According to the Baltimore Sun on Tuesday October 10, 2006 Leonard Nathaniel Garrett, 24, of the 900 block of McDowell Lane in Halethorpe was found lying in the 800 block of Winans Way on the morning of October 7, 2006. Police said it appeared that Garrett had been hit on the head with a blunt object. Police said they had no suspects.
The story would have had an unceremonious end, however, things got interesting in the bickering department after this one. Somewhere along the way in this particular segment of time the Judiciary Case Search became, well, searchable. This made for some interesting discourse.
In this WBAL piece, comments start being made about Mr. Garrett's checkered past:
"Garrett had been arrested 18 times on drug and weapons charges, according to police. They said after he was shot, his body was dumped by the curb in Lincoln Park." Note the mention of "Lincoln Park", this is why I avoid WBAL as a new source.
Then Baltimore Crime gets into the game:
"He was due for court in HoCo on the 5th for a "marihuana" charge. In May another drug case was nolle prosequi'd. In July an assault charge was nolle prosequi'd. In April of last year his Cadillac was forfeited. In 2004 he was arrested for having a gun in his car. In December of 2001 he forfeited bond posted by the Lexington insurance group. His wife Geraldine sued him for divorce. And there were a lot of traffic violations. Not a model citizen, but not the worst-of-the-worst, either."
So now we know more than maybe we wanted to know, and the Baltimore powerbrokers became armed and dangerous with the news. It was Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon vs. Baltimore State's Attorney Pat Jessamy. The fur was flying at something called the CJCC event and it was reported by Baltimore Crime:
"Sheila Dixon had a question: "the murder victim in Leakin Park [Leonard Garrett] had been arrested more than 18 times and was awaiting arrest when he was murdered. Why was this guy out? He'd been on probation three times, why was this guy out? Can anyone help me out here?"
Jessamy jumped right in: "Sheila, if you were really interested, you could research this case. Arrests are made but in order to secure a conviction you must have evidence ... you brought it up here because you wanted to make a public statement. If you want an answer, call me!"
Bickering ensued, broken up by Judge Glynn. "Anyone could look it up, I doubt anyone knows the facts of the case off the top of their heads."
What is the upshot of all this?........ Nothing, absolutely nothing. Leonard Nathaniel Garrett is still just as dead and his killer(s) are still out there.