DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, March 01, 2010
DELMAR MAN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF FIREARM AFTER THREATENING A CITIZEN
On February 26, 2010, at approximately 11 p.m., Ocean City Police responded to the 1701 Atlantic Avenue, in reference to a man with a gun threatening people.
Officers met with the victim who related that prior to police arrival he had gotten into a verbal argument with another male who threatened to shoot him. The suspect allegedly displayed a rifle which was concealed beneath the suspects clothing.
After receiving a description of the suspect, Police located an individual matching the descriptions previously provided by the victim on the street in near the scene of the complaint.
The suspect was later identified as Jamel Anthony Jones, 18- years-old, of Delmar, Delaware.
The victim positively identified Jones as the persons who had made the threat with the gun.
Investigation by OCPD revealed Jones to be in possession of .22 caliber ammunition.
Police located an unloaded .22 caliber rifle at 18th Street and the Boardwalk. The victim
positively identified the gun that was used by Jones. Jones was arrested and charged with possession of a concealed deadly weapon and Reckless Endangerment.
Jones was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and was held on $25,000.
Jones was transferred to the Worcester County jail.
OCPD Press Release
FOR DUI AND POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE
On February 28, 2010, at approximately 00:42 a.m., Ocean City
Police Officers in the area of Dorchester Street and Baltimore
Avenue, heard a loud crash. Several officers responded to the
area and located a blue colored Kia Sorento driving on
Baltimore Avenue with a piece of a broken light post lodged
under the vehicle.
Officers stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as
Michael Howard Schissler, (31) years old, of Berlin, Maryland.
During the on scene investigation officers believed Schissler to
be intoxicated. Schissler was eventually arrested for Drunk
Driving. While at the scene, police located a large amount of
suspected Marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Schissler’s car.
Because of the way the Marijuana was packaged when it was
recovered, officer’s suspect it is consistent with the illegal
distribution of the Marijuana.
Schissler was charged with the following:
• Possess Controlled Dangerous Substance-Intent to Distribute (CR 5-602)
• Possess Controlled Dangerous Substance-Marijuana THC (CR 5-601a1)
• Possess Controlled Dangerous Substance-Paraphernalia (CR 5-619c1)
• Driving Under Influence of Alcohol (TA 21-902a1)
• Driving Under Influence of Alcohol Per Se (TA 21-902a2)
• Driving While Impaired by Alcohol (TA 21-902b1)
• Failure of Vehicle Driver to Stop After Unattended Property Damage Accident (TA 20-105a)
• Negligent Driving (TA 21-901.1b)
Schissler was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and was released on his own recognizance.
Here's The Shore Bank Robber UPDATE: POLICE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!
Anyone with information about this individual needs to make contact with the Salisbury Police Department or Crime Solvers.
On February 27, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. the Salisbury Police Department responded to 1503 S. Salisbury Blvd, Salisbury, Maryland 21804, the business of Shore Bank concerning a robbery. An investigation was then commenced and the following information was developed: an unknown white male entered the bank at approximately 10:00 a.m. wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and his head appeared to be balding. This particular male did not make a transaction in the bank and left the bank shortly after entering.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. bank representatives indicated that the same white male re-entered the bank wearing different clothing. This particular male was described as a white male, wearing a camouflage hat, blue jeans, and blue denim style jacket, with a grey hooded sweatshirt underneath, black wire rimmed glasses. On both occasions the male was described as being approximately 5-08, 180 pounds, 30 to 40 years of age, with light facial hair.
On the second occasion the male suspect came into the bank and produced a note and demanded U.S. currency. The male suspect fled the bank on foot with an un-disclosed amount of U.S. currency.
Salisbury Police Department detectives are looking for assistance in identifying and locating the male pictured in the attached video. Please contact the Salisbury Police Department at (410)548-3165 or Crime Solvers at (410)548-1776 if you have information as to the identity of the male in the video, you may remain anonymous.
