90 Days For Motorcycle Hit, Run

OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man, charged with fleeing police on his motorcycle at a high rate of speed and colliding with an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer and a patrol vehicle, pleaded guilty last week and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Around 10:50 p.m. on July 27, OCPD officers were conducting an investigation into an unregistered motorcycle parked illegally on Talbot Street near Philadelphia Avenue. A check of the unattended motorcycle’s tags revealed it was not registered and a tow truck was requested to transport the vehicle to the Ocean City impound lot.

While OCPD officers waited near the motorcycle for the tow truck to arrive, they were approached by its owner and operator, identified as Wilmer Zook, 23, of Quarryville, Pa., who exhibited signs of intoxication, according to police reports. OCPD officers explained the motorcycle was going to be impounded because it was not registered and Zook offered to disengage the vehicle’s transmission to facilitate the towing process.

Zook mounted the motorcycle, revved it up and began accelerating away from the OCPD officers on the scene. According to police reports, Zook drove straight toward an OCPD officer, striking her in the arm with the motorcycle, despite having ample room to avoid her. Zook also struck an OCPD vehicle as he accelerated away from the scene. The collision caused superficial damage to the OCPD vehicle and the officer was not seriously injured.

OCPD officers pursued Zook and apprehended him in the area of Somerset Street and Baltimore Avenue where he was placed under arrest. Zook reportedly told police he had consumed one pitcher of beer over the course of two hours at a downtown bar, although he exhibited signs of intoxication, according to police reports.

At the Public Safety Building, Zook reportedly refused to submit to an alcohol concentration test, instead lying his head on the table and closing his eyes as officers spoke to him, according to police reports.

Zook was charged with 44 total counts including driving while impaired and under the influence, assault, obstructing and hindering, fleeing and eluding, reckless and negligent driving and numerous traffic citations. Last week, he pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and attempting to elude police and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.