Resort Drug Bust

Resort Drug Bust
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Resort Drug Bust

OCEAN CITY – A Pittsville man was arrested on cocaine distribution charges last weekend after repeatedly selling narcotics to an undercover OCPD detective.

Around 8:40 p.m. last Saturday, the OCPD Narcotics Unit with the assistance of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team concluded a one-week CDS distribution investigation with the arrest of Kwamaine Dealon Fisher, 18, of Pittsville.

On two separate occasions, an OCPD undercover narcotics agent was able to purchase powder cocaine from Fisher in Ocean City. Fisher was charged with two counts of two counts of distribution of cocaine and two counts of possession of cocaine. A total of 14 grams of cocaine and $116 in U.S. currency was seized during the arrest.

Fisher was taken before an Ocean City District Court Commissioner who ordered him held on a $25,000 bond. He was later transferred to the Worcester County Jail.

Another Pittsville Dealer Snared

OCEAN CITY – One day earlier than the previous case, another Pittsville man and a juvenile girl were arrested in Ocean City for attempting to sell counterfeit painkillers.

Last Friday, the Ocean City Police Narcotics Unit concluded a two-month investigation with the arrest of Jonathan Michael Grubbs, 20, of Pittsville. On two separate occasions, an undercover OCPD narcotics agent was able to purchase prescription pills and powder cocaine from Grubbs.

Grubbs was arrested and charged with one count of distribution of Vicoden, a schedule III narcotic analgesic containing the active drug Hydrocodone, and one count of possession of Vicoden. Through preliminary field tests, narcotics detectives determined that the cocaine was a counterfeit substance, and Grubbs was charged with additional counts of distribution of a counterfeit narcotic and possession of a counterfeit narcotic. In addition, a juvenile female was also arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute Vicoden.

Grubbs was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond. He was later transferred to the Worcester County Jail.

Berlin Fight Arrest

BERLIN – An Ocean City man was arrested on assault charges last week after getting into a fight in an east Berlin neighborhood.

Around 11:30 p.m. last Sunday, Berlin police responded to a fight in progress on Flower Street. Upon arrival, the officers observed a man bleeding profusely from the face. The investigation revealed he had been in a fight with another man, later identified as Chadwick Bowling, 32, of Ocean City. Bowling was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and alcohol endangerment. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released on his own recognizance.

Protective Order Violation

BERLIN – A local man was arrested on a protective order violation and a making a false statement to a police officer charge after a verbal dispute in Berlin.

Last Thursday, Maryland State Police responded to a residence on Flower Street for a reported verbal dispute in progress. Upon arrival, police found William Jemal Criner outside the residence. The investigation revealed Criner had been in a verbal dispute with a female victim, who had a protective order against him.

Criner initially gave troopers a false name, but the officer soon learned his true identity. He was arrested and charged with violating a protective order and making a false statement to police. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released on his own recognizance.

Jail Time for Ugly DWI Arrest

SNOW HILL – An Ocean Pines man arrested in October on a wide variety of charges after an ugly DWI bust in West Ocean City pleaded guilty this week to driving under the influence, second-degree assault and failure to obey a lawful order and was sentenced to a year in jail with all but 45 days suspended.

Around 2:18 a.m. on Oct. 29, a Maryland State Police trooper arrested Rodney E. McGill, 49, of Ocean Pines, for driving under the influence on Sunset Ave. just west of Golf Course Rd. According to police reports on the incident, McGill screamed obscenities on the side of the road for about 10 minutes during the investigation and continued to yell profanities throughout the arrest.

At one point, he attempted to head-butt and kick the trooper attempting to place him in a patrol car. The trooper sustained minor lacerations on his hand during the struggle but did not seek medical attention. McGill was ultimately charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, failure to obey a lawful order, DUI and related traffic offenses.

This week in District Court, McGill pleaded guilty to DWI and was sentenced to a year in jail, all of which was suspended but 45 days. He also pleaded to failure to obey a lawful order and was sentenced to 45 days, which he will serve concurrent to the first sentence. In addition, McGill pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to 60 days for that charge, all of which was suspended.

Purse Snatching Charges Dropped

SNOW HILL – A Berlin man arrested in January for allegedly swiping the purse of a woman who had offered him a ride while she ran into a West Ocean City convenience store had the charges against him dropped last week in Circuit Court.

