Busted For Panhandling Four Times in Three Weeks

A local woman is facing a slew of charges for allegedly refusing to stop panhandling at the Exit 14 onramp along Loudon Road, according to a number of reports.

Gina S. Summa, 45, of Concord, has been charged with generic city ordinance violation, two counts of passing of items to or from an occupant of a vehicle, and two counts of default or breach of bail conditions.

According to summons and arrest reports, the most recent troubles for Summa started on Feb. 25, when an officer stopped at the stop light at the Ralph Pill Plaza reported saw Summa standing at the bottom of the I-93 Exit ramp holding a cardboard sign. When the light turned green, a white SUV drove down the ramp and held something out of the window. Summa allegedly stepped off the curb, into the roadway, and took the item from the driver and placed it in her pocket.

The officer drove to Stickney Avenue and called Summa over to the cruiser.

“Summa asked me if I ‘adored’ her because I have summoned her twice for this,” the officer wrote. “I told her that I was getting the feeling that she was ignoring me. She told me that she is not ignoring me but is just trying to get money for a new ‘place.’” 

The officer later noted that Summa was allegedly an intravenous drug user. She was cited for the violation.

The next evening, at around 8:45 p.m., a sergeant was in the same area and saw a woman holding a sign next to a backpack. Cars were stopped at a red light and the woman, later identified as Summa, allegedly stepped out into the road and took something from the driver of the third car waiting at the light. 

The sergeant went to speak to Summa, finding out that she had reportedly taken money from the driver and she was cited, along with a warning to stop, since there was not a lot of light in that area and she could get hurt. The sergeant also told her if she didn’t stop, she would be arrested next time.

About a week later, on March 4, at around 2 p.m., the officer from Feb. 25, reportedly saw Summa step into the roadway again taking money from a driver. Since she had been warned and summoned numerous times during the last two months, police arrested her. Since she was out on bail from a Jan. 8, possession of controlled drug and theft arrest, the breach of bail charge was added.

About two weeks later, on March 18, at around 8 p.m., another officer noticed Summa in the area of Exit 14 again even though her bail conditions required that she “shall not stand on the edge of any roadway for any length of time soliciting money or other things from cars,” according to the officer.

As the officer drove over to her location, Summa allegedly walked away from the officer. The officer later caught up with her near the L.L.Bean outlet. Summa allegedly denied any knowledge of the bail conditions stating she couldn’t stand in the roadway.

While speaking with Summa, the officer noted that she had a large bulge in her jacket, which turned out to be a cardboard sign.

Summa was arrested and she’s due in court on April 14.

Editor’s note: The following story was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.