WCSO Press Releases 8-18-12

Incident: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Date of Incident: 14 August 2012
Location: Old Eden Road at U.S. 13, Eden, MD
Suspect: Peter Reynold Battle Jr., 27, Fruitland, MD

Narrative: On 14 August 2012 at 11:46 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to Old Eden Road just off of U.S. 13 for a rollover accident. Upon arrival the deputy identified the drive as Peter Battle Jr. and detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Battle. The deputy began to administer sobriety testing that Battle performed poorly on which led to his arrest for DUI.

During the subsequent processing, Battle refused to submit to a breath test.

Battle was released upon the issuance if citations.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Incident: Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
Date of Incident: 15 August 2012
Location: Ocean Gateway at Main Street, Pittsville, MD
Suspect: Megan Renee Smullen, 24, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 15 August 2012 at 7:50 PM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle operated by Megan Smullen of Salisbury for erratic driving. Upon making contact with Smullen, the deputy observed that she appeared lethargic and her speech was slurred. The deputy also observed that Smullen had difficulties exiting her vehicle when requested. The deputy suspected impairment which led to the administration of sobriety testing that Smullen performed poorly on. The deputy placed Smullen under arrest for Driving under the Influence.

During processing, the deputy suspected that Smullen was impaired by some sort of drugs. A Drug Recognition Expert conducted an examination of Smullen and the DRE concluded that Smullen was under the influence of a drug that was impairing her ability to operate a vehicle.

The deputy charged Smullen with Driving a Vehicle while Under the Influence of Drugs.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence

Incident: Vandalism
Date of Incident: 15 August 2012
Location: 7300 block of Richardson Street, Willards
Suspect: Marcus Damien Echard, 21, Linkwood, MD

Narrative: On 15 August 2012 at 2:20, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office arrested Marcus Echard on an outstanding arrest warrant in a vandalism related incident. Back on 21 June 2012, Echard stands accused of ripping out electrical wires in another individual’s truck that connected to his windows and speaker system.

The deputy transported Echard to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Echard on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Malicious Destruction of Property

Incident: Theft
Date of Incident: 15 August 2012
Location: 34000 block of Old Ocean City Road, Pittsville, MD
Suspect: Patrick K. Otting, 52, Preston, MD

Narrative: On 15 August 2012 at 9:32 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office was called to a domestic dispute in the parking lot of the Pittsville Branch of the Library when the deputy was informed that the male half, Patrick Otting, was driving his vehicle with bad tags. That caused the deputy to run a query on the registration plate of the vehicle that Otting was driving which revealed not only were the tags for another vehicle, but they were stolen.

The deputy also discovered two bench warrants for Otting’s arrest out of Talbot County that were both issued back in June 2012 after Otting failed to appear in two Driving While Suspended cases.

The deputy placed Otting 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 Otting in the Detention Center in lieu of $10,000.00 bond for the stolen license plate. Otting was detained on an additional $25,000.00 bond on the two bench warrants.

Charges: Theft
Failure to Appear

Incident: Burglary
Date of Incident: 15 August 2012
Location: 100 block of Civic Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Russell E. Neff, 22, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 15 August 2012 at 10:23 PM, deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office
responded to a reported burglary in progress in the 100 block of Civic Avenue in Salisbury. The
homeowner advised that a male subject was beating on his front door in an apparent attempt to gain entry.

The homeowner called for help and retreated upstairs prior to the subject successfully forcing entry into the residence. Upon arrival, the deputies entered the house and found this subject, Russell Neff, sitting in the living room while licking the homeowner’s remote control. Neff had also removed his clothes and was sitting in the homeowners chair in only his underwear. The deputies also discovered that Neff was also in the process of cooking himself a chicken pot pie that he had found in the homeowner’s kitchen.

The deputies attempted to place Neff under arrest but he struggled and resisted apprehension.

The homeowner advised he did not know Neff.

Neff 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 Neff in the Detention Center in lieu of $250,000.00 bond.

Charges: Burglary 1st Degree
Theft of a Chicken Pot Pie
Malicious Destruction of Property
Resisting Arrest