Victim Stabbed During Fight

Victim Stabbed During Fight
tdcuffs72

OCEAN CITY – A Pennsylvania man was arrested on assault and reckless endangerment charges last weekend after stabbing another man during a fight. 

Last Friday, Ocean City police were called to the area of 26th Street and Judlee Avenue for a reported stabbing. According to witnesses in the area, the victim was stabbed during a fight with an unidentified suspect. However, the victim was able to provide investigators with a description of the suspect as well as other information that led officers to the suspect’s location.

A short time later, OCPD officers went to a Judlee Avenue residence the victim said the suspect might be. There they found a 20-year-old male who fit the description provided by the victim. The suspect, later identified as Kevin M. Burdick, 20, of Allentown, Pa., had several bloodstains on his jeans and had a laceration on his right hand.

Burdick was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released after posting a $5,000 bond. The victim had two minor cuts across his back and a puncture wound on his back measuring roughly one-and-a-half to two centimeters. The victim was treated at the scene by Ocean City EMS and was later transported to Atlantic General Hospital for further treatment.

Car Wash Burglar Busted

OCEAN CITY – A New Jersey man, who has allegedly burglarized the same car wash in Ocean City an estimated eight times dating back to 2007, was finally nabbed last weekend after an alert citizen reported the suspicious man around the business. 

Around 3:40 a.m. last Sunday, a citizen contacted Ocean City police about a suspicious person in the area of the Oasis Car Wash at 72nd Street. Shortly after that report, a second caller contacted police stating he saw a male using a crowbar in an attempt to break into the cash terminal at the Oasis Car Wash.

OCPD officers responded to the area and observed a male matching the description provided by one of the callers near one of the car wash bays. When the suspect, later identified as Joseph Edward Walthour, 40, of Willingboro, N.J., saw the police officers, he fled on foot and a short chase ensued. Walthour was taken into custody a short time later.

During an on-scene investigation, police recovered a crowbar and a pair of pliers that allegedly fell out of Walthour’s pocket while he was being taken into custody. The witnesses who reported the attempted break-ins were brought over and positively identified Walthour as the man they had seen.

During the investigation, Walthour admitted to police he was attempting to break into the car wash cash terminals. Police determined the manner in which Walthour had attempted to break into the cash terminals last Sunday was consistent with how the business had been burglarized in the past.

The investigation concluded Walthour has been involved in at least eight thefts from the cash terminal at the Oasis Car Wash dating back to June 2007. Walthour has been charged with over 32 criminal charges including felony theft, felony theft scheme, burglary and malicious destruction of property.

Walthour was taken before a District Court Commissioner and is being held on a $35,000 bond. Walthour is also being held without bond relating to out-of-state warrants from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has been transported to the Worcester County Jail.

Stolen Van Joyride Ends In Crash

OCEAN CITY – A Burtonsville man faces over 25 charges this week after stealing a hotel carpet cleaning van with the hoses still attached and taking it on a joyride through the downtown area while being pursued by police before crashing into a home on 10th Street.

Around 1 a.m. on Monday, a Harrison Group carpet cleaning van was parked outside the Hilton Hotel and Suites on 33rd Street. The cleaning crews working inside left the van running because it has to be running to operate the carpet cleaning equipment inside. A short time later, a man, later identified as Jesus J. Vasquez, 26, of Burtonsville, entered the van and drove off with it.

The cleaning crew reported the theft and a short time later, OCPD officers spotted the stolen van driving south on Philadelphia Ave. still dragging the cleaning hoses, which were connected to equipment inside, behind the vehicle. Marked OCPD patrol cars attempted to stop Vasquez at 16th Street, but the van eluded the officers and continued south.

When Vasquez got to 15th Street and Baltimore Ave., he continued driving south on Baltimore Ave. against one-way northbound traffic in speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour. Vehicles traveling north on Baltimore Ave. quickly swerved out of the way of the speeding stolen van with the hoses still trailing behind in order to avoid a collision.

Vasquez continued south on Baltimore Ave. until he reached 10th Street, when he made an abrupt turn across the roadway through a driveway. The van then crashed through a wooden fence at 1002 Baltimore Ave. However, that was not the end of the chase. The van continued through a vacant lot at 10th Street and Baltimore Ave when Vasquez jumped out of the vehicle while it was still moving and attempted to flee on foot.

The now-driverless van continued across the vacant lot until it struck the side of the house located on 10th Street. OCPD officers pursued Vasquez on foot and he was taken into custody after a brief struggle. Once in custody, Vasquez was given a breath test, which determined the suspect to be intoxicated.

