The police neighborhood walk was Nov. 4, the night of the presidential election, through Baltimore's Midway community. The polls were still open at Cecil Elementary School when we gathered on the rainy evening.

Maj. Melvin Russell, the commander of the Eastern District, said the timing of the walk was the idea of the community leader, Cleaven Williams, who wanted police and neighbors to fight crime and encourage people to vote at the time.

He had split from his wife, Veronica Williams, 29, and was due in court for a custody hearing at 2 p.m. yesterday. The hearing was postponed, and outside an off-duty Western District officer in uniform saw a man stabbing a woman in the neck near a drug store. The officer got out of his car, used a Taser on the man and then shot him.

Police said today that Cleaven Williams is in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. His estranged wife has been upgraded from critical and unstable to critical and stable condition. No charges have been filed as of yet.

According to court records, a District Judge had ordered Mr. Williams to stay away from Mrs. Williams. The order says he "shall not abuse; shall not contact; shall not enter residence; shall stay away from her employment."