OCEAN CITY — Four of the seven homeless people arrested on burglary charges in October after allegedly setting up housekeeping in a vacant downtown Ocean City apartment pleaded guilty last week in District Court and each was sentenced to 120 days in jail.
Around 7 p.m. on Oct. 31, Ocean City Police responded to home in the area of 2nd Street and Philadelphia Ave. for a reported burglary in progress. As officers attempted to enter the residence, several individuals exited with their hands in the air. The investigation revealed all seven suspects were homeless and were finding shelter in the unoccupied home.
The residence had been winterized and closed for the winter when the seven individuals broke in. OCPD officers arrested the seven individuals and charged them each with fourth-degree burglary. Among those charged were Russell D. Jester, 57; Philip A Weigel, 56; Scott Bryant, 58; Mark Martin, 54; Vernon Rinehart, 69; and Derrick Perciful, 47, all of Ocean City. Also charged was Charles Boone, 52, of Dagsboro.
Last week, four of the suspects including Jester, Martin, Perciful and Weigel pleaded guilty to fourth-degree burglary and each was sentenced to 120 days in jail. The remaining suspects have court dates set for December 18.
One Year For Stolen Truck
OCEAN CITY — A Chester, Md. man, arrested in November on auto theft and other charges after allegedly swiping a truck from a business in Stevensville before getting into a fender bender at a West Ocean City convenience store, pleaded guilty this week in Worcester County to unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and was sentenced to a year in jail.
Around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, Ocean City Police were dispatched to the area of the 7-Eleven store on 26th Street for a reported stolen vehicle. The OCPD had been given a “be on the lookout” notice for a Chevy truck with “Bartlett Tree Experts” written on the side that had been reported stolen in Stevensville.
An employee of Bartlett Tree Experts saw the stolen vehicle traveling in Ocean City and watched it stop at the convenience store. The OCPD officer arrived and saw the truck parked at the store with four occupants in the front seat. The officer had each occupant exit one-by-one and sit on the curb. The driver, identified as Tyler Humphries, 18, of Chester, asked the officers why they were being detained, and when the officer told him the vehicle had been reported, he told police, “it’s my father’s truck,” according to police reports.
OCPD officers spoke with the regional manager for Bartlett who said the vehicle had been taken from the company’s regional headquarters in Stevensville without permission around 1:30 a.m. on Monday. OCPD officers than spoke with another Bartlett employee who said the stolen vehicle had been involved in a hit-and-run accident at the WaWa in West Ocean City.
A witness to the accident called the company’s number from the side of the truck, which alerted Bartlett employees to the location of the stolen vehicle. The Bartlett employee drove to Ocean City and saw the stolen vehicle traveling in the area of 9th Street and followed it to the 7-Eleven store on 26th Street.
OCPD officers questioned the driver about when and where he got the truck and Humphries told police his father worked for Bartlett and let him borrow the truck. Humphries said his father talked to his boss and his boss agreed to let him borrow the truck. Oddly, when officers asked Humphries if they could contact his father to confirm the story, he told them his father was a Navy Seal and could not be reached by phone.
Humphries told police his father had arranged for him to borrow the truck at around 9:30 a.m. on Monday, but the vehicle had been reported stolen at 1:30 a.m. He said his own vehicle had broken down and that his father had arranged for him to borrow the company truck to visit friends in Ocean City.
OCPD officers asked Humphries if he had been in an accident on the way to Ocean City. Humphries told police he had not, but the officers told him a witness had seen the collision and called the company at the number on the side of the truck. Humphries then recanted and told police he had been in a fender-bender at WaWa, but was scared because he had never been in an accident, which is why he left the scene.
Meanwhile, OCPD officers talked with Bartlett managers and determined there was no employee bearing the alleged suspect’s father’s name working for the company. Bartlett managers further reported the truck had been stolen during the early hours on Monday and no one had approved taking it for the day.
When presented with this information, Humphries told OCPD officers his mother had actually given him permission. Finally, Humphries came clean and told police his little brother’s father worked for Bartlett and he was familiar with the company’s operation and vehicles and the locations of keys. He said he walked to the company offices in Stevensville and climbed through an open window to get the keys.