Flip-Flop Frank Can't Be Trusted; Says He's Open To Obamacare
Rep. Frank Kratovil voted against Obama’s reckless “stimulus:”
“Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil was one of only 11 Democrats to vote against President Barack Obama's stimulus package. The first-term congressman issued a statement following the vote saying the country is already facing the largest budget deficit and tough choices need to be made about spending taxpayer's money. Kratovil said he was not convinced the package focused enough on the programs most likely to have a short-term economic impact.” (“Md. Democrat joins GOP in vote against stimulus,” Associated Press, 2/2/09)
Then he flip-flopped and voted for it:
“Rep. Frank Kratovil joined Maryland's six other Democratic congressman in voting in favor of the $787 billion stimulus package, which has just been approved by the House of Representatives. The freshman from the Eastern Shore was one of five Democrats who switched sides and voted for the measure after having opposed it last month, when the House first approved it.” (Paul West, “Kratovil Changes Sides, Supports Stimulus Package; Bartlett Only ‘No’ Vote,” Baltimore Sun “Maryland Politics,” 2/13/09)
Kratovil told Pelosi ‘no’ when she asked him to vote for her job-killing energy tax:
“To Democratic opponents and skeptics, Pelosi seemed to be everywhere this week, lobbying for her ‘flagship’ bill - an effort expected to culminate Friday in a vote too close for anyone to guarantee one way or the other…On the floor Thursday, she buttonholed one of the most vulnerable of those marginal members, Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-Md.), who replaced a Republican last year and is a top target of Republican campaign efforts. She spoke forcefully, waving her hands. Kratovil just kept shaking his head no.” (Mike Soraghan, “Tap on the shoulder from Pelosi,” The Hill, 6/26/09)
The next day, he gave in and voted for it:
“Some Eastern Shore farmers are unhappy with Congressman Frank Kratovil for voting for a bill that would regulate greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system.” (“Kratovil catches flak for cap-and-trade vote,” Associated Press, 8/4/09)
Kratovil voted against the tax-raising, Medicare-cutting Obama-Pelosi healthcare takeover last November (even though he supports the public option):
“[Kratovil]…is on record supporting the public option for health care—though he voted against the House version of the health care bill in the end…” (Emily Esfahani Smith, “Democrat in Danger,” Weekly Standard, 2/22/10)
Now, he’s considering voting for a revised version:
“Leading liberal lawmakers echoed the call for action. And several of the 39 Democrats who voted against the healthcare legislation in November -- including Reps. Frank Kratovil Jr. of Maryland, Allen Boyd of Florida, Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania and Brian Baird of Washington -- left open the possibility that they might back the Senate healthcare bill coupled with changes along the lines of what Obama proposed this week.” (Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook, “Democrats push forward on healthcare,” Los Angeles Times, 2/27/10)
Notice a pattern? Frank Kratovil can’t be trusted.
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY, LT. GOVERNOR BROWN TO LAUNCH MAJOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
WHERE: Prince Georges Community College
Center for Advanced Technology
301 Largo Road
Largo, MD
Salisbury Police Department Press Releases
On February 25, 2010 at approximately 11:34 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant received by Salisbury Police charging the suspect with a sex offense that occurred on February 7, 2010. On that date, the investigation revealed, the suspect sexually assaulted a minor female that was known to the suspect while staying in a local hotel.
ARRESTED: Darrell Marquis Mapes, 18 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Second degree assault
Fourth degree sex offense
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000005480
On February 27, 2010 at approximately 5:24 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police were on routine patrol in the area of Delaware Avenue and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by the below listed suspect for traffic violations. During the traffic stop the suspect gave the officers false identification information. The officers were able to retrieve accurate information and found that the suspect was wanted on two (2) outstanding arrest warrants. The suspect was taken into custody and a search incident to arrest revealed that the suspect was in possession of a smoking device containing suspected "crack"/cocaine.
ARRESTED: Rudolph Valentino Jackson, 52 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Possession of cocaine
Possession of CDS/paraphernalia
Resisting arrest
Obstructing and hindering an investigation
False statement
Arrest warrant – Possession of a deadly weapon
Second degree assault (2 cts)
District Ct. Bench Warrant – Failure to appear
In court – Theft charges
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 20100008100/8106/8119
On February 27, 2010 at approximately 9:22 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a residence on the six hundred (600) block of Homer Street for the report of a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officers met with an adult female victim that had been assaulted by a family member. The interview with the victim revealed that the below listed suspect had assaulted the victim during a domestic type argument. The victim did not require medical attention.
ARRESTED: Benjamin Lee Stanley, 52 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Second degree assault
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000008132
On February 28, 2010 at approximately 10:22 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect as a fugitive from Sussex County, Delaware. The officers found that the suspect was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant issued in Delaware on February 16 of this year.
ARRESTED: Blaise (nmn) Delma, 49 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Forgery – second degree
Conspiracy to commit second degree forgery
Theft by false pretense
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000008258
Am I About To Disagree With GA Harrison Again?
