Store Robbers Sought

Store Robbers Sought
cops pic1

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Police this week are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspects wanted in connection with a strong-arm robbery at a resort convenience story early last Thursday morning.

Police were dispatched to the 7-Eleven store on 94th Street for a reported robbery that had just occurred on June 12. Upon arrival, officers met with store employees who told police two suspects had entered the store, assaulted an employee and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register along with an employee’s personal cell phone.

The first suspect is described as an African-American male, roughly 6’4” with a medium build wearing a bright green hoodie, sunglasses, light gray jeans and white sneakers at the time of the incident. The second suspect is described as an African-American male, roughly 6’6” tall with a thin build wearing a tan hoodie, blue jeans and black and blue sneakers at the time of the robbery. Both suspects appear to be roughly 18-25 years old.

Anyone with information regarding the case is urged to contact OCPD Dfc. Carl Perry at 410-520-5439 or [email protected]. Citizens may also contact the OCPD Crime Tips Hotline at 410-520-5136, or [email protected].

Gun, Pot Seized

WEST OCEAN CITY — A Seaford man was arrested on drug and weapons charges last weekend after being pulled over on eastbound Route 50 at Keyser Point Rd. for having a headlight out late Saturday night.

Around 11:40 p.m. last Saturday, a Maryland State Police trooper was patrolling in West Ocean City when he observed a red 1976 Chevy Stingray Corvette with a headlight out. A traffic stop was initiated and the driver, later identified as Raymond M. Cook, 60, of Seaford, was asked to step out and perform field sobriety tests. Cook was asked if he was in possession of any weapons and the suspect explained he was carrying a gun attached to his hip. Cook was taken into custody at that point.

The trooper then located a loaded .38 caliber Taurus revolver in a brown holster attached to Cook’s hip. A further search revealed 7.8 grams of marijuana and a smoking device located in the center console. Cook was then placed under arrest and transported to the MSP Berlin barrack.

A criminal history check of Cook found he was prohibited from possessing a regulated firearm. The MSP Maryland Gun Center was also contacted and assisted with the investigation. Cook was charged with knowingly possessing a regulated firearm after being convicted of a disqualifying crime, possessing ammunition after being prohibited, knowingly wearing, carrying and transporting a handgun in a vehicle, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

15 Years For Bank Robber

SNOW HILL — One of two Pennsylvania men arrested last July in connection with the robbery of the PNC Bank in West Ocean City was sentenced last week to 15 years in jail for his role in the robbery.

In April, Dale Mentzer, 35, of Newmantown, Pa. was found guilty of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and theft for his role in the July 23 robbery of the PNC Bank on Route 50 in West Ocean City and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Back in court last week, Mentzer was sentenced to 15 years. Because the court found the charge to be a crime of violence, Mentzer will be required to serve at least 50 percent of the sentence. Mentzer’s co-conspirator in the West Ocean City bank robbery and a spree of similar robberies in Pennsylvania, has been indicted in U.S. District Court and has not yet gone to trial.

Shortly after 9 a.m. last July 23, 2013, unidentified suspects entered the PNC Bank branch on Route 50 and demanded money. No money was given and the suspects fled the scene. No injuries were reported, nor were any weapons displayed. Early on in the investigation, with the help of media and social networks circulating surveillance images of the suspects, a possible connection was developed to a series of bank robberies in Pennsylvania the week before. For example, a video surveillance image of one of the suspects, presumed to be Derizzo, revealed the suspect wanted in connection with the Pennsylvania robberies had the same distinctive tattoo on his left arm.

Maryland State Police and Worcester County Sheriff’s Office investigators continued to follow up on leads and search for the two suspects in the hours following the West Ocean City bank robbery. Later that same night, Derizzo and Mentzer were located in a motel room in Salisbury and were taken into custody without further incident.

Search warrants were issued and executed on the motel room in Salisbury where Derizzo and Mentzer were found and arrested and evidence was collected connecting them to the West Ocean City bank robbery earlier that day. The investigation revealed Derizzo was also wanted by the Pennsylvania State Police on an outstanding warrant for parole violations and additional charges for robbery. Mentzer was also wanted in Pennsylvania for an outstanding arrest warrant for armed robbery.

Following the arrest of Mentzer and Derizzo in Salisbury last July, Pennsylvania authorities were alerted they had been taken into custody and an extended investigation into their possible involvement in a series of bank robberies there was undertaken.

