OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City woman faces first-degree assault and other charges after allegedly threatening to kill her boyfriend with a knife last week.
Around 9:30 p.m. last Monday, an OCPD officer responded to a residence on Rusty Anchor Rd. in north Ocean City for a reported weapons violation. Police Communications advised the officer a male had locked himself in a bathroom because his girlfriend, who was in possession of a knife, was trying to kick the door down. The officer arrived and made contact with the suspect, identified as Anna Elinor Young, 68, of Ocean City, who was sitting on a couch in the unit.
The officer asked Young to step outside for questioning and the male victim frantically appeared from the bathroom, flailing his arms and pointing at Young, according to police reports. The victim told police Young had consumed an entire bottle of whiskey and began to get nasty with him as they argued about their relationship.
At one point, Young cornered the victim behind a dining room table and began swinging her fists at him, striking him all over his body as many as 12-15 times including the face. According to police reports, Young grabbed the victim by his groin area, at which point the victim allegedly said, “I’ve had enough.” The victim then smashed a fake candle on the table and Young allegedly picked up the broken pieces of glass and attempted to stab the victim roughly five times, but the victim was able to deflect the attempts.
The victim pushed his way past Young, who allegedly ran toward the kitchen and said, “I’ll get a knife and kill you, …,” according to police reports. At that point, the victim locked himself in the bathroom and called 911. The victim told police he heard Young strike the door two times, but the sound was not a thud, but more of a smooth sound as if Young was pushing the knife through the door.
The officer looked at the bathroom door and noticed a long, slim incision on the outside with splinters and other indications of a fresh cut. The officer then looked at the knife block in the kitchen and observed six slots where steak knives were stored with one empty and a steak knife lying on the counter beside it. The officer took the knife and placed it into the incision on the bathroom door and noted it fit perfectly, according to police reports.
Based on the witness testimony and evidence, Young was charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to injure. She was held initially on a $10,000 bond and was later released. A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 18.
Charges Filed In Crash
WEST OCEAN CITY — A Delaware man faces drunk-driving and drug paraphernalia charges this week after allegedly causing a three-vehicle accident on Route 50 in West Ocean City last Friday.
Around 1:40 p.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the eastbound lanes of Route 50 at Keyser Point Rd. for a reported accident involving three vehicles including injuries. Upon arrival, troopers observed a suspect later identified as Giuseppe Rocco Belfiore, 33, of Frankford, Del., walk away from the accident while dropping hypodermic syringes on the ground.
MSP troopers observed Belfiore showing signs of impairment and after a series of field sobriety tests found him to be severely impaired, according to police reports. Belfiore was injured during the collision and was treated by EMS at the scene for minor injuries, but refused further medical treatment.
Belfiore was advised of his Advice of Rights and submitted to a breath test, which resulted in a BAC of .00. He then refused a drug recognition expert examination to determine a drug or combination of drugs. Belfiore was charged as the at-fault driver for the motor vehicle collision, DWI and CDS paraphernalia possession and related charges. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on personal recognizance.
Sprinklers Save Town Equipment, Vehicles
OCEAN CITY — A sprinkler system is being credited for saving thousands of dollars in town of Ocean City property during an afternoon fire on Nov. 22.
Around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22, the Ocean City Fire Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at the town of Ocean City’s service center warehouse on 65th Street. Firefighters arrived and found the 12,000-square-foot building filled with smoke. The call for service was then upgraded to a building fire, bringing additional fire and EMS resources to the scene. Firefighters found that two sprinkler heads had activated and extinguished a fire prior to the fire department being dispatched.
“By these two fire sprinklers activating, city ambulances, police cars, busses, street sweepers and other essential equipment was saved,” said Fire Marshal David Hartley. “This example shows the huge impact sprinklers have not just in the home, but also in reducing the average loss of property during a fire in a commercial structure.”
An on-scene investigation by the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office revealed the fire started as a result of a machine malfunction and the fire has been classified as accidental. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
License Plate Reader Results In Arrests
OCEAN CITY — Two local area residents face theft and drug charges this week after a police license plate reader near the Route 50 bridge picked up a stolen tag on their vehicle.
Around 1:15 a.m. last Monday, Ocean City Police Communications received a License Plate Reader (LPR) hit for a stolen license plate displayed on a vehicle that had just entered Ocean City via the Route 50 Bridge. Police Communications indicated the vehicle displaying the stolen tag had just pulled into the 7-Eleven on North Division Street and parked.
