Assault Charges Filed

OCEAN CITY - A College Park, Md. man was arrested on assault and disturbing the peace charges last weekend after allegedly hitting a girl in the parking lot of a mid-town nightclub.

Around 1:45 a.m. last Sunday, Ocean City Police officers were on routine patrol in the area of 60^th Street when they observed a Fager's Island security staff member escort a man, later identified as David Devaney Brantley, 27, of College Park, down the entry ramp and into the parking lot. The officers reportedly heard the security staff member tell Brantley that he was not permitted back inside and that he was to leave the property.

An unidentified male attempted to lead Brantley to a waiting taxi, but Brantley continued to try to push past the man to get back into the club. According to police reports, Brantley continued on with an expletive laced tirade while the unidentified man attempted to keep him from going back in the bar. The officers continued to watch Brantley as he walked back and forth across the parking lot.

At one point, they observed him crouch down next to a dark-colored sedan and later open the driver's side rear door and get in. Around 2:15 a.m., an unidentified female ran up to the entry ramp of the bar and told security staff an unidentified male was hitting her friend in the parking lot. OCPD officers and security staff went to the area and discovered a group of people, including four females and one male, in the middle of the parking lot.

The OCPD officers immediately recognized the male in the group as Brantley, who they had been observing earlier. According to police reports, Brantley was swinging both arms and taking steps toward one of the females in the group. When the officers told the group to break it up, Brantley reportedly stopped and raised his arms.

The officers instructed Brantley to sit on a nearby wall until they sorted out what had happened. The girls in the group were shouting 'he just hit my friend,' and 'he just hit a girl,' but Brantley continued to deny any wrongdoing. According to reports, Brantley continued to shout at the group of girls and tried to get up from the wall and return to the scene, but was detained by the officers. When Brantley was warned to sit down and stay calm, he reportedly told police 'take me to jail then, just [expletive deleted] take me.'

Meanwhile, bar security staff told the officers Brantley had struck one of the girls in the group and he was taken into custody. During an interview, the alleged victim told police she was sitting in the car waiting for her friends to come out when Brantley allegedly got into the sedan uninvited. The victim told police she did not know Brantley, nor had she ever seen him before.

The victim told police she demanded Brantley get out of the car, but he refused initially. Finally, he did get out of the car, but when the victim and her friends told him to get away from the car, he became angry and shoved the victim, causing her to fall backward into the vehicle, which is when the police and bar security staff arrived. Brantley was arrested and charged with assault and disturbing the peace.

Armed Home Invasion

SNOW HILL - One man is in custody and charges are pending against a second for an alleged armed home invasion in Snow Hill early Tuesday morning.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Snow Hill Police responded to a residence on Ross Street for a reported home invasion. The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) was called to the scene and conducted a forensic and criminal investigation. The investigation revealed two male suspects forcibly entered the victim's residence and attempted to rob the victim. The victim was assaulted and was later transported to PRMC in Salisbury with a severe laceration to the forehead.

The investigation revealed two suspects including Kendall Garzette Norman, 24, of Snow Hill, who has been charged with first-degree burglary, assault, reckless endangerment and armed robbery. Charges are pending against the as yet unidentified second suspect.

Retaliation On A •€˜Snitch'

OCEAN CITY - One man was arrested on malicious destruction of property charges last weekend after toppling over trashcans and benches on the Boardwalk and his buddy was arrested on assault charges after shoving and threatening the man who identified his friend for police.

Shortly before 1 a.m. last Sunday, Ocean City Police officers responded to the area of 2^nd Street and the Boardwalk for a reported malicious destruction of property that had already occurred. Dispatchers told the officers a white male wearing a green shirt and jeans had been knocking over Boardwalk trashcans and benches. As the officers approached 3^rd Street, they observed a man fitting the description walking off the Boardwalk and detained him for questioning. The suspect, later identified as Daniel Levi Moehring, was detained while police continued to search the area.

