By Justin Fenton and Gus G. Sentementes and , justin.fenton@baltsun.com and gus.sentementes@baltsun.com|September 16, 2008
Two Baltimore sheriff's deputies were wounded and a man identified as a suspect in a Baltimore County homicide was killed when gunfire broke out yesterday morning at a West Baltimore rowhouse where authorities were serving a warrant on another man, city police said.
Shortly before 6 a.m., members of the Regional Warrant Apprehension Task Force were serving a warrant for probation violation on a man in the 1700 block of N. Fulton Ave., police said. The officers entered the rowhouse, in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, and one of several men inside the home opened fire, police said.
A bullet passed through the neck of one deputy, and the other deputy suffered a graze wound to the head, police said. Officers shot back, killing Emory Lamont Lewis, 25, whom county detectives have been seeking since he was charged last year with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend.
"A significant number of officers went through the door at once, hoping to catch the suspect off guard, and they do that to avoid situations like this," said Sterling Clifford, a city police spokesman. "They enter guns at the ready, hoping it dissuades people from choosing to run or shoot back. Unfortunately, in this case, it didn't work out."
The deputies were identified as James Lane and Kenyatta Washington. They were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where they were treated and released. Both have more than five years of experience with the city Sheriff's Office, according to a spokeswoman, Sgt. Carla Lightsey.
City police were seen taking three men in handcuffs from the three-story brick rowhouse. Lightsey said the target of the warrant was Donte L. Bradford, 28, who was wanted for a probation violation stemming from a drug distribution conviction.
Court records show Bradford pleaded guilty to one charge of drug possession with intent to distribute in October 2007 and received a suspended seven-year sentence and three years of supervised probation.
He has twice been charged with violating his probation, with the first charge dismissed in March. A month later he was charged with another violation for failing to report to his probation agent, and the deputies were apparently serving that warrant yesterday morning.
It was not clear yesterday whether officers were aware that Lewis was also being sought on a warrant. Baltimore County police allege that Lewis gunned down his girlfriend, Felicia Ann Spratley, 22, outside her apartment on Sept. 8, 2007.
