A digest of Baltimore news from local sources.
From The Baltimore Sun: Baltimore Police, DEA Announce Bust of Brooklyn Drug Syndicate as ‘War Room’ Result
"An alleged South Baltimore drug syndicate with ties to multiple gangs and recent gun violence has been busted after a two-month investigation by Baltimore police and their federal drug enforcement partners, officials announced Monday.
"Twenty people have been indicted — most on cocaine distribution charges — as a result of the investigation, which centered around the Brooklyn Homes community, police said. Six of the suspects are still being sought on open warrants.
"The arrests followed police raids at more than 20 locations — including one in Baltimore County — that yielded eight handguns, one assault weapon, 100 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of marijuana, 20 grams of crack and $2,300 in cash, police said.
"Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said the arrests were a direct result of his department's partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agencies since this summer.
"The agencies share intelligence in the city's "War Room" and as part of the "BFED" initiative to target violent repeat offenders and stem the tide of violence. The number of homicides has risen this year at a rate not seen since the 1990s."
From The City Paper: Anti-Confederate Statue Vandalized With Racist Graffiti Inside the Copycat Building
"Around 11 last night [Thursday Nov. 5], local artist/activist Pablo Machioli's anti-Confederate sculpture of a black woman with a pregnant belly was vandalized, spray-painted with the n-word and the womb punched in, while it was being housed in a public walkway in the Copycat, according to artist Hoesy Corona's Instagram post.
"The sculpture was installed as a protest to the Lee-Jackson monument in Wyman Park Dell last Thursday evening until the following Friday afternoon, when the Recreation and Parks Department removed it.
"Members of La Bodega Gallery, where Machioli is a resident artist, say they got security camera footage from Copycat staff, and they said it appears that a resident of the building is responsible. According to La Bodega's Facebook post about it, the perpetrator is 'about 5'6"-5'9" possibly blonde, possibly female, slight build.'"
From The Baltimore Sun: Hammerjacks to Replace Paradox Near the Stadiums
"A new Hammerjacks club and concert venue is planned to replace longtime Baltimore club Paradox on Russell Street.
"A sign announcing the revival of the Hammerjacks brand will go on the 1300 Russell St. building this week, said Kevin Butler, owner of Hammerjacks Entertainment Group, who purchased the name and trademark of the longtime Baltimore music venue several years ago.
"Butler said he plans to start demolition and renovation this winter and open by Dec. 31 of next year. The $8 million project, located close to M&T Bank Stadium, is to include a concert hall, club, 4,000 square feet of retail and an outdoor courtyard.
"Hammerjacks, which publicly announced the new location at a party this weekend, had explored a more extensive development with a hotel on a parking lot nearby, but locating at the Russell Street site allows it to inherit the zoning for Paradox, Butler said.
"He is working with the property's owner, Andy Hotchkiss, on the 48,000-square-foot development, which includes three connected buildings, two of which will be demolished for the courtyard and concert hall."