Ocean City Police Seeking Public’s Assistance

Ocean City Police Seeking Public’s Assistance

 in Identifying Assault Suspect

The Ocean City Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating the suspect in recent attempted sexual assaults that have occurred in poorly lit, semi-secluded areas near bar establishments. The most recent occurred on July 28, 2012 during the early morning hours.

In each case, a female victim was under the influence of alcohol, alone and walking home when an unknown male initiated a conversation with the victim. After initiating conversation, the unknown male suspect then forces the victim to the ground and attempts to sexually assault them.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5’10”, approximately 170 pounds, and in his mid-20’s to early 30’s.
Ocean City Police are asking anyone with information about similar incidents, and/or the suspect involved to please contact Detective Simpson of the Ocean City’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410-520-5349. Those providing information may remain anonymous.

The OCPD is reminding residents and visitors to use the buddy-system and not walk alone, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, be aware of your surroundings, and walk in highly traveled public areas.

Ocean City Police Department News Release

Man Shot During Burglary Gets Eight Years Behind Bars

SNOW HILL -- Cpl. Katie Edgar pulled into the gravel driveway of Venable's Electric HVAC Inc., responding to call of a burglary in process at the warehouse. She stepped out of her Worcester County Sheriff's patrol car to see a pickup truck headed toward her, backlit by the warehouse lights, its headlights turned off.

With her gun in her right hand and her police dog, Jonka, leashed in her left, she yelled at the driver to turn off the car and get out. Instead, the driver turned on the headlights; he gunned the engine.

What happened next set in motion the events that would lead to the police pursuit and arrest of the truck driver, Matthew Noah Collins, and his eventual trial on charges of assault, burglary and theft.

Circuit Court Judge Dale Cathell sentenced Collins, 28, of Salisbury to eight years in jail, finding him guilty of second-degree assault and fourth-degree burglary. Prosecutors dropped a charge of first-degree assault.

Collins admitted in court on Aug. 18 that he'd gone to the Bishopville warehouse to steal metal that he would later sell for scrap. He was leaving the property with several large air conditioning units packed into his pickup bed when he was caught red-handed.

The junked air conditioning units kept behind that warehouse held valuable copper, aluminum and steel parts. With market prices at the time about $3 a pound, the scrap metal would have been worth between $600-$900, testified company owner Dale Venable.

Edgar stood about six feet from the bumper of Collins' 1983 Ford pickup, yelling for him to get out, when the engine went from idle to racing.

Edgar used her gun in self-defense, firing six times toward the oncoming truck.

"I fired as long as he was a threat to me," she said.

Collins pulled the truck hard to the right and drove off. He had been shot three times: in the upper back, shoulder blades and clean through his left elbow.

Worcester County deputies soon caught up with him, and he pulled over on Route 113 north of Carey Road, where he was arrested.

Judge Cathell said Matthew Collins' criminal history of assault, burglary and shoplifting charges in Maryland and Delaware informed his decision to hand down the maximum allowable prison sentence on the burglary and assault charges.

"It seems like nothing teaches you a lesson. Maybe this will," the judge said.

Source;  http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110819/NEWS01/108190308/Man-shot-during-burglary-gets-8-years

Worcester County Deputy Shoots In Attempt To Stop Truck~Burglar Nabbed

BERLIN, MD – A Delaware man is under Maryland State Police guard at a Baltimore hospital where he is being treated for wounds he sustained when he allegedly drove his truck at a Worcester County deputy sheriff after he was caught in the act of theft from a Berlin business last night.

The accused is identified as Matthew N. Collins, 28, of the 33000-block of Cowhouse Branch Road, Millsboro, Delaware. Maryland State Police have obtained an arrest warrant charging him with first degree assault, second degree assault, reckless endangerment, and theft under $1,000. This warrant will be served on him as soon as he is medically able to have an initial appearance before a court commissioner at the hospital.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deputy is not being identified at this time. The deputy is a seven-year law enforcement veteran and has served with the sheriff’s office for about five years.

