WEST OCEAN CITY — A Delmar woman was arrested twice in the span of a few hours last week after first wandering while intoxicated along Route 611 and later fighting with a friend who came to pick her up from jail.
Around 8 p.m. last Wednesday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area around Route 611 and Sunset Ave. for a reported intoxicated person. The reports indicated an intoxicated person had wandered into Route 611 and was lying in the roadway. When deputies arrived, they met with the individual, later identified as Karen Pledger, 32, of Delmar, who was belligerent, according to police reports.
Pledger was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and was taken to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office in Snow Hill. Pledger was processed on the disorderly conduct charge and was released to the care and custody of a male friend, who had come to the sheriff’s office to give her a ride home. Pledger than became irate with the male and began to throw pieces of paper, and eventually a pen, at him.
Pledger was then arrested again for assault in the parking lot of the sheriff’s office. She resisted arrest and that charged was also tacked on. Pledger was later taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released after being arrested twice in the same day.
Good Samaritans Rescues
Man From Burning Car
OCEAN PINES — A Berlin man was flown to Shock Trauma in critical condition last week after his vehicle swerved off Route 589, struck a tree and burst into flames before a pair of Good Samaritans rescued him from the blaze.
Around 6:15 p.m. last Thursday, a vehicle driven by Gary Edward Bachman, 62, was traveling on Route 589 just south of Manklin Creek Rd. when it abruptly swerved to the right, left the roadway and struck a tree. The vehicle then burst into flames, trapping Bachman inside. Two unidentified Hispanic males stopped to help, cut Bachman’s seatbelt and pulled him from the burning vehicle.
The rescuers left the scene before police and emergency services arrived without being identified. A nearby resident also assisted at the scene by dousing the burning vehicle with a garden hose. Bachman was transported to PRMC and later flown to Shock Trauma, where he was listed in critical condition as of late last week. The collision is still under investigation.
Smoking Weed At Police Station
OCEAN CITY — Three Pennsylvania men were arrested on drug charges last week after getting caught smoking marijuana in the parking lot of Ocean City Police headquarters in the Public Safety Building.
Around 8 a.m. last Tuesday, OCPD officers were in the parking lot of the Public Safety Building in the process of a shift change when they observed a vehicle with the windows down and three men in and around it. As officers passed the men, later identified as Vance Embry, 19, Wayne Jelinek, 19, and Julian Jordano, 19, all of Cranberry, Pa., they noticed the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
The officers ordered the three men to exit the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up several bags of marijuana, paraphernalia and dextroamphetamine, a schedule I controlled dangerous substance. Embry was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and three counts of paraphernalia. Jelinek and Jordano were charged with possession of dextroamphetamine. After an initial appearance in front of a District Court Commissioner, each of the suspects were released on their own recognizance.
Drugs, Loaded Gun Found
OCEAN CITY — Three Pennsylvania men were arrested on various charges last week including drugs and a loaded handgun after getting pulled over for a routine traffic violation.
Around 10:30 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. During the stop, officers identified the driver and owner of the vehicle as Jason Maldonado, 26, of Lancaster, Pa. The passengers were identified as Matthew Quinones-Torres, 22, of Lititz, Pa., and Davontaye Harrison, 19, of Columbia, Pa.
While verifying the three individuals’ identification, OCPD officers determined there an active warrant for Quinones-Torres in Pennsylvania for a violation of parole for a prior drug distribution charge. After Quinones-Torres was arrested, a search of his person revealed a quantity of marijuana wrapped in several dollar bills. OCPD officers seized the marijuana along with nearly $300 in currency from Quinones-Torres.
While at the scene, OCPD officers detected the odor of marijuana coming from both Maldonado and Harrison. When officers searched the vehicle, they located in the center console three separate plastic bags of marijuana, four packages of “Bluntville” brand single cigars. Maldonado and Harrison were then arrested for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. A continued search of the vehicle revealed a loaded .38-caliber handgun in a bag belonging to Maldonado. A computer check of the gun revealed it had been reported stolen in Pennsylvania.
Quinones-Torres was charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a handgun and possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime and the outstanding fugitive warrant from Pennsylvania. Maldonado was charged with possession of marijuana, paraphernalia and a handgun. Harrison was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
Traffic Stop Leads To Gun
OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on weapons charges last week after getting pulled on Coastal Highway because his passenger wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
Around 12:30 a.m. last Thursday, Ocean City Police pulled over a vehicle on Coastal Highway near 46th Street after observing the driver not wearing a seatbelt. During the traffic stop, OCPD officers learned the passenger in the car, identified as Nicholas Lane Percoskie, 23, of Herndan, Pa., had a handgun in the vehicle. Officers recovered to .22-caliber handgun under the front passenger seat.
Percoskie was arrested and charged with possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun in a vehicle. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on his own recognizance.
Pedestrian Killed Near Salisbury
SALISBURY — A Salisbury woman was killed in a pedestrian-vehicle collision on Tuesday along a rural road near the Worcester-Wicomico County line.
Shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on St. Luke’s Rd near the Worcester-Wicomico line not far from Salisbury. The preliminary investigation revealed Rodina Attaya, 46, of Salisbury, was walking west on St. Luke’s Rd. with another individual. A Chevrolet truck was also traveling west on St. Luke’s Rd. and struck Attaya from behind, launching her into a nearby field.
Attaya was transported to PRMC where she was pronounced deceased. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor I the crash, which is being investigated by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit.
Fire Damages O.C. Pizzeria
OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City pizza restaurant was seriously damaged this week during a fire late Sunday night.
Around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Ocean City Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the Marco Polo Pizzeria on Coastal Highway at 12th Street. When firefighters arrived, a store employee was attempting to put out the blaze with a hose. Ocean City firefighters brought the fire under control around midnight, or about an hour and a half after first responding.
The establishment was open at the time of the fire and had to be evacuated although no injuries were reported, according to Ocean City Fire Department spokesman Ryan Whittington. A potential source of the fire, which seriously damaged the restaurant’s roof, has been identified although the investigation is ongoing.
“It appears it started in the kitchen in the area of the ventilation and hood system,” he said. “There was significant damage to the facility, but it doesn’t appear to be a total loss.”