FAMILY LOSES SON, KEEPSAKE WITHIN DAYS

Christine Cullen - Staff Writer

A Worcester County family grieving the loss of a brother, son, cousin and nephew in a tragic motorcycle accident last week had to relive that pain when an item went missing from a memorial they erected in his memory.

Brandon Matthew Richardson of Bishopville died last Friday after his motorcycle crashed into a guardrail on the Route 90 bridge. He was 20 years old.

Richardson was a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School, and a private first class in the Army National Guard. His family said he loved to ride his motorcycle and often wore his older brother Brett’s helmet when he rode.

According to the Maryland State Police, Richardson was riding his 2003 Kawasaki ZX- 6 motorcycle east on Route 90 around 2:30 p.m. when he lost control and crashed into the guardrail in the median of the highway near the intersection with St. Martins Neck Road. He died of his injuries at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Richardson was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and alcohol was not a factor in the accident, police said. Police closed Route 90 to all traffic in both directions between Route 589 and Ocean City for three hours, causing long backups of traffic heading to the beach for the weekend.

Richardson’s family erected a memorial on the side of Route 90 at the site of the accident over the weekend. The memorial included a cross, Richardson’s National Guard fatigue jacket, an American flag and his brother Brett’s special helmet, a black KBC Tarmac with a white tribal design and red pin stripes.

His uncle, Mike Richardson, said the family has kept close watch on the site since the memorial was built. They noticed the helmet was missing from the memorial around 6:30 p.m. on Monday. He said the family is upset that someone would steal an item that was clearly there to remember someone who died.

“It was his brother Brett’s helmet and it meant a lot to him. Brandon wore the helmet often when he rode motorcycles. We only want the helmet returned, no questions asked. It means a lot to our family,” he said.

Mike Richardson hoped the person who took the helmet did not realize its sentimental value and will return it to the site. He said it could also be turned in to the Ocean City Police Department, where he is an officer, no questions asked. Anyone with information about the helmet can also contact the OCPD at 410-723-6610.

“It’s heartbreaking to have this happen so soon after the accident. We’re hopeful whoever took it will have the heart to return it,” Mike Richardson said.

As news of the missing helmet spread through the community, businesses have stepped up to help. Loaded Gun Customs in Selbyville, Del., a company that customizes cars and motorcycles, offered a brand-new helmet for the memorial, and Oasis Bar and Grill in Whaleyville has offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the discovery of the missing helmet.

The Maryland State Highway Administration removed the remainder of the memorial Thursday morning amid concerns it was too close to the roadway. The family plans to relocate the memorial to another location.

Source;  http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/2011-06-10/Front_Page/FAMILY_LOSES_SON_KEEPSAKE_WITHIN_DAYS.html

Police Have Sober Hopes for Drunken, Distracted Driving This Weekend

TOM RISEN ¦ Staff Writer

(May 27, 2011) Memorial Day is here, and Ocean City police are keeping an eye out for unsafe summer traffic with the hope that newly approved police powers and laws could make their jobs easier.

One recently passed law, Senate Bill 424, grants police more discretion on what constitutes distracted driving, which means officers may stop drivers for texting on their cell phones while driving.

The Ocean City Police Department also keeps an eye out for other distracted driving moves such as changing the car stereo or eating while driving, according to Jessica Waters, public affairs specialist for the department.

“As a resort town, Ocean City is already so distracting, and now we have people on mopeds and scooters, so more than ever we need our drivers to be vigilant,” Waters said. “The new law is helpful since it gives police more reason to enforce it. I hope it means I write fewer press releases about fatalities from distracted or drunk drivers hitting pedestrians.”

Another new law mandates Breathalyzer interlocks to start a car for repeat drunken driving offenders. The law focuses on drunken drivers under age 21 and drivers with a blood alcohol content of at least .15 BAC. The legal definition of drunken driving is .08 blood alcohol content.

Waters said the law might cut down on drunken driving somewhat, but Ocean City is a resort destination where many visitors come to drink while on vacation. These visitors might not have previously been convicted of drunken driving.

Ocean City’s annual driving under the influence arrest numbers have not changed much in recent years. In 2010, there were 360 driving under the influence arrests; in 2009, there were 368; in 2008, there were 322; in 2007 there were 326; and in 2006 there were 344.

“We have the alternative forms of transportation and numerous taxi companies, but we still see high numbers,” Waters said.

Ocean City bus tickets are $1 per pickup or $3 for a whole day and night of rides. Employees at bars often have information about taxi services.

People mandated to have an interlock under the law who are arrested driving without one are subject to up to a year in prison and up to $1,000 fine, with a maximum $2,000 fine and up to two years in prison for a second offense. That offense is the same as the penalty for driving without a license.

Resort police are still likely to see a high holiday turnout, as approximately 644,000 Marylanders are expected to take to the road this Memorial Day holiday, according to Ragina C. Averella, manager of public affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving had supported a competing interlock law proposal that would have required firsttime drunken driving offenders to accept an ignition interlock as a condition of keeping their license.

