Shooting Suspect Sought

Shooting Suspect Sought
Caprice Chevy 6

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are looking for the suspect wanted in connection with the shooting of a juvenile late Sunday.

Around 9:30 p.m. last Sunday, Salisbury Police responded to a reported shooting in the area of Records Street and E. Church Street. Upon arrival, officers located a 15-year-old male who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. The investigation revealed the victim was standing in the area when the unknown suspect approached him on foot and shot him.

The victim was transported to PRMC for treatment and his condition or the extent of his injuries has not been made public pending further medical evaluation. The suspect is described only as a thin, African-American male. Anyone with information is urged to contact Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165, or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

New Year’s Eve DWI Chase

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on drunk driving and fleeing and eluding charges last week after nearly ramming a police patrol car and leading officers on a chase following a DWI stop on New Year’s Eve.

Around 1 a.m. last Sunday, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a vehicle in a convenience store parking lot near Nanticoke Rd. for not using its headlights at night. Upon stopping, the driver, later identified as Andres Smith, 22, of Salisbury, put his vehicle in reverse and backed up quickly in an apparent attempt to ram the officer’s patrol car.

The officer was able to back up quickly to avoid a collision and began to pursue Smith, who fled the convenience store parking lot in his vehicle. The officer pursued Smith westbound on Route 50 before turning onto Booth Street, where the pursuit entered a residential neighborhood.

At that point, Smith abandoned his vehicle and the chase continued on foot. The officer eventually caught Smith on Manoa Blvd. after a chase across several yards in the neighborhood. The officer was able to determine Smith was visibly under the influence of alcohol. His Maryland driver’s license was also suspended or revoked. Smith was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, attempting to flee and elude and driving while suspended and revoked. He was detained in the detention center on a $25,000 bond.

Casino Lot Theft Conviction

BERLIN — A Bishopville man was arrested on theft charges this week after police caught him stealing money from vehicles parked at the Casino at Ocean Downs pleaded guilty last week to rogue and vagabond and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, almost all of which was suspended.

Around 6:15 p.m. on October 9, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the Casino at Ocean Downs for a reported disorderly individual. The deputy spoke with the casino’s security manager, who had the suspect, later identified as Antonio Hayward, 24, of Bishopville, detained by a wooded area on the south side of the facility’s parking lot.

The security officer told police he had observed Hayward allegedly attempting to enter vehicles in the parking lot. The security officer confronted Hayward while the suspect was going through a white Suzuki SX4. Hayward fled the scene and the security officer pursued, eventually catching the suspect.

Hayward admitted entering the vehicles in an attempt to gain money for a ride home. A search of Hayward revealed the suspect had over $11 on his person. Hayward admitted the money had been taken from the Suzuki. The owner of the vehicle confirmed the money had been taken from the vehicle’s ashtray. Hayward was charged with theft under $100 and rogue and vagabond.

Last week, Hayward pleaded guilty to rogue and vagabond and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, 88 of which were suspended. He was also fined $200 and placed on probation for three years.

Auto Theft Conviction

SNOW HILL — A Pocomoke woman arrested on auto theft charges in November after swiping a motor vehicle belong to a Pocomoke business was found guilty of unlawful taking last week and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Around 4 a.m. on Nov. 16, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a residence in Pocomoke for a reported auto theft. The troopers met with the victim, who told police a 1998 Mercury Mystique belonging to Nock’s Tire Service had been taken from the residence. The victim told police the suspect, later identified as Rebecca Lynn Bell, 40, of Pocomoke, had likely taken the vehicle and that she didn’t have permission to do so. The victim told police Bell lived in a separate apartment at the residence.

A description of the stolen vehicle and the suspect was broadcasted. A short time later, Pocomoke Police observed the vehicle in the area of Old Snow Hill Rd. and initiated a traffic stop. Pocomoke Police identified the driver as Bell and she was taken into custody. Bell was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving while suspended.

Last week, Bell pleaded guilty to unlawful taking and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, all but 23 of which were suspended. She was then given credit for the 23 days she spent in jail awaiting trial and was fined $200 and placed on probation for three years.

Jail For Two DWIs In Three Hours

BERLIN — A Salisbury woman arrested in August on drunk-driving charges twice within the span of about three hours, the second time with her four-year-old child in the vehicle, appeared in court in both Worcester and Wicomico counties last week with varying outcomes.

Around 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 18, Maryland State Police troopers from the Salisbury barrack responded to a report of a possible intoxicated driver in the area of westbound Route 50 at Hobbs Rd. MSP troopers pulled over the suspected vehicle later determined the driver, identified as Ann Marie Abdullin, while operating while impaired by alcohol. Abdullin had her four-year-old child in the vehicle at the time of the stop.

