Serial rapist
Today's report on a string of rapes, mostly in East Baltimore, but also in some other areas, over the past two weeks is troubling in itself, but it also fits a pattern Baltimore police started last year -- they failed to inform the general public.
They did a bit better this time than in the Mount Vernon area last year, when they didn't even tell the residents in the neighborhood, even as detectives were putting up posters with sketches of possible suspects. This time, as Justin Fenton reports, police say commenders were informing residents. But the department failed to update the general public with postings on Twitter and Facebook, or through the news media.
They do a good job of notifying the public about shootings and slayings -- often with posts just moments after the first reports come into 911. But a serial rapist (or possibly two) that triggers a large-scale police operation (and rightfully so) in which women are targeted at bus stops and in one case walking home from church, requires a citywide alert.
Reading Justin Fenton's story in today's Baltimore Sun, the attacks are vicious, in some cases women were threatened with shards of glass and dragged into abandoned parking lots. Many occurred over the Halloween weekend.
Comments
Any chance we could get a link to the above graphic? It's wonderful to inform people but why not give us something that can be examined more closely.
Posted by: Concerned citizen | November 3, 2009 8:12 AM
Why weren't these reported by Nixle?
The pattern would have become obvious through their reports and I thought the idea of the Nixle service was to alert the public to crime areas.
Posted by: Kevlar | November 3, 2009 9:32 AM
I just posted a comment on the story's page before I came here, so I'm not going to write the same thing again here, but basically, I am upset that the BCPD isn't being more transparent about this and that they have a suspect/person of interest but have not released a description. I am a single, young woman that lives alone directly at a bus stop in Charles Village, not far from these attacks. Why the Police Department is not providing me with all the information they have to help me further protect myself is beyond me, and it's really frustrating.
Posted by: kateebee | November 3, 2009 12:48 PM
8 rapes and no description whatsoever of the serial rapist? Why is that?
Posted by: fhr | November 3, 2009 1:55 PM
fhr, thanks for the comment. We don't have a description because police haven't given us complete one. They said victims are saying many different things and the could not tell us approximate height, weight, build, hair style or anything regarding clothing. In one case, police said the rapist wore a ski mask, which we reported. When we get more information, we will pass it along
Posted by: Peter Hermann | November 3, 2009 2:02 PM
first of all this is ongoing and has been for a long time and bcpd didnt allow it to be public knowledge. I also am am a single woman that has to work early in the morning.. The reason this serial rapist has come to light is simply because they let it get out of hand the police department been knew about this and chose to do NOTHING.
Posted by: yvonne | November 4, 2009 3:53 AM
I use nixle... i have seen how they let you know if your neighbors been charged of any sexual felony.. the whole neighborhood would of known.
Posted by: DaveL | November 5, 2009 1:27 AM
Like fhr, anxious to see a sketch!
Posted by: Heather | November 5, 2009 9:21 AM
I would feel better if there were surveillance cameras covering the bus stops. Are all of the surveillance cameras ostentatiously displayed or are some of them more discrete?
Posted by: Jonathan | November 5, 2009 10:36 AM
Thanks for scaring everyone and then not telling us the rapists description, very helpful!!
Posted by: Wendy | November 5, 2009 10:42 AM
Wendy, the police have not provided us with any description, saying they do not have one or even two good ones from victims or witnesses. As soon as they provide us with one, we will publish it. Thanks
Posted by: Peter Hermann | November 5, 2009 11:50 AM
I am a recovering drug addict and let me tell you the police do not put all their resources on victims in low-income or drug areas. Most feel that people get what they deserve. They should have undercovers everywhere. It's also pretty obvious this guy either just moved here or just got out of jail or prison. Serial rapists gradually build to a frequency like this. Unless there have been reports being made all along and they have just been put on the back burner by police. They told me the only way they would investigate my alleged rape would be if they took my car into evidence for 1-2 weeks. They made me feel like a victim all over again. I would've had to lose my job to try to prosecute.
Thanks.
Posted by: Renee | November 7, 2009 6:36 PM
i am so scared to go to school by myself and do any thing please help find him get the bau to come to baltimore for all woman safety
Posted by: brionna | November 11, 2009 7:49 PM
i am so upset about this serial rapist why is he doing this please if you are reading this please leave the woman alone we are so scared what ever happen to you that made you so upset please let it go you are ruining people lives please stop it this crime is ridicolous you are making people scared to go outside
Posted by: brionna | November 12, 2009 2:26 PM