LOCKED AWAY -- Controversial blogger denied visitors and bail, enters third week in Central Booking

FAMILY SUSPECTS MacARTHUR'S INCARCERATION 

MAY BE RETALIATION FOR CRITICISM OF POLICE

Gadfly journalist appeared regularly at city crime scenes,
frequently lambasted  law enforcement officials' actions
 
By Alan Z. Forman
 
The family of controversial blogger A.F. James MacArthur, who held nearly 100 Baltimore Police Department SWAT and tactical team officers at bay for more than five hours two weeks ago before surrendering peacefully, is concerned that their relative's continued incarceration may be retaliation for his habit of observing city police at crime scenes and regularly criticizing their activities.

MacArthur was arrested at 11 p.m. Dec. 1, ending an hours-long telephone "debate" with a police negotiator broadcast in real time on his website, BaltimoreSpectator.com, and has since been denied bail and even visitors in the 17-day period following.

In an email to Voice of Baltimore, his sister, who is a legislative analyst for the Montgomery County Council, expressed concern that "no one has been able to see him yet, not even Jill Carter," his attorney.

Last week, Carter -- a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the state's 41st Legislative District -- filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus after MacArthur was denied bail, despite having never been charged with a violent offense. .............

READ THE REST OF THE STORY AT http://voiceofbaltimore.org/archives/6860

AND CATCH VOICE OF BALTIMORE TUESDAY (DECEMBER 18th) AT 5:30 P.M. ON THE MARC STEINER SHOW -- WEAA-RADIO 88.9-FM   (PODCAST AVAILABLE FOLLOWING THE SHOW AT http://www.steinershow.org)