Cops And Courts – October 5, 2018

Cops And Courts – October 5, 2018

Choice Words For Cops

OCEAN CITY — A Silver Spring, Md. man was arrested on intoxicated endangerment and resisting arrest charges last weekend after allegedly blocking traffic and shouting expletives at police before falling into a large crowd.

Around 9 p.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer on patrol in the area of 41st Street was called to assist with separating a large crowd when he observed Darwin Carranza, 25, of Silver Spring, run into the middle of the bus lane. According to police reports, the officer observed a car in the bus lane stop abruptly to avoid hitting Carranza.

According to police reports, Carranza was running up to cars in the travel lanes on Coastal Highway and shouting “H2Oi.” The OCPD officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop Carranza, but the suspect continued to walk backward in the bus lane while giving the officer the middle finger. According to police reports, Carranza was also shouting “[expletive deleted] OCPD.”

At that point, Carranza stumbled into the crowd of people on the sidewalk causing the crowd to be pushed back. Some in the crowd lost their balance as Carranza fell into them, according to police reports.

The officer escorted Carranza away from the crowd and ordered him to sit on the curb. When Carranza did not comply, the officer attempted to handcuff him, but he flailed his arms and said “No, what the [expletive deleted] are you doing?” according to police reports. Carranza was ultimately subdued and was charged with intoxicated endangerment and resisting arrest.

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Disorderly, Weapons Arrest

OCEAN CITY — A Charlestown, Md. man was arrested on disturbing the peace and weapons charges last weekend after allegedly standing in the roadway in and out of traffic and later being found in possession of a switchblade-style knife.

Around 9:30 p.m. last Friday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer working in a plainclothes capacity in the area of 33rd Street packed with bystanders watching an unsanctioned motor vehicle event observed David Banks, 51, of Charlestown, Md., standing in the roadway talking to pedestrians and drivers in vehicles.

According to police reports, Banks showed signs of intoxication and for several minutes walked into the street to approach vehicles. At one point, Banks approached the OCPD officer and during the conversation admitted to being drunk, according to police reports. After the conversation, Banks went back into the roadway at 33rd Street and was urging vehicles to race each other, according to police reports.

Banks then started walking north in the bus lane along Coastal Highway and into the travel lanes where there was heavy traffic. According to police reports, Banks appeared to have no concern about the heavy traffic and weaved in and out of moving vehicles, some of which had to swerve or brake suddenly to avoid striking him. Meanwhile, Banks’ actions were drawing the attention of the large crowd of pedestrians in the area.

At that point, Banks was arrested for disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct. During a subsequent search, a Gerber spring assisted opening knife was found on him in violation of a municipal ordinance and additional weapons possession charges were tacked on.

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Speeding Leads To Drug Bust

OCEAN CITY — A Rehoboth man was arrested on drug possession charges last week after a speeding stop in the special enforcement zone.

Around 11:20 a.m. last Wednesday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers on patrol in the area of 19th Street and Philadelphia Avenue observed a jeep going 47 mph in a 30 mph zone. The speed limit was reduced to 30 miles per hour in that area through the implementation of a special event zone for an anticipated unsanctioned motor vehicle event in town.

OCPD officers stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Matthew Oneschuk, 37. During the stop, the officers detected the strong odor of marijuana, according to police reports. The officer asked Oneschuk if he had any more marijuana, but the suspect told police he had used it all the previous day and that morning, according to police reports.

A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of marijuana less than 10 grams along with associated paraphernalia. However, the search also revealed a Baggie containing suspected psilocybin mushrooms. In addition, in a backpack OCPD officers found oxycodone and Alprazolam pills. Based on the evidence, Oneschuk was arrested and charged with possession of controlled dangerous substances. He was also issued traffic citations for the speeding violations, the fine amount for which are not known.

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Excessive Speeding

OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was charged with negligent and reckless driving last weekend after allegedly going 60 mph on Coastal Highway in the 30 mph area implemented by the special enforcement zone.

