707 Owner’s Death Probe Continues

Written By: News Editor, Shawn J. Soper

WEST OCEAN CITY -- The investigation into the death of a West Ocean City bar owner following an altercation outside his establishment earlier this month remains open while law enforcement and prosecutors await the final report from the state Medical Examiner’s Office.

Around 2:23 a.m. on Oct. 6, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the 707 Sports Bar and Grille in reference to a disturbance complaint. The deputy arrived and met with a Maryland State Police trooper, who advised the bar’s owner, Carey Patrick Flynn, had been assaulted.

According to police reports, Flynn, who was on the ground with visible abrasions on his knees and elbows, was complaining of shortness of breath.

Emergency Services were dispatched to the scene and Flynn was transported by ambulance to Atlantic General Hospital, where he died a short time later. Flynn’s wife advised police her husband had a heart condition and had a pacemaker in place.

The investigation revealed a suspect, later identified as Cyle Walker, 26, of West Ocean City, had been in a verbal confrontation with Flynn that had turned physical. Incidentally, Walker’s birthday is Oct. 5, the day before the incident in the early morning hours of Oct. 6. While police were still on the scene, Walker returned and spoke with the deputy, advising the officer a verbal altercation had taken place between he and Flynn.

According to police reports, Walker admitted pushing Flynn, causing him to fall to the ground. Walker was charged initially with second-degree assault.

That second-degree assault charge against Walker was dismissed on Monday, but Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby, who was pictured on the scene of the investigation the day of Flynn’s death, said dropping the second-degree assault charge was a formality and Walker remains a person of interest.

After Walker was charged initially with second-degree assault, Oglesby took possession of the arrest warrant as the investigation developed. On Monday, the assault charge was dropped in order to leave the investigation open-ended until the medical examiner’s report comes back.

“It remains an open investigation,” he said. “We’re still waiting for the medical examiner’s report to come back to determine what, if any, new charges are appropriate. The second-degree assault charge has such a quick shelf life in District Court, he [Walker] could go to trial on that charge and have it resolved before we get the medical examiner’s report or conclude our investigation, and we don’t want it to become a double-jeopardy situation.”

Source;  http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/articles/2011/10/21/Top-Stories/707-Owners-Death-Probe-Continues

West Ocean City Bar Owner Dies

WEST OCEAN CITY -- The owner of 707 Sports Bar & Grill died shortly after an incident at his establishment, police said.

Detectives with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation are looking into what happened to 63-year-old Carey Flynn of Berlin, according to Worcester County State's Attorney spokesman William McDermott.

It's unclear how the incident unfolded at about 2 a.m. Thursday. Authorities would not officially explain what happened, citing an ongoing investigation. However, several people familiar with the situation said a physical altercation was sparked when Flynn objected to someone urinating outside the bar.

While police are pursuing a suspect in connection with Flynn's death, it has yet to be determined if anything criminal occurred, and police have made no arrests nor charged anyone with a crime, he said.

Flynn was transported from the bar to Atlantic General Hospital, where he died, according to McDermott. No further information is likely to surface until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore can account for an official cause of death, which will take three to four days, McDermott said.

He declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Outside the bar on Thursday, located on Old Bridge Road, the bar's marquee read: "In remembrance of Carey." Later in the day, it was changed to simply say, "Reopen Friday."

Yellow crime scene tape was wrapped around the left side of the porch. Friends and bar employees were gathered outside on the other side of the porch. They all declined to comment about the situation, though one woman who said she was the floor manager called Flynn a great boss with "a heart of gold."

Denny Contic, founder and president of the Pittsburgh Steeler Fan Club of Ocean City that meets at the 707, said his group is tentatively planning to hold a celebration of Flynn's life before Sunday's early afternoon game against the Titans. Flynn bought the bar in 2010, and a long-running affection for the bar on the part of Steelers fans carried over.

"He's a gentleman," he said. "We have our fan club there, and he bent over backward to make us welcome. As far as the Steeler fan club, in honor of him and out of respect for him, we will stay there ... He was full of life and fun, and I would think he would want to continue that."

Source;    http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20111007/NEWS01/110070303/Owner-West-OC-bar-dies?