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Published On: 8/25/15

Ocean City Criminal Incidents Down 5% Through July

By: Joanne Shriner via Maryland Coast Dispatch

OCEAN CITY – The month of July continued the trend of an overall crime decrease in Ocean City, but the majority of calls for service increased across the board.

At this month’s Police Commission meeting, Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro reported the month of July’s crime statistics.

According to the report, July’s total calls for service, including traffic stops, business checks and assistance to citizens, totaled 16,273, which is a 5.6-percent increase from July 2014 when there were 15,405 calls for service.
Out of that total, 12,184 were officer initiated, which is a 7.5-percent increase from July 2014, and 4,089 were citizen initiated, which is.5-percent increase from July 2014.

The total number of calls for service, excluding traffic stops, business checks and assisting citizens, totaled 10,476, which is a 9.2-percent increase from July 2014 when there were 9,590 calls for service. Out of the total, 6,588 were officer initiated, which is a 15.8-percent increase from July 2014, and 3,888 were citizen initiated, which is a .3-percent decrease from July 2014.
Out of the top 25 calls for service in July, the majority of the categories decreased starting with traffic stops decreasing to 3,046 calls for service in July of this year from 3,910 in July of last year; city ordinance violations decreased to 1,224 this year from 1,338 last year; disorderly conducts decreased to 741 this year from 769 last year; suspicious person or activity decreased to 326 this year from 490 last year; assist to OC EMS decreased to 322 this year from 367 last year; theft already occurred decreased to 219 this year from 243 last year; animal complaints decreased to 183 this year from to 364 last year; assist to motorists decreased to 153 this year from 209 last year; CDS violations decreased to 145 this year from 190 last year; noise complaint violations decreased to 117 this year from 134 last year; tow impound/violations decreased to 117 this year from 161 last year; civil dispute decreased to 100 this year from 125 last year; assist to the Fire Company decreased to 87 this year from 99 last year; assaults already occurred decreased to 84 this year from 101 last year; malicious destruction of property decreased to 73 this year from 85 last year; and public safety concerns decreased to 69 this year from 75 last year.

The categories that increased in the month of July start with assist to citizens increased to 984 calls for service this year from 629 last year; parking complaints increased to 835 this year from 245 last year; 911 hang up calls increased to 785 this year from 724 last year; alcohol violations increased to 411 this year from 285 last year; check on welfare increased to 345 this year from 323 last year; collisions increased to 343 this year from 333 last year; trespassing increased to 162 this year from 95 last year; domestic assault/dispute increased to 137 this year from 120 last year; and forgery of any kind increased to 116 this year from 106 last year.

There were 512 arrests made in July and 51 criminal citations issued. There were 63 drug arrests made and 128 drug citations issued. There were 76 DUI arrests made and 30 weapon arrests, according to OCPD data.

At the end of July, a weekly breakdown reflects a 4.9-percent decrease in total crime so far this year compared to this time last year.
Under Part 1 Crimes there have been no homicides as of the end of July in 2014 and 2015; 15 forcible rapes as of the end of July this year compared to 24 as of the end of July last year; 10 robberies as of the end of July this year compared to 13 as of the end of July last year; 48 aggravated assaults as of the end of July this year compared to 37 as of the end of July last year; 117 burglaries as of the end of July this year compared to 200 as of the end of July last year; 585 larcenies as of the end of July this year compared to 590 as of the end of July last year; nine auto thefts as of the end of July this year and 16 as of the end of July last year; and one case of arson as of the end of July this year compared to none as of the end of July last year.

There were 465 common assaults by the end of July 2015 compared to 446 by the end of July 2014 and 44 minor sex offenses by the end of July 2015 compared to 34 by the end of July 2014, resulting in an overall total of 1,294 crimes at the end of July 2015 compared to 1,360 at the end of July 2014.

There were 16 incidents in July when a Controlled Electronic Weapon (CEW), also known as a Taser. However, out of those incidents only six times was a CEW deployed.

On Friday, July 3, an officer observed an intoxicated subject being removed from a bar for disorderly behavior. When the suspect was told to leave the property due to a trespass warning being issued, the suspect became belligerent and began to approach the officer in a hostile manner. The officer displayed his CEW, which had no impact on the suspect’s behavior. The officer had reason to believe that the suspect was about to assault him, so the officer deployed his CEW on the suspect, which gained full compliance, and there were no injuries to anyone involved.

On Sunday, July 5, an officer attempted to address an open container violation when the suspect attempted to flee. The officer grabbed the suspect’s arm, which is when the suspect turned around in an aggressive manner. The officer targeted the suspect with his CEW, but gained no compliance. The officer deployed his CEW into the suspect, which gained temporary compliance until the CEW cycle timed out. The suspect attempted to flee again, but the officer activated a second CEW cycle, which gained full compliance from the suspect, and there were no injuries to anyone involved.

On Saturday, July 18, an officer observed a subject smoking a marijuana cigarette. When the suspect saw the officer approaching him, the suspect immediately shoved the marijuana cigarette in his mouth in an attempt to swallow it. The officer with the assistance of another officer immediately began to struggle with the suspect, in order to prevent the suspect from swallowing the marijuana. The officer displayed his CEW, but the suspect continued to resist against both officers. The officer utilized a drive stun from his CEW on the suspect, but gained no compliance. A second drive stun was utilized, but the suspect continued to resist arrest. The officer issued a third drive stun, which ultimately gained compliance from the suspect.

On Saturday, July 18, an officer was on routine patrol and issued a suspect two citations for open container of alcohol and possession of marijuana. When the suspect was walking down the street, he began to shout profanities. When the officer went to place the suspect under arrest the suspect began to resist arrest. The officer targeted the suspect with her CEW, but the suspect continued to resist. The officer then deployed her CEW into the suspect’s back, which gained full compliance.

On Saturday, July 25, officers were on a routine patrol at a bar closed when they observed an intoxicated male subject fighting with bar security. Officers immediately intervened and escorted the suspect off the property. The suspect began to assault the officers, which resulted in the officers falling to the ground with the suspect during the struggle. During the struggle the suspect bit an officer on the thigh. The other officer then deployed a drive stun with his CEW to the suspect, but did not gain the suspect’s compliance. The officer then stepped back and deployed the CEW probes into the suspect’s back, which gained full compliance.

On Sunday, July 26, an officer observed another officer struggling with an assault suspect near the roadway. The officer rushed over to assist and ordered the suspect to surrender his hands to the primary officer, so he can be handcuffed but the suspect continued to actively resist arrest. The assisting officer then deployed his CEW, which gained full compliance from the suspect.

 

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