Drug Suspect Flips Vehicle Several Times

BERLIN — A Berlin man was arrested on multiple charges last weekend after leading police on a high-speed chase through northern Worcester County before his vehicle ultimately left the roadway, struck a utility pole and flipped over several times.

Around 2:45 p.m. last Friday, a Maryland State Police trooper working a speed assignment on Route 50 at Hall Rd. observed a Lexus traveling 80 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. The trooper attempted to stop the Lexus, but the driver, later identified as Tyrell Oliver, 43, of Berlin, jerked the wheel in the officer’s direction, causing the trooper to move out of the way after feeling endangered.

Oliver continued past the trooper who then began a vehicle pursuit. Oliver turned onto the northbound Route 610 with the trooper in pursuit when the Lexus fishtailed and nearly lost control. The vehicle spun about 90 degrees before Oliver regained control and continued north on Route 610. During the pursuit on Route 610, Oliver crossed the center line several times and even passed several vehicles on the shoulder with the trooper in pursuit.

Oliver continued on Route 610 approaching Route 113 when he finally lost control of the vehicle near the intersection. The suspect was approaching slower moving traffic in front of him when he applied the brakes, causing the Lexus to fishtail and turn clockwise. The Lexus then struck a wooden roadside pole, traveled off the roadway and overturned several times.

Oliver was ejected, but was conscious and alert at the scene. He was taken to PRMC in Salisbury by ambulance for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Found at the scene were various types and amounts of illegal drugs. Oliver was charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute, fleeing and eluding police and multiple traffic-related charges.

West OC Stabbing

WEST OCEAN CITY — A local woman was arrested and charged with first-degree assault last weekend after allegedly stabbing a victim with a knife during a domestic incident at a West Ocean City motel.

Around 11:40 p.m. last Sunday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the Sea Isle Hotel in West Ocean City for a reported domestic assault involving a knife. After an investigation into the incident, the unidentified victim refused treatment from EMS at the scene. MSP troopers arrested Karen Denise Strause, 45, of West Ocean City, and charged her with first- and second-degree assault.

Strause was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held on a $10,000 bond. She was transported to the Worcester County Jail. The following day, she was released after posting a $5,000 cash bond.

Foul Play Not Suspected

In Unattended Death

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are investigating the circumstances surrounding a victim found deceased in her home last Thursday, although no signs of foul play were immediately evident.

Around 5:15 p.m. last Thursday, Salisbury Police responded to a residence on Middleneck Drive in reference to an unresponsive female. Officers located the victim, later identified as Lisa Marie Byrd, 51, of Salisbury, deceased inside her residence. Investigators learned an acquaintance of the victim had responded to her home after not hearing from her during the day.

The acquaintance observed the victim unresponsive inside the residence and called police. Last Friday, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy examination on the victim and the preliminary results did not reveal any signs of trauma or foul play. A complete autopsy is expected to take several weeks and toxicology results are still pending at this time.

Attempted Murder

Charge For Beating

SALISBURY — A Delmar man was arrested on attempted murder and other charges last weekend after allegedly beating his girlfriend to the point she lost consciousness at an apartment complex in Salisbury.

Around 1:42 a.m. last Friday, Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an apartment complex on Beaglin Park Drive for a reported assault in progress. The deputies had heard reports of a male beating a female who was on the ground. Upon arrival, the deputies observed a suspect later identified as William Kyle Donophan, 23, of Delmar, standing over a female who was not moving.

Once Donophan saw the deputies arrive, he walked away and attempted to hide, according to police reports. The deputies attempted to engage Donophan, but he fled the area on foot. The deputy chased Donophan on foot through the apartment complex, across Beaglin Park Drive and onto the Parkside High School property, where he was able to detain the suspect.

The victim was unconscious and suffering from trauma to her head. She was taken by ambulance to PRMC. During the investigation, it was determined Donophan had struck and kicked the victim, who turned out to be his girlfriend, repeatedly in the head to the point she collapsed and lost consciousness.

