Howard County Police say officers were waiting when a 50-year-old Greenbelt man returned to Northgate Road following two earlier nights of unexplained property destruction
LAUREL, MD – A man accused of repeatedly showing up on Northgate Road in the dead of night to smash windows and slash tires at randomly selected homes was arrested early Wednesday when Howard County officers conducting surveillance caught him returning for a third time, police said.
Nghia Le, 50, of Greenbelt, is charged with multiple counts of destruction of property and disorderly conduct stemming from three incidents this month.
Howard County Police said residents on Northgate Road were awakened on two separate nights earlier in September by a man damaging property without any known motive.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1826979255161598The destruction included broken windows and slashed vehicle tires.
In surveillance video from Sept. 1, the man can be seen picking up a piece of firewood and using it to break a window, according to police.
Investigators opened a case and conducted surveillance operations in the neighborhood throughout Labor Day weekend and into this week.
Those efforts put officers in position when the suspect allegedly returned to Northgate Road for a third time during the early morning hours Wednesday.
Police said officers were already at the scene when the man returned.
Le was arrested while allegedly attempting to flee.
Investigators believe the affected residences were selected at random, and police said the motive for the repeated property destruction remains unknown.
Le is being held without bond.
Howard County Police are also investigating an additional incident from Aug. 29 for a possible connection to the other cases. Police have not announced charges against Le stemming from that incident.
The allegations against Le have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Key Points
- Nghia Le, 50, of Greenbelt is accused of randomly damaging property on Northgate Road in Laurel during three incidents this month.
- Howard County Police said the damage included smashed windows and slashed tires, with surveillance video showing a man using firewood to break a window.
- Officers conducting surveillance were waiting when the suspect allegedly returned early Wednesday and arrested Le while he fled.