POCOMOKE- – A Pocomoke man was arrested on rape charges and his mother was also arrested for attempting to hide him from police last week.
Around 9 p.m. on March 9, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested David Dwayne Dickerson, 22, on a Worcester County Circuit Court warrant charging him with second-degree rape and a sex offense. Dickerson was taken into custody and was ordered to be held on a $100,000 bond.
While serving Dickerson with the warrant, it was learned his mother, identified as Tammy Terrail Copes, 40, also of Pocomoke, was attempting to hide Dickerson from deputies. Copes was later charged with false statement to a police officer and harboring a fugitive.
Drugs Found In Vehicle
WHALEYVILLE — A Willards man was arrested on drug possession and other charges last week after getting pulled over on Route 610 in Whaleyville for a routine traffic violation.
Around 8:30 a.m. last Friday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was on routine patrol on Route 610 when the officer observed a vehicle going 64 mph in a 55 mph zone. The officer also noted when the driver applied the brakes, a center brake light wasn’t working on the vehicle. The deputy stopped the vehicle, driven by Bryant Cooper, 22, and an odor of marijuana was detected.
During the subsequent search, the deputy found a still smoldering marijuana cigarette. Further investigation revealed Cooper’s Maryland driver’s license was suspended and that the tags on the vehicle were reported stolen in Delaware. Cooper was arrested and charged with speeding, driving while suspended and revoked and possession of marijuana. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on his own recognizance. Delaware will reportedly charge Cooper additionally with the theft of the tags.
Passed Out Behind Wheel
BISHOPVILLE — A Selbyville man was arrested on drunk-driving charges last weekend after police found him passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle.
Around 9:20 p.m. last Sunday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to a residence on Bishopville Rd. for a reported suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, the deputy located a suspect identified as Mansfield Gott III, 30, passed out behind the wheel with the car still in drive. According to police reports, Gott appeared to have been drinking and he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. He was released pending trial.
Smoking Weed While Driving
STOCKTON — A Severna Park woman was arrested on multiple violations including possession of marijuana after getting pulled over for speeding on Route 12 last weekend.
Around 12:20 a.m. last Sunday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle on Route 12 in Stockton for going 68 mph in a 50 mph zone. The driver, later identified as Kristie Dove, 41, of Severna Park, was also using a handheld telephone while driving. The deputy approached the vehicle and detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside.
A search of the vehicle turned up marijuana and paraphernalia. Dove was issued two criminal citations for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, along with a warning for speeding and a traffic citation for using the handheld phone while driving.
Guilty Verdict Leads To Jail
SNOW HILL — A Whaleyville man arrested in January on drunk-driving and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charges after crashing into a ditch during a snowstorm pleaded guilty last week to driving under influence and was sentenced to 30 days, all but four of which were then suspended.
Around 10 p.m. on Jan. 21, a Maryland State Police trooper patrolling the roadways in Worcester during a snowstorm for possible stranded motorists observed a vehicle in a ditch along Route 610 at Donoway Rd. The driver, identified as Jeffrey Bradley, lost control of the vehicle due to the heavy snow and became disabled in a ditch. While speaking to Bradley, the trooper detected an odor of alcohol and also discovered his driving privileges were suspended.
The owner of the vehicle, also Bradley’s employer, was advised and arrived on the scene and told police Bradley took the vehicle from the place of business without permission or authorization. Bradley was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Last week, Bradley was found guilty of driving while impaired and was sentenced to 30 days, all but four of which were then suspended. He was also fined $400 and placed on probation.
Not Guilty Of Impersonating
SNOW HILL — A Girdletree man charged last October with impersonating an officer after allegedly pretending to be Worcester County Sheriff Reggie Mason in an email dispute on Craig’s List was found not guilty this week in District Court.
Last October, Michael Sponseller, 43, of Girdletree, had allegedly placed an ad on Craig’s List in an attempt to sell dogs. Sponseller then engaged in an argument with another individual through email over the legality of selling dogs through the popular website. Through an email exchange, Sponseller allegedly identified himself as Sheriff Reggie Mason and threatened to arrest the other individual for harassing him about the advertisement on Craig’s List.
Detectives obtained the email exchanges including the indication that Sponseller was portraying himself as Mason and the threats of arrest over the ad placement. Sponseller was then charged with impersonating an officer. In District Court this week, Sponseller was found not guilty.
Ocean Pines House Fire
OCEAN PINES — A fire at an Ocean Pines residence last week originated in an area under a deck but the cause is listed as undetermined and the investigation is ongoing.
Around 9 p.m. last Wednesday, the Ocean Pines, Berlin and Show Fire Companies responded to a reported residential fire on Seafarer Lane in Ocean Pines. First arriving units observed smoke extending from the exterior of the split level dwelling. The fire was quickly extinguished by the first arriving fire units and the Ocean Pines Police.
All of the home’s occupants were able to safely escape and no injuries were reported. The fire originated in an area under the rear deck, which had been converted into a storage area. The cause is listed as undetermined and the investigation was continuing this week. Anyone with information is urged to contact Chief Deputy Matt Owens at 410-632-5666, or by email at [email protected].
Dirt Bike Rider Sought
SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are looking for the public’s help in identifying and locating a suspect wanted in connection with a hit-and-run collision involving dirt bikes last Saturday evening that sent one victim to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Around 7:30 p.m. last Saturday, Salisbury Police observed a group of roughly 15 individuals operating dirt bikes recklessly in the area of W. Isabella Street and N. Division Street. The group was seen riding dirt bikes on both sides of the street and on the sidewalks and in neighboring yards. The riders continued onto Lake Street at which point the group started breaking up.
Before Salisbury Police could stop the violators, an accident occurred in the area of Lake Street and Booth Street involving two of the dirt bikes. The preliminary investigation and witness accounts indicate a dirt bike being operated by Travon Williams, 20, of Cambridge, collided with another dirt bike near the intersection. Williams lost control of his dirt bike and struck a Ford Expedition stopped in the area.
Williams was transported to PRMC and later Shock Trauma for injuries believed to be life-threatening. The operator of the second dirt bike involved in the collision fled the scene and had not been identified as of mid-week. Anyone with information on the incident, and particularly the identity of the second dirt bike operator, is urged to contact Salisbury Police at (410) 548-3165, or Crime Solvers at (410) 548-1776. Crime Solvers routinely pays rewards up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Callers in this case who provide information, even anonymously, will be eligible for a cash reward.
Speeding Leads To Charges
SALISBURY — A Delaware woman was arrested on drunk-driving charges last week after getting pulled over for speeding before urinating on herself.
Around 12:50 a.m. last Tuesday, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle for speeding on South Salisbury Blvd. When the officer approached the driver, identified as Sara Adkins, 49, of Laurel, Del., a strong odor of alcohol was detected and an open beer can was observed in the center console. The deputy noted Adkins could barely stand up and that, combined with other physical indicators, including that Adkins had urinated on herself, led the deputy to suspect she was operating her vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Adkins was placed under arrest for DUI, at which point she became verbally abusive toward the officer, yelling a myriad of profane insults in his direction, according to police reports.