Vasquez has been charged with over 25 counts related to the theft of the van and the pursuit by police. There are additional charges pending for the damage to the stolen van, the damaged wooden fence and the damaged residence on 10th Street where the chase finally came to an end.

Vasquez was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $35,000 bond. He has been transferred to the Worcester County Jail.

Three Arrested For Prostitution

OCEAN CITY – Three suspects including a male and two females were arrested on prostitution charges last weekend after soliciting undercover OCPD detectives.

Shortly after 1:30 a.m. last Saturday, OCPD detectives responded to the 49th Street area after witness complaints about people soliciting citizens for prostitution. OCPD detectives arrived on the scene and located a blue Dodge van with several people crowded around it.

Undercover OCPD detectives moved toward area near the van and were approached by a man, later identified as Maurice Lawrence Monroe, 30, of Temple Hills, Md., who was soliciting prostitutes. The detectives engaged in a conversation with Monroe and two of his female associates, later identified as Essence Ethel Marie Scott, 22, of Falls Church, Va., and Janita Ellison, 38, of Temple Hills.

According to police reports, Monroe negotiated with the undercover detectives to exchange money for sex with Scott and Ellison. At that point, the undercover detectives placed Monroe, Scott and Ellison under arrest for charges related to the prostitution scheme. The van and $310 in currency was seized as part of the arrest of the three suspects. In addition, a small amount of pot was discovered inside the van and Monroe was also charged with possession of marijuana. All three suspected were taken before an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and were later released on their own recognizance.

Teen Injured in Balcony Fall

OCEAN CITY – A Chesapeake Beach, Va. man was injured this week when he fell from a third-floor balcony at a downtown motel. 

Around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Ocean City Police responded to 211 Baltimore Ave. to assist Ocean City EMS with a person who fell from a third-floor balcony. Officers at the scene determined the victim, later identified as Edward Sean Kiger, 19, of Chesapeake Beach, Va., was attempting to climb over a piece of plywood located on a third-story balcony when he fell three floors to the pavement below.

OCPD officers interviewed witnesses at the scene who told police that prior to falling from the third-floor balcony, Kiger had been consuming alcoholic beverages and was intoxicated. Ocean City EMS transported Kiger by Maryland State Police helicopter to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury for treatment of his injuries. The nature of Kiger’s injuries and his condition were not reported.

Alleged Local Dealer Busted

BERLIN – A West Ocean City man was arrested on drug distribution and weapons charges last weekend after a traffic stop on Route 113 near Bishopville.

Around 2:30 a.m. last Thursday, members of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on Route 113 near Bishopville and made contact with the driver, identified as Frederick Deangelo Marshall, 33, of West Ocean City. A canine scan of the vehicle was conducted, resulting in a positive alert for the presence of narcotics.

A search of the vehicle was conducted, revealing an electronically activated hidden compartment in the dashboard. Inside the hidden compartment, police found 620 grams of high purity cocaine along with $1,000 in currency. Marshall was then arrested and transported to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office for processing.

Subsequent to the arrest, the Sheriff’s Criminal Enforcement Team executed a search and seizure warrant for Marshall’s residence in West Ocean City. Inside the residence, police found a loaded handgun along with various items used to package substantial amounts of cocaine. Investigators also located $6,000 in currency and seized another vehicle along with two sport bike motorcycles.

Marshall has been charged with possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine-large amount, possession of a firearm with felony conviction, and illegal possession of a regulated firearm. Marshall was committed to the Worcester County Jail on a $500,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Worcester County Sheriff’s Criminal Enforcement Team at 410-632-1111.

Four Arrested On Drug Charges

OCEAN CITY – Four Salisbury men were arrested on drug charges last week after an OCPD bicycle officer smelled marijuana emanating from their vehicle in the downtown area.

Around 9 p.m. last Saturday, an OCPD officer on uniformed bike patrol in the area of Worcester Street noticed the smell of burning marijuana coming from a parked car. When the officer approached the vehicle, he observed four male occupants in the car including Jimyron Lamar Hurt, 19; Curtis Lamonte Mills, 18; George Wilber Stevens, 19; and Damon Phillip Boston, 18, all of Salisbury. The officer also noticed the front passenger, Mills, had what appeared to be marijuana in his lap.

When the occupants recognized the uniformed officer, they quickly locked the vehicle’s doors and reached under the seats and into the waistbands of their clothing. After the officer made numerous requests for the four men to exit the vehicle, they refused to comply. Finally, in order to make entry into the vehicle, an OCPD officer deployed his expandable baton, gaining access to the front driver’s side window.