However, let's get real on some of the topics GA brought up. Number one, do I feel Council Members should be gifted with Health Insurance from the Taxpayers? After months of thought on this matter, no, I do not believe they should be gifted with it.
They are not City Employees and are more along the lines of Contractors/Consultants. That being said, even though you and I both know they do represent the citizens on a full time basis, I also believe that GA and some others are defending Debbie and Terry simply because other Council Members enjoyed the luxury of Health Insurance. It started out with former Mayor Barrie Tilghman gifting Michael Day with Health Insurance and then changed her mind once he was voted out of Office.
Now, how they've gone about handling all of this has been wrong. Then again, if I were to look at the way this Council and the former Council handled most items on their agenda I'd have to say they handled 80+% of it wrong too, seriously.
As for the change in time for Work Sessions, well, we ALL know this was out of spite. Let me just say this. IF the citizens vote for Smith, Comegys and Shields again this upcoming election you can find another source for your daily news and information because I for one will shut this damn Blog down so fast it isn't funny. Their spite, disrespect and lack of professionalism is beyond disgraceful, so I agree with you there GA.
As for their trying to only get wealthy and retired people to run for Office, I'm not so sure I can firmly agree with you and allow me to explain why. It's almost impossible to get anyone to run for Office in Salisbury, let alone someone who fits either agenda.
Besides Bob Caldwell, who else ran for Mayor that was worth a damn? Look at who was running for City Council this last election as well. NONE of them, and I do mean NONE of them were qualified, other than residency. Jim Ireton never ran a business, let alone a milti million dollar business.
Anyhow, I don't want to get too long winded on this one, as I easily could. In these hard economic times I believe the Health Insurance Policy is a valid discussion. We shouldn't have to use perks to get and or keep Council Members. That being said, the Council should also remove ANYONE ELSE receiving such perks from the City as well and not just pick on the City Council Members.
The Politics Of The Deficit
Just one example: Former Rep. Tom Campbell, a GOP candidate vying to unseat Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer in California, has made the deficit one of his key areas of attack against Democratic rule in Washington.
“I think the size of our budget problem is intimately related to our unemployment problem,” Campbell told reporters earlier this month as he rolled out his own plan to cut the budget deficit in half. “The risk of inflation is quite real, and I think that is keeping people from hiring and investing.”
But for all the attention and momentum the deficit issue is getting today, the fact is the politics of the federal deficit are legendarily disappointing.
Consider the historical record: In 1990, George H.W. Bush famously broke his campaign promise — “Read my lips, no new taxes” — in a budget agreement designed to reduce the deficit.
Two years later, he was bounced out of office.
In the 1992 campaign, Texas billionaire Ross Perot’s insurgent third-party campaign made deficits a signature issue on the campaign trail.
He lost.
GO HERE to read more.
Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Release
Incident: Assault on a Deputy
Date of Incident: 27 February 2010
Location: 200 block of Newton Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Frederick S. Harris, 23, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 27 February 2010 at 8:42 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, assigned to work a joint warrant operation with the Salisbury Police Department targeting violent wanted subjects went to a residence in the 200 block of Newton Street looking for Frederick Harris. The deputy had a Violation of Probation warrant for Harris in a Handgun case. Upon arriving at the residence, the deputy and the city police officer could not located Harris, but while they were talking with the subjects there, Harris returned. The deputy on scene recognized Harris and immediately attempted to place him under arrest by placing him in handcuffs. Harris began yelling that the officer had to read Harris his rights and attempted to pull away from them. Harris then began elbowing the deputy in an attempt to get the deputy to let go of him so he could get away. Harris continued to struggle against the officers, yelling out that he was going to fight for his freedom. During the ensuing physical altercation with Harris, the deputy suffered an injury to his right knee.
The deputy and city officer managed to get Harris into custody at which time the officers discovered that Harris possessed what they recognized a marijuana. Harris was subsequently transported to Central Booking where he was processed on the warrant and also the additional criminal charges stemming from this incident. Upon being seen by the District Court Commissioner, Harris was detained in the Detention Center in lieu of $15,000.00 bond.
The deputy received treatment at PRMC and was released.
Charges: Resisting Arrest
Assault 2nd degree on Law Enforcement
Assault 2nd degree
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Tagging You Own Home Part II
The vehicle in question in our earlier Post is the one above. Now, that being said, I see no porn on this vehicle. Someone please point out where I'm wrong.If You Work and Live In Salisbury – Don’t Run for Office
In reality, the message is that working people that won’t be lapdogs to the Barrie Comegys regime shouldn’t apply. Yet, somehow Campbell and Cohen remain the best prepared members of council. Yet, despite their having to deal with repeated attempts by Louise Smith, Gary Comegys, and Shanie Shields to sidetrack them with issues such as those mentioned above, Campbell and Cohen are still the only two members of council who actually worry about the taxpayers.
