Baltimore, I Think It’s Last Call…
Because the Ugly Lights have just come on.
In today’s mail I got what I thought was another jury duty notice. You can imagine my surprise when I read that I have been summoned to appear as a witness for the state in a jury trial for a man I’ve never even heard of. I thought it was strange because I haven’t given any witness statement to the police about anything. All I’ve done is call 911 more times than I can count. You can then maybe imagine (or not) how sick I felt when I entered the case number for this trial and saw that the defendant in the trial for which I’ve been summoned has been charged with the following:
Charge No: 1 ATT 1ST DEG. MURDER
Charge No: 2 ATT 2ND DEG MURDER
Charge No: 3 ASSAULT-FIRST DEGREE
Charge No: 4 ASSAULT-SEC DEGREE
Charge No: 5 HANDGUN: USE IN COMMITTING CRIME
Charge No: 6 HANDGUN ON PERSON: CARRY/WEAR
Charge No: 7 RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT
Charge No: 8 HANDGUN ON PERSON: CARRY/WEAR
Charge No: 9 POSS OF FIREARM/AMMO/MINOR
Charge No: 10 SHOOT DISCHARGE UNK CALB HG
I saw the date and realized this was for the shooting that occurred a block from my house back in June. The defendant was shooting at someone else and wound up shooting an innocent bystander. I heard the gunshots that night and I called 911. As I was on the phone with the 911 operator reporting the shots, a woman ran by my house screaming that she’d been shot and I relayed that information to the operator. I didn’t witness the shooting. I never saw the shooter. I never gave my name to 911 and I never gave any information to the detectives at the scene. They didn’t even ask any of us (me or my neighbors) any questions. Maybe they didn’t ask because they EMTs determined at the scene that gun shot wound wasn’t life threatening. I really don’t know.
I wish I could come up with something witty or sarcastic here, but I can’t. Anyone who lives in Baltimore knows that being a witness for the prosecution in a murder or attempted murder trial doesn’t always end well for the witness outside of court. I don’t even want to think about that, actually. But I nearly puked in my own hands when I saw the defendant’s home address is one block away from mine. You’d think I would have heard something sooner from the circuit court, but no. I don’t even know if my personal info has been released to the defense attorney yet. How fucking scary is that?
What’s even scarier is I can’t even carry any of my legally-owned and registered handguns to defend myself while walking to or from my car or while walking my dog. Well, I could, but I’d face jail time in Maryland. Here I am being summoned to a trial for a guy who walked the streets with an illegal firearm and shot someone, yet I can’t protect myself through legal means. I’ve said it so many times - gun control only applies to law abiding citizens. Should you ever get summoned for an attempted murder trial and then find out the defendant only lives a block away from you, I want you to tell me if restrictive gun control for law abiding citizens is still a good thing.
I’m hoping this can all be cleared up with a phone call to the DA’s office tomorrow morning. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself here with panic and anxiety - but then again, it’s not like I’m being called as a witness to a yuppie fender bender in the Whole Paycheck Foods parking lot. If only living in Baltimore was that easy.
I love this city. I really do. It’s wearing on my though and, as of 6 o’clock this evening, I’m genuinely afraid. I’ve never given serious thought about leaving until recently. Between this court summons for an attempted murder I didn’t witness and our new governor telling us to bend over and grab our ankles and not even lube up as he rams his ten thousand new taxes up our collective ass - it may be time to leave, comrade. I feel unwell here in the Peoples Republic of Maryland.
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 8: 38 am
Several years ago when I still lived in Austin, I lived in this single building apartment. Our apartment, on the first floor, had a back patio that faced into the backyard of a house.
I’d spent the night at a friends house that night leaving my roommate at the apartment by himself. I came home around 7 AM to find the complex was pretty much under lockdown. Half the Austin police department was sitting in our parking lot, blocking streets, etc.
I finally got into the complex, see my roommate and some neighbors also from the 1st floor sitting outside talking to several cops. People were crying and in a general state of disarray. Probably all the cops and such didn’t help considering that we never had issue in that little area and never really saw the cops.
Long story short, the folks that lived in the house directly behind us had recently bought a new car. Someone tried to steal the car and the guy that lived there went outside, tried to stop him, got stabbed then shot. The attempted thief got away without the car but the guy was killed. This sent shocks waves through our tight-knit little community.
The thief, in his infinite wisdom, jumped the fence and was trying to break into several of our apartments, mine being one of them. He was banging on the back bedroom window which was my roommates room and then moved over to the sliding door. He busted window glass and such in several units. He ultimately got away.
It makes you sit up and think about your general safety. My house got broken into back in January and I’m still very edgy about coming home every night for fear that the backdoor is going to be smashed in again. You do what you have to do to feel “safe” but it’s more “safer” than anything.
Good luck with the DA and the case.
