Alleged Panhandler Repeatedly Arrested

A Concord woman is facing charges that she was trespassing at the Fort Eddy Plaza where she was allegedly panhandling on three occasions since the beginning of the year.

On the afternoon of Jan. 2, at around 3:45 p.m., Concord Police charged Gina S. Summa, 44, of Concord, with criminal trespass.

According to an arrest report, officers were called to the Shaw’s located in the plaza for an unwanted panhandler. While leaving the area after clearing the call, one of the officers noticed that there was another panhandler standing on the traffic island near the intersection with Fort Eddy Road.

The officer approached the woman and requested an ID and she reported that she didn’t have one. After giving the officer her name, Gina Summa, dispatch searched the computer system and found out that she had a no trespass letter served to her on Nov. 17, 2012. She was arrested and charged. She was later released on bail and was due for arraignment on Feb. 4.

About two weeks later, on Jan. 13, Summa was arrested again on a criminal trespass charge and default or breach of bail conditions.

Summa was again reportedly outside the Shaw’s parking lot, holding a sign requesting money. When the police cruiser circled around to speak with her, the officer alleged that she crossed Fort Eddy Road and was heading towards Petco.

The officer recognized her from the Jan. 2, incident but during a conversation with the officer, Summa denied panhandling at the Shaw’s parking lot. She allegedly said she was walking through the lot from Market Basket. When the officer stated that he saw her standing on the median, Summa allegedly said she had stopped to light a cigarette. When the officer stated that he saw her panhandling, she allegedly admitted that she had been there, but only for three or four cars, and then left.

Summa was arrested and held on $4,000 cash bail.

On Feb. 3, around 4:50 p.m., Summa was arrested again, and again charged with criminal trespass and default or breach of bail conditions.

Officers were dispatched to Shaw’s for a report of an unwanted guest who was panhandling. When they arrived, they didn’t find anyone and later, checked the Market Basket parking lot but didn’t see anyone there either.

However, while traveling south on Fort Eddy Road, an officer reportedly observed a woman walking across the parking lot near BAM! The officer watched as the woman headed to Shaw’s and then, traced her way back to the median. The officer alleged that the woman reached under her arm and pulled out a piece of cardboard but “looked up and saw me and returned the piece of cardboard under her arm” while walking back to BAM!

The officer approached the woman and realized it was Summa, the same person he had given a no trespass order to previously November 2012. The officer alleged that Summa denied panhandling and said she was just using the bathroom at BAM!, stating she had bladder cancer. Summa allegedly acknowledged receiving the no trespass letter but said she had to go to the bathroom.

The officer reported that Summa began to cry and requested a fine instead of being arrested, since she had just been arrested previously. The officer arrested her and she was held on $4,000 cash bail and arraigned on Feb. 4.