Hidden Compartment For Weed

OCEAN CITY – Two men were arrested last weekend on drug possession charges after the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) located a hidden compartment under the dashboard of their vehicle.

Around 3:15 a.m. last Sunday, Ocean City police stopped a vehicle for a seat belt violation. During the traffic stop, a police K-9 unit conducted a drug scan of the vehicle and alerted on the presence of illegal drugs. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a makeshift hidden compartment located in the dashboard.

During a search, OCPD officers reported a very strong odor of marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle. OCPD officers then discovered a quantity of marijuana while searching the car’s interior. The driver of the vehicle, Cory Lamont White, 33, of Princess Anne, and the passenger, Corey Durand Jones, Sr., 31, of Salisbury, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Both were seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and each was released on his own recognizance.

OC Dealer Gets 10 Years

SNOW HILL – A Fruitland man, one of three arrested in June for selling narcotics to undercover OCPD officers, was found guilty this week in Circuit Court on one count of distribution of heroin and was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Ricky Jamal Comegys, 40, appeared in Circuit Court on Wednesday to face six drug distribution charges stemming from his arrest, along with two other men, in June for selling narcotics to undercover OCPD detectives. Comegys pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin and was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Comegys has a long record of prior convictions in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City on charges ranging from assault to theft to drug distribution, but never served more than 90 days. However, because the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office decided to prosecute Comegys as a subsequent offender, he received the minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years without the possibility of parole.

On June 10, three men, one of whom had sold heroin and cocaine to an undercover officer on different occasions in the week prior, were arrested on various charges after consummating a deal with an OCPD detective in a vehicle in the 10th Street area. Around 3:45 p.m., the undercover officer made contact via cell phone with a dealer he had been tracking since May seeking to buy $100 worth of heroin and $50 worth of crack cocaine.


The suspected dealer, identified as Comegys, told the undercover officer he was leaving Salisbury and would contact him when he got to Ocean City. Around 5:30 p.m., Comegys called the officer and told him he would meet in the area of 10th Street shortly. When Comegys arrived, he had two other individuals in the vehicle with him, later identified as Donya Irish Dewitt, 39, of Baltimore, and Reginald Lamar Jenkins, Jr., 29, of Salisbury.


The undercover officer had targeted Comegys since May and had arranged similar drug buys on June 4 and June 5. Following his arrest on June 10, Comegys was charged with possession and distribution of cocaine and heroin. Jenkins and Dewitt were both charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.


In December, Jenkins was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances and was sentenced to eight years in jail. This week, Comegys appeared for trial and pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin and was sentenced to 10 years in jail. The other charges against Comegys were not prosecuted as a result of the plea agreement. Meanwhile, Dewitt was scheduled to appear for trial last week, but his case has been postponed until Feb. 1.

Armed Robbers Sentenced

SNOW HILL – A Pocomoke man, one of three arrested in connection with an hold-up spree in the south end of Worcester County in June, pleaded guilty this week to one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and was sentenced to eight years in jail, half of which was suspended in favor of probation and restitution to the victims.

Decarlo Marcus White, 19, appeared in Circuit Court on Monday to face 24 total counts ranging from assault and armed robbery to theft and weapons charges for his role in a spree of armed robberies at businesses in the south end of Worcester in June. White pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and was sentenced to eight years in jail. Half of the jail term was then suspended and White was placed on probation for two years upon his release. He was also ordered to pay roughly $2,000 in restitution to the victims including Pizza Hut and the Goose Creek convenience store.

Around 11:35 p.m. on June 9, the clerk of the Goose Creek convenience store in Pocomoke was attempting to lock up for the night when she was confronted by three masked men who had just entered the store. One of the men was brandishing a handgun and all three demanded money from the clerk while one of the suspects pointed a gun at her, according to police reports. The suspects were able to get an undisclosed amount of money from the clerk before fleeing the area on foot.


During the subsequent investigation, it was learned that about 30 minutes earlier, the manager of a Pizza Hut restaurant nearby had contacted the Pocomoke Police Department to report three masked men had attempted to rob him at gunpoint as he closed the business for the night. The store manager was able to get into his car unharmed and drove away.


Based on the information provided by the victims, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives were able to identify three suspects, including White, Dexter Wise, Jr., 23, of Laurel, Del., and Dorian Rashawn Johnson, 19. 


Warrants were sworn out on the three suspects and each was arrested a short time later. Each of the suspects were charged with 23 total counts including armed robbery, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. In December, Wise pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in jail, of which six months were suspended. Meanwhile, Johnson was scheduled to appear for trial on Wednesday, but the disposition of his case is not yet known.

Shoplifting Arrest

BERLIN – A local woman was arrested on theft charges this week after allegedly shoplifting from a Berlin retail store.

Around 9:20 a.m. last Friday, Berlin Police responded to the Dollar General Store for a reported shoplifting complaint. Berlin officers made contact with the alleged suspect, identified as Pamela Michelle Williams, 46, of Berlin, who was found to be in possession of numerous items belonging to the store that had not been paid for.

Williams was arrested and charged with theft under $100. She was also found to be wanted in the state of Delaware for violation of probation. As of mid-week, Williams was being held in the Worcester County Jail without bond.

Two Years For 75 Pounds Of Pot
SNOW HILL – A Virginia man, arrested in May after police discovered 75 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of a vehicle in which he was traveling, pleaded guilty last week in Circuit Court to one count of possession with intent to distribute and was sentenced to five years in jail with all but two years suspended.


