North Central Avenue Homicide Defendant Needs Competency Evaluation

By Amna Syed [former] - December 10, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

On Dec. 8, the case of 24-year-old defendant Jayquan Bridgeman was continued by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn. 

Bridgeman is charged with first-degree murder and having a deadly weapon with intent to injure.

The stand-in prosecutor explained that this case is pending a competency evaluation, but cannot be sent back to mental health court because Judge Gale E. Rasin had previously ordered the competency evaluation. 

The prosecutor explained that Bridgeman  was sent back to court because his assigned mental facility did not have a bed available. The prosecution stated she was expediting the matter. 

For now, Judge Phinn explained that the only thing she could do was set a date when Bridgeman will be tried if he is found competent. Both the prosecution and Bridgeman’s attorney, Isabel Lipman, agreed. The prosecution could not pick a date until they consulted with their witnesses.

Judge Phinn continued the hearing until Dec. 15, when they will choose a trial date. 

Documents from the District Court of Maryland state that on Oct. 5, 2022, Baltimore Police Department (BPD)officers responded to the 1400 block of North Central Avenue in reference to a cutting. Upon arrival, the officer was met by a witness who identified the defendant and the victim, 43-year-old Michael Washington. The witness advised the police that Bridgeman stabbed Washington in the abdomen with a switchblade. The victim was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.