OCEAN CITY, MD – Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro today said violence in his seaside resort is getting out of hand and the police department will be aggressively enforcing the law and bring the perpetrators to justice. Buzzuro said violence and unruly behavior has persisted for the past few days.
“We have met these challenges with professionalism and respect,” he said of the department.
He pledged to place more officers on the boardwalk to protect residents and guests.
His department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating two suspects in a stabbing that occurred at approximately 04:34 a.m. on June 7, 2020. This incident occurred between 6th and 7th Street on the Boardwalk during a fight involving multiple people.
On June 19, 2020, at approximately 03:58 a.m. Ocean City police responded to the area of 6th Street and Washington Lane after officers heard gunshots and observed a male running north on Washington Lane. Officers located a juvenile male victim of Salisbury, MD, who suffered two gunshot wounds; one to his buttocks and one to his arm. The victim was treated by Ocean City EMS and transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center where he was released shortly after.
During the investigation, detectives determined a confrontation ensued inside a nearby hotel between two groups. A short time later, both groups had a second confrontation at the 10-block of 6th street. The suspect, who has been identified as Colin K. Heckman, 21, Milton, PA, fired multiple gun shots, two of which struck the victim. The victim fled from the scene and was located by officers on 7th street. Heckman was located at the scene of the incident.
Heckman has been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and discharging a firearm within city limits. Heckman is currently in custody at the Ocean City Police Department waiting to be seen by a District Court Commissioner.
On June 21, 2020 at approximately 10:38 p.m., officers responded to a reported theft that had just occurred at deli in the 7200 block of Coastal Hwy. The caller reporting the theft told Ocean City dispatchers the suspects had fled the area.
Through investigation, officers learned that a couple tried to return cigars that were not purchased at the store. When the store clerk refused, Kenisha A. Ward, 37, of Baltimore, MD went behind the counter, assaulted the store clerk and started grabbing cigar packets. Devon L. Jones, 32, of Randallstown, MD made threatening statements to the clerk as Ward was grabbing the cigar packets. The suspects left the store and got into a vehicle. The store clerk followed the suspects out of the store with a baseball bat, eventually breaking the suspects’ car window.
A short time later, while officers were on scene investigating this incident, the suspects returned to the store. The suspects confronted the store clerk about the broken car window. Officers placed both of the suspects under arrest.
On June 9th, 2020 between 10:00 and 11:00 PM, Ocean City Police Officers responded to two First Degree Assaults on the Boardwalk at 11th Street and 15th Street. The victim of the assault on 15th was stabbed in the back. Officers determined the same group of individuals were responsible for both assaults. One of the suspects, Marquis Demby, was apprehended soon after the assault at 15th Street. He was arrested for First Degree Assault and related charges. A knife used in the stabbing was recovered during his arrest.
The Ocean City Police Major Crimes Unit continued this investigation. Surveillance images obtained from the Boardwalk City Watch Cameras of additional suspects were released to the public through social media and local media outlets. Ocean City Detectives received numerous citizen tips and also worked closely with local police jurisdictions throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland to identify the numerous suspects. The following individuals have been arrested for their involvement in these incidents:
– Marquis Trajon Demby: 22 years of age, Lincoln, DE, Assault-First Degree, Assault-Sec Degree, and Reckless Endangerment, currently being held without bond at the Worcester County Jail
– Marcus Dashawn Butler: 27 years of age, Cambridge, MD, Assault-First Degree, Assault-Sec Degree, and Reckless Endangerment, currently being held without bond at the Worcester County Jail
– Orlando Manship Nichols Jr.: 20 years of age, Cambridge, MD, Assault-First Degree, Assault-Sec Degree, and Reckless Endangerment, currently being held without bond at the Worcester County Jail
– Xavier Jamal Spence: 19 years of age, Cambridge, MD, Assault-First Degree, Assault-Sec Degree, and Reckless Endangerment, Dangerous Weapon-Int-Injure, currently being held without bond at the Worcester County Jail
– Daveione K Cephas: 20 years of age, Cambridge, MD, Assault-First Degree, Assault-Sec Degree, and Reckless Endangerment, currently being held without bond at the Worcester County Jail
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