Carroll County State's Attorney Jerry Barnes dismissed charges against a couple accused in the stabbing death of a Hampstead man in September 2010, saying fault lies with the Carroll County Sheriff's Department.
The trial was set to begin Monday, March 12.
Barnes said in a court document that the sheriff's department made errors in the murder investigation that made prosecution nearly impossible.
"...We have reached a point in this case wherein we can no longer legally or ethically overcome the consequences of unconstitutional police procedures utilized in the investigation of these cases, that have resulted in this Court's rightful suppression of the evidence necessary to proceed," Barnes said in a court document.
The sheriff's department declined comment regarding its conduct in the homicide case, saying that all inquiries were being addressed by the county state's attorney's office. The county state's attorney's office declined further comment.
However, in court documents, the prosecutor's criticism of the sheriff's department was scathing.
"The damaging law enforcement conduct that has deprived our office of the evidence required to proceed with these cases was both avoidable and inexcusable, casting an unfortunate cloud over law enforcement in this county that will long be remembered by all, especially the public at large," Barnes said.
Barnes pointed out procedural and decision-making errors on the part of the Sheriff's Department during the murder investigation that would hinder the prosecution.
"This disastrous course of conduct began with the Sheriff's Department's foolish, ego-driven rejection of the Maryland State Police offer of full assistance in the investigation as well as a willful failure to call our office [State's Attorney] for legal advice," Barnes said.
On Sept. 13, 2010 Jeremiah DeMario of Hampstead was stabbed to death in his apartment building. Neighbors Russell Scott Laderer and Cassandra Lynn Glover were implicated.
According to court documents, Laderer was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and carrying a weapon with intent to cause harm. Glover was charged with obstructing a police officer and accessory after the fact.
In the document Barnes submitted to the court, he concluded with the statement, "There is no statute of limitations on this homicide and we will work tirelessly to ultimately secure justice and some degree of closure of this tragic event."
The training for those other law enforcement agencies who use the facility seems to be thorough from what I see from MPTC's web site. I still believe MSP trains much more thoroughly and intensively.
Thanks JB, I'm glad you feel the same as me. Now maybe Buck will leave this issue alone & realize it has nothing to do with insecurity.
Like I wrote before, I hope that they take care of this mess and take steps to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again. We need to feel secure about the people we depend on to protect us and investigate crime.
LOL, that's funny right there.
'nuff said.
Every day for the past ten years he went to work was a charity to the county. Did you know that during the economic downturn he volunteered to work days for free? Just so the county could make their budget and his subordinates could provide for their families without losing pay. How many of you are that dedicated to your work? How many of you would volunteer when your 60 years old to be woken up at 4am in the morning to handle a major crime occurring? I've been trying to get my dad to retire, permanently, for years. He has a passionate pursuit for perfection and justice. He wasn't working for the money or the prestige. He did it to be christian and help his fellow man. Values he instilled in me.
Some of you need to do some soul searching and ask yourselves why you need to scold someone you never met or worked with. Because you will see my dad in carroll county. He's the man holding the door for you when your hands are full. He's the man volunteering at a church banquet. And he's the stranger that strikes conversation with you when your fishing at the lake. Now I have an assignment for you. Tell me where you were January 11th 2012. Now tell me the conversation you were having at 11am. Whats the matter? You can’t remember what happened a year ago? Thats funny, because when you are a police chief you’re expected to. So you give an answer and a few days later you think about it long enough details may start to come to you. So you correct your original statement. Thats called basic psychology. In carroll county thats called Perjury.
I appreciate the fact that you are standing up for you father. I’m sure he was the sacrificial lamb for a lot of other people. In reading through all the stories it appears that he fell on the sword for the sheriff & a guy that has been sending out press releases his entire career. Because of your father the sheriff still has his job and Kasten can run for sheriff in the future (pretty sure this will come back and haunt him though). So yes your father is a very honorable man, he took all the blame for a couple of guys that probably should have followed suit and just left themselves.