OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) last week arrested two men on first-degree burglary and theft charges after watching them go in and out of downtown apartments.
Around 4 a.m. on Aug. 11, an OCPD officer on bike patrol in the downtown area observed two individuals, later identified as Dashawn Andre Blake, Jr., 20, of Snow Hill, and Rodney Russell Fisher, Jr., 22, of Princess Anne, acting suspiciously in the area of 8th Street and Wilmington Ave. The officer followed the two men at a distance until observing them entering a residence and exiting quickly.
The officer detained Blake and Fisher for questioning and found them to be in possession of several video game discs. While questioning Blake and Fisher, the officer was contacted by residents of two apartments on 9th Street, who reported numerous items stolen from their residences including two lap-top computers, 50 video games, a Sony video gaming system, a Samsung flat-screen television and an I-pad computer.
Based on the victim testimony and the discovery of video game discs on their persons, Blake and Fisher were arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, theft over $10,000 and under $100,000, and theft under $1,000. Each was taken before a District Court Commissioner, who ordered the suspects held on $50,0000 bonds before transferring them to the Worcester County Jail.
Fiesty Suspect Scraps With Cops
OCEAN CITY — A Dundalk man was arrested on assault charges last weekend after allegedly scrapping with OCPD officers attempting to arrest him.
Around 2:20 a.m. last Friday, an Ocean City police officer stopped a group of individuals believed to be involved in an assault in the area of 3rd Street and Baltimore Ave. When the officer began identifying members of the group, he discovered one of them, later identified as Vernon Fields, 20, of Dundalk, had a warrant out for his arrest.
When the officer attempted to take Fields into custody, he resisted arrest and struggled with the officer attempting to handcuff him. When another officer interceded, Fields allegedly got up and started thrashing around and pulling away before falling over between the curb and a vehicle.
At one point, Fields attempted to punch one of the officers, but the officer responded by punching Fields in the face. Fields continued to fight with three OCPD officers before his girlfriend also joined the fray. One officer continued to punch Fields in the head and body, while another grabbed his head and pushed it into the side of vehicle. At that point, the call went out for all available units to respond.
At different times during the altercation, Fields attempted to grab OCPD officers around the waist. When he attempted to grab one officer, the officer applied a knee strike to the suspect, knocking him to the ground. At that point, Fields fell on top of another officer already on the ground. According to police reports, all officers on the scene were sustained injuries during the fight, which was called “extremely violent and chaotic.”
One officer had marks on his hands and legs, while another was struck in the face during the altercation and one more injured his hand. Another officer rushing to the scene injured his ankle and required treatment at the hospital and will be out of work until further notice, according to police reports. A crowd of roughly 10 people watched the incident from across the street and one reportedly told an officer on standby Fields fighting with three uniformed officers was ridiculous. Fields was finally subdued and was charged with three counts of assault and resisting arrest.
Vending Machine Thieves Sought
OCEAN CITY — The OCPD is seeking the public’s help in identifying two suspects wanted in connection with a break-in of a vending machine in front of a bayfront restaurant in early August.
On Aug. 5, OCPD officers responded to Fish Tales on the bay at 21st Street for a reported theft from a vending machine. During the investigation, OCPD officers were able to capture still photos of the suspects from the restaurant’s video surveillance system. The OCPD is asking for the public’s help in identifying the two suspects captured on video breaking into the vending machine. Anyone with information is urged to contact the OCPD’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6604.
Punched Out Restaurant Window
OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man was arrested on malicious destruction of property charges last week after allegedly busting out the window of a downtown pizza parlor.
Around 7:25 p.m. last Thursday, OCPD responded to the area of Baltimore Ave. downtown for a reported disorderly subject. The officers met with a witness who told police she had just seen a person break the window of Soprano’s restaurant. The witness pointed out the suspect, who was still in the area, wearing black shorts and black T-shirt and was jumping up and down, according to police reports. The witness also told police the same suspect had kicked a trashcan into a blue Corvette parked across the street from Soprano’s.
OCPD then took the suspect, later identified as Shawn Dale Rudasill, 19, of Ocean City, into custody while officers conducted their investigation. According to police reports, Rudasill was yelling “[expletive deleted] Ocean City,” and “the Ocean City Police [expletive deleted].” Rudasill was then arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property.
When asked if he understood his Miranda rights, Rudasill allegedly told police, “yes, I understand my rights. I want to talk to my manager.” When asked if he was responsible for breaking the restaurant window, he allegedly told police, “I punched the window. I will take all consequences.” The consequences included being charged with malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct.