A statement made by Anna Duerr, spokeswoman for the advocacy group’s Maryland office, asked vacationers to “designate a sober driver before festivities begin,” but took a sober outlook on the compromise made by the General Assembly.

“Unfortunately, Maryland’s recentlypassed ignition interlock law only addresses part of the drunk driving problem, so MADD will continue to work towards life-saving legislation to keep American families safer on our roads,” Duerr stated.

Source;  http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/2011-05-27/Top_News/Police_have_sober_hopes_for_drunken_distracted_dri.html

Ocean City Shark Tournament Catch & Release

Statement in Support of the Ocean City Shark Tournament Catch and

Release Clinic May 21, 2011

On Saturday, May 21, Captain Mark Sampson and the other the directors of the 31st Annual Ocean City

Shark Tournament will be conducting a catch and release clinic on the docks at the Ocean City Fishing
catch and handle sharks in a manner that's safe for both fish and fishermen.

We commend Captain Mark Sampson and the Ocean City Shark Tournament for taking concrete steps to protect sharks and emphasize the importance of having fishermen catch and release sharks safely, said Steve Stock of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Dr. John W. Grandy of The Humane Society of the United States

According to Dr. John Grandy, senior vice president of The Humane Society of the United States, the catch and release clinic is an important step forward in shark conservation. “We applaud MarkSampson’s commitment to promote the catch and release of sharks in this summer’s tournament  and toprovide this special training to help ensure that released sharks will survive the encounter.” Steve Stock, president, of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation agrees. “Guy Harvey has officially endorsed this year’s tournament and fully supports this clinic because it will increase public awareness of the status of sharks and how important it is to utilize proper release techniques.

For more information please contact:Mr. Steve Stock Steve@guyharveyinc.com

Dr. John W. Grandy (202) 251-2163
Captain Mark Sampson (410) 726‐7946

Hardwire LLC Makes Donation To Ocean City Police Department

On Monday, May 16, 2011, the Ocean City Police Department was the proud recipient of 120 ballistic grade ticket books and clipboards, thanks to Hardwire LLC.  Representatives from Hardwire LLC, a local armor and survivability company located in Pocomoke, MD, visited the Ocean City Police Department to donate the protective items to be used by OCPD personnel.

The clipboards are manufactured from laser trimmed portions of the same armor being manufactured from their highly successful program to increase the survivability of the HMMWV. In today’s economic environment the ability to make the HMMWV, which the military already owns hundreds of thousands of units, into a vehicle with the same survivability characteristics as a modern tank yet light enough to be rapidly deployed, is the focus of the engineers at Hardwire LLC.

“I feel honored that Hardwire chose to donate these items to local law enforcement,” said Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino.  “We are very fortunate for the partnership with Hardwire and local law enforcement.  In light of the increase in deaths of police officers due to firearms nationwide, this donation offers our officers additional protection.”

Chief DiPino, who recently toured the secure Hardwire LLC facility, was impressed by the specialized technology and advanced products.  “The Hardwire facility is incredible – it looks like something out of a James Bond movie,” said Chief DiPino.  “There are a lot of highly confidential products being developed and manufactured by Hardwire.  In this time of economic uncertainty I feel extremely privileged that Hardwire has reached out to the Ocean City Police Department and shared some of their survivability knowledge and products to protect the lives of our officers. It’s a clipboard but what it may prevent is almost beyond comprehension.”

Box Trailer Containing 3 Motorcycles Stolen In Ocean City

WBOC NEWS/Kyle Parsons

OCEAN CITY, Md.- Ocean City police are investigating the theft of a box trailer containing two Harley Davidson motorcycles and one Iron Horse motorcycle.

According to police, the trailer was parked in the Tidelands auxiliary parking lot on the west side of Baltimore when an unknown suspect stole it sometime between 1 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., Monday, May 2.

The trailer, which is 16-feet long, is painted black. "S.R. Bressler" is painted on the side of
the trailer in white cursive lettering with "Welding and Fabrication" also painted on the
side in black and orange lettering. The wheels of the trailer are described to have tandem
wheels on each side.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Ocean City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at (410) 723-6604. Anonymous tips may also be made via email to ocpd@oceancitymd.gov.

Source; http://www.wboc.com/story/14571274/motorcycles-trailer-stolen-in-oc

12th Annual Board Walkin' For Pets

The Worcester County Humane Society  Could  Use Your Help

 Lisa Capitelli

Staff Writer

Dog owners will have an opportunity this Saturday to take their four-legged friends for a stroll along the Ocean City Boardwalk, while helping to raise funds for the Worcester County Humane Society, during its 12th annual Board Walkin’ for Pets event.

The activities are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the southern end of the Boardwalk. Registration will take place in front of Harrison’s Harbor Watch restaurant.

Several contests will be held prior to the walk. Prizes will be awarded to the largest and smallest dogs, the canine that performs the best trick, the best dressed and the sloppiest kisser. A special prize will also be presented to the dog that most resembles its human owner.

