NEWARK — A Newark man was arrested on assault and child abuse charges last week after allegedly assaulting his wife and juvenile daughter.
Around 2 a.m. last Tuesday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in Newark for a reported domestic assault. The investigation revealed a suspect identified as Ali Sufyan, 22, of Newark, had allegedly assaulted his wife and juvenile daughter. Sufyan was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree assault, second-degree child abuse and two counts of reckless endangerment. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held without bond until a lawyer could be found to represent him.
Bench Warrant Arrest
OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man was arrested on a bench warrant last week for failing to appear for court for a traffic violation back in September.
Last Monday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy arrested Oliviero Cruz-Jose at his residence on Robin Drive in Ocean City. Cruz-Jose was wanted on a bench warrant for failing to appear for a court case back on Sept. 25 for driving without a license. Cruz-Jose was taken before a District Court Commissioner for an initial appearance before being transferred to the Worcester County Jail on a $3,000 bond.
Suspected Dealer Nabbed
BERLIN — A new partnership between the police departments of Berlin and Pocomoke last week led to the arrest of a Pocomoke man on cocaine distribution charges.
Around 5:45 a.m. last Monday, members of the Pocomoke Police Department’s new Special Tactics Operations on Patrol (STOP) unit, along with the Berlin Police Department SWAT team executed a search and seizure warrant at a residence on 8th Street in Pocomoke. Arrested following the warrant execution was Charlie McBride, 62, of Pocomoke.
McBride has been charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of paraphernalia. Officers seized 14 individual baggies of suspected cocaine with a street value of $3,500, a one-ounce bag of suspected cocaine, a digital scale, cutting agents, a box of Ziploc bags and $72 in currency. The Pocomoke Police STOP squad unit is attempting to locate additional suspects involved in the investigation.
“Most Wanted” Man Caught
SALISBURY — One of Wicomico County’s “most wanted” fugitives was nabbed last week in Baltimore.
Last Monday, law enforcement officials located and arrested Vernon Alonzo Cooper, Jr., 25, of Middle River in Baltimore. Cooper, listed among Wicomico County’s “most wanted,” was being sought on a Circuit Court bench warrant for violating probation following a conviction on charges related to a 2011 high-speed chase that began in Cambridge, crossed through Wicomico and ended in a roadside ditch near Berlin. Cooper was transported back to Wicomico County where he is being detained without bond.
A little before 11 p.m. on June 17, 2011, Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputies received a report from Dorchester County about a high-speed vehicle pursuit heading east on Route 50. According to police reports, a silver Acura, driven by Vernon A. Cooper, 22, of Middle River, along with a passenger, identified as Davon Fuqua, 26, of Baltimore, had been stopped in Cambridge for a traffic violation.
During the traffic stop, Cambridge Police observed illegal drugs in plain view within the vehicle. During a subsequent search, Cooper then allegedly sped off, assaulting a Cambridge officer in the process by running over the officer’s foot. A short time later, Wicomico Sheriff’s deputies received a report about a pursuit heading their way on Route 50. Wicomico deputies picked up the pursuit in the area of the Route 50 bypass around Salisbury, where the chase reached speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour.
At one point, Cooper slowed the Acura to a stop on the Route 50 bypass in an apparent attempt to allow Wicomico deputies to detain him. However, as Wicomico deputies stopped and got out of their vehicle to approach the suspects, Cooper took off again after attempting to ram the Wicomico deputies’ vehicles. The pursuit then continued on eastbound Route 50 toward Worcester County.
Maryland State Police troopers from the Berlin barrack were advised of the pursuit and attempted to deploy stop sticks to deflate the suspect vehicle’s tires in the area of Routes 50 and 589 near Berlin. However, the Acura was traveling too fast for the troopers to deploy the stop sticks in time and the pursuit continued east on Route 50.
Cooper then turned the Acura left onto Friendship Rd. across from Stephen Decatur High and the MSP troopers continued the chase. According to police reports, the chase reached speeds in excess of 120 mph along rural, residential Friendship Rd. The chase ended when Cooper was unable to stop at the intersection of Friendship Rd. and Old Worcester Highway (Route 575) and drove into a ditch.
Attempted Burglary Arrests
SALISBURY — Two local men were arrested on attempted burglary charges last week after allegedly attempting to break into a residence before being scared off by the occupant.
Around 12:50 p.m. last Saturday, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a reported burglary in the area of Twin Tree Rd. in Salisbury that had just occurred. Two suspects attempted to enter the residence by a rear door, but were spooked away once they realized someone was inside.
