Half-Naked Guy Scraps With Cops

Half-Naked Guy Scraps With Cops
Social Issues Government23

OCEAN CITY — A New York man was arrested on multiple charges including second-degree assault on police officers after scrapping with the cops who found him lying half-dressed on top of a vehicle in a parking garage last weekend.

Around 2:30 a.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) bike patrol officer observed a white male lying on a parked car in the parking garage of the Princess Bayside Hotel in the area of 48th Street. While approaching the individual, later identified as Michael Patrick McPartland, 28, of Astoria, N.Y., the officer observed the suspect get down off the car with his pants and undergarments around his ankles.

The officer continued to approach McPartland, who was pulling up his pants, and attempted to make contact with the suspect, but McPartland refused to address the officer. When the officer attempted to detain and identify the suspect, McPartland allegedly became disorderly, uncooperative and aggressive, shouting profanities and refusing to comply with the officer’s requests.

Additional officers then arrived on the scene. At one point during the encounter, McPartland’s friends attempted to calm him, but he continued to be uncooperative. According to police reports, McPartland showed obvious signs of intoxication and aggressiveness and became even more defiant when officers attempted to have him sit down on the ground.

McPartland, who at one point took a swing at the officers, resulting in a struggle, was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and later released on his own recognizance.

Victim Escorts Out Home Burglar

OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on burglary charges last weekend after first breaking into a mid-town residence before being discovered and escorted out by his victim.

Around 12:43 a.m. last Sunday, OCPD responded to the area of 44th Street for reported suspicious activity and possibly a burglary in progress. Officers arrived and met with a victim, who told police he had heard noises on the lower floors of his unit. When the victim went downstairs to investigate, he observed a male suspect attempting to steal various items. The victim confronted the suspect, stopped him from stealing any items and escorted the suspect out of the residence.

Officers obtained a detailed description of the suspect, later identified as Antonio Eduardo Lacaffine, 29, of Uniontown, Pa., and a broadcast was sent out. The suspect had last been seen walking in the direction of 45th Street. A short time later, OCPD officers located Lacaffine in the area of 45th Street and Coastal Highway.

The victim was brought to the scene and positively identified Lacaffine as the suspect he had escorted from his residence. Lacaffine was arrested and charged with first-, third- and fourth-degree burglary and theft under $100. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond before being transferred to the Worcester County Jail.

Pot-Growing Op Discovered

BISHOPVILLE — A Bishopville man was arrested on multiple drug charges last Friday after the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team discovered a vast marijuana-growing operation on his property.

Last Friday, the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team executed a search and seizure warrant at a residence in Bishopville relating to a marijuana cultivation investigation being conducted jointly with the Delaware State Police Sussex Drug Unit. As a result of the search, a total of 67 marijuana plants were located in a wooded area adjacent to the residence.

The plants ranged in height from one foot to eight feet. Other evidence collected during the execution of the search and seizure warrant linked a suspect, identified as Jason Vermillion, 32, of Bishopville, to the marijuana plants. A search of Vermillion’s residence turned up 38 grams of marijuana, numerous items of paraphernalia and multiple firearms.

Vermillion was arrested and charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Vermillion was released on Saturday after posting a $7,000 bond. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocean City Police Department and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in execution of the search and seizure warrant.

WOC Man Injured In Explosion

WEST OCEAN CITY — A West Ocean City man was flown to the Bayview Burn Center in Baltimore last week for treatment of injuries sustained during an explosion while he was working on a boat.

Last Wednesday, West Ocean City man Jacob Deimer was working on the electrical system of a boat at a facility on Sunset Ave. when an explosion occurred. Deimer was transported by private vehicle to Atlantic General Hospital, where he was stabilized before being flown to the Bayview Burn Center in Baltimore. The cause of the explosion and the resulting fire has been listed as accidental. The victim’s updated condition in not known.

Christmas Decorations Swiped

BERLIN — The Maryland State Police (MSP) this week are investigating a burglary at a storage facility in Berlin on Monday.

A little after 7 p.m. on Monday, MSP troopers responded to the Ship Shape Storage facility on McAllister Rd. in Berlin for a reported second-degree burglary. The investigation revealed a suspect or suspects stole an assortment of Christmas decorations and a hand-crocheted hammock. Anyone with information regarding the burglary is urged to contact the Maryland State Police Berlin barrack at 410-641-3101.

Child Sex Assault Nets 18 Years

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man arrested in February for raping an eight-year-old girl and possessing thousands of images of child pornography on his computer pleaded guilty last week to three counts and was sentenced to 25 years in jail, seven of which were suspended, and will spend at least 18 years in jail.

James Lewis Meagher, 63, of Salisbury, last week pleaded guilty to sex abuse of a minor and two counts of possession of child pornography. Meagher was sentenced to 18 years of active incarceration and seven years suspended incarceration for the sex abuse of a minor count, along with 10 years for the child pornography possession counts, which he will serve concurrently.

In February, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office detectives, working with child protective services detectives from the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center, took Meagher into custody after uncovering over 100,000 images of child pornography on his computer. Meagher was also accused of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl, and detectives began looking for more children with whom Meagher had contact.

Underage Party Busted

SALISBURY — A Wicomico County man was arrested on multiple charges last weekend after allegedly hosting a party at which alcohol was served for hundreds of high school-age teens from all over the Lower Shore

Around 10:30 p.m. last Saturday, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about a large party taking place on Nanticoke Rd. and that many of the attendees were high school-aged teenagers. Deputies responded to the area and located the party easily with cars parked on both sides of the street on Nanticoke Rd. and Cedar Hill Parkway.

An extremely large crowd estimated at 300 people was on the scene and most began running when the deputies arrived. The deputies observed large amounts of both beer and alcohol in plain view and gauged that most in attendance were teenagers and young adults. For example, the deputies were able to positively identify 50 patrons in the 16-20 age range.

It was impossible for deputies to conclusively know the full extent of those underage because of the volume of party goers who fled when they arrived, but the 50 they held appeared to represent a fair sample, according to police reports. Deputies identified the homeowner and host of the party as John F. Jones, 49, of Bivalve. According to police reports, Jones was aware of the party and the ages of those present.

He was arrested and charged with contributing to the condition of a minor, disorderly house and furnishing alcohol to a minor. All of the subjects under 21 who were found to have consumed alcohol were issued citations. The individuals charged were from Salisbury, Delmar, Fruitland and Snow Hill, and as far away as Lewes, Harrington and Milton in Delaware.

Child Left In Hot Car

SALISBURY — A Quantico man was arrested on child abuse charges last week after allegedly leaving a 6-year-old girl in a hot vehicle unattended earlier this month.

Around noon on Aug. 2, Wicomico Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of King Stuart Drive in Salisbury for a report of a six-year-old child left unattended in a vehicle. Deputies learned a passerby stopped to check on an unattended mini-van and observed a child inside. According to the witness, the child appeared lethargic and was sweating inside the vehicle without any air conditioning.

The child was placed in a vehicle with air conditioning and the Sheriff’s Office was notified. The child’s guardian, identified as David Charles Channell, 47, returned and claimed he was chasing down a loose dog. The investigation revealed the child was the daughter of Channell’s girlfriend.

An investigation involving the Wicomico State’s Attorney’s Office and the Department of Social Services and a decision was made to charge Channell. A warrant was served on Channell last Thursday at his residence in Quantico. He was arrested and charged with neglect of a minor, confined and unattended child and reckless endangerment. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $20,000 bond.