WEEKEND #01, 2023

(Memorial Day Weekend)

May 30, 2023

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

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FORMER LIFEGUARD ARRESTED AFTER WILD RIDE IN STOLEN DBP ATV

A former Dewey Beach lifeguard was caught in the early morning hours this past Saturday riding the DBP four-wheel ATV he had just stolen after breaking into beach patrol headquarters.

According to Dewey Beach police, around 2:25 a.m., officers saw the suspect, later identified as Michael Sabino, driving the patrol's ATV against traffic on Coastal Highway. He turned at Saulsbury Street then onto the beach and headed south. When police were positioned in an attempt to stop him at the Dagsworthy Street beach access, he rapidly accelerated, dragging and injuring one officer.

He continued to drive the ATV along Dagsworthy Street where he abandoned the ATV. He was confronted and struggled with the police once again and was finally captured.

Two police officers as well as Sabino were injured during the ordeal, but none of the injuries were serious, police said.

He apparently knew where the key to the ATV was stored, stole it from DBP HQ and then stole the ATV from the DBP shed.

Sabino was charged with several felonies and numerous misdemeanor and motor vehicle violations including DUI. He was arraigned and released on a $25,050 unsecured bond.

His name, photo and bio have been removed from the school's website where he had been on the football coaching staff.


 

REHOBOTH DEATH INVESTIGATION UPDATES

EMS crews and Rehoboth Beach police responded to the ocean block of Olive Avenue around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21, for a woman reported in cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rehoboth Beach police along with investigators from the Division of Forensic Science and Delaware State Police assisted with the investigation into the late evening hours. This past Friday, Lt. Jaime Riddle, RBPD spokesman, said he did not have any information to pass on at this time and that the investigation is ongoing. "I can advise that at this time there are no suspects being sought in relation to the death and there is no danger to the community," he added.

Police did arrest a man at that scene on Olive Avenue, but Chief Keith Banks said it was because he had an open warrant.

Previously, on April 30, a man and a woman were found shot in a hotel room on Christian Street in downtown Rehoboth Beach. Handguns were found within reach of both of them, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the woman died later at the hospital. Was it a murder/suicide or double suicide? "We are still awaiting results of investigative measures," Lt. Riddle said.


 

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TROUBLING DOLPHIN DEATHS

Suzanne Thurman of the MERR Institute says her organization has investigated five dolphin deaths in the past few days. Four were calves and one was a sub-adult.

Rehoboth Beach Patrol guards found this one around 7 a.m. off Queen Street on Saturday.

Photo courtesy Capt. Jeffrey Giles, Rehoboth Beach Patrol

The others were found at Broadkill, Lewes, Cape Henlopen and Dewey. She said they are planning a necropsy on one of the calves this week. The cause of death for most of them has not been determined; however, this one from Dewey Beach on Sunday appeared to have been caught in a fishing net, she said.

After MERR conducted its examination, lifeguards buried it on the beach near the dunes.

Photos courtesy Capt. Todd Fritchman, Dewey Beach Patrol

We will follow up with MERR if additional info becomes available.


 

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A look inside: Delaware Beach Life May 2023 issue


 

YOU KNOW IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN REHOBOTH WHEN...

When conditions are right, this unique problem arises often during each Memorial Day Weekend. With an ocean temperature around 62 degrees leaving the water too cold for wading, and no public restrooms for blocks, police once again had to deal with beachgoers on the city's south edge who used the sand dunes to relieve themselves.

This area is known as "Poodle Beach" (or as "Birdland" in RBP speak). It still draws a large crowd on holiday weekends although normal weekend attendance has been waning in recent years.

Police responding to the complaint around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday set up surveillance here off Prospect Street and quickly cited one man for relieving himself in the dunes.

A nearby portajohn at a construction site became a popular fixture.

The beach was not as crowded on Sunday because of the weather, but visitors were still seen using the sand dunes. And Memorial Day was just too wet and cold for the beach!