Although the walk is for dogs, felines won’t be left out, said event co-orga- nizer Kelly Austin, secretary of the Worcester County Humane Society. Owners may submit a picture of their cat for the fifth annual Cutest Cat Photo Contest. The winner will receive a gift basket.

After the contests, owners and their dogs will be free to walk as far as they want on the Boardwalk.

Refreshment stops with drinks and snacks will be set up for dogs and owners near 12th and 27th streets.

For a $25 donation, walkers will receive a bandanna for their pooch. Participants who raise $50 will get a dog walk T-shirt and a bandanna, and walkers donating $100 or more will take home a tote bag, T-shirt and a bandanna. The walk is not only an enjoyable outing for the whole family, but the dogs seem to have a good time as well. Many people also come back year after year to participate, Austin said.

The person who pledges the most money will win the grand prize gift basket filled with goodies donated by local businesses. The youngster age 12 or younger who collects the most donations will also take home a gift basket.

Ocean City Dog Walk
2010

A total of 283 people registered to walk a dog during the 2010 Board Walkin’ for Pets fundraiser. Austin said approximately $22,000 was raised for the shelter last year, which was about half of the amount collected during the 2009 walk. She attributes the decline in funds to the economy.

“This is the largest fundraiser we do, so we’re hoping to do much better this year,” Austin said.

Funds generated through the walk go toward the general costs of running the no-kill nonprofit shelter. Those expenses include food bills, cat litter, veterinary care such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, heartworm and flea preventive, medicines, shots, cleaning supplies and maintenance. Approximately $100,000 is spent annually on veterinary costs and $700 weekly on pet food.

Austin said about a dozen shelter dogs will be walked by volunteers this year. That number is down from last year because, during the last two months, several dogs have been adopted. All shelter dogs will wear “adopt me” bandannas.

At this time, there are approximately 30 dogs and more than 100 cats staying at the shelter.

Tickets for the Worcester County Humane Society’s $10,000 cash raffle will be sold during walk registration. The cost is $20 per ticket. They can also be purchased at the shelter on Eagles Nest Road, off Route 611 in West Ocean City, or at Healing Hands Animal Hospital on East Main Street in Salisbury. The winning ticket will be drawn during the humane society’s annual dinner in November.

For more information, call 410-213-0146 or visit www.boardwalkinforpets.com.

Source; http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/2011-04-29/Lifestyle/DOG_DAY_DELIGHT.html

If Law Passes Pooches Would Be Allowed On Restaurant Patios

TOM RISEN ¦ Staff Writer

Some people spend a lot of money on their pets and the Dining Out Growth Bill is waiting for Maryland Senate approval on whether to open restaurant patios to dogs and more tourist dollars. If passed, it would take effect on July 1.

After clearing the House of Delegates with a vote of 124 to 8, House Bill 941 has until the legislative session ends Monday to carry its offer of more customer service options onto the Senate floor and to the governor’s desk.

Delegates Mike McDermott (R-38) and Norm Conway (D-38B) differed on budget proposals, but both voted in favor of the pet-friendly measure because of its potential to boost consumer spending.

“This is a bill that will cost taxpayers nothing and has only the potential to increase disposable income from out-ofstaters,” said Delegate Dan Morhaim (D-11), who introduced the legislation.

“Businesses in North Carolina, California, Florida, Michigan and many cities around the country are reaping benefits from having introduced this.”

Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melanie Pursel said there is a growing trend of people traveling with their pets.

“People who treat their pets like their children are sometimes the ones with disposable income,” Pursel said. “I personally think this could be a good idea for businesses to offer something more to travelers. But it’s a fine line, like with the leash law on the beach.

Business owners would have one more thing to keep track of if they allow dogs in their patios.”

The bill would leave it up to bar owners on whether to allow dogs and what kind of dogs would be allowed on patios. The pet owners would be held responsible for managing Fido, Rover and Spot.

Along with displaying a sign for patrons and keeping the dog outside, the restaurant would have notify local health departments.

“Other states doing this only had isolated incidents in our judgment, so it’s something we decided to work on with Delegate Morhaim,” said Dr. Clifford S. Mitchell, assistant director for Health and Food Protection at the Maryland Department of Mental Health and Hygiene.

Ocean City already has a handful of pet-friendly hotels that claim to have harnessed extra tourism dollars from pet travel. Barefoot Mailman Motel’s owner Adam Showell said his hotel profits by working out a balance with pet owners and housekeeping working in concert. Housekeeping cannot enter a room if the pet is there without the owner, Showell said.

“It’s fun running a pet-friendly business and we have a high rate of returning guests,” Showell said. “There is a high rate of camaraderie among the customers since they all bring their dogs or cats as part of the family. They love coming to Ocean City, even during cooler weather when the Boardwalk and beaches are still open to pets.”

One provision of the bill prohibits dogs from entering the restaurant at any point, even to get to the outdoor seating and could apply to the Ocean City Boardwalk. Ocean City’s beaches and its Boardwalk are not open to dog walking between May 1 and Sept. 30 because of the crowds. Monitoring pets in a crowded bar could be a concern for some businessmen, such as Shenanigans Manager Nick Feickert, who said his Boardwalk side patio would not allow dogs if the bill passed.

