OCEAN CITY – The end of 2014 resulted in a nearly 2% decrease in crime in Ocean City.
According to the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) report, a weekly breakdown reflects a 1.8-percent decrease in total crime this year compared to last year.
Under Part 1 Crimes there was one homicide in 2014 compared to two in 2013; no shootings in 2014 compared to one in 2013; 27 forcible rapes in 2014 compared to 22 in 2013; 18 robberies in both 2013 and 2014; 62 aggravated assaults in 2014 compared to 43 in 2013; 296 burglaries in 2014 compared to 233 in 2013; 955 larcenies in 2014 compared to 1,007 in 2013; 24 auto thefts in 2014 compared to 23 in 2013; and there was two cases of arson in both 2013 and 2014.
There were 714 common assaults in 2014 compared to 791 in 2013 and 60 minor sex offenses in 2014 compared to 58 in 2013, resulting in an overall total of 2,159 crimes in 2014 compared to 2,199 in 2013.
December’s total calls for service, including traffic stops, business checks and assistance to citizens, totaled 3,503, which is a 10.8-percent decrease from December 2013 when there were 3,929 calls for service. Out of that total, 2,905 were officer initiated, which is a 13-percent decrease from December 2013, and 598 were citizen initiated, which is .7-percent increase from December 2013.
The total number of calls for service, excluding traffic stops, business checks and assisting citizens, totaled 1,842, which is a 14.1-percent increase from December 2013 when there were 1,614 calls for service. Out of the total, 1,278 were officer initiated, which is a 20.8-percent increase from December 2013, and 564 were citizen initiated, which is a 1.4-percent increase from December 2013.
Out of the top 25 calls for service in December the majority of the categories increased starting with assist to citizens increasing to 92 calls for service compared to 93 in December of last year; assist to OC EMS increased to 58 from 55 last year; assist to the Fire Company increased to 50 from 37 last year; warrant attempt or arrest increased to 40 from 31 last year; disorderly increased to 37 from 25 last year; theft already occurred increased to 36 from 27 last year; malicious destruction of property increased to 22 from eight last year; trespassing increased to 18 from nine last year; city ordinance violations increased to 14 from seven last year; noise complaints or violations increased to nine from seven last year; parking complaints/violations increased to nine from eight last year; forgery of any kind increased to seven from five last year; and stalking and/or harassment increased to two from one last year.
The categories that decreased in the month of December included suspicious person or activity to 103 calls for service compared to 111 in December of last year; 911 hang up calls decreased to 73 from 80 last year; domestic assault/dispute decreased to 19 from 20 last year; collisions decreased to 17 from 20 last year; CDS violations decreased to 14 from 25 last year; civil disputes decreased to 11 from 12 last year; assault already occurred decreased to seven from 14 last year; DWI investigate and/or arrest decreased to three from 19 last year; sex offense and indecent exposure decreased to one from two last year; and report of a fight decreased to one from four last year. The category of breaking and entering remained the same with three calls in both December of 2013 and 2014.
There were 55 arrests made in December and six criminal citations issued. There were nine drug arrests made but no drug citations. There were seven DUI arrests made and two weapon arrests, according to OCPD data.
There were two incidents in December where a Controlled Electronic Weapon (CEW), also known as a Taser, was involved.
On Saturday, Dec. 20, an officer was dispatched in reference to a first-degree assault involving the suspect threatening the victim with a hammer. Upon arrival, the officer observed the suspect exiting the residence with his right hand in his pocket. The officer instructed the suspect to remove his hand from his pocket, but the suspect refused to comply. The officer immediately un-holstered his CEW and targeted the suspect, which gained temporary compliance. The suspect began walking toward the officer in an aggressive manner, which is when the officer targeted the suspect a second time, which gained full compliance.
When another officer arrived on scene, both officers went to place the suspect in handcuffs, and the suspect shoved one of the officers and resisted for a brief period before he was placed in a Violent Prisoner Restraining Device. The suspect sustained a laceration to his left eye but no officers were injured during this incident. A folding knife was later found in the suspect’s pocket.
On Monday, Dec. 29, an officer arrived on scene and observed a suspect attempt to punch an officer in the head, but the officer was able to avoid the punch. The second officer immediately un-holstered her CEW and targeted the suspect, which gained full compliance. There were no injuries to anyone involved.