Worcester County Sheriff Reggie Mason contacted the Maryland State Police last night and requested that Homicide Unit investigators conduct the investigation into a police involved shooting. State Police Homicide Unit investigators responded and were assisted by investigators from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office. State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby responded to the scene and has been personally consulted by investigators.

The preliminary investigation indicates that shortly before 10:00 p.m. yesterday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy responded to a 911 call for a reported burglary in progress at Venables Electric, in the 10000-block of Old Worcester Highway (Rt. 575) in Berlin. The witness reported that a vehicle had pulled to the rear of the business and a person appeared to be attempting to enter the building.

Initial information indicates that when the deputy arrived, she got out of her patrol vehicle with her dog. Almost immediately, a Ford F-150 pickup truck drove from the rear of the building. The deputy, who had her .45 caliber department-issued pistol drawn, attempted to stop the truck.

The truck, being driven by Collins, stopped several feet in front of the deputy. The deputy gave repeated verbal commands to Collins to surrender.

Collins, who was alone in the truck, ignored those commands and accelerated, driving directly toward the deputy. In fear for her life, the deputy fired her pistol at the driver.

The deputy was able to avoid being struck by the truck. Collins drove out of the lot and turned left on Rt. 575. The deputy pursued Collins in her patrol car. The pursuit continued onto Carey Road and then to northbound Rt. 113.

Once on Rt. 113, Collins stopped the truck and surrendered to the deputy and two other deputies who had responded to the pursuit. The deputies saw Collins had sustained gunshot wounds and immediately provided emergency care and summoned assistance.

Collins was flown by a Maryland State Police helicopter initially to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center and then on to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. At this time, his wounds are not believed to be life-threatening.

Crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police and the Ocean City Police Department responded to the scenes and spent the night collecting evidence. The truck driven by Collins has been taken to the Berlin Barrack where it will be processed later today pursuant to a search warrant. Investigators can see several air conditioning units in the bed of the truck, which are believed to have been stolen from Venables Electric. One unit fell off the truck during the pursuit.

Investigators learned there had been air conditioning units located outside the rear of Venables Electric. It does not appear Collins gained entry into the building before the deputy arrived.

The investigation is continuing.

**It has since been reported the deputy is Cpl. Katie Edgar, a seven-year law enforcement veteran who has served with the Worcester County Sheriff's Office for about five years.***

Victim Of Baseball Bat Beating Still Hospitalized

SNOW HILL -- An altercation following a rural-road rendezvous on New Year's Eve has left one man hospitalized and another facing serious assault charges.

Kenneth Lee Wharton III, 18, of Snow Hill has been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, armed robbery and theft after he allegedly beat 21-year-old Kendrick Lee Hall with a baseball bat.

According to court documents, both men met at Snow Hill Middle School on Friday before driving, in separate cars, to the end of Brick Kiln Road.

In charging documents, police allege Wharton demanded money and Hall's Droid X smart phone before beginning to beat him with a baseball bat.

Wharton told police that after driving to the location around 2 a.m., Hall "grabbed him and attempted to kiss him." Wharton admitted to hitting Hall "six or seven times," but maintained he never took the smart phone or stole $10, according to police. The men are considered to be acquaintances, police say.

On Monday, Hall was in fair condition at Peninsula Regional Medical Center after suffering a parietal bone fracture, a minimally depressed skull, hematoma, brain contusion, nasal bone fractures, an orbital wall fracture and numerous bruises on his back, according to court documents filed in District Court to support the charges against Wharton.

Dr. David Kerrigan, a trauma surgeon at PRMC, said patients who experience bleeding in or around the brain are given at least one year to recover and can experience an array of short- and long-term symptoms.

"If a patient gets good care, even in optimum circumstances they can have bad results," said Kerrigan. "On the flip side, you can have great results with very little invasive treatment."

Kerrigan, who was not speaking directly about Hall's condition, said side effects of similar brain and head injuries can range from headaches and migraines to bouts of depression and difficulty with everyday tasks.

Wharton has been released on bond, pending a preliminary hearing scheduled on Jan. 28.

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