A real estate agent best known for his colorful antics at the local minor league baseball stadium has been charged along with his wife for stealing a competitor’s signs, according to police.
According to documents on file in district court, a Hollywood couple is charged with the thefts of several real estate signs in St. Mary’s County.
Deputy J. Senatore of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident Monday, identifying Ronald Hart Lord, 65, and his wife, Pennie Arlene Platt, 57, as the ones who allegedly stole and, in some cases, defaced signs authorized by real estate agent Connie Joyce Gunn. The incidents reportedly occurred from August 2023 to May 4.
Lord is familiar to fans of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and is popularly known as “The Tie Dye Guy,” as he meanders around the Waldorf ballpark festooned in red, white and blue during home games, supervising between-inning contests and promotions.
Lord’s real job is selling real estate in all three Southern Maryland counties.
“Gunn stated in July 2021, she and Lord’s real estate partnership ended badly,” Senatore wrote in charging papers. “Over the course of several years Lord had sued Gunn for approximately $36,000 and lost. She also stated she and Lord have had bad blood for multiple years, however, she does not speak with him.”
Of the signs that were defaced, Senatore reported a marker “was utilized to draw mustaches and beards on Gunn’s face.”
According to Senatore’s report in court papers, both Lord and Platt have admitted to taking the signs.
According to court records, Lord and Platt were both charged with one count each of theft scheme between $100 to under $1,500 and malicious destruction of property, and four counts of theft. All of the charges are misdemeanors.
Lord and Platt were both issued summonses.
A district court hearing on the charges Lord and Platt are facing is scheduled for June 14.
Platt contacted Southern Maryland News shortly after this story was originally posted online.
“It’s been going on for years,” Platt said of the acrimony between the couple and their accuser, who is their ex-daughter-in-law and Ron Lord’s ex business parter.
Lord and Gunn formed the real estate partnership — the Tie Dye Team — in 2017, according to Platt.
In March 2023 a suit Lord filed against Gunn for breach of contract was the subject of a St. Mary’s County District Court hearing presided over by Judge Karen Christy Holt Chesser.
According to the court transcript, after hearing both sides, Chesser ruled in favor of Gunn, concluding there was no breach.
Lord has filed an appeal in circuit court and that case remains open.
Platt said Lord, in addition to being a real estate agent, does a lot of volunteer and charitable work.
“He does good to the community,” Platt said. “He takes veterans out to lunch so they won’t feel alone.” She added, “The Tie Dye Guy is his alter ego. He’s recognized for that.”
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