OCEAN CITY – A Salisbury woman was charged with assault and reckless endangerment last weekend after smashing a drink glass in the face of another woman during an altercation at the north-end Ocean City restaurant.
Around 2 a.m. last Saturday, Ocean City police officers responded to a reported fight in progress at the Denny’s on 112th Street. When the officers arrived, they observed a female victim walking across the parking lot near the entrance to the restaurant whose face was completely covered with blood. The victim was with another female friend.
The officers observed three other women nearby who were yelling at the bloodied victim and her friend and stopped them for questioning. The investigation revealed one group was sitting in a booth in Denny’s while the other was sitting in another booth nearby. The two groups of girls allegedly starting arguing with each other when one of the individuals, later identified as Careylea Foster, 25, of Salisbury, picked up a drinking glass from one of the tables and threw it at the victim’s face, shattering the glass and causing deep lacerations on the victim’s face.
Foster told police she did not throw the glass at the victim’s face, but rather held it in front of her, and the victim hit the glass with her hand. However, Foster’s testimony conflicted with the victim’s account and did not explain the deep cuts on the victim’s face. Restaurant employees provided police with access to surveillance tapes, which showed Foster pick up the glass, first throw the contents at the victim and then throw the glass at the victim, hitting her in the face. Foster was then arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.
Loud Music Leads To DUI, Drug Arrest
OCEAN CITY – Two Pennsylvania men were arrested last weekend after an OCPD officer first heard overly loud music coming from their vehicle and later observed them swerve while yelling at girls passing by on the sidewalk.
Around 8:30 p.m. last Thursday, an OCPD officer was sitting stationary in a marked patrol car near 100th Street when he heard loud music coming from a passing vehicle. The officer then observed the passenger of the vehicle, identified as Theodore Reynolds, 20, of Muncy, Pa., yelling at girls passing by on the sidewalk. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Tyler Comstock, 22, of Watsontown, Pa., swerved into the bus lane to allow his passenger to get closer to the girls.
The officer pulled the vehicle over and began to question Comstock and Reynolds. While pulling the vehicle over, the officer noticed two occupants scrambling to hide something under the seat. When the officer contacted Comstock, he immediately noticed the strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. Comstock allegedly told the officer, “we’re just going home,” and “can’t you cut us some slack.”
The officer noticed a silver flask in the glove compartment when the driver was retrieving the vehicle’s registration. Comstock told police he had consumed five beers in the last hour. After miserably failing several field sobriety tests, according to police reports, Comstock was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence. A search of the vehicle turned up a baggie of marijuana in the center console, leading to the arrest of Reynolds as well.
The two were transported to the Public Safety Building for processing. Comstock was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, driving while impaired and a noise violation for the loud stereo. Reynolds was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
Motorcycle Accident
BERLIN – A Cambridge man was injured last week when his motorcycle ran into the back of a breaking vehicle on Route 50 near its intersection with Route 589.
Shortly after 5 p.m. last Wednesday, state police troopers responded to a reported motor vehicle collision on Route 50 involving a motorcycle. The investigation revealed a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Daniel Moyer, 20, of Salisbury, was slowing down for a red traffic signal on Route 50 at Route 589 when it was struck from behind by a 2007 Yamaha R6 motorcycle operated by Darren Matthew McCready, 21, of Cambridge.
McCready sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by Berlin EMS to Atlantic General were he was treated and later released. McCready was determined to be at fault and was charged with negligent driving.
Park Manager Pleads Guilty To Theft
OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City woman charged with theft after it was learned she bilked the homeowner’s association she managed out of nearly $20,000 pleaded guilty to felony theft this week and was ordered to pay back the money in restitution.
Marsha Renfrow, 69, of Ocean City, owner of Mar-Lyn Management, Inc., was the manager and treasurer of the Sundowner Park Association from 1992 to 2006 before OCPD detectives were notified she had been writing checks from the association’s account to pay her own personal bills. After the investigation was complete, Renfrow was charged with six counts of felony theft and one count of felony theft scheme.
In District Court on Monday, Renfrow pleaded guilty to felony theft and was ordered pay back over $19,000 in restitution to the trailer park association. She was also placed on probation for 18 months.
