Berlin Burglary Suspect Nabbed

Berlin Burglary Suspect Nabbed
Caprice Chevy 61

BERLIN — A Perryville, Md. man was arrested on first-degree burglary and other charges this week after attempting to steal a safe from a Berlin residence.

Around 2 a.m. last Saturday, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives responded to a residence on Evans Rd. in Berlin for a reported burglary. The investigation revealed the suspect, later identified as Kyle Barton Brittingham, 22, of Perryville, entered the residence and attempted to steal a safe located next to the victim’s bed.

The victim provided a description of the suspect and Brittingham was located and arrested a short time later at a residence next to the victim’s residence. Brittingham was charged with first- and fourth-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, possession of heroin and possession of paraphernalia. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond.

Fishing Rods Swiped

WEST OCEAN CITY — Local law enforcement officials this week are looking for the suspect or suspects who swiped several fishing rods and other tackle from a sportfishing boat stored at a West Ocean City marina.

Around 2 p.m. last Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to Sunset Marina in West Ocean City for a reported theft from a sportfishing boat. The victim told police 10 large fishing rods including the reels had been stolen from the vessel parked at the marina. MSP troopers processed the crime scene in an attempt to develop leads and interviewed the dock master responsible for the property.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have information about the suspect or the stolen property is urged to contact the MSP Berlin barrack at (410) 641-3101.

License Plate Stolen

WEST OCEAN CITY — Authorities this week are looking for the suspect or suspects who stole a license plate from a vehicle on the parking lot of a driving school in West Ocean City last weekend.

Around 8:40 a.m. last Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the Seaside Driving Academy on Route 50 in West Ocean City for a reported theft. The investigation revealed a Maryland registration plate had been stolen from the rear of a vehicle belonging to the Seaside Driving Academy. The license plate had been parked in the business’s parking lot during the overnight hours and the theft is believed to have occurred sometime between 8 p.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The rear tag was entered in the National Crime Information Center database as stolen property and reported to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. MSP troopers are continuing the investigation in an attempt to locate and recover the stolen tag. The tag is registered in Maryland and the number is 3AH6300. Anyone who observes the stolen tag is encouraged to contact the MSP Berlin barrack at (410) 641-3101.

Delivery Driver Robbed

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are looking for two suspects who allegedly robbed a food delivery driver at gunpoint last Saturday night.

Shortly after 10 p.m. last Saturday, Salisbury Police responded to the Asian Taste restaurant on Eastern Shore Drive for a reported armed robbery. The investigation revealed the restaurant’s delivery driver had attempted to make a delivery around 9:45 p.m. to a residence on Trinity Drive.

When the driver arrived at the apartment complex, he was allegedly approached by two African-American males, one of whom produced what the employee believed to be a firearm. The suspects then stole from the employee the take-out order, an undetermined amount of currency and an I-phone. The suspects then fled the area on foot.

One suspect is described as an African-American male in his early 20s around 5’11” with a thin build wearing a white jacket with black sleeves, dark jeans and a black baseball cap with a red lettering or red logo. The second suspect, who is believed to have been armed with a black revolver, is described as an African-American male in his early 20s, roughly 5’11” and heavy build, wearing a puffy black jacket, dark jeans and a black knit cap. Anyone with information is urged to call Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165, or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

More Armed Robbery

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are seeking two suspects wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a restaurant last Saturday.

Shortly after 10 p.m. last Saturday, Salisbury Police responded to Maho’s Restaurant for a reported armed robbery. Employees told police three African-American males brandishing handguns had entered the restaurant from a rear door minutes earlier. The investigation revealed the suspects were able to make entry when an employee opened the rear door after hearing a knock.

Two of the suspects made their way to the front of the business and confronted an employee who was closing the cash register for the night. An undetermined amount of cash was stolen from the register.

