June 30, 1995|By Peter Hermann | Peter Hermann,Sun Staff Writer
Tuesday, they arrested Paul Matthews, 31, of the 1500 block of N. Chapel St. He is charged with forcing a North Baltimore family -- including a 1-year-old child -- to an automated teller machine, where the man was ordered to withdraw several hundred dollars. He also is charged in a March 24 armed robbery in East Baltimore.
Monday, police arrested Armstead Thornton, 43, of the 1700 of N. Durham St. and charged him with two armed robberies, at the downtown parking lot in February and on North Charles Street June 2.
Police say they think the gang members are connected through their craving for heroin and cocaine. Since 1990, the alleged leader, Mr. Allen, has faced at least 10 drug charges.
Three years ago, he was found guilty of drug violations after a raid on an East Federal Street rowhouse where cocaine and guns were seized. Court papers describe him as a low-level street dealer who traded in plastic bags of cocaine and drove a blue BMW.
Detective Massey said Mr. McGee met Mr. Allen through the drug trade and that they eventually became good friends. "They both frequented the same drug areas," he said. "That's where the marriage started off. It blossomed from there."
Agent Weinhold said police are not sure what role Mr. McGee had in the gang but that as investigators probe more deeply into the organization, the Parkville resident "is becoming more and more integral to this group. We feel he is becoming a bigger part of the picture."
Friends of Mrs. Moffett were angered to learn that her nephew might have been involved in her slaying. He had been fired two days earlier from the family janitorial business, which operates out of the Moffett home near Memorial Stadium.
Police charged Mr. McGee with giving his aunt's banking schedule to Mr. Allen because they needed money for drugs, Detective Massey said.
The arrests have relieved city residents such as Karen Kaftol, 40, who lives across the street from the family that was abducted in Oakenshawe. She said that family moved within days of the kidnapping.
"We're just upset because this is a quiet neighborhood," Mrs. Kaftol said. "We just don't have this type of stuff going on in this area. I'm here with my child a lot, and that happened in the middle of the day. On a Sunday. They were brazen and stupid."
1. Feb. 8, armed robbery of a parking lot attendent, 300 Guilford Ave. at 5 p.m. (Thornton)
2. March 24, armed robbery, 1200 E. 20th St., person abducted and forced to an ATM machine, where victim had to withdraw money at gunpoint. (Matthews)
3. April 17, armed robbery, 4500 block E. Joppa Road, Baltimore County, at 1:30 p.m.
4. June 2, armed robbery, 1200 N. Charles St., 2 victims, 1-6:30 a.m. (Thornton)
5. June 5, armed robbery, 2400 W. Franklin St. at 1:12 p.m.
6. June 5, armed robbery, 2300 Lovegrove St. at 6:15 p.m.
7. June 6, armed robbery, 2500 N. Calvert St., 10 p.m.
8. June 6, armed robbery, 2300 N. Calvert St., 10:15 p.m.
L 9. June 8, armed robbery, 5402 Park Heights Ave., 10:45 p.m.
10. June 9, robbery and homicide of Pearl Moffett, 72, outside NationsBank in 3300 block of Greenmount Ave., (McGee and Allen)
11. June 16, bank robbery, Hopkins Federal Savings Bank, 100 South Eaton St. Man dressed as women held up bank
12. June 25, armed robbery, 1500 Havenwood Road, 12:20 p.m.
13. June 25, kidnapping, armed robbery, 300 Birkwood Place, 12:30 p.m. Family, including 1-year-old child, abducted from home and forced at gunpoint to ATM machine on St. Paul St, where they robbed of several hundred dollars before being relesaed. (Allen and Matthews)
14. June 29, armed robbery, Signet bank, 10345 Reisterstown Road, 10 a.m.
