Just Another Freaky Friday...
It's been one of the "busier" weeks in the Fort (then again, it's ALWAYS busy in MY part of the city), what with the Clay & Berry streets accident that killed a Parkview hospital worker, and the recent pot bust out in Ligonier.
This week has also seen our 14th homicide, as well as drugs in Waynedale (still a better part of town than the "badlands" aka the SE side). So without any further ado...
Two Suspects Sought in Hit and Run -
Elgin and Antwon (It's called PHONETIC spelling, in case you're wondering - an ethnic cultural nuance) Davis are the two "people in question" that the FWPD wants to ask a $hitload of questions regarding the accident they were involved with early Wednesday.
Antwon (nice mugshots, btw) is ALREADY on the active warrant list for criminal confinement, domestic battery, and failure to appear in court (must have failed to appear in SCHOOL as well - that would explain a lot). Gee, what an upstanding citizen. Can't wait to see him UP STANDING in front of the judge when sentence is passed on his sorry ass.
This is a case of Black-on-White crime you never hear about or see as a statistic...the unintentional crime.
Federal Cocaine Charge names Four -
Four men were indicted in cocaine trafficking in the Waynedale section of Fort Wayne. The men face a laundry list of charges from intent to distribute to possessing a firearm to further a drug crime.
Their names are: Woodrow Ormiston (35), Michael A. Bower (32), Kevin Bender (45), and Dan Phillips (46). This spring, Feds obtained indictments for Shane Silvers and Alan Lichty, both of Ft. Wayne. They are charged with conspiracy and intent to distribute as well.
When Feds arrested Ormiston in May, they found $21,600 on his person, 4 cell phones, and a gram of cocaine.
In August 2007, Bower purchased a Chevy Avalanche (lousy mileage, but expensive), saying he was "employed" by SS Computer & Tech and had a "salary" of $40K. Investigations discovered that Bower started SS Computer & Tech to hide money earned by dealing drugs. Federal prosecutors hope to make Bower forfeit $108,475, the Avalanche, 5 guns and ammo, a 2003 Caddy DeVille, a 2006 customized Charger, and a a 2001 Harley.
Police believe Bender bought drugs from Phillips, Ormiston and Bower. Both he and Phillips are also accused of threatening informants who cooperated with authorities.
Let the bidding commence!
Someone could wind up with a REAL bargain here when this stuff is auctioned off.
Number 14...And Counting -
So much for the Urban League's commercial asking for a halt to this senseless violence.
Another shooting on the city's SOUTH side resulted in the death of one Tarockus N. Calmes (20) in front of a house at 3526 South Park Drive yesterday evening at about 1750 hrs. A white Buick with dark tinted window (what did I JUST say the other day about the TINT?) was seen pulling up in front of the house, said a witness (great aunt Frozie Calmes). Shots were fired from the vehicle as Tarockus ran to the backyard where he collapsed. Taken to the hospital in critical condition, he died shortly after arriving.
The victim did not LIVE at the house on South Park Drive, but he frequently spent time there (sounds a lot like MOST of the "neighbors" living around US - same behavior patterns).
When Ms Calmes heard what she thought were gunshots, she looked outside to see a bunch of people running from the area, she said. According to the article, she has "gotten used" to to this recently. "Here lately in the past month or so, I've heard what sounds like people shooting fireworks or guns a lot. I don't know what the sounds are", she said.
The white Buick was seen heading south towards Rudisill.
Now let me weigh in here...
When you hear enough gunshots...you KNOW what they sound like (and in most cases, you learn to grab some cover...FAST).
A stationary target is an easy target.
Ask anyone that has been exposed to combat or been a police officer, or even a hunter. They know.
I have a list of vehicles that are suspicious in MY area, and I will be checking it for any WHITE BUICKS, and will be those plate numbers into the FWPD tip-line.
I wonder if the case for NOT ALLOWING loud fireworks within city limits means ANYTHING now? I've argued against this from the beginning. Such loud (and dangerous) ordnance need NOT be in the hands of neophytes, and certainly NOT in areas where gunfire is prone to happen.
It also bears witness to the ease at which the WRONG PEOPLE can obtain firearms. Back in the militant 1960s, even in gangs, there were FEWER firearms, and that was a time when you could ORDER A RIFLE BY MAIL (think Lee Harvey Oswald and his Mannlicher-Carcano), and the prices of all firearms were a helluva lot cheaper than today.
Another life snuffed out. Black-on-Black crime, which is close to 30 times more likely to occur than Black-on-White crime, but none the less just as heinous, ethnicity and color not withstanding.
We're turning into a city of "back-watchers"...and with good reason. We just cannot know where it will be coming from. So we tune ourselves to be more aware. We watch. We listen. We are vigilant.
One thing, at this rate of murders, I can say that I'm right on track for this city to hit THIRTY homicides by year's end. Small city "charm"...with BIG city issues.
That's Fort Wayne -Number 18 on the list of BEST places to raise a family.
Just don't get shot by any black thugs in a white Buicks in the process.
Lastly, on a very sad note -
Comedian Harvey Korman has passed away after a a lengthy illness regarding an aortic aneurysm. Once the star of Blazing Saddles (That's HEDLEY...not Hedy Lamarr), as well as the quintessential comic on The Carol Burnett Show (with sidekick Tim Conway), he began his career on The Danny Kaye Show, appearing in skits on the show.
After leaving the cancelled show in 1967, he signed on with Burnett, and the rest was...history.
One could say that in many ways, Korman and Burnett became the "new" Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
He was 81. And he, along with his humor WILL be missed.
Kind of makes one long for a kinder, gentler time...
Still...life COULD be worse.
Today is the anniversary of St. Joan of Arc's burning at the stake for heresy.
See? Someone's always got it tougher than you.
In the meantime, DO have a safe weekend.