The two suspects then returned to the kitchen area where they stole money and property from the restaurant employees that had been forced to the floor. One of the employees was struck in the head with a firearm. Once the suspects exited the building, the victims reported they entered a dark-colored SUV with dark, tinted windows, although no further description of the vehicle was obtained.

Two of the suspects have been described as African-American males, short in stature at around 5’6” and wearing dark clothing. The third suspect is described as an African-American with a thin build and wearing glasses. All three suspects were wearing ski masks, and one was reported to be wearing a light gray, hooded sweatshirt. Anyone with information is urged to call Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165, or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

Cocaine Dealer Gets Four Years

OCEAN CITY — A Charleston, S.C. man, arrested on drug charges during an OCPD undercover operation on the Boardwalk in July, pleaded guilty this week in District Court to distribution of cocaine and was sentenced to four years in jail.

Around 11:45 p.m. on July 23, Ocean City Police undercover narcotics officers were working a buy-sell detail on the Boardwalk in an attempt to solicit the sale of illegal drugs. The officers approached an individual, later identified as Nehemiah Godfrey, 24, of Charleston, in the area of 4th Street and the Boardwalk and told them they were interested in purchasing marijuana.

Godfrey allegedly told police he did not have any marijuana, but that he had ecstasy for sale.

Godfrey allegedly told police he was selling ecstasy for $20 per pill and asked the undercover officers how many they wanted. The officer agreed to purchase two pills for $40, but Godfrey told police he did not want to conduct the transaction out in the open and asked the undercover detectives to follow him off the Boardwalk.

As the officers followed Godfrey off the Boardwalk to the 4th Street area, the suspect informed police he also had several grams of powder cocaine for sale. The officer told Godfrey he was also interested in purchasing a gram of cocaine and the two ecstasy pills for a total of $100. Godfrey then produced from his pocket a baggie containing alleged powder cocaine the size of a golf ball.

After the transaction was completed, Godfrey parted ways with the undercover officer, who gave the pre-arranged signal to other detectives in the area, who arrested the suspect without incident. This week in District Court, Godfrey pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to four years in jail.

50 Days For Break-In

OCEAN CITY — A Salisbury woman, one of three people arrested in June after breaking into a resort residence to crash before being caught by the owner as they were trying to sneak out a rear window, was found guilty this week on a fourth-degree burglary charge and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

On June 18, Ocean City police responded to a reported breaking and entering in progress at a residence on Robin Drive. Upon arrival, the officers met with a property owner in front of the residence, who told police everybody was in the back. The officers went around the back and found two men, one of whom was the property owner, along with a neighbor, detaining three suspects. The three suspects were later identified as Warner Rivers, 21, of Berlin; Holly McLaughlin, 29, of Salisbury; and James McNemar, 18, of Mifflintown, Pa.

The property owner told police he had just returned to the residence and attempted to enter the front door, but found it was blocked by a folding chair propped against the inside of the door. The owner also said he heard people trying to exit the rear of the residence. The owner told a neighbor there were people in his house and that they were trying to escape.

The owner and the neighbor went around back and discovered Rivers and McLaughlin attempting to help McNemar escape through a rear bathroom window. The two men were able to detain the three suspects until police arrived. Rivers was found to be wanted on an outstanding warrant in Worcester County and he was placed under arrest.

McNemar told police the front door to the residence was partially open and he followed Rivers and McLaughlin in, believing it was their residence. McNemar told police they were just trying to get some sleep and never intended to steal anything. Other OCPD officers arrived and searched the residence, finding no other suspects inside. However, police did find evidence the three suspects had been inside, including empty beer bottles in two of the bedrooms. They also found a knapsack containing drugs and drug paraphernalia including syringes and a crack pipe.

McNemar was later interviewed at police headquarters about the break-in. McNemar told police he had been abandoned in Ocean City and had a bus ticket back to Pennsylvania, but the bus was scheduled to leave until the following day. McNemar told police he went to a local church in hopes of finding a place to sleep for the night, which is when he met Rivers and McLaughlin.

