OCEAN CITY — Three uniformed Ocean City Police officers were nearly struck by a vehicle while crossing the street on foot at 3rd Street and St. Louis Ave. on Saturday night.
Shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy patrolling in Ocean City observed three uniformed OCPD officers in a marked crosswalk at 3rd Street and St. Louis Ave. As the officers began to cross St. Louis Ave. in a marked crosswalk, the deputy observed a pick-up truck traveling north. According to police reports, the truck did not appear to be slowing down as it entered the intersection.
The OCPD officers had to stop walking in order to avoid being struck by the truck, which continued through the intersection without yielding to the pedestrian officers in the crosswalk. The Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Jennifer Hill, 27, of Annapolis, and noted she appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Hill did poorly on field sobriety tests and was arrested. She was charged with driving under the influence and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released pending trial.
DWI Stop Yields Drug Bust
OCEAN CITY — A Nottingham, Md. woman was arrested on numerous charges last weekend after a search following a drunk driving stop revealed multiple narcotics in her vehicle.
Around 12:30 a.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Police stopped a suspected drunk driver at 69th Street and Coastal Highway. The driver, identified as Teresa Ann Hangland, 54, of Nottingham, Md., failed numerous field sobriety tests and was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Because Hangland’s vehicle was parked in the northbound bus lane on Coastal Highway, OCPD officers requested a tow truck to remove it.
Prior to towing, however, the OCPD officers conducted a required search of the vehicle’s inventory and recovered 60 assorted prescription pills, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and other items used for packaging to indicate distribution. The officers also recovered over $3,000 in cash.
Hangland has been charged with seven counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substance (CDS), eight counts of possession of CDS, four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of packaging material for distribution of CDS, removing a label from a prescription, and driving under the influence. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held on a $25,000 bond before being transferred to the Worcester County Jail.
Crack Bust In Parking Lot
BERLIN — A Burtonsville woman was arrested on drug charges last weekend after Berlin Police found crack cocaine in and around her vehicle in the parking lot of Atlantic General Hospital.
Around 7 a.m. last Sunday, Berlin Police responded to AGH to assist Ocean City Police officers with an assault investigation. While in the parking lot of the hospital, Berlin Police found about four grams of crack cocaine in and around a vehicle belonging to Laura Elaine Cookman, 20, of Burtonsville, Md. The amount of crack cocaine was sufficient to lead officers to believe Cookman possessed the illegal drug with intent to sell it. The crack had an estimated street value of $480. Cookman was arrested and charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
Texting, Driving In Stolen Car
BERLIN — An Easton man was arrested on multiple charges last week after Berlin Police first stopped him for texting while driving and later discovered he was driving a car reported stolen in Salisbury a month earlier.
Around 7:40 p.m. last Thursday, Berlin Police observed a suspect later identified as Corey Fells, Sr. 27, of Easton texting while driving on Route 113 in the area of Deer Park Drive. After police stopped the vehicle, Fells fled on foot, but the Berlin Police officer was able to apprehend him with the help of two private citizens. The investigation revealed the vehicle Fells was driving was reported stolen in Salisbury a month earlier. Fells was also driving on a suspended license and was wanted on a warrant for violation of probation.
Speeding Stop Nets Pot Bust
BERLIN — Two Silver Spring, Md. men were arrested on marijuana possession charges last week after getting pulled over for speeding in the area of Route 50 and North Main Street in Berlin.
Around 2:30 a.m. last Thursday, Berlin Police pulled over a Toyota Tacoma in the area of Route 50 and Main Street for excessive speeding. As officers approached the vehicle, a strong odor of raw marijuana was detected, resulting in a probable cause search. During the search, several individually wrapped bags of marijuana were located in the vehicle, along with $411 in cash.
Both the driver, identified as Richard Santos, 24, of Silver Spring; and the passenger, identified as Edwin Martinez, 21, also of Silver Spring, were arrested. Santos was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and was later released on a $10,000 bond. Martinez was released on a citation.
Boat Propeller Thief
Guilty On One Count
SNOW HILL — An Ocean City man arrested in February for stealing a propeller and rudder from a boat in West Ocean City and later selling the goods at a pawn shop pleaded guilty this week to one count of theft less than $1,000 and was fined $500, but still awaits trial in August for the more serious charges.
On Feb. 19, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Sunset Ave. in West Ocean City for a reported theft. The deputy met with a victim who reported that an unknown suspect had stolen the propeller and rudder from his boat. The victim told police the propeller was about 48 inches in diameter and made of brass, and had an estimated worth in the range of $8,000 to $10,000. The victim told police the rudder was around three feet wide and four feet tall and the estimated cost of replacing it would be in a range of $2,000 to $3,000.
The next day on Feb. 20, the victim informed the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) that surveillance video recorded on Feb. 19 showed a pick-up truck with a white cap back up to the location where the boat was stored and from where the propeller and rudder were stolen. The victim further told police after reviewing the surveillance video, he saw a vehicle matching the description driving in the area where the thefts occurred.
The victim was able to provide WCBI detectives with registration information from the suspect vehicle and a check revealed the truck was registered to Kyle Joseph Owens, 20, of Ocean City. WCBI detectives then conducted a check of local pawn shops for any record of Owens’ name and discovered that on Feb. 16, Owens had sold 345 pounds of brass to a local scrap yard.
WCBI detectives responded to the scrap yard and made contact with the yard manager, who told police the brass Owens sold was a five-blade propeller, which was later determined to be the one stolen from the victim. The scrap yard manager also told detectives Owens had also scrapped a rudder at the same time the propeller was scrapped.
Owens pleaded guilty to one count of theft under $1,000 and was fined $500. However, he still faces charges of theft from $1,000 to $10,000.