Sheriff's Office Apprehends Registered Sex Offender on Florida Probation Violation Warrants

For Immediate Release: August 31, 2006

Contact: Sheriff Raymond M. Kight or Assistant Sheriff Bruce P. Sherman, 240-777-7000

   Montgomery County Sheriff Raymond M. Kight announced today that Montgomery County ( Md. ) Sheriff's Deputies arrested a registered sex offender from Florida , William Alexander Petersen, 30, at his residence in the 800 block of Thayer Avenue , Silver Spring , Maryland . Mr. Petersen was wanted in Broward County , Florida for violation of probation on underlying charges including Lewd and Lascivious Battery of a person between 12 and 16 years of age and child abuse.

            Deputies in the Sheriff's Office Court and Transport, Fugitive, and Evictions sections cooperated in providing the initial identification of Petersen as a wanted subject, initiating and coordinating his arrest at a high rise apartment building on Thayer Avenue in Silver Spring . Petersen was arrested without incident this morning, transported to the Central Processing Unit and is being held without bond on Florida 's violation of probation warrants.

            Petersen is registered as a Sexually Violent Offender on the Maryland Sexual Offender Registry ( www.dpscs.state.md.us/onlineservs/sor ) and is currently awaiting trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court on charges of 2 nd degree burglary and theft over $500.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, established in 1777, engages in general law enforcement, judicial enforcement, prisoner transport, domestic violence, fugitive apprehension and security related functions. Specialized units include K-9 explosive detection and high risk Special Response teams as well as participation in regional gang, firearms, alcohol enforcement, and fugitive apprehension task forces. For further information contact Sheriff Raymond M. Kight or Assistant Sheriff Bruce P. Sherman, 240-777-7000.