Fight Combatant Nearly Tazed
OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on numerous charges last weekend after first scrapping with a female victim and later police before ultimately being nearly tazed to be brought under control.
Around 2:30 a.m. last Friday, an Ocean City police officer was assisting with an arrest at an unrelated incident in the area of 8th Street when he observed a male suspect screaming at a female. The victim was screaming for the suspect to get away from him, but the suspect, later identified as Zachary Gonzalez, 18, of Kingston, Pa., kept continually screaming “where is my [expletive deleted] phone?” according to police reports.
The officer approached the pair and observed Gonzalez grab the victim and begin pushing her backward. As the officer approached, his view of the pair was obstructed momentarily by a parked vehicle and bushes, but when Gonzalez and the victim emerged again, the officer observed the victim slap Gonzalez and continue to scream for him to leave her alone, according to police reports.
Meanwhile, several people in the area began to attempt to intercede on behalf of the victim. One female jumped between the combatants and attempted to move the victim away from Gonzalez. Another group of about 10 people emerged from a nearby apartment and attempted to prevent any further contact by Gonzalez against the victim, according to police reports.
The officer approached Gonzalez and ordered him to stop, but Gonzalez walked away. After ignoring repeated requests, Gonzalez did stop, but was not cooperative, according to police reports. Gonzalez was ordered to sit on the curb, but refused. At one point, Gonzalez reportedly reached into his pocket and the officer was concerned he could be searching for a weapon.
According to police reports, Gonzalez told police he was not going to sit on the curb. The officer grabbed the suspect and attempted a leg sweep maneuver, but Gonzalez was able to avoid the leg sweep. The officer was then able to grab hold of Gonzalez and punched him twice with a closed hand to the left side of the suspect’s face, which caused the suspect to bend over at the waist. The officer was then able to force Gonzalez to his knees, but the suspect continued to resist.
Even after OCPD officers were able to get Gonzalez on the ground, he continued to resist, tensing his entire body and attempting to stand up again. The officer again struck Gonzalez with a closed fist and kneed him in the rib cage area, but would still not comply. Another OCPD officer targeted Gonzalez with his Taser in an attempt to gain compliance. Eventually, one officer was able to get control of one of Gonzalez’s arms and another officer got control of the other arm and he was brought under control.
The officers spoke with the victim who told police Gonzalez had placed his palm over her face and thrust her backward. The victim told police Gonzalez was her ex-boyfriend and had been stalking her all day. The officer noted a swollen red mark under the victim’s left eye. During a search incident to the arrest, an off-white powder identified as Ketamine was located on Gonzalez’s person. He was charged with assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and possession of CDS.
Indecent Exposure Arrest
OCEAN CITY — A Halethorpe man was arrested on indecent exposure charges last weekend after allegedly exposing himself to a juvenile on a north-end beach.
Around 11:45 p.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City police officer responded to the beach at 127th Street for a reported indecent exposure incident. The officer met with a juvenile victim who told police an unidentified male had approached the victim, pulled out his penis and said “come on, give me a hug,” according to police reports.
The juvenile told police the suspect then attempted to hug the victim but lost his balance and fell, knocking both sideways onto the ground. The victim was able to get up and called the police. The victim was able to describe the suspect and a description was broadcast to other officers. A short time later, officers were able to locate a suspect matching the description, later identified as Scott Fendlay, 22.
The victim was brought over and was able to positively identify Fendlay as the suspect. Based on the evidence and testimony, Fendlay was arrested and charged with indecent exposure.
Brick Used In Brawl
OCEAN CITY — Three Pennsylvania men were arrested on affray charges last week after an early morning fight on a downtown Ocean City street.
Around 2:30 a.m. last Wednesday, Ocean City police were patrolling in the area of 7th Street when they observed a fight involving three men, later identified as Kevin Lamarra, Nicholas Taffe and Christopher Macewan. The officers observed what started as a verbal argument and escalated to a physical altercation with each of the men punching each other with closed fists.
According to police reports, Macewan was the primary aggressor, punching Lamarra and Taffe repeatedly. Lamarra was also actively punching Macewan with closed fists. Taffe was also punching Macewan with closed fists in the head and torso. The first officer on the scene took Macewan to the ground. The other responding officers ordered Lamarra and Taffe to get on the ground. Lamarra complied, but Taffe ran away and was caught by OCPD officers a short time later.
During the investigation, a red paving brick was located near the scene of the fight. Macewan said Lamarra had struck him with the brick in the left arm and Macewan had a three-inch cut on his arm requiring EMS treatment. Lamarra was charged with second-degree assault and affray, while Macewan and Taffe were charged with affray.
He Really Wanted In
OCEAN CITY — A Cockeysville, Md. man was arrested on attempted burglary and malicious destruction of property charges this week after damaging a screen door on a balcony while trying to gain entrance to a condo adjacent to his residence.
Around 3:10 a.m. on Monday, Ocean City police responded to a unit on Canal Walk Lane for a reported burglary in progress. The complainants told police an unidentified man was on the balcony adjacent to their bedroom and was attempting to gain entrance. OCPD officers arrived and observed a suspect, later identified as Thomas Foster, 24, on the witnesses’ balcony.
The witnesses told police they were awakened to loud talking and swearing and saw Foster on their balcony. Foster had removed the sliding screen door the balcony in the process and had damaged the door to the point it had to be replaced. The witnesses told police Foster had been yelling “let me the [expletive deleted] in,” according to police reports.