 

GIRL STRUCK ON COASTAL HIGHWAY IN DEWEY

A 17-year-old girl was struck on Coastal Highway at Van Dyke Avenue around 6:40 p.m. this past Saturday.

Lt. Clifford Dempsey, DBPD spokesman, says the driver of the blue Hyundai had stopped for the girl who was in the crosswalk. But that car was rear-ended by the SUV that pushed the Hyundai into the teen.

She was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The driver who caused the accident was cited, Lt. Dempsey said.

Dewey Beach hired additional officers from Milford, Milton, Selbyville, Ocean View, Newport and Frankford to help patrol the town this past holiday weekend.


 

MAN FLEES POLICE, GETS STOLEN CAR STUCK ON BEACH

A Fenwick Island police officer attempted to stop this red Ford Mustang for speeding around 8:25 a.m. this past Sunday. The driver refused to stop and continued on Coastal Highway to Bethany Beach where he drove out onto the beach here at Ashwood Street, got stuck and was captured. He appeared to be under the influence of something and was taken to the hospital where police attempted for hours to get him identified, but he was uncooperative.

Photo courtesy Megan Walter (@mwalter1624)

Ashley Miller, OCPD spokeswoman, says Ocean City officers learned that the owner had locked his keys in the Mustang while it was left idling in the area of 4th Street and Philadelphia Avenue. She says around 7 a.m., video surveillance captured the suspect removing a window louver and breaking the window glass to gain entry into the car.

Charges were filed in Delaware and charges are also pending for the theft in Ocean City, Miller said.


 

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EARLY MORNING CRASH NEAR BETHANY KNOCKS OUT POWER

A 68-year-old woman from Ocean View was cited for failure to maintain lane after the 2016 white Jeep Wrangler she was driving left the roadway and crashed into the utility pole. Amazingly, she suffered only minor injuries but was taken to the hospital, says Cpl. Leonard DeMalto, state police spokesman.

It happened here on the southbound side of Coastal Highway north of Jefferson Bridge Road south of Bethany around 4 a.m. this past Sunday. The accident knocked out power to nearby homes.

Photo courtesy Bethany Beach VFC


 

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YET ANOTHER COASTAL HIGHWAY WRECK NEAR CAVE NECK ROAD

Four people were injured in a crash Thursday just after 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Coastal Highway and Cave Neck Road, between Lewes and Milton. According to the state police, the driver of a Honda Pilot was in the northbound left turn lane of Coastal Highway and began making a left turn thus colliding with a Hyundai Tucson that was on the southbound side.

Photo courtesy Eric Reifsnyder, Atlantic Aerial Image De

The driver of the Pilot, a 63-year-old man and his 63-year-old female passenger -- both from Milton -- were flown to a trauma center with serious injuries. The driver of the Tucson, a 21-year-old woman from Street, Maryland and her 22-year-old female passenger from Joppa, Maryland, were taken by ambulance to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The roadway was closed for about three hours while police investigated and cleared the scene.


 

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IN MEMORY OF BETTY WHITE (AND OTHER FRIENDS)

It's always bittersweet starting another summer season. The excitement of a new summer is subdued when we realize those who are not here to join us.

We lost Mrs. Betty White over the winter. She was a regular here for decades on the beach access just north of the Henlopen. She was loved and greeted by many beach visitors. She'll be missed.

Photo courtesy The White Family


 

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RINGING IN THE SEASON

Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan Mills rang the bell marking the first day of the 2023 RBP season this past Saturday morning.

"As mayor, I am honored to be here to ring-in the start of the 2023 lifeguard season. And so, with gratitude to the Rehoboth Beach Patrol team -- and to all city employees who help make Rehoboth Beach such a warm, welcoming place to visit and live -- I officially ring-in the 2023 summer season," he said.

Dan Miller played the bugle and RBP members saluted as the flag is raised over RBP HQ.

Also attending the bell ringing was Dewey Beach Town Manager, Bill Zolper, with his father, Bill, Sr., both of whom are former RBP guards.

