Pubdate: Sat, 02 Aug 2014
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2014 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Authors: Carrie Wells and Jessica Anderson
Page: 2

POLICE: OFFICER TRIED TO BREAK IN FOR DRUGS

A veteran Baltimore County police officer was suspended this week and 
faces several criminal charges after the department said he tried to 
break into a Dundalk home in search of drugs.

Officer Joseph Stanley Harden, 31, of Towson told investigators he 
became addicted to Oxycodone after a work-related injury. He was 
charged late Thursday with attempted burglary, drug possession, 
attempted robbery and malicious destruction of property. The 
department said he has been suspended without pay. His police powers 
also have been suspended.

Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson said in a statement that he 
was "deeply troubled" by the incident.

"This department does not tolerate criminal conduct among its 
members, and this officer will face due process for what he has 
done," Johnson said.

Baltimore County police said a man called 911 on Tuesday night saying 
someone claiming to be a police officer was trying to kick in the 
door of his house in the 8200 block of N. Boundary Road. Officers who 
arrived found no one but saw a rear window was open and a screen 
missing. Bags containing suspected marijuana were found inside the 
house, police said.

Harden and another man, Stephen Gomez of Dundalk, were stopped that 
night by a patrolman for speeding, police said. Harden, who displayed 
his Baltimore County police badge, matched the description of the man 
who attempted to break into the house, police said.

Gomez sold Oxycodone to Harden several times, and the two have known 
each other for several months, according to investigators. Sean 
McKelvin, owner of the house where the alleged break-in took place, 
has not been charged in the case.

No one answered the door at McKelvin's apartment Friday morning. A 
man answered the phone number used to call 911 but declined to comment.

Gomez told police that on Tuesday he bought Oxycodone for Harden from 
McKelvin on Boundary Road, but that in less than an hour, Harden 
wanted more pills.

Harden and Gomez went back to the house, where Harden attempted to 
break in, police said. McKelvin told police he fled through the rear 
window in fear.

Police spokeswoman Elise Armacost said detectives don't think Harden 
and Gomez met through Harden's police work, noting that Harden's 
precinct does not cover the area where Gomez lives.

Gomez - who has a prior criminal record - said he didn't realize 
initially that Harden was a police officer.

Harden told police that he "got hooked up with a bad guy" and that 
they went to McKelvin's place to try to get him to hand over his 
stash. Harden said he knocked on the door, kicked it and then left.

Harden was arrested at his home Thursday morning. Court records show 
his annual salary is $72,000.

Harden told police he became addicted to Oxycodone within the past 
two years after undergoing surgery for an injury suffered on the job. 
Armacost said that "he has been on modified duty as a result of an 
injury sustained in the June 2013 shooting."

In that shooting, Harden and other officers attempted to arrest a man 
outside the Colony Hotel on Pulaski Highway after police said the man 
tried to run over a woman with a motor scooter.

According to police, the man then fought officers, removing an 
officer's gun from her holster, when Harden shot him. The shooting 
was deemed justified by the department and the state's attorney's office.

Johnson said he "cannot help but be saddened by another troubling 
case of prescription medication abuse."

"This problem is pervasive in our society, and unfortunately no 
institution is immune to it," he said. "We hope that this officer and 
everyone struggling with addiction seeks and receives treatment."

Harden was released on $100,000 bail and faces a preliminary hearing 
later this month. Gomez was charged with attempted burglary, robbery, 
and other related charges.
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