Disorderly On Bridge

OCEAN CITY — A Bishopville man was arrested on DUI and disorderly conduct charges last week after first riding a bicycle across the Route 90 Bridge and then allegedly standing in the roadway on the span stopping traffic.

Around 7:20 p.m. last Tuesday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Route 90 just west of the St. Martin’s River Bridge for an unknown individual on the side of the road. Pedestrians and bicycles are prohibited on Route 90. When the first deputy arrived on the scene, he observed an individual, later identified as Richard Howard Mason, 54, of Bishopville, standing in the travel portion of the roadway.

Mason appeared to be intoxicated, according to police reports, and admitted riding his bicycle on Route 90 a short time prior. Mason was arrested and charged with DUI and disorderly conduct.

Fast Food Drug Bust

BERLIN — Two Pittsville residents were arrested on drug charges last week after allegedly using various drugs in a fast-food restaurant parking lot.

Around 9:40 p.m. last Wednesday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the McDonalds in Berlin for a report of individuals using illegal drugs in a vehicle in the parking lot. Deputies were able to locate the reported vehicle as it left the parking lot and conducted a traffic stop. During a search, deputies located several different types of drugs in the vehicle.

The driver, identified as Edward Allen Romero, 24, of Pittsville, was charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia. The rear seat passenger, identified as Stephanie Alexandria Dobrodey, 25, also of Pittsville, was charged with possession of oxycodone, suboxon and paraphernalia. Each was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released pending trial.

Guilty Plea In Robbery

SNOW HILL — A Pocomoke man, arrested last October on armed robbery charges after first robbing a convenience store at gunpoint and later returning to the scene under the guise of picking up his wife who worked at the establishment, was found guilty last week of robbery, assault and theft and now awaits his fate pending a sentencing hearing in August.

Around 9:40 a.m. last Oct. 22, a masked gunman entered the Duck Inn convenience store on Lynnhaven Drive in Pocomoke. The suspect approached an employee behind the counter and pointed a black handgun at her. He then went behind the counter to the cash register. The employee was ordered to lie on her back while the suspect removed cash from the register and stuffed it in his pants.

A second employee then emerged from the back of the store and was ordered to walk behind the counter. The gunman ordered the second employee to open the Maryland Lottery cash register. The employee complied with the demands while the suspect emptied the Lotto register and stuffed that cash in the front of his pants. The suspect then ordered the second employee to lie on the ground while he fled through the front door of the store.

Pocomoke Police arrived and secured the scene and requested the assistance of the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI). While officers and detectives were reviewing the video footage of the incident, one of the officers recognized the suspect as Kevin Cornnell Presco, the husband of one of the store employees. A short time later, Presco arrived at the scene under the guise of picking his wife up from work.

Presco was detained and questioned, but was uncooperative. Search warrants were subsequently executed on Presco’s residence and vehicle and evidence was collected at both locations connecting him to the robbery. Presco was arrested and charged with armed robbery, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, handgun on person, verbal extortion, threat of injury and theft.

Last week, Presco was found guilty of robbery, second-degree assault and theft and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Sentencing was deferred until August 5. Presco had the other charges against him, including armed robbery and first-degree assault dropped.

Hiding In Closet

BERLIN — A Berlin woman wanted on an failure to appear warrant was also charged with obstructing and hindering an investigation this week after hiding in a closet from the police.

On Sunday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence on Assateague Rd. in Berlin in an attempt to locate an individual, identified as Tristen Ann Vice, 28, of Berlin, who was wanted for failing to appear in District Court. Vice was located hiding in a closet in the rear of the residence. She was taken into custody on the warrant and was charged additionally with obstructing and hindering a police investigation and resisting arrest.

Vice was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was held on a $5,000 bond at the Worcester County Jail.

Route 113 Accident

BERLIN — An Eden man was arrested on drunk-driving charges last weekend after a single-vehicle accident on Harrison Rd. and Route 113.

Around 1:20 a.m. last Sunday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the intersection of Route 113 and Harrison Rd. for a reported motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, the deputy located a Dodge Neon that had left the roadway and struck a utility pole. The driver was identified as William Kelly Miller, Jr., 25, of Eden. The deputy detected an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Miller’s breath. Miller did poorly on sobriety field tests and was arrested. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and was released pending trial.