Police: Person of interest sought in Canton brick assault

Public's help sought as community lends hand in Jon Fogg's recovery 

 BALTIMORE —The family of a man who was attacked with a brick in Baltimore's popular Canton section is amazed at the outpouring of support and money that's been coming in for his recovery as police narrow down the search for his attacker.  
City police on Wednesday released a photo (posted to the left) of a person of interest in connection with the assault on Jon Fogg last week. 

Fogg, an editor for The Baltimore Sun, was walking in the 3400 block of Foster Avenue in Canton around 2 a.m. Jan. 14 when police said a man who implied he was armed robbed him and hit him several times with a landscaping brick.

The assailant made off with Fogg's car, wallet, laptop and even Christmas gifts still packed inside his Toyota Prius, police said.

Fogg's suffered severe injuries, including skull fractures, broken bones and teeth. 

His family said he always has a big smile on his face and is very happy, but unfortunately, they are expecting a long recovery. Fogg has health insurance, but his sister said he will be out of work for some time, and they don't know what kind of extended care he will need in the future.

"He has six skull fractures. He's missing about eight to 10 teeth that were knocked out. He has fractures in his hands," said Fogg's sister, Melissa Castone. 

Authorities are asking for the public's help to identify the man in the photo, which was pulled from surveillance video taken after a robbery.  Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 410-396-2429.

Castone said the family is very happy about a possible lead in the case.

"Of course the fact that the criminal is still out there is still in the back of our minds, and certainly we would not want this to happen to anyone else," she said.

Community helps raise $24K for recovery

For now, Castone said the focus is primarily on her brother's recovery. After the attack, she set up a page on the Go Fund Me website, and in four days, more than 600 people donated nearly $24,000.

"The original goal was like, $500, and when we hit that goal it was amazing to me, and I thought, 'Well, let's keep raising the goal.' Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine it would even approach $25,000," Castone said.

The Canton neighborhood has stepped up as well. A group known as Stay Classy Canton has planned a fundraiser at several local restaurants, including Saute, for Feb. 5, in which 10 percent of proceeds will go to Fogg's recovery.

"Everyone can kind of relate to that wanting to help someone in dire straits, who has had something this horrific happen to them. We just wanted to be a part of helping him and his family," said Theresa Suliga, Saute's owner.

"To have this outpouring from complete strangers is just phenomenal. Everyone is just stunned, and I know that (Fogg) feels just overwhelmed with gratitude," Castone said.

On Fogg's personal website, he wrote that he wants to make sure his attacker doesn't hurt anyone else.