Cops And Courts May 6, 2016

Cops And Courts May 6, 2016
Social Issues Government

Wrong Way Ride Nets Drug, Weapons Bust

OCEAN CITY — A White Plains, Md. man was arrested on drug and weapons charges last week after allegedly riding a motorcycle the wrong way on Philadelphia Avenue toward a police vehicle.

Around 2:30 a.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City police officer was responding to Worcester Street for a report of two suspicious persons. The officer was heading south on Philadelphia Avenue near North Division Street when he observed a single headlight coming at him from the opposite direction. The officer slammed on his brakes to avoid a possible head-on collision with what turned out to be a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle heading north on the one-way section of Philadelphia Avenue.

The motorcycle, operated by Carl Kupniewski, 24, turned into the 7-Eleven convenience store at North Division Street and the officer observed the operator nearly fall off the bike. The officer approached Kupniewski and immediately detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage along with other evidence he was impaired.

During a pat down of the suspect, the officer located in a front pants pocket a spring-loaded switchblade knife. Kupniewski was administered a battery of field sobriety tests which he did not complete to the officer’s satisfaction and was arrested for driving while impaired.

During a search of Kupniewski incident to the arrest, a pair of black-coated brass knuckles with the word “hate” written on them were located. Inside a chewing tobacco canister, the officer also located 16 prescription pills confirmed to be Acetaminophen 325 and Hydrocodone 10, both Schedule II controlled dangerous substances. Kupniewski was transported to the Public Safety Building where he submitted to a breath test resulting in a .10 reading.

‘Survivalist’ Found With Weapons In Car

OCEAN CITY — A Reisterstown, Md. man was arrested on weapons charges this week after being found sleeping in his car on a downtown street.

Around 2:20 a.m. on Monday, an OCPD officer on routine patrol observed a Honda Civic parked on Edgewater Avenue near 7th Street with the driver’s seat completely reclined. The officer approached the vehicle and observed the driver, later identified as Sean Myers, 22, of Reisterstown, sleeping in the driver’s seat covered with a white blanket in violation of a city ordinance.

The officer knocked on the window but Myers did not immediately wake up. Myers awoke when the officer knocked louder. When Myers rolled down the window, the officer detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana. The officer asked Myers to step out of the vehicle and further advised him that his vehicle smelled like marijuana.

According to police reports, Myers told the officer he had just smoked all of his marijuana. When Myers exited the vehicle, the officer observed a multi-colored glass pipe in the small change pocket on the interior of the door. As Myers exited the vehicle, he informed the officer he had used the glass pipe to smoke his marijuana.

When the officer informed Myers he was going to search the vehicle, Myers told the officer there was additional marijuana in a black backpack located on the front passenger seat. A search of the vehicle did turn up suspected marijuana in glass jar in the backpack. Also located in the magazine pocket on the back of the front passenger seat was a large, fixed-blade K-Bar fighting-style knife with a blade of about nine inches.

The officer noted the knife was concealed from view within arm’s length of Myers and easily accessible from the driver’s seat. Myers told police he used the knife to cut off pieces of a small aloe plant found on the back rear floorboard but the officer found that explanation unreasonable, according to police reports.

A search of the trunk revealed a collapsible twisted-blade fighting sword. The fighting sword had a metal detachable handle, which allowed the sword to be broken into two pieces to easily carry and conceal the weapon. According to police reports, Myers told police he was a survivalist, which is why he had the weapons throughout the vehicle. Myers was charged with carrying a concealed dangerous weapon and possessing a fighting sword. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

WOC Hit-And-Run

WEST OCEAN CITY — A Virginia man was arrested on hit-and-run and drunk-driving charges last weekend after allegedly striking another vehicle in a West Ocean City bar parking lot and attempting to give the victim money before fleeing the scene.

Around 10:40 p.m. last Friday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to Harborside Bar and Grill in West Ocean City for a reported motor vehicle collision and attempted hit-and-run. The investigation revealed a driver identified as Robert Gwinn of Chincoteague was attempting to leave the parking lot in a silver mini-van.

