SNOW HILL — A local man, charged in March with multiple traffic violations after allegedly hitting a pedestrian in a hit-and-run accident in West Ocean City, pleaded guilty this week to failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving property damage and was fined $500.
Around 9:15 p.m. on March 10, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Keyser Point Rd. involving a pedestrian and a driver who fled the scene. Upon arrival, troopers interviewed a witness and collected evidence from the scene suggesting the vehicle that fled was a red truck, possibly a Chevrolet or GMC.
A perimeter was established with the MSP and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after the collision, a Sheriff’s deputy observed a red Chevy Tahoe on Golf Course Rd. at Route 50 with passenger side view mirror damage. The driver, identified as Salah Sbeih Ramadan, 64, of West Ocean City, was detained and interviewed. Ramadan allegedly told police he knew he struck something with his vehicle, but did not know it was a person.
The pedestrian, identified as Michelle Bowers, 49, of Ocean City, was transported to PRMC in Salisbury by ambulance. Ramadan was charged with failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, failure of a driver to render reasonable assistance to an injured person, and failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving property damage. On Monday, Ramadan pleaded guilty to the latter charge and was fined $500.
First-Degree Assault
Charge For Brick Attack
BISHOPVILLE — A Bishopville man was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault last week after allegedly striking another man in the head with a brick.
Last Thursday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of Hotel Rd. in Bishopville for a reported assault. Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with the victim, who told police he had been struck in the head with a brick by Tony Lamont Townsend, 57, of Bishopville. Townsend was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault. He was held on a $5,000 bond pending trial.
Shoplifters Nabbed
BERLIN — Three Ocean City residents were arrested on various theft and drug charges last week after getting caught shoplifting from the Wal-Mart in Berlin.
Last Thursday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Wal-Mart on Route 50 for a reported shoplifting. The three alleged suspects had left the scene, but deputies were able to locate them in the store’s parking lot. Store employees identified the suspects as being involved in an alleged theft of items valued at $657.
The suspects, identified as Cesar Bautista, 21, Nicole Rojas, 21, and Alma Perez, 19, all of Ocean City, were arrested and charged with theft. During a search related to the arrest, a bag of suspected marijuana and a smoking device were found in Perez’s purse.
Probation, Fine In Burglary
SNOW HILL — A West Ocean City man, arrested in March on burglary and other charges after breaking into the home of his ex-girlfriend and later fleeing the scene on foot, pleaded guilty last week to failure to obey a lawful order and was fined and placed on probation.
Around 11:30 p.m. on March 28, 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. Last week, Hudson pleaded guilty to failure to obey a lawful order and was fined $200 and placed on probation for one year.
Paraphernalia Bust
OCEAN CITY — A Princess Anne man was arrested on paraphernalia possession charges last weekend after police found him acting suspiciously on a downtown bench.
Around 12:50 a.m. last Sunday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were on bike patrol in the downtown area when they observed an individual later identified as Dylan Berglvnd, 21, of Princess Anne, sitting on a bench in the area of Chicago Ave. and 2nd Street.
The deputies struck up a conversation with Berglvnd, who started to act nervously, according to police reports. Through further investigation, the deputies discovered a glass smoking device on Berglvnd’s person and he was charged with possession of paraphernalia and released pending trial.
Domestic Assault Alleged
BERLIN — A Montgomery Village man was arrested on an assault charge last weekend after alleging striking another individual during a domestic dispute.
Around 5:45 p.m. last Friday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 11200 block of Route 50 in Berlin for a reported domestic assault. Deputies met with the victim who showed visible signs of injury. Deputies located the suspect, identified as Timothy Charles Richards, 28, of Montgomery Village and arrested him and charged him with second-degree assault. Richards was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was held on a $5,000 bond pending trial.
10 Years For Check Swiping
SALISBURY — A Wicomico County man was sentenced to 10 years in prison this week after a jury found him guilty of theft for swiping checks from two victims while acting as a contractor for his home improvement business.
On Monday, a Wicomico jury found David Suire, 41, guilty of several counts of theft and theft scheme for carrying out the scheme to steal checks from two women in Hebron who had hired him. Suire was operating a home improvement company and was hired by the victims for a project. During the course of completing the home improvement project, Suire stole two checks from the victims’ checkbook.
He then filled out the dollar amounts on the checks and made them out to his girlfriend, who then cashed the checks totaling $1,534. After the jury returned the guilty verdicts, the presiding judge then sentenced Suire to 10 years in prison, to be served consecutive to any sentence he is now serving.
Suire had been convicted on similar charges in the past in Wicomico County. In October 2013, he was found guilty of forgery, counterfeit private documents and issuing counterfeit documents. In November 2013, Suire was found guilty of theft less than $1,000. He was ultimately sentenced to 20 years in the Department of Corrections for those crimes.
Telephone Scam Warning
OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department this week is warning residents and visitors about a current telephone scam being reported in the resort area.
The scam involves unsolicited calls from individuals who claim to be a member of local law enforcement or a federal agent notifying the victim that he or she has unpaid parking or traffic tickets. The caller will become very hostile and harass or threaten the victim with jail time or fines in order to obtain personal data and credit or debit card information.
The scammers will also use a tactic known as “caller ID spoofing,” which falsifies the telephone number and name that appears on the victim’s caller ID. Other nearby jurisdiction have also reported the scammers have even used the names of actual police officers in order to appear legitimate.
The OCPD is reminding citizens this week to never provide debit or credit card information over the phone to unsolicited callers. Government agencies, including law enforcement, will not ask individuals from credit card numbers over the phone. Citizens who suspect they have provided bank card information to a scammer are urged to contact their financial institutions immediately.
OCPD Adds Five New Officers
OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department last week added five newly minted officers who graduated from the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy’s 72nd class.
The newest OCPD officers are James Bodine, Gary Cooper, Jr., Tonya Gower, Kyle Hayes, Jr., and Julianne O’Toole. The officers were formally recognized as certified police officers of the Ocean City Police Department after 24 weeks of intense training. The recruit class stemmed from various law enforcement agencies throughout the Eastern Shore.
Graduates from the OCPD consistently earn top honors from the police academy and the department’s newest additions held true to that tradition. Bodine, Cooper, Gower and O’Toole each earned the Physical Fitness Award. The Firearms Proficiency Award was given to Bodine, Gower and O’Toole. In addition, Cooper earned the only Academic Achievement Award in the recruiting class, earning an overall score of 93 percent.
“We strive to provide the Ocean City community with the best and brightest officers we can find,” said Chief Ross Buzzuro. “I truly believe that our five newest officers exemplify that goal. Each of them are sure to be tremendous servants for our residents and visitors.”
After graduation from the police academy, the new officers will enter a nine-week field training program. During this time, they will hone the skills they have acquired in the police academy under the direct supervision of a veteran OCPD field training officer. They will routinely be evaluated and critiqued on their performance and will train with the various shifts and divisions that make up the OCPD.