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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