Pimp who was blamed in killings arrested on other charges
Michael Berry, whose abuse of teenage prostitute and triple murderer Falicia Blakely was described in CL’s two-part series “Learning to hit a lick,” has been arrested on drug charges — and released.
DeKalb County authorities have described Berry as a pimp who had several girls working for him. Among them was Blakely, who killed three men at Berry’s urging, according to testimony offered at Blakely’s January plea hearing. She pleaded guilty to the murders of three men — Ray Goodwin, Claudell “Doc” Christmas and Lemetrice “Big Mechi” Twitty — in order to avoid the death penalty. She instead received three sentences of life without parole.
After the January hearing, DeKalb County Assistant District Attorney Tom Clegg said he was interested in filing murder charges against Berry for ordering the killings. But he said that he doesn’t yet have sufficient evidence — including the cooperation of Blakely’s co-defendant, Ameshia “Pumpkin” Ervin — to take the case to the grand jury. Ervin is scheduled to go to trial in early May.
Berry was arrested by undercover Atlanta police officers Feb. 27. Just after 7 p.m., Berry invited to his motel room two officers, who were stationed at the Savannah Suites on Pine Street looking for drug deals to bust, according to an incident report. Inside, the officers spotted five hits of suspected crack on the counter next to the TV, the report states. A hotel security guard showed up and bought three hits from Berry in front of the cops.
The officers then invited Berry to a “party” in their room. When Berry and his two roommates showed up, all three were arrested. In Berry’s room, police found cocaine in the coffeemaker and dresser, as well as marijuana in the nightstand and the fridge.
Berry was booked into Fulton County Jail on Feb. 28 on drug sale and possession charges. He was released March 8 on $15,000 bond and made his first court appearance March 12. Fulton prosecutors will take his case to the grand jury in the coming weeks.
To read more about Blakely and Berry, visit atlanta.creativeloafing.com/2004-03-11/cover_news.html