'Wanton Disrespect' For Law Shown At Ocean City Car Rally: Hogan

OCEAN CITY, MD — The pop-up car rally H2Oi drew crowds that showed "wanton disrespect" for the law, said Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday. Throngs shut down Ocean City streets Saturday night, and led to more than 100 arrests, police said.

Minor problems were reported during the day on Saturday, but Ocean City's police department said hundreds of car show participants became unruly and destructive in the evening hours. They were arrested and charged with various criminal and traffic offenses, according to a news release issued early Sunday.

One state trooper was knocked out while making an arrest and stopped breathing. He was successfully treated at an area hospital, authorities said.

Social gatherings in town grew into unruly and violent behavior among the large crowds in the downtown area, police said in a statement. About 11:50 p.m. Saturday, Ocean City Police asked for law enforcement assistance from the Maryland State Police and 15 departments across the Eastern Shore to help control the crowds.

On Monday Hogan issued a statement thanking the various agencies for helping to disperse crowds.

"Our swift and unified response makes clear that we will not tolerate such brazen violence and wanton disrespect for our law enforcement officers, communities, and law-abiding citizens," Hogan said.

The Maryland State Police activated several units, including its Mobile Field Force, as well as Maryland Transportation Authority Police and Maryland Natural Resources Police. The Maryland State Highway Administration, the Maryland Coordinated Highways Action Response Team, and the State of Maryland Incident Management Team also responded.

Hogan's office said police issued more than 3,500 citations, made nearly 2,500 traffic stops, towed and impounded more than 350 vehicles, and made several hundred arrests.

“This is not a car show and the majority of these visitors are not car enthusiasts,” said Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro. “They are here to disrupt, destroy and disrespect our community and our law enforcement officers. Our policing philosophy is to be friendly, fair and firm. Unfortunately, the disorderly behavior and unruly crowds left no choice but to shift our philosophy and take additional steps to protect our officers and our community.”

A Maryland State Police trooper was hurt Saturday night while attempting to arrest a fleeing suspect identified as Jonathan Bello, 23, of Norfolk, Virginia. Bello is charged with resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, escape, and disorderly conduct.

Shortly before 11 p.m. yesterday, troopers were called to 71st Street in Ocean City to help the Ocean City Police Department deal with a disorderly crowd, estimated in the hundreds. An Ocean City officer was attempting to arrest Bello, who authorities said resisted arrest and fled on foot.

A trooper ran after Bello, both fell to the ground, with the suspect falling on top of the trooper, who was knocked unconscious and stopped breathing. Officers evacuated the injured trooper from the area in a patrol car and met an ambulance nearby. The trooper was taken to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury where he was treated for his injuries and released Sunday morning.