Four Injured In Three Separate Moped Accidents

OCEAN CITY – Four scooter drivers were injured in three separate accidents in Ocean City within roughly three hours of each other last Sunday.

The first accident involving last Sunday occurred around 10:47 a.m. when a scooter driven by Christopher Herndon, 19, of Columbia, Md., was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of 23rd Street and Baltimore Ave. Herndon was taken to AGH where he was treated for his injuries.

The second accident occurred about an hour and a half later when a vehicle attempting to make a left turn onto Convention Center Drive collided with two scooters heading south on Coastal Highway. The driver told police she did not see the scooters because her sightline was blocked by traffic. One of the scooter drivers in the incident was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury via Maryland State Police helicopter.

The third incident of the day involving a scooter and a vehicle occurred around 1:49 p.m. when a vehicle heading south on Coastal Highway attempted to make a left turn on a green signal onto 52nd Street and collided with a scooter driven by Bradley Kidd, 18, of Thurmont, Md., who was heading north on the highway. Kidd was taken to PRMC for treatment of his injuries.

Two Teens Hospitalized After Alcohol Incidents

OCEAN CITY – Two 17-year-old boys are in local hospitals after two separate incidents involving underage drinking last weekend.

Around 11:30 p.m. Friday night, OCPD officers responded to the 75th Street Medical Center to investigate a fall from a balcony. A 17-year-old boy was fighting with paramedics, who had to sedate the youth to transport him to Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

The investigation revealed the boy jumped from a third floor balcony to a second floor balcony at a condominium on Seaward Drive. The boy, who was intoxicated, was driven by his friends to the medical center. As of yesterday morning, he was in stable condition at PRMC.

Later on, around 5 a.m., OCPD officers were called to a residence on 124th Street for an unconscious male.  It was determined that the boy, 17, was visiting Ocean City for senior week. Police learned that the boy consumed as many as 20 shots of 80-proof whiskey. Paramedics believed he may have suffered alcohol poisoning and transported him to Atlantic General Hospital.

Police also discovered a large quantity of assorted alcoholic beverages in the unit. No one in the unit was 21. All of the alcohol was dumped out and four alcohol citations were issued. His present condition at AGH is unknown.

Parents were notified in both cases.

Backpack Snatcher Convicted

SNOW HILL – A Baltimore man who ripped a backpack from a woman’s hands as she loaded her belongings into her vehicle before fleeing on foot in Ocean City last August was sentenced this week to five years in jail for attempted robbery and second degree assault.

Larry Leon Kintzer, 27, of Baltimore, was arrested last August and charged with robbery, second-degree assault and theft under $100 when he allegedly grabbed a woman’s backpack and attempted to rip it from her hands.

In March, Kintzer was found guilty on the attempted robbery and second-degree assault charges and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Back in Circuit Court for a sentencing hearing last week, Kintzer was sentenced to five years in jail.

On Aug. 1, around 9:30 a.m., OCPD Officer Charles Zukas responded to 1st Street and St. Louis Ave. for an attempted theft. When the officer arrived, he spoke with a female victim who said she was loading belongings into her vehicle with a friend when a man, later identified as Kintzer, intercepted a backpack and tried to rip it from her hands.

According to court documents, Kintzer held on to one end as the woman grasped the other and he reportedly said, “I’m going to break your arm if you don’t let go.”

As the struggle continued, a male witness noticed what was happening and attempted to help the woman. Kintzer then dropped the backpack and the male witness chased him down the street before losing sight of the man. About an hour later, police located Kintzer. He was positively identified and placed under arrest.

Trespasser Assaults Berlin Officers

BERLIN – Two Berlin Police officers were assaulted by a man suspected of trespassing at a Bay Street apartment complex last Thursday after leading police on a brief foot chase and later assaulting them at the police station downtown.

Last Thursday, Berlin Police responded to a residence on Bay Street for a reported trespassing complaint. When they arrived on the scene, they identified a suspect matching the description and later identified as Canitchel Brewington Mills, 47, of Berlin. When Mills saw the officers, he fled on foot leading police on a chase through several properties on Flower Street.

Another Berlin officer intercepted Mills and when he refused to comply with his arrest, the officer pepper-sprayed the suspect. Mills started to flee again when the officer tackled him and took him into custody.

