Jaywalker Eludes Police, Throws Handgun

OCEAN CITY — A Salisbury man was arrested on multiple charges last weekend after allegedly throwing a loaded handgun while running from police in downtown Ocean City.

Around 1:15 a.m. last Sunday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were on patrol in a marked vehicle in the area of Baltimore Ave. and South Division Street when they observed two males crossing the roadway without using a crosswalk. The deputies attempted to stop the individuals when one of them, later identified as Weldon Lamont Turner, 19, of Salisbury, failed to obey orders and fled on foot. The deputies pursued Turner on foot for about 100 yards when they saw him allegedly make a throwing motion with his hands.

When Turner refused to stop, the deputies deployed a Taser to subdue him and were able to take him into custody after a brief struggle. A search of the area was conducted and a loaded .44 caliber Magnum revolver was recovered and seized. During the subsequent investigation, Turner allegedly told police he fled from them because he didn’t want to get caught with the firearm. Turner was arrested and charged with wearing and carrying a dangerous weapon concealed on his person, resisting arrest, and failing to obey a lawful order.

Fight Instigator Arrested

OCEAN CITY — A Perry Hall man was arrested on disorderly conduct and other charges last weekend after police broke up a fight in the downtown Ocean City area.

Around 1 a.m. last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies patrolling downtown observed a fight in the area of Philadelphia Ave. and 5th Street. The deputies were able to identify the main aggressor in the fight as Michael Anthony Soper, Jr., 19, of Perry Hall. Worcester Sheriff’s deputies and allied law enforcement agencies were able to break up the fight without further incident. Soper was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and affray. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released pending trial.

Full Moon For Passengers

OCEAN CITY — An Aberdeen, Md. man was arrested on indecent exposure and other charges last weekend after allegedly exposing himself to passengers on an Ocean City municipal bus.

Around 9 p.m. last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were conducting a welfare check on an Ocean City municipal bus when they observed a suspect, later identified as Olajuwon Hakeem Brown, 19, expose his buttocks to the passengers on the bus. After a brief foot chase, Brown was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.

Drugs, Weapons

Found In Vehicle

WEST OCEAN CITY — Three men were arrested on drug and weapons charges last week after Maryland State Police pulled over their vehicle in West Ocean City for faulty headlights.

Around 10:35 p.m. last Thursday, a MSP trooper patrolling in the area of Golf Course Rd. and Route 50 observed a black Nissan driving without proper illumination coming from the front two headlights. The trooper activated his emergency equipment and pulled the vehicle over in the Royal Farms store parking lot. During the stop, the trooper detected an odor of marijuana and a probable cause search was conducted.

During the search, the trooper discovered a set of brass knuckles, marijuana, other CDS not marijuana, paraphernalia and a Powerline Daisy BB handgun. The suspects were identified as David Wayne Pearce, 21, of Curtis Bay, Md., Brandon Michael Reihl, 20, of Pasadena, Md. and Nathan Alexander Houck. Pearce and Reihl were taken before a District Court Commissioner and Houck was released on a citation.

Shoplifters Nabbed

BERLIN — Three suspects were arrested on theft charges last weekend after allegedly shoplifting from the Wal-Mart on Route 50.

Around 4:45 p.m. last Friday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported theft at the Wal-Mart on Route 50. Through an investigation, three suspects were identified as suspected shoplifters. The suspects were identified as Darshan Prakash Mendpara, 18, of Burtonsville, Md., Austin James Banfield, 19, of Silver Spring, Md., and a juvenile also of Silver Spring. Mendpara and Banfield were charged with theft under $100 and were released on criminal citations pending trial. The juvenile was also charged with theft under $100 and was referred to Juvenile Services.

Assault Charges After

Failed 911 Calls

BISHOPVILLE — A Bishopville woman was charged with assault this week after twice knocking the phone out the hands of a woman attempting to call 911 during an argument and physical altercation.

Around 11:45 p.m. on Monday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence on Old Stage Rd. in Bishopville for a welfare check after a 911 call hang-up. The deputies learned that an argument and physical altercation had occurred between two females. One of the women involved attempted to call 911 when the second woman, identified as Tierney Michelle Mumford, 20, of Bishopville, allegedly slapped the cell phone out of the victim’s hand.

