OCEAN CITY — A Montgomery Village, Md. man was arrested on indecent exposure and assault charges on Monday after first running around completely naked in the dunes near a crowded beach before struggling with officers attempting to arrest him.
Around 9:30 a.m. on Monday, an OCPD officer responded to the area of 140th Street and Wight Street for a report of a completely nude man in the public dune area. Upon arrival, the officer observed a suspect, later identified as Brendan P. O’Hare, 36, of Montgomery Village, Md., who was completely naked and was running around flailing his arms while yelling and chasing another individual.
The officer noted in his report several concerned citizens including men and women had gathered and were watching O’Hare’s disorderly conduct. The officer attempted to arrest O’Hare for indecent exposure and disorderly conduct and grabbed his left arm, but the suspect resisted and struck the officer in the chest with his right hand and arm in an attempt to get away.
After a brief struggle, the officer was able to handcuff O’Hare. However, the suspect continued to kick and attempt to get away from the officer. According to the police report, O’Hare continually referred to himself as Jesus and God throughout the incident and appeared to be intoxicated from some substance.
Accompanied by OCPD officers, O’Hare was transported by ambulance to PRMC for treatment before being returned to the Ocean City Police Department for booking. He was charged with indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and second-degree assault on the officer.
Ocean Pines Man Charged
With Shooting At Vehicles
OCEAN PINES — An Ocean Pines man was arrested on malicious destruction of property and reckless endangerment charges last week after allegedly admitting to Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (WCBI) detectives he was responsible for shooting out the windows of moving vehicles on Route 90 in early May.
Around 6 p.m. on May 2, Maryland State Police troopers responded to two separate cases of windows of vehicles traveling east on Route 90 being shot out with an apparent pellet gun. In both cases, the motorists were traveling east on Route 90 near the Route 589 ramp. In one case, a victim was struck in the shoulder with a projectile after it shattered the front passenger window. However, the victim was not injured in the shooting.
The investigation revealed an unknown suspect was hiding in a wooded area nearby and firing a pellet gun at vehicles as they drove past on eastbound Route 90. According to police reports at the time, it appeared likely the suspect utilized a pathway in the wooded area along Route 90 that backs up to residences in Ocean Pines.
Ocean Pines Police also responded and helped MSP troopers search the pathways and wooded areas near the scene for a suspect or suspects, but the individual or individuals responsible were not found. During the investigation, WCBI detectives were able to identify the suspect as Timothy Xavier Fitzgerald, 18, of Ocean Pines. When questioned about his involvement, Fitzgerald told police he was responsible for shooting out the vehicle windows with a carbon dioxide-powered BB gun pistol. Fitzgerald has been charged with two counts of malicious destruction of property and two counts of reckless endangerment.
Nine Busted In Party Raid
OCEAN CITY — Nine people were arrested and 50 more were issued citations last week after resort police raided a party in uptown Ocean City.
Around 11:30 p.m. last Thursday, Ocean City Police responded to the 142nd Street area for a report of a loud party with around 100 people. Plainclothes officer working with a RAAM (Reducing the Availability of Alcohol to Minors) enforcement detail reported loud noise including voices yelling from approximately 200 feet away before approaching the residence.
In addition to the noise issue, resort police observed several people standing in and around the residence with alcoholic beverages. As additional officers arrived on the scene and approached the residence, several individuals fled the area. Nine tenants of the property were arrested for violating the town’s noise ordinance including four juveniles. The adults arrested included Alexander Pastorius, 18, of Forest Hill; Walter Weihous, 18, of Parkville; Jack Bechtold, 18, of Lutherville; Garrett Walther, 18, of Towson; and Alexander Church, 18, of Lutherville. Along with the nine arrests, OCPD officers issued 50 civil citations or uniform juvenile civil citations to individuals in the unit.
Purse Thief Nabbed
WEST OCEAN CITY — A West Ocean City man was arrested on theft charges last weekend after allegedly swiping a woman’s purse at the Park-and-Ride before being caught climbing a fence at a nearby motel.
Last Friday, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the Park-and-Ride in West Ocean City regarding the theft of a woman’s purse. The sheriff’s office received additional calls providing a description of the suspect, later identified as William Arthur Sargent IV, 31, of Ocean City. While sheriff’s deputies were searching the area in and around the Park-and-Ride, another call came in reporting Sargent was seen climbing over a fence at the Francis Scott Key Motel nearby.
A sheriff’s office sergeant responded the area and apprehended Sargent, who later admitted stealing the purse and the money inside it. The purse and money were recovered and returned to the victim. Sargent was arrested and charged with two counts of theft under $100.
