Cops And Courts – June 10, 2016

Cops And Courts – June 10, 2016
Social Issues Government 1

Undercover Molly Bust

OCEAN CITY — A Catonsville man was arrested on drug distribution charges last weekend after allegedly selling Molly to undercover OCPD officers.

Shortly after midnight last Sunday, two OCPD officer working in an undercover capacity were attempting to purchase illegal drugs from random individuals when they encountered a suspect, later identified as Raymond Snyder, 27, at the corner of 6th Street and Wilmington Lane. The undercover officers asked Snyder if he knew where they could purchase some “percs,” a common street name for oxycodone.

Snyder allegedly approached the officers’ vehicle and told police he did not have any “percs,” but said he had some MDMA, or Molly, for sale. The officers told Snyder they were interested in purchasing $40 worth of Molly and the suspect agreed to supply half of a gram of the illegal drug for the money offered. Snyder then offered his cell phone number in case the officer wanted additional Molly at a later date, according to police reports.

The officer completed the transaction and parted ways with Snyder. Immediately after the transaction, a uniformed OCPD officer detained Snyder and arrested him for possession and distribution of MDMA. Following the arrest, additional suboxone was found on Snyder.

Passed Out With Child In Car

SALISBURY — A Salisbury woman faces drunk-driving and other charges this week after police found her allegedly passed out behind the wheel of her vehicle stuck on top of a log with a 5-year-old child in the backseat.

Around 2:30 a.m. last Saturday, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a possible driver in distress on Phillips Road. Upon arrival, the deputy observed a Volkswagen Passat stuck on top of a log adjacent to a driveway. The deputy observed the operator, identified as Amber Lee, 25, appeared to be asleep as she was lying across the center console. The deputy also observed a small child in the vehicle’s back seat.

The deputy woke Lee up and detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage. Due to the odor and other observed indicators, the officer suspected Lee was impaired and began sobriety testing. Following her poor performance on field sobriety tests, Lee was placed under arrest.

The deputy further discovered the 5-year-old child in the back seat was not in a car seat or belted in. During the subsequent processing, Lee refused to submit to a breath test. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and DUI while transporting a minor. Following an initial appearance, Lee was detained on a $5,000 bond.

Pot Dealer Nabbed After Flee Attempt

OCEAN CITY — A Cambridge man was arrested on drug distribution and resisting arrest charges this week after first allegedly selling marijuana to undercover officers and then fleeing on foot when they attempted to arrest him.

Around 9:15 p.m. last Saturday, undercover OCPD narcotics detectives were working in the area of 6th Street attempting to purchase drugs from various individuals when they encountered a suspect, later identified as Da Aonte Potter, 24. Potter told police he had marijuana for sale at $20 per gram but did not want to sell it to them out in public.

Instead, Potter gave the officers his cell phone number and made arrangements to make a sale in front of a nearby convenience store. The detectives texted Potter soon after and made the transaction. As uniformed officers moved in to make the arrest, Potter fled on foot but was caught a short time later. He was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and resisting arrest.

Guilty Pleas Made In Convenience Store Fight

OCEAN CITY — Two local men arrested after a donnybrook in a resort convenience store in Ocean City in February each pleaded guilty last week in District Court to disorderly conduct and each was fined $300.

Around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, Ocean City Police responded to a reported fight inside the 7-Eleven store on 26th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. As an OCPD police vehicle pulled up, a store clerk ran out of the store and approached the officers. An OCPD officer detained one of the men, later identified as Carl Saint-Juste, 23, of Ocean City, who was not wearing a shirt.

OCPD officers located the other combatant in the store, identified as Kevin Nock, 23 of Eden. Saint-Juste told police Nock had approached him in the store and made a racial slur toward him and then punched him, so Saint-Juste punched him back. Witnesses statements and video surveillance showed Saint-Juste and Nock saying things to each other before Saint-Juste approached Nock and pushed him.

Saint-Juste then walked away from Nock, but approached Nock about a minute later. At that time, Nock allegedly punched Saint-Juste in the face and the two began a violent fight. Nock and Saint-Juste got a hold of each other and wrestled each other to the ground while others in the store watched the fight. According to police reports, it was clear from the video the fight was mutual and both Nock and Saint-Juste were placed under arrest.

