The Baltimore Police Department yesterday released footage from one of its surveillance cameras that captured a man being shot during what authorities describe as a suspected drug deal on the western edge of downtown.
A civilian observer who was monitoring the video feed as the incident unfolded about 3 a.m. quickly dispatched patrol officers, who police said stopped the getaway vehicle near the scene. Police said three men were arrested and two handguns were found in the car.
The suspects have each been charged with attempted murder, said police, but their names were being withheld.
Police said this was the latest example of the video technology playing a key role in helping officers make arrests in violent crime. The city has a network of about 400 surveillance cameras at dozens of intersections and streets. Some of the cameras are monitored in real time. Others record images for later viewing.
"It's just another case showing that the cameras are effective," said Sterling Clifford, the Police Department's chief spokesman. "The cameras can't do everything. They can't replace other evidence and they can't take the place of good police work. But they provide an opportunity to make an arrest quickly and to get the right guys."
In December, detectives used camera footage to track down a suspect in the beating death of a drifter. Officers have also been able to make quick arrests in at least four cases this year.
State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy has, through her spokeswoman, criticized the police camera footage, saying the quality is sometimes too poor to be useful in criminal prosecutions or does not clearly identify a suspect. Spokeswoman Margaret T. Burns said last night that about half of the cases have to be dismissed because "the pole camera footage does not show evidence that a crime has occurred."
Police have said the video is an invaluable tool for detectives, and they called the footage of yesterday's shooting a shining example of the cameras' effectiveness. The video appears in good quality, and shows a well-lighted downtown area, taken from a camera posted at Park Avenue and Mulberry Street. Some letters and numbers on the license plate of a 2003 Toyota Camry that the gunman is seen getting into are readable.
Agent Donny Moses, a police spokesman, said that as the incident unfolded yesterday the Toyota stopped in the street and a man approached the car, got into the back seat briefly, and then left the car moments later.
