A digest of Baltimore news from local sources.
From The Baltimore Sun: Officers in Freddie Gray Case Appear in Court as New Trial Dates Set
"The six Baltimore police officers charged in Freddie Gray's arrest and death will be tried separately over the course of the next six months, with the first trial — against Officer William G. Porter — now slated for Nov. 30.
"The new timeline, which pushes the trials back from a previously scheduled start date of Oct. 13, was established during a hearing Tuesday in Circuit Court at which five of the six officers appeared before Judge Barry Williams for the first time. They sat together, occasionally talking with each other as well as their attorneys.
"Porter waived his right to attend the hearing.
"Defense attorneys had previously asked that Porter's case be postponed due to new evidence shared in recent weeks by prosecutors. That would also delay the five other trials, as prosecutors have requested that Porter's case be heard first.
"On Tuesday, Williams granted the defense request to postpone Porter's trial, as well as the prosecution's request for new dates in the other five cases, which came over the objections of the officers' attorneys.
"The trials of the five other officers will occur between January and March. Following Porter's trial, Goodson's trial is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 6; White's on Jan. 25; Officer Garrett E. Miller's on Feb. 9; Officer Edward M. Nero's on Feb. 22; and Lt. Brian W. Rice's on March 9.
"The postponements were due to several issues, including new evidence submitted in recent weeks and the prosecution's desire to try the officers in a specific order. The state said this month that it intended to use DNA evidence, causing defense attorneys to submit requests for additional information about collection and storage. The defense also asked how the DNA evidence would be used in their clients' cases."
From The Baltimore Sun: Baltimore Man Charged in Spray-Painting of ‘Kill Cops’ Message in Brooklyn Park
"Anne Arundel County Police have made an arrest in connection with a Tuesday vandalism incident in which 'killing AAC cops coming soon' was spray-painted on a building in Brooklyn Park.
"Police said Zachary Adam Shanor, 26, of Camrose Avenue in Baltimore, has been charged with six counts of malicious destruction of property and is being held at Jennifer Road Detention Center on $30,000 bond.
"Officers responded to the 5600 to 5700 block of Ritchie Highway at 7:50 a.m., said Lt. Ryan Frashure, county police spokesman.
"The message was on three separate exterior walls of the Ritchie Highway Shopping Center, he said. Officers canvased the area and located additional vandalism at 200 Hammonds Lane on a directional sign which read, 'Kill Cops.'"
From The AFRO American: Johns Hopkins Unveils Ambitious Strategy to Ignite Baltimore’s Recovery
"Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System unveiled a $135 million dollar expansion in employment, contracting and procurement opportunities targeted at minority, women and disadvantaged-businesses on Sept. 30. The initiative, dubbed HopkinsLocal, was announced during a teleconference hosted by Ronald J. Daniels, Johns Hopkins University President and Ronald R. Peterson, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health Systems President.
"Planning for HopkinsLocal was initiated by the campus and hospital system two years prior to the widespread unrest and violence that stunned the city this past April following the death of Freddie Gray, who died of extensive injuries while in police custody. The initiative will (i) increase the number of new hires from under-served communities at both the University and the Hospital System, (ii) spend more of the institution’s purchasing dollars with minority and women owned vendors, and (iii) expand minority, women-owned business and disadvantaged business participation on construction contracts of all sizes."