Fatal Accident In Southern Worcester
SNOW HILL — A Salisbury man died and another person was injured in a single-vehicle accident near Girdletree in the south end of Worcester County last Saturday.
Around 7:40 p.m. last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident on Truitt’s Landing Road in the Girdletree area. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Reconstruction Unit investigation revealed a Chevy operated by Charles E. Parks, 54, of Salisbury was traveling north on Truitt’s Landing Rd. approaching Boxiron Rd. at what appears to be a high rate of speed when the vehicle began to rotate clockwise and struck a tree.
The main impact with the tree occurred in the area of the driver’s side door. Parks was not restrained at the time of the crash and subsequently died due to his injuries. A female passenger in the vehicle, identified as Sarah Davis, 31, of Salisbury, was restrained in the vehicle and was injured in the crash. She was taken to PRMC for treatment and was later released. According to police reports, the accident is still under investigation and speed and possible drug use are considered factors in the crash.
Biting Leads To Assault Charge
OCEAN CITY — An Odenton, Md. woman was arrested on first-degree assault and other charges last weekend after allegedly biting and hitting a nightclub doorman attempting to toss her boyfriend out of the establishment.
Around 1:30 a.m. last Saturday, Ocean City police responded to a reported assault that had already occurred. The officers arrived on scene and found bar security staff attempting to pin down a female suspect later identified as Rosa Gutierrez-Rivas, 26, of Odenton, down in the parking lot while a large crowd gathered to watch.
Based on her yelling of profanities and the crowd that had gathered, OCPD officer attempted to place Gutierrez-Rivas under arrest for disorderly conduct. She continued to attempt to get away from officers, but she was ultimately brought into compliance and handcuffed.
OCPD officers interviewed the bar security staff, who told police they were attempting to escort Gutierrez-Rivas’ boyfriend from the premises because he had tried to start fights when Gutierrez-Rivas allegedly began an attack of her own. According to police reports, she struck one doorman in the face with a closed fist, breaking his glasses and causing a one-inch gash over his eye.
Another doorman attempted to restrain Gutierrez-Rivas, but she allegedly bit down on his wrist below the palm where veins and tendons are located. The doorman told police Gutierrez-Rivas continued to bite down on his wrist for as long as 45 seconds and did not release despite attempts to pull her away.
The officer inspected the doorman’s wrist and observed a cut with bruising and bite marks that was around two inches long and an inch wide. According to police reports, the skin was removed around the area of the bite. Based on the evidence and testimony, Gutierrez-Rivas was charged with first- and second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and malicious destruction of property. She was released after posting a $7,500 bond.
Phony Story About Overturned Vehicle
OCEAN PINES — One local man faces drunk-driving charges after Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies found a vehicle overturned in a field near Cathell Road last week and another local woman faces obstruction charges for allegedly telling the police she was the driver.
Around 5:45 p.m. last Monday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the area near Ocean Pines for a reported single-vehicle accident. When the deputy arrived, he located a vehicle overturned in a field with no driver. Through the investigation, deputies were able to identify the driver as Thomas Scaniffe, 23, of Berlin, who had left the scene. The vehicle’s owner was identified as Ciarra Chavis, 21, of Berlin, who is Scaniffe’s girlfriend.
Chavis told police she was the driver and crashed on her way to work at the Shore Stop. However, multiple witnesses reported Chavis had been at work at the Shore Stop since 3 p.m. Another witness told police Scaniffe was seen leaving the Shore Stop in Chavis’ vehicle. Scaniffe was later located at the store and deputies detected an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his person.
Scaniffe refused to take field sobriety tests and was arrested and charged with driving while impaired. Chavis was issued a criminal citation for obstructing and hindering.
Dropped Drawers In Crowded Restaurant
OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on indecent exposure charges last weekend after allegedly dropping his drawers in a crowded Boardwalk restaurant in the middle of the afternoon with children around.
Around 2:20 p.m. last Friday, an OCPD officer on patrol in the area of 5th Street and the Boardwalk when he was approached by two female restaurant employees who reported a male suspect later identified as Randy Ardeno, 27, of Washington, Pa., expose his buttocks and genitals while standing in the busy restaurant.
The employees directed the officer to an area of the restaurant was Ardeno was found joking with three other male companions. The employees said Ardeno had been interacting with the other males when he suddenly dropped his shorts to the ground, exposing his private parts to his friends, restaurant employees and the public in general, which included families with young children at that time of day. When approached about the incident, Ardeno was apologetic, reportedly telling police “I’m sorry,” and “it was stupid.” He was arrested and charged with indecent exposure.
Suspended Sentence For Handgun Threat
POCOMOKE — A Pocomoke man charged in April with first-degree assault after allegedly threatening land surveyors seeking permission to access a road on his property with a gun before firing shots in the area as they fled was sentenced last week to six months in jail, all of which was suspended in favor of a fine and probation.
On April 4, two land surveyors went to the front door of a residence to ask Larry Ward, 57, of Pocomoke, for permission to use a road on his property. The surveyors wished to gain a more direct access to a piece of wooded property adjacent to Wards.
According to police reports, when the surveyors knocked on Ward’s door, he came out of the residence holding a revolver. Ward then allegedly pointed the revolver at the head of one of the surveyors and yelled at them to get off his property. The two surveyors got into their vehicle and began to drive off Ward’s property.
As the surveyors were leaving, Ward allegedly fired two shots into the air. The surveyors made contact with deputies from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, who responded to Ward’s residence. Worcester County Sheriff’s Detectives executed a search warrant on Ward’s property, resulting in the discovery of a revolver with two fired shell casings in the area near the front door. Ward was charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. Last week, Ward entered an Alford plea to reckless endangerment. Ward was sentenced to six months, all of which was then suspended. He was placed on probation for one year and fined $500.