Witnesses told police Gwinn hit a black Porsche in the parking lot. The owner of the Porsche made contact with Gwinn, who attempted to give him money before trying to leave the parking lot. According to police reports, Gwinn appeared to have been drinking alcoholic beverages, but he refused to submit to field sobriety tests. Gwinn was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and was later released pending trial.

Theft, False Name Arrest

POCOMOKE — A Salisbury man was arrested on theft and other charges last week after allegedly attempting to swipe hundreds of dollars of merchandise from the Wal-Mart in Pocomoke before fleeing on foot.

Around 11 p.m. last Wednesday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy responded to the Wal-Mart in Pocomoke for a theft complaint. The deputy met with the store’s asset protection associates who told police an unidentified man pushed a shopping cart loaded with nearly $619 in merchandise passed all points of sale and out of the store.

When store employees attempted to stop the man, he abandoned the cart and fled on foot, but the Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy was able to detain him. The suspect could not produce any identification and initially provided the deputy with a false name. Further investigation revealed the suspect was Jerry Lee Ellis, 37, of Salisbury. The investigation also revealed Ellis was wanted on three outstanding warrants in Wicomico County.

Ellis was arrested and charged with theft less than $1,000 and false statement to an officer. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner in Worcester and was released on recognizance, but was then turned over to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office for the three outstanding warrants.

Bad Time To Come Home

OCEAN CITY — A Monkton, Md. man was arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving last weekend after an ill-timed arrival at his residence.

Around 12:50 a.m. last Friday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies and Maryland State Police troopers responded to the area of Green Turtle Lane in Ocean City for a reported residential burglar alarm. Upon arrival, officers found the front door was not secure. The residence was checked to make sure no one was inside.

While the residence was being checked, the homeowner, Harry Janelsins of Monkton, drove up. While explaining the reason for their presence, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies allegedly detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Janelsins’ breath and person. Janelsins did a walk-through of the residence and advised nothing was out of place or missing.

Following the walk-through, Janelsins was subjected to a battery of field sobriety tests which he did not pass to the officers’ satisfaction. At that point, Janelsins was arrested for driving under the influence. He was later released on citations pending trial.

Assault Arrest

OCEAN CITY — A Millsboro man was arrested on assault charges this week after choking his pregnant girlfriend during an argument over the clothes she was wearing at a downtown motel.

Around 9:38 on Tuesday, an OCPD officer was dispatched to the Econo Lodge on Baltimore Avenue at 29th Street for a reported domestic assault. The officer met with a female victim and her children occupying the motel room. The officer observed the victim to have a ripped shirt and a bloody lip, according to police reports. The victim told police she was 26 weeks pregnant and had just been assaulted by her boyfriend, whom she identified as Martin Kirby, Jr., 24, of Millsboro.

The victim told police she and Kirby began to argue verbally over the way she was dressed. The victim told police she refused to change her outfit, at which point Kirby attempted to physically remove the shirt she was wearing by ripping it off of her. The victim told police she attempted to get away and use the hotel phone to call her mother, but Kirby kept her from using the phone by choking her with both hands. According to the victim, at one point, Kirby struck her in the face with an open palm.

According to the victim, Kirby also pushed her onto a bed and held her down. When someone knocked on the door, she screamed for help, but Kirby covered her mouth to keep her from yelling for help. A description of Kirby was broadcast through Ocean City Police Communications and the suspect was located by another officer a short time later and detained. Kirby admitted being in the motel unit with the victim and that the couple was involved in a physical altercation he characterized as pushing and shoving.

Kirby also told police he did not wish to press charges on the victim. Based on the physical evidence and the victim’s testimony, Kirby was arrested and charged with second-degree assault.

Criminal Initiative Results

BERLIN — The Maryland State Police Berlin barrack along with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement team conducted a criminal initiative throughout the county resulting in a couple of arrests and numerous citations.

From 1-7 p.m. last Friday, the allied law enforcement agencies conducted a criminal enforcement initiative resulting multiple stops for speeding, seatbelt violations and distracted driving violations including using a cell phone while a vehicle was in operation.

Randy Carver, 58, of Berlin, and Joshua Poper, 31, of Greencastle, Pa., were each arrested for possession of CDS-not marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Thomas Cooper, 24, of Willards, was served a warrant for failing to appear for trial in District Court.