IS JIM IRETON DERELICT IN DUTY?
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I was glad that he was elected last year, but never took seriously his promise of competent governance and change in the administration of the City. That slogan “help is on the way” seems a sophomoric sing-song to me, and I am not disappointed in those regards. But I did believe that his oath of office was genuine and would be honored without fail. In that regard I’m disappointed, despite his dealings with the police chief from hell, because of his failure to address an apparent violation of the Charter, which expressly prohibits City personnel from making a contract if sufficient funds for the particular purpose have not been duly appropriated by the Council.
On October 27, 2009 – the day after the Council approved a bid for a new dump truck -- Councilwoman Cohen realized that a budget amendment was needed and sent an e-mail message to that effect to the City Administrator, John Pick, with copies to the City’s purchasing officer (Pamela Oland) and also to the Mayor. Without first obtaining an amendment, Ms Oland proceeded with the purchase documentation, and on November 6 that contract was submitted to the vendor, after first being signed by Louise Smith, the Council’s president, and also by Ms. Oland and by the City Attorney, Paul Wilber, who signified that the contract was proper both as to its form and its “legality”. Ten days later, on November 16, Pick sent a message to Ms. Cohen stating that a budget amendment was required in order to purchase the truck.
Almost two more months passed until a budget amendment was presented to the Council at its meeting on January 11, 2010. On that date, when asked if the truck had been ordered, Ms. Oland said that she didn’t know, and neither Wilber nor Pick said anything in response to that question. Ms. Cohen and Ms. Campbell felt that information should be presented before voting on the budget amendment, which requires a 4-vote approval, and it failed. Another month passed before the truck was delivered to and accepted by the City in mid-February, but the budget has not been amended at this late date.
Ireton and others are clearly incompetent in this episode, but their behavior may go well beyond that. Both he and Oland should have realized at the outset that a budget amendment was needed and submitted an ordinance in a timely manner. Upon receiving Ms. Cohen’s warning, they should have promptly proceeded with an ordinance but failed to do so.
But the more serious aspect of this saga is the execution of the contract and submission thereof to the vendor despite the warning and failure to first obtain a budget amendment. The Charter provision mentioned above makes such action a “misdemeanor” and states that upon conviction a person “shall cease to hold his office or employment.” The mayor, unless he actively pressed for the contract to be signed and delivered, probably could not be prosecuted or discharged, but that may not be so in the case of other City officials.
Ms Oland, one of the officials that Ms. Cohen warned, was thereafter involved in the contractual process and signed the contract – despite being warned by the e-mail message. Mr. Wilber was not an addressee of the e-mail, but had an obligation to perform due diligence before approving its “legality”, but exactly what action he took is unknown. And John Pick’s role as the “chief of staff” is of interest. Louise Smith, unless she believed that the contract was not “legal” when she signed it, appears not to be culpable – she simply signified that it had been “approved” by the Council.
Having become cognizant of the facts, if he were not previously, Mr. Ireton has a duty of office to address any violation of the Charter or state law that has occurred. It can’t be dismissed as an innocent misunderstanding or inadvertent error. There are public policy reasons to require proper budgetary appropriation of public funds, and this episode follows a similar one, involving these same City officials and “the Bricks” property, that occurred very shortly after Ireton took office.
So far – taking Mr. Ireton’s pledge of transparency at face value – it seems that he has done nothing. If he decides, or has already decided, not to refer this situation to the State’s Attorney, the residents of Salisbury deserve an explanation.
Delmar Girls Basketball Makes State Playoffs
More Signs Of Damage From The Last Storm
This barn in Laurel took a beating as the roof, (left) collapsed from the weight of the snow.Do You See What I See?
I found it a little unusual for the deer above to be out so early in the day, this close to residential property. When I stopped, he looked over at me and just went about his business as if I wasn't there at all.The Accident That Closed Rt. 13 Last Night
Two vehicles collided yesterday on Rt. 13 closing the north bound traffic. Vehicles were being turned around and quite frankly it was a mess. I don't want to come off as knocking the Police on this one but there seems to have been enough room at one point to at least allow one lane of traffic to pass through. Vehicles were backed up for quite a few miles.