Man Arrested After Driving On Boardwalk
OCEAN CITY — A Virginia man was arrested early Thursday morning after leading police on a motor vehicle chase that began on the south end of the Boardwalk and ended at 9th Street.
Around 3:11 a.m. on Thursday, an OCPD officer on bicycle patrol observed a vehicle driving north on the Boardwalk in the area of 1st Street. The officer observed the vehicle stop on the Boardwalk and engage in conversation with pedestrians. The vehicle then turned around and headed south on the Boardwalk. The bicycle officer attempted to catch up to the vehicle as it continued south on the Boardwalk.
The vehicle accelerated down the Boardwalk at a high rate of speed with the bicycle officer attempting to give chase, but it was able to pull away and gain distance from the officer. The OCPD officer noted in the report of the incident there were still several pedestrians on the Boardwalk despite the early morning hour.
When the vehicle reached North Division Street, it stopped and the OCPD bicycle officer observed its reverse lights illuminate. The vehicle then left the Boardwalk via the emergency access ramp at North Division Street. The vehicle, driven by Derrick Lamont Freeman, 26, of Newport News, eventually stopped at North Division Street and Baltimore Ave.
The officer approached the vehicle and ordered Freeman to put it into park. According to police reports, Freeman manipulated the vehicle’s gear shift and looked at the officer with a blank stare. Freeman allegedly told the officer he was just going to pull over onto Baltimore Avenue, but he accelerated north at a high rate of speed.
Another officer in an unmarked police vehicle picked up the chase at 8th Street. Freeman eventually pulled into a motel parking lot at 9th Street and stopped. The responding officer observed Freeman open the door and attempt to exit the vehicle with one foot on the ground, but he was still restrained by his seatbelt. Freeman was ultimately ordered out of the vehicle and allegedly told the officer he was drunk and lost and couldn’t find his hotel.
Freeman performed poorly on field sobriety test and was taken into custody on drunk-driving charges and several traffic violations. Freeman told officers he was “never coming back to Maryland.” When the officers informed him he would have to return for court appearances, he allegedly told them, “then come and get me.”
Motorist Nearly Hits Walker During Chase
OCEAN CITY — A Turkish national living in West Ocean City was arrested on multiple traffic and drug charges early Thursday morning after a high-speed chase in the downtown area that nearly resulted in a collision with a pedestrian.
Around 2:20 a.m. on Thursday, an Ocean City police officer on patrol in the area of 28th Street observed a Ford Focus heading south on Philadelphia Avenue drifting from lane to lane. The officer followed the vehicle south as it continued to swerve in and out of lanes and speeding. The officer initially tracked the vehicle driving 48 mph in a 35-mph zone.
The officer initiated a traffic stop by activating the patrol vehicle’s lights and siren, but the Ford Focus continued south, accelerating to 56 mph at one point. When the car reached the area of 15th Street, its path was blocked by traffic in each lane ahead with brake lights. The Ford Focus abruptly turned west on 15th Street, ran through a stop sign at St. Louis Avenue and nearly struck a pedestrian, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck in the crosswalk.
The vehicle was eventually pulled over on St. Louis Avenue between 15th and 14th streets. The driver, Yusuf Agduman, 21, exited the vehicle and was handcuffed and taken into custody. The officer noted in his report a strong odor of burnt marijuana was detected in the vehicle and on Agduman’s person and the person of his passenger, Onur Bolaca. Officers also located a plastic pipe with marijuana residue in the console.
Another OCPD officer responded to assist and backtracked along the path the Ford Focus took during the chase and discovered marijuana wrapped in a napkin on the corner of St. Louis Avenue and 15th Street that was seen being thrown from the passenger side window during the chase. Throughout the vehicle, OCPD officers found other marijuana and paraphernalia wrapped in similar paper napkins.
Meanwhile, the initial officer questioned Agduman about why he fled. According to police reports, Agduman told police he believed the police cruiser with lights flashing and siren activated was an ambulance and that he was merely trying to get out of the way. He allegedly told police he thought the officer’s vehicle was an ambulance because he was not advised to pull over. Agduman was arrested and charged with multiple traffic and drug violations, while Bolaca was also arrested and charged with drug violations.
