George N. Ball, Police Chief for Trappe, Maryland, Charged with Two Counts of Misconduct in Office

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt announced today that George N. Ball, Chief of Police for Trappe, Maryland, has been indicted by the Talbot County Grand Jury on two counts of misconduct in office. The charges allege that Chief Ball deliberately mishandled two criminal matters; one involving a theft of jewelry and one involving the illegal possession of a handgun that was reported stolen, for the personal benefit of a personal acquaintance

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt stated: “Police officers take an oath to uphold the law without prejudice or partiality. Nobody is above the law and any violation of that oath is a betrayal of the public trust and cannot be tolerated.”

Although charged, the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until there is a conviction

Indictment of George N. Ball

INDICTMENT

            The GRAND JURY for the State of Maryland, sitting in Talbot County, their oath and affirmations, charge GEORGE N. BALL, with having committed the following offenses:

COUNT 1

Misconduct in Office – Common Law

The Grand Jury of the State of Maryland, for the County of Talbot, on their oath and affirmation, present that George N. Ball, from on or about August of 2016 and through and including on or about May 23, 2017, in Talbot County, Maryland, in violation and perversion of his duties as the duly sworn Chief of Police of  the town of Trappe, Maryland to uphold, enforce, and obey the laws of the State of Maryland without partiality or prejudice, did corruptly commit misconduct in office by knowingly, willfully, and intentionally, under the color of his office, improperly seizing and keeping  a handgun, reportedly stolen, from the apartment of Heather Harding and further failing to properly process or report same as evidence or recovered property, for the personal benefit of a personal acquaintance, Heather Harding, in violation of the common law and against the peace, government and dignity of the State.

(Common Law)

COUNT II

Misconduct in Office – Common Law

The Grand Jury of the State of Maryland, for the County of Talbot, on their oath and affirmation, present that GEORGE N. BALL, on or about September 1, 2015, in Talbot County, Maryland, in violation and perversion of his duties as the duly sworn Chief of  Police of the town  of Trappe, Maryland, to uphold, enforce, and obey the laws of the State of Maryland without partiality or prejudice, did corruptly commit misconduct in office by knowingly, willfully, and intentionally, under the color of his office, obstructing and failing to pursue a legitimate investigation of a reported theft, for the personal benefit of an acquaintance, Heather Harding, in violation of the common law and against  the peace, government and dignity of the State.

(Common Law)

     

_________________________                                                                                                                              

EMMET C. DAVITT

STATE PROSEUTOR

Office of the State Prosecutor

Suite 410, Hampton Plaza

300 E. Joppa Road

Towson, Maryland 21286

(410) 321-4067