JESSUP MAN LEADS OCEAN CITY POLICE ON AN EARLY MORNING PURSUIT

Carlton M. Stephenson III

(August 21, 2014) – On August 21, 2014, at approximately 3:10 a.m. Ocean City police were on marked patrol in the area of Coastal Highway and 65^th Street when officers observed a vehicle traveling eastbound through a nearby parking lot and on to southbound Coastal Highway, nearly causing a collision with oncoming traffic.

While traveling southbound, officers observed the vehicle fail to stay in a single lane and continue southbound at a high rate of speed. Officers then activated emergency lights and siren as the vehicle failed to stop at a red light on 49^th Street, turned west on to 49^th Street and entered a nearby parking lot. The vehicle then exited the parking lot, traveled south on Coastal Highway and made a U-turn at 48^th street all while failing to yield for right-of-way traffic.

Stationary Traffic Safety Unit officers recorded the vehicle to be traveling at a steady speed of 98 mph in the area of 65^th Street. Shortly after, the vehicle failed to control its speed and collided with a condominium building in the area of Coastal Highway and 72^nd Street. The vehicle crashed into and destroyed electrical meters and an electrical box causing electrical fluid to saturate northbound Coastal Highway.

The collision caused northbound traffic to be rerouted to a single southbound lane for more than four hours as Ocean City Public Works and electrical crews worked to clean up the fluid spill and restore power to the building.

The driver, Carlton M. Stephenson III, 21, of Jessup, MD, was arrested on scene with no injuries. Ocean City police have charged Stephenson with driving under the influence and a multitude of traffic violations. He is currently being held at the Ocean City Public Safety Building awaiting an initial appearance before a Maryland District Court Commissioner.