“In our experience some people have phobias of dogs and might not want to have them around while drinking or eating,” Feickert said.

“There‘s also the risk for an accident with servers walking around carrying food and drinks.”

Donna Abbott, communications manager for the Town of Ocean City, said if the bill passed, business owners would likely have to approach the City Council about Boardwalk access for pets.

One tourist to Ocean City, Rhonda Gresham of Chesapeake, Va., said she and her husband sometimes take their Yorkshire terrier, Lacy Lou, to Rehoboth since she finds it more pet-friendly.

“Ocean City has lost my travel money in the past,” Treuth said. “I plan my vacation around Lacy Lou and I would love to see more pet-friendly.

Source; oceancitytoday.news http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/2011-04-08/Top_News/If_passed_law_would_allow_pooches_on_restaurant_pa.html

Jury Finds Son Guilty Of Second Degree Murder In Mother's Death

~~During the first day of this trial there was testimony from a caseworker that stated she had visited the home of Emily Molin and had found her wearing urine soaked clothing and eating at a table sharing utensils with cats. The caseworker made frequent visits to the home and determined that Emily Molin should be placed in a nursing home. Whether Ms. Molin was able to get into a cleaner facility or not she still couldn't escape from the one person that cared nothing about her. ~~

Written by: News Editor, Shawn J. Soper
SNOW HILL -- After deliberating nearly five hours yesterday, a Worcester County jury returned a second-degree murder verdict on a Pennsylvania man charged with running over his elderly mother several times near Berlin last August.

Steven Frederick Molin, 58, of Darby, Pa., faces a maximum of 30 years in jail after a Worcester County jury late yesterday found him guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his elderly mother on a dark, rural road. According to the facts of the case, and hours of testimony over two days this week, Molin ran over and backed over his mother as many as three times, resulting in the injuries that caused her death.

From the beginning, Molin described the incident as an accident, telling police his elderly mother, Emily Belle Molin, 85, also of Darby, Pa., had fallen out of the passenger side door damaged during another accident early in the day. Molin told investigators he merely backed over his mother as he reversed the vehicle in an attempt to pick her up, but evidence collected at the scene ran counter to his explanation of the events from the beginning.

The trial began with jury selection on Tuesday and both the state’s and defense’s cases were wrapped up by Wednesday afternoon. Both sides presented closing arguments early yesterday morning and the jury got the case around 10:30 a.m. The jury had several options to consider, including first- and second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, and deliberated for several hours before returning a guilty verdict on the middle charge.

One juror, speaking on condition of anonymity immediately following the reading of the verdict, said there were considerable gaps in opinion to overcome in order to reach a verdict amenable to everyone.

“There wasn’t a consensus initially,” she said. “It took a couple of go-rounds before we could come to an agreement. It wasn’t a cut-and-dried situation. There was a lot of evidence that was hard to interpret.”

The juror said the jury was able to close the gap after going over the testimony and the evidence repeatedly.

“There were a couple of people hanging around involuntary manslaughter and there were more than a couple that wanted a first-degree murder conviction,” she said. “There were two camps, basically, and we were finally able to come around to a middle ground.”

For many on the jury, the case boiled down to pre-meditation, an essential requirement for a first-degree murder conviction. The anonymous juror said yesterday no one on the panel agreed with Molin’s claim the incident was just an unfortunate incident.

“Everybody felt certain she did not fall out of the vehicle by accident,” she said. “The real question was whether or not he planned it. I’m not sure any of us thought it was pre-meditated in the end. He was clearly very stressed and we weren’t able to say for sure if he drove here that night with the intention of killing his mother.”

Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the state, said immediately after the reading of the verdict, he was somewhat disappointed with the outcome despite the second-degree murder conviction. However, Oglesby, who used the words “uncomfortable, unthinkable, unimaginable and inconceivable” to describe the crime during the three-day trial, respected the jury’s decision in the end.

“While I don’t entirely agree with the verdict, I respect the verdict,” Oglesby told Delaware County Times (Pa.) reporter Gil Spencer immediately following the trial. “We really believed we presented a strong case for first-degree murder, but I respect the jury’s decision. I truly believe justice was served.”

Shortly before midnight on Aug. 31, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to a serious motor vehicle accident on Carey Rd. in Berlin just north of Ocean Pines. The victim, Emily Belle Molin, was transported to PRMC in Salisbury where she succumbed to injuries sustained from being run over by a motor vehicle.

From the beginning, Steven Molin did not deny running over his mother as many as three times, but has claimed the incident was an accident, caused in part by a faulty passenger side door on the 2008 Chevy work truck damaged in an different accident earlier in the day.

However, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office accident reconstructionist, after reviewing the physical evidence and interviewing Molin, determined the victim had been run over three times despite ample opportunity by the suspect to avoid hitting her again after the first collision.

