Gun Fired In Domestic Dispute

OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City man was arrested on assault and weapons charges last weekend after allegedly firing a handgun at his resort residence during a domestic dispute with his wife.

Around 3 p.m. last Friday, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) responded to a residence on 120th Street for a reported domestic dispute during which the victim advised gunshots had been fired. OCPD officers arrived on the scene and located a white male, identified as Charles Kenneth Grusholt, 77, of Ocean City. OCPD officers also located Grusholt’s wife, who was found unharmed.

During the on-scene investigation, OCPD officers determined the couple had been involved in a domestic argument. During the argument, the victim claimed to have been assaulted by Grusholt and left the room. While in a different part of the residence, the victim heard what she described as a gunshot.

During the investigation, OCPD officers recovered a .22 caliber handgun. The investigation revealed Grusholt discharged the weapon during the argument. Grusholt was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault and discharging a firearm within the corporate limits of Ocean City. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and later released after posting a $15,000 bond.

Pharmacy Break-In Investigated

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City police this week are seeking the public’s help to identify the suspect or suspects who broke into the downtown pharmacy in late December and stole a large quantity of prescription narcotics.

On Dec. 31, OCPD officers responded to a reported commercial burglary at Bailey’s Pharmacy on Philadelphia Ave. near 8th Street. The investigation revealed the suspect or suspects entered the business through a blocked alley window. Once inside, the perpetrators stole a large quantity of prescription narcotics as well as other property. The OCPD is asking anyone with information about the burglary to contact the department’s Criminal Investigation Division or Detective Simpson at 410-723-6604.

Burglars Sought

OCEAN CITY – The OCPD is looking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects wanted in connection to a residential burglary in the downtown area last week.

Around 3 p.m. on Jan. 3, Ocean City police responded to a reported residential burglary at the Parrot Lagoon apartment complexes on Philadelphia Ave. near 4th Street. The investigation revealed two suspects entered a unit through a window. Once inside, the suspects allegedly stole various items and exited through the front door.

OCPD detectives recovered surveillance video showing the two suspects exiting the residence with a white plastic bag. One suspect is described as a white male, wearing a plaid jacket, a green hooded sweatshirt, jeans and sunglasses. The other suspect is described as a white female with long brown hair wearing a black and white plaid jacket, dark blue jeans and black shoes with white soles at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information regarding the burglary is urged to contact the OCPD Criminal Investigation Division at 410-732-6604, or Detective Simpson at 410-520-5349.

Bishopville Burglary

BISHOPVILLE – An Ocean Pines man was arrested on burglary and other charges this week after allegedly breaking into a Bishopville business and stealing a flat-screen television.

Last Friday, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) was called to assist the Maryland State Police with a burglary investigation at a business park in Bishopville. The investigation revealed a suspect, later identified as Shane William Lewis, 26, of Ocean Pines, had broken the windows at several businesses in the industrial park and actually gained entry to Northern Waterproofing and Restoration.

Once inside, Lewis allegedly stole a flat-screen television and did over $1,000 in damage. Lewis was charged with three counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of malicious destruction of property, and theft. He is being held in the Worcester County Detention Center on a $15,000 bond.

Child Sex Abuse Alleged

BERLIN – A Virginia man was arrested on child sex abuse, assault and other serious charges after it came to light recently he allegedly had a long pattern of abuse against a juvenile victim dating back as early as 1992.

In late December, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives initiated an investigation into a series of sex offense and rape incidents that allegedly took place between 1992 and 2002. The investigation revealed a suspect, identified as Gregory Donzell Bailey, 52, of Onancock, Va., initiated a sexual relationship in Berlin with a victim who was a juvenile at the time. During the relationship, Bailey allegedly touched the victim inappropriately and had sexual intercourse with her.

The victim disclosed the incidents to her mother after the last incident in 2002. Based on the investigation, Bailey has been charged with second-degree assault, child abuse, second-degree sex offense, second-degree rape, third-degree sex offense, sex abuse continuing course of conduct and perverted practice. Bailey was extradited to Worcester from Virginia last Thursday and was served with the arrest warrant. He is being held at the Worcester County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

Bomb Scare

POCOMOKE – A suspicious package left at a bank in Pocomoke last Saturday turned out to be an electrical component left behind by a contractor.

Around 1:30 p.m. last Saturday, the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office was called to assist the Pocomoke Police Department with a suspicious package found at a PNC Bank branch. An arriving officer found the device and requested assistance from the Fire Marshal’s Office. The Ocean City Bomb Squad was called in, and with the use of a robot the device was found to be a discarded electrical component left behind by a contractor.

Vehicular Homicide Charges Filed

SNOW HILL – The Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office this week formally charged a Pocomoke man with homicide and manslaughter by motor vehicle after an alleged drunk driving accident in September that claimed the life of another man.

Last Monday, the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office filed formal charges against Jesse James Mason, 23, of Pocomoke with manslaughter by motor vehicle, homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence, homicide by motor vehicle while impaired and reckless endangerment. The charges stem from a September 10 accident in Pocomoke in which the victim, identified as Hunter Lee Stonnell, of Pocomoke, was killed.

