Cops And Courts – May 20, 2016

Cops And Courts – May 20, 2016
Social Issues Government

Bombs Away At Condo Building

OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania woman was arrested on malicious destruction of property and other charges this week after allegedly bombing a cooler full of glass bottles and other items off the sixth-floor condo balcony damaging vehicles below following an argument with her husband.

Around 5 p.m. on Monday, OCPD officers were dispatched to the Sea Gate condo on 30th Street for a reported malicious destruction of property incident. The complainant told police a cooler full of bottles had been thrown from a balcony, but he was not sure from where. The responding officers observed a cooler on the ground broken into pieces along with broken glass.

The officers also observed a large container of laundry detergent that was cracked open and lying on the ground. The officers observed blue detergent splattered on the hood and windshield of a white Subaru Outback along with two large dents in the hood of the vehicle. In addition, a Pontiac Firebird also had the same blue detergent on its driver’s side, but police observed no dents in that vehicle.

The officers then observed a cardboard box lying next to a Honda Element, which had a small dent on the roof above the rear passenger side door. The owner of the Honda told police he heard arguing in the unit below his on the seventh floor earlier in the day. The officers also met with two witnesses on a balcony at the neighboring Flamingo Hotel, who told police they heard large crashes and came out to see the cooler and other items in the parking lot.

The witnesses told police they had seen a suspect, later identified as Lisa Morrie Wilson, 50, of Glen Rock, Pa., standing on a sixth-floor balcony at the Sea Gate tossing items in the unit earlier in the day. As the witnesses were speaking with police, Wilson was observed again on the balcony. The officers went to the sixth-floor unit and met with Wilson, who told police she and her husband had been in an argument earlier in the day.

According to police reports, Wilson told the officers her husband was supposed to take the items from the balcony down to their vehicle. When asked how the items got in the parking lot below, Wilson told police she did not know. When Wilson was asked how the vehicles in the parking lot below were damaged, she allegedly told police, “I’ll pay for the damages,” and then said, “If you’re going to take me in, just go ahead and do it.”

When Wilson was asked if she had consumed any alcoholic beverages, she told police “quite a few,” according to charging documents. Wilson also told police she was taking multiple medications along with alcohol which prevented her from remembering anything. Based on the evidence and testimony, Wilson was arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct and dropping objects from a building.

Jail Time For Heroin, Counterfeit Currency

OCEAN CITY — A local man, arrested last week on multiple counterfeiting charges after a heroin possession arrest led to the discovery of a phony money-making operation at his residence in Berlin, was found guilty on multiple counts last week and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Christopher C. Simone, 35, of Berlin, was arrested in January for possessing and manufacturing counterfeit U.S. currency. The investigation was initiated after detectives located counterfeit currency in a vehicle Simone was driving during a heroin bust in Ocean City on New Year’s Day.

On Jan. 1, OCPD narcotics detectives were conducting surveillance and observed Simone driving a vehicle with a suspended Maryland driver’s license. OCPD detectives conducted a traffic stop in the area of 59th Street and during a subsequent search located heroin, drug paraphernalia, a large fixed-blade knife and a police-style baton.

In addition, the detectives located counterfeit currency in the vehicle. Simone was arrested and charged with possession or heroin and two counts of possession of a deadly weapon. Later on that same evening, the OCPD Criminal Investigation Division detectives and members of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team continued to investigate the counterfeit currency and executed a search warrant on Simone’s home in Berlin.

During the search, detectives located more counterfeit currency and equipment used to print the phony money. The serial numbers on the counterfeit money in the home matched those on the bills found in Simone’s vehicle as well as serial numbers from a counterfeit case in Wicomico County.

Simone was released from the Worcester County Jail on Jan. 7 after posting bond in the prior case from Jan. 1. Two days later around 1:40 p.m. on Jan. 9, detectives located Simone and arrested him for felony charges resulting from the January 1 search, with assistance from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.

Last week, Simone pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and manufacturing counterfeit currency. For the possession charge, Simone was sentenced to 18 months. For the manufacturing counterfeit currency charge, Simone was sentenced to six years, all of which was suspended. He was placed on probation for two-and-a-half years following his release from the heroin possession sentence and was fined $500.