At the Berlin Police station, a handcuffed Mills assaulted another officer by kicking him at the belt line and then rammed yet another officer, knocking him to the ground. The officer received a laceration to the hand during the altercation. Mills was not done yet. During booking, he assaulted another officer and damaged the booking area of the station.

Mills was charged with two counts of assaulting an officer, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and malicious destruction of property.

Drug Bust On Assateague

ASSATEAGUE – On Monday, June 4, at 11:30 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) arrested three on drug charges while patrolling the campground at Assateague State Park.

Timothy M. Horan, 18, of Grasonville, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), morphine; possession of CDS, marijuana; possession of CDS, marijuana with intent to distribute; and four counts of possession of CDS paraphernalia. Nathan P. Bachman, 19, and a 17-year-old boy, both of Chestertown, were charged with possession of CDS, marijuana, and possession of CDS paraphernalia.

NRP officers entered the campsite after detecting an odor of burning marijuana and observing Bachman and the 17-year-old allegedly smoking the suspected substance. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office assisted NRP with a K-9 scan of vehicles located on the campsite.

Horan and Bachman were released on personal recognizance, and the 17-year-old boy was released back to the campsite with the authority of Juvenile Services and his parents.

Boating While Intoxicated

OCEAN CITY – On Friday, June 1, at 8:20 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged Stanford Troy Mawyer, 39, of Baltimore, with operating a motor vessel while under the influence of alcohol in the Isle of Wight Bay, near 49th Street in Ocean City.

NRP officers stopped Mawyer for allegedly operating his pontoon vessel after sunset without proper navigation lights. Mawyer was issued citations for operating a motor vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vessel while impaired, and operating a motor vessel while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. A court date of July 20 has been scheduled for Mawyer in Worcester County District Court.

Ocean City, County Cooperate On Bust

OCEAN CITY – The combined effort of the Ocean City Police Department’s Narcotics Task Force and the Worcester County Narcotics Task Force resulted in the arrest of an Ocean City man at a West Ocean City shopping center last Friday.

The cooperative effort by the two allied agencies resulted in the arrest of Gary Croney, 47, of Ocean City, last Friday in West Ocean City when narcotics officers located the suspect and served an arrest warrant on him. Croney was found with a third of an ounce of cocaine on his person. A search of his residence in Ocean City incident to his arrest revealed three ounces of marijuana and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Croney was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine, possession of marijuana and cocaine and possession of paraphernalia. He was released from custody after posting a $50,000 bond.

Suspect Caught After Wild Foot Chase

OCEAN CITY – A Churchton, Md. man was apprehended after a foot chase in downtown Ocean City after he was in custody for threatening the clerk of a convenience store.

Shortly before midnight on Monday, an OCPD officer working in plain clothes as part of the department’s RAAM program noticed a suspect, later identified as Donald W. White, Jr. of Churchton, Md. pointing at and yelling at the clerk of the 7-Eleven at 26th Street as he exited the store. White launched in an expletive-filled tirade at the clerk and told him to step outside and fight, but the clerk ignored his advances.

White swung the door to the store open, almost hitting a young girl nearby. When he exited the store, he stumbled over the curb and had to catch himself by putting his hands on a vehicle. The plainclothes RAAM officer than took White into custody for disorderly conduct. White pleaded with the officer not to arrest him, saying at one point, “Officer, please don’t do this. I’m on probation and this will really [expletive deleted] me up. I’m going to go away for a long time if you do this.”

Nonetheless, the officer moved forward with the arrest and booking process. White was clearly intoxicated, according to the police report, and a search of his person revealed a small amount of marijuana and a small white pill that turned out to be Xanax.

Seated on the curb with his hands cuffed behind his back, White suddenly jumped up and fled from the police. He ran through the 7-Eleven parking lot, across Philadelphia Ave. and headed east on 27th Street. White did not slow down when he reached Baltimore Ave. and at least two cars heading north had to swerve to avoid hitting him. He was finally recaptured on Baltimore Ave. about a minute and a half after fleeing custody. He was charged with disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana and CDS, and escape.

Two Men Arrested In Hit-And-Run Escapade

OCEAN CITY – One Baltimore man was arrested for driving under the influence and disorderly conduct, while his passenger, also from Baltimore, was arrested for malicious destruction of property after hitting a parked car on Baltimore Ave. and later attempting to flee from the police.