K-9 Helps Nab Burglars
OCEAN CITY — Five suspects including two juveniles were arrested on burglary charges last week after an OCPD K-9 unit helped locate them in a locked bedroom of the residence they allegedly burglarized.
Around 9:20 p.m. last Tuesday, Ocean City Police responded to the Assawoman Drive area for a reported burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they observed a broken window and witnessed suspects running to the back of the house. After numerous attempts to get the suspects to exit the residence were unsuccessful, OCPD officers deployed the K-9 Jaxx and his handler at the scene.
Once inside the residence, Jaxx came to a locked bedroom in the rear of the unit. After ordering the suspect to open the door, OCPD officers arrested the five hiding suspects. Arrested were Mark Moore, 21, of Odenton; Nikolas Keene, 19, of Gambrills; and Sarah Otis, 19, of Chester. Also arrested were two juveniles. Each was charged with third- and fourth-degree burglary and malicious destruction of property.
Rape Suspect Located
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man wanted for allegedly raping a juvenile girl last Sunday was located and arrested in Ocean City on Monday.
According to police reports, around 10 p.m. last Sunday, a juvenile girl was walking to her friend’s house in Salisbury when a vehicle pulled up and offered her a ride. The victim recognized the suspect as Duckenson Florestal, 21, of Salisbury, and accepted the ride. Florestal then allegedly drove to a secluded area at a nearby playground, locked the doors and climbed over the center console onto the victim.
According to police reports, the victim told Florestal repeatedly to stop, but he refused and forced sex on her. Salisbury detectives were able to obtain a warrant for Florestal, who was located the next day in Ocean City. The OCPD assisted Salisbury and arrested Florestal at a residence in the area of 23rd Street and Philadelphia Ave. Florestal has been charged with second-degree rape, first-, second, third- and fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, false imprisonment and contributing to the condition of a child.
Handgun Found In Car
OCEAN CITY — An Ellicott City man was arrested on a weapons charge last week after fleeing from resort police when a handgun was found near his vehicle.
Around 12:30 a.m. last Monday, Ocean City Police bike patrol officers encountered three suspicious suspects standing next to two vehicles in a parking lot on Philadelphia Ave. Resort police questioned the three suspects, including the owner of one of the vehicles, later identified as Mark Mahroney, 22, of Ellicott City. A probable cause search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of currency hidden in the wheel well of the Honda CRV.
As officers continued interviewing Mahroney and the other suspects, two other individuals came to the scene and got into a vehicle parked next to the Honda CRV and drove off, revealing a handgun on the pavement. Officers attempted to detain Mahroney who fled from police. Mahroney ran east toward the Boardwalk and was apprehended a short time later at 3rd Street and Washington Lane in the parking lot of the Park Place Hotel.
A continued search of Mahroney’s vehicle revealed over $7,000 in cash and an ankle handgun holster. During the investigation, a K-9 team conducted a drug scan on the Honda as well as the recovered cash. The K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drugs in both the vehicle and on the cash. However, a search of the vehicle yielded only trace amounts of illegal drugs.
Mahroney was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a handgun. Because of the circumstances involving the positive alert for narcotics, the Honda and the large amount of cash were seized pending further investigation.
Dispersed Crowd With Gun
OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man was arrested on drug and weapons charges last week after allegedly waving a handgun in the air to disperse a large group of people gathered near 11th Street.
Around 1 a.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police responded to the 11th Street area for a report of a large group of disorderly people. Officers arrived at the scene and met with the caller, later identified as Charles Paul Reichenberg III, 52, of Ocean City. The large disorderly crowd, which originated the call, was gone by the time police arrived.
Reichenberg told police in order to disperse the group of disorderly individuals on and around his property, he exited his home and waved a handgun in the air. During an interview with Reichenberg about the incident, officers learned he was prohibited from possessing any regulated firearms.
At around 3 p.m., officers served a search and seizure warrant at Reichenberg’s residence and located a .45 caliber handgun, marijuana and paraphernalia. He was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
Passed Out On Route 113
NEWARK — A Bel Air, Md. man was arrested last week for allegedly assaulting an officer and resisting arrest after motorists observed him passed out on the shoulder or Route 113 near Newark.
Last Friday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to the area of Route 113 and Goody Hill Rd. near Newark for a reported male individual passed out on the shoulder of the highway. When the deputy arrived, he observed several vehicles stopped on the shoulder of the roadway. The deputy attempted to make contact with the individual, later identified as Thomas Honaker, 18, of Bel Air, but the suspect ran from the deputy and attempted to get into the nearby vehicle of a bystander.
When the deputy approached Honaker again, the suspect allegedly began kicking the officer and repeatedly refused to comply with verbal commands. Honaker was eventually subdued and was arrested and charged with second-degree assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.