Worcester County States’ Attorney Beau Oglesby filed the formal charges against Mason in Circuit Court after consulting with the victim’s family and additional investigation by local police agencies. As a result, similar charges pending against Mason in District Court have now been dismissed.

Oglesby filed charges in Circuit Court after determining the prosecution was best pursued in the higher court because of the serious nature of the charges against Mason, according to a release from the state’s attorney’s office. A challenge filed by Mason has already been rejected by the Circuit Court although no trial date has yet been scheduled.

Five Years For Assault

SNOW HILL – A Fruitland man arrested in April on assault and other charges for his role in false rape report turned robbery was found guilty last week to second-degree assault and was sentenced to five years in jail.

Around 1 a.m. last April 4, Ocean City Police responded to a residence on Baltimore Ave. for a reported rape. Upon arrival, OCPD officers met with a man later identified as Jerry Adkins, 54, of Ocean City, who told police his step-daughter, Keisha Towns, 23, of Fruitland, had been sexually assaulted. Also present at the residence was Towns’ mother, identified as Mary Adkins, 44, of Ocean City, along with an unidentified man who was unconscious when police arrived.

In their initial statements, Jerry and Mary Adkins told police they arrived at the residence after receiving a phone call from Towns claiming she had been raped. However, during the course of the investigation, which went on for the next several days, detectives began to notice several inconsistencies in the stories provided by the alleged victim, Towns, and her parents.

The stories got even fishier when the male victim, who was unconscious at the time police arrived at the residence, explained his own version of the events. After being taken to Atlantic General Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released, the victim told OCPD detectives he did not rape Towns. Instead, he told police he had been assaulted and robbed by Towns, Jerry Adkins, and another man, later identified as Tony Adrian Garrison, 40, of Fruitland.

After investigating further, OCPD detectives determined Towns, Jerry Adkins and Garrison allegedly assaulted the victim and stole $127 from his wallet.

As a result, Garrison, Towns and Jerry Adkins were each charged with robbery, second-degree assault, theft under $1,000 and making a false report. Garrison has been charged with robbery, second-degree assault, and theft under $1,000. Last week in Circuit Court, Garrison entered an Alford Plea to second-degree assault and was sentenced to five years in jail. In an Alford plea, a suspect does not plead guilty, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case.

State Title For OCPD Pistol Team

OCEAN CITY – Four members of the Ocean City Police Department recently competed in the 2010 Maryland Police Pistol Combat Competition and brought home the state championship in marksmanship for the OCPD.

Team captain Sgt. Mark Paddack, Cpl. Greg DeGiovanni, Pfc. Daniel Jacobs and retired Lt. Mark Doyle all competed for the OCPD at the state competition and won first-place honors. The last time the OCPD Pistol Team won the state championship was back in 2007.

Paddack and Jacobs finished second overall in the two-person team event, while DeGiovanni and Doyle finished third overall in the team event. DeGiovanni was the first-place winner of non-distinguished shooters for both revolver and semi-automatic events. Doyle, DeGiovanni and Paddack place fourth, sixth and 11th respectively in the overall standings during all sanctioned marksmanship matches held during the 2010 season.

In recognition of their exceptional marksmanship skills, the Maryland Police Combat Association recognized Doyle, DeGiovanni and Paddack as 2010 “Governor’s 20” police marksmen and each received a citation from Gov. Martin O’Malley along with a “Governor’s 20” marksmanship badge for their uniforms.

Pizza Delivery Robbery Forwarded

OCEAN CITY – A Berlin man arrested on robbery and assault charges in November after allegedly participating in the strong-arm robbery of a pizza delivery driver in Ocean City had his case forwarded to Circuit Court last week after probable cause was determined during a preliminary hearing.

Brandon M. Hilliard, 22, of Berlin, appeared in District Court last week for a preliminary hearing on charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, assault and theft. Hilliard was one of three suspects arrested in the robbery of a pizza delivery driver in Ocean City in November. His case was forwarded to Circuit Court after the evidence presented determined probable cause.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 26, an Ocean City Police officer responded to the area of 74th Street for a reported strong-arm robbery. Upon arrival, the officer met with a victim who told police he was a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver and that he had just been assaulted and robbed while making a delivery.

The victim said one of the suspects had placed him in a chokehold and thrown him to the ground while the other suspect grabbed the money and wallet from his pants pockets. According to the victim, the two suspects then fled south through an alley between 74th and 73rd Streets. The victim told police he had chased the suspects, but lost sight of them in the area of 73rd Street.

While the first officer was investigating the reported robbery and assault, another OCPD officer had stopped a black Ford Crown Victoria in the area of 71st Street for speeding and negligent driving. The second officer told the first officer the two individuals in the vehicle appeared to match the descriptions provided by the robbery victim.

The victim was transported to the 71st Street area to identify the suspects. Based on the physical appearances of the suspects, along with the clothing they were wearing, the victim positively identified the suspects as Hilliard, Cassandra Pike, 20, of Ocean City, and Mark Scaniffe, 18, of Berlin. The officers also found a wad of money near the rear seat where Scaniffe was sitting at the time the vehicle was stopped totaling $155.