Beach Patrol Helps Nab Thief

Beach Patrol Helps Nab Thief
Social Issues Government24

OCEAN CITY — A description provided by the Ocean City Beach Patrol last week helped resort police nab the suspect who allegedly swiped a tackle box of money and other personal belongings from a beach stand operator on 19th Street.

Around 4:45 p.m. last Wednesday, Ocean City Police responded to an eviction at the Islander Motel at 20th Street. While on the scene at the eviction, OCPD officers monitored a call for service from the Beach Patrol, which was looking for a suspect in a reported theft of money from a beach stand operator at 19th Street.

Beach Patrol officers provided police with a description of a container, referenced as a tool box or tackle box, as well as a description of the three white male suspects. One of the OCPD officers assisting at the scene of the motel eviction was sent to the theft call on the beach at 19th Street. While en route, the officer observed a group of suspects matching the description provided by the Beach Patrol carrying a tackle box covered by a towel.

The three suspects were walking in the direction of the Islander Motel when the officer approached them and asked if he could see the tackle box. The officer was then able to determine it was the tackle box stolen from the beach stand operator, who shortly thereafter arrived at the Islander and identified the stolen item.

An inventory of the tackle box revealed a large sum of cash in an amount that has not been disclosed, along with the victim’s cell phone. The suspect in possession of the stolen box was identified as Shane David Trump, 20, of Johnstown, Pa. The investigation revealed Trump was the only real suspect and he was arrested and charged with felony theft. Trump and the other two men were part of the group being evicted from the Islander Motel.

Golf Course Burglaries Probed

BERLIN — The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) this week is investigating a rash of break-ins at area golf courses after three were hit in three separate incidents in the last week.

The suspect in the case is specifically targeting golf courses, choosing to break in after the businesses have closed for the day. WCBI detectives have been able to link all of the crimes together because of several very unique methods the suspect or suspects have employed. The three courses victimized over the last week include Deer Run, Bay Shores and Nassawango.

All of the golf courses in Worcester County have been notified and directed to take specific precautions because of the break-ins. Local law enforcement agencies have also increased their presence in the area of the businesses. Authorities are asking the public to pay special attention to area golf courses and immediately report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement agencies. Anyone with information related to the ongoing investigations is urged to contact WCBI at 410-352-3476.

Attempted Murder Charge

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on attempted murder and assault charges last week after allegedly attempting to run over a woman with his vehicle.

Last Sunday, a Salisbury Police officer responded to a reported assault and attempted murder. The investigation revealed the victim was in a vehicle with a group of people including the suspect, identified as Wilmick Dumarsair, 48, of Salisbury. An argument broke out and Dumarsair made the female victim get out of the car, at which time he began to assault her and threaten to kill her, according to police reports.

The victim was then thrown to the ground and Dumarsair got back in the vehicle and attempted to run over her. The victim’s boyfriend pulled her away from the path of the vehicle just before it struck her, according to police reports. The victim was treated for injuries at PRMC. Dumarsair was charged with attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.

Stiff Sentence For Safe Theft

SNOW HILL — A Perryville, Md. man arrested last December after attempting to steal a safe from a Berlin residence pleaded guilty last week in Circuit Court to first-degree burglary and theft and was sentenced to 10 years in jail, half of which was then suspended.

Around 2 a.m. last Dec. 3, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives responded to a residence on Evans Rd. in Berlin for a reported burglary. The investigation revealed the suspect, later identified as Kyle Barton Brittingham, 22, of Perryville, entered the residence and attempted to steal a safe located next to the victim’s bed.

The victim provided a description of the suspect and Brittingham was located and arrested a short time later at a residence next to the victim’s residence. Brittingham was charged with first- and fourth-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, possession of heroin and possession of paraphernalia. Last week in Circuit Court, Brittingham pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and theft under $1,000 and was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Half of the sentence as suspended and Brittingham was also placed on probation for five years upon his release.

Suspended Sentence For
Phony Robbery Story

OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man arrested in May for making a false statement to police after cooking up a phony robbery story when discovered walking down the street in only his boxer shorts pleaded guilty this week and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, all of which was suspended in favor of a fine and probation.

