Maryland State Police

In the record (7)

1. 1935 · 1935-08-23

   Twenty-one boardwalk establishments raided in one morning, eighteen slot machines seized — and some were broken up and thrown into the Pocomoke

   “Ocean City, Md., Aug. 23—(AP)—Ocean City's Boardwalk is still in place today but 18 of its numerous slot machines are missing. And, following raids on 21 of the boardwalk establishments, proprietors of the establishments are being held for grand jury action, some of them under bonds ranging up to $200 and some on their own recognizance. The wholesale raids came on the heels of a newspaper story depicting the activities of slot machine operators along the boardwalk.” They were ordered by State's Attorney Thomas F. Johnson of Worcester County after a conference with city and county officials. “The slot machines were taken to the Snow Hill jail. Some were broken up and tossed into the Pocomoke. Approximately $100 in cash taken from the machines was turned over to the county commissioners.” Johnson would not name those arrested pending the grand jury. The conference beforehand was attended by Johnson, Sheriff Ernest C. West, Deputies Crawford B. Hillman and Edwin Lynch, Constable J. William Hall, Mayor W. T. Elliott and Magistrate Ralph Parsons — the mayor of Ocean City sitting in on the planning of a raid on his own boardwalk in the last fortnight of the season. “The raids went off in orderly fashion. Sheriff West and Deputy Lynch confined their activities to the lower end of the boardwalk. Deputy Hillman took the middle and Constable Hall officiated at the north end.” The next day the Maryland State Police announced that with increased personnel officers had been permanently assigned to Ocean City, Berlin, Pocomoke and Princess Anne.

   Ocean City BoardwalkCounty Commissioners of Worcester County

   Source · checked 2026-08-11

2. 1936 · 1936-07-04

   State police counted seven thousand cars into Ocean City on 4 July 1936 in nine hours, and the former mayor put the weekend at ninety thousand people

   'Over 7,000 automobiles entered Ocean City last Saturday, July 4th, between 8 A. M. and 5 P. M., according to actual count made by State Police at the Ocean City harbor bridge,' the Messenger reported on 9 July 1936. 'It is estimated that 3,000 additional cars entered the resort Saturday evening. Former Mayor William W. McCabe of Ocean City estimated that between 80,000 and 90,000 persons visited Ocean City over the week end. He calculated they spent something like $200,000.' It is a hard counted number - one bridge, one gate, one day - for a town whose entire electorate the following month was forty-eight votes.

   Ten thousand cars in a day into a town that could poll forty-eight voters. The whole modern problem of Ocean City is already fully formed in July 1936, and it was the state police who were counting it.

   William W. McCabe

   Source · checked 2026-08-11

3. 1944 · 1944-09-15

   The hurricane of 14 September 1944 wrecked enough of Ocean City's Boardwalk that the council met at ten the next morning to board it off and nail up signs to keep people away.

   The Great Atlantic Hurricane struck the coast on 14 September 1944. Ocean City's council met at 10 AM on Friday the 15th, Mayor Trimper and all members present, four days into their term. Storm damage was discussed. On motion by C. O. Savage, seconded by J. B. Lynch, Mayor Trimper was to call Mr. P. A. Morrison of the State Roads Commission and see if he could get Baltimore Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue cleared at State cost and the sand heaped up on the side streets and removed, and Trimper was authorised to get the work done. Letters were to be sent to Governor O'Conor and to the Commander of the State Police thanking them for their aid during the storm. The council moved to board off the Board Walk where dangerous and nail signs to keep off, and decided not to try to wreck any more of the walk except to remove it off the street where it bothered traffic. By 3 October the State Roads had cleared the sand and the town wrote to thank Morrison for it.

   Ocean City BoardwalkDaniel W. Trimper, Jr.

   Source · checked 2026-08-12

4. 1973 · 1973-01-07

   An Ocean City waterman, his wife and their six-month-old son were among five killed on 7 January when a car fleeing a state trooper ran a stop sign near Berlin and hit the car they had borrowed from the Fishermen's Inn

