Probation, Fine For Route 50 Bridge Rollover

OCEAN CITY — A Princess Anne woman who rolled her vehicle at the base of the Route 50 bridge in Ocean City on July 20, closing the westbound lanes of the span for over an hour and snarling traffic in the downtown area, pleaded guilty this week to driving under the influence per se and was granted probation before judgment and fined $500.

Around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, Ocean City Police responded to a reported accident in the westbound lanes at the foot of the Route 50 bridge involving an overturned vehicle. The investigation revealed the driver, identified as Carly Middleton, 24, of Princess Anne, failed to negotiate the turn from Philadelphia Ave. onto Route 50 and struck the median at a relatively low speed.

However, the vehicle became elevated atop one of the wooden safety posts before toppling over onto its roof. Middleton was subsequently charged with driving under the influence. The westbound lanes of the Route 50 bridge were closed for nearly an hour during the investigation. This week in District Court, Middleton pleaded guilty to driving under the influence per se. She was granted probation before judgment and was fined $500.

Fugitive Nabbed After Chase

SALISBURY — A wild chase through Wicomico County last Thursday that included multiple vehicle collision resulted in the arrest of an armed fugitive.

Last Thursday, members of the Maryland State Apprehension Team and the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division were Wicomico County looking for a suspect identified as Deshawn Darling, 38, of Salisbury, who was wanted on a violation of probation warrant from Dorchester County and warrants from Delaware. Around 9:15 a.m., Darling was observed leaving what was believed to be his most recent residence in a Dodge van.

Officers attempted to stop Darling on Route 13 near Carroll Street. However, Darling did not stop and pulled quickly onto Route 13 and deliberately rammed an unmarked MSP vehicle that had its emergency lights activated and sped away. MSP troopers pursued Darling, assisted by the Salisbury Police, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, the Fruitland Police and the U.S. Marshals Service up and down Route 13 and surrounding roads.

During the pursuit, a man who identified himself as Darling called 911 and advised county emergency operators he had a gun and was going to shoot himself. Police continued the pursuit of Darling to the parking lot of a store on North Salisbury Blvd. and Darling was arrested without further incident. Arresting troopers and police officers found Darling was wearing a bullet-proof vest at the time of his arrest and a loaded handgun was plainly visible in the van.

A minor crash occurred during the pursuit between a police vehicle and a civilian vehicle, but there were no injuries. Another crash occurred during the pursuit when stop sticks were deployed by the Fruitland Police and the suspect swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid them. An oncoming motorist swerved to avoid the suspect and struck a curb and a parked car but the driver was not injured.

18 Months For Oxy Dealer

SNOW HILL — A Delaware man arrested in February on drug distribution charges following a month-long investigation in Worcester pleaded guilty this week to distribution of oxycodone and was sentenced to six years in jail, all but 18 months of which was then suspended.

On Feb. 14, the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team concluded a month-long investigation into heroin and prescription pill distribution with the arrest of Edwin Horner, 45, of Milton, Del. and a 17-year-old juvenile. The Criminal Enforcement Team concluded a month-long investigation with a traffic stop of a vehicle destined for the Berlin area from Delaware for the purpose of distributing a quantity of heroin to an undercover officer as part of a pre-arranged deal. During the course of the traffic stop, Horner and a 17-year-old juvenile were found to be in possession of 50 individually wrapped bags of heroin.

The same two suspects were also involved in the distribution of oxycodone to a Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team detective earlier in the investigation. Horner and the juvenile were each charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin and possession of heroin.

This week, Horner pleaded guilty to distribution of oxycodone and was sentenced to six years in jail, all but 18 months of which was then suspended. He was placed on probation for three years upon his release and fined $500. Horner also pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and was sentenced to four years with all but 18 months suspended.

Guilty Plea In Berlin Assault Case

BERLIN — A Snow Hill man, arrested on first-degree assault and other charges in April after allegedly dragging a woman across a road in Berlin before picking her up and carrying her into a residence, pleaded guilty this week in Circuit Court to second-degree assault and was sentenced to 18 months in jail, all of which was suspended in favor of probation and a fine.

Around 11:45 a.m. on April 14, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Libertytown Rd. in Berlin for a reported assault in progress. A witness had observed an unidentified man drag a female victim across Libertytown Rd. The suspect then picked up the female and carried her into a nearby residence.

Within minutes, deputies arrived on the scene and found the residence to be vacant. A short time later, the female victim came into the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office reporting injuries sustained from an assault that occurred on Libertytown Rd. Due to the victim’s injuries, she was transported to Atlantic General Hospital by ambulance.

Through further investigation, the suspect was identified as Michael McBride, 31, of Snow Hill. McBride was located in Snow Hill and arrested by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Snow Hill Police Department. He was charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and false imprisonment.

Suspended Sentence For Drug Possession

SNOW HILL — A Pennsylvania man, arrested last March on multiple drug charges after a routine traffic stop in Ocean City pleaded guilty last week to possession of prescription pills and marijuana and was sentenced to one year in jail, all of which was suspended in favor of a fine and probation.

Around 12:20 a.m. last March 27, 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, which conducted a scan on the vehicle 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.

Last week, Scamuffa pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and was sentenced to one year in jail. He also pleaded guilty to possession of Adderall and was sentenced to 18 months. All of the jail time was then suspended and Scamuffa was placed on probation for two years and fined $500.