On Friday, Cumberland City Police arrested Bernard Eltoine Wilcher, a 34-year-old man from Washington, D.C., on an active arrest warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court. The warrant stemmed from an incident on Tuesday, when an officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle Wilcher was operating. Wilcher fled on foot, discarding items from his pants that were later discovered to be suspected crack cocaine.
Wilcher was apprehended after unsuccessfully attempting to jump a flight of stairs. It was also discovered that he had a second outstanding arrest warrant from the Cumberland Police Department for theft and providing false information to police.
The Tuesday incident began when a Cumberland Police officer observed Wilcher committing a traffic violation in the area of Frederick Street and Bedford Street. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilcher accelerated and fled the scene, ultimately abandoning his vehicle and continuing to flee on foot. Officers pursued Wilcher and observed him discarding items as he ran. The chase ended when Wilcher failed to jump a flight of stairs and was taken into custody without further incident.
Upon recovering the discarded items, officers found them to be suspected crack cocaine. Further investigation revealed that Wilcher had an active arrest warrant for theft and providing false information to police, in addition to the new charges resulting from the April 4 incident.
Wilcher now faces multiple charges, including possession with intent to distribute narcotics, possession of crack cocaine, resisting arrest, and numerous traffic violations. He was taken to the Allegany County District Court for a bond hearing, where he was held on a $25,000 bond. Wilcher is currently awaiting trial at the Allegany County Detention Center.