When an officer got on the Boardwalk, he observed every trashcan from 3^rd Street to 4^th Street had been knocked over. Several of the cans had garbage in them that had spilled onto the Boardwalk. The officer also observed three benches had been flipped over and two more had been moved from where they are normally positioned. The officers met with the man who filed the complaint and the man was brought over to identify Moehring as the vandal. At that point, Moehring was arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property.

Meanwhile, the man who identified the suspect began walking south on the Boardwalk when he was approached by two males, one of whom was identified as Gary Wayne Schisler, 19, of Taneytown. The officers then heard someone yelling, 'hey officers, we need you up here.' As the officer walked to the area, he heard Schisler tell the man who identified Moehring, 'why do you have to be a snitch,' and 'where I come from, we kick snitch's [expletive deleted.' At that point, the officer observed Schisler shove the victim while the officer was no more than 30 feet away. Schisler was then arrested for second-degree assault for shoving the victim and threatening him.

Choking Leads To Arrest

OCEAN CITY - An Ocean City man was arrested on assault charges this week after an alleged attack on his girlfriend.

Around 11:30 p.m. last Thursday, an OCPD officer was dispatched to the area of 4^th Street and St. Louis Ave. for a reported assault in progress. The complainant alerted police to the incident said she had just spoken to her mother who lived in the area and that a person known only at the time as Jimmy was assaulting her mother. The officer responding to the scene knew from previous encounters the alleged victim dated a man named James D. Marx, 46, of Ocean City.

Upon arrival in the 4^th Street area, the officer heard a woman's screams and the yelling of 'get off me' and determined the screaming was coming from a nearby apartment. As the officer approached the apartment, he could see clearly through a window in the door and observed Marx on top of the victim with his right hand over the victim's mouth and his left hand around her neck.

The officer noted in his report Marx was holding the victim down on the couch and appeared to be choking her. The officer also noted the victim struggling with Marx and appeared to be trying to fight him off of her. The officer banged on the door several times before Marx opened hit. He was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody. The officer noted in his report the situation did not meet the criteria for a domestic assault because Marx was not living with the victim.

Marx was ultimately charged with second-degree assault. According to police reports, the victim said Marx had been assaulting her for several minutes before the officer arrived. She also said Marx was choking her and she thought he might kill her.

Warrants Lead To Drug Arrest

OCEAN CITY - An Ocean Pines man wanted on two warrants was found by Ocean City Police in a resort nightclub last week and was later found with cocaine on his person, leading to more charges.

Shortly after 1 a.m. last Friday, an OCPD officer had just completed an EMS call at Seacrets on 49^th Street when he was informed a man the OCPD was looking for on two outstanding warrants, later identified as Leroy Poole, 44, of Berlin, was inside the nightclub. Because of his size and demeanor with law enforcement in the past, the officer called for back-up and two additional officers plus a corporal arrived on the scene.

The officers went inside and located Poole, who they identified from his mugshot photo and their previous experience with him. He was also wearing a short that had his name printed on it, according to police reports. The corporal approached Poole and asked him to step outside. The corporal walked outside with Poole, followed by several of the suspects friends, who refused to back away when ordered to do so by the other officers.

Once outside, Poole was advised there were two warrants active for his arrest. Poole argued, stating he had sent a letter to the judge asking that his cases be postponed. The officers told Poole the warrants would only be rescinded if the judge had agreed to postpone his cases. With that, Poole stated he was going home.

Meanwhile, OCPD communications confirmed the status of the two warrants with the Worcester County Sheriff's Department. Poole was then advised he was under arrest and was ordered to place his hands behind his back, but the suspect refused to follow the order at first. The corporal interceded and Poole was ultimately handcuffed.

