Woman Charged For Resort Theft Scheme

Woman Charged For Resort Theft Scheme
Social Issues Government

OCEAN CITY — A Salisbury woman faces theft and other charges this week after allegedly making fraudulent payments to her own accounts from a resort restaurant last year.

Last August, OCPD Criminal Investigation Division detectives began an investigation into a theft scheme after a resort restaurant reported fraudulent transactions to a financial account. The investigation revealed an employee of the restaurant, identified as Donna Prouty, 57, of Salisbury, had allegedly used an app on her husband’s mobile phone that he used to accept payments from his customers to carry out the theft scheme.

Prouty allegedly used her husband’s mobile phone app to transfer over $2,500 in credits from the restaurant’s financial account into her own personal accounts. A warrant was issued for Prouty’s arrest in November, and last Thursday she turned herself in at the Ocean City Public Safety Building.

She has been charged with theft over $1,000 to under $10,000, theft scheme from $1,000 to under $10,000 and multiple counts of unauthorized use of another’s credit card. Prouty was seen by a District Court Commissioner and was released on personal recognizance.

Two Arrested For Heroin

BISHOPVILLE — Two Delaware men were arrested on drug charges last week after a routine traffic stop in Bishopville.

Shortly before 2 p.m. last Wednesday, Maryland State Police troopers working in the area of Bishopville Rd. near Old Stage Rd. stopped a vehicle for speeding. Through the course of the traffic stop, the driver, identified as Lamar Morris, 31, of Selbyville, was asked to step out of the vehicle and consented to a pat down. During the search, troopers found 15 packets of heroin and a baggie containing trace amounts of suspected cocaine on Morris’ person.

The passenger, identified as Joseph Giddins, 32, of Frankford, also consented to a pat down and was found to be in possession of one strip of Suboxone, one syringe and one spoon containing trace amounts of suspected heroin. Both suspects were subsequently arrested and charged with CDS violations. They were taken before a District Court Commissioner in Ocean City and were later released on personal recognizance pending court trials.

Hit-and-Run Arrest

OCEAN CITY — A Delaware man was arrested for hit-and-run, drunk driving and weapons charges last week after allegedly backing into a another vehicle at a resort convenience store and later being found at a nearby bar.

Around 1 a.m. last Wednesday, OCPD officers responded to the 7-Eleven at 59th Street for a reported hit-and-run. Officers met with the victims, who told police a delivery driver making a delivery at the store had told them a gray Jeep Liberty with Delaware tags had struck their vehicle and was speeding away from the scene.

The victims went out of the store and examined their vehicle and found it had been damaged with the right side passenger door dented in. The victims then drove out of the convenience store parking lot and caught up to the Jeep Liberty heading southbound on Coastal Highway. The victims looked into the Jeep and recognized the driver and passengers as individuals they had seen at the store the same time they had been there. According to police reports, the victims said the driver, identified as Douglass Ingle, 31, of Millsboro, and his passenger appeared visibly nervous.

The victims told police the Jeep accelerated away from them, traveling northbound on Coastal Highway. According to police reports, Ingle attempted to elude the victims by making a series of U-turns between 133rd and 146th streets. The Jeep then turned into a north end restaurant parking lot and Ingle and his passengers started making their way into the establishment.

The male victim confronted Ingle and told him he had struck their car back at the 7-Eleven, but Ingle denied having hit the vehicle and made his way into the establishment. OCPD officers arrived and walked into the bar and found Ingle seated at the bar closest to the door. OCPD officers approached Ingle and asked if he knew who had been operating the Jeep out front and that the Jeep had allegedly struck another vehicle at the convenience store parking lot.

Ingle acknowledged he had been operating the Jeep, but denied having any knowledge of a hit-and-run. Ingle told police the male suspect did approach him and said “hey, you hit my car,” and that he had called the police, but Ingle allegedly said “well, let the come.”

OCPD officers examined the Jeep and found damage to the rear spare tire consistent with damage to the victims’ vehicle. The officers located three empty beer bottles in the Jeep. The officers asked Ingle how much he had to drink and he told police he had consumed two beers at home before leaving his residence. The bartender at the establishment told police Ingle had been drinking Sprite prior to their arrival.

