Fire Extinguisher Attack

Fire Extinguisher Attack
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OCEAN CITY – A Rehoboth juvenile who allegedly attacked her ex-boyfriend with a fire extinguisher last weekend after breaking into his north Ocean City residence is being charged as an adult for first- and second-degree assault, burglary and reckless endangerment.

Around 4:30 a.m. last Sunday, OCPD Pfc. Pam DeGiovanni responded to a reported burglary in progress on 143rd Street. The complainant told police a suspect had attempted to gain entry through a front window of the residence and that the suspect had committed an assault before fleeing in a gold Dodge Stratus. A short time later, another officer stopped the vehicle and located the suspect, identified as Heather Rogers, 17, of Rehoboth, along with her mother and two other occupants.

Meanwhile, DeGiovanni met with the victim identified as Richard Burba, who stated his ex-girlfriend, Heather Rogers, had been calling and harassing him through the night. Burba said the last call came at around 4:20 a.m., and Rogers told him she was coming over to “kick his ass” and “kick her ass,” referring to Burba’s new girlfriend, according to police reports.

A short time later, Burba said he heard a loud pounding on the front door and heard Rogers screaming. He dead-bolted the front door, but Rogers went to the kitchen window and pushed it open. Rogers was able to get partially through the window and knocked several items off the kitchen table before Burba was able to push her back out.

Burba then went outside in an effort to calm Rogers down when Rogers began to push him in the chest in a forceful manner. A physical altercation ensued during which Rogers took a fire extinguisher from the outside wall of the unit and hit Burba with it in the eye and on top of his head, causing him to briefly fall to the ground.

Burba soon after got up and went back inside the unit, at which time Rogers through the fire extinguisher through the kitchen window. Based on the victim’s testimony, Rogers was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and third-degree burglary. Although she is a juvenile at age 17, Rogers is being charged as an adult because of the severity of the alleged crimes.

Juvenile Injured in Crash

BERLIN – A Berlin juvenile was seriously injured last weekend in a car crash on Route 50 near Jerry Mack Rd. when the vehicle veered off the road and flipped over, partially ejecting the young victim.

Shortly before 9 p.m. last Saturday, a Maryland State Police trooper on routine patrol observed a single vehicle overturned on eastbound Route 50 near Jerry Mack Rd. Other vehicles had stopped and were assisting the victims when the trooper arrived. The investigation revealed a juvenile passenger had initially been in the back seat unrestrained by a seat belt when the accident occurred.

The juvenile was launched into the front seat and then partially ejected from the vehicle through the passenger side window before the vehicle overturned and trapped the victim’s arms underneath. Bystanders were able to lift the vehicle enough for the juvenile’s arms to be freed. MSP Helicopter Trooper 4 transported the juvenile to PRMC with back and neck injuries.

The driver, Tisha A. Purnell, 31, of Berlin, told police she lost control of the vehicle around Gateway Motors and it left the roadway before striking a mailbox and a culvert, which caused the vehicle to overturn. Purnell was not injured. Charges are pending.

Fugitive Nabbed In Berlin 

BERLIN – Berlin Police last week nabbed a fugitive wanted in Virginia after responding to a domestic altercation at an apartment complex that occurred after a motor vehicle accident.

On Oct. 25, police responded to the Sunshine Apartments for an unknown 911 call. The officers discovered they had arrived at the tail end of a domestic altercation and that the incident occurred just after the two combatants had been involved in a motor vehicle collision. The male suspect, later identified as Gavino Chino-Jota, 29, of Berlin, at first gave police a fictitious name and date of birth.

Due to his being the owner and operator of the vehicle involved in the collision, Chino-Jota’s true identity was discovered. It was discovered he was driving without a valid driver’s license and was also a wanted on a fugitive warrant from Virginia. Chino-Jota was arrested and charged with numerous traffic offenses and the fugitive warrant.

White Marlin Mall Burglary

WEST OCEAN CITY – Maryland State Police this week are still looking for the suspect or suspects who burglarized a sports store in the White Marlin Mall last Friday.

Shortly before 1 a.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the White Marlin Mall in West Ocean City for an activated burglar alarm. Upon arrival, the troopers discovered the back door of the Sports Zone store had been forced open. A search of the store revealed several items had been taken.

The troopers discovered the Sports Zone in Salisbury had recently been broken into with items stolen from that establishment. Anyone with information about the break-ins is encouraged to call the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack at 410-641-3101.

