9 People Shot Since Friday In Baltimore; Police Union Criticizes Mayor, Commissioner For 'Lawlessness'
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore police responded to nine shootings across the city from Friday to Sunday and more than 40 robberies.
During that time, three people were killed.
The police union criticized Mayor Brandon Scott and Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, saying their "approach to criminal behavior has led to lawlessness."
The union posted a video of drivers making doughnut circles in a busy downtown intersection and said an ambulance with lights and sirens on could not immediately get through.
The union also claimed one of the patrol cars had been hit with bottles.
A police spokesperson could not confirm to WJZ whether the vehicle was struck.
On Friday night, a crowd gathered at the busy intersection of Falls Road and West 41st Street in Hampden while drivers brazenly did burnouts and blocked the intersection, waking some people up and leaving many in the community shocked and frustrated.
"I think it's very dangerous. Especially at this intersection of Falls and 41st . . . very unsafe," Khadijah Quinones told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. "What if they hit someone's house? Definitely a total disrespect for the law because there are laws. There are rules, and you need to follow them. That right there, they're not following rules at all."
Myles Poland who lives nearby told Hellgren it was "alarming."
"It's disrespectful to the entire community," he said.
Scott told WJZ Saturday such incidents are happening nationally and police are enforcing the laws.
Responding to the violent incidents over the weekend, police said in a statement, "The Baltimore Police Department was able to make 16 total warrant arrests over the weekend, including one attempted murder arrest and five aggravated assault arrests."
Officers also made eight armed robbery arrests and 10 handgun arrests. Amid these brazen acts, the BPD continues to do its job by aggressively and relentlessly pursuing these violent offenders," the statement said. "The Department works around the clock to solve crimes, make arrests and improve the quality of life in our city."
The Baltimore Police Department said it "continues to work with area law enforcement partners to increase visibility and with community organizations to identify and apprehend violent offenders."
Police have yet to make an arrest in the shooting of Johns Hopkins' Dr. Madhu Subramanian. The surgeon was the target of a carjacking off Loch Raven Boulevard while on his way to work Friday morning.
His colleague, Dr. Joseph Sakran, tweeted that he was "numb and in disbelief." Sakran was part of the treatment team and has been outspoken on gun violence.
Hellgren profiled Sakran, who survived being shot, in 2018.
"While I have permission from my friend and injured fellow trauma surgeon to discuss what happened, I will just say that we are so grateful he survived this horrific incident and will be ok," Dr. Sakran also tweeted.