OCPD officers continued to instruct the suspects to exit the car, advising them they were under arrest. Two of the passengers exited the vehicle and attempted to flee the scene. The other two occupants exited the vehicle and complied with police and were taken into custody. The two suspects that ran were apprehended a short distance from the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle turned up several controlled dangerous substances including marijuana and cocaine. Mills and Hurt were charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine, possession of paraphernalia and resisting arrest. Boston and Stevens were each charged with possession of marijuana. All of the suspects were taken before a District Court Commissioner. Hurt and Mills were released after posting $5,000 bonds, while Boston and Stevens were released on their own recognizance.

Undercover Buy Nets

Drugs, Weapons Charges

OCEAN CITY – Two Mechanicsville, Md. men were arrested on drug and weapons charges last weekend after selling marijuana to undercover OCPD narcotics agents in a deal that began on the Boardwalk. 

Shortly before midnight last Friday, OCPD narcotics agents conducting a buy/bust operation on the Boardwalk met two individuals later identified as Rolando O’Haran, Jr., and Joel Shawn Mitchell, both 23 and of Mechanicsville. At some point in the encounter, both suspects agreed to sell a quantity of marijuana to the undercover detectives.

O’Haran and Mitchell led detectives to a car parked on 10th Street just off the Boardwalk and the marijuana deal was completed. OCPD detectives subsequently stopped the suspect’s vehicle in the area of 17th Street and Baltimore Ave and both Mitchell and O’Haran were placed under arrest for drug violations. During a search of the vehicle, police recovered a fully loaded .38 handgun, a second loaded magazine and several rounds of ammunition. O’Haran was found to be carrying a fixed blade fighting knife. More marijuana was also found in the vehicle.

Both suspects were charged with drug violations and handgun charges including possession a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The vehicle was seized, as was $118 in currency. Both suspects were taken before a District Court Commissioner. O’Haran was released after posting a $15,000 bond, while Mitchell was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

Candy Thieves Nabbed

OCEAN CITY – Two men were arrested on various charges including burglary and disorderly conduct after allegedly breaking into a Candy Kitchen store.

Around 2:50 a.m. last Friday, Ocean City police responded to a Candy Kitchen store for a reported alarm. As officers were approaching the establishment, they noticed two men later identified as Ian Lyons, 21, of Cork, Ireland, and Darragh McCarthy, 22, of Ocean City, who appeared to be arguing. As officers approached, Lyons fled the scene on foot.

McCarthy did remain at the scene, but became very uncooperative with police officers and refused to obey orders to stay off the roadway. McCarthy was placed under arrest for obstructing and hindering. Lyon was taken into custody a short time later and was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct.

As officers searched Lyons incident to his arrest, they noticed several bags of Candy Kitchen brand candy in his pockets. When officers asked Lyons where the candy came from, he told police he had purchased it two days earlier. OCPD officers and Forensics Services members located additional boxes of candy in the parking lot of the Candy Kitchen store.

Lyon had roughly $20 worth of Candy Kitchen candy in his pockets. In addition to the disorderly conduct charge, he was also charged with second-degree burglary and theft. McCarthy was charged with obstructing and hindering and was released on his own recognizance after appearing before a District Court Commissioner. Lyon was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

Five Injured In Crash

BERLIN – Five people were injured including one man who was ejected from a vehicle in a two-car crash on Route 90 near its intersection with Route 113 last Friday afternoon.

Around 2:30 p.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision on Route 90 at Route 113. The investigation revealed a driver, later identified as Jonathan Pare, 19, of Quebec, Canada, had attempted to make an illegal U-turn from the merge lane of westbound Route 90 onto the eastbound lane of Route 90.

Pare’s vehicle was struck on the driver said by another vehicle driven by Lyndsay Greenan, 28, of Berlin, who was traveling west on Route 90. Greenan and her two passengers were wearing seatbelts and received only minor injuries. They were taken to Atlantic General Hospital for treatment and released.

The two rear passengers in Pare’s vehicle were not wearing seatbelts and were also injured. One of the passengers, identified as Jonathan Arbour, 18, of Quebec, was fully ejected from the vehicle, but received only minor injuries. The other passenger, Andy Ramessar, 21, also of Quebec, sustained a head injury due to not wearing a seat belt. All four occupants were transported by ambulance to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. Pare was charged with negligent driving, making an illegal U-turn and unsafe lane changing.