The recent dismissal of charges against a suspected drug dealer by U.S. District Judge George Russell III based on "inconsistencies" in the warrant is just another example to support why there is so much criminal activity, especially drug related crime in Baltimore ("Baltimore drug probe crumbles after court challenge," Feb. 14). The suspect always gets the benefit of a doubt. When are the police, victims and citizens going to get the benefit of doubt so they can be safe?
The police and prosecutors have to be perfect in the minds of some judges, which is why so many criminals with lengthy records are still walking the streets. Most judges look at the total circumstances of the case before them and the intent of the police and prosecutors and weigh that against public safety while others are just too darn quick to pull out the dismissal card. When is this going to stop? Let a jury decide the issue. After all, it is the safety of their neighborhood at stake here.
Now the suspect is suing for false arrest. Really? I hope that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and members of the City Council stop paying off these types of lawsuits without going to trial. Give the citizens of Baltimore the credit they deserve and allow them to decide if a suspect, most with lengthy criminal records and most who by their own actions are in the current situations, deserve a monetary award for what they went through.
I think you will see that the citizens are fed up with these type of individuals and will send a message out loud and clear: We have had enough!
Gary Hornbaker, Severn