Cops & Courts – November 29, 2019

Cops & Courts – November 29, 2019

Undercover Weed Bust

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man was arrested on marijuana distribution charges last week after allegedly selling weed to an undercover Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) on multiple occasions over a period of a couple of months.

Back on Aug. 28, an undercover OCPD officer made arrangements to purchase an ounce of marijuana from a suspected dealer identified as Perrin McNeill, 37, of Ocean City. The officer contacted McNeill, who reportedly agreed to meet the officer in the parking lot of an uptown hotel at 3:30 p.m. McNeill arrived at the appointed time and made the transaction with the undercover officer, exchanging one ounce of marijuana for $280, according to police reports.

On Sept. 12, the undercover OCPD officer again made arrangements to purchase one ounce of marijuana. This time, the appointed time and place for the transaction was a north-end movie theater parking lot. According to police reports, McNeill arrived in his white Jaguar and approached the officer in his vehicle carrying a Crown Royal bag.

McNeill produced an ounce of marijuana from a plastic baggie within the cloth bag and exchanged it for $280 in cash from the officer. Again, McNeill was allowed to leave as the officer continued to build a case against him.

Last Monday, the same OCPD officer observed McNeill operating his vehicle in the area of a pharmacy and convenience store near 120th Street and Coastal Highway. The officer requested uniformed officers to the area to take McNeill into custody. He was arrested and charged with multiple counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.

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Jail For Bizarre Vehicle Break-In

OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man, arrested last month on multiple charges after a bizarre incident during which he broke into a truck, fought with the vehicle’s owner, fought with police and was ultimately tased, pleaded guilty last week to resisting arrest and was sentenced to 34 days in jail.

Around 2:10 p.m. on Oct. 19, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to the area of a hotel at 45th Street for a report of a suspicious individual. The complainant had called police to report he had left the beach and found the suspect, later identified as David Ackley, 30, of Lehighton, Pa., walking around his truck.

According to police reports, when the victim confronted Ackley about why he was walking around his vehicle parked on the public street, Ackley opened the truck door, locked it and then closed it again. An argument ensued between Ackley and the victim, who asked hotel front desk staff to call the police.

The victim told police he had seen Ackley walking around his truck and believed the suspect had entered the vehicle. He also said he was unsure of the whereabouts of his wife’s purse and suspected Ackley may have taken it from his truck. The victim directed the officer’s attention to Ackley, who was standing across the street next to a different vehicle, according to police reports.

Ackley reportedly told the officer he had been standing next to the victim’s truck, but denied entering the vehicle. Instead, Ackley reportedly told police he had been on the beach and that he was looking for his “bird friend.” Ackley was also holding a black box, which he told police contained the ashes of his father, according to police reports.

Ackley reportedly continued to talk about his “bird friend” and tried to hand the box containing his father’s ashes to the officer. He continued to argue with the victim until OCPD officers were able to calm him down. According to police reports, Ackley continued to insist he had done nothing wrong while being interviewed by police. One officer reportedly asked what the object was he was carrying in his pocket. Ackley reportedly told police it was a wrench and that he was carrying the wrench because he worked on Harleys.

While the initial officer was obtaining Ackley’s identification information, the suspect took two steps back and faced the officer while reaching in his pocket. Because the officer had heard Ackley say he was carrying a wrench and because he refused to take his hand out of the same pocket, the officer believed Ackley was going take the wrench out of his pocket and potentially assault one or more of the officers, according to police reports.

When OCPD officers attempted to take Ackley into custody, he reportedly battled with police for a full minute. One officer deployed his conducted electrical weapon, or taser, on Ackley two times, with no effect on the suspect, according to police reports. He continued to struggle violently and resist arrest until he was ultimately subdued.

During the struggle, a large pair of metal vise-grip pliers fell onto the parking lot and OCPD officers determined that was the “wrench” to which the suspect referred just before he was taken into custody. A search of Ackley revealed another smaller open-ended wrench, two key rings that were partially straightened and a wedge made out of metal and black tape. The officer knew from experience the tools were improvised lock picks used to defeat locking mechanisms on homes and vehicles, according to police reports. In addition, the vise-grip pliers are commonly used to turn vehicle ignitions without a key.

Ackley continued to scream at police, the victim who was still on the scene and his wife, who was across the street. According to police reports, Ackley screamed “get my [expletive deleted] father,” and “My [expletive deleted] father is laying over there,” referring to the black box containing ashes. Meanwhile, a crowd of people had gathered on the sidewalk and on nearby balconies to watch the scene unfold.

Ackley was taken to the Public Safety Building for further processing, during which OCPD officers learned he was wanted on a warrant from Pennsylvania for failing to return to confinement while on work release in July. While in the booking area, Ackley reportedly removed two screws from a bench and flushed the screws down the toilet in his holding cell, according to police reports. The holding cell had to be taken out of service until the screws could be replaced.

All in all, Ackley was charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, possession of a concealed deadly weapon, possession of burglary tools and malicious destruction of property. He had a bail review hearing on Monday and was ordered to be held without bond. Last week, Ackley pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and was sentenced to 34 days in jail.

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Guilty Pleas For Stumbling

OCEAN CITY — A Brookeville, Md. man, arrested in July after bumbling down a busy resort side street while intoxicated and harassing multiple women before being found with fake identification, pleaded guilty last week to two counts and was placed on probation.

Around 2:10 a.m. on July 4, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer patrolling in the midtown area observed an allegedly heavily intoxicated suspect later identified as Charles Adams, 20, of Brookeville, staggering down the middle of 49th Street. While the officer observed, Adams staggered in front of moving vehicles that were making their way to Coastal Highway.

OCPD officers then observed Adams stagger to the sidewalk and attempt to put his arm around a female, who ducked under his attempt and moved away quickly. Adams made a second attempt on a different female and tried to put his hands on her, but she also ducked away from his advance, according to police reports.

At that point, the officer took Adams into custody and placed him in handcuffs, but he stumbled and fell into a grassy area. A search of Adams’ person revealed a small plastic bag in his wallet containing suspected cocaine. Also in Adams’ wallet were two different driver’s licenses, one from Pennsylvania with the name Daniel Adams which identified him as being over 21 years old.

A second driver’s license on his person was a real Maryland driver’s license with the name Chase Nalls, which also identified him as being over 21. According to police reports, each of the licenses had pictures with similar facial features to those of Adams that would allow him to purchase alcohol and enter bars underage.

During the arrest, Adams was unresponsive and Ocean City EMS were notified. Ocean City EMS arrived and determined Adams needed to be transported to the hospital. Adams was charged with second-degree assault, intoxicated endangerment, disorderly conduct and possession of cocaine. Last week, he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and intoxicated endangerment and was placed on probation for one year.

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Indecent Exposure Probation

OCEAN CITY — A Canadian man, arrested on indecent exposure and disorderly conduct charges in September after dropping his drawers and exposing himself to several onlookers along the sidewalk, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct last week and was placed on probation.

Around 7:40 p.m. on Sept. 27, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was patrolling in the area of 44th Street when he observed a male suspect later identified as Jessie Bentley, 27, of Ontario, Canada, unsuccessfully yelling at vehicle and inciting them to spin their tires. According to police reports, Bentley then removed his pants and exposed himself to motorists stopped at the traffic signal along with several hundred people in the area.

The officer attempted to speak to Bentley, but he put his pants back on and ran away, according to police reports. The officer searched the area for about five minutes before locating Bentley and placing him under arrest. Bentley told the officer he was sorry for exposing himself, according to police reports. He was charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct. Last week, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was placed on probation.