Melvin Collins Jr.
OCEAN CITY — Two local men were arrested last week on burglary charges after Ocean City police were able to connect them to a series of thefts of building materials and scrap metal over a period of about five days late last month.
The OCPD Criminal Investigation Division concluded an investigation into the theft of building materials
Kenneth Arimtage
and scrap metal with the arrests of Melvin James Collins, Jr., 25, of Pittsville, and Kenneth James Armitage, 23, of Ocean City. The thefts, totaling roughly $3,000, occurred in the resort area between September 18 and September 23.
OCPD detectives were able to connect Collins and Armitage to the thefts through electronic surveillance. Detectives then conducted surveillance on the suspects and observed Collins and Armitage commit a separate theft outside Ocean City and unload the stolen items from that theft at Armitage’s resort residence.
A search and seizure warrant was later executed at Armitage’s residence, where detectives located numerous stolen items. Collins and Armitage have each been charged with three counts of theft and one count of theft scheme. Both were taken before a District Court Commissioner and both were ordered to be held on $7,500 bonds.
Attempted Murder Charges
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on attempted first-degree murder charges last weekend after allegedly stabbing another man.
Around 12:15 a.m. last Saturday, Salisbury Police responded to a residence on Washington Street for a reported stabbing. Responding officers located a victim who had suffered stab wounds to his abdomen. The victim was transported to PRMC for treatment and is expected to recover.
The investigation revealed the victim was involved in an argument with the suspect, identified as Jacob Lee Chisum, 32, of Salisbury, during which he was stabbed. Chisum then fled the scene in a burgundy-colored Mercury sedan. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Chisum and a description of the vehicle was broadcasted to allied law enforcement agencies.
Around 4:30 a.m., Fruitland Police stopped the vehicle in the area of N. Division Street and Creekside Drive and Chisum was taken into custody without incident. Chisum has been charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and wearing or carrying a concealed deadly weapon with intent to injure.
Tough Night For Horse
OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Police made two arrests of suspects for striking a police horse under similar circumstances in roughly the same location about an hour apart last Sunday morning.
Around 1:15 a.m. last Sunday, OCPD officers responded to the area of the Princess Bayside Hotel on Coastal Highway at 48th Street for a large gathering of individuals that were becoming disorderly. Ocean City Police, including mounted units, were performing crowd control operations.
At one point, a suspect, later identified as Eric Dudkiewicz, 23, of Norristown, Pa., walked south on Coastal Highway and allegedly reached out with his left hand and struck the OCPD police horse Benson. Dudkiewicz then allegedly reached under Benson’s left saddle bag. The mounted officer grabbed the suspect by his shirt while another officer grabbed him and took him into custody.
Dudkiewicz was arrested and charged with striking a police animal. According to the police report, Dudkiewicz had glassy eyes and an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his person.
About an hour later at 2:25 a.m., OCPD officers were still performing crowd control operations with vehicle patrol officers, bicycle officers and mounted officers in the area of 48th Street and Coastal Highway. A mounted officer observed a suspect, later identified as Demetrios Xanthos, 26, of North Arlington, N.J., walk toward Benson and reach out and strike the police animal on its left side. Similar to the prior incident, Xanthos reached under the horse’s saddle bag and attempt to grab it.
The mounted officer grabbed Xanthos by his shirt and placed him under arrest for striking a police animal. Xanthos had glassy eyes and the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath and person.
Two Held In Armed Robbery
SALISBURY — Two Salisbury men were arrested on armed robbery and other charges last week after allegedly holding up a food delivery man.
Around 3 a.m. last Wednesday, Salisbury Police officers responded to the area of Germania Circle in reference to an armed robbery that had already occurred. The officers met with a male victim who indicated he had responded to a residence to make a food delivery. While exiting his vehicle, the victim was assaulted by two suspects, one of whom brandished a knife.
The suspects stole property from the victim and then fled the area on foot. The victim was uninjured during the incident. Detectives developed information on the suspects residing at a home on Fitzwater Street. The next day, the detectives served a search and seizure warrant on the residence and recovered evidence linking two suspects to the armed robbery.
The suspects have been identified as Charles Darnelle Quailes, Jr., 26; and Davonta Maurice Wallace, 18, both of Salisbury. Quailes and Wallace have each been charged with armed robbery, robbery, first- and second-degree assault, and theft under $100.
Indecent Exposure Arrests
OCEAN CITY — Ocean City police made two indecent exposure arrests in the span of about an hour early last Sunday morning.
Around 2:20 a.m., an OCPD vehicle was on patrol in the area of 37th Street and Coastal Highway when it approached a suspect, identified as Alex Gates, 22, of York, Pa. As the OCPD vehicle approached, Gates smiled, walked out into the bus lane, turned around and pulled his jeans and underwear down exposing himself, according to police reports. According to a direct quote from the police report, Gats bent over at the waist and began to slap himself in the buttocks repeatedly.
Gates then began to run when OCPD officers attempted to arrest him, but he was located a short time later on a nearby balcony. According to the police report, when the officers asked Gates why he exposed himself to them, he allegedly responded, “I moon a lot of people.” Gates was arrested and charged with indecent exposure. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on his own recognizance.
About an hour later at 3:20 a.m., OCPD officers were patrolling in the area of 54th Street when a similar incident unfolded. According to police reports, officers were traveling in the southbound lanes of Coastal Highway when a suspect later identified as Antonio Guglielmo, 24, of Cliffside, N.J., stepped onto the highway, pulled his pants down, bent over and intentionally exposed his entire buttocks to oncoming traffic. Guglielmo was arrested after a brief struggle with officers. He was charged with indecent exposure and was released on his own recognizance.
Burglar Sentenced
SNOW HILL — The second of two suspects arrested in May on first-degree burglary and other charges after police found them coming out of a West Ocean City residence pleaded guilty this week and was sentenced to seven years in jail, all but three of which was then suspended.
Around 1:50 p.m. on May 12, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the area of Riggin Ridge Rd. in West Ocean City for a report of suspicious activity. An anonymous caller reported two individuals, a white male and a white female, who had been seen walking around Riggin Ridge Rd. looking in windows and acting suspiciously.
As the deputy arrived on scene and walked toward the residence, an individual later identified as Joseph Slabaugh, 35, of Brooklyn, Md., came from behind the house and the deputy immediately detained him for questioning. While the deputy was speaking with Slabaugh, a white female later identified as Brandenburg Leigh Sandifer, 33, also of Brooklyn, Md., exited the front door, ran down the front steps and attempted to run behind the residence.
Sandifer was also detained. The investigation revealed the front door of the residence had been forced open. Slabaugh and Sandifer were arrested and charged with first-, third- and fourth-degree burglary. Sandifer was also charged with making a false statement to a law enforcement officer.
On Wednesday, Slabaugh pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and was sentenced to seven years in jail, all but three of which was then suspended. He was also placed on probation for three years upon his release. On Sept. 11, Sandifer also pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and received a similar sentence. Sandifer was sentenced to seven years with all but three suspended. She was placed on probation for two years and fined $500. Both Slabaugh and Sandifer were also required to jointly pay a $500 judgment to the victims.