Graffiti Artist Busted
OCEAN CITY — A Selbyville man was arrested on multiple counts of malicious destruction of property charges last week after allegedly “tagging” with graffiti multiple public and private properties throughout Ocean City.
Around 2 a.m. last Thursday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to North Division Street for a reported malicious destruction of property in progress. Ocean City Communications reported a white male with a Mohawk had been seen “tagging” a green electrical box with graffiti. OCPD officers met with a witness who told police he was returning to his parking spot in a private lot behind the Quiet Storm surf shop at North Division Street when he observed an individual crouched behind a green electrical box.
The victim told police the suspect said to him, “I was making sure you guys weren’t the cops. I’m about to do some graffiti.” The witness told police he said to the suspect, “I wouldn’t do it there,” but the suspect said in return, “I’m going to do it anyway.” At that point, the witness decided to contact the police. The witness provided a description of the suspect to police including his distinctive Mohawk haircut. OCPD officers observed a large electrical box tagged with a five-point star, the word “Spaz” and “Art Saves Lives” in black paint.
OCPD officers searched the area for the suspect to no avail. However, Ocean City Communications advised officers they were monitoring the City Watch surveillance cameras and Ocean City Transportation had been advised of the suspect’s description. About a half an hour later, an Ocean City municipal bus driver advised police he had seen an individual matching the suspect’s description walking north on Baltimore Avenue at 14th Street.
OCPD officers responded to the area and located the suspect, identified as Bradley Berterman, 31, of Selbyville, who confessed to the graffiti. The original OCPD officer brought the witness to the scene who positively identified Berteram as the suspect observed tagging the electrical box at North Division Street. A search of Berterman revealed three paint markers, two black and one white, in his front pants pocket. Berterman also had black paint on his face and hands, according to police reports.
When questioned further, Berterman told police he was off from his job that day and had purchased some new paint and traveled to Ocean City to “tag it up,” according to police reports. Berterman agreed to show Ocean City police what other property he had marked with graffiti and he was put in a police cruiser for a tour of his handiwork.
Berterman told police he rode his bicycle from Selbyville to the north-end transit station at 144th Street where he took a bus to the south-end transit station at South Division Street and starting walking toward the Boardwalk. The tour of Berterman’s graffiti spree revealed he tagged the electrical box, a soda vending machine and a city-owned light pole at North Division Street.
Berterman then walked north on the Boardwalk where he tagged several municipal trash cans including two at 4th Street, and one each at Surf Avenue, 9th Street and 10th Street. Ocean City police followed along Berterman’s graffiti trail and noted each of the locations was marked with the same star, “Spaz” and “Art Saves Lives” markings.
Berterman told police he then left the Boardwalk and walked north on Baltimore Avenue, tagging a traffic control signal box and a concrete sign post, again with the same markings. Based on the evidence, Berterman was charged with multiple counts of malicious destruction of property.
Beer Theft Leads To Weapons Charge
OCEAN CITY — A Virginia man was arrested on theft and other charges this week after swiping a 30-pack of beer from a downtown convenience store and later being found with a knife and drugs in his vehicle.
Around 5:15 a.m. on Monday, an Ocean City Police Department officer responded to the 7-Eleven convenience store on North Division Street for a reported theft that had occurred. The store clerk called 911 after three suspects stole a 30-pack of beer and left in a silver BMW and drove north on Wilmington Lane. A short time later, OCPD officers located the suspected vehicle at a nearby motel with three suspects standing around it.
The driver was identified as Majin Rivera, 18, of Falls Church, Va. OCPD officers noticed an unopened 30-pack of beer on the floorboard behind the driver’s seat. OCPD officers also detected an odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle and a search of the interior revealed marijuana strewn throughout the vehicle.
In the front passenger side glove box, an OCPD officer found a large, fixed-blade Bowie-style knife within reach of Rivera’s driver’s seat. The 8-inch knife was sharpened on two edges with a saw-tooth serration on the thick portion near the hilt and was contained in a leather sheath, according to police reports. Rivera admitted the knife was his and that he kept it close for his protection.
The clerk was brought to the scene and positively identified Rivera’s BMW as the vehicle from which the suspects fled the store after stealing the case of beer. The juvenile who actually took the beer from 7-11 told police the BMW was the getaway car and Rivera was the “wheel man.” Based on the evidence and testimony, Rivera was arrested and charged with theft of the beer and possession of a concealed deadly weapon.