A description was provided for the suspects, who had last been seen leaving the area on foot. A Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputy entered the neighborhood and observed two male suspects matching the description walking on Woodland Ave. The officer detained the suspects, later identified as Jesse Shipley, 19, of Salisbury, and Shane Kulp, 19, of Fruitland. During a further investigation, the victim was able to identify Shipley and Kulp as the two suspect who had attempted to enter his residence. Both were charged with attempted fourth-degree burglary.
Major Assault Arrest
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on first-degree assault charges last week after allegedly attacking a woman with a knife and an electrical cord while threatening to kill her and her children.
Last Tuesday, Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Gualberto Marroquin-Paxtor, 31, of Salisbury, following an alleged alcohol-fueled rage against a woman with whom he resided. According to the victim, Marroquin-Paxtor repeatedly assaulted her while threatening to kill her and her children. At one point during the alleged assault, the suspect brandished a knife, and at another time, he used an electric cord from a heater to try to strangle her, according to police reports.
When the victim attempted to run, Marroquin-Paxtor grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back into a room where the assault continued. The suspect allegedly threatened to kill the victim and her children if she contacted the police about the incident. Marroquin-Paxtor was taken before a District Court Commissioner on the night of the incident and his bond was set initially at $50,000. However, following a bond review on Dec. 24, the bond was raised to $1 million. Marroquin-Paxtor has been charged with first-degree assault and the use of a dangerous weapon.
Beer Bottle Assault Forwarded To Circuit
OCEAN CITY — A Bethany Beach man arrested in September on first-degree assault and other charges after allegedly hitting another man over the head with a beer bottle had his case forwarded to Worcester County Circuit Court last week.
On Sept. 1, Ocean City Police responded to a reported assault that had already occurred. Upon arrival, OCPD officers detained an individual later identified as Brian D. Guessford, 27, of Bethany Beach and observed another individual who appeared to be the victim of an assault.
The investigation revealed Guessford had struck another bar patron in the head with a glass beer bottle. The victim had multiple cuts and bruises on the top of his head. Several witnesses told police they observed Guessford strike the victim with the glass beer bottle and the bar’s video surveillance system captured images of the assault.
Witnesses told police a female companion of Guessford’s was extremely intoxicated and had been running into other guests and flinging her hair around and hitting other people with it. A witness told police the victim confronted the female about her actions, at which point Guessford came over and told the victim he should not have intervened.
Witnesses said Guessford then struck the victim several times in the head with the glass beer bottle.
Security then grabbed Guessford and removed him from the property, which is around the time police arrived on the scene. Guessford was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and using a dangerous weapon with intent to injure. Guessford was charged initially in District Court, but had his case forwarded to Circuit Court last week.
Assaulted For Hiding Heroin
PARSONSBURG — A Parsonsburg man was arrested on assault charges last week after allegedly beating his wife for hiding his heroin.
On Dec. 21, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a residence on Archie Dennis Rd. in Parsonsburg for a reported domestic dispute. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a female victim who reported she had been assaulted by her husband, James Brittain, Jr., 30, of Parsonsburg. According to the victim, Brittain became enraged when she hid his heroin. According to the victim, she was repeatedly struck in the face and thrown to the ground.
During the investigation, the deputy observed injuries to the victim that corroborated her story. Brittain was arrested and charged with second-degree assault. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held on a $10,000 bond.
Warrant Issued For Alleged Drug Dealer
SNOW HILL — An Ocean City man arrested on drug distribution charges after a Halloween raid on his residence failed to appear for his arraignment last week and had a warrant sworn out for his arrest.
In late October, Ocean City Police concluded a month-long investigation into drug distribution with a mid-afternoon raid on a resort residence. During the month of October, the Ocean City Narcotics Unit initiated a drug investigation on a residence in the ocean block of 41st Street. The investigation, which was initiated after a citizen tip was received reporting suspected drug activity at the residence, determined both Shakeim Fitzgerald Williams, 38, and Tiffanie Amanda Sunderland, 22, were both living in the residence.
Around 12:20 a.m. on Oct. 31, the Ocean City Police Quick Response Team executed a search-and-seizure warrant at the residence and located Williams and Sunderland inside. Detectives also located around one ounce of cocaine with a street value of about $1,000, one ounce of heroin with a street value of $5,000 and a felony amount of marijuana.
Also located was around $500 in cash and hundreds of items commonly used to package and sell controlled dangerous substances (CDS). Williams and Sunderland were arrested at the residence without incident. They have each been charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute CDS and possession of CDS.
Williams was also wanted in Worcester County for failure to appear for a previous CDS possession case. Williams was held initially on a $125,000 bond, but was later released after posting the bond. He was scheduled to appear for arraignment in the case last week, but did not show up for court. Consequently, a bench warrant has been sworn out for his arrest. Meanwhile, Sunderland was released on a $50,000 bond. She is expected to have an initial hearing next week.