, came from the police source, but the incident itself was confirmed by the Baltimore Police Department's chief spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi. He did not officially release the officer's name.

It's not known how the rat infiltrated the cruiser; the source said the officers believe it crawled up through the underbelly and gnawed on some wires before it crawled to the passenger seat and up the sergeant's backside. It's not even clear if the rat knew he was breaking into a cop car.

Robert F. Cherry, the police union president, said that any cop from his first patrol days knows that running into alleys and onto streets means not only watching out for broken glass and drug needles, "but also rats."

Camarote can take comfort in knowing that he's not the first cop bitten by an animal other than a pit bull. Back in 1996, Officer Drew Dorbert got attacked by an 3-foot-long Ornate Nile Monitor Lizard that had beeng hanging out near Patterson Park.

Getting bitten by a rat inside a police car will most certainly earn Camarote a bit of unwanted fame, and ribbing by his colleagues. Cherry knew the sergeant when he patrolled the Western District, and wanted it know that he's a "good officer."

Camarote's only mention in the newspaper before now came in 2004, when retired police reporter Richard Irwin gave him the journalistic equivalent of a medal of valor -- a mention in the old police blotter for a drug arrest.

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2011/06/forget_dog_bites_man_try_rat_b.ht

Officers get probation for misconduct

Officers get probation for misconduct

"Two Baltimore police officers convicted of misconduct for stranding two 15-year-old boys far from their homes received 18-month suspended jail terms and probation Wednesday, with a judge refusing prosecutors' request to strip them of their badges."

Security Alert

Assault (Off Campus)

 

Where:                North of our campus in the EBDI communities

 

When:                  Evening hours

 

How:                     Please be advised that the Baltimore City Police Department is investigating an assault where a victim was punched by a passing group of juveniles while walking alone to his vehicle that was parked in the surrounding neighborhood.  REALLY?! No weapons were used or implied. The victim has been identified as a Hopkins staff member. The staff member received minor injuries while fleeing his attackers.

 

Wanted:              Suspects are described as an unknown group of African-American teenage males with varied descriptions. The incident is being investigated by the police. Corporate Security has been in contact with the district commander from the Eastern District police department and the director of security for EBDI and has learned that special attention will be given to the area as a result. 

Suicide attempt in apt. building

In my apartment lobby

There is nothing like coming home to your apartment complex to find the EMS in your lobby.  Come to find out that a current tenant was trying to jump from their apartment balcony. Geez, Baltimore isn't that bad.

One of the perks of living in downtown Baltimore = EMS/fire station is down the block.

Spiritual guide to stop smoking

Cigarette Smokers interested in a spiritual approach to quitting smoking.

7-11

7-11 below my apartment complex

I live in area of Baltimore that is ghetto 'upcoming' and 'revitalizing'.  Below my apartment complex are a couple of nice restaurants, Starbucks, BofA, and the 7-11.  The 7-11 is a unique place.  Not only is a local convenient store, but also home aka outdoor camping to many people who live outside of it.

On my way to work, no surprise here, someone getting arrested at 6am  

Building construction fail

Something doesn't seem right.  I'm by no means a construction worker, but random poles in the floor seems weird.

Research Volunteers

Research volunteers needed- must be heroin dependent, wanting to detox (yeah, right)- you could earn up to $1800 for future heroin purchases.

New Job

Job posting

I'm in the process of looking for a permanent job at my workplace.  Then, I came across this.  I have tons of experience in FML.  In fact, many FMLs have occurred in my life.

Perhaps, I'm overqualified.

Club it

Hopkins Employee Parking Lot

Is it really necessary to club your car in your employer's parking lot?  I completely understand if you're parking on the street..but really inside a parking deck for the day?

Only in Baltimore.

More than 60 people, including 'Snoop' of 'The Wire,' arrested in drug raids - baltimoresun.com

Literally, a block from my apartment.

More than 60 people, including 'Snoop' of 'The Wire,' arrested in drug raids - baltimoresun.com

Heroin Addiction

Supply vs. Demand

Heavy Drinkers Needed

Finally, a research study that I can participate in!

Going once, going twice, GONE!

Apparently, this was a very popular research study and in HIGH demand.

Baltimore FAIL.

Bacon Wheel

Rotary Club of Baltimore

Baltimoreans love dem some bacon.  At a charity event at the Rotary Club of Baltimore, you had a chance to win a box of bacon.  Yes, bacon.  

Imagine all the possibilities of a 20 lbs slab of bacon....

Jonas Brothers Mania

Lombard Street

Just when you thought that the Jonas Brothers Mania has ended, think again!  I'm sure that the Jonas Brothers Fan Club would appreciate it this.

Me speak no English

Exxon on Orleans Street

"Squeegee and Towel papers are available on demand"

Whew, thank god they have towel papers available.  What would I do without them?!

Please note random asian lady in the gas station booth giving me the evil eye.

Going Places

I don't want to even know how the car got on top of the other car.

Now Serving...Asian Rice!

Cafeteria 

To my delight, my work cafeteria decides to serve Asian Style Rice!