OCEAN CITY — Ocean City police this week are looking for the suspect or suspects who broke into a Boardwalk business on Feb. 2 and stole hundreds of dollars worth of alcoholic beverages.
Around 1 p.m., Ocean City police responded to Kelly’s Restaurant on the Boardwalk near 13th Street for a reported burglary. The investigation revealed the suspect or suspects forced entry into the business and stole over $1,000 in alcohol. OCPD officials are asking anyone with possible information about the incident or the suspects to contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6604.
Fourth DUI Nets Year
SNOW HILL — An Elkton man arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after a hit-and-run incident outside a downtown bar in September was found guilty last week in District Court and was sentenced to a year in jail.
Last Sept. 2, Ocean City Police officers responded to the area of Pickle’s Pub on Philadelphia Ave. at 8th Street for a reported hit-and-run accident. Several witnesses told police a suspect, later identified as Brian Langhorne, 41, of Elkton, Md., had been the driver of a truck that collided with and knocked down a sign outside the establishment.
Langhorne was later found parked in a different area in Ocean City with damage to his vehicle consistent with damage that would have occurred in the collision. In addition, Langhorne had a laceration on his chin and a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his breath, according to police reports. Langhorne failed to complete several field sobriety tests to the officer’s satisfaction and he was subsequently arrested.
Last week in District Court, Langhorne was found guilty of driving under the influence and failure to stop after an accident involving property damage. For Langhorne, last week’s conviction was his fourth for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was sentenced to one year in jail for the DUI and 30 days for the second charge, which he will serve concurrently.
Armed Robbery Suspect Sought
SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are looking for the suspect wanted in connection with armed robbery at a fast food restaurant last Friday.
Around 7 p.m. last Friday, Salisbury Police responded to the McDonald’s on Nanticoke Rd. for a reported robbery. Salisbury Police officers met with the store manager who told them a lone suspect had approached the manager and produced a knife. The suspect threatened the employee with the knife before fleeing the area on foot with bag of cash. No injuries were reported.
Salisbury Police attempted to track the suspect with the assistance of a K-9 unit from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office to no avail. The Maryland State Police Aviation Unit also assisted in the search. The suspect, described as a black male, 20-25 years old, with a medium build, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans at the time of the incident, was last seen in the area of the Village at Mitchell Pond apartment complex, according to police reports.
Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is urged to call the Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165, or Crime Solvers of Delmarva at 410-548-1776. As always, information can be left anonymously.
Attempted Murder Charges
SALISBURY — A Salisbury woman was arrested on attempted murder and assault charges last week after allegedly throwing knives and a meat cleaver at a victim during a domestic altercation.
Around 2 p.m. last Friday, Salisbury Police responded to a residence on Rose Street for a reported domestic altercation. Salisbury Police officers met with a man who said he had been involved in an argument with a female suspect, later identified as Rochelle Devonne Freeman, 34, of Salisbury, and that the incident had turned from verbal to physical.
The victim told police he attempted to leave the residence when Freeman allegedly followed him and threw several kitchen knives and a meat cleaver at him. The victim was struck in the left shoulder by one of the knives and received a minor injury that did not require medical attention.
Freeman was arrested without further incident and was charged with attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.
Couple Displaced by Fire
SNOW HILL — Dozens of firefighters from all over the region battled a fire on Tuesday that destroyed a residence and displaced an Eden couple.
Around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the Snow Hill Volunteer Fire Company, assisted by the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Company, responded to a reported residential structure fire on Meadow Bridge Rd. First arriving units reported heavy fire visible in the single-family home. It took roughly 40 firefighters over an hour to bring the blaze under control.
The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and determined the fire was caused by the storage of combustibles in close proximity to a wood stove. The occupants of the residence were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the American Red Cross of the Eastern Shore.
Drugs Found in Hotel
SALISBURY — A Chester, Md. man was arrested on drug possession charges last week after employees at a Salisbury motel found narcotics in the room from which he had just checked out.
Around 1:20 p.m. last Sunday, Salisbury Police responded to a motel on N. Salisbury Blvd. for a report of suspicious activity. Salisbury Police officers met with hotel employees who advised the officers they had found drugs and paraphernalia in a room from which Nicholas Todd Jenkins, 30, of Chester, had just checked out.
Chester was located still on the hotel premises, and when questioned about the employees’ discovery consented to allow police to check his luggage.
During the subsequent search, police located a quantity of heroin and prescription medication. Jenkins was arrested and charged with three counts each of possession of heroin and possession of paraphernalia.
Family Members Arrested
For Assaulting Officers
SALISBURY — Three members of the same family in Salisbury were arrested last week for assaulting law enforcement officers after allegedly turning on Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputies during a domestic dispute.
Around 2:30 p.m. last Thursday, Wicomico County deputies responded to a reported altercation in the roadway on Jersey Rd. Upon arrival, deputies learned an altercation had taken place between Terrance L. Finney, 19, and Tammy R. Finney, 42, both of Salisbury, during which Terrance Finney had broken out the window of a vehicle and lacerated his hand.
Wicomico County emergency services responded due to the injury, but requested police backup because of Terrance Finney’s agitation and alleged assault on EMS personnel. Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputies responded and attempted to detain Terrance Finney until they could sort out what had happened, but Finney allegedly cursed at them and pushed one of the deputies away, resulting in his arrest.
While officers were struggling with Terrance Finney, his brother, Terrell Finney, 20, of Salisbury, attempted to intercede in an attempt to get police away from his brother and he was subsequently arrested for assaulting an officer. Finally, Tammy Finney got involved in an attempt to prevent the arrest of her sons and allegedly grabbed a deputy. She too was arrested on assault charges.
