OCEAN CITY — With the arrival of the summer season and the influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors, Ocean City Police have re-established their undercover drug enforcement operations in and around the resort area with a handful of arrests in the last week or so.
Over several days this week, the OCPD Criminal Enforcement Division’s Narcotics Unit in conjunction with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Criminal Enforcement Team conducted multiple undercover drug operations at various locations in Ocean City. The OCPD and its allied law enforcement partners throughout the summer will conduct undercover buy-sell operations during which at different times officers will pose as either buyers or sellers of illegal narcotics.
During the first weekend of June, the undercover operations resulted in seven arrests, in addition to the seizure of various drugs and paraphernalia. Arrested during the undercover operations last weekend were Madison Shiplett, 19, of Glen Arm, Md. for possession and possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute. Also arrested was William L. White, 19, of Baltimore, on the same charges.
Roderick R. Lewis, 19, of Idlewylde, Md., was charged with distribution and possession of marijuana; Robert L. Cropper, 46, of Berlin, was charged with possession and distribution of narcotics; Zahkey, J. Martin-Gray, 19, of Montgomery Village, Md., distribution and possession of marijuana less than 10 grams; Floyd W. Downs, 19, of Lusby, Md., distribution of a controlled dangerous substance; and Darius T. Garner, 19, of Prince Frederick, Md., distribution and conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
The OCPD and its allied partners are reminding citizens undercover detectives will be actively conducting buy-bust operations throughout the summer in the resort area. The OCPD Narcotics Unit is dedicated to removing illegal drugs from Ocean City and those that buy, use or sell controlled dangerous substances will be met with strict enforcement.
Several Busted At Underage Party
WEST OCEAN CITY — A Queen Anne’s County man who allegedly kicked a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy twice was arrested on assault and others charges and several others were charged for underage drinking at a disorderly party in West Ocean City last week.
Around 8:20 p.m. last Tuesday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies, Maryland State Police and Maryland Natural Resources Police responded to the Seaside Villages community in West Ocean City for a reported disorderly incident. The officers responded and observed around 12 individuals being loud and disorderly in the parking lot, drinking alcohol and jumping on cars parked nearby.
When police arrived, numerous individuals ran from the parking lot into a unit, while several others stayed in the parking lot. The officers were able to determine the individuals in the parking lot were under the age of 21. Officers knocked on the door of the unit and were met by Ryan Jordon Gammon, 21, of Chestertown.
Gammon appeared to be highly intoxicated, mumbled his words and had trouble standing by the door, according to police reports. Officers observed several young adults and juveniles inside the unit with several open containers of alcoholic beverages throughout the entire unit. It was later determined every individual in the unit with the exception of Gammon was under 21.
Officers ran a warrant check on Gammon and determined he was wanted in Queen Anne’s County for violation of probation. Gammon was placed under arrest and continued to act in a disorderly manner, cursing out loud while being placed in handcuffs. Gammon pulled away from the officer and refused to leave the unit, kicking a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy twice.
Two adults, identified as Courtney Gammon, 20, of Chestertown, and William Parker, 19, of Stevensville, were charged with underage possession of alcohol. Four juveniles were also charged with underage possession and were issued citations and later released. Ryan Gammon was charged with second-degree assault on the deputy, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, failure to obey a lawful order, obstructing and hindering and resisting arrest, along with the outstanding warrant from Queen Anne’s County.
Alleged Trailer Theft
BERLIN — A Pocomoke man was arrested on theft charges last weekend after allegedly swiping a trailer in Delaware.
Around 6:30 p.m. last Friday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling in the area of Route 113 and Downs Rd. when a Ford truck was observed towing a trailer with a broken left taillight and no registration plate. The deputy stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Tony Holden, 20, of Pocomoke.
A check of the vehicle identification number on the utility trailer revealed it had been reported stolen in Delaware. Holden was then placed under arrest for theft under $1,000. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released pending trial.
Jail Time For Heroin Dealer
SNOW HILL — A Salisbury man arrested in December after selling heroin to an undercover officer in West Ocean City and Ocean City pleaded guilty last month to CDS distribution and was sentenced to 14 years, all but 18 months of which was then suspended.
Last Dec. 10, OCPD narcotics detectives contacted suspected dealer Michael Sellers, 34, of Salisbury via cell phone and arranged to purchase $100 worth of heroin and the deal was set up for a West Ocean City fast-food restaurant. However, when the officer arrived, Sellers instructed the officer to walk across Route 50 to the lobby of a bank on the opposite side of the highway.
However, as the undercover officer was crossing the highway, Sellers got out of the same gold Honda and motioned for the detective to walk across to a pizza restaurant on the opposite corner. The transaction was then completed at the gas pumps near the restaurant and other retail businesses.
Two days later on Dec. 12, OCPD narcotics detectives again contacted Sellers to arrange another transaction. The detective was instructed to meet with an unidentified female at a pharmacy on 17th Street. When the detective arrived at the appointed place and time, he was instructed to cross over to the parking lot of a hotel on the opposite side of the highway where the transaction was completed.
A few days later, the undercover OCPD officer again contacted Sellers via cell phone and made arrangements to purchase $300 worth of heroin. Sellers agreed to meet the detective later in the day and the transaction was set up at the parking lot of a grocery store in West Ocean City. At the appointed time and place, Sellers contacted the officer, who had observed the suspect back into a parking spot at a hardware store on the opposite side of Route 611.
A short time later, Sellers contacted the officer and told him to walk toward the pizza restaurant on the corner nearby. A few minutes after that, members of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team approached Sellers’ vehicle and removed the suspect, placing him under arrest.
At the time of his arrest, Sellers was found in possession of suspected heroin, cocaine and marijuana. Sellers was charged with two counts of distribution of heroin, three counts of possession of heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession of cocaine. Last month, Sellers pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 years, all but 18 months of which was then suspended. He was placed on probation for 30 months upon his release and was fined $500.