The accident reconstructionist, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Sgt Ed Schreier, testified on Tuesday if the victim had fallen out of Molin’s truck, he would have had to back up as far as 30 yards, or 90 feet, to run her over by accident.

In the end, the jury found Molin guilty of second-degree murder and a pre-sentence evaluation and psychological evaluation were ordered. Judge Thomas C. Groton denied Molin’s emphatic request to address the court following the reading of the verdict.

www.mdcoastdispatch.com

Nationwide Search For Baby Beleived To Be In Resort Area

Written by: Nancy Powell

Associate Editor

(March 11, 2011) A missing baby that is the subject of a nationwide search is believed to be in the Ocean City area.

According to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Ethan Santee was last seen Nov. 29, in Topeka, Kansas.
He may be in the company of his mother, Angelique McCarty, 39, who left her Topeka home with him in a 2001 maroon Dodge Intrepid bearing Missouri tag HE4GIR. The baby is described as white, 2 feet 3 inches tall with brown hair and blue eyes.
Kansas news organizations reported that the baby’s father has no idea where they are and is concerned about the safety and welfare of the baby, who was born July 18, 2010.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said the mother and child were believed to be in Ocean City late last month and could still be in the area.
McCarty has reportedly used the last names of Medley, Huffines and Santee.
Anyone with information is asked to call The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, the Topeka Police Department at 1-785-368- 9200, or the Ocean City Police Department at 410-723-6610.
Source; oceancitytoday

Pictures of Bombs Posted On Facebook Can Get You Alot Of Attention

( March 4, 2011) When a picture or comment is posted on the Internet, it could be there forever for anyone to see. One Ocean City man learned this the hard way last week, when he was arrested and charged with a serious crime because of a picture he posted on his Facebook page.

Authorities contend that Ernesto Garcia-Bristo, 26, posted a picture of himself holding two pipe bombs, along with a comment that he made the bombs to use against another person. The Ocean City bomb squad arrested him Feb. 24 and charged him with possessing a destructive device.

The investigation into Garcia- Bristo’s activities was started by an agent with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement because Garcia-Bristo was supposed to have been deported in 2008, according to the police report. The agent began conducting surveillance of Garcia- Bristo after learning that he was still living in Ocean City.

As part of the investigation, the ICE agent examined Garcia-Bristo’s online Facebook page. The agent was concerned by some of the pictures posted on the page, and contacted the local bomb squad.

According to the statement of charges written by Deputy Fire Marshal Cliff Christello, one picture depicted a Hispanic male with a black ski mask over his face holding “two metallic, oblong cylindrical objects (one approximately half the size of the larger) attached together by what appears to be black electrical tape and connected on top by a thin item similar in size/consistency to a fuse or electrical wiring.” These were believed to be pipe bombs.

A string of online comments below the picture led police to believe Garcia-Bristo was the man in the picture holding the suspected bombs, that he made the suspected bombs in Ocean City and that he threatened to use them against another person.

According to the police report, one comment asked, “And is that one of your creations?” The reply, which police said was written by Garcia- Bristo, said, “C’mon, don’t you remember, Fat Boy, it’s the one we did in 76th, it was a gift for that [expletive]. Thank god they understood, because otherwise BBBBUUUMMM to hell.”


Read more HERE>>

Standoff In West Ocean City Ends Peacefully

March 04, 2011
Written By: News Editor, Shawn J. Soper

WEST OCEAN CITY -- A West Ocean City man was charged with assault, false imprisonment and other charges this week after a nearly two-hour standoff at his home on Wednesday resulted in one of the largest mobilizations of local law enforcement and emergency services manpower and equipment in recent memory.

Around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported domestic assault in progress on Blue Marlin Drive in West Ocean City. The initial investigation revealed the suspect, identified as Jasun V. Weistling, 37, of Ocean City, had been involved in a domestic altercation involving family members including his children and was highly intoxicated and possibly under the influence of prescription medication, according to police reports.

When deputies arrived, Weistling had fled from the home to the second floor of his detached two-car garage where he kept an office. According to sources, Weistling was self-employed as a day trader on the stock exchange from his home office. The perimeter was quickly secured and the victims of the assault were extracted from the home.

Over the next two-plus hours, Weistling remained in the garage office as the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Maryland State Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office, continued to deploy massive amounts of manpower and equipment to the scene. SWAT teams in full regalia mobilized along with the Bomb Squad and its robot. Marked and unmarked police cars along with emergency services vehicles lined both sides of the otherwise peaceful street on both sides and in both directions as concerned neighbors looked on from a safe distance.

It was uncertain at the scene if Weistling was armed, or the extent of his arsenal, but Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Colonel Doug Dods confirmed yesterday the suspect was believed to be armed and potentially dangerous.

“When we got a hold of him, he wasn’t armed,” he said. “Family members told us he had a shotgun and a handgun in the garage office, so that raised a whole lot of concerns.”

