SALISBURY MAN ARRESTED FOR VEHICLE THEFT FOLLOWING TECHNOLOGY-LED EFFORTS BY OCEAN CITY POLICE

Ocean City, MD - A high-speed pursuit using advanced technology resulted in the arrest of a Salisbury man in Ocean City, Maryland on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Jamie Ruark, 38, is facing charges following the alleged theft of a motor vehicle.

An alert from the License Plate Reader (LPR), a modern crime-fighting tool, notified the Ocean City Police Department that a car reported stolen by the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office was entering the city via the Route 50 Bridge. Upon receiving the detailed whereabouts of the vehicle from the LPR, officers swiftly located it in downtown Ocean City.

Ruark, behind the wheel of the allegedly stolen vehicle, refused to yield to police and sped into oncoming traffic on Baltimore Avenue in Ocean City, Maryland.

His reckless journey saw him violating traffic laws on several streets at high speeds until he collided with an unoccupied car and a fence in a condo parking lot.

Ruark then abandoned the vehicle and attempted to hide in an exterior stairwell of the nearby condo building. Ocean City police officers established a perimeter and deployed a drone equipped with Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) technology to assist in the search.

Using this technology, the drone located Ruark and observed him discarding an item later confirmed as drug paraphernalia.

Interim Chief Michael Colbert praised the department's use of technology in the successful capture of the suspect. "This successful apprehension highlights the power of modern tools like License Plate Reader systems and drones, alongside the diligence and professionalism of our officers," he said. "Their swift action kept the situation under control and resulted in a safe resolution."

Charges against Ruark include unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia, trespassing, theft ranging from $1,500 to $25,000, and multiple traffic violations. Currently, Ruark is being held at the Worcester County Jail without bail, awaiting a bail review.