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 9: 59 am
I don’t blame you at all for your fears - In this city, apparently there’s more of an interest in protecting those that commit the crimes than those who try to do their civic duties. Between that, the treachery going on in annapolis, the idiots that will be running the city for at least the next four years and the crime issue, Baltimore and Maryland is looking more and more dismal by the day. Perhaps it is time to look to Delaware!
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 11: 00 am
that sucks so much ass i can’t even describe it… all i can say is i think you would be totally justified in playing it safe, as much as we lurv having you around. the new taxes thing is really irritating to me as well ~ i’m starting to reconsider whether it’s worth sinking more dough into our house when i might want to cut and run in a couple years…
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 11: 51 am
When I was a kid, I was friends with and grew up across the street from Carl Lackl (the witness who got murdered a few months ago). I also was a victim of a violent crime in the city. I personally wouldn’t say word 1 about what you saw unless I was able to protect myslef. That being said, if I were in your shoes, even with the stuff I’ve been through, I would try to obtain a conceal carry permit in exchange for cooperation. It might be worth a try.
If they give you any grief because you wouldn’t cooperate just say you know someone who was friends with the witness they helped kill, that should shut them up…
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 11: 56 am
That’s really horrifying for so many reasons, I don’t know what to say.
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 1: 40 pm
It might be worth trying to get a CC permit from the state police. Call the cops a couple of times saying you’ve been threatened, even if you have to embellish the truth a bit, and then use that as evidence to back up your permit request. Not an idea situation, but a lot better than being a defenceless victim.
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 1: 48 pm
The ridiculous thing is that they’re asking you to risk your life to send some animal to jail for maybe a year or two before they let him back out - and that’s assuming a jury of Baltimore scumbags will even convict the guy.
What’s your escape route? I’m headed to Cumberland; same lousy state government, but at least I won’t have to worry about being robbed or murdered.
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 3: 57 pm
Actually Marc, criminals who are convicted at trial often get pretty brutal sentences. The problem is with plea bargains, which is how the overwhelming majority of cases are resolved. Being convicted of attempted first degree murder and first degree assault at trial will probably get you at least a couple decades of prison time.
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 5: 12 pm
The interesting part about this is a summons to you for something you did not eyewitness. Let’s presume the “rose-colored glasses” scenario. Even if you testify, there is very little value you add to any prosecution. Even then, your testimony is sure to be challenged by the defense to raise doubt. To me, it seems as though the SA decided to subpoena anyone and everyone they could under the sun with this case. Not decidedly a good way to prosecute a case, but given who holds the reins in that office it is not terribly surprising.
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 6: 01 pm
Oh God, AH, I’m so sorry you’re feeling scared. I hope you can get this cleared up quickly so you don’t have to testify — if you didn’t see anything, you shouldn’t have to risk life and limb for this. Stay safe! And check your email.
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 7: 02 pm
Last one out of Balto City….be sure to turn the ugly lights off!
Friday, November 9, 2007 at 8: 01 pm
[...] Baltimore, I Think It’s Last Call… Because the Ugly Lights have just come on. In today’s mail I got what I thought was another jury duty notice. You […] [...]
Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 5: 00 am
What they need you for is to authenticate the 911 call. Maybe if someone else also called 911, and they are willing to testify, the Prosecution won’t need you for anything. Your personal information should not and probably will not go to the defendant himself,– just your name. All you will have to say is that you called 911 because you heard a shot or yell or whatever happened, and that’s it. That is really nothing that anyone will kill or hurt you for, because it isn’t vitally important to the case. You didn’t witness anything big, so there is no reason anyone would need to hurt you to get you to not testify. If you don’t show up to testify, you can be held in contempt of court and be put in jail or get a big fine and have to show up in court anyway.
Chances are good that this guy will plead out and it won’t even go to trial.
I only lived in Baltimore one year, in Federal Hill, and I couldn’t deal with the crime and despair in that neighborhood anymore, and Federal Hill is almost totally safe compared ot other neighborhoods in the city. I’ve fled to the safety of the West Coast, and feel so much healthier and happier and safer. No one I talk to here has any idea what it is like in a city with high crime. I believe it slowly drains your soul. Personal safety should not be a luxury. It is a basic human right to be safe where you live.
Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 2: 06 pm
Already Gone makes a good point, in which case, if I were you, I’d talk to the DA about whether or not you even need to be a witness at all. See what your options are about refusing to testify on grounds that you really didn’t see anything. Good luck!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 12: 03 am
this remindes me i need my cc permit. damn i miss arizona i could cary my gun with me at all times just had to sho 4inches of the handel or the gun idk it made me feel safe. minnesota it just like a 50 doller bill and you take some class and background check and you can get your cc. the crappy thing is you cant just have your pistole in your holster and walk around like u can in arizona