LUSBY, Md. — A 54-year-old Lusby man has been charged with second-degree assault following an altercation outside a Weis Market in Calvert County that allegedly began after he approached a group of men and questioned whether they were in the United States legally, according to court documents.
Charles Michael Pauley, 54, of Lusby, is charged with one misdemeanor count of second-degree assault in District Court for Calvert County.
According to an application for a statement of charges filed by the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the Weis Market in Lusby on Aug. 12 for a reported fight in progress.
When deputies arrived, one deputy reported seeing a small group of men described in the charging documents as Hispanic and two men described as white standing outside a fenced construction area in the parking lot.
The charging documents identify Pauley as the person accused of assault.
According to the charging application, a construction supervisor told the deputy that the fight was no longer in progress when law enforcement arrived.
The supervisor allegedly told investigators he initially saw a man, later identified in the report as Pauley, fighting with one of the men. The supervisor said he separated Pauley from the altercation, after which Pauley got into a white SUV parked nearby.
As the deputy approached, the white SUV began driving toward the Weis Market, according to the report.
The deputy radioed other responding units to stop the vehicle and make contact with its driver. The SUV subsequently pulled into a parking space in front of the Weis Market, where other officers contacted the occupants.
The supervisor allegedly told police he had tackled Pauley to stop the altercation but said he was unsure what had started the confrontation.
Investigators then spoke with the alleged victim. According to the charging documents, the man said he and several others were standing near a vehicle in the parking lot when a white SUV pulled up and stopped next to them.
According to the deputy’s account of the man’s statement, Pauley allegedly began using racial slurs and asked whether the men were in the country illegally.
Words were exchanged between the parties before Pauley allegedly exited the SUV and began chasing and assaulting the man, according to the application.
The deputy wrote that the alleged victim provided documents that the deputy reported showed his legal status in the country.
Another witness told investigators he was leaving the Weis Market when he heard the altercation and saw Pauley chasing the men, according to the charging documents.
Deputies also spoke with Pauley at the scene.
According to the charging application, Pauley told officers he saw the men sitting and not working. The deputy reported that Pauley referred to them using racial slurs and implied that, because they were Hispanic, they were lazy and were not doing any work.
Pauley told investigators he stopped and asked the men whether they were illegal immigrants, according to the report.
He acknowledged that the encounter escalated but told deputies he was tackled by another man, the charging documents state.
Everyone involved in the altercation declined medical attention, according to the deputy.
Pauley told investigators he did not want any further action taken. The alleged victim, however, told authorities he wanted Pauley charged with assault.
A summons was issued Aug. 14 in District Court for Calvert County.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28 at Calvert District Court.
Got a tip or photo? Text us at 888-871-NEWS (6397) or email news@thebaynet.com.
Join The BayNet Membership for exclusive perks and zero ads.
Don’t miss a story—sign up for our newsletter!