A Worcester County Deputy Fire Marshal, Rodney Sharpley, 53, of Pocomoke was arrested early last Wednesday morning after brandishing a gun in the direction of police officers who were investigating a complaint involving a juvenile.
Pocomoke police officers arrived on scene late Tuesday night to hear a witness’s account of a juvenile girl being seen running down the street in a bra and shorts while her mother chased her, the report said.
Police went to the girl’s house for a welfare check and she answered the door. To stop dogs from barking, the police and the juvenile walked to the end of her driveway to talk about what happened.
According to the juvenile, Sharpley and her mother were consuming alcohol the entire evening before an argument ensued and she retreated to her bedroom.
Police said Sharpley broke into the girl’s room and they got into an argument. The juvenile reportedly fell to the ground and Sharpley ripped off her shirt, police said.
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35 comments:
Next we should hear that he's lost his job,since he was about to actually shoot police officers.At very least we need to know if he keeps his job & is allowed to continue as if nothing happened.
It's going to be hard to prove that he knew it was police officers. It was *early* morning meaning it was dark outside. To say "he was about to actually shoot police officers" is a stretch. How many times is a gun just pointed at someone and not discharged 8:09? See you have no clue so it's just an assumption on your part. Do society a favor and if you are ever in the jury pool do whatever you can to get out of serving.
Hope you do not own any guns. You never point a gun at anything you don't intend shoot/kill..
8:24-I was a cop for almost 30 years,and every time a gun was pointed at me I did as I was trained and assumed the person intended to use it.Throughout those 30 years I would routinely hear about other cops getting shot because they attempted to reason with the person holding the gun,or they assessed the situation and did not deem the person a threat.Anyone holding a gun pointing at you is ALWAYS a viable threat,day or night.I can't recall if that position includes wearing a gun,but if it does and he remains on that job he needs to be unarmed from this point forward.
I actually have quite a few firearms 8:47 and I know what you are saying but it happens everyday many times in this country that someone points a gun at someone and doesn't shoot them. How many times have you heard of a citizen holding someone at gunpoint until LE arrives? It's not unusual to point a gun at someone and not shoot them is what I am saying.
9:32 you are assuming he knew they were cops.
9:32 & 9:41 see each others point and agree to disagree.
Both are valid and perspectives are based on experience.
Cop is trying to make all situations fit his agenda, and they don't.
I see his point but it is definitely narrow
9:32 is saying you can make an inference because of an action. This is exactly what the prosecution wanted Judge Williams to do when arguing for conviction of Officer Goodson in Baltimore City recently. Everyone can see now how well that worked.
Oh snap I think we went to school together! Sound like he is in need of some anger management and alcohol counseling. Totally agree if you point a gun at someone that person would assume you are going to shoot.
The way the OC Today's article is written makes me wonder:
1) Who was their source? They don't reference a source, and the information they published is not in any of the documents found and available from District Court or on the Maryland Case History Website.
2) Why are they more than a week behind in reporting the news, when the Daily Times ran the story last Thursday?
Regardless of whether the facts are true or not, he is innocent until proven guilty. According the Case History posted online, he has a preliminary hearing on July 12th. This hearing is just to determined whether there is probably cause to proceed to Circuit Court. Everyone has hinged their opinions on the juvenile involved and gun. You don't know what happened outside he was arrested. These facts released in the OC Today, some 10 days after the incident (and yes I understand the newspaper has a deadline), without quoting their news source leaves me to believe there is someone on the inside, more than most likely, a police officer that was there, providing information, and on a tainted side at that.
Let's wait to see what happens at the July 12th hearing and then see if there will be a Trial in Circuit Court in the coming months. From what I read, if someone was banging on your door in the early morning hours, how many of you wouldn't have gone to the door without protection. I agree with 9:24, if he pointed the gun at the police, why didn't they shoot!
I'm thinking of the poor young girl. What's the deal there? Its just sad what some of these kids are exposed to now.
The 17yr old daughter has a lot of issues. mental issues.. if you come to my house in the middle of the night banging, you can guarantee I'll be packing. no! I wouldn't be pointing it, but it will be in my hand, when the officers come to my door and identified themselves, I will let them know who I am and that I have a gun in my hand...(for protection answering the door in the middle of night)I don't see breaking in a door in your own home matters!!Also if they were home, I'm sure they are allowed to consume alcohol if they choose to..When the daughter was told she couldn't go out, she slammed the door. Subject didn't rip her shirt off, it got caught up in his service belt... daughter took shirt off. She was having a teenager fit when told couldn't go out.. funny how things get all mixed up!
Was it his issued weapon? No fire marshal needs a weapon! I know he has arresting powers! But he always has cops with him when doing so! To many people with guns and arresting powers!
I don't think he was issued a weapon but for the last few years he had always carried a pistol with him.
1:54. All fire marshals are issued weapons. They are "state police officers".
1:26, under Maryland law Fire Marshal's in the state are police officers and have the same training plus they have specialized training for fire investigations that is why ordinary police officers do not investigate fires. Fire Marshals are met with the same type of element in a criminal arson case as ordinary police officers and sometimes they are there at the scene by themselves. You are misconstrued to think that a police agency investigates every fire or is with a fire marshal while conducting an investigation. It is this ignorance in people's assumptions without finding the facts that lead to the silly conclusions before the subject has been tried in a court of law. Take a look at what happened in Baltimore yesterday, for the third time out of six.
12:35
Thank you for letting us know what happened.
You cleared it up nicely.
It is time for the county Fire Marshal office to go away. Brian Winter had gun issues in this same department. Poorly run as current McMahon does more Fire company And past restaurant work than County work. Don't need guns let the state Fire Marshal take over. If the county wants to just do inspections as a money maker let them be inspectors. McMahon and sharpley can retire let Owens and korb be police sheriff's if that is what they want. The new guy can get another job think they have dispatcher job opportunities
They all misuse their powers and vehicles all the time.