Around 3:43 a.m. on May 12, Ocean City Police observed an intoxicated man, later identified as Alexander Kerr, 22, of Downingtown, Pa., walking in the area of 10th Street and Wilmington Lane wearing only boxer shorts. Kerr told police he had just been robbed at gunpoint by a white male wearing a hooded sweatshirt during which all of his possessions including his clothes had been stolen. OCPD officers, including uniformed and plain clothes officers along with a K-9 unit, searched in vain for an armed suspect, a search made more difficult because the victim could not articulate the exact location of the incident because of his intoxicated state.

During the subsequent investigation, OCPD detectives met with Kerr at his hotel room. During the interview, police officers observed several of the items Kerr reported stolen in the hotel room. Kerr later admitted he had gotten intoxicated and fell in the bay. Kerr said he removed his wet clothes, which he later recovered, and admitted making up the armed robbery story because he thought he would get in trouble for just wearing boxer shorts in public.

After a total of eight hours of investigative time was spend on the phony armed robbery story, Kerr was charged with making a false report to police officers. On Tuesday, Kerr pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days, all of which was suspended. He was also fined $500 and placed on probation for one year.

New Sentence For Burglary

SNOW HILL — A local man arrested by Ocean Pines Police in March on three counts of first-degree burglary pleaded guilty last week in Circuit Court and was sentenced to six years in jail, all of which was suspended, but that conviction triggered a violation of his probation that resulted in a new sentence of 18 months.

Shawn Patrick Murray, 19, of Ocean Pines, appeared in Circuit Court last Friday to face three counts of first-degree burglary stemming from an incident on March 16 in Ocean Pines. Murray pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years in jail, all of which was suspended in favor of probation. However, the guilty plea violated the terms of Murray’s probation from a conviction in February stemming from an incident last August.

In February, Murray was sentenced to five months in jail for stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of rare coins and sports memorabilia from his grandfather’s Ocean Pines home and was sentenced to five months in jail, most of which was suspended in favor of probation and a fine. After last week’s conviction in the March incident, Murray was sentenced to 18 months in jail for the burglary last August.

Last Aug. 6, Ocean Pines police responded to residence on King Richard Drive for a reported burglary and theft. Officers met with a victim who said he walked into a bedroom at the residence and discovered about $300 in cash missing from his wife’s purse. The victim then looked around the room and noticed a cherry case containing 15 commemorative coins from the 1996 Olympics was also missing.

The victim told police his grandson, later identified as Murray, was likely the perpetrator. The victim told police Murray did not have a key to the residence, but was the only individual who likely knew where the valuable items were kept. The victim also explained Murray had been a guest at the residence, but had been asked to leave after inviting over friends who made a mess.

The victim was told to search the residence to determine what else, if anything, had been stolen. When police returned two days later, the victim told investigators several rare coins and currency had been stolen, along with a baseball autographed by Hall of Famers Babe Ruth and Rabbit Maranville, along with another baseball autographed by Baltimore Orioles legend Brooks Robinson.

The victim told police the Babe Ruth baseball had been appraised about seven years earlier at $35,000. In addition, the victim also reported as stolen a rare French-made Unique-brand .32 caliber handgun. The victim told police he had registered the handgun with the Maryland State Police when he acquired it in 1956, but did not know the serial number. The total estimated value of all of the stolen items came to $51,661.

Robbery Suspect Sought

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are looking for a pair of suspects who robbed a man at a bus station early Saturday morning.

Around 12:39 a.m. last Saturday, Salisbury Police responded to the area of North Salisbury Blvd. for a reported strong-arm robbery. The victim told police he was sitting in the bus station when he was approached by two African-American male suspects. One of the suspects allegedly grabbed and assaulted the victim while the other suspect removed money from his pants pocket.

The victim was not seriously injured and the two suspects fled on foot. One suspect is described as a black male, about 18 years of age, around 6’ tall with a thin build. The other is described as a black male, around 5’9” with a heavy build. Anyone with information is urged to call Salisbury Police at (410) 548-3165.