OCEAN CITY, Md.- Ocean City police say an investigation into an illegal gun sale resulted in the arrest of four suspects charged with various weapon and drug violations.
Police said that on Tuesday, departmental detectives, along with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Criminal Enforcement Team, initiated an investigation into Bennett T. McNeil III, 26, of Ocean City, in reference to the illegal sale of a stolen .22 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver. The investigation revealed that McNeil had stolen the revolver from a vehicle in West Ocean City and was attempting to sell it, according to police.
Ocean City detectives working in an undercover capacity contacted McNeil and arranged a meeting to purchase the revolver later that evening. Police said when McNeil arrived at the meeting place near Sunset Drive and Philadelphia Avenue, he was arrested along with three others who were in the vehicle at the time of the incident. The three additional suspects were identified as Arno R. Arndt, 57, of Snow Hill; Patricia L. Miller, 52, of Bishopville; and Jenna L. Vermillion, 24, of Ocean City.
Upon arrest, officers contacted Maryland State Police and the Ocean Pines Police Department who were both investigating multiple thefts from vehicles. Their detectives conducted interviews and follow-up investigations which led to a search warrant being conducted at a home in West Ocean City, police said.
Authorities said that as a result of this search warrant, the suspects were linked to a number of other thefts from vehicles in the Ocean City, West Ocean City, Ocean Pines and Glen Riddle areas.
McNiel and Arndt have been charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, possession of a stolen regulated firearm, possessing a handgun in a vehicle, and possessing a handgun on person. Miller and Vermillion have been charged with possession of heroin and possession of paraphernalia.
Each suspect was seen by a Maryland District Court commissioner and transferred to the Worcester County Jail. McNiel was given a $50,000 bond, Arndt was given a $25,000 bond, Miller was given a $7,500 bond, and Vermillion was given a $40,000 bond.
