Undercover Operation Leads to Arrest in Crisfield

CRISFIELD, Md.- Crisfield police say a man arrested on drug and related charges had to be taken to the hospital for treatment of a broken foot after he claimed an officer's patrol vehicle ran over it during a pursuit. 

Police said that shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, officers instituted an undercover operation in the Crisfield Housing Authority, which has gained a reputation as a high crime area for guns and narcotics. Police said one of the undercover officers, who was in an unmarked Crown Victoria, saw 33-year-old Warren “Skipper” Ward  Jr., of Fruitland, standing against a wall next to 137 Somers Cove Apartments.

According to police, the officer observed Ward reaching in to the front pants area of shorts. Police said when the plainclothes officer, who identified himself as an officer with his badge hanging from his neck, approached Ward, he could see he was urinating on the wall.

Authorities said Ward began to run when the officer asked Ward to come to the police vehicle so he could give him a citation for public urination. Police said the officer pursued Ward in his vehicle, at which time the officer saw Ward throw down a bag containing a large bulk of white substance. 

Investigators said that during the pursuit, Ward would stop, and when the officer attempted to get out of the unmarked vehicle, Ward would start running again. Eventually, the suspect was running alongside the unmarked unit and hitting the vehicle with his hands, police said. Ward was ordered at least five times to cease and desist, according to police. But it was at this point that the officer got out of the unmarked vehicle and gave pursuit on foot.

Police said Ward squared up against the officer with his fist clenched and fought the officer before the officer subdued him with pepper spray.

Ward was arrested and complained that the officer's vehicle ran over his foot in the pursuit, police said. They said Ward was treated at McCready Hospital for the pepper spray and a broken foot before being released.

Police said the officer recovered the bag that the suspect threw down, which contained 4.2 grams of crack cocaine that was broken in pieces for distribution, with a street value of approximately $3,000. Additionally located and seized as evidence on the suspect was a cellphone and $1,015.18 in cash, investigators said. Police said that additionally, on Ward's person was a sheet of paper stating “I owe Skip $20.00 by 4:00 tomorrow.” There were additional entries on the sheet of paper indicating and indicative of drug distribution, according to police.

Ward, who police said was already on probation for distribution of controlled dangerous substance, was charged with indecent exposure, fail to obey a lawful order, second-degree assault, CDS possession with intent to distribute, CDS distribution in a school zone and CDS possession not marijuana. He was given $50,000 bail. 

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