Blair D. Smith
OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Police narcotics detectives last week arrested two suspects on suspicion of dealing
Michael L. Blake
marijuana after a three-week drug distribution investigation.
Around 4 p.m. on Sept. 12, OCPD narcotics detectives, assisted by the Special Enforcement Unit and the Patrol Division, concluded the three-week distribution investigation with the arrests of Blair D. Smith, 22, of no fixed address, and Michael L. Blake, 23, of Pocomoke. During the investigation, OCPD narcotics detectives made several purchases of marijuana from Smith. Blake was also arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances and possession and distribution of marijuana.
Smith was charged with two counts each of possession and distribution. Both suspects were taken before a District Court Commissioner. Smith was released after posting a $10,000 bond. Blake was released on personal recognizance.
Assault Charge Filed For Cop Shove
SNOW HILL — A Berlin woman was arrested on assault and other charges last weekend after allegedly shoving a deputy during a fight in Snow Hill.
Around 11:45 p.m. last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were called to assist the Snow Hill Police Department with a fight on Cypress Lane near Dighton Ave. Upon arrival, officers discovered a disorderly crowd in the street. A male suspect believed to be involved in the fight was initially detained. A juvenile female to attempt to interfere in the arrest of the male suspect and was subsequently arrested.
As a result, a female suspect identified as April Jackson, 34, of Berlin, became upset about the arrest of the juvenile and began interfering, according to police reports. Jackson was given several orders to back away or face arrest herself. Jackson failed to comply with the orders and a deputy began to passively move her back and away from the incident. At that point, Jackson allegedly shoved the deputy and she was subsequently arrested.
Jackson then became unruly and resisted arrest, causing other deputies to respond and assist. The original male suspect was released without charges. Jackson was charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, obstructing and hindering, failure to obey a lawful order and resisting arrest. She was later released pending a tentative court date set for Oct. 28.
Traffic Stop Yields Drug Bust
BISHOPVILLE — A Dagsboro man was arrested on drug possession charges last weekend after getting pulled over in Bishopville for speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.
Around 10:50 a.m. last Saturday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was conducting stationary speed enforcement on Route 113 near Kepler Lane in Bishopville. The deputy clocked a vehicle going 64 mph in a 55 mph zone and also observed the driver, later identified as James Brandon Tankard, 24, of Dagsboro, not wearing a seatbelt.
A K-9 scan was conducted on the vehicle, resulting in a positive alert for the presence of controlled dangerous substances. A search of the vehicle revealed heroin, marijuana and paraphernalia. Tankard was arrested and charged with possession. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was held on a $5,000 bond.
Operator Charged In June Boating Accident
SNOW HILL — A Frederick man, who was operating a rented pontoon boat in the bay near Ocean City when a friend jumped overboard and was struck in the head and neck by the propeller, has been charged with operating under the influence and operating while impaired.
In late July, a 30th birthday party and day on the water took a decided turn for the worse when a Sykesville man jumped off the bow of a rented pontoon boat while the vessel was still in motion and was struck in the head, neck and shoulder by the propeller. Over two months later, the boat’s operator, Kurt Dawson, 30, of Frederick, was formally charged last week with operating a vessel under the influence and operating while impaired.
Around 5:10 p.m. on June 30, John Scott Hauf, 26, of Sykesville, Md. was on a rented pontoon boat with six other friends celebrating a 30th birthday party when he jumped off the front of the vessel while it was in motion in the Isle of Wight Bay in the area of 32nd Street. The pontoon boat ran over Hauf and he was struck by the propeller, causing severe lacerations to his left shoulder, neck and the back of his head.
Hauf’s friends were able to pull him from the water and administered first-aid until they were able to get the vessel to port at nearby Fish Tales and Bahia Marina. Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and the Coast Guard responded along with Ocean City Emergency Services, which transported the victim to PRMC in Salisbury in critical condition.
The victim was then transported to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The following day, Hauf was listed in stable condition, according to NRP public information officer Candus Thomson. The vessel’s operator, Kurt Steven Dawson, who turned 30 on the day of the incident, failed field sobriety tests, but charges were pending the results of a blood-alcohol test taken at Atlantic General Hospital following the incident.
Last week, after reviewing the BAC test results, the NRP formally charged Dawson with operating a vessel under the influence and while impaired.
Probation, Fine For Boating Arrest
SNOW HILL — A Virginia woman arrested on assault and other charges in August after getting pulled over for speeding in a vessel in the Isle of Wight Bay near Ocean City pleaded guilty this week to disorderly conduct and operating a vessel while impaired and was fined and placed on probation.
Around 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) stopped a vessel for speeding in the Isle of Wight Bay just south of the Route 50 bridge. Following an interview with the vessel’s operator, identified Corinne Aileen Stout, 32, of Newport News, Va., the NRP officer decided to take her to shore for sobriety tests. According to police reports, Stout then became agitated and attempted to leave before disobeying an order and pushing an NRP officer.
Stout was then placed under arrest, but resisted and had to be handcuffed. Stout was charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. This week in District Court, Stout pleaded guilty to operating a vessel while impaired and disorderly conduct. She was fined $500 and placed on probation for one year.
40 Years For Heroin Dealer
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man arrested on heroin distribution charges after a multi-agency drug investigation in March was sentenced this week in Wicomico County Circuit Court to 40 years in jail.
In March, the Maryland State Police Gang Enforcement Unit and members of the Salisbury Police Safe Streets Unit arrested Arnold Miles, Sr., 48, of Salisbury after a substantial amount of heroin was discovered during a traffic stop. While Miles was out on bond on that case, detectives learned he had returned to selling heroin. Investigators obtained and executed a search and seizure warrant at Miles’ residence, which resulted in the discovery of a large amount of heroin, multiple digital scales, a fake soda can with a hollow center used to conceal heroin and a large amount of currency.
In August, Miles was convicted of possession with intent to distribute heroin in relation to the March traffic stop and was sentenced to 20 years. On Monday, Miles again appeared in Wicomico County Circuit Court to face charges related to the May search and seizure warrant and arrest. He was sentenced to another 20 years of active incarceration consecutive to the 20-year sentence he received in August. Miles’ conviction on Monday represents his seventh drug-related conviction, his fifth felony drug conviction and his 12 criminal conviction since 1986.
Sean E. Amos
Sex Offender Sought
SALISBURY — The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office this week is seeking the public’s help in locating one of the agency’s “most wanted,” a convicted sex offender who has failed to check in with the Sex Offender Registry Unit.
Convicted sex offender Sean Edward Amos, 28, whose last known address was in Salisbury, failed to check in with the county’s Sex Offender Registry Unit on Wednesday and had a warrant sworn out for his arrest. Amos was convicted of possession of child pornography back in 2011 and, as a result, is required to register as a sex offender and check in with the SORU every six months.
After Amos missed his July check-in and was unable to be located, an arrest warrant was issued this week charging him with failing to register as a sex offender. The SORU last had contact with Amos back in May and his current whereabouts are unknown. The warrant has landed Amos on the Sheriff’s Office’s “most wanted” list. Anyone with information about Amos’ whereabouts is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 410-548-4890, or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.