Man Stabbed Over Who Was Next In Line For Take-Out Crab Cakes

[matcom]

<snip>

In the end, neither Jeffrey Rites nor Keith Anthony Rantin Jr. got any of G&M Restaurant and Lounge's famous crab cakes for lunch.

In a scuffle over who was next in line at the Linthicum Heights carryout, Rites was stabbed. Then Rantin was charged. And today, a jury will be asked to sort through the messy saga.

Rantin is on trial in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, accused of felony assault and three related crimes. Exactly what happened at the restaurant counter - including who started it and who had what weapon - has been the subject of nearly two days of testimony and one video clip.

What was at stake was who would eat first. So coveted are G&M's crab cakes that not only do lines of hungry devotees stretch out the door, but the delicacies can be ordered online and shipped overnight anywhere in the country. Baltimore magazine named them the best in the region in 2004 and 2005, according to the restaurant's Web site.

Assistant State's Attorney Michael Dunty maintains that Rites, 39, of Violetville, responded before Rantin, 31, a Reisterstown barber and home rehabber, when the "who's next?" call went out at lunchtime March 28.

Asserting that Rites was not next, Rantin began arguing, and the confrontation went from words to shoving to the stabbing, the prosecutor said.

Rites had his left wrist slashed and left lung punctured. Employees tried to break up the brawl, and in short order, both men were in the parking lot.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-md.ar.rantin01mar01,0,7578319.story?coll=bal-pe-maryland

[Courtesy Flush]

1. Have you ever been to Baltimore?

The crab cakes there are worth fighting for!

[SteppingRazor]

3. As far as I'm concerned, crab cakes don't exist more than 100 miles from Baltimore n/t

[deepthought42]

6. Very true! My 'alma mater' once served crabcakes in the dining hall...

at least that's what they called them. They were *shudder* breaded on the outside! And it sure as hell didn't look like crab meat on the inside... stupid Lynchburg, VA...lol

[Javaman]

2. Once a weapon is used it's decided. nt

[Burma Jones]

4. These Crabcakes are akin to a piece of the True Cross, or the Holy Grail

or some other vehicle to enlightenment.......

[deepthought42]

5. I work about a mile from G&M...

we get crabcakes from there once in a while for the office. REALLY GOOD. Yeah, that place is busy as hell during lunch time. Good crabcakes though...*drools*

[Beetwasher]

7. No Crab Cakes FOR YOU!

n/t

[GOPisEvil]

8. I pity the fool who gets between me and my crab cakes!