In an unusual fiasco early Sunday morning, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate is accused of scaling and breaking into a downtown Annapolis home, and police are investigating why an officer fired his gun during the incident when there was no apparent threat.
The Annapolis Police Department said officers responded early Sunday to a house in the 100 block of Duke of Gloucester Street in the city’s historic downtown area for a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, a woman who lives in the house told them someone had kicked in a door and was still inside.
When officers went in to nab their suspect, later ID’d as 22-year-old Kevin Leyland, he broke a window and jumped out, police said. Officers were on the ground outside waiting. After a brief scuffle with police – Leyland was trying to get away, they say – he was taken to a hospital and then charged with burglary, resisting arrest, destruction of property and other offenses.
According to The Capital, there were some other strange circumstances. Police found Leyland shirtless, and learned he had climbed up the house and entered through a patio door. Furthermore, an officer fired his gun while inside the house. Police are investigating why, and haven’t named the officer who pressed the trigger.
Additionally, Leyland was no ordinary suspect; he’s a graduate of the city’s prestigious U.S. Naval Academy. Court records show he was issued a criminal summons, rather than arrested, and is due to appear in court in Glen Burnie on Sept. 20.
The academy’s athletics website indicates he was a member of its heavyweight crew team this past season. He’s listed as a resident of Cheltenham, Pa.
A spokesman for the academy confirmed Leyland is a member of the U.S. Navy, but said no information was available on whether Sunday’s incident had affected his standing. “It’s a law enforcement matter,” he said.
This story has been updated.
