Hit-and-Run After Phony Shooting Story
OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on drunk-driving and other charges last weekend after allegedly crashing into parked cars and telling police a wild story about being shot at by individuals in another vehicle.
Around 9:20 p.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City police bicycle officer was on patrol in the area of 21st Street when he heard a loud crashing noise from about a block away. Multiple witnesses in the area told police a blue Toyota FJ Cruiser had crashed into numerous vehicles parked along Baltimore Avenue and attempted to leave the scene.
An officer observed the driver, later identified as Leonard Tarreto III, 40, of Dallas, Pa., operating the vehicle in the area of 20th Street. The officer observed the front passenger-side wheel was bent inward, causing Tarreto to have trouble leaving the scene because the wheel was skidding across the pavement. The officer also observed extensive damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle.
The investigation revealed damage to eight vehicles parked along Baltimore Avenue from 21st Street to 20th Street, ranging from minor the severe disabling damage.
According to police reports, Tarreto exhibited signs of impairment, and when questioned about what he had consumed, he reportedly told police he had three double Jack and Cokes along with two beers and admitted being drunk. According to police reports, Tarreto told police the reason he was fleeing and ultimately collided with eight parked cars was because he had been shot at by an individual from another vehicle at least five times in the area of 49th Street.
However, the details of the alleged shooting provided by Tarreto were inconsistent. For example, the officer made contact with other police officers in the area of 49th Street, who reported no instances of any shots fired. In addition, there was fresh fast food in Tarreto’s vehicle and a receipt indicated he had stopped for food sometime between the alleged shooting and his subsequent crash into the parked cars.
Based on all of the evidence, Tarreto was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident and multiple other offenses. During a search of the vehicle, an assisted opening, switchblade-style knife in the vehicle was located near the driver’s seat. Taretto was arrested and charged with DUI and other offenses. He agreed to a blood-alcohol test that returned a result of .16.
Spitter Arrested For Assault, Disorderly
OCEAN CITY — A West Virginia woman was arrested on assault and other charges after allegedly first scrapping with another woman outside a nightclub and then spitting on the other combatant and police officers attempting to take her into custody.
Around 2:20 a.m. last Saturday, Ocean City police were patrolling in the area of 49th Street when they heard a crowd yelling there was a fight. The responding officer arrived and found Seacrets bar security detaining a suspect, later identified as Cierra Keyes, 22, of Martinsburg, W.Va. According to police reports, Keyes was screaming at the top of her lungs, drawing the attention of a large crowd in the area.
As the officer got closer, he observed Keyes kick another female in the neck. Keyes was placed on her stomach, handcuffed and placed under arrest for assault and disorderly conduct. When the officer stood Keyes up and began moving her toward the transport van, Keyes allegedly spit at the woman she was initially fighting with, striking the officer in the process.
As the officer was preparing Keyes for transport, she twisted and turned her head around and spit at the officer again, just missing his face. Officers interviewed the victim, who said Keyes had been screaming at her inside the establishment about an hour earlier and was escorted from the premises. When the victim left the bar, Keyes was allegedly waiting and ran toward her and attempted to strike the victim. The victim was able to avoid the punch and pushed Keyes to the ground.
DUI Suspect Really Wanted Cheeseburger
OCEAN CITY — An Olney, Md. man was arrested on drunk-driving and fleeing and eluding charges last weekend after allegedly not stopping when police attempted to pull him over and ducking into a fast-food restaurant to satisfy a sudden hunger attack.
Around 8:45 p.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City police officer on patrol in the area of 45th Street observed a driver later identified as Orlando Amaguana, 23, of Olney, Md., operating a vehicle while talking on a hand-held cell phone. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to pull Amaguana over. Amaguana stopped initially in the bus lane at around 38th Street.
The officer stopped behind the vehicle and approached on foot, leaving his police cruiser behind with its lights still activated. According to police reports, Amaguana then accelerated southbound on Coastal Highway and fled the traffic stop. The officer got back in his vehicle and pursued Amaguana, who continued down the bus lane for several blocks.
At around 32nd Street, Amaguana turned right off of Coastal Highway into the McDonalds restaurant. According to police reports, several OCPD officers swarmed the area and located the unattended vehicle in the fast-food restaurant parking lot. Officer entered McDonalds and found Amaguana in a men’s room stall.
According to police reports, he later admitted to drinking two Long Island ice teas and a beer. Amaguana reportedly told police he was talking to his father on his cell phone while driving and saw the officer’s red and blue emergency lights, but decided to go to McDonalds because he was hungry for a “McDouble” cheeseburger.
Amaguana was administered a battery of field sobriety tests, which he did not pass to the officer’s satisfaction. At that point, he was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence and impaired and for attempting to flee and elude police.
Beer Thief Jumps In Canal
OCEAN CITY — A Waldorf, Md. man was arrested on theft and assault charges last weekend after allegedly swiping a 12-pack of beer from a midtown packaged goods store and scrapping with an employee before jumping in the bay.
Around 2:10 a.m. last Sunday, Ocean City police responded to the Assawoman Ale Shoppe at 52nd Street for a reported theft. The officers believed the suspect, later identified as Avery Adams, 22, must have still been in the water because there were no signs of wet foot prints anywhere around the perimeter of the canal.
The store clerk told police Adams entered the store just before 2 a.m. and purchased a 12-pack of beer and then exited the store. The clerk told police Adams entered the store again a short time later and attempted to purchase another 12-pack, but was told it was after 2 a.m. and he could no longer make the purchase. According to police reports, Adams asked the clerk what would happen if he just walked out of the store with the beer, and the clerk told him he would call the police. Nonetheless, Adams allegedly stole the beer and ran out of the store to the rear of the business. The clerk followed and shoved Adams to the ground, causing him to drop the 12-pack. Adams then got up, stumbled and jumped into the canal.
The clerk reportedly saw Adams swimming toward a pontoon boat moored alongside the canal, but lost sight of him and returned to the store. The OCPD arrived and searched for Adams before finding him swimming in the canal.
According to police reports, Adams was belligerent and uncooperative and denied stealing the beer and jumping in the canal. He reportedly told police he had been swimming in the canal with a female friend, but she had exited the water. Adams was arrested at the point and charged with theft.
Adams was transported to the Public Safety Building for processing and other officers reported he had purposely and repeatedly banged his head against the plexi-glass partition in the transport van so many times that the mounting screws came loose and came out of the bracket. According to police reports, Adams made repeated comments that he was going to hurt himself and the booking officers.
He attempted to make good on his promise, lunging forward with his torso and attempting to bite one Public Safety Aide and attempting to kick another. Adams was ultimately charged with theft for swiping the beer, malicious destruction of property for damaging the transport van and two counts of second-degree assault.