The vehicle was described as a blue Ford Mustang and the tag displayed on the rear of the vehicle had been reported stolen in Salisbury. Two OCPD officers responded and found the Mustang parked in the convenience store parking lot with two individuals inside.
As the officers approached, a female suspect identified as Megan Smullen, 28, of Parsonsburg, exited the driver’s side door. Another male suspect, later identified as David Messick, 28, of Salisbury, exited from the front passenger door. Officers later determined Messick was the registered owner of the vehicle.
As Messick exited the vehicle, he dropped a metal spoon to the ground. When he observed the officers, Messick picked up the spoon and walked away from the officers, according to police reports. The officer ordered Messick to the rear of the vehicle and ordered him to show him his hands. The officers asked Smullen and Messick to sit on the curb and Messick continued to grab at his right front pants pocket.
The officers asked Messick where the metal spoon was that they had observed him drop on the ground and he produced the spoon from his pants pocket. Messick told the officers he used the spoon to eat cereal, but when the officers observed the spoon, it had burn marks on the bottom and a white powdery residue on top. Upon further questioning, Messick admitted he was a heroin user.
Meanwhile, the officers questioned Smullen, who told them her license was suspended and that she had been driving just prior to their encounter with her. A background check revealed Smullen’s license was suspended and that the tag on the back of the vehicle had been reported stolen.
In the grassy area in front of the vehicle, officers observed a glass pipe and other paraphernalia indicative of crack cocaine use. Video surveillance revealed the glass pipe was the object Messick had been seen throwing to the ground. A search of the suspects and the vehicle turned up several more items of crack cocaine paraphernalia. The Mustang belonged to Messick and he told police he had stolen the plate from a vehicle at his father’s shop. Smullen and Messick were arrested and each charged with theft and various drug and traffic counts.
Traffic Stop Nets Drug Bust
SNOW HILL — A Virginia man was arrested on marijuana charges last weekend after a routine traffic stop on Route 113 near Snow Hill.
Around 3:40 p.m. last Sunday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a vehicle on Route 113 near Snow Hill for exceeding the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Justin Henkel, 37, of Portsmouth, Va. and learned he was driving on a suspended out-of-state license and wanted in Michigan for failing to appear for a court date on a marijuana possession charge.
During the stop, Henkel was asked to step from the vehicle and the odor of marijuana was detected on his person. A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of marijuana and cocaine along with numerous items of paraphernalia. Henkel was taken into custody and was later released on an unsecured bond by a District Court Commissioner. It was also determined the outstanding warrant out of Michigan was not able to be served in Maryland.
Assault Arrest In Domestic Dispute
BERLIN — A Berlin man faces assault and other charges allegedly striking a female victim multiple times during a domestic incident last Saturday.
Around 11 p.m. last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Newport Bay Drive in Berlin for a reported domestic incident. The investigation revealed a suspect, later identified as Jeffrey Eugene Gayan, 48, of Berlin, had allegedly punched the female victim several times in the face. Deputies also learned Gayan had allegedly pulled the victim by her hair and choked her.
Gayan was later located in the residence and was taken into custody. He has been charged with second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. Gayan was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered to be held on a $10,000 bond.
Traffic Stop Leads To Gun
OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on weapons charges this week after Ocean City Police found him in possession of a handgun without a permit in Maryland during a routine traffic stop.
Around 8:20 a.m. on Monday, an OCPD officer stopped a vehicle with a headlight out in Ocean City. The officer asked the driver, identified as Travis Corl, 22, of Howard, Pa., if he possessed a concealed carry permit through the state of Pennsylvania and if he was currently in possession of a firearm.
Corl told the officer a 9mm handgun was located in the map pocket of the driver’s seat. Corl was asked to exit the vehicle and the officer then located a 9mm semi-automatic handgun in the map pocket. The officer rendered the weapon safe and took possession of it. Corl was then arrested and charged with carrying and transporting a weapon on his person and in his vehicle. He was also issued a traffic warning for the inoperable headlamp.
Chicken House Fire
BERLIN — Over 21,000 chickens perished in a chicken house fire in Berlin last Wednesday.
Around 1:30 p.m. last Wednesday, the Berlin Fire Department responded to a reported chicken house fire near the rear of a property on Cedar Lane Rd. in Berlin. First arrivers confirmed there was an active fire in one of the chicken houses on the property. Berlin was assisted by the Ocean Pines, Newark and Powellville Volunteer Fire Companies and the fire was brought under control quickly. The chicken house contained roughly 21,800 chickens, the majority of which perished in the blaze. No other injuries were reported and the cause of the fire has been listed as undetermined as of mid-week.