The investigation revealed Foster lived in an adjacent unit and the only way to access the unit was by gaining entrance through the victims’ unit or attempting a dangerous climb across the roof between the two balconies. Based on the evidence and testimony, Foster was arrested and charged with attempted burglary and malicious destruction of property.
30 Days For Biting Cop
OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man arrested in March for first slamming a door on an OCPD officer and then biting him during the booking process pleaded guilty this week to second-degree assault and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Around 1:30 a.m. on March 3, an Ocean City police officer responded to a residence on Judlee Avenue for a reported domestic incident. The officer arrived and met with a witness, who told police her roommate, later identified as Matthew Justice, 26, of Ocean City, had attempted to kick in the door to a room in which she was hiding. OCPD officers had responded to the same residence for a complaint about an hour earlier.
The victim told police Justice had left the area on foot and the responding officer drove over to the 7-Eleven store nearby and observed Justice inside. The officer recognized Justice from a mug shot on his computer because Justice had previous run-ins with law enforcement. Justice came out of the store and approached the officer and allegedly asked if he was there for the “domestic.”
The officer asked Justice to sit on the curb, which he did, but he continued to make furtive movements as if he was going to run, according to police reports. At that point, Justice was handcuffed, but he allegedly went into a profanity-laced tirade in a loud voice to all in the area to hear, directing threats against police officers. At one point, he threatened to have the officer fired and that he knew powerful people.
Despite the tirade, the officers determined Justice had committed no crime at the scene and he was released. According to police reports, he told the officer to “mark the time” because he was “going to get me.” Justice was allowed to leave for the time being and sprinted back to his apartment on Judlee Avenue and the police followed to investigate the original domestic complaint.
Three officers responded to the residence on Judlee Avenue and after investigating the domestic incident began to leave. The original officer at the 7-Eleven incident was the last in the line of officers to leave the residence, and when he got to the doorway, Justice allegedly pulled the door back and slammed it on the officer who was still inside the door frame. The door hit the officer in the back and on his finger, forcing him into the back of the officer in front of him. The officer determined Justice intentionally slammed the door on him and arrested the suspect.
Justice was transported to the Public Safety Building for processing, and when the officer came around the transport vehicle to unbuckle the suspect, Justice allegedly bit the officer intentionally. The officer noted in his report Justice opened his mouth wide and intentionally bit him on the arm, although he was wearing a heavy coat and multiple layers, so the suspect’s teeth did not penetrate his skin.
The officers moved his arm away, but Justice again lunged at him with his mouth open and attempted to bit him again. The rest of the booking process went on without further incident. It was later determined Justice was on probation for disarming a law enforcement officer in a different incident. This week Justice pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Fine For Harboring Fugitive
OCEAN CITY — An Annapolis man, arrested in April for harboring a fugitive after preventing resort police from contacting a fugitive wanted in Charles County, pleaded guilty this week and was fined $1,000.
On April 16, an OCPD officer learned a suspect wanted for failing to appear in Charles County on felony theft charges was residing in Ocean City on Nantucket Rd. The officer responded to the address on Nantucket Rd. in an attempt to locate the suspect. The officer knocked on the door and another man, identified as Glen Genovese, 24, of Annapolis, answered.
The officer asked Genovese if the wanted suspect was in the residence, but Genovese responded he was not sure, according to police reports. When asked to go check, Genovese left the front door area and went toward the rear of the residence and out of the officer’s view. Genovese returned and told the officer the suspect was not in the residence and attempted to close the door.
The officer advised Genovese the suspect was a wanted felon and keeping any information about his whereabouts from police was considered harboring a fugitive, also a felony. The officer told Genovese if the suspect was located in the residence, he could be arrested.
According to police reports, the officer asked Genovese if he could enter the residence, but Genovese said he was not the property owner and that he was not going to let the officer enter, then attempted to close the front door. The officer was ultimately able to speak with the property owner, who acknowledged the suspect was indeed inside the residence.
The officer located the suspect in a rear room of the house and arrested him on the felony arrest warrant out of Charles County. Genovese was then arrested for harboring a fugitive. This week, Genovese pleaded guilty to harboring a fugitive and was fined $1,000.
Suspended Sentence For DUI, Drugs
WHALEYVILLE — A local woman arrested in April on drunk-driving and drug charges after her vehicle left the road and struck a ditch and utility pole in Whaleyville pleaded guilty this week and was sentenced to 30 days, all of which was then suspended.
Around 10:30 p.m. on April 2, Maryland State Police troopers received a call about a motor vehicle collision on Route 346 in front of the Oasis Bar and Grill in Whaleyville. Troopers arrived on the scene and made contact with the driver, identified as Tenille Williams, 40, of Pittsville, who was not injured in the collision.
The investigation revealed Williams was operating a Ford Mustang when the vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons, striking a ditch and a telephone pole. Troopers believed Williams was intoxicated and offered her field sobriety tests, but she refused, according to police reports.
Williams was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and was transported to the MSP barrack in Berlin. A search of Williams’ purse revealed she was in possession of marijuana and prescription drugs that did not belong to her. Williams was charged with DWI, DUI and possession of controlled substances. This week, she pleaded guilty to DUI and was sentenced to 30 days, all of which were then suspended.