Around 4:20 a.m. on Monday, OCPD Officer Patrick Flynn was on routine patrol when he was flagged down by a group of people around 26th Street who had just witnessed a hit-and-run. Witnessed told police a white vehicle had just hit a parked car near 26th Street and continued south before turning onto 23rd Street. As the suspect vehicle turned onto 23rd Street, it struck another parked vehicle, this time a Mazda Miata.

The officer pulled onto 23rd Street and noticed two white males, later identified as Charles Herbert Ray, 20, and Jonathan Snow, 19, both of Baltimore, walking down the sidewalk. Ray was holding an open bottle of Jagermeister as he walked down the sidewalk.

The OCPD officer placed Ray under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence and other traffic violations including leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage. An inspection of the vehicle back on 26th Street revealed damage consistent with the damage on the white Plymouth driven by Ray. The Plymouth was still in contact with the Miata it later hit on 23rd Street.

Witnesses at the scene reported the second suspect, Snow, got out of the Plymouth after it struck the Miata and kicked it several times. Snow was arrested for malicious destruction of property.

Meanwhile, the first suspect, Ray, admitted colliding with the two cars and then attempting to walk away before the police arrived. He also admitted he had been drinking. “I’m drunk, I’m not going to lie. I was driving, I’m sorry. I’ll pay the money for the car,” he said.

Ray was arrested and charged with 11 different counts from driving under the influence, to alcohol violations to leaving the scene of an accident.

Drug Suspect Flees To Beach

OCEAN CITY – A Brentwood, Md. man was arrested on drug charges last week after drawing attention to himself by speeding on Coastal Highway and then ditching the vehicle to run to the beach when chased by police.

Last Friday, OCPD officers on routine patrol around 34th Street noticed a vehicle driven by Thomas Mullarkey, 21, of Brentwood, speeding by them. The officers pursued the vehicle, which turned right on 41st Street and headed toward the beach. The officers then observed three men, including Mullarkey, bail out of the car and run toward the beach. All three were apprehended a short time later.

While searching the vehicle, police found a duffel bag with 25 ecstasy pills in it. They also found a baggie of marijuana and a large amount of cash in the vehicle. While at police headquarters, the officers discovered another bag of cocaine and more cash on Mullarkey’s person.

He was charged with possession with intent to distribute ecstasy and possession of ecstasy, marijuana and cocaine. The two passengers in the car were later released.

Berlin Man Popped After Investigation

OCEAN CITY – A two-month-long investigation by the OCPD narcotics section resulted in the arrest of a Berlin man last Friday when he arrived at work at a downtown Ocean City motel.

OCPD detectives served a search and seizure warrant on Aapri Stephens, 23, of Berlin, when he arrived at his place of employment in Ocean City last Friday. Police found Stephens to be in possession of crack cocaine packaged in such a manner indicating he intended to distribute the drugs.

Stephens was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of paraphernalia. Police also seized Stephens’ vehicle. He was released from custody after posting a $10,000 bond.

Possession Charges Stick

OCEAN CITY – A Virginia man plead guilty to possession of marijuana charges in court Monday, but was also found guilty of hiding the truth about his criminal record.

Matthew Scott Gladden, 21, of Mechanicsville, Va., appeared in court Monday morning to face possession of marijuana charges that resulted from his arrest in February.

Gladden’s lawyer asked for probation before judgment due to the fact that Gladden had no prior criminal record. Judge Daniel Mumford addressed the claim of a clean record. “You didn’t tell your lawyer the truth about your prior record did you?” Mumford asked Gladden. Gladden then admitted to having been charged with possession of marijuana in Virginia in January 2006.

Mumford quoted the words of a lawyer saying, “you tell the truth, I’ll do the lying” and explained to Gladden the necessity of being truthful with your lawyer.

Gladden was found guilty and given a fine of $500 plus court fees.

CVS Thief Found Guilty

OCEAN CITY – A local man appeared in court Monday morning to face charges of theft over $500 from a CVS in hopes of avoiding further jail time.

Kenneth Mearle Larkin, 26, of Berlin, was arrested on March 6 after he was caught stealing from the CVS. According to police reports, Larkin stole $838.68 in merchandise, a majority of which were pharmacy items.

