Man Calls 911, But He Gets Arrested

BALTIMORE -- A Baltimore City homeowner said he was arrested by police after placing a 911 call for help.

WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team lead investigative reporter Jayne Miller said Matthew Capp, a foreman at the port, called 911 to report a burglary in progress just before midnight Wednesday. Miller said police responded, but it was Capp who got locked up in his sweatpants and socks.

Capp claimed he was only trying to explain what caused him to call 911 to the officer who had taken charge.

"I didn't cuss, use foul language. I was just trying to explain," Capp said. "Somebody tried to break in to my house and the one cop -- he said we can arrest you for a false. I said, wait a minute, if I call police it's for a reason."

In his report, the officer claimed Capp told them it was his daughter who had tried to break in and Capp became disorderly when police told him that wasn't a crime.

Capp said he mentioned his daughter to police, but also told them he called 911 because he suspected a real burglar -- not his daughter.

"Why would I call 911 for the fun of it?" Capp said. "That's stupid."

Capp said as his encounter with the officer continued, he pointed out he was a taxpayer.

"When I said I was a taxpayer, the handcuffs went on me," Capp said. "He said to me, I'm going to show you your tax dollars at work. That's what the cop said to me. Then when he walked me to the paddy wagon, he called me (expletives deleted)."

Capp was taken to Central Booking, where he spent the night still in his socks.

"I had my arms inside my T-shirt standing up against the wall until 9 a.m. this morning when they released me," he said. "No place to sit. The jail was all filled up."

Some of Capp's neighbors witnessed at least part of what happened Wednesday night. One neighbor who didn't want to be identified said he could see and hear the officer yelling at Capp.

"He was yelling at him, it's too late, shut up, it's too late," the neighbor said. "And he was just screaming at him."

Capp was released from Central Booking without being charged.

"I was like astounded, I was like wait a minute. I thought they only locked up people who broke the law," Capp said. "I says when did they start locking victims up, this must be something new in Baltimore City."

Capp said the officer threatened to turn his grandson -- who was home at the time -- over to social services and put his dog in the pound. That didn't happen, Capp said, because another officer allowed him to call his ex-wife.

Capp said he will file a formal complaint and retain a lawyer for possible legal action.

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/11investigates/9242922/detail.html