Based on the evidence, Ingle was placed under arrest. During a subsequent search, a folding knife was found on his person. Ingle was transferred to the Public Safety Building where he refused a breath test. Ingle was charged with possession of a martial arts weapon, driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and multiple traffic violations.

Alleged Thief Nabbed

WEST OCEAN CITY — A West Ocean City man was arrested this week after Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to connect him to the theft of televisions from the Walmart in Berlin.

On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office received a broadcast in reference to a vehicle that was suspected in connection with an alleged theft of televisions from Wal-Mart. The vehicle was then located at the intersection of Old Bridge Rd. and Route 611 in West Ocean City.

A traffic stop was conducted and the operator was identified as Dylan Matthew Ludlum, 23, of West Ocean City. Ludlum was arrested and charged with theft less than $1,000, driving on a suspended license and driving on a revoked license. He was later released pending trial.

Suspended Sentence For Knife Assault

SNOW HILL — A local woman arrested and charged with first-degree assault last July after allegedly stabbing a victim with a knife during a domestic dispute at a West Ocean City motel was found guilty this week of a lesser charge and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, all of which was suspended.

Around 11:40 p.m. last July 12, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the Sea Isle Motel in West Ocean City for a reported domestic assault involving a knife. After an investigation into the incident, the unidentified victim refused treatment from EMS at the scene. MSP troopers arrested Karen Denise Strause, 45, of West Ocean City and charged her with first- and second-degree assault.

This week, Strause was found guilty of second-degree assault and was sentenced to 90 days, all of which was suspended. She was placed on probation for 18 months and fined $300.

Second Suspect Pleads To Pot Distribution

SNOW HILL — The second of two men arrested last September on marijuana distribution charges pleaded guilty last week and was sentenced to 150 days in jail.

Around 4 p.m. on September 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 the suspects. Blake was also arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances and possession and distribution of marijuana.

Last week in Circuit Court, Smith pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and was sentenced to 150 days and fined $500. Last week, Blake pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and was sentenced to two years and six months in jail and was fined $500.

Warrant Issued For Resort Burglary Suspect

SNOW HILL — A Baltimore woman arrested last August on first-degree burglary and other charges after allegedly breaking into a resort residence and taking a camera and cash failed to appear for trial last week and had a warrant sworn out for her arrest.

Around 7 a.m. last Aug. 30, an OCPD officer responded to a residence on 12th Street for a reported burglary that had already occurred. One of the residents told the officer at around 6:45 a.m., he went into the living room and found a window open and an unidentified woman hiding behind a couch. The woman told the victim she was let in by a man and that she was looking for someone but must be in the wrong house.

The victims told the suspect, later identified as Gail Elizabeth Evans, 50, of Baltimore, to leave and she did. The victims followed Evans as she walked north on the Boardwalk as far as 18th Street. When the victims returned to the residence, they discovered around $15 in one dollar bills was missing from a table in the living room. The victims were able to provide a description of Evans to police and the description was broadcasted about 20 minutes after the first encounter with at the residence.

About 15 minutes later, an OCPD officer reported from the area of 30th Street he had observed a female matching Evans’ description changing her shirt and hat and pushing a baby stroller. When the officer confronted Evans, she was not able to explain why she had changed her shirt and hat, according to police reports. Evans was then detained because she matched the description of the suspect and because of her unusual behavior.

Around 7:55 a.m., the original OCPD officer on the case brought one of the victims to the area of 31st Street to identify the suspect. The victim indicated he was 100 percent certain Evans was the suspect he had observed in the residence. Evans was placed under arrest and a search of her person was conducted. During a search of her belongings was found suspected marijuana and paraphernalia, currency in the amount of $163, a Cannon SD 780SI camera, metal knuckles and a fighting knife.

The OCPD officer on scene informed the officer back at the residence of what was found on Evans’ person. One of the victims then checked her purse on the kitchen table and discovered an additional $150 in cash and a Cannon camera were missing. Evans was charged with first-degree burglary, theft, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and possession of prohibited weapons. Evans was scheduled to appear for trial last Wednesday, but failed to appear and had a warrant sworn out for her arrest.