I agree 5.50
@5:50 you have room to talk. It is obvious by your wording and tone who you are. You obviously can't appreciate dedication by other County employees. Glad you can speak for the others in that department. Have you asked Owens or Korb what they want? Also nice of you to volunteer the new guy for a dispatcher's job, many grades lower in pay. Have you asked him if he'd like to do that job? The status of that office has nothing to do with Sharpley's problems. Sounds like you're jealous of the work everyone in that department does. I just looked at McMahon's fire company website, and he's been in the fire service for 35 years and if you say he could retire, that means at least 25 years with the county. If that's the case, 25+ years off Public service is wonderful. You don't last that long if you're doing a bad job. Is your life that miserable that you have to stir up gossip?
I have lived in Worcester County for over 60 years so I have some knowledge of what's happening here. I agree with 5:50 and 7:57.
Brian Winter was shot in his leg by his wife who used her own gun during a husband and wife domestic argument. What's that got to do with Sharpley or the office he works for?
I have lived in Worcester County my entire life, graduated from one of it's high school, went to college and came back to live and work here. I praise the County, the Fire Service and EMS, the Fire Marshal's Office, all Police Agencies and the Dispatchers. You two sound jealous of success. I agree with the 8:49 post.
Well said 9.32
4:46 I know how it works. Idk what conclusions you think I've come to???? None! Had a question and a statement! And this Marshall or any other does not show up alone to make arrests! And has no need for a gun while at a fire scene investigating! Your whole comment is invalid a a response to mine!
Rob Korb is the man! Hands down! Worcester needs no other! He teaches ,investigates , cops, takes bad ass wedding photograhs and doesn't throw his weight around. He is all about being humble while not only doing his duties but in life! Proud to know the man and have been his student!
I have not read anywhere if it was an issued weapon this Fire Marshal is alleged to have used in this alleged incident. Im sure that will come out if a trial is held. You must not be in the fire service. I have personally witnessed a single Fire Marshal by himself make a warrantless arrest. It happens more than you would think. Arson, threats of arson are all offenses any peace officer, including a Fire Marshal can make an arrest. I suppose you'd like the Fire Marshal unable to protect him or herself, or you if this happened to you, against a criminal committing the crime of arson? And yes, as a volunteer firefighter I've witnessed the arrest first hand and there was no police present, except the fire marshal.
Right....korb is one of the worst offenders for misuse of his County vehicle and county time.
Politics aside, I had a daughter who became a gang banger at age 11-15, and after destroying my living room, ran out to the back yard headlong into the biggest tree in the yard, bloodying her face, then ran to a female neighbor to call 911 telling them I had hit her. I was in handcuffs within the hour, and sent to jail.
This was not occasional behavior during her truant times, but regular, expected behavior.
With her fellow gang bangers regular visitors, I stayed armed and on point. One of her "guests" during that time went on to slice and gut a girl out on Williams Mill and stole her car, just to see her die.
Nice house guests I had then...
There are reasons to arm yourselves these days and be concerned who your daughter is talking to at the early morning hours, even if thankfully it is police, so let's all let this one play out, folks!
Sorry I disagree alcohol and domestic violence at the very least. You never handle a firearm when drinking. These fire Marshalls are not police they really should not be carrying guns to begin with. As for Winters he told the female he was going to kill her them himself. She was a former Marine and did just what she was supposed to do. He was lucky she shot him in the leg. He was also drunk they had been out all night drinking.
The Fire Marshall's Office should fall under the Sheriff's Office in every county. They should be crossed trained deputies. The Pennsylvania State Police have arson investigators that are Troopers. I say it is all about corruption to begin with. How many fires in Ocean City went unresolved. Hmmmmmmmmmmm They are squirrels and wannabes. Period
Just do as most counties do and let the state Fire Marshal handle investigations and eliminate such waster and liabilities just like the 185000 vehicle they just got.
Ocean City has their own Fire Marshal's. You might want to take your complaint to the city
;-)
The State Fire Marshal's office wouldn't be able to keep up, hence why they rely on County. Could you imagine the backlog if the State were the only ones? You might get an arson case to court in 10 years.....
Oh snap I think we went to school together! Sound like he is in need of some anger management and alcohol counseling. Totally agree if you point a gun at someone that person would assume you are going to shoot.
fire marshal training
I know all of the parties involved in this incident. The young woman in question does have "mental health issues" and she is also a teen, these are all very volatile issues. That being said, it is easy to see that things can from time to time get very out of control. I have had this girl at my house when younger and she is a "drama queen." All of those things do not change the fact that she is a child and it is apparent that no matter exactly what else transpired, some facts are indisputable. The adults in this situation were intoxicated, there was a firearm pointed at this child, someone ripped this child's shirt off and according to the reporting witness she was being chased down the street by her mother. Again I will state that I know all parties involved when I say, I can believe this exact scenario happening since I've witnessed this almost identical scene with this mother and child in the past. I am not judge nor jury and I am not here to make a judgment but I will say that anytime you are drunk, fighting with your teen aged daughter, chasing your half dressed teen aged daughter down the street and pointing guns at people, things are out of control. This is a scary incident, it's safe to say that it could have easily had an extremely tragic turn. I believe that intervention is needed for all parties. Drunkenly pointing a gun at anyone is asking for lives to be lost. If this is how a so-called "police officer" behaves in his off duty time, we are all in a world of trouble here in Worcester County. He's lucky he pointed his gun at an apparently inexperienced local police officer, had this been any other police officer he would have likely been shot. Just some food for thought.
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