OCEAN CITY, Md. - Police say they arrested multiple people during an investigation into a planned event in town.
The Ocean City Police Department says on June 17, investigators received information from the Baltimore City Police Department regarding the promotion of a “Late Night Beach Party Link Up", which OCPD says is commonly associated with what police call "takeover-style events" that are organized and promoted through social media. The event was reportedly scheduled to occur in Ocean City the next day on June 18.
Detectives determined the social media accounts promoting the event belonged to individuals who had previously been identified on June 16, when a wanted individual was arrested in downtown Ocean City.
During that operation on June 16, police say a 21-year-old woman from Frederick, Maryland, was taken into custody without incident on an outstanding warrant related to a home invasion investigation. Detectives also identified two male associates, ages 18 and 20, and a 24-year-old female associate, all from Baltimore, as individuals promoting several upcoming "takeover-style events" in Ocean City.
Investigators say they learned one of the individuals, 20-year-old Mehkai Leonard Tindal, of Baltimore, was also using social media to advertise the illegal sale of drugs in Ocean City. Detectives reportedly identified the vehicle Tindal was operating and the location where he was staying near 19th Street and Philadelphia Avenue.
On June 18, authorities arranged an undercover purchase of drugs from Tindal in the area of 16th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. Detectives say they successfully completed the purchase and subsequently conducted a traffic stop, taking Tindal into custody without incident.
During the investigation, detectives say they executed search warrants at the motel near 19th Street and recovered additional drugs and distribution-related materials. Detectives also seized a vehicle pending forfeiture proceedings.
Mehkai Leonard Tindal, 20, of Baltimore, Maryland
(Courtesy: Ocean City Police Department)
Tindal was charged with the distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. He was seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner and held on a $5,000 bond.
