Jersey Park Security
Guard Faces Firearms Charge
August 9, 2006 - Dan
Shuman
A former Jersey Park security guard already facing
maiming and abduction charges in Hampton was charged here with
brandishing a firearm and assault after pointing a gun at a
visitor July 9, according to Smithfield police.
Joseph Lydell Sippio, 21, had been working for Leonard Security
Services Inc. just six days when he stopped a woman leaving the
complex, who he said had been sitting in the parking lot too
long. Smithfield Police Capt. Alonzo Howell said heated words
were exchanged as the woman - identified as 26-year-old Keisha
Hamlin of Smithfield - waited for Sippio for take down her
information and write a ticket.
As the woman started to drive away, Sippio chased her car on foot,
yelling, and stopped her in front of the Wood's Edge Apartment's
office. That's when he drew his gun on her, Howell said.
A 12-year-old and 14-year-old were also in the car with Hamlin, as
was Leona Batten, whose age and relationship to Hamlin were not
included in the police report.
The commotion drew a crowd of about 70 people along Wrenn Road,
which caught the attention of a passing town officer. |
Sippio told the officer that Hamlin had hit him with her car.
Jersey Park manager June Jones said she and the Wood's Edge manager
spoke with police after the incident and told Leonard Security
that they did not want Sippio near their apartments again.
"This was the first night he'd been out there," Jones said, adding
that he was a substitute for someone else who was supposed to
work that night. "We told them that he was not welcome on our
property. Period."
A man who answered the number listed for Leonard Security said
Monday the company employed Sippio for about six days until he
was fired after "an incident three weeks ago."
The five counts of maiming and one count of abduction Sippio faces
on the peninsula were filed in September, before he started
working for Leonard Security. He is scheduled to appear in court
Aug. 11 on those charges.
After that, he is slated to appear in Isle of Wight General
District Court Oct. 19 on the charges here.
Hamlin also faces assault charges for allegedly hitting Sippio with
her car, and she is scheduled for court Aug. 24. |
