Crime & Safety
Man Arrested In Laurel Vandalism Incidents
The same man arrested and charged with vandalism in Greenbelt faces similar charges for incidents police say he committed in Laurel.
LAUREL, MD — The same man arrested twice in August in connection with a series of vandalism events involving homes located in the Greenbelt Station community of Prince George's County has been arrested for similar acts of vandalism in Howard County.
On two separate nights in early September, residents on Northgate Road in Laurel were woken up by a man destroying property.
According to the Howard County Police Department, the man broke windows and slashed tires. A doorbell camera captured him picking up a piece of firewood and breaking a window with it.
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Police opened an investigation and, throughout the Labor Day weekend and this week, conducted surveillance operations in the area. When the man returned once again for the third time in the early morning hours of Sept. 9, officers were already on scene and arrested him as he fled.
Nghia Trong Le, 50, of Greenbelt, has been charged with multiple counts of destruction of property and disorderly conduct for the three incidents from this month; an additional case from Aug. 29 remains under investigation. He is being held without bond.
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Le was also arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property over $1,000 after Greenbelt Police say he vandalized four homes, including two houses that were targeted multiple times.
Greenbelt Police first arrested Le on Aug. 6 in connection with prior allegations of property destruction. Detectives said that Le targeted residences near Greenbelt Station Parkway by throwing rocks through windows and then fleeing the area on foot.
On Aug. 28, officers in Greenbelt responded to another report of vandalism similar to the previous incidents. Video provided by a resident showed a person throwing rocks at a window before fleeing. Officers identified the person as Le, then tracked him down and arrested him, police said.
The Greenbelt Police Department estimated the combined damage from the incidents in Greenbelt at several thousand dollars.
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