ARGUMENT BETWEEN SIBLINGS LEADS TO 1st DEGREE ASSAULT WITH MOTOR VEHICLE

On Saturday, May 5, 2012, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Ocean City Police responded to the area of 39th Street and Coastal Highway for a report of a motor vehicle accident and an assault. When officers arrived, they observed a 2011 Mazda, which was stopped and parked across the sidewalk. The Mazda had struck an exterior wall, brick stairs, railing and mailbox of a real estate office building at 3906 Coastal Highway.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle, Ladon Chimere Thomas, 28, of Washington, DC, was in a verbal argument with her brother, which led to a physical altercation between the two siblings. After the altercation, Thomas got into her vehicle and turned north onto Coastal Highway. She then suddenly and deliberately swerved onto the sidewalk, striking her brother from the rear. Thomas then collided with a real estate office causing damage to the business.

During the course of the investigation, Thomas was highly agitated and continued to yell, scream and curse. She also assaulted a police officer during her description of the incident. She was arrested and charged with 1st and 2nd degree assault, in addition to 2nd degree assault on a police officer. Charges for several traffic violations related to the collision are pending and the investigation is on-going.

The victim was seen by Ocean City Emergency Services and later transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. Thomas, who was transported to Atlantic General Hospital and released, was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and held on a $50,000 bond.