The victim then attempted to call 911 again from a house line when Mumford allegedly knocked that phone out of her hand and pushed the victim down. Mumford was arrested and charged with second-degree assault. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on personal recognizance pending trial.

Purse Thieves Sought

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Police this week continued to look for two suspects wanted in connection with the theft and unauthorized use of a credit card stolen from a woman’s purse on the beach.

Last Tuesday, a victim noticed that her purse had been stolen from her vehicle and later discovered multiple fraudulent charges had been made on a credit card. The investigation revealed two suspects, acting together, had made fraudulent purchases using the stolen credit card at numerous businesses on or near the Boardwalk.

One suspect is described as a heavy-set woman with blonde hair. The second suspect is described as a tall white male with a dark goatee. Video surveillance of the suspects has been collected by OCPD detectives. Anyone with information is urged to contact Pfc. Joseph Zurla at 410-520-5384, or by email to [email protected].

Disorderly Juvenile Arrested

OCEAN CITY — A juvenile from Delaware was arrested on disorderly conduct charges last weekend after allegedly yelling at a group of people in a downtown hotel.

Around 9 p.m. last Friday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were conducting a check on a business on Baltimore Ave. when they observed a male suspect yelling at a group of people inside the hotel. Deputies identified the suspect as a juvenile from Delaware. The juvenile was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and was transported to the Public Safety Building on 65th Street for processing. He was later released pending action from the Department of Juvenile Services.

Pot Busts Plentiful

OCEAN CITY — Marijuana arrests contributed a large part of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office activity in and around the resort area last weekend with several in the span of about four hours.

Around 9 p.m. last Friday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy observed a suspicious circumstance involving a motor vehicle in front of a residence on 15th Street in Ocean City. The deputy conducted a field interview and observed a clear plastic container with suspected marijuana in the vehicle. The suspect was identified as Christopher Braman, 24, of Catonsville. Braman was arrested and charged with possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana.

Around 10:40 p.m. last Friday, deputies patrolling the downtown area located two individuals smoking marijuana in the area of 2nd Street and the Boardwalk. The deputies identified the suspects as John Korri Brasher, 22, of Waldorf, Md., and a juvenile also from Maryland. Brasher was released on a criminal citation and the juvenile was referred to the Department of Juvenile Services.

Early last Saturday morning, deputies were dispatched to the Robin Drive area for a reported suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, the deputies detected an odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle in a parking lot and made contact with the driver, identified as Loketo Wilson, 19, of Washington, D.C., and the rear passenger, identified as Randolph Williams III, 25, also of D.C. A search revealed marijuana in the vehicle and Williams and Wilson were each arrested and charged with possession of less than 10 grams.

Around 6:30 p.m. last Saturday, a deputy on bike patrol in the 15th Street area stopped a vehicle after observing the driver not wearing a seatbelt. After making contact with the driver, identified as Shyheim White, 20, of Cambridge, the deputy detected an odor of marijuana. White was arrested and charged with possession and was released pending trial.

Around 8 p.m. on Saturday, deputies patrolling in the same area around 15th Street observed another vehicle with the front seat passenger not wearing a seatbelt. After a traffic stop, an odor of marijuana was detected and a probable cause search resulted in the arrest of Alexis Nolan, 18, of Beltsville. Nolan was arrested and charged with possession and was released pending trial.

Shortly after midnight last Saturday, deputies patrolling downtown observed a female sitting in a vehicle in front of a Boardwalk hotel. The deputies questioned the female and detected an odor of marijuana. During the investigation, four individuals exited the motel and told police they were with the female in the vehicle. All individuals were detained and a search was conducted during which marijuana was located. Mary Ortiz, 22, of Washington, D.C. and Matthew Thomas, 18, also of D.C., were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

Around 7 p.m. last Saturday, deputies on foot patrol in the area of the Oceanic Motel detected an odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle occupied by Christian Harris, 19, of Bear, Del. A search of the vehicle revealed a pill bottle of suspected marijuana on the floor near Harris’ feet. Harris was issues a criminal citation for possession of less than 10 grams and was released.