On July 16, 2011, at approximately 1:47 am, Ocean City Narcotics Detectives assisted by both plainclothes and uniformed patrol officers attempted to place an individual under arrest for Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substance to an undercover OCPD Detective.
During the arrest, the suspect identified as Michael Joseph McGovern, 30, of Williamsport, PA, fled from officers in the area of 19th Street and the Boardwalk. A lookout for McGovern was broadcast over the police radio.
Uniformed OCPD bike patrol officers located McGovern as he was attempting to leave the area in his vehicle. Officers were able to get to McGovern while he was entering his vehicle; however a struggle took place inside the vehicle with officers on both the passenger and driver’s side.
During the struggle McGovern managed to start his car and put it in reverse, striking and dragging the bike officer who was on the driver’s side and just missing the officer who was on the passenger side. The bike officer who was dragged on the driver’s side by McGovern’s vehicle eventually was able to escape by falling outside the vehicle and under the
driver’s side door, which was still open.
McGovern then became involved in a short vehicular pursuit, before bailing out of his car on the west side of Coastal Highway in the area of Marlin Drive. Officers continued to pursue McGovern on foot and determined that he had jumped in the water way/canal in the area of 21st Street and the bay.
McGovern was tracked north to the 28th Street area by OCPD personnel, who were assisted by the Maryland State Police Aviation Unit, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Natural Resources Marine Unit.
Police eventually located McGovern at 4:38 a.m., in a condominium at 413A Eagle Drive.
McGovern was taken into custody. As a result of McGovern’s actions one OCPD bike patrol officer was injured and transported to Atlantic General Medical Center. The officer was treated for injuries to the hand and arm and released.
McGovern is being held at the Ocean City Public Safety Building and is awaiting an initial appearance before an Ocean City District Court Commissioner.
McGovern is being charged with the following:
- 2 Counts Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
o Marijuana and Ecstasy (MDMA)
- Leaving the scene of a personal injury accident
- 1st Degree Assault
- 2nd Degree Assault
- Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
- Resisting Arrest
- Fleeing and Alluding
- Reckless and Negligent Driving
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thank you so much for posting this. I wa so scared last night to awaken to a MSP helicopter shining it's light in my bedroom window. I live in the 16th Street area, and beyond listening to the live police feed after the incident happened, I was unable to find out "the actual story" anywhere else. Glad they got the jerk.
ReplyDeleteOh How I miss those days. Great agency. Keep up the good work guys and gals jackkcharl@aol.com
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to law enforcement for getting this piece of trash off the street! Now, will the court system plea bargain the charges and not prosecute some of the others? I hope he is found guilty of all charges and is sent to jail for a long time.
ReplyDeletedude shouldve been shot! or at least beaten!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I don't completely agree with some of the things the people that run this blog are involved in, but I must say that after searching ALL possible local news sources to find out why a helicopter was outside my window in OC for half the night, this was the ONLY place I finally found information on what happened.
ReplyDeletedude shouldve been shot! or at least beaten!
ReplyDeleteJuly 16, 2011 1:25 PM
dude, SHUT UP! Why do you allow crap like this to be posted Joe?
Any idea why a DELMAR cop was using lights and sirens in FRUITLAND, crossing rt. 13 at cedar lane? ( near walmart heading west towards the town of Fruitland )
ReplyDeleteHe kept going to the stop sign and made a left.