Multiple attempts to establish communications with Weistling were made by law enforcement officials to no avail. At one point, the suspect’s father implored his son to come out peacefully over a loudspeaker, but the standoff continued. At another point, the Bomb Squad robot was deployed and officers on the scene called for a boom camera, presumably to gain visual access to the interior of the garage.

Finally, around 7:21 p.m., Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to take Weistling into custody without further incident. He was transported to PRMC in Salisbury for evaluation. He was later charged with two counts of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, false imprisonment and alcohol intoxication endangerment. Weistling made an initial appearance in District Court yesterday morning and was ordered held on a $50,000 bond.

Dods said the incident had a fairly successful outcome despite concerns for Weistling, and more importantly, the family members involved.

“We’re hoping he gets the help he obviously needs, but he has to answer for his actions,” he said.

Source; mdcoastdispatch.com

Ocean City Police Dept. Says Farewell To K-9 Officer Delon

The Ocean City Police Department is mourning the loss of a member of the Patrol/Explosives Division, K-9 Delon.

The 8-year-old shepherd (pictured here with his partner Pfc. Freddie Howard) passed away Tuesday from a degenerative disk disorder in his spine.

K-9 Officer Delon came to the OCPD in 2005 from the Czech Republic and has spent over 1,000 training hours as the OCPD’s only explosives K-9. Delon also trained with Dover Air Force Base and the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office.

Thankyou for your service K-9 Officer Delon.

18-Month Sentence For Ocean City Man

SNOW HILL -- An Ocean City man who set fire to an abandoned concrete plant was sentenced to 18 months in jail for second-degree arson.

John Edward Cropper, 46, was first given a harsher, 10-year sentence by Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Thomas C. Groton III. The judge suspended all but 18 months of the sentence, telling Cropper if he slipped up again, he'd face the remaining years behind bars.

Additional charges of malicious destruction of property and trespassing merged with the arson charge. Cropper's sentence also includes five years of supervised probation and $1,170 in fines and court fees. The judge authorized the 18 months to be served on work release.

Assistant Worcester County State's Attorney Diane Cuilhe sought a harsher sentence -- second-degree arson carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail and a $30,000 fine -- based on Cropper being charged with a string of arsons in 1987.

According to Joel Todd, who was a deputy state's attorney at the time, Cropper became the main suspect in a series of Ocean City arsons in the 1980s. Officials eventually found probable cause to charge him, but in court he was found not criminally responsible.

Cuilhe said prosecutors believe Cropper poses a risk as a repeat offender based on comments he made to authorities at the time of the 1987 incidents: "I light 'em and I fight 'em."

In court, Cropper apologized for the fires set this spring, saying he's raising a 13-year-old son who "would greatly resent it" if his father were jailed. He also said he works full-time as an engineer on a clamming boat and can't miss work.

The judge noted Cropper's record of minor offenses, which include arrests for theft, burglary and drug possession.

Ocean City Police said on the evening of March 28, an officer on patrol stopped Cropper as he was walking near the Cropper Concrete plant. Though they share a name, the plant's owners and the defendant are unconnected.

Cropper, who rents a home on nearby St. Louis Avenue, claimed he was looking for his dog. The officer testified to noticing a strong smell of lighter fluid or gasoline on him. The officer let Cropper go and, with another officer, did a property check of the plant.

Inside a maintenance building, the officers smelled smoke and eventually found two small fires burning. The officers put out the fires and quickly brought Cropper back for questioning.

Cropper at first denied that he had been on the concrete plant grounds. But police found dirt on his boots that matched that of the property, and found his hands reeking of a flammable liquid, as well as black marks on his hands.

www.delmarvanow.com

Taxi Cab Robbery Arrest

The investigation is continuing, but Ocean City Police have arrested 17 year old Thomas Scaniffe of Ocean Pines for his involvement in a couple of taxicab robberies that occurred on December 30th. He is charged with armed robbery and other offenses and is being held in default of $250,000 bond in the Worcester County jail. Anyone with information should call 410-723-6604.

NEWS RELEASE; OCEAN CITY & OCEAN PINES TAXICAB ROBBERY – UPDATE

Ocean City Police have identified and charged a suspect in the taxicab robberies that took place on December 30, 2010. On January 1, 2011, Ocean City Police arrested
Thomas Scaniffe, 17, of Ocean Pines.

Scaniffe was charged as an adult with armed robbery, robbery, first degree assault, second degree assault, two counts of theft less than $1,000 and resisting/interfering with an arrest. After his initial appearance by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner, Scaniffe was held on a $250,000 bond and transferred to Worcester County Jail.

On December 30, 2010, at approximately 1:15 a.m., the Ocean City Police responded to the area of 5th Street and Edgewater Avenue in reference to an armed robbery.
Officers interviewed the victim of the robbery, who was an on-duty taxicab driver. The victim told officers he received a call from a restricted phone number requesting a cab ride from Ocean Pines to Ocean City. The cab driver picked up two males at approximately 12:50 a.m. on Marview Drive and brought them to Ocean City. Once at 5th Street, the two males assaulted the taxicab driver, taking money and other items.