Around 3:30 a.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer observed a vehicle going 60 mph in the area of 64th Street and Coastal Highway. The speed limit was reduced to 30 mph in that area because of the implementation of the special enforcement zone in place due to an unsanctioned motor vehicle event.

The officer stopped the vehicle near a convenience store at 59th Street and made contact with the driver, identified as Christian Hawk, 20, of Freeland, Pa. The officer asked Hawk for his license and registration, but at first, Hawk told police he did not have his license. When questioned further, Hawk tentatively admitted his license had been suspended. A background check revealed Hawk’s license had been suspended in the state of Pennsylvania. At that point, Hawk was arrested and charged with reckless and negligent driving and associated other traffic charges.

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Arrested For Punching Cars

OCEAN CITY — A Newark, Del. man was arrested on malicious destruction of property and other charges last week after allegedly punching vehicles in a midtown nightclub parking lot before riding over a curb during an attempt to flee the scene.

Around 2:30 a.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to the area of 49th Street for a report of an individual punching the hood of a vehicle and causing damage to the vehicle. A witness told police the suspect, later identified as Charles Holmes, 37, of Newark, Del., left the scene in a truck along with a female companion who was reportedly driving and fled south on Coastal Highway.

A description of Holmes and his truck was broadcast and the vehicle was located in a hotel parking lot at 43rd Street. Because there were conflicting reports of who was driving, the officer asked both Holmes and the female for the licenses and registration. Neither was able to produce a license and Holmes reportedly told police his license was on the Internet.

Back at the scene, witnesses told police Holmes had punched the hood of a vehicle several times and then drove off, running over a curb and some bushes in the parking lot in the process. At that point, Holmes and the driver switched places and the female drove over a parking curb and some bushes.  Holmes was ultimately arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property for punching the vehicle in the parking lot.

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Hit-And-Run Nets 30 Days

OCEAN CITY — A Bel Air, Md. man, arrested in July on drunk-driving and leaving the scene charges after running into the back of another vehicle on Coastal Highway before fleeing the scene, pleaded guilty this week and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Around 3 p.m. on July 24, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers were dispatched to a reported crash on Coastal Highway near 61st Street. Upon arrival, OCPD officers met with the driver of the vehicle that had been struck from behind at a traffic signal. The victim told police she was stopped at a red light when a black Nissan Altima approached from behind, failed to stop in time and ran into the back of her vehicle.

The victim said the other passenger’s vehicle got out and met with her where to two vehicles had collided and observed they were still in contact with each other. The passenger tried to claim the vehicles were not touching and attempted to slide his hand between the two bumpers. The victim then approached the driver, later identified as Ryan Bull, 28, of Bel Air, who reportedly refused to provide any information.

According to police reports, the victim told Bull if he did not share information she would have to call the police, but Bull asked her not to. The passenger got back in the vehicle and drove away, but the victim was able to snap a picture with her cell phone recording the license plate number. The OCPD officers observed damage to the victim’s rear bumper consistent with her story.

A description of Bull’s vehicle was broadcasted. After taking the report, the victim left the scene. About an hour later, the victim called police again and reported she had seen the suspected vehicle traveling south past her again on Coastal Highway before parking on 45th Street near the beach.

OCPD officers responded to the area and saw Bull and the passenger walking toward the vehicle before getting into it.

The officers approached the vehicle and determined the hood was still warm to the touch, suggesting it had been recently driven. Another officer told responding officers he was searching for the suspect vehicle and it had not been parked in that location just a short time ago. When asked to provide his license, registration and insurance information, Bull reportedly told police he had not been driving, so he did not have to present the information to police. Instead, he presented a passport.

Meanwhile, the victim and her passenger were brought over and positively identified Bull as the driver during the collision. Bull continued to insist he hadn’t been driving in several hours. He also admitted he was drunk, but that it didn’t matter because he hadn’t been driving anyway.

At that point, Bull was arrested for failing to remain at the scene of a crash. After transporting Bull to the Public Safety Building, he refused to submit to an alcohol concentration test, maintaining he had not been driving. He was charged with leaving the scene and driving under the influence.

This week, Bull pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving property damage and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.