   "Five Killed In Car Accident Near Berlin. Five people were killed and two more hospitalized from an accident this past weekend when a speeding car pursued by police ran a stop sign and crashed into another car. State Police said that an Ocean City waterman, Ward C. Gray, 24, his wife, Carol Jane, 32, and their six-month-old son, Todd Chester, were crushed to death when a car being pursued by a Maryland State Police officer crashed broadside into the car driven by Mr. Gray." Trooper D. D. Lewis had watched the other car pass on a solid yellow line on Rt. 113 near Ironshire just before 2 p.m. Sunday; it "ran through a stop sign at the Hayes Landing Rd. intersection" at 70 or 80 miles an hour. "The car driven by Mr. Gray was owned by James Richard Baumann, who operates the Fishermen's Inn in Ocean City. A spokesman said today that the car had been loaned to the Grays who lived in a house near the Fishermen's Inn, so they could go to Berlin to do their laundry... The spokesman said the Grays frequently borrowed the car on weekends because they did not have one of their own. Mr. Gray is a native of Ocean City and worked as a fisherman and clammer." The 24-year-old driver of the other car, of Selbyville, faced "five counts of manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol" and seven further charges; "Ambulances from Ocean City and Berlin transported the injured to Peninsula General Hospital." Front page, 10 January 1973.

   Source · checked 2026-09-10

5. 1973 · 1973-02-09

   A 17-year-old local boy was arrested on 9 February for the boardwalk fires, after two months of arson and a joint town, county and state investigation

   "Suspect Nabbed On O.C. Arson. A suspect has been arrested in connection with the fires that have been set in Ocean City during the past two months. Chief Lee Duggan of the Ocean City Police Dept. said that a 17 year-old juvenile was arrested Friday through cooperative efforts of the town and state police and the town, county and state fire marshall's office. The chief said that he is allegedly connected with some of the fires and is a local boy but said that he could not give out any more specific information. Further investigation is being made into the matter." Front page, Wednesday 14 February 1973; the Friday is 9 February.

   Ocean City Police Department

   Source · checked 2026-09-10

6. 2001 · 2001-07-04

   The Mayor and Council met at 11 a.m. on the Fourth of July 2001 and, by unanimous emergency ordinance effective that day, made the town's alcohol-free dance clubs close at 2:30 a.m. after police described after-hours crowds mixing with drunks leaving the bars, ecstasy dealers arriving from out of state, and crack laid out in a cup holder

   President Meehan opened the special session: "I know the 4th of July is not the most opportune time to meet, but we felt, based on the circumstances, it was necessary that we do so." City Solicitor Ayres explained that the dance clubs, "because of the expanded hours now going until 5 and 6 o'clock into the morning," were "mixing people who have consumed alcoholic beverages, many of whom are intoxicated, who are leaving the bars and nightclubs at the required closing time of 2:30," with "certain criminal elements" driving "two even three hours" to arrive at 2:30 or 3 a.m. Chief Massey asked to amend the moratorium Ordinance 2001-10, which had set no hours: the after-hours clubs had generated "about 188" police reports and "about 160 arrests." Det. Sgt. Lee Fisher of the Maryland State Police said a "core group of ecstasy investigators" had put undercover officers in the clubs since Memorial Day and watched known distributors from elsewhere in Maryland and Delaware "roll in" at the 45th Street Village around 2 a.m. An Ocean City sergeant told the council that "probably 50% of the individuals we arrest have some type of controlled dangerous substance on them" and that the week before "there were 20-25 rocks of crack cocaine laying in a cup holder in plain view." Councilman Jim Hall moved the hours - "No person shall operate a dance club during any hours other than 4:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. of the following day" - and the council passed it unanimously, Gisriel absent, then voted unanimously to ask the mayor to sign it as an emergency ordinance, "effective today," with copies delivered to every affected club.

   Ocean City Police DepartmentRick MeehanGuy R. Ayres III

   Source · checked 2026-09-10

7. 2021 · 2021-09-26

   The Special Event Zone finally stalls H2Oi: the unsanctioned pop-up car rally passes with roughly half of 2020's arrests.

   For the Sept. 21–26, 2021 pop-up car rally week, Maryland State Police and the town designated Worcester County roads a Special Event Zone — reduced speed limits, higher fines, and (under the 2020 follow-up law co-sponsored by Sen. Mary Beth Carozza and Del. Wayne Hartman) misdemeanor arrest power for exhibition driving such as burnouts and drag racing. Enforcement included a command center at the West Ocean City Park and Ride with license-plate-reading cameras and undercover officers. OCPD logged 124 arrests Friday–Sunday (vs. 33 the prior weekend and 238 during 2020's chaotic event, per its arrest log). Worcester County Sheriff Matthew Crisafulli: '[The] pulse is much different so far than the previous two years.'

   Source · checked 2026-08-05