Posted on 02/16/2005 6:59:48 PM PST by ambrose
City man charged in rape of senior during blackout
By DANIEL VALENTINE and ERIC HARTLEY Staff Writ
City police last night charged an Annapolis man with the rape and beating of a 89-year-old woman in her apartment during Monday's blackout.
Police arrested Gregory Paul Moreland, 51, yesterday afternoon at his mother's apartment in the Glenwood Hi-Rise in the Clay Street neighborhood. The victim also lives in the building, run by the Annapolis Housing Authority.
Mr. Moreland has been charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sexual assault, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and burglary. He is being held without bond at the county detention center on Jennifer Road in Parole.
The elderly woman told police her attacker pushed her into her apartment then choked and punched her before knocking her unconscious.
A neighbor who found her called 911, and the woman was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center. She was treated and released yesterday. A medical exam found that she had been sexually assaulted.
The Capital does not name victims of sexual assault.
Mr. Moreland denied that he attacked the woman when questioned by police.
Officer Hal Dalton, a city police spokesman, said Mr. Moreland was on the authority's list of banned people, but was taken off after a court hearing ruled he should be allowed to visit his mother.
Police reports list Mr. Moreland's home address as his mother's apartment.
Glenwood, originally a public housing complex for seniors, recently started to open up to others. Residents have complained about crime, drug use and other concerns.
Several Glenwood residents said they were upset about lax security at the building long before this week's crime.
One resident who didn't want her name used said she wasn't surprised to hear of a rape.
"Public housing is a disaster," the woman said. "Dope and liquor and hookers . . . There's no security. They don't do anything about it."
She said she told a police officer yesterday: "You're here for a rape today, but you'll be back for a murder."
Harry Sewell, executive director of the Annapolis Housing Authority, said he understands residents' concern for their safety, but said they bear some responsibility.
"It has to be a two-way street," Mr. Sewell said.
Managers for Glenwood were not at the building this morning, but Connie Turner, president of the Glenwood resident's council, said there was little they could do to restrict visitors.
"My hands are tied," Ms. Turner said. "It all goes over to the housing authority."
Anita Jackson, community safety director for the housing authority, said she already had been looking at increasing security at Glenwood. The building has security cameras and locked outer doors. Visitors are asked to sign in and their identification is checked at some times during the day.
Ms. Jackson said she's getting a company to do a security assessment of the building, in part because of complaints from older residents. "We feel they can't protect themselves as easily," Ms. Jackson said.
dvalentine@capitalgazette.com
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More good news from the blue states!
My answer to this problem!
and he was 'banned" for???
another case of innocent people paying for leniency of the courts
DNA evidence, sample taken during exam.
Public housing is a disaster," the woman said. "Dope and liquor and hookers . . . There's no security. They don't do anything about it."...
"The building has security cameras and locked outer doors. Visitors are asked to sign in and their identification is checked at some times during the day."
Perhaps the residents bear some of the responsibility after all.
Good catch. What WAS he banned for?
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