Baltimore Man Denied Bail in Murder of Voluntary Firefighter

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A Baltimore man charged with the murder of a volunteer firefighter in 2017 was denied bail due to being a threat to public safety on Nov. 18 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia H. Jones.

Daniel Greene, 40, is charged with first-degree murder, home invasion, use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, and having a handgun on his person in connection to an incident on the 1800 block of E. Pratt Street on Nov. 29, 2017.

According to Maryland Courts, officers were called in the early morning hours for reports of a shooting, where the victim Jon Hickey, 31, was found killed in his apartment in the Fells Point neighborhood.

Greene’s defense attorney Warren Brown argued that his client has been in jail for five years after being arrested in December 2017 and never had a trial. Initially, his trial was scheduled for this year, but it had to be postponed because the judge assigned to the case was on leave.

Counsel requested that the defendant be released on home detention considering the weakness of the prosecutor’s case. While on home detention, counsel asked that the defendant be allowed to work or be on 24-hour lockdown.

Brown argued that his client’s charge should not be enough to hold him when the evidence is not significant of his guilt.

He claimed that there were 25 witnesses that said Greene had nothing to do with the victim’s death, said Brown. He hinted at the idea that the victim’s girlfriend was coerced by a detective, saying it took up to 25 minutes to get the victim’s girlfriend say Greene was the shooter.

The defendant’s wife also gave a statement to police saying he was with her when she went to bed.

Brown claimed that his client had a significant alibi. He also noted that the defendant had no prior record, claiming this was his first charge.

The prosecutor said the victim was shot at close range and his girlfriend identified the defendant as the shooter.

Judge Jones denied bail.

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