A second similar incident took place on December 30, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. A taxicab driver responded to Brandywine Drive in Ocean Pines. Two males entered the cab, demanded money, and assaulted the driver with a weapon.

The investigation is ongoing. Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police ask anyone with knowledge about the incident or the suspects to contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6604.

www.wgmd.com

Taxi Cab Robberies In Ocean City and Ocean Pines Investigated

Police are asking for the public’s assistance in apprehending suspects of two recent robberies that occurred in Ocean City and Ocean Pines. On December 30, 2010, at approximately 1:15 a.m., the Ocean City Police responded to the area of 5th Street and Edgewater Avenue in reference to an armed robbery.

Officers interviewed the victim of the robbery, who was an on-duty taxi-cab driver. The victim told officers he received a call from a restricted phone number requesting a cab ride from Ocean Pines to Ocean City. The cab driver picked up two males at approximately 12:50 a.m. on Marview Drive and brought them to Ocean City. Once at 5th Street, the two males assaulted the taxi cab driver, taking money and other items.

The victim described the suspects as follows: The first suspect is a white male, approximately 22-26 years of age, 6 foot tall and wearing a hooded sweatshirt and knit hat. The second suspect is a white male, approximately 22-26 years of age, approximately 5’-7” to 5’-9”, wearing a sweatshirt and knit hat.

A second similar incident took place on December 30, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. A taxi-cab driver responded to Brandywine Drive in Ocean Pines. Two males entered the cab, demanded money, and assaulted the driver with a weapon.

The victim described the suspects as follows: The first suspect is described as a bi-racial male, possibly “Hawaiian,” believed to be in his 20s, wearing blue jeans. The second suspect, a white male, is believed to be in his 20s, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and carrying an edged weapon.

The Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean Pines Police Department are conducting a joint investigation of the armed robberies. Taxi-cab and pizza delivery businesses should be aware of these incidents and use crime preventive measures during their course of business. Those needing assistance in acquiring crime preventive measures are encourage to contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Office of Community Service at 410-723-6610.

Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police ask anyone with knowledge about the incident or the suspects to contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6600.

www.wgmd.com

DNA Links Suspect To Burglary

BERLIN, Md.- Police in Worcester County said Tuesday that they used DNA evidence to connect a suspect to the burglary of a Berlin business.

Martino Galeaz, 39, of Ocean City, is charged with second-, third- and fourth-degree burglary and theft over $1,000.

Detectives with the Worcester County said Galeaz's arrest stemmed from a burglary that occurred earlier this year at Atlantic Aquatech on 10902 Ocean Gateway.

Authorities said an investigation revealed the suspect entered the business and stole a number of items, including power tools. Through DNA analysis from evidence collected at the crime scene, investigators identified Galeaz as the suspect.

After his arrest on the aforementioned charges, Galeaz was locked up in the Worcester County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact the WCBI at (410) 352-3476, or Maryland State Police at (410) 641-3101.
www.wboc.com

Domestic Assult Leads To Police Shooting

OCEAN CITY, Md.- Police have released the names of the couple involved in the domestic dispute that led to an officer-involved shooting Monday morning.

Ocean City Police officers responded to a 911 call for a domestic dispute at 11:07 am Monday. When officers arrived at the apartment on 82^nd Street, a man with a knife was attacking a woman, according to police.

Police say the suspect would not drop his weapon. One officer then shot the man.

The suspect is identified as Marvin Jefferson Mitchell, 27, of Berlin, Maryland. The female is Mitchell's estranged wife, Shanna Mitchell, 25, also of Berlin, Maryland.

Police say the couple's two children were inside the apartment during the stabbing and officer-involved shooting.

The police officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave pending review of the incident.

Both the suspect and victim received care by the Ocean City Fire Department Paramedics before being transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center. They are both hospitalized and in stable condition.

Shanna Mitchell had obtained an active Protective Order against her husband.

Marvin Mitchell has been charged by the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation with nine charges, including 1st Degree Attempted Murder, Reckless Endangerment and Violation of a Protective Order.

www.wboc.com

Telescoper Offices Raided By IRS Agents

(Dec. 10, 2010) Agents with the Internal Revenue Service raided an Ocean City business Tuesday morning, taking computers and boxes of files with them.

Around 8 a.m., a fleet of large, black sport utility vehicles with tinted windows and out-of-state license plates rolled up in front of Telescope Pictures on 16th Street. The crowd having breakfast at a diner across the street watched as federal agents wearing bulletproof vests and dark jackets got out of the vehicles and entered the business.

“They were wearing flak jackets and ski masks. They just rolled up and jumped out of all these cars with plates from Maryland, Virginia and D.C. tags. I’ve never seen anything this serious,” said City Council President Jim Hall, who was eating breakfast in the diner at the time and watched the raid unfold.

The agents’ jackets identified them as members of the “IRS Criminal Enforcement Division,” and some were wearing firearms. Hall said they removed some people from the property who appeared to be living in apartments above the business, and then began to empty the place.

“They took computers, books, boxes, everything,” he said.