Lock Car Doors In WOC
BERLIN – Maryland State Police this week warned all citizens to lock their doors after a rash of thefts from vehicles in Captain’s Hill and other West Ocean City neighborhoods.
In all cases, the car doors were left unlocked and the thefts occurred in the late evening or early morning hours. The items stolen include everything from Ipods and digital cameras to loose change.
Anyone with information on the thefts, or observes suspicious activity in their neighborhood is encouraged to call the state police at 410-641-3101.
Infant Injured In Route 113 Accident
SNOW HILL – Three people including an infant in a car seat were injured in a two-car collision on Route 113 near Snow Hill last week.
Around 12:16 p.m. last Saturday, a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling southbound on Route 113 near Public Landing when it was struck by a 2004 Saturn Ion attempting to cross the highway at Public Landing Rd. According to police reports, the Saturn was attempting to cross Route 113 when it failed to yield to the Jeep, which had the right-of-way.
The driver of the Saturn, Amanda Mumma, of Snow Hill, was injured in the collision, as were two passengers in the Jeep including an infant in a car seat. All three were transported by Snow Hill EMS to PRMC in Salisbury where they were treated for minor injuries. Mumma was later charged with negligent driving.
Fingerprints Nab Boardwalk Burglar
OCEAN CITY – A Hanover, Pa. man was arrested and charged with burglary and theft this week after fingerprints lifted from a store on the Boardwalk burglarized in December connected him to the crime.
The Sunset Beachwear store on the Boardwalk at 304 S. Atlantic Ave. was burglarized on Dec. 1. OCPD Forensic Services Unit technicians were able to recover several fingerprints while processing the crime scene. The fingerprints were instrumental in the identification of a suspect, Kevin Joseph Rousell, Jr., 18.
OCPD detectives were able to locate and question Rousell, who confessed to the theft and burglary of over $2,000 in merchandize from Sunset Beachwear. As a result, Rousell has been charged with second-degree burglary and felony theft.
Not Guilty Plea Upheld
OCEAN CITY – Hian Luu, 24, of Millsboro, Del., was found not guilty of second-degree assault this week in District Court after a confusing array of testimony failed to clarify to the court exactly who attacked who in a New Year’s Eve brawl.
Luu and her husband each testified they were dancing in a nightclub when they accidentally spilled a drink on the complainant, Bryan Davis, who in return punched Luu’s husband several times. Seacrets security arrived on the scene, but, according to Luu, Davis began choking her, causing her to attack him back. “I was trying to punch him but his girlfriend was pulling my hair,” Luu said of her role in the brawl. Davis testified however that Luu repeatedly punched and scratched his face.
After hearing the varied testimonies, Judge Daniel Mumford found Luu not guilty, saying, “I don’t know who’s telling the truth here. It’s just a typical drunken brawl …”
Collaborative Effort Nets Two Gun Arrests
BERLIN – A collaborative effort by several state and local law enforcement agencies to increase police presence in Pocomoke this week resulted in two arrests on weapons charges.
Last Friday, personnel from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police, the County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Pocomoke Police Department and the Worcester County Narcotics Task Force set up shop in the parking lot of a popular restaurant in Pocomoke as part of the first phase of their collaborative effort to step up enforcement efforts in the town. The combined effort was based on information provided about two individuals known for criminal activity in the area.
During the initiative, the combined effort resulted in the arrest of two men for possession of a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun in the parking lot of the Greene Turtle in Pocomoke. Arrested were Cleveland Jones, 24, of Exmore, Va., and Preston Satchell, 22, of Tasley, Va. Both were charged and taken before a district court commissioner where they were both released pending trial.
Traffic Stop Leads To Drugs
BERLIN – Maryland State Police troopers made a significant crack cocaine arrest last week after a routine traffic stop of a Virginia man in the southern end of the county.
Around 2:20 p.m. last Thursday, MSP troopers stopped Maurice Anthony Taylor, 48, of Temperanceville, Va., on Route 113 for the routine traffic violation. Upon contact with Taylor, the troopers detected a strong odor of marijuana and initiated a search of the vehicle. The search turned up a pill bottle with 22 individual rocks of crack cocaine in it, along with a digital scale and a small amount of marijuana. Taylor was charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute and was ordered held on a $30,000 bond.