Rivers and McLaughlin offered McNemar a place to sleep later in the night and they remained at the church for several hours. Later that night, the trio went to an area around the Inlet where they drank beer. According to McNemar, the two suspects also showed him two syringes and a spoon, and they also told him they had methadone, but they already used it all.

Rivers and McLaughlin then led McNemar to the residence on Robin Drive. McNemar told police the front door was partially opened and the three went inside. He told police he believed all along it was Rivers’ and McLaughlin’s residence. The trio drank beer for a while in one of the bedrooms before McNemar went to sleep in another room. In the morning, the three suspects were awoken to the owner returning the residence and attempted to flee out a rear bathroom window.

This week in District Court, McLaughlin was found guilty of fourth-degree burglary and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Earlier this year, Rivers was found guilty of second-degree burglary and drug possession and was sentenced to three years in jail with all but 50 days suspended, which was equal to the amount of time he spent in jail awaiting trial. McNemar is wanted for failing to appear for trial.

Burglary Suspect Sentenced

SNOW HILL — One of four people arrested in July for breaking into and taking up residence in a West Ocean City home this week pleaded guilty to fourth-degree burglary and was sentenced to 18 months, much of which was suspended in favor of probation and restitution to the victim.

On July 17, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a residence on Village Lane in West Ocean City for a reported burglary in progress. The troopers met with the victim who said he had returned to his residence and found four strangers in the home. One of the suspects fled and was taken into custody a short time later by a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy in the area.

The other three suspects were located still inside the residence when troopers arrived. The suspects had concealed property belonging to the victim in their own travel bags. The investigation revealed the four suspects, including Mary Elizabeth Besnoska, 19, of Edgewood, Md., Shane Cohill, 18, of Baltimore, and two 17-year-old juveniles, had forced entry into the residence sometime between Saturday and Sunday.

Once inside, the four suspects used the victim’s residence as a temporary place to stay in order to remain in the Ocean City area. This week in Circuit Court, Cohill entered an Alford plea to a fourth-degree burglary charge. Cohill was sentenced to 18 months in jail with all but one month suspended. He was also placed on probation for three years and ordered to pay $453 in restitution to the victim. Besnoska is scheduled to appear for trial in January, and the disposition of the cases against the two juveniles is not known.

Stet For Alleged Head-Kicker

SNOW HILL — An Ocean City man arrested on first-degree assault charges in July after allegedly kicking a dazed and unconscious man in the head following a nightclub fight that spilled out into the street had the charges against him placed on the stet, or inactive, docket this week in Circuit Court.

Around 1:15 a.m. on July 16, Ocean City Police reported to the area of 17th Street for a reported assault. Multiple witnesses said a fight started in the Paddock Nightclub and spilled out onto the street. Police spoke to one victim who said he had been punched in the face inside the club by two males, one of whom was later identified as Bradley Keesecker, 23, of Munhall, Pa.

A second witness told police they saw Keesecker strike the victim in the face with a closed fist multiple times. During the altercation, Keesecker allegedly punched another victim in the face. Once outside the bar, Keesecker allegedly punched the second victim again in the head, causing the victim to fall to the ground, according to police reports.

After police spoke with several witnesses outside, it was determined the victim was either dazed or unconscious on the ground and offered no defense or resistance of any kind. Keesecker then allegedly came up to the victim and kicked him in the head, attempting to cause serious injury to the victim.

Witnesses described the kick Keesecker delivered to the victim as a “field goal kick” or a kick delivered as if Keesecker was kicking a football. According to police reports, the kick caused the victim to sustain significant head trauma and was delivered to a vital part of the victim’s body and had the potential to cause serious injury or death. Keesecker was arrested and charged with first-degree assault. This week in Circuit Court, all of the charges against Keesecker were placed on the stet, or inactive, docket.