Donophan was arrested and charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

No New Jail Time

For Credit Card Theft

BERLIN — An Ocean City man, arrested on multiple counts of felony theft in April after the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office was able to connect him to the fraudulent use of a stolen credit card, pleaded guilty last week to theft scheme and was sentenced to six months in jail, all of which was either suspended or credited due to the time he served awaiting trial.

In April, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy arrested Curtis James Adkins, 28, of Ocean City, for multiple counts of felony theft. Adkins had been the lead suspect in an ongoing four-month investigation during which he allegedly stole and used a credit or debit card. According to police reports, Adkins allegedly used the stolen card as many as 30 times throughout Worcester County and made over $6,000 in fraudulent charges and cash withdraws.

Adkins was arrested and charged with felony identity fraud from $1,000 to $10,000, felony theft from $1,000 to $10,000, felony theft scheme, misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor theft scheme. Last week, Adkins pleaded guilty to one count of theft scheme and was sentenced to six months in jail. All but one month of the sentence was then suspended and he was given credit for the month he served following his arrest, resulting in no new jail time. He was also fined $300 and placed on probation for three years.

First-Degree Assault

Charge In Wife Attack

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man faces assault and other charges this week after allegedly choking his wife and banging her head against the floor during a domestic incident last Friday.

Around 4:30 a.m. last Friday, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy responded to PRMC to meet with the victim of an assault and learned the victim had been involved in an altercation with her husband that had escalated into an assault. The investigation revealed the suspect, identified as Bruce Wayne Singleton, 31, of Salisbury had left the victim at an establishment and walked home following an argument.

According to the victim, when she returned home, Singleton confronted her and grabbed her by the throat and threw her on the ground. According to the victim, Singleton continued to grab her by the throat while banging her head against the floor. The victim was eventually able to call for help and Singleton released her. She was taken to PRMC for lacerations on her head.

Singleton was arrested and charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held on a $150,000 bond.

Air Conditioning Unit Swiped

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City police are investigating the theft of a large air conditioning unit from a residence in a downtown condominium community that was likely stolen as many as two months ago, but was only noticed as missing by the property owner last week.

Last week, the owner of a condo in the South Bay community along Edgewater Ave. in the area of 5th Street was surprised when she went to turn on her air conditioning to accommodate a visitor with respiratory issues and found her system was not working. The victim said when she went to check on the problem, she found the outside air conditioning unit had been stolen.

The air conditioner was not a mere window unit, but a large, heavy unit that sat on the ground outside the condo. Police are investigating the theft, which they believe might have occurred as long as two months ago. Incidentally, the air conditioner was stolen a couple blocks from where a large lion statue was swiped last week and defaced before being returned.

In that case, a local man was arrested for stealing the large lion statue and a smaller lion statue. However, there are no real connections between the incidents other than their proximity. The investigation is ongoing.

No Show For Bank Fraud

SNOW HILL — An Ocean City man arrested in February on bank theft scheme charges after an investigation revealed he had deposited and then cashed over $40,000 in bad checks over a period of a couple days in January failed to appear for trial this week and had a warrant sworn out for his arrest.

On Jan. 30, Ocean City police detectives began a theft scheme investigation on Igor Gavryushin, 29, of Ocean City, after being contacted by a local bank official. The bank fraud investigator informed OCPD detectives they had suffered a loss of approximately $31,000 as a result of deposits made by Gavryushin.

Further investigation revealed Gavryushin deposited over $43,000 into his bank account between Jan. 21 and Jan. 23. All of the deposited checks were later returned to the bank as either “account closed” or “unlocatable.” However, before the bank was notified the deposited checks were being returned, Gavryushin had already withdrawn $30,000 from his account.

On Jan. 31, Ocean City police arrested Gavryushin at his home. Late on the same day, a search and seizure warrant was executed at the suspect’s home and $30,000 in cash was located in his bedroom. Police charged Gavryushin with multiple counts of uttering bad checks and felony theft. He was scheduled for trial this week, but failed to appear and had a warrant sworn out for his arrest.