During an attempted search of his person, Poole pulled away and told police the search was not legal because no one was watching, despite the fact there were several officers nearby. During the search, Poole put his hand in his pocket and refused to bring it out despite orders to do so. He eventually pulled something from his pocket and held it in his clenched fist. He was ordered to drop what he was holding but refused until force was used to get him to drop it. It turned out to be a plastic bag of suspected powder cocaine. In addition to his arrest on the two outstanding warrants, Poole was also charged with possession of cocaine. After Poole was transferred to police headquarters, the management of the nightclub advised they did not want him to ever return to the property.

Fight Over Missing ATM Card

OCEAN CITY - A Reisterstown, Md. man was arrested on assault and theft charges last weekend after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend over a dispute about a missing ATM card needed to pay a cab driver.

Last Thursday, an OCPD officer responded to the area of 8^th Street and Philadelphia Ave. for a reported domestic assault in progress. As the officer neared the area, he was flagged down by a cab driver in front of Pickle's Pub. The cabbie told police he had picked up a couple including Ricky Anderson Edwards, 49, of Reisterstown, and his female companion, and drove the couple to their motel.

Once at the motel the couple told the cabbie they could not pay him because they could not locate their ATM card, according to police reports. The cabbie then drove the couple back to the bar to look for the card. While en route, the couple began arguing about the missing card, at which time Edwards allegedly slapped the girl several times and pulled her hair. The cabbie told police Edwards pulled the girl's hair so hard that it jerked her head back over the seat.

The cabbie told police Edwards said to the girl 'give me the [expletive deleted] card bitch.' When the officer approached the cab, both Edwards and the alleged victim were still in the back seat. The officer asked Edwards to step out so he could talk with him about the incident when Edwards went into a profanity-laced tirade directed at the cabbie in broad daylight on a crowded street.

When the officer asked Edwards about paying the $24.20 cab fare, Edwards said he could not pay because he didn't have the missing bank card, while continuing to yell obscenities at the cab driver. Based on the evidence, Edwards was arrested and charged with assault for his alleged attack on the female victim, and theft for not paying the cab fare.

Attempted Burglary Nets Probation

SNOW HILL - An Ocean Pines man arrested in November on attempted burglary charges after trying to break into a house on the street where he lives pleaded guilty this week to disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana and was placed on probation and fined.

On Nov. 30, Ocean Pines Police responded to a residence in the community for a reported attempted burglary in progress. Upon arrival, Pines Police encountered a suspect, later identified as Robert Scott Schilling, 34, of Ocean Pines, who appeared to be highly intoxicated, according to police reports. The investigation revealed Schilling had attempted to enter a residence on the same street he lives on. The investigation also revealed Schilling had an amount of marijuana in his possession at the time.

Schilling was arrested and charged with fourth-degree burglary and possession of marijuana. This week in District Court, Schilling pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana and the charges were merged for the purpose of sentencing. He was then fined $300 and placed on probation for a year.

Two Of Three Cleared In Bust

SNOW HILL - Two of three men arrested on drug distribution charges in the resort in December after a five-month investigation by the OCPD narcotics unit had the charges against them dropped last week in District Court.

In December, the OCPD narcotics unit concluded a five-month CDS distribution investigation in the resort with the arrest of three suspects after finding them in a car in the north end of town. OCPD officers served a search and seizure warrant on one suspect, Christopher Lee Sturgis, 23, of Selbyville, after finding him in a vehicle on 143^rd Street.

Officers searched the vehicle and discovered 41 grams of crack cocaine along with $367 in currency. Two other suspects were located in the vehicle with Sturgis and were also arrested on various charges. Darnell Lamar Morris, 25, of Selbyville, was wanted on a warrant from Wicomico County for possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances. The third suspect in the vehicle was identified as Deon Evans Bailey, 19, of Seaford, Del. In addition, the tags on the vehicle were reported stolen from Delaware.

Each of the suspects was charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. In separate court appearances last week in District Court, both Sturgis and Bailey had the charges against them nolle prossed, or not prosecuted. Morris did not appear for a hearing in Wicomico County on similar charges and had a warrant sworn out for his arrest.