Opinion ID: 1561244
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Citizen's Arrest of August 25, 1986.

Text: On June 25, 1986, Alison and his wife again separated. When Mrs. Alison left their home, she took much of the household furnishings and furniture, including some property belonging to Alison and his son. Although Mrs. Alison testified that the removal of property not belonging to her was inadvertent, Alison considered it a criminal act. On August 19, he filed a complaint with the Harford County Sheriff's Office alleging theft of his property. On August 25, Alison saw his wife driving in the town of Bel Air. He followed her until she stopped for a traffic signal, at which time he attempted to forcibly remove her from her vehicle. According to Alison, he was effecting a citizen's arrest in connection with what he viewed to be the felonious taking of his property. When Mrs. Alison refused to leave her car or unlock the door, Alison secured a hammer from the trunk of his car, and broke out the window of the driver's door. He then reached in and removed the keys from the ignition, unlocked the car door, and attempted to remove his wife from the vehicle. A struggle ensued, but he was ultimately successful in wresting her hands from the steering wheel. He attempted to force her into the back seat of his car, but was stopped by other citizens and, ultimately, by the police. The police found a nine millimeter semiautomatic handgun in the trunk of his car, together with 50 rounds of hollow point ammunition. Alison was charged with malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct, assault, battery, and unlawful possession of a handgun. Alison was released on his personal recognizance, with the condition that he have no contact with Mrs. Alison and that he refrain from harassing her. Notwithstanding this condition of release, Alison repeatedly telephoned, and occasionally confronted Mrs. Alison, demanding the return of his property. As a result, the State's Attorney for Harford County filed a motion to revoke Alison's recognizance. The motion was denied after hearing by Judge Broadnax Cameron, Jr. Judge Cameron did, however, orally instruct Alison to stay away from his wife, and entered an injunction to that effect in the divorce case, then pending in the Circuit Court for Harford County. Alison was ultimately acquitted of all criminal charges brought in connection with this incident.