Juveniles Bust Out Windows

BERLIN – Three local juveniles were arrested last week after breaking out several windows of a residence on Gray’s Corner Rd. in Berlin.

Around 3:30 p.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a residence on Gray’s Corner Rd. for a reported malicious destruction of property. Upon arrival, witnesses pointed out two suspects who allegedly broke out numerous windows at the residence. The two suspects fled and were later apprehended by the troopers.

A third arrest was made after police interviewed the two suspects in custody. All three suspects are juveniles and were released to their parents. Charges have been referred to the Department of Juvenile Services for further investigation.

Route 50 Accident

BERLIN – A local woman was not injured in an accident last week on Route 50 at its intersection with Route 610.

Around 10:45 p.m. last Thursday, Maryland State Police responded to a two-vehicle accident on Route 50 at Route 610. The investigation revealed a 1986 Toyota Tacoma driven by Carlos Munos-Delcid, of Salisbury, was attempting to cross westbound Route 50 at Route 610, failed to yield to oncoming traffic and struck a 2007 Honda Odyssey, driven by Erin Westman of Berlin, on the driver’s side.

The collision forced the Honda into the grass where it struck a state highway sign marking the merge lane for the intersection. No injuries were reported at the scene. Munos-Delcid was charged with negligent driving.

Rain, Railroad Tracks

Cause Accident

BERLIN – Rainy weather and wet railroad tracks are being called the cause of a single-vehicle accident along Route 113 near Newark last Friday.

Around 1:45 p.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a reported overturned vehicle along Route 113 just north of Public Landing Rd. The investigation revealed a 1994 GMC Sierra driven by Raymond Rhoden of Hoboken, N.J., was traveling south on Route 113 when the operator lost control after riding over railroad tracks.

The vehicle veered off the roadway and ran into a ditch before turning over on its roof. Rhoden was not injured in the accident. Due to the poor weather and road conditions, the driver was not charged in the accident.

Three Injured In Accident

BERLIN – Three people were injured in an accident at Routes 50 and 90 last Friday when the vehicle they were riding in left the roadway and struck a tree.

A little after 8 p.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a single-vehicle accident on westbound Route 50 near Route 90. The investigation revealed a 2006 Nissan left the roadway and entered the median where it struck a tree. The driver, Jamie Lee McSherry, and a passenger, Shawn Adam White, were transported to PRMC with unknown injuries. Another passenger, Rebecca Riddlesberger, was treated and released at the scene. Charges are pending for McSherry.

Attempted Car Theft Foiled

SNOW HILL – A Snow Hill man faces rogue and vagabond charges this week after being caught trying to steal a vehicle from a residence on Snow Hill Rd. last Thursday.

Around 4:20 a.m. last Thursday, Maryland State Police received a 911 call from a victim at a residence in Snow Hill that there was a man who appeared intoxicated and possibly armed in their front yard. The victims also advised police the suspect was attempting to break into their cars.

While still on the 911 call, the state police radioed the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department who responded to the scene. Sheriff’s deputies soon located the suspect, later identified as Dean Louis Waters, 29, walking down Snow Hill Rd. and he was taken into custody without incident. It was later discovered Waters was attempting to steal a motor vehicle to provide him with a ride home. He was charged with two counts of rogue and vagabond. It turned out Waters was not armed as suspected.

Pair Convicted In Cop

Assault, Chase Case

OCEAN CITY – Two men involved in a bizarre case in June during which they first fought between themselves, later assaulted an officer and fled the scene were convicted and sentenced in separate trials in Ocean City District Court two weeks ago.

Tony Wendell Anderson, 40, of Ellicott City, was found guilty of driving while impaired and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined over $500 for his part in the incident. Erin Michael Wallace, 35, of Stevensville, was found guilty of resisting arrest and fined $500 for his part in the case.

Around 2:15 a.m. on June 10, an OCPD officer on routine patrol on a municipal bus observed a fight in progress in the parking lot of a resort nightclub. When the officer got off the bus to break up the fight, he grabbed one of the combatants, later identified Wallace as he attempted to flee the scene. A short time later, a vehicle driven Anderson pulled up and Wallace got in the car.

The officer ordered Wallace to get out of the car and he briefly complied before striking the officer with a forearm to the chest. Wallace then got back in the car and the vehicle sped off down Coastal Highway. The police pursuit ensued and at one point, Anderson dropped Wallace off at a crowded bus stop where he attempted to blend in, but he was taken into custody.

