OCEAN CITY — A Selbyville man was charged with drunk-driving and weapons violations after an incident last Wednesday when he allegedly drove over the curb and onto the sidewalk in numerous locations in downtown Ocean City.
Around 1:45 a.m. last Wednesday, an OCPD officer was conducting a business check at a downtown pharmacy when he observed a 2007 Ford Fusion heading south on Philadelphia Avenue at a high rate of speed. The officer began to follow the vehicle, which reached speeds estimated at 60 mph, or nearly twice the posted speed limit.
The officer observed the vehicle swerve abruptly in the area of 10th Street and drive over the curb and onto the sidewalk on the westbound side of Philadelphia Avenue. The vehicle then drove off the sidewalk and continued south on Philadelphia Avenue and crossed over and drove over the curb again on the southwest side of 10th Street, running over a small tree before entering Philadelphia Avenue again.
The vehicle returned to the roadway before losing control again and driving over the curb at 9th Street, nearly hitting a utility pole. The vehicle fishtailed back to the left and skidded down Philadelphia before coming to a stop south of 9th Street.
As the officer pulled behind the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Brandon Kinsey, 21, of Selbyville, exited the driver’s seat and began staggering around the roadway, according to police reports. As the officer approached, Kinsey allegedly continued to stagger around and nearly fell several times, according to police reports. The officer informed Kinsey to sit on the sidewalk, but he refused initially. Kinsey eventually did sit down on the sidewalk, but not before nearly falling several more times, according to police reports.
While Kinsey was sitting on the sidewalk, the officer observed the vehicle had sustained significant damage and was inoperable. While questioning Kinsey, the officer noticed a black folding knife sticking out of his pants pocket and confiscated the weapon.
Kinsey allegedly told police he had consumed two alcoholic beverages, including one light beer and one lemon drop shooter.
When asked if he knew where he was, Kinsey allegedly told the officer he was in Selbyville. He then recanted the story and told the officer he was on 133rd Street and that the officer was a Selbyville Police officer. At that point, Kinsey allegedly told police, “I’m not okay to drive.”
While Kinsey was being transported to police headquarters, he began talking to an imaginary female named Samantha, who was supposedly sitting in the front seat of the police car. Once at the police station, Kinsey allegedly spit on the floor several times and told the officer he was going to punch him in the face and the handcuffs couldn’t stop him. Kinsey also insinuated he could kill police officers and it would mean nothing to him. He continued to make similar threats during the booking process and was uncooperative, according to police reports.
Guilty Plea In Contractor Fraud Case
SNOW HILL — A local business owner charged in November with acting as a contractor without a license pleaded guilty this week to one count and was sentenced to 90 days, all of which was suspended in favor of a $300 fine.
In February 2015, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation began investigating Apex Property Maintenance and Joseph Carlini for acting as a contractor without a license. Through the investigation, it was learned Carlini’s girlfriend, Jaime Hamer, was also involved in the case. Following the investigation, Carlini and Hamer were both charged with business-related crimes.
On Tuesday, Carlini pleaded guilty to one count of acting as a contractor without a license. He was sentenced to 90 days, which was then suspended, and was fined $300. Similar charges against Hamer were placed on the stet, or inactive, docket.
OC Man Charged After Domestic Incident
OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man faces assault and malicious destruction of property charges this week after allegedly punching a female victim during a domestic argument and breaking her cell phone.
Around 1:40 p.m. last Thursday, Ocean City Police responded to the Burgundy Inn for a reported domestic assault in progress. Officer met with a witness who said she saw a suspect later identified as Zahi Moreno, 34, of Ocean City, running north on Wilmington Lane from the nearby apartment complex. While the witness was speaking with the officers, Moreno was again spotted running south on Philadelphia Avenue and he was located and detained a short time later.
The witness told police she believed Moreno had been involved in a domestic incident because she lived in the next door unit and heard screaming and yelling and called police. OCPD officers responded to the unit and questioned the female victim, who advised she had first been in a verbal argument with Moreno over domestic issues.
The victim told police Moreno had become belligerent and the argument turned physical when he allegedly punched her on the top of her head, the left side of her face and the right side of her face. When the victim was able to free herself, Moreno allegedly threw a coffee table across the room, slammed a picture frame on the ground and slammed her cell phone on the floor, causing the screen to break. Moreno then left the residence, according to police reports. The OCPD officers observed the victim’s entire face was red as a result of the assault and she was bleeding from a cut on her lip. The victim also had a cut on her wrist which was also bleeding.
After Moreno was taken into custody, he agreed to speak with officers about the incident. Moreno told police he was in an argument with the victim because she had gone to see he children with her ex-boyfriend. When asked if he had struck the victim, Moreno allegedly told police, “I am not going to lie, I mushed her,” according to charging documents. Based on the evidence and testimony, Moreno was charged with second-degree assault and malicious destruction of property.
Barricade Situation Ends With Arrests
SALISBUR — Two Salisbury men face a wide variety of charges after an incident last week that began with a police pursuit chase and ended with a barricade situation in a residential neighborhood.
Around 11 a.m. last Thursday, Salisbury Police observed a pick-up truck driving erratically in the area of East Church Street. As officers attempted to stop the truck, the driver, later identified as Ali Antonio Bradley, 33, of Salisbury, and his passenger, identified as Micah Lamar Blue, 32, also of Salisbury, accelerated, making several abrupt turns and running through stop signs before making a left turn onto Aydelotte Rd.
Bradley exited the vehicle at a dead end, leaving Blue in the truck. Bradley jumped a six-foot fence, causing damage to the fence, and forced his way into the rear of a home on Justice Ave. where he subsequently barricaded himself in the attic. After refusing police requests to exit the home for about an hour and a half, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Special Emergency Response Team conducted a tactical entry into the home where Bradley was found in the attic hiding under some insulation.
Bradley was taken into custody without further incident and Blue was taken into custody outside the home. Investigators believe Bradley is associated with the residents of the Salisbury home, but did not have permission to enter the residence.
Bradley has been charged with fourth-degree burglary, drug a paraphernalia possession and multiple traffic offenses. Blue was charged with drug and paraphernalia possession. Both of the suspect were on probation at the time of the incident.