WEST OCEAN CITY — Two Eastern Shore men were arrested on motor vehicle theft charges last weekend after allegedly swiping a Jeep from a West Ocean City restaurant before it was discovered in the Park-and-Ride.
Around 11 a.m. on Saturday, a Maryland State Police trooper responded to Hooper’s in West Ocean City for a reported stolen vehicle. The vehicle was described as a 1994 Jeep Wrangler with no top and it was taken from the restaurant parking lot between the hours of 1:30 a.m. on Friday and 11 p.m. on Saturday.
The trooper interviewed the victim and then began to search the area in an attempt to locate the stolen Jeep. A few minutes later, the trooper located the stolen vehicle in the West Ocean City Park-and-Ride. The stolen Jeep was still occupied by two suspects later identified as Charles Carey, 33, of Delmar, and David Phillips, 25, of Salisbury.
Additional troopers responded to the area and arrested Carey and Phillips without incident. Both have been charged with felony motor vehicle theft.
Speeding Stop Leads To Pot
BERLIN — A Virginia woman was arrested on marijuana possession charges last Friday after a routine speeding stop on Route 50 in Berlin.
Around 3:45 p.m. last Friday, a Maryland State Police trooper on a traffic enforcement detail on eastbound Route 50 at Route 346 stopped a vehicle for going 71 mph in a 55 mph zone. The trooper made contact with the driver and the vehicle’s two passengers and smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside. A probable cause search was conducted and the front seat passenger, later identified as Corrine R. Osbourn, 21, of Fairfax, Va., handed the trooper a smoking device and advised the officer she had marijuana in her purse.
A total of 2.84 grams of marijuana were discovered and Osbourn was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. Osbourn was taken to the Berlin barrack and was processed and released on two criminal citations. The unidentified driver of the vehicle was also issued a citation for speeding.
SUV Overturns On Bridge
OCEAN CITY — A Berlin man was charged with driving under the influence and other traffic citations after leaving the roadway on the Route 90 bridge and overturning in a berm early Saturday morning.
Around 3:18 a.m. last Saturday, the Maryland State Police responded to a reported single-vehicle accident on the St. Martin’s River bridge on Route 90. The investigation revealed a 1997 Mercedes SUV had struck the guardrail along the berm of the bridge, causing it to overturn. The driver, identified as Antonio Espinoza, 22, of Berlin, was taken to PRMC for treatment injuries sustained in the crash.
During their initial contact with Espinoza, MSP troopers determined he had been consuming alcohol. He was later charged with DUI and related traffic citations. Traffic on the bridge was blocked for about an hour to allow for cleanup and vehicle removal.
Wild Ride Through Pocomoke
POCOMOKE — A local man was arrested on first-degree assault and numerous other charges last week after wild ride through Pocomoke during which he nearly struck several pedestrians and vehicles.
Around 5 p.m. last Tuesday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a report of reckless driving on Union Ville Rd. in Pocomoke. Additional 911 call were received over the next few minutes indicating the driver, later identified as George A. Bell, 62, of Pocomoke, was attempting to strike pedestrians and vehicles in the area.
The 911 calls continued as the vehicle approached Pocomoke city limits. Bell allegedly continued to barrel through Pocomoke, nearly striking several vehicles and pedestrians walking in the downtown area. The vehicle finally became disabled in the area of 3rd Street and Market Street. A uniformed deputy and an off-duty deputy pursued Bell on foot and took him into custody about a block away.
During the investigation, it was determined Bell was suffering from some type of medical issue and he was transported to PRMC for evaluation. During his transport to the hospital, Bell, who was restrained and seat-belted, began kicking and striking the deputy driving the vehicle.
At one point, Bell struck the steering wheel, causing the deputy to temporarily lose control of the vehicle in the area of the Princess Anne MSP barrack. Additional deputies from Worcester County, the MSP Berlin barrack, the MSP Princess Anne barrack and Pocomoke Police responded quickly and were able to secure Bell, who was then transported via ambulance to PRMC for evaluation.
Bell was issued 22 traffic citations and a criminal citation for malicious destruction of property. The investigation revealed he had driven through several yards, striking trees and signs, from Unionville Rd. to Pocomoke. He faces several criminal charges in Somerset County and is awaiting processing pending a release from medical personnel.
Four Years For Assault,
Cocaine Possession, DUI
SNOW HILL — A Berlin man, arrested last October on numerous charges including assaulting a police officer, drunk-driving and cocaine use following an incident that began at the Wal-Mart parking lot, was sentenced last week to a combined seven years in jail of which he will serve four.
Around 2:40 a.m. last Oct. 7, the Maryland State Police Berlin barrack received a call reporting an individual later identified as Terrez Rounds, 32, of Berlin, sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot of Wal-Mart snorting cocaine and consuming alcoholic beverages. The caller said Rounds had just left the location at Wal-Mart and was heading west on Route 50.
An MSP trooper already on a traffic stop at Route 50 and Seahawk Rd. received the lookout call about Rounds’ red Chevy Avalanche and observed the suspect vehicle pass his location. The trooper initiated a traffic stop at Friendship and Griffin roads. Rounds bailed out of the vehicle as it came to a stop and a foot chase and brief struggle ensued as Rounds fled into the wood line.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit and MSP Aviation tracked rounds to a residence on Pin Oak Drive a short time later and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. Rounds was arrested and charged with assault on an officer, resisting arrest, fleeing and eluding, DUI, possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine.
In May, Rounds pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, second-degree assault and driving under the influence, but sentencing was deferred. Back in court last Friday, Rounds was sentenced to four years for cocaine possession, two years for the second-degree assault on the police officer and one year for driving under the influence. The sentences will be served concurrently, netting Rounds a total of four years in jail.
Jail For Boat Operator
OCEAN CITY — A North Potomac man who was driving the boat which struck another man with the propeller causing serious injuries in Ocean City in June pleaded guilty last week to operating under the influence and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, half of which were then suspended.
On June 29, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) received a call on a reported boating accident involving an unidentified victim being struck with a boat propeller. NRP crews arrived at the scene about a mile out into the Assawoman Bay near 94th Street and transported the victim by boat to waiting Ocean City Fire Department EMS at 94th Street. The victim was then transported by Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 4 to PRMC in Salisbury.
The investigation revealed the victim was being pulled behind the vessel on an inner tube when he fell off. The boat circled back around to pick up the victim and he was struck by the vessel’s propeller as he attempted to get back into the boat, according to NRP public information officer Sgt. Brian Albert, who said the victim, whose name was not available, received severe wounds on both legs.
The operator of the vessel was identified as Joseph Stedman, 23, of North Potomac, Md., who was found to be under the influence of alcohol. Last Friday, Stedman pleaded guilty to operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, half of which was then suspended, resulting in 30 days of jail time.