FOUR JUVENILES CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH NUMEROUS MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION INCIDENTS

On January 14, 2012, at approximately12:30 a.m., Ocean City Police responded to 1201 Atlantic Avenue, “Decatur House,” in reference to destruction of property.

While officers were responding to the initial complaint, patrol officers spotted four persons on the boardwalk involved in the act of damaging property. Officers were able to detain two suspects, however, two fled the area.

Officers arrived at the Decatur House and met with the complainant, who advised they had heard something breaking, looked outside and saw several boys running north on the boardwalk. Officers noticed a damaged boardwalk storefront at the “Beach Daze,” which is located in the Decatur House building.

The investigation revealed that the two suspects who had been detained by the responding patrol were juveniles. Police later determined that there had been a rash of malicious destruction incidents earlier in the evening, all occurring in the downtown boardwalk area and that the four persons initially spotted by the responding patrol were responsible.

As a result of the detention of the first two suspects, Ocean City Police were able to identify and locate the other two suspects who had fled the area. The OCPD has charged four juveniles in connection with at least 23 different acts of malicious destruction. Current property damage estimates are over $5,000.

The juveniles were also responsible for stealing and attempting to throw a scooter in the bay earlier in the night. Police are still investigating this incident and have recovered the scooter. Additional charges are pending.

Ocean City Police have released the juveniles to their parents pending a Maryland Department of Social Services review.

Ocean City Police are asking anyone with any information regarding these incidents to please contact the Ocean City Police Department at 410-723-6610.