Fleeing And Eluding Arrests

Fleeing And Eluding Arrests
Social Issues Government

SNOW HILL — Two local men were charged with multiple offenses last week after fleeing on dirt bikes from a police officer attempting to stop them in the south end of Worcester County.

Around 9 p.m. last Friday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was on routine patrol in the George Island Rd. area near Stockton when the officer attempted to stop a dirt bike and a sport ATV. Both vehicles attempted to flee from the deputy, who followed the dirt bike. The dirt bike operator, identified as Jason Andrew Shenton, 35, of Stockton, fled on foot after crashing the dirt bike behind a residence.

Shenton was taken into custody and charged with multiple traffic violations along with driving while intoxicated and fleeing and eluding. Shenton was also issued a civil citation for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana. Additional deputies located the driver of the sport ATV, identified as Robert Dolby, Jr. 25, of Pocomoke, who was also charged with fleeing and eluding. Both were taken before a District Court Commissioner and were released pending trial.

Gun Stolen From Party

OCEAN PINES — Ocean Pines Police this week are still attempting to locate a second handgun stolen from a party in the community last week.

Last week, an Ocean Pines couple went on a Caribbean vacation and left their teenage daughter at home. The teen then hosted a party at the residence in her parents’ absence. During the party, one of the guests at the party apparently discovered two pistols secured in a closet and stole them.

An extensive investigation by Ocean Pines police resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old and the recovery of one of the weapons. However, as of mid-week, the suspect would not divulge the location of the second stolen weapon. The investigation is ongoing.

Jail For Bank Fraud

SNOW HILL — A Salisbury woman, charged in February with theft and theft scheme after making fraudulent payments to her own bank accounts from a resort restaurant last summer, was found guilty last week in Circuit Court and was sentenced to 18 months, all but one of which was suspended.

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. She was 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.

Last week in Circuit Court, Prouty entered an Alford

plea to theft scheme from $1,000 to under $10,000 and illegal computer access. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case. Prouty was sentenced to 18 months with all but one month suspended. She was also fined $500 and placed on probation for 18 months upon her release.

Busy Fourth For State Police

BERLIN — Maryland State Police Berlin barrack troopers were a busy bunch over the Fourth of July weekend as part of the statewide crackdown on drunk-driving and other traffic-related issues during the holiday.

MSP Berlin barrack troopers stopped a total of 617 vehicles, made 11 arrests for DUI, one arrest for drug possession and three other arrests on active warrants. Across the state, Maryland State Police conducted 7,000 traffic stops and issued over 5,100 citations and 4,100 warnings. The MSP also issued 790 repair orders during the holiday weekend.

Two-State Heroin Dealer Pleads Guilty

SNOW HILL — A Selbyville man, arrested in March after a multi-agency, two-state investigation in Worcester and Sussex County identified him as a significant heroin dealer in the area, pleaded guilty last week with sentencing deferred to a later date.

In March, multiple law enforcement agencies teamed up on the arrest of an alleged significant heroin dealer operating in Worcester and lower Delaware at a parking lot in West Ocean City. The Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team initiated a joint heroin distribution investigation with the Delaware State Police, the Sussex Drug Unit and the Ocean City Police Department.

The investigation focused on Peter Paul DeMarie III, 35, of Selbyville, who was known by the Criminal Enforcement Team and the OCPD as an alleged major source of supply of heroin as well as cocaine and marijuana. The investigation revealed DeMarie’s alleged criminal activity took him across state lines. In March, the Criminal Enforcement Team located DeMarie at a business parking lot in West Ocean City and took him into custody. A search of DeMarie’s person turned up 751 individually wrapped bags of suspected heroin and $1,150 in currency.

As a result of the coordinated effort, the Delaware State Police and the Sussex Drug Unit obtained a search and seizure warrant for DeMarie’s residence in Selbyville. During the search, detectives located a Hi-Point .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, 1,784 grams, or nearly four pounds, of marijuana, 194 grams of suspected cocaine, 950 individual bags of heroin, over 26 grams of methamphetamine, 82 individual oxycodone tablets, two ecstasy tablets, 36 individual Suboxone strips and over $16,000 in currency.

DeMarie was charged with multiple CDS crimes in Maryland and Delaware. Last week, Demarie pleaded guilty in Worcester County Circuit Court to possession with intent to distribute heroin and sentencing was deferred. The disposition of the charges against him in Delaware is not known.

Fine For Interfering

OCEAN CITY — A Glen Burnie man, arrested in May on multiple charges after blocking police from arresting another member of his motorcycle gang after a chase through downtown Ocean City, pleaded guilty last week to carrying a concealed dangerous weapon and resisting or interfering with an arrest and was fined $500.

Around 10:30 p.m. on May 23, an OCPD officer observed a group of motorcyclists with the “Wheels of Soul” motorcycle gang patches on their jackets riding in the area of 85th Street and Coastal Highway. One of the motorcycles had a vertical registration plate. The officer observed an axe handle sticking out of the saddle bag on one of the motorcycles and observed a sheath for a fixed blade knife under the jacket of the rider with the vertical registration.

The officer turned on emergency lights in an attempt to pull over the motorcycle with the vertical registration. The group of motorcycles continued south and failed to stop, changing positions as the traveled. The motorcycle with the vertical registration turned on to 72nd Street and entered an alley behind a store. Another motorcycle followed, and as the officer attempted to turn into the alley, the second motorcycle blocked his way, allowing the first motorcycle to get away.

The OCPD officer continued to follow the second motorcycle with lights and sirens activated, but the motorcycle refused to stop. The officer broadcast a description of the group of motorcycles, which were now weaving in and out of traffic and making numerous turns to avoid police. At one point, the group ran a red light at 62nd Street.

Finally, the group was stopped at Sparrow Lane and Bayshore Drive. The driver of the motorcycle that had blocked the officer’s attempt to make a stop in the alley at 72nd Street was identified as Kerwin McLendon, 34, of Glen Burnie. A search of McLendon revealed a fixed blade knife under the rider’s jacket and a set of brass knuckles in a jacket pocket. McLendon was arrested and charged with carrying concealed deadly weapons and intentionally interfering with an arrest. Last week, he pleaded guilty to both and was fined $500 for each count.