OCEAN CITY — A Clinton, Md. man had to be subdued with a Taser early Sunday morning after a fight on the Boardwalk resulted in a large crowd taunting and threatening Ocean City Police officers.
Around 1 a.m. on Sunday, uniformed OCPD officers were on bike patrol in the area of 5th Street and the Boardwalk when they observed two male suspects pushing and arguing with each other, which caused a large crowd to gather. OCPD officers attempted to separate the two suspects, but one of them, later identified as Joseph Tyrice Cromartie, 20, of Clinton, Md., became combative and assaulted the officers.
One of the OCPD officers used his Taser to subdue Cromartie, who was eventually arrested. By the time Cromartie was taken into custody, the large crowd that had gathered at the scene began acting in an aggressive and disorderly manner and taunted and made threatening statements to the officers.
Additional officers responded to the scene, including K-9 and mounted patrols, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies and Maryland State Police troopers. The crowd was then quickly dispersed and order was restored to the area. Per OCPD policy, Cromartie was transported by Ocean City EMS to AGH for an examination following the use of the Taser, and he was release shortly thereafter with no injuries. He has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct, failure to obey law enforcement and resisting arrest.
Attempt To Run Over Cop
OCEAN CITY — A Salisbury man was charged with first-degree assault and other charges this week after allegedly attempting to run over an officer with his vehicle following a fight at a fast-food restaurant.
Around 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, Ocean City Police responded to a reported fight at the McDonald’s on 32nd Street. Officers arrived at the scene and began to break up a fight between a male suspect and the restaurant’s manager. Another male suspect believed to have been involved in the fight jumped in the rear seat of a Mitsubishi four-door vehicle and attempted to flee the scene.
In an attempt to identify the suspects involved in the fight, OCPD officers approached the Mitsubishi on foot. One officer stood in front of the vehicle, placed his hand on the hood and told the driver to stop and get out of the car. The driver allegedly then looked directly at the officer, revved the engine and drove toward the officer, who was able to get out of the way.
A short time later, police located the vehicle in a parking lot on Penguin Drive. The driver, identified as Trevin Quashau Allen, 20, was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault, attempting to elude uniformed police by failing to stop a vehicle, reckless driving and negligent driving.
Fire Destroys RV
ASSATEAGUE — The cause of a fire that completely destroyed a recreational vehicle (RV) at Assateague State Park last Sunday is being attributed to a faulty propane-fueled refrigerator.
Around 10:15 p.m. last Sunday, the Berlin Fire Company was dispatched to Assateague State Park for a reported vehicle fire within the “H” loop. Upon arrival, firefighters observed a large RV with fire showing throughout the vehicle. The fire was brought under control quickly, but not before completely consuming the RV.
No injuries were reported. The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the blaze and determined its cause was accidental and is believed to have been caused by a malfunction in the propane fuel-fired refrigerator inside the vehicle.
Gun Found During Bust
OCEAN CITY — A Laurel, Md. man was arrested on multiple charges last weekend after first selling marijuana to undercover Ocean City narcotics officers on the Boardwalk and then being found with a handgun in his backpack.
Last weekend, the OCPD Narcotics Unit and the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team were conducting undercover drug enforcement operations on the Boardwalk. Around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, a suspect later identified as Loomis Boakai Zayzay, 19, of Laurel, Md., sold marijuana to undercover detectives. Zayzay was then placed under arrest for possession and distribution of marijuana.
During a search incident to the arrest, a semi-automatic handgun was discovered in Zayzay’s backpack. During the investigation, OCPD detectives learned the handgun had been reported stolen in Clayton County, Ga. Zayzay was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of CDS, possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime, possession of a handgun and theft less than $1,000.
Loaded Gun Found
After Traffic Stop
OCEAN CITY — A Waldorf, Md. man was arrested on various weapons charges last weekend after he was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun while riding as a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for a routine traffic stop.
Around 10 p.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Police conducted a traffic stop in the area of 127th Street. During the stop, the officers detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, were removed from the car while OCPD officers investigated the origin of the suspicious odor.
Once they were outside of the vehicle, the occupants were patted down by OCPD officers. One of the passengers, identified as David Lavell Wiggins, 22, was found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Wiggins, who did not a have a permit to carry the weapon, was arrested and charged with possession of a handgun. Wiggins was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on his own recognizance.
Alleged Heroin Dealer Busted
OCEAN PINES — An Ocean Pines man was arrested on multiple heroin distribution charges last week following a month-long investigation including multiple sales to undercover officers was carried out over the course of the last month or so.
During the month of May, the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team initiated an undercover heroin distribution investigation targeting an individual identified as Brian Jones, Sr., 35, of Ocean Pines. During the investigation, an undercover law enforcement officer made purchases of heroin from Jones in the Berlin and Ocean Pines areas.
Last Friday, Jones agreed to meet with an undercover officer in a pre-arranged deal for a quantity of heroin. Shortly thereafter, the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team, with assistance from the OCPD Narcotics Unit and Ocean Pines Police, placed Jones under arrest in a parking lot near Ocean Pines.
During the course of the investigation, a total of 173 individual bags of heroin were purchased and seized from Jones. A search warrant was executed at his residence, resulting in the discovery of various items of paraphernalia along with a small quantity of marijuana. Jones has been charged with distribution of heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin.
Burglars Caught After Chase
BERLIN — An attempted robbery at a residence in South Point earlier this month resulted in the homeowner firing shots at the suspects, who later led police on a high speed chase through northern Worcester County and into Delaware before ending in arrests.
Around 9 a.m. on Saturday, two suspects described as African-American males attempted a burglary at a residence on Porfin Drive in South Point. The homeowner fired shots at the suspects, who then fled the area in a white mini-van with Virginia tags. A bulletin was broadcast to be on the lookout for the mini-van and a short time later, a Maryland State Police trooper spotted the suspect vehicle in the area of Routes 50 and 113. The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspects did not pull over and the pursuit began.
Maryland State Police and Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies pursued the suspect vehicle up Route 113 toward Delaware at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The chase continued across the state line and into Selbyville where the suspects turned onto Delaware Rd. and bailed out of the vehicle. The suspects fled on foot and were taken into custody without further incident.