POCOMOKE — A Pocomoke man faces first-degree assault and other charges after allegedly threatening land surveyors seeking permission to access a road on his property with a gun before firing shots in the area as they fled on Monday.
On Monday, two land surveyors went to the front door of a residence in Pocomoke to ask Larry Ward, 57, of Pocomoke, for permission to use a road on his property. The surveyors wished to gain a more direct access to a piece of wooded property adjacent to Wards.
According to police reports, when the surveyors knocked on Ward’s door, he came out of the residence holding a revolver. Ward then allegedly pointed the revolver at the head of one of the surveyors and yelled at them to get off his property. The two surveyors got into their vehicle and began to drive off Ward’s property.
As the surveyors were leaving, Ward allegedly fired two shots into the air. The surveyors made contact with deputies from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, who responded to Ward’s residence. Ward was uncooperative with deputies and was placed under arrest, according to police reports.
Worcester County Sheriff’s Detectives executed a search warrant on Ward’s property, resulting in the discovery of a revolver with two fired shell casings in the area near the front door. Ward was charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on a $50,000 unsecured bond.