West OC Burglary

WEST OCEAN CITY — A West Ocean City man was arrested on burglary and other charges last weekend after first allegedly breaking into the home of his ex-girlfriend and later fleeing the scene on foot.

Around 11:30 p.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers were dispatched to a residence on Salisbury Rd. in West Ocean City for a reported burglary in progress. The complainant told police her ex-husband, identified as Steven C. Hudson, 50, of West Ocean City, broke into her house and when she confronted him, he fled the area on foot.

K-9 units and MSP Aviation were called in to assist in the search for Hudson. An OCPD K-9 unit was able to track Hudson in his hiding spot under the rear deck of a house located at the intersection of Keyser Point Rd. and Salisbury Rd. When MSP troopers and Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to take Hudson into custody, he resisted arrest. Hudson was ultimately taken into custody and was charged with first-degree burglary, resisting arrest and trespassing. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held on a $20,000 bond.

Drug Arrests

OCEAN CITY — Two Pennsylvania residents were arrested on multiple drug charges last week after a routine traffic stop in Ocean City.

Around 12:20 a.m. last Thursday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the area of 51st Street and Coastal Highway observed a vehicle with no headlights on. The vehicle was stopped and when deputies made contact with the occupants, the driver appeared to be nervous. Deputies requested a K-9 unit from the OCPD and that led to a positive alert.

While searching the vehicle, deputies found a large amount of marijuana, a large amount of the prescription medicine Adderall, Molly, which is a powder form of MDMA, and other drug-related items. The driver was identified as Jessica Lynn Gerz, 19, of Strasburg, Pa., and the passenger was identified as Derrick Logan Scamuffa, 20, also of Strasberg. Both were arrested and charged with a long list of drug-related offenses. Scamuffa was held on a $25,000 bond, while Gerz was released on personal recognizance.

Explosive Devices Investigated

BERLIN — The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office assisted the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office last week with the identification and recovery of two homemade explosives in the Porfin Drive area of Berlin.

One of the devices was detonated in a mailbox. The investigation is also being jointly conducted with the United States Postal Service.

The Fire Marshal’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact the office at 410-632-5666. Information can be provided anonymously.

Armed Bank Robber Sought

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week continued to search for the suspect wanted in connection with an armed bank robbery last Friday afternoon.

Shortly before 3 p.m. last Friday, Salisbury Police responded to the Bank of Delmarva branch on Eastern Shore Drive for a reported armed robbery. The investigation revealed a suspect entered the bank, displayed a handgun and demanded money. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of currency, the suspect exited the bank and fled on foot.

A Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy responded and attempted a K-9 track for the suspect, but was unsuccessful. The suspect is described as an African-American male wearing a brown ski mast, NY Yankees baseball cap, blue jeans, blue gloves and a light green army jacket at the time of the robbery. Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect is urged to call the Salisbury Police at (410) 548-3165, or Crime Solvers at (410) 549-1776. Crime Solvers will pay up to $1,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.

Probation, Fine

For Vehicle Collision

SNOW HILL — A Princess Anne man charged in January after hitting a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office vehicle and a tow truck driver at the scene of an accident pleaded guilty last week to negligent driving and was fined and placed on probation.

Around 10:30 a.m. on January 26, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy was investigating a crash on Meadow Bridge Rd. near Pocomoke during which a vehicle had overturned on the roadway. A tow truck had arrived on the scene and the operator was in the process of removing the overturned vehicle when a red Ford Explorer driven by Richard Potts, 62, of Princess Anne, came upon the scene and collided first with the sheriff’s vehicle.

Potts then struck the tow truck driver, identified as Richard Webber, 42, of Princess Anne. Webber was transported to PRMC in Salisbury for injuries not believed to be life threatening. The Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was not injured during the collision. Last week, Potts pleaded guilty to negligent driving in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life and person and was placed on probation and fined $280.

Traffic Stop Leads To Drugs

WEST OCEAN CITY — A Frankford, Del. man was arrested on drug possession charges this week after a routine traffic stop in West Ocean City.

Around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a Maryland State Police trooper stopped a 1994 Honda Civic on Route 50 at Route 707 in West Ocean City for an inoperable tag light. The driver was identified as Jaronte K. Purnell, 20, of Frankford. During the course of the traffic stop, the trooper observed numerous criminal indicators.

A subsequent K-9 search was conducted on the vehicle, resulting in a positive alert for narcotics. A search of the vehicle turned up a clear plastic bag containing 2.46 grams of cocaine and a metal grinder containing trace amounts of marijuana. Purnell was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on his own recognizance.

Loose Change Swiped

PARSONBURG — A Salisbury man was arrested on burglary and theft charges last week after allegedly swiping a large jug filled with roughly $3,000 in cash from a residence at which he was employed on a service call for a maintenance company.

Last Wednesday, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy located a suspect identified as Jason Lee Vance, 30, of Salisbury, in the area of Church Street in Hebron and took him into custody in connection with a burglary case. The investigation revealed Vance allegedly entered a residence illicitly for the purpose of stealing a large jug that reportedly contained $3,000 in loose change.

During the investigation, it was learned Vance became aware of the existence of the jug full of change while inside the residence making a service call on behalf of a maintenance company. Suspicion began to focus on Vance when he made an unscheduled return to the residence the following day to perform more maintenance, which was the same day the jug reportedly disappeared.

Vance was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary and theft over $1,000. He was processed and taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held at the Wicomico County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond.

Wanted Man Apprehended

OCEAN PINES — A Dagsboro man wanted on a bench warrant in Delaware for failing to appear for trial was picked up by Worcester County authorities last week after breaking down on Racetrack Rd. near Ocean Pines.

Around 1:20 p.m. last Wednesday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy stopped to assist a motorist who had broken down on Route 589 near Worcester Highway. A background check on the driver, identified as Andrew Cogar, 33, of Dagsboro, revealed he was wanted on an outstanding bench warrant in Delaware for failure to appear on a driving while suspended charge. Cogar was arrested and later released on his own recognizance.