Man arrested for theft, assault in Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE, Md. – A man is behind bars following a reported theft and assault on Monday.

Officers were called to Walmart during the early evening hours for a reported assault where an Asset Protection Officer was assaulted. It was reported that the suspect was fleeing on foot towards the back of the shopping center, and responding officers found the suspect walking in the 800 block of Chesapeake Drive.

The subject, identified as 36-year-old Justin Melvin, allegedly tried to flee on foot, during which he dropped a backpack that was later determined to contain multiple stolen items worth nearly $400. Police say Melvin fell into a ditch and was not compliant with the officers, failing any commands to stop. Officers used a departmental-issued taser on Melvin, who still continued resisting and struggling with officers.

Melvin was taken to the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Cambridge for evaluation due to the Taser deployment. He was also found to have a Taser in his pocket, which he was reportedly threatening to use on officers.

After being released from the hospital, Melvin was charged with obstructing and hindering, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, theft $100 to under $1500, and possession of electronic control device. Additionally, it was discovered that he had multiple warrants for his arrest, including a Dorchester County District Court arrest warrant, a Dorchester County Circuit Court Bench Warrant for failure to comply, and first degree escape stemming from his escape from a court-ordered recovering program earlier in the month.