A suspected Bloods member who was allowed to walk out of court ? despite an open warrant ? has been arrested.
But the case of Gary Watson, 20 ? charged with participating in a riot at the Inner Harbor ? is indicative of how administrative breakdowns hurt Baltimore?s efforts to serve 44,000 outstanding warrants, law enforcement officials say.
About two weeks after a Baltimore City District Court judge issued a warrant for his arrest in a drug case Sept. 27, Watson appeared in Baltimore City Circuit Court on the riot charges Oct. 11.
When that case was postponed, Watson was allowed to walk out of the courthouse, because a copy of the District Court arrest warrant had yet to reach the Baltimore Police Department?s warrants records section, called the “Hot Desk,” and Baltimore City Sheriff?s Deputies couldn?t confirm the warrant?s existence.
Baltimore Police Department spokesman Sterling Clifford said he wasn?t sure why the “Hot Desk” wasn?t aware of the warrant for Watson?s arrest, but would look into the matter.
Watson was arrested Oct. 18 ? a week after he walked out of the courthouse.
Margaret Burns, spokeswoman for theBaltimore City State?s Attorney?s Office, said technological and administrative shortcomings often hurt police and sheriffs? efforts to serve warrants.
“This has been a historical problem that is complicated by outdated technology,” she said.
Clifford said Baltimore police are serving about 60 warrants a day, but must prioritize which ones to serve, targeting violent criminals rather than traffic violators.
Baltimore police are also stressing having patrol officers serve warrants if the opportunity arises during their rounds, Clifford said.
Watson is charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, obstructing an investigation and participating in a riot.
At Baltimore?s Inner Harbor fireworks celebration on Independence Day in 2006, police detectives observed a “large crowd” of males and females holding up gang signs and surrounding an elderly woman in a wheelchair, according to court documents.
As a detective entered the crowd to help the elderly woman, members of the crowd began to shout Bloods? slogans, such as “L-Up” and “Blaat,” police wrote in charging documents.
One female in the crowd, Aisha Holmes, started to threaten passers-by with a Roman candle ? a type of firework ? causing them to run, police said.
Holmes then struck two police officers with the Roman candle, prompting Det. Darrell Merrick to try to arrest her.
As Merrick did so, several suspected Bloods members ? including Watson ? struck the officer in the back of the head, police said.
During a struggle, Merrick subdued Watson and arrested him, according to police.
Holmes was convicted of assault on Feb. 2 and given three years probation.
Watson?s trial is scheduled for Dec. 12.
