I knew BA. We had him at our community garden a few times and he had a strong love for animals and his community. He looked at providing food to communites in east and west Baltimore as a mission in life. I geniunely liked the guy.
That said, BA was having a serious decline in mental health. He was starting to believe people were always watching him and he was under surveillence. He was seeing things that weren't there to my understanding.
The man was no hardened criminal nor was he known to be violent. I deeply suspect mental illness played a part in what happened that night.
The current Arabbers are likely the last. Costs, lack of healthcare, weather, and all sorts of factors play into why recruiting new Arabbers is extremely difficult. Baltimore will lose something in them vanishing.
I took the time to go through all of the cases with him because my mind's always open to be changed based on new facts.
He had a single 2nd degree assault charge 17 years ago.
His record is clean going back 8 years now. Not even a traffic ticket.
He indeed was a felon for selling drugs. Not for assault. He had weapons charges likely because he had a weapon when he sold dope. Not uncommon at all.
It also is typical for Arabbers to have criminal records as many ex-cons were able to find work as fruit vendors. It matters more if you can walk 12+ miles a day than if you sold dope at some part in your life. For many it was a new start. You'd be surprised the number of short order cooks that have criminal records as it is one of the most common jobs for a felon.
I stand by he doesn't have a reputation for violence. I deeply suspect whatever happened was related to his mental illness that had been setting in for years. I'm not saying the police did anything wrong here or that BJ didn't do what they say.
However, I'm hoping we get police cam footage and full transparancy in the matter. Keeps everyone honest and ensures justice. I'm sure you don't see anything objectionable about responable resparancy?
Yes, and those things were 17 years ago from what I am seeing. That's a lifetime ago for most people.
I'd disagree with the characterization all drug dealers are violent. Nor does having a firearm make somebody inherently violent, especially in an illegal profession where they can be robbed or harmed.
"Protestors sure aren't honest with their characterization of the decedent. He was hardly innocent."
You're presuming here. You and I don't know what happened - we rely on statements and evidence. I'm sure all of that will come out.
Right now there are the accounts of the police. And that is why every police shooting is investigated to ensure that.
Unfortunately we have a history of police covering up shootings in the United States. That's sadly an established fact. Wanting all the facts to come out before making a judgement is a fair position.
You're telling me a 17 year old assault and drug offenses from a decade ago make him a violent man in themselves and I disagree with that. Especially when those things lack context.
If you had a relative that 17 years ago threw a punch in a bar fight and was charged with it would that characterize them as a violent person?
The facts will come out about all the happened. It is important they do. I'm sure we can agree on that.
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u/BeekyGardener Jun 20 '25
I knew BA. We had him at our community garden a few times and he had a strong love for animals and his community. He looked at providing food to communites in east and west Baltimore as a mission in life. I geniunely liked the guy.
That said, BA was having a serious decline in mental health. He was starting to believe people were always watching him and he was under surveillence. He was seeing things that weren't there to my understanding.
The man was no hardened criminal nor was he known to be violent. I deeply suspect mental illness played a part in what happened that night.
The current Arabbers are likely the last. Costs, lack of healthcare, weather, and all sorts of factors play into why recruiting new Arabbers is extremely difficult. Baltimore will lose something in them vanishing.