Indecent Exposure Ends Busy Night
OCEAN CITY — A Salisbury man was arrested on indecent exposure charges last weekend after resort police allegedly discovered him knocking on motel doors while naked early last Friday morning.
Around 4:45 a.m. last Friday, OCPD responded to the Sea Cove Motel on 27th Street for a report of a disorderly individual knocking on unit doors. An OCPD officer arrived on the scene and as he exited his vehicle, he heard someone punching or pounding something on the second floor. As the officer climbed the stairs to the second floor, he reportedly heard someone pounding on a door while mumbling.
The officer was able to locate the source of the pounding, which was growing louder, according to police reports. When the officer reached the unit in question, he encountered an individual, later identified as Matthew Jay Cline, 28, of Salisbury, who was completely naked with his back to the officer. Cline reportedly continued to pound on the door for two more minutes before the officer announced his presence.
Cline then turned around, providing the officer with a full, frontal nudity view of the suspect. Cline was ordered to the ground and was handcuffed before the officer help him put back on his clothes, which were about 20 feet away from the door he was banging on.
A search of Cline revealed 15 pills later identified as oxymorphone in the suspect’s pants pocket. When asked what the pills were for, Cline allegedly told the police they were “opana” and that they had been prescribed to him. When asked why they were loose in his pocket, Cline told police they were easier to carry that way. Police also found nearly $500 in cash on the suspect, but he denied any involvement with dealing drugs.
Cline was also found to have cuts and bruises on his face, including his left eye, which was swollen shut. When asked about his injuries, Cline told police he had been involved in an assault earlier and had already dealt with Ocean City Police for that incident. Cline was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and possession of CDS.
15 Years For Firing Shots At Cop
SALISBURY — A Hebron man was found guilty of first-degree assault and other charges this week following an incident on Longview Drive last November during which he fired three shots at a Maryland State Police trooper.
Last Nov. 26, Wyatt Alan Young, 18, of Hebron, fired three shots at an MSP trooper approaching his vehicle in the area of Longview Drive. On Monday, Young was found guilty of first-degree assault, third-degree burglary and the use of a handgun in the commission of a felony and was sentenced to a combined 15 years in jail.
The Wicomico State’s Attorney’s Office was seeking a total of 25 years in the case, but Young was ultimately sentenced to 10 years for the first-degree assault conviction, five years for the felony handgun conviction, which will be served consecutive to the assault sentence, and an additional five years for the burglary conviction, to be served concurrently with the first two counts. Young will be required to serve a minimum of 10 years before being eligible for parole.
Fines Levied For Undersized Hard Crabs
SNOW HILL — Two men cited in June for possession of several bushels of undersized male hard crabs were each found guilty last week and each was fined $1,000 for each offense.
On June 11, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) were patrolling in the Chincoteague Bay when they stopped a vessel for an inspection. The two men on board, Vernon Bailey, Jr., 42, of Salisbury, and Ellis Barton, 40, of Westover, were found to be in possession of over 1,200 undersized male hard crabs. Last week in District Court, Bailey was found guilty of two counts of possession and Barton was found guilty of one count. Each man was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for each count.
Man Burned In Pines House Fire
OCEAN PINES — An Ocean Pines man was treated for burns to his face, hands and extremities last week after a fire at his residence on Bramblewood Drive.
Last Friday, the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Company responded to a reported residential fire on Bramblewood Drive. First arriving units discovered the homeowner, Ronald A. Sieka, had extinguished the fire prior to their arrival. Sieka suffered burns to his face, hands and extremities and was transported to PRMC in Salisbury for treatment.
The investigation revealed the fire started in the kitchen from a pot of grease on the stove. The homeowner was heating oil on the stove to cook French fries when the oil ignited and spread from the pot to the cabinets in the kitchen. The cause of the fire has been listed as accidental by the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office and the investigation is closed.
Caught With Undersized Marlin
OCEAN CITY — Last Saturday, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) officials were conducting compliance checks in and around the resort area when they cited a Davidsonville man with possession of an undersized white marlin.
NMFS officials last Saturday were conducting an enforcement detail in the Atlantic and the coastal bays near Ocean City to monitor the compliance of laws and regulations associated with offshore fishing. During the detail, NMFS officials boarded a vessel operated by Patrick Arrington Coomes of Davidsonville, who was found in possession of an undersized white marlin, which carries a potential $1,000 fine. A trial has been set for Oct. 7 in District Court in Worcester County.