Telescope Pictures is the company holding the city franchise to provide beach photographers. The photographers take pictures of beachgoers, who can go to the 16th Street offices to purchase their photos at the end of the day. The company is owned by Patrick McLaughlin and is also known as United Beach Photo Inc.

The company holds the two beach photo franchises and the night before the IRS raid, McLaughlin was the only bidder in an auction to hold the franchises for the next four years. Hall did not know whether the city would be able to accept his bids or have to hold another auction.

McLaughlin is perhaps the biggest player in direct business with the city through its franchises. Aside from the beach photo franchises, he also holds approximately half of the city’s beach equipment rental stand franchises, has a small stake in an ice cream vending truck franchise and holds three of the resort’s taxicab medallions.

The IRS agent in charge of the Telescope Pictures case declined to comment on the details of search and seizure or the case in general and the IRS media contact did not return calls seeking comment about the case. Calls made to the Telescope Pictures office were met by a recording announcing the office was closed for the season.

www.oceancitytoday.net

Christine Cullen, Staff Writer

Sellers Convicted Of First Degree Arson In Worcester County

A man with no permanent address has been convicted of First Degree Arson from a house fire that occurred on Keyser Point Road in Ocean City back on April 11th. Thomas Sellers was arrested on September 1st. Then earlier this month, Worcester County Circuit Court convicted Sellers of intentionally setting the blaze. A Pre Sentence Investigation has been ordered.
December 6, 2010 – West Ocean City Arson Conviction
Written by Matt Owens

Monday, 06 December 2010 12:45 The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office has been investigating an April 11, 2010 residential house fire at 10359 Keyser Point Road, Ocean City, Maryland in Worcester County. Evidence and information from interviews led to the September 1, 2010 arrest of Thomas W. Sellers, (no permanent address). On December 1, 2010, Worcester County Circuit Court convicted Sellers of First Degree Arson. A Pre Sentence Investigation has been ordered. Anyone with additional questions is asked to contact Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Matthew Owens at 410-632-5666 x 2 or at mowens@wcfmo.orgmowens@wcfmo.org.

www.wgmd.com

Maryland Police Chiefs To Take The Plunge For Special Olympics

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City's newest ocean-plunge fundraiser will see law enforcement leaders from across Maryland start a new tradition with a frigid dip into the Atlantic for the Special Olympics.

As the associations of Maryland sheriffs and chiefs of police meet for a joint training conference in the resort next week, about 150 of them from 88 police agencies will spend Tuesday afternoon running and diving into the cold ocean water.

Though they'll be more than four miles north of the Boardwalk, the event will be known as the Chiefs & Sheriffs Boardwalk Plunge. Only members of law enforcement are eligible to participate. Each swimmer has to raise at least $50 to enter.

So far, police have raised about $14,000 with pre-registrations. Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino so far is in the Top 5 among all fundraising participants.

"I'm excited about it," she said. "I'm hoping the water's going to warm up a little bit. It's going to be kind of cool to be doing it in Ocean City."

Next week, the ocean temperature will be about 56 to 58 degrees, as long as there isn't a cold snap, according to Lee Gerachis, owner of Malibu's Surf Shop.

Several other chiefs also will participate, including Chief Michael Tabor of the Crisfield police and Chief Scott Keller of the Princess Anne police.

Keller said the annual police chiefs conference brings viewpoints of police all over the state and makes for great interaction among his peers for networking and training.

"It's close to here, so we don't have to drive all the way up to Sandy Point for that other one," said Keller, who also will be joined by his second-in-command, Capt. Warren Gadomski. "We got our bathing suits ready. It might be a little colder than we're used to."

Keller was referring to the Polar Bear Plunge held annually at Sandy Point State Park, in the shadow of the Chesapeake Bay bridge, an event hosted annually by Maryland State Police as a fundraiser for Special Olympics of Maryland.

Jumping into the Atlantic Ocean for charity isn't new to Ocean City. The annual Penguin Swim to benefit Atlantic General Hospital will celebrate its 17th year on New Year's Day.

All the police Special Olympics fundraisers fall under the umbrella of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the signature fundraiser for cops and Special Olympics worldwide.

Howard County Police Lt. John Newnan, who is chairman of Maryland's Torch Run, said the state of Maryland raises the most money worldwide for Special Olympics and that Maryland cops raised $4.1 million in the 2009-10 fundraising year, which ended in September.

"It's a pretty amazing movement, and we're all dedicated to it in our communities," he said.

Not every conference attendee will be braving the icy shorebreak on Tuesday.

"It's too damn cold," said Somerset County Sheriff Bobby Jones. "I might watch it from a balcony window. I got nothing against people who want to jump into the ocean in November, but I'm not going to do it."

Visit www.boardwalk plunge.com.

If you go

WHAT. Inaugural Maryland Chiefs & Sheriffs Boardwalk Plunge
WHERE. Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel, 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City
WHEN. 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
INFO. www.boardwalk plunge.com; 410-789-6677, ext. 103

www.delmarvanow.com