POCOMOKE CITY, Md.- Arrests have been made in a burglary and attempted murder incident that happened outside Pocomoke City on Friday night.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office charged Wendy Taylor, Gary Fleig and Coy Bailey with attempted murder, arson, and burglary among other charges. Police say they are still investigating if these suspects are connected to an incident that happened Saturday night off of Route 13 in Oak Hall, Va., which left one man dead. Neighbors like Jessica Pruitt say they are concerned about the recent incidents.
“You don't see that kind of violence here. This community is very tight knit, the families are very tight knit, everybody knows each other. You would see that more in cities, not in the community we have here,” Pruitt said.
On Friday, deputies were called to a home outside Pocomoke for a reported burglary. The Worcester County Sheriff's Office says a man came home to find a blue ford sedan with Virginia tags in his driveway. He then saw a man walking out of his home with a TV. That man and a woman then physically assaulted the victim, and as he fled fired three shots at him. The victim then went into his home to call police when he saw the suspect had tried to set his home on fire. The victim was able to put out the fire himself.
Jim Shreaves grew up in the area and says it's sad to see these crimes happen in the community.
“It's just hard to take these things when you're born and raised in this area, not too far from here about 10 miles and you just feel bad that someone would do these sorry things to another person,” Shreaves said.
On Saturday, police were called to a fire in a house off of Route 13 in Oak Hall and a 62-year-old man was found dead inside. Police are still investigating if the suspects are connected to the Saturday incident.
On Monday night, Accomack County sheriff's deputies were looking for the blue sedan involved in Friday’s incident, located it and arrested the suspects. Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli said his office, the Accomack County Sheriff's office, and Virginia and Maryland State Police were all involved in the investigation.
“As a result of the combined efforts of all agencies involved in this investigation, it was a true testament of our commitment in making Worcester County a safe place to live. I commend the extraordinary efforts of all of the investigators to bring this specific investigation to a successful conclusion,” Crisafulli said.
Police say they are investigating if these suspects are also connected to a body found in Temperanceville Va.
