OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man, who pleaded guilty in November to one burglary in north Ocean City, was arrested last week after resort police were able to connect him to six other unsolved break-ins in the Montego Bay community in May.
Last Thursday, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) concluded a nine-month investigation into multiple burglaries with the arrest of Alexander George Ellis, 20, of Ocean City. For nine months, OCPD detectives investigated seven burglaries, all of which occurred in the Montego Bay community during the month of May.
On June 7, the OCPD arrested Ellis after connecting him to a burglary in on May 11. During the course of the investigation into several north-end burglaries, OCPD detectives developed Ellis as a suspect. OCPD officers served a search and seizure warrant on Ellis’ residence in regards to a separate incident when they discovered several items reported stolen in a burglary on May 11. In November, Ellis pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary after his arrest for another break-in in north Ocean City and was sentenced to three years, all but six months of which were suspended.
However, OCPD detectives were able last week to link Ellis to the seven burglaries in Montego Bay in May. During the initial investigation, detectives developed information from evidence obtained at several crime scenes and enlisted the assistance of the Montego Bay Neighborhood Watch Association. The information obtained developed Ellis as a suspect in the Montego Bay break-ins.
OCPD detectives began receiving analysis of forensic evidence obtained at several of the crime scenes. As a result of that forensic analysis, in conjunction with other evidence obtained during the investigation, OCPD detectives have charged Ellis with the remaining unsolved Montego Bay burglaries.
In addition, OCPD detectives have identified and charged a second suspect, a juvenile male from Washington, D.C., whom they believe was Ellis’ accomplice during the seven Montego Bay burglaries in May. The second suspect has been charged through the Department of Juvenile Services. Meanwhile, Ellis was arrested last week and was taken before a District Court Commissioner. He was released after posting an unsecured $50,000 bond.