Video Captures Hit-and-Run Collision
OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man was arrested on hit-and-run charges last week after video surveillance footage from a downtown laundromat identified him as the driver in a collision with another vehicle.
Around 11:30 a.m. last Wednesday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was on patrol in the area of North Division Street when he was approached by man who claimed he had just been the victim of a hit-and-run collision. The victim told police he was driving past the Mr. Bubbles laundromat on Dorchester Street when a black SUV pulled out from its parking space and struck his vehicle.
The victim told police the driver, later identified as James Neuhauser, 43, of Ocean City, exited the SUV and apologized to the victim and told the victim he had not seen him. When the victim asked Neuhauser if he had insurance, Neuhauser got back in his vehicle, turned around and drove away from the scene at a high rate of speed, according to police reports.
The victim told police there was also a male passenger in the SUV. The victim told police he was not able to get any information from the driver before he fled the scene, but provided a description of Neuhauser and a description of the vehicle, which were broadcasted through Ocean City Communications.
Another OCPD officer went to Mr. Bubbles near where the collision occurred and interviewed an employee who said Neuhauser and the passenger were regulars. A review of the laundromat’s video surveillance footage from the time of the incident revealed a black SUV matching the victim’s description pull out and strike the victim’s car.
A short time later, OCPD officers located the suspected vehicle on Baltimore Avenue and determined it had fresh damage consistent with the description of the collision. The registration check revealed the vehicle was owned by the passenger and when the passenger asked what he had been doing that night, the passenger told police he had been at Mr. Bubbles doing his laundry but had not been driving his vehicle.
When questioned who had been driving, the passenger pointed to Neuhauser, according to police reports. When questioned, Neuhauser told police he had just arrived to meet with the passenger and had not been driving his SUV. The victim was brought to the scene and identified Neuhauser as the driver who had hit his vehicle. When questioned further, Neuhauser admitted striking the victim’s vehicle and told police he left the scene because he was afraid his driver’s license was suspended. A check revealed Neuhauser’s Pennsylvania driver’s license had been suspended.
DUI After Striking Tree, Fleeing
OCEAN CITY — A Princess Anne man was arrested on drunk-driving charges last weekend after allegedly hitting a tree in the downtown area and then fleeing the scene.
Around 1 a.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was notified by a citizen of a hit-and-run collision in the area of 13th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. The officer responded and determined a Ford Explorer had struck a tree in the area and then left the scene. A short time later, a security guard at a hotel on 31st Street reported to police a male individual later identified as Deshawn Wright, 37, of Princess Anne, had just returned and parked a wrecked Ford Explorer in the hotel parking lot.
OCPD officers responded to the scene and observed the Ford Explorer backed into a parking space in the hotel lot. Officers observed the right front tire was flat and there was damage to the bumper and rim. The officers also noted there were small pieces of tree bark still sticking out of the bumper, according to police reports.
Shortly thereafter, Wright walked down from the hotel to where the police were examining his vehicle. OCPD officers detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage from Wright’s breath and person and he exhibited signs of intoxication, according to police reports. He also admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages.
When questioned, Wright denied being in an accident and told police his tire had just gone flat. Wright was administered a series of field sobriety tests which he did not pass to the officers’ satisfaction. A computer check revealed his Delaware license was suspended for not paying child support. Based on the evidence, Wright was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He was taken to the Public Safety Building where a breath test revealed a .12 reading.
Basketball Shoe Assault
OCEAN CITY — A Germantown, Md. man was arrested on assault charges this week after allegedly smacking his girlfriend in the face with an Air Jordan basketball shoe during a domestic dispute.
Around 10 p.m. on Monday, an Ocean City police officer was dispatched to a midtown hotel for a reported domestic dispute. The officer met with a female victim who told police she had been in an argument with her boyfriend, identified as John Allen, 30, of Germantown, Md., over missing car keys. The victim told police the incident turned physical when Allen smacked her on the right side of her face with an Air Jordan shoe. The victim’s face was red and swollen, according to police reports.
When located, Allen admitted being in an argument with the victim, but said he left and went to the beach. He was found with a basketball shoe matching the description in his hand. He was arrested and charged with second-degree assault.