According to witnesses, Nock entered the store and asked to use the restroom. Saint-Juste, who is not an employee of the store, told Nock the restrooms were not for customers and told Nock to leave. Saint-Juste then approached Nock and shoved him, causing a display of Valentine’s cards to get knocked over and scatter across the floor.

Saint-Juste told police Nock had bothered him first, so he believed he was justified in punching Nock. Nock complained of a laceration near his ear and a possible broken finger, while Saint-Juste complained of a swollen lip. Both were arrested and charged with assault. Last week, each pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and each was fined $300.

Assault Conviction

SNOW HILL — An Ocean City man arrested last fall on rape and other charges stemming from an incident last July pleaded guilty this week to second-degree assault and now awaits his fate pending a pre-sentence investigation.

Last July 27, Ocean City Police received a complaint of a sexual assault that allegedly occurred at an apartment in the area of Dorchester Street and Baltimore Avenue. Through the investigation, detectives determined the victim and a friend returned to the friend’s apartment in the early morning hours of July 27. Shortly thereafter, the suspect, later identified as Steven M. Grinder, 33, of Ocean City, allegedly sexually assaulted the victim in his apartment.

Over two months later, the OCPD Major Crimes Unit charged Grinder with second-degree rape and second-degree assault stemming from the alleged incident in July. This week, Grinder pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and sentencing was deferred. Sentencing has been set for Aug. 1.

Jail For Domestic Assault

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man, arrested on assault and malicious destruction of property charges in February after allegedly punching a female victim during a domestic argument and breaking her cell phone, pleaded guilty last week and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Around 1:40 p.m. on Feb. 17, Ocean City Police responded to the Burgundy Inn for a reported domestic assault in progress. Officer met with a witness who said she saw a suspect later identified as Zahi Moreno, 34, of Ocean City, running north on Wilmington Lane from the nearby apartment complex. While the witness was speaking with the officers, Moreno was again spotted running south on Philadelphia Avenue and he was located and detained a short time later.

The witness told police she believed Moreno had been involved in a domestic incident because she lived in the next door unit and heard screaming and yelling and called police. OCPD officers responded to the unit and questioned the female victim, who advised she had first been in a verbal argument with Moreno over domestic issues.

The victim told police Moreno had become belligerent and the argument turned physical when he allegedly punched her on the top of her head, the left side of her face and the right side of her face. When the victim was able to free herself, Moreno allegedly threw a coffee table across the room, slammed a picture frame on the ground and slammed her cell phone on the floor, causing the screen to break. Moreno then left the residence, according to police reports. The OCPD officers observed the victim’s entire face was red as a result of the assault and she was bleeding from a cut on her lip. The victim also had a cut on her wrist which was also bleeding.

After Moreno was taken into custody, he agreed to speak with officers about the incident. Moreno told police he was in an argument with the victim because she had gone to see he children with her ex-boyfriend. When asked if he had struck the victim, Moreno allegedly told police, “I am not going to lie, I mushed her,” according to charging documents. Based on the evidence and testimony, Moreno was charged with second-degree assault and malicious destruction of property. Last week, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Probation For Beating Goose

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man, arrested along with two juveniles for intentionally killing a goose in the city park during an afternoon in March, pleaded guilty this week to aggravated animal cruelty and was sentenced to 18 months in jail, all of which were then suspended.

Around 2 p.m. on March 21, Salisbury Police responded to the City Park in the area of Ben’s Red Swings for a report of suspects chasing and striking geese with sticks. Officers arrived on the scene and met with witnesses who identified the suspects involved as well as the dead goose that was floating in the water.

The investigation revealed the suspects were walking through the park carrying large sticks and chasing geese. The suspects were then witnessed striking the geese with the sticks as they chased them. According to police reports, the geese were chased and struck as they entered the water, where they were found to be deceased. Salisbury Police Animal Control Officers responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation.

As a result of the investigation, Salisbury Police arrested Domonick Hall-Mallory, 18, of Salisbury, along with a 17-year-old juvenile and a 14-year-old juvenile. Hall-Mallory was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, false statement to police and obstructing. The two juveniles were each charged with aggravated animal cruelty and were released to their guardians.

About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.