Disorderly Conduct Yields Jail Time
OCEAN CITY – Robert Charles Harding, 50, of Frankford, Del., appeared in District Court this week to defend himself in a disorderly conduct case, but despite his efforts to persuade the court of his innocence, Harding was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Officer Natalie Smolko testified that on March 1, she responded to a stopped bus on 45th Street and Coastal Highway. Upon arrival, Smolko heard Harding yelling obscenities at his fiancé. The bus driver informed the officer that Harding was disturbing the other passengers on the bus.
Smolko testified that she repeatedly asked Harding to get off of the bus, but was only met with hostile behavior and obscenities, forcing her to place him under arrest for disorderly conduct.
Through several outbursts in the courtroom, Harding tried to convey to the court that he had every right to yell obscenities at his fiancé while intoxicated. Harding called his fiancé to the stand to testify on his behalf but was thwarted when she testified that he was indeed disrupting the bus ride and had no right to yell at her the way he had.
Harding was found guilty of disorderly conduct and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Witness Testimony Leads To Not Guilty Sentence
OCEAN CITY – Joshua D. Ray, 20, of Ocean City, faced a variety of charges in District Court this week, pleading guilty to failure to obey and pleading not guilty to the remaining charges, which included three counts of second degree assault and one count of malicious destruction of property.
Officer Earl Campbell testified that on Jan. 20, he responded to the area of 16th Street and Coastal Highway after receiving a call regarding a fight in a hotel. The complainant was unable to give Campbell an exact address, but informed him that he had been assaulted by a large male who had left the premises and was heading north on Coastal Highway. Campbell was able to apprehend the suspect a short time later and identified him and noted him to be belligerent, rude and intoxicated.
Complainant Christopher Davis arrived on the scene and informed Campbell that he knew Ray and that they had been drinking in a hotel room when Ray became belligerent, hitting him and two females. Davis also told the officer Ray busted a door down in order to get to the two females who were hiding from him. The officer told Davis to press charges in the morning and told Ray he was free to leave. Ray would not leave the scene, however, and continued to approach Davis, resulting in his arrest.
Davis and one of the female witnesses were in District Court this week to testify to the events of the evening but both claimed they were too drunk to remember what happened. The officer testified however that the witnesses did not seem intoxicated on the night of the incident and each gave clear, identical statements.
Judge Daniel Mumford voiced doubt over the witnesses testimony and clouded memories, but found Ray guilty of failure to obey and not guilty of the remaining charges. Ray was sentenced to a $557.50 fine.
Burglary Case Moves On To Circuit Court
OCEAN CITY – Zachary Evan Hammond, 22, of Frankford, Del., will face a variety of charges in Circuit Court after sufficient evidence was found this week in District Court to forward the case to the Circuit level.
Hammond faced six charges in District Court this week, including first-, third- and fourth-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, and theft less than and more than $500 in value.
Detective Todd Speigle testified the investigation initially began on Dec. 9, 2005 when police were called to a unit on 76th Street in response to complaints of a burglary. Two televisions, totaling over $2,500 in value and a variety of other items were reported missing from the unit and it appeared that a fire extinguisher had been used to break through the dry wall next to the door.
Speigle testified that on Sep. 25, 2007, he went to the Sussex Correctional Institute to talk to a suspect in the case. Speigle explained that a source had informed him that the suspect and Hammond had bragged about stealing the TV’s from the unit. When confronted, the suspect admitted to breaking in and stealing the items along with Hammond and another individual.
Hammond’s attorney argued the validity of the facts presented in the case, pointing out that no evidence, beyond the confession of the suspect, tied Hammond to the case. Despite those arguments, Judge Daniel Mumford found probable cause to forward the case to Circuit Court.
Property Destruction
BISHOPVILLE – A Berlin man was arrested on drunk driving and malicious destruction of property charges last week after allegedly driving over several lawns in the Holiday Harbor community.
Around 2:45 a.m. last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Holiday Harbor for a report of a suspicious vehicle. A deputy located the suspicious vehicle on West Dixie Drive and determined the driver, identified as Phillip Cooper Entwistle, 21, of Berlin, appeared intoxicated.
Further investigation revealed Entwistle had driven his vehicle across several yards, cutting ruts in the grass and damaging other property. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, negligent driving, driving on a suspended or revoked license and two counts of malicious destruction of property. Entwistle was released pending a trial date.