OCEAN CITY — A California teenager reported missing in Ocean City in June was located in Baltimore last weekend.
On June 28, Tabitha Williams, 15, was reported missing to the Ocean City Police Department. Williams resides in California, but was last seen in Ocean City where she was on vacation. She was reported missing by her foster mother.
For over a month, Ocean City police and other law enforcement agencies throughout the region actively sought the missing teen before she was found in Baltimore last weekend.
Indecent Exposer Sought
OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Police this week are looking for an unidentified man who exposed himself to two teenage girls in north Ocean City early Tuesday morning.
Around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, two teenage girls, ages 14 and 17, were walking home through the parking lot of the Whispering Woods condos on 143rd Street when one of the victims observed a white male standing next to a dumpster. The suspect was naked and started performing a lewd act in front of the two female victims, who ran away and called police.
Ocean City police conducted an extensive search of the area, but the suspect was gone. He is described as a white male with a semi-muscular build about 40-50 years old, around 6’2” to 6’5” tall with short, dark-colored hair. Ocean City police are advising citizens who reside in or frequent the north end of town to be on the alert for suspicious activity, walk in pairs, carry a cell phone and notify police if anyone or anything suspicious is observed. The OCPD is advising citizens to call the Emergency Communications Center at 410-723-6600 to report suspicious activity.
Alleged Crack Dealer Busted
BERLIN — A Berlin man was arrested on multiple counts of distributing crack cocaine last weekend after a month-long investigation.
Last Friday, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Team concluded a month-long investigation into crack cocaine distribution with the execution of a search and seizure warrant at a residence on Dinges Rd. in Berlin. The investigation revealed a suspect, identified as Alford Hardy, 38, of Berlin, was distributing various quantities of crack cocaine from his residence.
During the execution of the search and seizure warrant, Hardy was arrested and charged with distribution of crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of crack cocaine. He was held on a $75,000 bond before posting bail and being released. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Team was assisted by the OCPD’s Narcotics Unit and the Maryland State Police.
Seat Belt Violation Nabs Pot Dealer
OCEAN CITY — Three Delaware men were arrested on marijuana distribution charges this week after getting pulled over for a seatbelt violation.
Around 6 p.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City police bicycle officer was patrolling in the downtown area when he observed a vehicle in the area of 3rd Street with its passenger not wearing a seatbelt. The officer approached the vehicle when it came to a stop, but the passenger could not open the window because it was not operating and was forced to open the door.
When the officer spoke to the driver, identified as Khaleef Harvel, 31, of Newark, Del., he allegedly detected the strong odor of raw marijuana. When asked if there was a little or a lot of marijuana in the vehicle, Harvel allegedly told police there was a blunt in the ashtray. At that point, the officer had the occupants get out of the vehicle and sit on the curb.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, officers located a black book bag on the back seat containing five plastic baggies each containing about a gram of marijuana, which were packaged in such a way to suggest clandestine sales on the street, according to police reports. The officer also located two I-pods, which were password protected, and three cell phones, of which two had dead batteries.
However, the third cell phone was active and the officer was able to read text messages suggesting it was used to coordinate marijuana sales dating back at least a month. The most recent message from a few hours earlier read “Yo, its rue, are u local? I’m looking for a 20.” Others read “U got any bud?” and “Do u have some exotic?”
Also located in the vehicle was another backpack containing $577 is cash. Based on the evidence collected and the incriminating text messages, Harvel was arrested for possession and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The two passengers, Kadeem Harvel and Leon Harvel, also of Newark, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.
Business Windows Shot Out
SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are looking for the suspect or suspect wanted in connection with a malicious destruction of property spree over a couple days last weekend and into early this week.
Salisbury Police are currently investigating a series of incidents involving property damage to local businesses that began last Saturday and apparently ended on Monday. During that period, several local businesses had front windows shot and destroyed by projectiles consistent with glass marbles or pellets.
At a number of affected businesses, police were able to locate and recover damaged marbles, which appear to have been fired by a device similar to a paintball-type gun or a slingshot. The affected businesses are all located along the Route 13 corridor. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Salisbury Police Criminal Investigation Division at 410-548-3165, or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.
60 Days For Weapons Conviction
SNOW HILL — A Salisbury man arrested on gun charges following a high speed chase along Route 90 that ended on 54th Street in Ocaen City last September was found guilty this week of carrying a concealed deadly weapon and was sentenced to 60 days in jail.
