Alcohol A Factor In Crash

BERLIN — Maryland State Police officials this week said alcohol was a factor in a single-vehicle crash on Route 50 early Saturday morning when a Toyota veered off the highway and struck a utility pole near Route 610.

Around 1 a.m. last Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a single-vehicle accident on Route 50 at Route 610 near Whaleyville. Witnesses reported a 2000 Toyota Echo was traveling in the center lane on westbound Route 50 when the driver, identified as Stephen Baxter Cohen, 23, failed to maintain control and drifted first into the left turn lane at Route 610 before leaving the roadway and striking a utility pole near the intersection.

Cohen, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, had to be extricated and was transported to PRMC in Salisbury. The severity and nature of his injuries are not known. Through the investigation, it was suspected that Cohen was under the influence of alcohol and he was subsequently arrested. Route 50 westbound was closed for approximately one hour for the investigation and vehicle removal and a detour was established using Route 610.

Collision Spree Ends in Ditch

BERLIN — A Seaford, Del. man, wanted in two other states, was arrested on drunk-driving charges last weekend after running into a another vehicle on Route 90, side-swiping the guardrail in the median of the highway and continuing on before finally crashing into a ditch near Bishopville.

Around 1:20 a.m. last Friday, an Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera was traveling west on Route 90 just west of the St. Martin’s River bridge when the driver observed a Volkswagen Passat approaching from the rear at a high rate of speed. The driver of the Oldsmobile moved onto the shoulder for fear of being struck from behind, but the Volkswagen, driven by William Herbert Glenn V, 28, of Seaford, struck the Oldsmobile on its driver’s side.

Glenn’s vehicle then careened into the guardrail in the median but continued heading west on Route 90. The driver of the Oldsmobile called 911 and followed Glenn heading west. A short time later, a Maryland State Police trooper spotted the Volkswagen and started to pursue Glenn. Glenn’s finally lost control of the vehicle in the area of Route 367 just south of Hotel Rd. near Bishopville and crashed into a roadside ditch.

There were no injuries reported for either Glenn or the driver of the Oldsmobile. Glenn was ultimately charged with driving under the influence. The investigation revealed Glenn was also wanted in Delaware and New Jersey on failure to appear warrants. He was arrested and taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held at the Worcester County Detention Center pending extradition proceedings.

Speeding Stop Nets Pot

BERLIN — An Easton man was arrested on drug possession charges last weekend after the vehicle in which he was a passenger was stopped by police for going about 100 miles per hour on Route 50 near Berlin.

Around 8:25 last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies observed a silver Audi traveling east on Route 50 near Berlin at roughly 100 miles per hour.  The deputies stopped the vehicle and upon approaching its occupants observed behavior suggesting criminal activity was afoot. As the rear passenger, identified as James D. Owens, 20, of Easton, exited the vehicle, a glass smoking device was located on the seat. Owens was also in possession of several unidentified pills.

Owens was arrested and charged with possession of controlled dangerous substances. The driver was cited for speeding, reckless driving, negligent driving and following too closely.

Alleged Thief Nabbed

WEST OCEAN CITY — A Hebron man was arrested on theft charges last weekend after his truck pulling a trailer full of allegedly stolen sheet metal was discovered broken down on the side of Route 50 just west of Old Bridge Rd.

Around 1:50 a.m. last Saturday, a Worcester County sheriff’s deputy on patrol observed what appeared to a disabled pick-up truck and utility trailer on the shoulder of westbound Route 50 just west of Old Bridge Rd. The deputy stopped to offer assistance and observed an individual later identified as Nicholas Vilkas, 23, of Hebron, standing outside and looking perplexed at the truck-trailer combination.

The deputy observed the trailer had sheets of formed metal loaded onto it that extended up and over the bed of the pick-up truck and onto its roof. The truck’s rear window had been shattered apparently by the sheets of metal that had shifted. The deputy noted in his report there had been reports of theft from area businesses involving sheet metal.

While standing on the side of the road, Vilkas admitted to the deputy he had stolen the trailer and the sheets of metal from the rear of a business on Route 50. Vilkas was arrested and charged with two counts of theft. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on personal recognizance pending trial.

Weed, Weapon Found

OCEAN CITY — Two Pennsylvania men were arrested on various charges last weekend after a routine traffic stop for not wearing seatbelts revealed drugs and weapons in their vehicle.

Around 10:30 a.m. last Sunday, an OCPD officer pulled over a vehicle on Baltimore Ave. after discovering neither of the two occupants were wearing seatbelts. As the vehicle was turning off Baltimore Ave. to stop, the officer noticed a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette was tossed from the passenger side window. During the investigation, the officers seized marijuana cigarettes, loose weed in a plastic bag and drug paraphernalia.

Through the investigation, the officers determined the driver, identified as Jason Karl Brandt, 20, of Leola, Pa., was allegedly selling marijuana. As a result, the OCPD officers seized Brandt’s vehicle, along with $900 in cash and a set of nunchuka, or nunchucks, as contraband. Brandt and his passenger, identified as Jason Kichline, 19, of West Chester, Pa., were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, possession of a concealed dangerous weapon and possession of nunchuka. Each was taken before a District Court Commissioner and later released.