Meanwhile, a high-speed pursuit of Anderson’s vehicle continued, at times reaching speeds of over 80 miles an hour, as it traversed up and down Coastal Highway and in and out of side streets and parking lots between 30th Street and 67th Street. At one point, the suspect vehicle stopped, but as police approached the car, Anderson sped off again in a different direction. During the chase, Anderson led police through a Sunset Island community at a high rate of speed.

The chase ended when Anderson drove his vehicle onto the beach at 67th Street and crashed into a dune. Anderson left the vehicle still running and then fled on foot down the beach and ducked into the Holiday Inn at 66th Street. Several officers and a K-9 unit later found Anderson hiding in a storeroom at the hotel under a pile of miscellaneous items.

Anderson was clearly intoxicated, according to police reports. A search of his vehicle also turned up a small amount of marijuana. Anderson fell asleep during his transport to police headquarters and fell asleep again during processing.

Anderson was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and numerous traffic violations incident to the chase. Meanwhile, Wallace was charged with second-degree assault on an officer. On Oct. 10, Anderson pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced to 60 days in jail. On the same day, Wallace was found guilty of resisting arrest and was fined $500.

Five Not Guilty Sentences

OCEAN CITY – Five co-defendants appeared in District Court Monday morning, all to face charges of possession of marijuana and all received not guilty sentences.

Robert Fitzgibbons, 21, of Silver Spring, Md., Joseph Caleb Osborn, 21, of Bowie Md., Steven Alfred Davis, 20, of Olivet, Mich., Jenna Elizabeth Gutshaw, 21, of Ocean City, and George Austin Kotzman, 21, of York, Pa., all appeared in District Court Monday morning accompanied by a team of three different attorneys and five not guilty pleas.

Officer Patrick Flynn testified that on Aug. 19, at 12:15 a.m., he responded to a loud party complaint on 142nd Street. Flynn testified that he arrived at the building and as he approached, could hear loud noises and a stereo coming from one of the units. He also noted that the front door was cracked open and that the odor of burnt marijuana was emanating from inside. After observing the noises and seeing people inside, Flynn called for back up.

Flynn explained to the court that two other officers arrived, and that one of the officers walked around back, reporting to Flynn that the people inside had seen him and that all the lights had been turned off. Flynn also noticed that the front and back doors had been shut. He proceeded to knock on the front door for several minutes before Fitzgibbons opened the door and allowed him inside.

Once inside, Flynn asked Fitzgibbons to bring the rest of the people out and asked if he could search the house. Fitzgibbons said he could look around but not search without a permit. Officer Flynn questioned everyone and while in the living room noticed a constructed smoking device more commonly known as a gravity bong on the kitchen counter.

The device held a trace amount of marijuana. As a result, the five defendants were arrested for possession of marijuana. The three attorneys argued a variety of facts, including that the officer did not have the right to search, and that the defendants had not been given their Miranda rights prior to questioning about the marijuana.

Judge Daniel Mumford found the five defendants not guilty, based on the evidence presented.

Possession Charges Stick

OCEAN CITY – William Charles Hausmann, 18, of Berlin, appeared in District Court Monday morning to plead guilty to possession of marijuana.

According to police reports, on Aug. 17, officers were undercover in the area of Dayton Lane for reports of illegal drug activity. Police approached a vehicle with a female inside and arrested her for possession of marijuana. The female informed the officers where she got the marijuana, leading them to Hausman, who was also arrested for possession of marijuana.

Judge Daniel Mumford found Hausmann guilty of possession of marijuana and sentenced him to probation before judgment with one year of unsupervised probation and $287.50 in fines.

Malicious Destruction

OCEAN CITY – Frank Colesanti III, 23, of Fairfield, Ohio, appeared in District Court Monday morning to face ongoing malicious destruction of property charges from May 13. Colesanti reluctantly pleaded guilty to the charges, explaining that he had already appeared in court for the charge once before.

On May 13, officers responded to reports of two individuals destroying property at 101 42nd Street. The individuals, one of whom was Colesanti, were reportedly destroying items in a parking lot that included trashcans and a soda machine.

Colesanti explained that his friend had caused the damage and fled, and that he had stayed to explain the situation to the police. Colesanti explained to the court that he had paid for the damages. He also said that he had already been sentenced to 40 hours of community service, but that he had been unable to complete the community service because he had been on tour with his band for the past few months.

Colesanti was re-sentenced to probation before judgment with a $357.50 fine.