A local learned a tough lesson last New Year’s Eve when the man she gave a ride to, later identified as Ryan Kramer Talbott, 21, of Berlin, allegedly ran off with her purse while she was in the Wawa convenience store in West Ocean City. Around 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, the Mystic Harbor resident did a man later identified as Talbott a favor by giving him a ride to the Wawa on Route   50. When the victim went in the store, she left her purse containing around $500 in cash in the vehicle with Talbott while she shopped.

When the victim returned to her vehicle, the purse and Talbott were gone. The crime was not reported until the following day, Jan. 1, around 3 p.m. Talbott was reportedly identified as the suspect and later located. He was interviewed, arrested and subsequently charged with theft over $500. However, the accused had the charges against him dropped last week in Circuit Court.

Acquittal In Assault Case

SNOW HILL – A Lanham woman charged with first-degree assault for alleging kicking a man in the face while he on the ground during a fight in Ocean City in April had the charges against her dropped this week in Circuit Court.

According to police reports, on April 27, at approximately 12:53 p.m., Ocean City police responded to the area of 1st Street and Baltimore Avenue for a reported fight in progress. Upon arrival, officers found the victim with three teeth knocked out, four loose teeth and a variety of bruises on his body.

Two individuals were arrested for assault, however a nearby witness told police that a woman later identified as Dannielle Nicole Byrd, 25, of Lanham, Md., was also involved in the assault. According to the witness, Byrd was watching the fight while holding her baby when she put the baby down, walked over to the victim, who was lying on the ground, and kicked him in the face. Byrd appeared in Circuit Court on Monday to stand trial, but was acquitted on all charges.

Life Sentence Sought

In Pocomoke Murder

SNOW HILL – State prosecutors last week filed notice in Worcester County Circuit Court they would seek a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the Pittsville man accused of murdering an elderly man in his Pocomoke home last spring.

Around 5 p.m. on March 6, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence in Pocomoke for a reported death investigation. The investigation revealed the resident, William Nibblett, 77, had been stabbed to death. Nibblett’s daughters had gone to his home to check on him after not hearing from that day and found him stabbed to death on the living room floor. He had last been seen the day before around 4 p.m.

The Worcester County Bureau of Investigatin (WCBI) took over the case and were able to identify Charles Robert Phillips, 28, of Pittsville, as the suspect.  Early on, detectives focused on two vehicles that may have been seen in the area around the time the crime was committed. One is a mid-1990s Chevrolet Cavalier white in color with a white convertible top and a blue sports striped down the side. The other is a mid -1980s Lincoln Town Car white in color.

Phillips was arrested a short time later. In April, the grand jury handed down indictments against Phillips on charges of first-degree murder, burglary and assault. Last week, state prosecutors filed notice in Circuit Court they would seek a sentence of life without an opportunity for parole. Phillips was scheduled to be in court this week for a motions hearing and his trial is set for early next month.

OCPD Welcomes Three

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Police Department proudly graduated three new officers from the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy’s Class 61 last Tuesday at Wor-Wic Community College.

OFC Nicole Malone, OFC Kyle Murray and OFC David Whitmer were formally recognized as certified police officers of the Ocean City Police Department after completing the 24 weeks, or 941 hours, of intense training. This year’s graduation class was made up of approximately 17 trainees from various law enforcement agencies on the Eastern Shore.

Murray was chosen to be the class speaker. In his speech, he touched on the rigorous training, long study hours and immense respect he shared with his fellow classmates. He also recognized his classmates for their hard work, dedication, and passion to be part of a profession that continuously works to make their community a safe place.

Murray received special recognition for not only being the highest academic student in the class, but the highest academic student in the history of the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy. Along with his recognition for being the first person to receive a 98.18-percent academic average, Murray was also recognized for his high marks in firearms and physical agility. Whitmer was also recognized for having outstanding marks for firearms.

Also in attendance at Thursday’s graduation were several members of the OCPD including Chief Bernadette DiPino, who welcomed the new officers into the fold.

“It’s an honor to welcome these three officers to our department,” she said. “Not only do they have great potential as police officers, but they have demonstrated that they are great leaders, intelligent individuals and very dedicated men and women. I am thrilled to have them as members of the Ocean City Police Department.”