(OCEAN CITY, MD) — Maryland State Police are investigating an overnight police involved shooting in Worcester County that occurred after two police officers were struck by a driver trying to run them down to avoid arrest.
One law enforcement officer struck is a supervisor with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and is assigned to the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team task force. The other is a police officer with the Ocean City Police Department. Both officers struck by the vehicle were transported to an area hospital where they were treated and released.
The driver of the vehicle is identified as Antonio Ambrosino, 18, of Seaford, DE. He is charged with two counts each of attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, attempted manslaughter, first degree assault and second degree assault, as well as one count each of reckless endangerment, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
The passenger in the vehicle driven by Ambrosino is also under arrest. He is identified as Arkad Espinal, 20, of Shillington, PA. He is charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Neither suspect was hit when police fired at them as they struck the officers. Both are awaiting their initial appearance before a court commissioner.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is conducting the investigation into the police-involved shooting, at the request of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocean City Police Department. Investigators have been in contact with the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office overnight and will ultimately present their completed investigation to that office for review.
The preliminary investigation indicates that just after 11:00 p.m. yesterday, the deputy sheriff was working an assignment in Ocean City and pulled into the back of a shopping center lot between 33rd and 34th streets on the ocean side of Coastal Highway. The deputy saw a Chevrolet Malibu parked in the lot with two men inside. He notified dispatch that he would be checking on the vehicle and an Ocean City Police Department patrol unit with three officers responded to assist.
According to the preliminary investigation, the deputy and an Ocean City officer approached the car on opposite sides, while two officers positioned themselves near the rear of the vehicle. As the deputy walked up, he saw the two men in the car weighing and bagging marijuana.
When the suspects saw the officers approaching, they immediately attempted to hide the marijuana in the car. The deputy gave commands to the suspects, but they were ignored and the driver started the car and put it into reverse.
The driver, later identified as Ambrosino, quickly accelerated and turned the vehicle to the right, striking the deputy. After striking the deputy, Ambrosino put the car into drive and accelerated forward. He then steered to the left and drove directly at an Ocean City officer, striking him. The force of the impact catapulted the officer over the hood, windshield, and onto the roof of the car. The driver continued to accelerate away and the officer was thrown onto the hood of a vehicle parked nearby.
The preliminary investigation indicates the Ocean City police officer who was struck fired at the driver after being hit and another Ocean City police officer fired at the driver as he was striking the officer. Neither suspect was struck by the rounds fired by officers.
After fleeing the parking lot, the suspect vehicle ended up at a dead end on 41st Street on the bay side. Police took Espinal into custody at the car. Ambrosino jumped into the bay, but was later arrested about eight blocks north of that location.
Investigators have learned that during the incident, Ambrosino stated he would rather die than go to jail. The car driven by Ambrosino was impounded by State Police investigators. A search warrant is being obtained for the car.
The investigation is continuing.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Two guys sharing three kinds of stupid.
ReplyDelete1st/2nd degree murder, all over POT?
ReplyDeleteWow, "smarts" was left off the education curriculum in Seaford too!
Typical Dreamers paying taxes and contributing to society.
ReplyDeleteH2Oi attract's every misfit and scumbag ...Even though the resort cancelled the event they should quickly schedule something else for that weekend next year to get them out of the habit of going to OC. Good job officers now back to the firing range for practice.
ReplyDeleteDriving a Chevy Malibu...seriously!?
DeleteGet a clue 12:20.
Back to the firing range seriously? You try avoid getting hit by a car and put rounds on target. Also the windshield and windows change the trajectory of the rounds.
Deletethese young thugs are out of control. no respect for the law. they deserve to be shot.
ReplyDeleteIllegals?
ReplyDeleteHang both of them.
ReplyDeleteShould have granted Ambrosino his wish to rather die than go to jail. Save the tax payers a lot of money. Thank you officers for catching these thugs. Recover quickly.
ReplyDeleteCivil citation and 100 dollar fine. Now facing prison.
ReplyDeleteThey should replace H2O with an electric scooter/wheelchair week. There's so many of these in town during Sunfest, they should have their own event.
ReplyDeleteA few bad apples. It was nice to see young people. It was loud during the afternoon, but seemed like people were having fun. Maybe it would be better to hold it in a place with a track or speedway. Hate seeing everyone painted with the same brush when some were just having good, clean fun.
ReplyDeleteA few...lol. You mean all but a very few. Not a future contribution to society to be had in this crowd.
DeleteThey should close part of OC to cars say from the bridge south.
ReplyDeleteTell me again why the NFL players are protesting?
ReplyDeleteThey drive anything 2:33....you don't have a clue?
ReplyDeleteYeah everybody drives anything 5:09. Don't put this trash on a certain crowd. Live in a resort area, what do you expect!?!
Delete" Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteDriving a Chevy Malibu...seriously!?
Get a clue 12:20.
October 1, 2017 at 2:33 PM"
There's a picture of it in some the FB comments. It was modified. They were definitely here for H2o and to sell drugs to them.
These groups got kicked out of Wildwood, kicked out of Atlantic City and other New Jersey beaches. But because the illustrious mayor of ocean city invited the entire east coast to come vacation in Ocean City, MD this is the result. You don't see these events sanctioned at the Delaware beaches. You reap what you sow.
ReplyDeleteO.C. is not a family resort any longer, and without these events, Ocean City would fade away... too many criminals come to O.C. anymore.
Delete^^^^^^ this
ReplyDeleteMeehan fails to realize what a dump OC has become on his watch. It's all about keeping his boys in the money. It's never enough.
ReplyDelete" Honey grab the kids we are going to "Family Friendly" Ocean City!! "
ReplyDelete7:54 that is what we said. they never should have told about OC all over the cities. stay out of the news even good things. my relations have a business in OC for 40 years and see for years now what has happened. homeless and no most are not poor hard lucks. they are bums who get angry when you don't give them something they come in the business wanting cigarette smelling like piss. they piss themselves we try to be nice but they are nuisances. they say they are from baltimore and other places and were having hard times there so always see and hear on news how nice OC is so more because they think they will do better then just get caught up down there in alcohol and drugs and that's how it got so bad in OC with in OC with problems now
ReplyDeleteWhat is being said about Meehan is 100% true. He only cares about the money train to the business people that line his pockets.
ReplyDeleteThe wheelchair scooter group trying to control Ocean city like they done in Bethany and trying to do in Rehoboth .
ReplyDeleteNow this is when one is understandably killed. Why werent they? Definitely justifiable i suppose.
ReplyDelete"Neither suspect was hit when police fired at them as they struck the officers." No word if they are here LEGALLY. Why is this never part of the story? Must have a different version of the American dream. Those officers need to get some more range time. Apparently they are not very good shots.
ReplyDelete