Cop Hater Busted For Assault

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man was arrested on felony assault on a law enforcement officer last week after scrapping with an OCPD officer over another man’s open can of beer.

Around 1:25 p.m. last Thursday, an OCPD officer was bicycle patrol in the area of South Division Street when he observed a man with an open can of beer. While the officer was asking the man for his identification, another man later identified as Charles Boone, 54, of Ocean City, allegedly asked the officer, “why don’t you quit [expletive deleted] with him?”

According to police reports, Boone then stood up and faced the officer, allegedly shouting the phrase, “Let’s do this Baltimore style.” Boone allegedly put his arms to his sides and puffed out his chest to make himself bigger and walked briskly toward the officer as if he wanted to fight. The officer took a step back and drew his police baton and pointed it at Boone and told him to sit down.

Boone did sit down on a bench, but by now a small crowd had formed and the bystanders watched the entire incident, which lasted around 25 minutes. During the incident, Boone repeated several anti-law enforcement phrases including “kill all police 10 times,” and “if this guy had a gun, we would all be dead,” referring to the initial officer and other responding officers.

According to police reports, Boone continued to call the officers a variety of derogatory names. Boone was ultimately arrested for felony assault on a police officer and disorderly conduct.

Suspended Sentence For Cabbie Assault

SNOW HILL — One of two Baltimore men arrested last August after allegedly refusing to pay a taxi cab fare before threatening and assaulting the driver and stealing the keys to the vehicle was found guilty last week of second-degree assault and was sentenced to 18 months in jail, all of which were then suspended.

Around 2:45 a.m. last Aug. 17, Ocean City Police responded to the area of 126th Street and Coastal Highway for a reported armed robbery. The investigation revealed four individuals refused to pay the taxi cab fare. Two of the individuals, later identified as Justin M. Washington, 26, and Troy M. Thomas, 24, both of Baltimore, threatened and assaulted the driver before stealing $60 in cash and the keys to the taxi.

Upon arrival on the scene, OCPD officers observed Washington and Thomas chasing the taxi driver south on Coastal Highway. Thomas allegedly had a softball-sized rock in his possession at the time. Washington was taken into custody at the scene without further incident. Thomas fled to a nearby condominium and was later arrested.

Thomas was charged with first- and second-degree assault, armed robbery, robbery, theft less than $100 and possession of a deadly weapon. Washington was charged with second-degree assault, robbery and theft less than $100.

Thomas was found guilty of second-degree assault and was sentenced to 18 months, all but 10 days of which were then suspended. He was also placed on probation for 18 months upon his release and fined $500. Last week, Washington was found guilty of second-degree assault and was sentenced to 18 months, all of which was suspended. He was also placed on probation for 18 months and fined $500.

Hefty Payback For Hotel Tirade

OCEAN CITY — A Salisbury man charged with malicious destruction of property in April after first destroying property at a mid-town high-end hotel and later punching light fixtures while in custody pleaded guilty this week and was placed on probation and ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution to the victim.

Around 6:45 p.m. on April 2, an OCPD officer responded to the Edge at the Lighthouse on 56th Street for a reported domestic incident. Communications advised the officer the male suspect was wearing a white bathrobe. When the officer arrived, he located the suspect, identified as Leonard Waters, 21, of Salisbury, walking in the parking lot wearing a white bathrobe.

The officer questioned Waters, who told police he had gotten into a verbal argument with his spouse inside the hotel room and gotten angry to the point he began throwing various items and furniture. Waters told police he caused damage to the property because he had to get his anger out. He also told police he would take full responsibility for everything and that the officer could take him to jail.

The officer went to the room involved and found it in disarray. There were several bamboo-style tables and pieces of furniture overturned. There was broken glass scattered across the floor and there was a large ceramic flower pot that had been broken in half with soil scattered on the floor. There was also a large decorative bowl that was broken in half.

Waters’ spouse corroborated his version of the events. At that point, Waters was arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property. Hotel management estimated the damage at over $1,000, but Waters was apparently not finished with his rage yet.

While in the booking area of the Public Safety Building about three hours later, Waters allegedly punched a light fixture several times intentionally, causing damage to the fixture and additional malicious destruction charges were tacked on. This week, Waters pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property and was placed on probation for six months. He was also ordered to pay $2,315 in restitution.