Guilty Plea For Atempted Robbery

SNOW HILL - A Baltimore man arrested in July for pulling a knife on a group of individuals during an altercation on a downtown Ocean City street corner pleaded guilty last week in Circuit Court to one count of attempted robbery and was sentenced to six years in jail, much of which was suspended in favor of probation.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on July 24, Ocean City police officers responded to the area of 2^nd Street and Baltimore Ave. for a reported assault involving a knife. As officers were responding to the scene of the reported incident, an OCPD mounted officer in the area spotted the suspect, whose description had been broadcast, fleeing the scene. The mounted officer pursued the suspect, later identified as William Alfred Allewalt, 22, and was able to apprehend him a short time later with the assistance of other officers who responded to the scene.

Prior to his apprehension, Allewalt was able to discard the knife in question, but OCPD officers recovered it nearby. The investigation revealed that prior to the arrest, Allewalt had been drinking and got into an argument with a group of friends and other people in the area of Baltimore Ave. and 2^nd Street. During the argument, Allewalt allegedly assaulted three individuals with the knife and assaulted a fourth physically.

During the assaults, Allewalt allegedly put the knife under the chin of one of the victims and demanded the victim empty his pockets in an attempt to rob the person. During the robbery attempt, Allewalt's friends allegedly pulled him away from the victims. No serious injuries were reported for any of the victims.

Allewalt was charged with attempted armed robbery, three counts of first-degree assault, four counts of second-degree assault, three counts of reckless endangerment and three counts of carrying a dangerous weapon with intent to cause injury.