LA PLATA, Md. — A violent incident erupted in a local restaurant parking lot leading to multiple felony charges against a Charles County man on October 20, 2024. Authorities reported that a dispute involving the man and a woman escalated to physical violence, resulting in serious injuries.
Responding to a call at the Outback Steakhouse on Crain Highway, law enforcement officers arrived to find a woman with significant injuries next to her vehicle in a nearby parking lot. The victim had sustained a broken nose and a deep cut across the bridge of her nose. Witnesses quickly directed police toward the man who was allegedly fleeing the scene.
Investigations revealed the suspect as 32-year-old Thomas Aaron Caparella-Monat, who reportedly became confrontational after his partner had a conversation with her child’s father earlier that evening. The evening began at Hunt’s Tavern in Pomfret where Caparella-Monat consumed a considerable amount of alcohol. He later compelled the woman to drive him along Route 6, where he was accused of stealing a roadside memorial cross.
The situation intensified in the parking lot of the Outback Steakhouse. The victim claimed that Caparella-Monat seized her cellphone, worth around $830, and violently refused to hand it back to her. According to her statement, a struggle ensued during which he choked her and pushed her into the car. Witnesses also saw him damaging the vehicle by throwing the phone at the windshield and assaulting the woman further by striking her in the face.
Before escaping, Caparella-Monat allegedly threatened the victim, intensifying fears for her safety. Emergency services transported the injured woman to a hospital, where she underwent a lethality assessment that confirmed a high risk of further violence. This activated an immediate domestic violence response protocol.
Currently under scrutiny are charges against Caparella-Monat including first and second-degree assault, robbery, theft, and malicious destruction of property, along with threats of violence. Notably, Caparella-Monat is already on probation following a previous assault conviction in Calvert County.
Despite extensive efforts by authorities to locate him, Caparella-Monat remains at large. The ongoing investigation prompts law enforcement to seek assistance from the public, urging anyone with information to come forward to help ensure community safety.
This distressing episode serves as a somber reminder of the critical need to recognize and address signs of domestic violence. Individuals experiencing or witnessing such threats are strongly encouraged to reach out to law enforcement or contact support organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline for guidance and aid in such dangerous situations.