Friday, June 8 - Local Man Robbed at Knifepoint After Accepting A Ride

OCEAN CITY- A local man was robbed at knifepoint last weekend after accepting a ride home from an acquaintance after leaving a downtown bar.

Early last Saturday morning, resort police responded to a reported armed robbery at a downtown bar on Somerset Street. The investigation revealed the victim had left the Harbor Inn shortly after midnight, and while he was walking through a nearby parking lot, he was offered a ride home by a woman he knew as an employee of the bar.

The victim and his acquaintance got into her vehicle, the woman's boyfriend, who was hiding in the back seat, sat up and put a knife to the victim's throat. The victim handed his wallet to the man, later identified as William Cloutier, 28, of Ocean City, who was the boyfriend of the woman who had offered the ride.

OCPD detectives spoke with the woman, who said she had an argument with Cloutier earlier in the evening at the Harbor Inn. She claimed he left the bar and that she did not know he was waiting in her car.

The OCPD detectives later located Cloutier at his home on 32^nd Street in Ocean City. He was taken into custody and charged with second-degree assault, robbery and misdemeanor theft. He is currently being held at the Worcester County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

The victim, though shaken, was not injured during the incident. No charges were filed against the woman, who denied knowing her boyfriend was hiding in the back seat when she offered a ride to the victim. The victim's wallet was later found in the parking lot at Dorchester Street and St. Louis Avenue.