OCEAN CITY — Just days after getting training on a new laser speed measuring device, an OCPD officer made good use of the newest tool in the department’s arsenal with a traffic stop that yielded marijuana and a stun gun.
The OCPD has recently expanded the use of speed measurement devices as part of the department’s mission to reduce traffic collisions. Several OCPD officers attended a training session on April 17 where they earned certification in the use of a new device known as LIDAR, which uses lasers and reflected light to measure speed. Three days later, an OCPD officer who earned certification in LIDAR used the new technology to determine a vehicle was traveling faster than the posted 35 mph in the area of 30th Street and Coastal Highway.
The officer stopped the vehicle and detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside. During a search of the vehicle, the officer located marijuana and a stun gun. As passenger in the vehicle, identified as Khiry Jamal Lane, 24, of Hyattsville, Md. was arrested and charged with possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana and possession of an electronic weapon.
“The Ocean City Police Department is committed to improving the safety of our roadways,” said t. Scott Harner, Commander of the Traffic Safety Unit. “Speeding is a choice over which every driver has complete control.”
DUI Arrest In Bike Accident
WEST OCEAN CITY — A New Jersey man was arrested on drunk-driving charges last weekend after his motorcycle collided with another motorcycle in West Ocean City.
Around 1:30 p.m. last Saturday, Russell Rowles, 52, of Newark, Del., and Donald Gaskill, 50, of Carney’s Point, N.J., were traveling on motorcycles on Route 50 in West Ocean City on their way to the Bikes to the Beach Spring Rally events in Ocean City. Rowles and Gaskill were acquaintances and were attending the event together, according to police reports.
As the two bikes attempted to turn south on Route 611 to get gas, Gaskill steered his 2000 Harley Davidson into Rowles’ 1999 Harley. Rowles lost control of his motorcycle and it went down. Rowles was injured and was transported to PRMC by ambulance. Gaskill was not injured, but evidence suggested he might have been impaired.
Gaskill was administered field sobriety tests, which he did not pass to the satisfaction of Maryland State Police troopers. Gaskill was then transported to the MSP Berlin barrack, but refused to submit to a breath test. He was subsequently charged with DUI and traffic citations related to the collision.
Pines Woman Injured
In Route 113 Accident
SHOWELL — An Ocean Pines woman was injured in a two-vehicle accident on Route 113 near Showell on Tuesday afternoon and was flown to PRMC in Salisbury with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
Around 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Maryland State Police troopers were dispatched to a reported motor vehicle accident with injuries on Route 113 at Route 575 near Showell. The investigation revealed a vehicle driven by Virginia Valascio, of Ocean Pines, had attempted to make a turn from northbound Route 113 onto Route 575. Valascio failed to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle driven by Aubrie Baker, of Berlin, which was traveling southbound on Route 575.
Valascio was flown to PRMC by Maryland State Police Aviation with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. Baker refused medical attention on the scene. The MSP was assisted by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office during the incident.
Hit-And-Run Arrest
SNOW HILL — A Virginia Beach man was arrested on marijuana possession and traffic violations after leaving the scene of an accident last Thursday in southern Worcester County.
Around 3:45 p.m. last Thursday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Whiton Rd. for a reported hit-and-run accident. The investigation revealed an unidentified driver involved in the accident had left the scene and a description of the vehicle was obtained. About three hours later, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy located and arrested the driver, identified as Jeremy Arthur Meikle, 27, of Virginia Beach. Meikle was issued traffic citations and a criminal citation for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana.
Hindering An Investigation
GIRDLETREE — A Georgetown, Del. woman was arrested on hindering charges last weekend after getting into an argument with her boyfriend who would not let her drive while intoxicated at a residence in Girdletree.
Last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Girdletree area for a reported disturbance. The investigation revealed a woman identified as San Juanita Hernandez, 38, had been in an argument with her boyfriend because he would not let her leave his house. According to police reports, Hernandez was intoxicated and her boyfriend didn’t think it would be a good idea to let her drive.
While the deputy was conducting the investigation, Hernandez was allegedly disorderly and filed to follow simple instructions. Hernandez was given numerous opportunities, but still continued to hinder the deputy while he completed his investigation. Hernandez was charged with hindering a police officer in the performance of duties. She was released pending trial.
Drugged Driver In Ditch
WHALEYVILLE — A Whaleyville man was arrested on various drug charges last week after running his truck off the road on Route 610 and crashing into a ditch.
Around 5:40 p.m. last Wednesday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol on southbound Route 610 near Route 113 observed a Chevrolet pickup truck cross the northbound lanes of the highway, leave the roadway and crash into a large ditch. The deputy observed the driver, later identified as Bryce Joseph Butler, 20, of Whaleyville, continue to push the gas pedal in an attempt to drive out of the ditch.
The deputy asked Butler to exit the vehicle and upon speaking with the suspect determined he was in possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The deputy recovered heroin, hypodermic needles and a digital scale from the suspect. Butler was arrested and charged with possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
Traffic Stop Nets Drug
BISHOPVILLE — A Berlin woman was arrested on drug charges this week after narcotics and paraphernalia were found in her purse after a traffic stop in Bishopville during which she was a passenger.
Around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was on radar patrol in the area of Bishopville Rd. and Bishop Street when a vehicle was clocked going 44 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone. The driver, identified as Morgan Bernstein, 30, of Ocean City, was found to be driving on a suspended license and was issued a citation. The driver then consented to a search of the vehicle subsequent to the traffic stop.
During the consent search, the deputy located crack cocaine, a glass smoking device and a hypodermic needle. Through the investigation, it was determined the handbag belonged to a rear seat passenger identified as Ashley Nicole Lewis, 25, of Berlin. Lewis was arrested and charged with one count of possession of crack cocaine and two counts of possession of paraphernalia. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released on her own recognizance pending trial.