BALTIMORE — Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates held a presser Wednesday to announce the takedown of a carjacking group that consisted of twenty juveniles.
Officials say the group allegedly operated across seven of the nine police districts in the city.
"There can be no question that this group contributed significantly to the uptick in juvenile crime and carjackings that Baltimore experienced in 2023," said State's Attorney Bates. "While arrests were made during this period, the BPD task force worked tirelessly with my office to identify the juveniles involved in these crimes across jurisdictions and connect the dots as to how the group operated. I thank both teams for making today's announcement possible and restoring accountability to our streets."
The investigation took 15 weeks, beginning mid-October, after multiple complaints came through the State's Attorney's Office.
According to officials, the group allegedly committed crimes in sub-groups of two to eight members at a time, with most of the crimes occurring over a six-to-eight week span between October and November 2023, which impacted seven to nine police districts in the city.
Those crimes include armed robbery, armed carjacking, assault, and handgun violations.
113 cases in total are being charged for 53 incidents involving this group, whose ages range from 12-17.
“I want to thank State's Attorney Ivan Bates and Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley for their collaborative efforts in stopping this group from operating further in Baltimore,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson. “I am certain this was only possible through strong coordination throughout all agencies involved. I am grateful for their work to make Baltimore safer for all to enjoy."
State's Attorney Bates also expressed holding parents accountable, stating that his office will be looking to prosecute them for "causing the delinquency of a minor", which carries a $2,500 fine, three years in prison, or both.
Prosecutors will also be pursuing restitution from the parents or guardians of the juveniles in the group for repeated violent offenses they allegedly committed.
Both the Maryland Public Defender and Baltimore City Public Defender released statements in response to the presser.
Baltimore City Public Defender Marguerite E. Lanaux:
The State's Attorney's intentional delay in charging children for incidents beginning in August 2023 has created unnecessary victims and squandered precious time for interventions with these children. The existence of this house as a place where children frequently visited speaks to the need for early intervention. BPD and SAO's failure to "close this clubhouse" for many months, or make any effort to confront the homeowner or adult managing the home is outrageous, especially since law enforcement knew of the distress signals. Today, SAO and BPD are engaging in self-promotion about a situation they have contributed to greatly by their own inaction.
Maryland Public Defender Natasha M. Dartigue:
Delaying response and not addressing the root causes of crime significantly impacts a victim's physical and psychological well being, and causes a distrust in the juvenile justice system. In order to prevent negative outcomes and protect potential victims, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies, including the SAO, to prioritize timely, legal arrests, address the underlying issues contributing to crime, and provide appropriate interventions and support to children and their families to prevent criminal behavior. None of that happened here. Sadly as the Maryland General Assembly debates a juvenile justice reform bill which offers no evidence-based solutions, the SAO continues to demonize children, rather than address the underlying issues that result in "clubhouses" through prevention or evidence-based initiatives. Collaborations with other stakeholders such as social services, mental health professionals and community organizations is essential to addressing the complex needs of children and truly promoting public safety.
