Crime & Safety

Homeless Man Charged With Violating Loitering/Nuisance Ordinance

The incident took place at a Rockville plaza, police said.

A homeless man was taken into custody on Monday for violating a town ordinance that prohibits nuisance behavior while loitering, an arrest report indicates.

Bernard Joseph Christian, 48, who police said is homeless, was charged with violating town ordinance No. 207 and second-degree criminal trespass at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, an arrest report indicates.

Police said Christian was hanging around at the Courthouse Plaza shopping center in Rockville and "aggressively panhandling" as customers came in and out of the establishment.

He was asked to leave and refused, police said.   

Vernon Ordinance No. 207 states that: "It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter, loaf, wander, stand or remain idle either alone
and/or in consort with others in a public place in such a manner as to obstruct any public street, public highway, sidewalk or any other public
place or building by hindering or impeding the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicles, traffic or pedestrians."

Christian had a court appointment for Tuesday on a $500 bond, police said.


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