The investigation revealed Abdullin had just been released from the MSP Berlin barrack following her arrest around 1:30 a.m. in Worcester County for driving while intoxicated. The DWI arrest in Wicomico occurred just about three after Abdullin’s arrest in Worcester.

According to police reports, Abdullin was released from the MSP Berlin barrack by a sober driver, who transported her back to her vehicle and allowed her to drive away. Abdullin was charged in Wicomico with driving under the influence and while impaired, operating a motor vehicle within 12 hours of being arrested for DUI, negligent driving and other minor traffic offenses. She was also charged with second-degree assault on the law enforcement officer although the details of that segment of the incident were not included in the police report.

Last week in Worcester County, Abdullin was found guilty of driving while impaired while transporting a minor and was fined $500. She was also found guilty in Wicomico County of driving while under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to 180 days, all but six of which were suspended.

30 Days For Driving While Suspended

OCEAN CITY — A Delmar man, arrested on marijuana possession and traffic charges in August after side-swiping a vehicle on Coastal Highway before being stopped a short time later and found with pot and paraphernalia, was found guilty last week in District Court of driving while suspended and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Around 5 p.m. on Aug. 12, a broadcast went out in reference to a hit-and-run incident in the area of 56th Street minutes earlier. The victim told police the suspect, later identified as Stayton Hastings, 58, of Delmar, was driving northbound on Coastal Highway in the area of 56th Street when he side-swiped the victim’s vehicle.

Hastings then made a U-turn and headed southbound on Coastal Highway. The victim followed and pulled up next to Hastings, blowing her vehicle’s horn and attempting to tell the suspect he had just hit her car. The victim told police Hastings was not paying attention and continued to drive aggressively in and out of traffic.

A short time later, an OCPD officer on patrol in the downtown area observed the suspect’s vehicle at a traffic light at North Division Street. According to police reports, Stayton’s vehicle was stationary and the suspect was blowing the vehicle’s horn for no apparent reason while all traffic was stopped. According to police reports, Hastings was throwing his arms in the air and dancing in the vehicle.

The officer told Hastings to put his vehicle in park, but the suspect told police he was not going to do that and asked why. Hastings then asked police to allow him to pull into a side street, but the request was denied. Police observed an open alcoholic beverage container in the center console, but Hastings attempted to put it under the passenger seat. When asked about the drink, Hasting allegedly told police that was the only one he had.

Also observed strewn throughout the vehicle was loose marijuana. A background check revealed Hastings was driving on a suspended or revoked license in both Maryland and Delaware. Hastings explained he was not allowed to drive because of an amputated leg. Hastings was arrested and charged with driving while suspended or revoked. A search revealed a baggie of marijuana on his person and an additional plastic tube of pot in the center console. Hastings’ allegedly told police the pot belonged to a friend and he knew it was his responsibility, but that it was legal.

Hastings was charged with hit-and-run and other traffic charges along with marijuana possession and driving on a suspended or revoked license. Last week, he was found guilty of driving while suspended and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Burglary Forwarded to Circuit

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City woman arrested on first-degree burglary charges in November after resort police were able to connect her to a motel room robbery back in June had her case forwarded to Circuit Court this week after probable cause was determined during a preliminary hearing.

Around 8 p.m. on June 16, an OCPD officer met with the victims of a reported burglary at the Sea Scape Motel on the Boardwalk at 16th Street. The victims told police they had left their room around 9 a.m., leaving their belongings behind. The returned around 7:30 p.m. and discovered a suitcase had been moved and some property was missing including a lap-top computer, a digital camera and around $450 in currency. Also missing was a cell phone.

No signs of forced entry were observed, and the investigation remained open. On Oct. 11, a local woman, identified as Billy Jo Conner, 43, of Ocean City, was arrested for an outstanding warrant related to credit card theft. The arresting officer routinely checked the Maryland Regional Automated Property Information Database (RAPID) for any pawns Conner had made.

The RAPID system reported Conner had pawned a lap-top computer at a pawn shop in Salisbury around noon on June 16, the same day the robbery was reported at the Sea Scape. The officer was then able to determine the lap-top computer was likely the same one reported stolen in June. The investigating officer then ran a history check to see if there were any other calls for service at the motel around the same date and time.

The officer discovered Conner and her boyfriend had been staying at the motel in a room adjacent to the room where the robbery occurred. A check with motel staff revealed there had been several complaints about Conner’s room and the couple had been evicted because of all of the commotion. While the evidence certainly pointed to Conner as the suspect in the burglary, the investigating officer last week contacted the Hewlett Packard support line and confirmed the lap-top computer pawned by Conner had been registered to the victim in the robbery.

Conner appeared in District Court last week and had her case forwarded to Circuit Court after probable cause was determined. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 25.