H2Oi behavior 'appalling' to Ocean City officials

Ocean City officials are condemning the "appalling behavior" of visitors who flocked to the resort town over the weekend for the canceled H2Oi event.

In a Monday statement, Police Chief Ross Buzzuro acknowledged that there were a handful of people who showed up simply to enjoy the weekend, but said many of the visitors had been "unruly."

"Unfortunately, it was the vast majority of the participants that quickly ruined it for everyone, with unruly behavior and zero respect for our laws and property," he said. "The isolated incidents of violence combined with heavy traffic, litter, rude behavior and negligent driving cast a very negative view over the whole weekend."

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Each year, H2Oi, an unsanctioned event, brings people to Ocean City to showcase heavily modified Audis and Volkswagens. About two weeks ago, the organizer announced that this year's event would be postponed until 2018 because of changes in venue.

However, drivers still showed up in full force beginning Thursday, and officials had been preparing for them by bringing in allied law enforcement.

Police department statistics show law enforcement responded to more than 2,700 calls for service, conducted more than 1,200 traffic stops and made 78 total arrests over Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The majority of the activity took place Saturday, with more than a 1,000 calls for service and 36 total arrests that day, including four drug arrests and six weapons arrests.

"It was very discouraging, to say the least, to see the amount of destruction to our town and the appalling behavior of many visitors," Buzzuro said in his statement. 

Police statistics show that this year's unofficial event was more active than previous years. In 2016, police responded to less than 2,600 calls for service and made 46 arrests, and in 2015, law enforcement saw roughly 1,700 calls for service, with 38 arrests.

This year also saw nearly double the number of reportable traffic collisions as last year.

On Friday, at about 9:30 p.m., police said a marked patrol car hit a 26-year-old pedestrian from Connecticut at the intersection of 56th Street and Coastal Highway while making a left turn.

The preliminary investigation indicates the patrol car had a green light, police said, and the pedestrian was legally in the crosswalk. The pedestrian was flown to Peninsula Regional Medical Center by state police and released later that night after being treated for minor injuries.

The Ocean City Police Department Traffic Safety Unit is investigating the incident.

With 2,143 calls for service initiated by officers throughout the weekend, Buzzuro said it's clear that law enforcement were proactive in enforcement. 

"Several of these calls for service involved large crowds of unruly individuals seeking to instigate police officers to engage them," he said. "Our officers remained disciplined and monitored the crowds, taking measured action as required."

The majority of those arrested throughout the weekend face disorderly conduct, second-degree assault and open container charges, he said.

However, one individual faces attempted murder charges after police said he hit two officers with a car in an attempt to avoid arrest.

Charging documents show that shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday, a deputy for the Worcester County Sheriff's Office approached a Chevrolet Malibu driven by 18-year-old Antonio Ambrosino of Seaford that was sitting in a 33rd Street parking lot.

As he approached the driver's side, documents show the deputy noticed "a greenish brown vegetable matter packaged in a clear plastic baggie" sitting in Ambrosino's lap.

The deputy knocked on the car's window and identified himself as "Police," according to documents, and ordered Ambrosino to roll down the window. Ocean City police officers arrived on the scene to assist.

The driver suddenly put the car in reverse, according to documents, and backed out of a parking spot, causing the front of the car to hit the deputy, who fell backward and was pinned against another vehicle.

One of the Ocean City officers drew his firearm, ordering Ambrosino to stop and "don't do it" as he shifted the car into drive and headed in the officer's direction, documents state. 

RELATED: Driver hit two officers with car in Ocean City, tried to flee in bay: police

The car's hood hit the officer, who fired two rounds at the driver, and documents show a second officer also fired at the car, which fled the scene.

After a pursuit down Coastal Highway, which ended when the car reached a dead end on 41st Street, Ambrosino jumped into the Assawoman Bay where he was apprehended by Natural Resources Police.

Officers identified the substance in the car as marijuana, according to charging documents, and observed a plastic heat-sealed gallon bag and scales in the car as well, which indicate drug sales.

Charging documents show officers learned from the passenger, 20-year-old Arkad Espinal of Shillington, Pennsylvania, who had marijuana on his clothing, that the pair were sharing a half pound of marijuana.

Ambrosino was charged with two counts each of attempted first- and second-degree murder, attempted manslaughter and first- and second-degree assault, as well as one count each of reckless endangerment, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, according to state police.

Espinal was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, state police said.

Neither of the suspects were injured during the incident, police said, and both officers who were struck were taken to the hospital, treated for minor injuries and released. The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is investigating the officer-involved shooting and will be presenting its findings to the Worcester County State's Attorney.

On Monday, police spokesperson Lindsay Richard said the "high level of disrespect" over the weekend was aimed not only at law enforcement, but also at residents and law-abiding visitors.

"While we saw very few serious criminal incidents, we saw numerous severe traffic violations and large displays of disorderly conduct," she said.

In his statement, Buzzuro also commended Public Works crews who have been working to restore the city as trash and tire markings were left behind in the wake of the weekend's activity.

Moving forward, Richard said law enforcement will be collaborating with policy makers on strategies to prevent this type of behavior in the future.

In a Monday morning interview on Ocean 98.1 WOCM radio station, Mayor Rick Meehan said it's time to start discouraging participants in future H2Oi events from coming to and find lodging in the city.

"If you drive down Coastal Highway and you see four or five people pulled over in one block and there’s still those that are disobeying the law and driving by, I think that clearly shows you it’s not a manpower issue, it’s an event problem," he said.

Ocean City is host to other events, such as OC Bikefest and Cruisin' Ocean City, that while noisy, don't bring the same sorts of issues, he said.

Many of the participants in those events are regular Ocean City visitors, Meehan said, who come other times of year with friends and family.

"They don’t trash our community. They don’t abuse our police department," he said. "They’re here. Yeah, they want to ride their motorcycles, but they’re here to have a good time, and I think most people who have any interaction with them at all realize that they’re really good business."