Larkin is currently serving two consecutive 18-month sentences for past charges but recently started work release working two jobs so that he could support his family. Larkin’s lawyer said Larkin hoped that he would be able to maintain his current work release status and avoid further jail time.

Larkin was found guilty of theft over $500 and was sentenced to one year in jail. The jail time is to be served consecutively to his two current 18-month sentences. Judge Daniel Mumford also ordered Larkin to pay restitution in the amount of $838.63 and told Larkin that if he paid off the full restitution that his one-year jail sentence would be suspended.

Mumford said that he hopes and believes that the money will be paid off before his current jail sentences expire and the new one-year sentence begins.

“It’s to your benefit to get all the money paid,” he advised.

Trash Bag Defense Holds Up

OCEAN CITY – A local man was found not guilty of second-degree assault in District Court Monday after being arrested for an altercation involving a trash bag.

Neal Patrick Wells Jr., 23, was arrested on March 20 for second-degree assault on his girlfriend at the time. Police were responding to an EMS call for a head injury on Robin Drive when they found Wells outside of his apartment bleeding. Inside they found an injured girl covered in blood as a result of a head laceration.

Wells informed police that he and his girlfriend, identified as Heather Carr, had gotten in a fight and that he had accidentally hit her with a trash bag causing her head injury and also causing her to retaliate by hitting him in the face.

Officer Sara Dorsey testified that Wells and Carr refused to be taken to the hospital and that Carr expressed that it had been an accident. Dorsey also testified that she had found a Starbucks bottle in the trash bag that she concluded was the cause of the head injury. Dorsey said that Wells had told her that, “he didn’t mean to hit her with it but he did.”

Carr also testified that Wells did not mean to hit her with the trash bag. “I do not believe it was on purpose,” she said, explaining that he threw the trash bag out of anger not meaning to hurt her. According to Carr, the fight had escalated causing Wells to get angry and pick up a nearby trash bag and throw it. Carr said she hit him in retaliation and realized at that point how badly she was bleeding. She maintained that it was indeed an accident and that Wells did not know there was a bottle in the bag.

Judge Daniel Mumford said that he was unsure whether Carr’s claims that it was an accident were true but found Wells not guilty of second-degree assault.

He told Wells before he left, “You’re free to go sir, play nice.”

Disorderly Condo Conduct

OCEAN CITY – A local man charged with disorderly conduct that resulted from an incident in his condominium complex was found guilty Monday after claiming he was protecting his mother.

Christopher Tyler Kreppel, 22, was charged with disorderly conduct after police responded to complaints at his condominium on 70th Street on April 29.

Police arrived at the scene and found Kreppel on his balcony screaming threats and obscenities at neighbors. Police noticed that Kreppel was highly intoxicated and heard complaints and fears from neighbors. Kreppel was repeatedly yelling, “I’m going to kill you” from the top floor of the condominium. Kreppel was also reported to have thrown several of the bulk pick up items into the parking garage however no cars were damaged.

Kreppel’s lawyer explained that it was Kreppel’s birthday and that he had gotten out of control as a result of too much drinking. He also explained the cause of the angry outbursts. According to his attorney, there had been a condo meeting earlier that day that at one point addressed certain residents’ dissatisfaction with Kreppel’s mother feeding the birds. The meeting and certain residents’ words had greatly upset his mother, bringing her to tears later. Kreppel witnessed his mother’s distress and became angry.

Kreppel’s lawyer explained that Kreppel and his mother live together and are very close. He provided notes that he had written to his mother in the past as evidence of their relationship and of Kreppel’s protective nature. He also provided several letters from friends and colleagues to prove Kreppel’s normally kind and passive character. His lawyer explained that Kreppel was trying to defend his mother but the amount of alcohol that he consumed caused the negative outcome.

Judge Daniel Mumford felt that the neighbors had the right to be alarmed over the situation. “You scared them,” he said. “You kept them up and I don’t blame them.”

Mumford also addressed the environment of condominiums that is often conducive to confrontations.

“There’s a whole psychology of living in a condominium and quite frankly that’s why I don’t live in one,” he said.

After discussing the severity of the situation for Kreppel as well as for his neighbors, Mumford found Kreppel guilty. Kreppel received probation before judgment with one year of unsupervised probation and $357.50 in fines.