Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Incident: Attempted Assault on a Deputy
Date of Incident: 2 April 2010
Location: 32000 block of old Ocean City Road, Parsonsburg, MD
Suspect: Edward F. Huntington, 61, Millsboro, DE

Narrative: On 2 April 2010 at 6:21 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office was in the parking lot of an establishment in the 32000 block of Old Ocean City Road when his attention was drawn to a woman yelling at a subject in the parking lot. While the deputy was speaking with the woman, identified as Lydia May Hicks, the deputy discovered an open warrant for her arrest and took her into custody.

While in the process of arranging to transport Hicks back to the Sheriff’s Office, a man later identified as Edward Huntington exited the establishment where the woman had just been. The deputy observed Huntington get behind the wheel of a Ford Explorer and start the engine. Huntington then proceeded to drive in the direction of the deputy in what the deputy assumed was an attempt to run him down. After Huntington refused repeated requests to stop his vehicle, the deputy managed to take decisive action that encouraged Huntington to cease his attempt to run him down. Huntington was removed from his vehicle and placed under arrest. During the arrest process, Huntington admitted wanting to run down the deputy in order to free Hicks. Also post arrest, it was discovered that Huntington’s Delaware Driver’s license was suspended and that he had put registration plates from another vehicle on the unregistered one he was operating.

Huntington was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained him in the Detention Center in lieu of $50,000.00 bond.

Hicks was held at the Wicomico County Detention Center on $500.00 pre-set bond.

Charges: Attempted First Degree Assault
Interference with a Lawful Arrest
Reckless Endangerment
Driving While Suspended
Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle
Displaying Registration Plates for Another Vehicle


Incident: Child Abuse
Date of Incident: 1 April 2010
Location: 900 block of Booth Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Christopher D. Burrell, 46, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 1 April 2010 at 9:30 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported altercation in the 900 block of Booth Street. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a male juvenile who was visibly upset and suffering from a recent contusion to the face. The deputy learned that the juvenile and his father, Christopher Burrell, became involved in a heated argument when the juvenile stated that his father punched him in the face causing the injury.

The deputy located the victim’s father and subsequently placed him under arrest, transporting him to the Central Booking Unit. At the Central Booking Unit Burrell was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Burrell in the Detention Center in lieu of $10,000.00 bond.
Charges: Child Abuse
Assault 2nd degree


Incident: Smuggling
Date of Incident: 1 April 2010
Location: U.S. 13 N/B at Foskey Lane, Delmar, MD
Suspect: 1. Shijie Chen, 68, New York, NY
2. Lin Zhenfeng, 46, Flushing, NY

Narrative: On 1 April 2010 at 7:30 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a New York Registered sedan travelling northbound on U.S. 13 in the Delmar area. While speaking with the occupants, the deputy observed several large black in color trash bags which appeared to have some sort of merchandise inside. After further investigation, the deputy discovered that the trash bags were full of cartons of cigarettes purchased in Virginia. The deputy determined that the duo were on their way back to New York where the Virginia bought cigarettes would then be sold.

The total amount of cigarettes located inside the vehicle amounted to 3,838 packs. Both Shijie Chen and Lin Zhenfeng were placed under arrest for transporting the Virginia bought cigarettes through Maryland without paying Maryland tax on them.

Both subjects were transported to the Central Booking Unit where they were processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, both were detained in the Detention Center in lieu of $10,000.00 bond each.

Charges: Transport Cigarettes or other Tobacco products with unpaid tax
Possession of Unstamped Cigarettes


Incident: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Date of Incident: 2 April 2010
Location: Old Quantico Road at Nanticoke Rd, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Amanda Joy Taylor, 24, Tyaskin, MD

Narrative: On 2 April 2010 at 8:34 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported single vehicle collision on Old Quantico Road. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that a 1997 Buick operated by Amanda Joy Taylor of Tyaskin Road had struck a telephone pole, splitting it in half. Upon making contact with Taylor, the deputy detected that she had been consuming alcohol, evident by the odor she emitted and other exhibited physical characteristics. At the conclusion of the deputy’s investigation, a determination was made to arrest Taylor for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The arresting deputy released Taylor on citations pending a future court date.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Driving While impaired by Alcohol
Reckless Driving
Negligent Driving


Incident: Possession of Crack Cocaine
Date of Incident: 4 April 2010
Location: Salisbury Blvd at Cypress Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Dubusries D. Balkcom, 29, Easton, MD

Narrative: On 4 April 2010 at 4:45 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle operated by Dubusries Balkcom for operating a vehicle with expired registration. During the traffic stop, the deputy also discovered that Balkcom’s Maryland Driver’s license had been suspended. A Drug K9 team from the Princess Anne Police Department arrived to scan the vehicle for the presence of the odor of illegal drugs, during which the K9 alerted to that odor. Based on the alert the deputy searched Balkcom and his vehicle, finding what the deputy recognized as crack cocaine in Balkcom’s possession. The crack cocaine was individually wrapped into three separate baggies, indicative it was destined for sale or distribution.

The deputy placed Balkcom under arrest and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Balkcom in the Detention Center in lieu of $20,000.00 bond.

Charges: Possession of Crack Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute