Stolen Jewelry Pawned

Stolen Jewelry Pawned

BERLIN – A Crisfield woman was arrested on theft charges last week after pawning jewelry she allegedly stole from two residences in Bishopville while working as a maid.

Around 3:30 p.m. last Friday, Worcester County Bureau of Investigations detectives were probing the theft of jewelry from two residences in Bishopville when they connected the thefts to a woman who had worked at the homes under the employment of a maid service. The suspect, identified as Traci Brooke Sterling, 28, later pawned the stolen jewelry and a shop called “The Jeweler” in Salisbury.

Numerous pieces of jewelry stolen from the two Bishopville residences were recovered from the shop in Salisbury. The estimated value of the stolen pieces is $1,725. Sterling was later arrested in Crisfield and processed at the Maryland State Police Princess Anne barrack.

She was been charged with theft from $1,000 to $10,000, theft less than $1,000 and theft scheme from $1,000 to $10,000. Sterling was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $10,000 bond. She was also held on a $5,000 bond and a $3,000 bond for two outstanding arrest warrants. She is currently being held in the Somerset County Detention Center.

Warrant Sworn For
Cocaine, DWI Suspect

OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City woman arrested on cocaine possession and drunk-driving charges in August after a routine traffic stop in West Ocean City had a warrant sworn out for her arrest last week after she failed to appear in District Court for trial.

Around 2 a.m. on Aug. 23, a Maryland State Police trooper pulled over a vehicle on Route 50 at Inlet Isle Rd. for a traffic violation. Upon making contact with the driver, identified as Nikki Lynn Coleman, 42, of Ocean City, the trooper detected the odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. Coleman was administered field sobriety tests and ultimately arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Once in custody, Coleman requested her purse, and as the officer checked the purse for weapons, he discovered an undisclosed amount of cocaine inside and possession charges were added to the drunk-driving charges. Coleman failed to appear for trial last week in District Court and a warrant was sworn out for her arrest.

Significant Pocomoke Pot Bust

BERLIN – A sweep of known drug dealing havens in Pocomoke last week resulted in two arrests for possession and distribution of a significant amount of marijuana.

During the evening hours last Thursday, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Team, along with the department’s canine and patrol divisions, conducted an aggressive criminal enforcement initiative in Pocomoke. Targeted during the initiative were various apartment complexes in the area known for drug distribution operations after recent intelligence information was obtained.

While working as part of the initiative, two Worcester County detectives conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment violation. While obtaining identification information from the driver, the detectives observed the front seat passenger, identified as Jarrell Roberts, and a rear seat passenger, identified as Roderick Collier, moving furtively in the vehicle.

An additional K-9 unit was brought to the scene to conduct a scan of the vehicle and its occupants. As Roberts exited the vehicle, a Worcester County detective patted him down and discovered a gallon-size plastic freezer bag hidden in the front of his pants containing 20 individually wrapped clear plastic baggies of suspected marijuana along with a digital scale.

During his subsequent arrest, Roberts allegedly resisted and assaulted the arresting officer. A pat down of the remaining occupants was conducted and a K-9 scan of the vehicle resulted in a positive alert for the presence of additional controlled dangerous substances. During the search, Collier allegedly yelled to the arresting officers that the marijuana found on Roberts belonged to him.

Collier was then arrested and a search revealed a plastic bag containing 17 individual wrapped bags of marijuana on his person. Collier was also found to be in possession of a digital scale containing marijuana and cocaine residue.

Roberts and Collier were arrested and transported to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office for processing and both were unruly and uncooperative, according to police reports.

For example, Roberts allegedly kicked the cell door and window repeatedly, while Collier threatened the officers processing him and indicated he would physically assault the officers if he wasn’t handcuffed, according to police reports. Collier continued to pull away from police officers to avoid being properly searched before being placed in a cell.

Roberts and Collier were each charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute in a school zone, possession of paraphernalia and resisting arrest. Roberts was also charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer, while Collier was also charged with possession of cocaine.

First-Degree Assault Charge Dropped

OCEAN CITY – A Pennsylvania man arrested in October on numerous serious charges after allegedly firing a nearly full beer can at a motor scooter, causing the driver to crash and suffer numerous injuries, had the first-degree assault charges against him dropped last week in District Court, but the case against him moves forward with lesser charges still pending.