The bell rings on each guard day throughout the summer to let everyone know the beach patrol is on duty -- and it will ring until the last day of guard duty in September. The ringing of the bell started in 2021 when former lifeguard Jeffrey Giles became RBP captain. This is the patrol's 102nd season.

Lifeguards made their first rescue before they were even on the stands on Saturday morning, just prior to the ceremony. Capt. Giles says a group of boogie boarders had been in the surf just off Baltimore Avenue when one of them lost his board and was in distress. Three guards responded to the rescue.


 

THIS IS THE FIRST WEEKEND UPDATE FOR 2023!

I debated about whether to keep this going for 2023 given the amount of care my ailing mother requires. But I am going to try. I would appreciate story ideas and especially photos since I expect to have a limited range again this summer.

Many thanks to our photographer friends, contributors, WGMD Radio and the sponsors who help cover the expensive MailChimp and web hosting fees. We appreciate your continued support.

Regards,

Alan (Facebook) (Instagram) (email)

Dagmar, Alan's mom, (Facebook) (email) (wikipedia)


PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Ship Passing Rehoboth in the Dark by Richard Tananis ...

Rehoboth Colorful Sunrise by Kelley Gillespie ...

Bottle & Cork, this past Saturday night ...

Interested in photography? Enter Delaware Beach Life's photography contest or Rehoboth Reflections.


 

OTHER NEWS:

MAN TAMPERING WITH CAR WAS ONLY DRUNK--- Rehoboth Beach police responded to Henlopen Avenue near Gerar Street around 8 p.m. Saturday when a man appeared to be trying to break into a car. Police caught him but he was not breaking into cars. "The individual you are referring to was highly intoxicated. It was determined that he was not attempting to break into cars, but that his actions were a result of his level of intoxication. He was not charged criminally," says Lt. Jaime Riddle, RBPD spokesman.

 

MAN FELL FROM BIKE, FLOWN TO TRAUMA CENTER--- Police from both Dewey and Rehoboth responded to Silver Lake Drive near Martin's Lane after a man was found who apparently fell from a bike and struck his head around 11:30 p.m. last Friday. Initially, it was unclear if he were the victim of a hit-and-run crash. He wore no helmet and was combative, suggesting a suspected head injury. So the state police helicopter, Trooper 2, landed at the Rehoboth Elementary School and flew him to a trauma center.

 

RBP RESCUES DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN--- Rehoboth Beach lifeguards found a live diamondback terrapin around 10 a.m. on Sunday on the beach in the Deauville area. They later released it at Lake Gerar.


 

NEWS RELEASES / NEWS REPORTS:

Automatically move Gmail messages from Promotions to Primary tab

Tribute to Daniel "Danny" Mitchell (Aug. 1958-Nov. 2022)

Bay Bridge automated lane closure system project

Delaware taps artificial intelligence to evacuate crowded beaches when floods hit

What's happening at Ocean City, Bethany and Rehoboth beaches in 2023

Milton Economic Development Committee makes moves

Food truck frenzy on Lewes Beach

Lewes public art exhibit in Canalfront Park on hold

A task force meets on Rehoboth Beach Library's new facility

Task force helping Rehoboth library transition starts work

Rehoboth Beach to study parking and traffic this summer in effort to reduce congestion

The deadline to run for RB commissioner or mayor is 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 5

Browseabout Books -- Rehoboth Beach

Visiting Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth fire engine finds new home in Preston, Missouri

RBPD gets a donated microchip scanner to ID pets

Rehoboth Beach welcomes new city manager

New Dewey police chief brings 30 years of experience to role

'Delaware's Favorite Playground' named Dewey's official tagline

Tower 3 now open just south of Dewey Beach

TONIGHT: Offshore Wind and the Viewshed discussion set May 30

Comments on US Wind marine mammal 'takes' due by June 1

Gorgeous beach boardwalks to stroll down this summer (RB/OC make Elle Decor list)

Berlin installs security cameras

Berlin comprehensive plan talk likely near

Berlin residents, officials share short-term rental concerns


 

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