September 26th, 2011 by WCBC Radio
As reported on WCBC on Monday, 9/26/2011, at 11:04 AM, the Maryland State Police were dispatched to a private residence on Red Maple Lane in McCoole for a reported domestic assault. When they arrived they were met by the 35 year old female victim a short distance from the home. She reported that her boyfriend, 26 year old James Richard Lease, and she had been involved in an argument and he had shoved her to the ground several times, and had pointed a rifle at her and the couple’s 9 month old child, threatening them. She further advised that she thought Lease was still in the residence with the child.
Troopers, with the assistance of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Natural Resources Police set up a perimeter around the residence. Members of the Cumberland City Police CERT tactical assault team, the Maryland State Police STATE tactical assault team, the Maryland State Police medevac helicopter “Trooper 5”, and Investigators with the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I) also responded to the scene. Lease had apparently fled the residence with the child prior to the arrival of law enforcement in the area.
Reports of a male, carrying a small child, walking along the railroad tracks between McCoole and Westernport, began to come in to the emergency dispatch center. A search of the area was conducted, and Lease was located on the tracks just off Rt. 135. Officers attempted to convince him to release the child and surrender. After repeated attempts to do so, Officers had to use a Taser stun gun to subdue Lease.
The child was checked by ambulance personnel on the scene, and was not injured. The child was returned to the mother. Lease was taken into custody and transported to the hospital as a precaution as part of standard procedure whenever a stun gun is deployed. He was treated and released.
A search warrant for the residence was obtained and a search was conducted. Several firearms were removed from the residence.
Lease was charged with two counts each of 1st Degree Assault, 2nd Degree Assault, False Imprisonment, and Reckless Endangerment. He is currently awaiting an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.
.jpg)
