OCEAN CITY — An Ellicott City man was arrested on numerous charges, including first-degree assault, after allegedly threatening another man with a locked and loaded handgun on the Boardwalk early Monday morning.
Around 1:40 a.m. on Monday, two OCPD officers were having a conversation with four individuals seated on the curb at 6th Street when they heard a loud commotion coming from the Boardwalk area nearby. When the officers looked toward the Boardwalk, they heard an unidentified voice yell, “Let’s get him,” and “get back here.” The officers then saw an African-American male drop a bicycle near the street end of the Boardwalk and sprint down the ramp to 6th Street.
According to police reports, the victim appeared scared and was looking back over his shoulder as he sprinted away. The officers then observed a Hispanic male running after the victim shouting and screaming expletives. According to police reports, the suspect, later identified as Ivan Lopez, 24, of Ellicott City, appeared angry and screaming at the victim who was running away.
According to police reports, people on the Boardwalk heard the commotion and witnessed the chase and scattered to the north and south away from the 6th Street area in fear. In addition, several people came out on nearby motel balconies when they heard the shouting, threats and observed the chase. The victim ran in the direction of Baltimore Ave. while Lopez ran north behind a T-shirt store on 6th Street.
Lopez was ultimately tracked down and taken into custody. During a search of his person, officers located on Lopez a 9mm Ruger handgun in his front right pocket. Meanwhile, the victim and several others who were on the Boardwalk at the start of the commotion returned to the scene.
The victim told police he was riding his bicycle with several friends when he encountered Lopez and another male on the Boardwalk. The victim told officers the man with Lopez approached him closely as if trying to get a reaction out of him. At that point, a confrontation began and the victim told police he observed Lopez pull out a silver handgun and heard Lopez cock the weapon.
At that point, the victim fled as fast as he could before abandoning the bicycle and fled on foot down 6th Street. The victim told police he only returned after he saw Lopez was in custody to make sure his friends were okay. Two other witnesses provided similar accounts of the incident.
As a result, Lopez was charged with first-degree assault, disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment and carrying and wearing a handgun on his person.