Each was charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Each was taken before a District Court Commissioner, who ordered the three family members held on $25,000 bonds.
Attempted Rape Suspect
Under Evaluation
WEST OCEAN CITY — A Newark man arrested in September on first-degree assault, attempted rape and other serious charges after allegedly attacking a female employee at a West Ocean City motel was sent last week to a state psychological hospital to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial.
Around 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 9, 2010, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a reported assault and attempted rape at the Francis Scott Key Resort in West Ocean City. The investigation revealed a suspect, later identified as Jeffrey Lee Hall II, 21, whose last known address was in Newark, Md., had entered a room at the motel where a female employee was working, closed the door behind him and produced a jagged piece of metal fashioned into a weapon.
Hall allegedly threatened the victim with the makeshift weapon and demanded money. When the victim told Hall she had no money, he reportedly told her, “I need help, I’m homeless, and I need sex,” according to the statement of charges. After that, a struggle ensued and Hall allegedly forced the victim to the floor and physically and sexually assaulted her. The victim was able to wrest the weapon from Hall’s hand and threw it in a toilet.
The victim then freed herself from Hall and was able to attract the attention of other employees in the area. At that point, Hall fled the scene and ran toward a nearby parking lot. Hotel employees chased Hall and were able to detain him until police arrived.
Hall has been charged with first- and second-degree assault, attempted first- and second-degree rape, armed robbery, reckless endangerment, false imprisonment, a third- and fourth-degree sex offense and burglary. His trial had been scheduled for Feb. 8, but was postponed after a Worcester County Circuit Court judge ordered a further evaluation of his mental competency to stand trial. Hall is being held in guarded condition at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center where he is being evaluated on whether or not he presents a danger or himself or others, and if he is presently incompetent to stand trial. No new trial date has been set.
Assault Case Forwarded To Circuit
BERLIN — A Berlin woman arrested in November on assault and other charges in November after allegedly assaulting her former boyfriend with scissors before attempting to get out of a police car had her case forwarded to Circuit Court last week.
Around noon on Nov. 15, 2010, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported assault in progress at a residence in the Glen Riddle community. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the suspect, later identified as Terra Nicole Rygh, 30, of Berlin, who had allegedly assaulted her former boyfriend with a pair of scissors.
While in transport after her arrest, Rygh allegedly became very agitated and tried to release herself from her seatbelt, according to police reports. She was then secured in a car with a prisoner shield and transported to the sheriff’s office for processing. Rygh was charged with first- and second-degree assault, two counts of disorderly conduct and four counts of reckless endangerment.
Rygh failed to appear for trial in District Court last week and a warrant was sworn out for her arrest. The warrant was later rescinded and the case was forwarded to Circuit Court. A trial date has been set for next Tuesday, March 1.
Assault Over Facebook
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on assault and false imprisonment charges this week after allegedly fighting with his girlfriend over the social network Facebook.
Around 1:15 a.m. last Sunday, the Wicomico County 911 call center received a call with no communication but only a lot of yelling on the other end of the line, according to police reports. Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the residence to investigate and met with a man, later identified as Deaundre Simmons, 35, of Salisbury, and his girlfriend, who told police they became in a verbal altercation over Facebook, according to police reports.
During the investigation, the officers learned Simmons allegedly struck his girlfriend in the face with a shoe. She then tried to leave but Simmons pulled her from her vehicle and dragged her back into the house where he allegedly tried to choke her. Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputies observed signs of injury on the victim that appeared to corroborate the account of the assault.
Simmons was arrested and charged with first-degree assault and false imprisonment. He was taken before a Court Commissioner and ordered held on a $25,000 bond.
Knights Name Officer of Year
OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Police Department Corporal Dennis Eade last week was named the Ocean City Knights of Columbus “Officer of the Year,” his second such honor in as many months.
Eade was named OCPD Officer of the Year by the Knights of Columbus last Wednesday in a special ceremony during which several other honors were bestowed. Eade’s award from the Knights of Columbus comes on the heels of a similar honor awarded to him by the Ocean City Neighborhood Watch Association in January. OCPD Chief Bernadette DiPino praised Eade for the latest feather in his cap.
“I am extremely proud of Cpl. Dennis Eade,” she said. “He exemplifies many of the high qualities and standards that are expected of an Ocean City Police officer.”
Eade began his law enforcement career with the OCPD as a seasonal officer for three years from 1997-1999. He became a full-time OCPD officer in 2000. He is one of the only Ocean City officer who has been assigned to every division in the department.
In addition to being named “Officer of the Year,” Eade has six departmental commendations for outstanding police performance, three unit citations and a Chief’s commendation for pulling a drowning victim from the dangerous Ocean City Inlet waters.
Eade serves the OCPD in a number of capacities. He is a Maryland State Police and Corrections Training Commission certified police instructor. He is a Police Academy drill instructor and is one of the department’s defensive tactics instructors. Eade has also instructed full- and part-time officers in courtroom testimony, juvenile law, drug identification and advanced defensive tactics.
Eade is a member of the department’s Quick Response Team (SWAT) and is very active with the concerns of police survivors. He also serves as a community self defense instructor and has also instructed the Ocean City Citizens Police Academy. Last year, he was hand-selected by Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis as part of the search team that located the body of Sarah Foxwell.
Eade has organized several charitable events for the Maryland Special Olympics. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and spends his spare time participating in Ocean City recreational sports.
“I am honored and humbled to receive the Officer of the Year award,” he said. “I, along with my fellow nominees and the men and women of the Ocean City Police Department will surely continue to dedicate ourselves 100 percent to the town of Ocean City and to public safety.”