Man arrested in connection with alleged attempted murder in Wicomico County

A man is in custody after deputies say he used an axe during an attempted murder incident involving his ex-girlfriend, in Salisbury. 

The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office says on Sunday, around 9:05 PM, a deputy responded to the area of Moss Hill Lane and Lexington Street  for a reported altercation. Once on scene, deputies say they learned that three subjects were traveling on Moss Hill Lane when they were confronted by 18-year-old Steven Oppel in another vehicle. Oppel, of Salisbury, was reportedly yelling about trying to find his estranged girlfriend. Police say Oppel's ex-girlfriend was one of the passengers in the vehicle and she had a protective order, which banned the 18-year-old from contacting her. 

Law enforcement reports the they were informed that Oppel intentionally struck the vehicle the individuals were riding in forcing them to stop. At that point, the Salisbury man allegedly approached the vehicle while wielding an axe and then attempting to pull his former girlfriend from the vehicle by her throat. According to the report, when he was unable to remove the woman from the vehicle, Oppel began striking at the car with the axe, delivering multiple strikes, one of which shattered the rear window.

The man then reportedly attempted again to enter the vehicle before running away.

Authorities report that they learned that Oppel was seen earlier in the day in his ex-girlfriend's neighborhood presumably trying to locate her. 

After a search of the area, deputies say Oppel was found an hour later walking on Old Ocean City Road at which point he was taken into custody. He was charged with attempted murder, assault 1st degree, assault 2nd degree, malicious destruction of property, and failure to comply with a protective order.

He is currently being held without bond in the Wicomico County Detention Center.