Around 2 a.m. on Oct. 10, an OCPD officer on marked patrol heading north in the area of 26th Street observed a yellow motor scooter sliding into the intersection of Baltimore Ave. and 27th Street. The officer observed the driver of the scooter walking south on the sidewalk away from the area where the scooter had come to rest.
The officer observed the victim was bleeding heavily from numerous scrapes, cuts and abrasions on his hands, palms, legs, feet and ankles, according to the officer’s report. At that point, the victim laid down on the sidewalk near the officer and yelled in pain. The victim told police as he was heading north on his scooter on Baltimore Ave. near 26th Street, an unidentified individual in a parked pick-up truck threw a beer can at him.
The victim told police the beer can did not strike him, but did cause him to swerve in an effort to avoid it. The victim told police he lost control of the scooter as a result and the scooter fell over and skidded across the roadway and into the intersection. Ocean City paramedics were called to the scene and the victim was transported to the hospital for treatment of his multiple injuries.
While police were interviewing the victim, they observed a crowd of people at a pick-up truck in front of a nearby motel and the crowd dispersed when the officers approached them. However, three returned and told police one of their friends had thrown the beer can at the victim on the scooter. They told police they weren’t sure which of their friends had thrown the beer can, but said many in the group were staying at the Flagship Hotel nearby and provided a room number. 
OCPD went to the room in question and met with several individuals inside, one of whom provided a name of the suspect, later identified as Justin R. Vattilano, 23, of West Grove, Pa. Vattilano was not staying the Flagship Hotel, but police were able to obtain a phone number for the suspect because of an earlier interaction with police.
The officers called Vattilano and determined he was staying at a separate motel on 17th Street. Vattilano was reached by phone and agreed to meet with police. Initially, he denied throwing the beer at the motor scooter rider, but eventually admitted it, telling police, ‘I was stupid, I’m drunk.’ Vattilano was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and other charges.

Last week in District Court, the first-degree assault charge against Vattilano was dropped, but charges of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, malicious destruction and intoxication endangerment are still pending. His new trial date is set for Jan. 31.

Undersized Sea Bass Citations

OCEAN CITY – Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) recently issued citations to seven individuals from all over the region for possessing undersized black sea bass.

Maryland’s’ black sea bass season opened Nov. 1 and will run through the end of the year, Dec. 31. Individual anglers may possess 25 sea bass per day, but the minimum keeper size is 12.5 inches from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. On Nov. 6, seven individuals were cited for possession undersized sea bass. Each citation carries a maximum penalty of $500.

Issued citations for possessing undersized sea bass were Donzell Marshall, 50, Capital Heights, Md.; Michael Little, 43, Clinton, Md.; Larry Fulton, 53, Baltimore; Desiree Antoinette, 47, Lewes, Del.; Elvin Phillip, 37, Rockville, Md.; and Yang Chang, 40, Baltimore. A total of 155 undersized sea bass were seized and donated to Diakonia, a crisis shelter in West Ocean City.

Swiped Vehicle Nets Drug Arrest

BERLIN – An Ocean City man was arrested on drug and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charges this week after returning to a Berlin residence from whence he allegedly took the vehicle without the owner’s permission.

Around 12:40 a.m. last Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a residence on Pintail Lane in Berlin for an unauthorized use of the motor vehicle complaint. During the investigation, it was learned the suspect, identified as David Kyle Edwards of Ocean City, was also wanted by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.

When Edwards showed up at the residence to return the vehicle, the owner called the Maryland State Police Berlin barrack and troopers responded. A probable cause search revealed Edwards was in possession of a black back which contained two spoons with controlled dangerous substance residue along with seven syringes. Edwards was arrested and charged with possession of CDS-oxycodone, possession of paraphernalia and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

OCPD Gears Up For Toy Drive

OCEAN CITY – Once again this holiday season, the Ocean City Police Department is gearing up for its annual Holiday Toy Drive along with collecting donations for food baskets and other gifts for the needy in the community.

The OCPD is now asking for toy donations, as well as funds for its food basket program. Unwrapped, new toys may be dropped off at the Public Safety Building at 65th Street and Coastal Highway in Ocean City. For those who wish to contribute monetary donations, an account for food baskets has been set up at the Bank of Ocean City. The account is named Town of Ocean City, Ocean City Police Department DBA-Holiday Food and Toy Drive.

While generous donors may make contributions to the account at any Bank of Ocean City branch, they are asked not to bring food to any bank branch or to the police department building. Donations may also be sent to “OCPD Christmas Toy Drive” at 6501 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Maryland, 21842.

The OCPD is also now accepting referrals of children or families in need of assistance during the holiday season. In order to participate, the families must be Ocean City residents or individuals who work in Ocean City. OCPD Chief Bernadette DiPino praised the generosity of the community during the holiday programs in the past and looks forward to similar success this year.

“I am continuously amazed by the generosity of our community,” she said. “Despite a very difficult economy, the businesses and residents of the Ocean City community continue to pull together to provide for those individuals who are struggling this year. It truly is what Christmas is all about.”

In addition to donations, the OCPD is looking for volunteers. Those who volunteer will be assisting with the collection and distribution of the toys and food baskets. The distribution will begin on Saturday, Dec. 18.