Orlando Bowen, 19, of Salisbury, was a passenger in a car involved in a high speed chase last September in Ocean City. When the pursuit ended, a search of the vehicle turned up concealed deadly weapons. This week in Circuit Court, Bowen entered an Alford Plea to carrying a concealed deadly weapon charge and was sentenced to 60 days in jail. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case.
Around 9:40 p.m. last Sept. 29, a Maryland State Police trooper attempted to stop a 2001 Ford Windstar minivan in the area of Bell Rd. and Route 50 for going 70 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. The vehicle, driven by Dajour Hakeem Waters, 18, of Salisbury, failed to stop and led police on a high-speed chase on Route 90 that reached speeds of 112 mph at one point.
The Maryland State Police, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and Ocean City Police assisted in the pursuit as the vehicle sped eastbound on Route 90 toward Ocean City. The pursuit entered Ocean City on southbound Coastal Highway before it ended at 54th Street after OCPD officers deployed stop-sticks, which deflated all four tires of the minivan.
A search of the vehicle turned up concealed deadly weapons. Waters, Bowen and a female juvenile also from Salisbury were each charged with concealing a deadly weapon. Waters was also charged with 12 traffic violations stemming from the chase. In April, Waters pleaded guilty to attempting to elude police and reckless endangerment and was sentenced to one year in jail, all but one month of which was suspended..
Warrant Out For Fighter
OCEAN CITY — A Baltimore man, arrested in June on disorderly conduct charges after allegedly trying to pick fights with strangers on the Boardwalk while packing a loaded gun, had a warrant sworn out for his arrest last week.
Around 11:15 p.m. on June 15, OCPD officers were on normal patrol on the Boardwalk near 7th Street when they were approached by a man who told them another man, later identified as Jerome Gray, 25, of Baltimore, was being loud and disorderly and was attempting to fight numerous people on the Boardwalk. The officers began following Gray at a distance and noticed he was allegedly jumping around and shouting at people on the Boardwalk.
At one point, Gray allegedly shoved his shoulder into another man on the Boardwalk as he walked by. Gray and the unidentified man began yelling at each other. According to police reports, Gray was standing on the balls of his feet and pushing his chest out in an attempt to look larger than he actually was as he prepared to fight with the man. According to the report, a crowd had gathered to watch Gray allegedly attempt to instigate a fight with the man, who continued to walk away.
An OCPD officer approached Gray and grabbed the suspect, telling him to give the officer his hands. Gray resisted and said he hadn’t done anything. At that point, Gray was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge. During a search incident to the arrest, a Raven Arms MP-25 caliber handgun was found in the front pocket of his pants. The weapon was loaded with one round in the chamber and six total rounds in the magazine.
Gray was scheduled to appear for arraignment in Circuit Court in Snow Hill last week but failed to appear and had a warrant sworn out for his arrest.
Adult Sex Abuse Case Forwarded To Circuit
BERLIN — A Berlin man arrested in June on assault and multiple sex offense charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a vulnerable male adult over a period of three years had his case forwarded to Circuit Court this week.
Jason Paul Carpenter, 30, remains behind bars without bond in the Worcester County Jail following his arrest on June 15 on multiple charges including first-degree assault, first-, second- and third-degree sex offense, vulnerable adult abuse, sodomy and perverted practice after his former girlfriend reported to police he allegedly sexually assaulted her mentally challenged brother several times over a period of three-plus years from January 2008 to May 2011. The complainant and her brother reported the sex abuse and assault at the Berlin Police station on June 8 and the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation was brought in to investigate the charges.
The investigation revealed Carpenter allegedly performed sexual acts on the victim, who has the mental capacity of a third-grader, several times while living together with the victim’s sister in Berlin. According to police reports, Carpenter entered the victim’s bedroom while the victim was asleep and performed the sexual acts. Carpenter is being held without bond pending trial.
This week, Carpenter had his case forwarded to Circuit Court and is scheduled to be arraigned on August 31.
Alleged Salisbury Burglar Located
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on burglary and malicious destruction of property charges this week after allegedly attempting to break through the front door of a residence on Decatur Ave. back in late July.
On July 30, Salisbury Police responded to a report of a trespasser at a residence on Decatur Ave. The officers met with two witnesses, who both said they knew the suspect, later identified as Alexis Ramon Gomez, 25, of Salisbury. The victims said they were on the porch with Gomez when they decided to go into the residence through the front door.
Gomez was asked to leave, but refused to vacate the premises. Gomez then allegedly attempted to break into the residence through the front door, but fled when the victims called police. The victims were able to provide descriptions and information about Gomez, who was located and arrested this week in Salisbury. He was charged with burglary, malicious destruction of property and making a false statement to an officer.