He then took the truck because he needed a ride to Ocean City and his own vehicle had broken down. He said he picked up his friends in Ocean City and none of them knew the truck had been stolen. Humphries was then arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle and theft under $100,000. As of mid-week, Humphries was being held on a $20,000 bond. On Tuesday, Humphries pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and was sentenced to one year in jail.
Jail For Heroin Possession
BERLIN — A Berlin man arrested in August after allegedly swiping a vehicle belonging to his mother before getting pulled over and found with drugs in the vehicle pleaded guilty to possession last week and was sentenced to 90 days.
Around 12:20 p.m. on Aug. 31, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence on Beauchamp Rd. in reference to a reported unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. A deputy learned from the complainant that her son, identified as Curtis James Adkins, 28, of Berlin, had taken her vehicle without her permission.
During the investigation, the deputy was able to locate the stolen vehicle in the Berlin area. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and identified Adkins as the driver. A K-9 scan was requested and the K-9 alerted positively for controlled dangerous substances. During a subsequent search, heroin and two unidentified pills were found in the vehicle. Adkins was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of heroin. Last week, Adkins pleaded guilty to possession and was sentenced to 90 days and fined $200.
Guilty For Wrong Way DUI
SNOW HILL — A Snow Hill man arrested on drunk-driving and other charges in September after allegedly driving the wrong way on Route 113 and driving through a yard to his residence was found guilty last week of driving while impaired and was sentenced to one year in jail.
Around 9 p.m. on Sept. 11, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was heading south on Route 113 and observed a vehicle traveling north on the southbound shoulder. The deputy had to travel north to a turnaround area and by the time the officer did that, the driver, identified as Jason Lynch, 35, of Snow Hill, had driven the vehicle to a yard in the rear of a residence on Route 113.
The deputy shined his spotlight on the vehicle and saw Lynch flee in the vehicle to the rear yard of the residence. The deputy drove to the house and discovered Lynch attempting to leave the vehicle. When the officer asked Lynch what he was doing, he noticed Lynch had difficulty maintaining his balance and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. He was then arrested with driving under the influence and driving while impaired. Last week, Lynch pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced to one year in jail. He was also fined $500.
30 Days For Resisting Arrest
SNOW HILL — A Berlin woman arrested on assault and other charges in September after allegedly shoving a deputy during a fight in Snow Hill pleaded guilty last week to resisting arrest and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Around 11:45 p.m. on Sept. 21, 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. Last week in District Court, Jackson pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. She was also fined $250.
Hefty Fine For Possession
OCEAN CITY — A Millsboro woman, one of three arrested in July on drug possession and distribution charges after a brief vehicle chase through downtown Ocean City, pleaded guilty last week in District Court and received a 90-day suspended sentence and a $1,000 fine.
Around 11:45 p.m. on July 3, Ocean City Police working a plainclothes detail noticed a possible noise violation from a vehicle on the Inlet parking lot. The vehicle left the lot and minutes later, uniformed OCPD officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of Baltimore Ave. and S. First Street when the vehicle fled north on Baltimore Ave. With OCPD officers in pursuit, the vehicle then turned onto Worcester Street and continued south on Philadelphia Ave. before finally stopping in the parking lot area near Baltimore Ave. and S. First.
The driver, identified as Marcos Ortlip, 21, of Millsboro, quickly jumped out of the vehicle and was placed under arrest for fleeing. Three additional passengers were detained at the scene including Brandon Garrison, 31, of Dagsboro; and Christina Boone, 23, of Millsboro. A third passenger was released at the scene. During a search, officers located 18 bags of heroin, marijuana, crack cocaine and over $650 in currency.
Ortlip, Garrison and Boone were each charged with multiple drug distribution and possession charges. Ortlip was also cited with numerous traffic violations. Last week, Boone pleaded guilty to possession and was sentenced to 90 days, all of which was suspended. She was also fined $1,000. Ortlip and Garrison each failed to appear for court in October and had warrants sworn out for their arrests.