OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Police this week continue to seek a suspect wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a downtown resort hotel early last Thursday morning.
Around 5 a.m. last Thursday, Ocean City Police responded to the Tidelands Caribbean Hotel near 4th Street for a reported armed robbery that had already occurred. The victim, who is an employee of the hotel, reported an unidentified male suspect entered the lobby and demanded money while gesturing as if he was concealing a firearm. The suspect then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency.
Late last week, the OCPD released a photo captured by the hotel’s surveillance system of a potential suspect. Thanks in part to the many tips that were received from citizens after the photo was released, that individual was located by the OCPD.
However, detectives have determined that the individual is no longer a person of interest in the case, and the search for the real suspect is ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the OCPD at 410-723-6600. Callers can remain anonymous.
Fatal Truck Accident
SNOW HILL — A Lewes, Del. man lost his life in a single-vehicle accident on Monday in Worcester County.
Around 10:20 a.m. on Monday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Sheppard’s Crossing Rd. and Shavox Rd. near Whaleyville for a reported commercial motor vehicle crash. The investigation revealed a commercial truck driven by Michael Smith, 55, of Lewes, Del., was traveling eastbound on Sheppard’s Crossing Rd. approaching Shavox Rd. when the vehicle entered the soft shoulder. Smith overcorrected and the truck crossed the center line of Sheppard’s Crossing Rd. and overturned.
Smith sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Reconstruction Unit is investigating. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 410-632-1111.
Removed Patron Causes Disturbance
OCEAN CITY — A New Jersey man was arrested on assault and disorderly conduct charges last weekend after getting removed from a midtown bar and restaurant and then allegedly attempting to prevent others from going into the establishment.
Around 12:30 a.m. last Sunday, Ocean City Police responded to Fager’s Island for a reported disorderly male. Upon arrival, the officers observed bar security staff detaining a suspect later identified as Christopher Sheehan, 44, of Mantua, N.J. Fager’s security staff told police Sheehan had been kicked out for fighting with employees. The security staff issued a trespass warning to Sheehan in the officers’ presence and he eventually left the property after several commands to do so.
According to police reports, Sheehan then stood in the public roadway outside the entrance to Fager’s and intentionally stopped several cars, at least four, that tried to enter the establishment. He allegedly stepped in front of the vehicles and told the occupants not to go in, telling them how unhappy he was with the service. In the police report, OCPD officers noted it was the Saturday night of the Fall Car Cruise event and the business was extremely busy with a line of vehicles attempting to enter the parking lot at the time of the incident.
The officers then noticed a group of five males attempting to walk through the main entrance to Fager’s when Sheehan stepped in front of them, causing the group to stop. When the group tried to evade Sheehan, he allegedly shouted profanities at them. At that point, OCPD officers attempted to take Sheehan into custody.
The officers told the suspect he was under arrest and to put his hands behind his back, but Sheehan allegedly resisted. Sheehan allegedly tried to rip one of the officer’s arms from his own arm during the attempt to arrest him, but the officer kicked the suspect’s legs out from under him and got him on the ground.
The officers were eventually able to take Sheehan into custody, but when one of the officers went to double click the handcuffs, Sheehan alleged grabbed his fingers and squeezed them tightly, causing pain to the officer. The officer was eventually able to break free of Sheehan’s grip and remove his fingers. Sheehan was charged with second-degree assault on an officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and willfully obstructing the free passage of another and others in a public place.
Burnout Driver ID’d On Social Media
OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was charged this week with numerous traffic violations after he was identified by a social media video as the driver of the vehicle that attempted to do a burnout on Philadelphia Avenue near 7th Street before losing control and colliding with a restaurant railing.
Around 6:30 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police responded to a reported hit-and-run collision in the area of 7th Street and Philadelphia Ave. It was reported the driver attempted to do a burnout, but lost control of the vehicle, which then collided with a railing in front of Pickle’s Pub at a law speed.
The next day on Oct. 10, OCPD discovered a video of the incident on social media. Through the investigation, officers were able to identify the suspect was Greg Peters, 44, of Lebanon, Pa. OCPD officer made contact with Peters and charged him with numerous counts including negligent driving, spinning wheels, driving on the sidewalk and numerous other citations.
Warrant Leads To Drug Arrest
BERLIN — A Berlin woman was arrested on drug charges last week after Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies went to her residence to serve her with a failure to appear warrant dating back to 2012.
Last Tuesday, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence on Stephen Decatur Highway to serve a failure to appear warrant on Bimini Mary Jane Howard, 53, of Berlin. Howard was wanted for failing to appear for a violation of probation hearing in Worcester County Circuit Court in June 2012.
Howard was placed under arrest, and during a search incident to the arrest, was found to be in possession of suspected cocaine. Howard was charged with possession of CDS and was served with the failure to appear warrant. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held without bond at the Worcester County Detention Center.
Speeding, Aggressive Driving Target Areas
BERLIN — Continuing a recent plan to target known trouble spots around the county, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office this week announced they were extending its speed enforcement initiative to different areas.
The Sheriff’s Office announced it was continuing to monitor high traffic areas around the county known for speeding and aggressive driving. Throughout the last several months, similar operations have been set up in West Ocean City, Berlin, Snow Hill, Pocomoke and other areas. The latest areas targeted for speed enforcement and aggressive driving enforcement are Friendship Road in Berlin, Newark Road in Newark and Old Snow Hill Road in Pocomoke.