Assault, Abduction

SALISBURY — Two Delaware men were arrested last week and charged with assault and kidnapping after allegedly abducting a woman at gunpoint from PRMC in Salisbury.

Around 4 p.m. on April 15, Salisbury Police responded to PRMC for a reported assault and abduction. The investigation revealed a 31-year-old female had gone to PRMC alone when her ex-boyfriend, later identified as Earl T. Allen, 44, of Harbeson, Del., arrived in the waiting room, followed the victim into a treatment room and displayed a handgun after the nurse left the room.

According to police reports, Allen made threats to kill the victim and her children if she did not follow his instructions and leave the hospital. The victim complied and left the hospital with Allen and entered a vehicle driven by another suspect, identified as Oliver Maull, 49, of Lewes. The victim attempted to exit the vehicle several times but was restrained by Allen. The victim was able to exit the vehicle in the area of Route 13 and Centre Rd. and ran through a parking lot to a nearby business. Allen and Maull attempted to pull her back in but she escaped with the help of a witness.

The next day, the Maryland State Police Apprehension Team located and arrested Allen and Maull in Delaware. Each has been charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, first and second degree assault, reckless endangerment and firearms charges.

Heroin Dealer Gets 15 Years

SNOW HILL — A Salisbury man arrested on heroin distribution and other charges in Ocean City last September, during which he was Tased while allegedly resisting arrest, pleaded guilty last week to distribution of heroin and was sentenced to 15 years in jail.

Last Sept. 4, Ocean City police concluded an investigation into heroin distribution in the resort area with the arrest of Arnesto Lee Smith, 33, of Salisbury. Smith was arrested after a four-week undercover operation during which undercover narcotics detectives made several purchases of the illegal drug from the suspect.

Smith was arrested last Sept. 4 in the area of 45th Street. During the arrest, several OCPD officers were needed to subdue Smith, who was ultimately shot with an electronic control device (ECD), or Taser, in order to be brought under control. At the time of his arrest, Smith was in possession of four bags of heroin, numerous Xanax pills and a quantity of money, all of which were seized as evidence.

Smith was charged with three counts of distribution of heroin, four counts of possession with intent to distribute, possession of Xanax with intent to distribute and resisting arrest. Last week, he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin and was sentenced to 15 years. He will serve a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years without the possibility of parole.

Dealer Pleads To Possession

SNOW HILL — An Ocean View, Del. resident arrested on marijuana distribution and possession charges last fall after allegedly twice selling weed to undercover OCPD narcotics detectives pleaded guilty last week to possession of marijuana and was sentenced to 10 days in jail, all of which was suspended in favor of probation and a fine.

Last July and August, the OCPD narcotics unit received numerous anonymous tips about a female bartender selling marijuana and Adderall. One of the tips came in the form of a letter detailing the transactions allegedly carried out by Jill Lauren Spinnenweber, 34.

Around 8 p.m. on Sept. 13, OCPD officers went to her employment in an attempt to make contact with Spinnenweber and found her working behind a local bar. For about two hours, the undercover officers talked socially with her while she was working, and when they were about to leave, the officers asked Spinnenweber if she knew where they could find some “blow,” or slang for cocaine, according to police reports.

Around 3 p.m. the next day, the undercover officer text messaged Spinnenweber, confirming the deal was still on. According to police reports, Spinnenweber messaged the officer to meet her at her place of employment around 6 p.m. The officers arrived and waited on the sidewalk near the business. An undercover officer went behind the dumpster as directed and completed the transaction with Spinnenweber, according to police reports.

Two days later, the OCPD undercover officers made a similar arrangement with Spinnenweber via text message, this time for a quarter of an ounce of marijuana. An arrangement was made for the transaction to take place in the parking lot of another business uptown. The officer went to the location at the appointed time and completed the marijuana purchase from Spinnenweber in her vehicle out of the same blue bag used in the earlier transaction. She was arrested later the same day and charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Last week, Spinnenweber pleaded guilty to possession and was sentenced to 10 days, which was then suspended. She was then placed on probation for 18 months and fined $500.

Probation For Tossing Bombs

SNOW HILL — A West Ocean City man arrested last November along with four juveniles for manufacturing and possessing explosive devices after allegedly tossing homemade bombs from their vehicle in the Glen Riddle community pleaded guilty last week to reckless endangerment and was fined and placed on probation.

Shortly after 11 p.m. on Nov. 16, Maryland State Police received numerous calls from the area of Maid at Arms Lane in the Glen Riddle community along Route 50 in West Ocean City in reference to a red pick-up truck driving through the neighborhood and throwing explosive devices from the vehicle. MSP troopers, along with Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deputies, responded and were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle moments after the calls were placed and conducted a traffic stop just outside the community.

An extensive investigation revealed the suspects, including one adult, identified as Luke Bargar, 19, of West Ocean City, and four juveniles, were throwing homemade bombs from the vehicle. The explosive devices were manufactured from common household products purchased at a local convenience store. The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office also responded and identified the homemade explosive devices as “hydrogen gas bombs.”

Several of the devices exploded on the roadways and near home and vehicles within the Glen Riddle community. One local adult, whose name is being withheld at the moment because of the ongoing investigation, along with four juveniles were arrested and charged with manufacturing and possessing an explosive device and reckless endangerment.

The four juveniles were released to their parents, while Bargar was taken before a District Court Commissioner and later released. No injuries or private property damage was reported. Last week, Bargar pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and was fined $100 and placed on probation for one year. The other charges were dismissed. The disposition of the juvenile cases in not known.

Heroin, Weapons Bust

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man faces drug distribution and weapons charges this week after a pair of search and seizure warrants turned up large amounts of heroin and a cache of weapons.

Last Thursday, the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force executed search warrants on two properties, one a residence on Tony Tank Lane and the other a business called Jones Craft International on S. Salisbury Blvd. in connection with an ongoing narcotics investigation. At Jones Craft International, officers seized nearly 24 grams of suspected heroin, one .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and one H&K shotgun.

When officers searched the Tony Tank Lane residence, they discovered 2.7 grams of heroin, over 48 grams of marijuana and two .45 caliber handguns. In connection with the two search warrant executions, officers arrested Caleb Wesley Jones III, 64, of Salisbury. Jones has been charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm with a nexus to a drug trafficking crime and possession of paraphernalia. He was taken before a court commissioner and was later released after posting a $75,000 bond.