Loaded Gun Found During Traffic Stop

Loaded Gun Found During Traffic Stop
Social Issues Government

BERLIN — A routine speeding stop on Route 90 this week resulted in an arrest after a loaded handgun was found under the vehicle’s passenger seat.

Around 1:55 a.m. on Monday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle on Route 90 near Berlin for speeding. During the stop, the deputy observed certain indicators of suspicious activity. An Ocean City K-9 officer was called to do a scan of the vehicle, which resulted in a positive alert and a probable cause search.

During the search, a loaded handgun was found under the passenger seat. The suspect, identified as Seth Thomas Hughes, admitted the handgun was his and that he had placed it under the seat prior to being stopped by the deputy. Hughes was arrested and transported to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office for processing. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on recognizance pending trial.

Va. Man Arrested For Hit-And-Run

OCEAN CITY — A Virginia man was arrested on hit-and-run and other charges last weekend after rear-ending another vehicle on Coastal Highway and then fleeing the scene on foot, leaving his wrecked vehicle behind.

Around 10 p.m. last Saturday, an OCPD officer on patrol responded to a motor vehicle crash with injuries on northbound Coastal Highway at 46th Street. The officer arrived on the scene and found a 2013 Chevy Sonic with severe front-end damage with nobody inside the vehicle. In front of the damaged Chevy Sonic was a Chevrolet Suburban with significant rear-end damage.

Based on the evidence and witness statements, the officer determined the driver of the Sonic, later identified as Garrett Dwayne Dickerson, Jr., 21, of Greenbush, Va., had failed to control his speed and crashed into the Chevy Suburban, injuring the front seat passenger. The operator of the Suburban told police he was watching in his rear view mirror as he slowed on Coastal Highway and anticipated a crash into the rear of his vehicle based on the speed of the Chevy Sonic behind him.

The victim told police he saw Dickerson in the driver’s seat immediately after the collision holding the driver’s side door open while an unidentified male passenger climbed across the driver’s seat and exited the vehicle. Dickerson and the unidentified passenger then fled the scene on foot. The driver of the Suburban told police he chased Dickerson in an attempt to detain him.

Meanwhile, another OCPD officer in the area of 45th Street saw Dickerson running toward him and was able to intercept the suspect. OCPD officers interviewed Dickerson, who told police he was not the driver of the Chevy Sonic involved in the accident but merely the passenger. He told police he had no idea who owned the vehicle, nor did he have any idea about the identity of the second man in the vehicle. Dickerson told police he randomly met the other man and asked for a ride to a nearby nightclub. In the Sonic’s center console was an open can of partially consumed beer.

A check of Dickerson’s license revealed his driving privileges had been suspended and he had been issued an identification card only because of a history of driving while suspended or revoked. The background check also revealed Dickerson was wanted on an outstanding warrant in Wicomico County for failing to appear in court for a prior incident. Dickerson ultimately admitted to driving while suspended.

All in all, Dickerson drove another vehicle into the rear end of another vehicle, fled the scene with rendering aid or leaving information. According to police, without the witness who chased him and another OCPD officer nearby who intercepted, he might have eluded capture altogether. He was arrested and charged with hit-and-run, making a false statement to an officer, driving while suspended and an open container violation.

Suspect Arrested In Vehicle Break-Ins

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week arrested one of three suspects wanted in connection with a spree of vehicle break-ins around the SU campus in mid-May.

On May 19, Salisbury Police responded to several apartment complexes on the south side of the city in reference to multiple vehicles that had been broken into overnight. The majority of then victimized vehicles were in the areas of University Terrace, University Village, Varsity Lane and Marley Manor. Officers determined 17 separate vehicles had been broken into with over $11,500 in electronics, currency and other personal property stolen. The suspects also stole a Ford truck after finding a spare key in the vehicle.

Video surveillance showed three African-American males breaking into some of the vehicles. One suspect, later identified as Eric Fultz, 25, of Salisbury, later used a stolen debit card at a nearby business. Fultz was arrested on Tuesday and charged with 15 counts of malicious destruction of property, 12 counts of theft and 11 counts of rogue and vagabond. The other two suspects have not been identified.

Alford Plea For Heroin Dealer

SNOW HILL — A Salisbury man arrested in December after a local law enforcement sting operation on heroin dealing in Worcester County was found guilty last week of distribution of heroin and now awaits his fate pending the outcome of a pre-sentence investigation.

During the month of December, OCPD narcotics officers began an investigation into the alleged distribution of heroin in Worcester County and identified Maureshio Dennis, 30, of Salisbury as a possible dealer. On Dec. 13, an OCPD undercover narcotics officer made contact with Dennis via cell phone and arranged to purchase $100 worth of heroin.

The officer made arrangements to meet with Dennis in the bathroom of a West Ocean City convenience store at 1:15 p.m. Around 2 p.m. on December 13, Dennis arrived at the West Ocean City convenience store and the transaction with the undercover officer was completed in the store’s restroom.

A few days later, the OCPD undercover officer again arranged a deal to purchase heroin from Dennis via text message and again the appointed location for the transaction was the West Ocean City convenience store bathroom. This time, however, when the officer went to the convenience store, he was instructed by Dennis to walk over to a restaurant on the opposite side of Route 50.

Dennis entered the restaurant, found the undercover officer sitting at a table and completed the transaction. Two days after that, OCPD officers observed Dennis and another suspect driving eastbound on Route 50 into Ocean City. Ocean City Police followed Dennis’ vehicle to a condo building on 32nd Street and a perimeter was set up.

The vehicle was stopped and Dennis was arrested. During a search incident to the arrest, Dennis was found in possession of $150 in cash and a digital scale along with marijuana. Based on the weeks-long investigation, Dennis was charged with two counts of distribution of heroin and two counts of possession of heroin. Last week, Dennis entered an Alford Plea to distribution of heroin and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Sentencing has been set for October.