Published: June 26, 2008 11:59 am      

Suspects Arrested

Victim flown to Shock Trauma for treatment; alleged assailants cornered on Crosstown Bridge

CUMBERLAND - Two men were injured and two others arrested following a shooting Wednesday morning in the 300 block of Pulaski Street and a vehicle stop just minutes later on the Crosstown Bridge of westbound Interstate 68.

Both suspects were being held in the Allegany County Detention Center Wednesday night, one on $1 million bond and the second on $750,000 bond.

Samuel Butler, 30, the occupant of the Pulaski Street home, was taken by a Cumberland Fire Department ambulance to Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Police say he was apparently struck with a blunt object.

A second victim, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the leg, was found inside the suspect vehicle. A city fire department ambulance also took that person, identified by the C3I Unit as Danny Jones, 22, of Petersburg, Va., to Memorial Hospital.

Police said Jones, who allegedly initially falsely identified himself to police as Michael Evans, was shot in the buttocks and leg and flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore following initial treatment at Memorial.

Jones was listed in critical condition Wednesday evening, a C3I official said.

At about 6:50 a.m., Cumberland Police received word of a possible shooting at the Pulaski Street residence.

An off-duty city police officer in a take-home vehicle en route to the station to begin his shift was the first to arrive at Pulaski. The officer obtained and broadcast a description of the suspect vehicle - a late-model white Honda Accord displaying Virginia license plates. The suspect vehicle information was provided to the officer by the victim and witnesses.

A second off-duty city police officer, also en route to the station in his take-home vehicle, observed the suspect vehicle on Queen City Drive. The officer followed the vehicle, called for backup units and then made the stop without incident on the interstate.

Two suspects taken into custody during the traffic stop were later identified as Corey Lee Adams, 25, and Ray Blanks, 27, both of Petersburg, Va.

Wednesday afternoon, Adams and Blanks were charged with numerous offenses, including armed robbery, first- and second-degree assault, burglary, reckless endangerment and use of a handgun during a crime of violence. Following an initial hearing before a district court commissioner, Blanks was jailed on $1 million bond and Adams was jailed in lieu of $750,000 bond.

Jones will be charged with the same crimes as Adams and Blanks were once he is discharged from the hospital, police said.

Police impounded the vehicle and obtained a warrant to process it for possible evidence.

Numerous city police and C3I investigators responded to the scene on Pulaski Street as well as the traffic stop that occurred at about 7:20 a.m. Maryland State Police and Allegany County Sheriff's Office units also responded for backup during the city police traffic stop.

Police said three weapons were recovered at the outset of the investigation, which is being continued by the C3I Unit and Cumberland Police. One handgun was found in the suspect vehicle and two more were found in the Pulaski Street residence, after police executed search warrants at both locations. Police believe all three weapons were used in the crime.

The incident apparently occurred after Jones and Adams entered the residence and demanded money. Several gunshots were fired during the altercation, one of which struck Jones in the buttocks and leg.

Initially, it was believed that Butler had suffered a gunshot wound.

C3I officials said the investigation is continuing, and more arrests are possible.

Wednesday's shooting incident was the second to occur in the city in the last week.

On June 18, a Martinsburg, W.Va., man arrived at Memorial Hospital shortly after 8 a.m. claiming he had been shot in the shoulder while walking along Maryland Avenue.

The victim, whose identity was not disclosed by police, was treated and released the day of the incident.

Investigation showed the shooting occurred at a residence in the 200 block of Maryland Avenue during an argument. Police charged Michael Nicholas Calder, 22, of Martinsburg, with second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. Calder remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $150,000 bond.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.