A Carlisle man was charged with several offenses following a disruptive incident at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) on Wednesday, November 13. Alexander Christian Murray, 27, is accused of threatening security personnel and causing a disturbance while reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
According to Lower Allen Township police, Murray arrived for initial intake testing and was suspected of alcohol consumption due to his behavior. When confronted by MEPS staff, he allegedly became uncooperative and entered a women’s restroom before being escorted out by security.
The situation escalated when Murray began searching for a nonexistent bag in the property storage room. Upon being informed that he had not arrived with any bag, he reportedly started yelling and made threats against the security guards, including threats to take their gun and shoot them.
Police described Murray as belligerent and disorderly when they arrived, noting a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. He continued to use obscene language towards the staff while being detained. A breath test later conducted at Cumberland County Prison confirmed the presence of alcohol.
Murray faces charges including two counts of felony terroristic threats, two counts of misdemeanor simple assault, misdemeanor defiant trespass, two counts of misdemeanor harassment for lewd and threatening language, summary disorderly conduct, and summary public drunkenness.
He was held at Cumberland County Prison but was released on Saturday, November 16, after Theodora Costopoulos, a professional bondsman, posted his $5,000 bail.
Murray’s preliminary arraignment took place on the night of his arrest before Judge Elizabeth S. Beckley. His preliminary hearing, initially scheduled for November 21, has been postponed to Thursday, December 5, at 1:15 p.m., where it will be presided over by Magisterial District Judge Christopher Delozier.
Court records indicate that Murray has previously faced charges in North Carolina related to an alleged sexual assault, though specific details of that case were not disclosed.
