Ocean City, MD, USA 04-18-2021: A Ford Explorer Police vehicle belonging to Ocean City Police department is idling near the board walk. This is a K-9 unit with the trained dog inside the car.

Salisbury man arrested after high-speed chase in stolen vehicle in ocean city — Ocean City, MD, USA 04-18-2021: A Ford Explorer Police vehicle belonging to Ocean City Police department is idling near the board walk. This is a K-9 unit with the trained dog inside the car.

OCEAN CITY, Md. — A 38-year-old man from Salisbury was arrested Wednesday evening after a high-speed chase through Ocean City involving a stolen vehicle and a coordinated response by police using advanced technology.

The Ocean City Police Department was alerted to the stolen vehicle’s presence when a License Plate Reader (LPR) system flagged it crossing the Route 50 Bridge into town. Officers located the vehicle downtown, but when they attempted a traffic stop, the driver, identified as Jamie Ruark, accelerated and drove into oncoming traffic on Baltimore Avenue.

Police said Ruark continued to evade officers, driving the wrong way on several streets at high speeds. The pursuit ended in a condo parking lot after Ruark struck an unoccupied parked car and crashed into a fence, causing significant damage.

Ruark fled the vehicle on foot and hid in an exterior stairwell of a nearby condo building. Officers deployed a Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) equipped drone, which quickly located him and observed him discarding an item from the fourth floor. The discarded item was later recovered and identified as drug paraphernalia.

After a perimeter was established, Ruark surrendered without further incident. No injuries to officers, Ruark, or members of the public were reported.

Interim Chief Michael Colbert praised the officers’ efforts and the department’s use of technology in the arrest. “This successful apprehension highlights the power of modern tools like License Plate Reader systems and drones, alongside the diligence and professionalism of our officers,” he said.

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