On May 19, Maryland State Police stopped a vehicle heading south on Route 113 for speeding. During a search incident to the speeding stop, an MSP K-9 unit alerted on the trunk of the vehicle and 75 pounds of marijuana was discovered in two gym bags. Two men were arrested including Darnell Kelley, 24, and Modis Chandler, 40, both of Newport News, Va.


Last week in Circuit Court, Chandler pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and was sentenced to five years in jail, all but two of which were then suspended. He was also fined $1,000 and placed on probation for five years. In December, Kelley pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced to five years with all but one year suspended. Kelley was also fined $1,000 and placed on probation for three years.

Armed Robbery Suspect Arraigned

SNOW HILL – An Ocean Pines man arrested in early January on armed robbery and other serious charges after a joint investigation by Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police allegedly connected him to a pair of strong-arm robberies of taxi cab drivers was formally indicted last week on 16 total counts.

Around 1:15 a.m. on December 30, Ocean City police responded to the area of 5th Street and Edgewater Ave. in the resort in reference to an armed robbery that had taken place. The victim, an on-duty cab driver, told Ocean City police he had received a call from a restricted number requesting a taxi from Ocean Pines to Ocean City. 


Earlier, around 12:50 a.m., the cab driver picked up two unidentified males on Marview Drive in Ocean Pines and brought them to Ocean City. Once at the 5th Street area, the two suspects assaulted the cab driver and stole money and other items from the victim.


A second similar incident took place later the same day. Around 9:30 p.m. on December 30, a taxicab driver responded to Brandywine Drive in Ocean Pines to pick up a fare bound for Ocean City. Two males entered the cab at that time and demanded money before assaulting the driver with an unidentified weapon. Two days later, on Jan. 1, after a joint investigation conducted by the Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police departments, Ocean City Police were able to identify one of the suspects wanted in connection with the two taxicab armed robberies.


Ocean City Police arrested Thomas Scaniffe, 17, of Ocean Pines and charged him with armed robbery, robbery, first- and second-degree assault and resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and several other counts. Scaniffe is being charged as an adult because of the severity of the charges.

Last week, Scaniffe was formally arraigned on 16 total charges from armed robbery and assault to theft and reckless endangerment. His preliminary trial date has been laid in for March 7.

Probation, Fine for Pot

SNOW HILL – A Pennsylvania woman arrested on drug charges in October during a routine traffic stop pleaded guilty this week in District Court to possession of marijuana and was fined and placed on probation.

Around 8:20 p.m. on October 16, a Maryland State Police trooper on routine patrol stopped a 2009 Pontiac on northbound Route 113 near Route 90 for a traffic violation. When the trooper made contact with the driver, identified as Kristen Jennifer Duklewski, 31, of Dallastown, Pa., he detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

A probable cause search led to the discovery of over 34 grams of marijuana in numerous places throughout the vehicle. Duklewski was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. This week in District Court, she pleaded guilty to the marijuana possession charge and was fined $300 and placed on probation for one year.

Stabbing Suspect Shot
By Police Indicted

SNOW HILL – A Berlin man, who was shot by an OCPD officer late last month while allegedly stabbing his estranged wife, remains behind bars this week after being formally indicted on nine total counts including attempted first-degree murder last week.

Marvin Jefferson Mitchell, 27, of Berlin, was indicted last week on nine charges including attempted first- and second-degree murder, burglary, assault and reckless endangerment, sending his case immediately to the Circuit Court level. The charges against Mitchell stem from a Dec. 20 incident in Ocean City during which an OCPD officer was forced to shoot him as he stabbed his estranged wife.

Shortly after 11 a.m. on Dec. 20, Ocean City Police officers responded to a 911 call for a domestic dispute on 82nd Street. When the officers arrived on the scene, they discovered a suspect, later identified as Marvin Jefferson Mitchell, 27 of Berlin, was armed with a knife and was attacking a female victim, later identified as Shanna Mitchell, 27, of Berlin, who is the suspect’s estranged wife.

According to police reports, after repeated orders to drop the knife were not heeded by Mitchell, an OCPD officer was forced to shoot the suspect in order to end his attack on his estranged wife. Both the victim and the suspect survived the attacks. The female victim suffered a stab wound as a result of the attack and was treated at the scene by Ocean City Fire Department paramedics before being transferred to PRMC in Salisbury.

Mitchell was also treated at the scene for a gunshot wound reportedly in the abdomen and was also taken to PRMC. He has since been released and is now in the Worcester County Jail after being denied bail on earlier this month.

Just five days before the incident, Mitchell was arrested and charged with second-degree assault for an incident the details of which are not known. On the same day, December 15, Shanna Mitchell obtained a temporary protective order against her estranged husband, Marvin Mitchell, prohibiting him from contacting her or entering her residence. The temporary restraining order also ordered Mitchell to stay away from her place of employment.

Oglesby, DiPino Participate In Forum

SNOW HILL – Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby and Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino last week participated in the “Governor’s Forum on Security,” a roundtable discussion on law enforcement strategies for the Lower Shore and across the state.

Oglesby and DiPino, representing the Eastern Shore, participated in identifying and building partnerships with other regional leaders during breakout sessions. Those breakout sessions resulted in recommendations to Gov. Martin O’Malley concerning public safety and the security needs of residents on the Lower Shore.

During the forum, plans were discussed for the state’s plan to reduce crime in Maryland by 20 percent by the end of 2012. Strategies discussed included identifying high-risk offenders and holding them accountable, enhancing warrant service to swiftly remove violent offenders from the streets, maximizing the use of DNA samples to convict the guilty and exonerate the innocent, expanding efforts to reduce illegal gun use and possession, and modernizing the fight against crime by utilizing the best technology available.