(July 2, 2015) OPA Board candidate Slobodan Trendic, 59, has been charged with numerous traffic offenses, including drinking and driving and leaving the scene of an accident, according to a release issued Tuesday by the Ocean Pines Police Department.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on June 20 in Ocean Pines, when Trendic allegedly was driving while intoxicated. Other charges include, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, negligent driving and violation of a license restriction related to corrective lenses.
Numerous other traffic citations were issued to Trendic, who was released pending trial, according to the report.
Speaking to the Gazette on Tuesday, Trendic said he has hired a lawyer, who advised him not to speak about the case. He added that he has no intention of dropping out of the board race.
“I will let people judge for themselves, and when the truth comes out, they can make their own decision,” he said. “I’m entrusting the legal system.”
Ocean Pines Police Chief David Massey provided a few more details on Wednesday morning.
“We got a call of a hit and run accident where a resident’s vehicle was struck in his driveway [on Windjammer Road], extensive damage, his front lawn was run through [and] there was a trail of radiator fluid. It was obviously a heavy impact,” Massey said. “Part of the bumper was left in the front yard next to the damaged vehicle, and the trail of radiator fluid led back to Mr. Trendic’s house. His vehicle had damage with radiator fluid coming out of it.”
Massey said Trendic failed a field sobriety test and refused a chemical test. He was taken to police headquarters in Ocean Pines and eventually released, according to Massey.
No injuries were reported, and Massey said the parked vehicle was unoccupied when it was struck.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search on the Internet listed 16 separate charges related to the incident, including failure to control vehicle speed on a highway to avoid collision and changing lanes when unsafe.
Massey said it was not unusual to see 16 charges related to this type of incident.
“It’s different subsections,” he said. “What happens is they’ll charge with driving while intoxicated and driving while impaired, and that leaves leeway for the courts to determine whether they want to reduce it or charge it with the full amount. Typically with multiple charges, they’ll allow leeway.”
Trendic recently took part in a seven-candidate forum on June 24 at the community center in Ocean Pines. He previously ran for the board in 2014, but left the race early in order to throw his support behind Dave Stevens and Pat Renaud, who were both elected and later voted president and secretary, respectively.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on June 20 in Ocean Pines, when Trendic allegedly was driving while intoxicated. Other charges include, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, negligent driving and violation of a license restriction related to corrective lenses.
Numerous other traffic citations were issued to Trendic, who was released pending trial, according to the report.
Speaking to the Gazette on Tuesday, Trendic said he has hired a lawyer, who advised him not to speak about the case. He added that he has no intention of dropping out of the board race.
“I will let people judge for themselves, and when the truth comes out, they can make their own decision,” he said. “I’m entrusting the legal system.”
Ocean Pines Police Chief David Massey provided a few more details on Wednesday morning.
“We got a call of a hit and run accident where a resident’s vehicle was struck in his driveway [on Windjammer Road], extensive damage, his front lawn was run through [and] there was a trail of radiator fluid. It was obviously a heavy impact,” Massey said. “Part of the bumper was left in the front yard next to the damaged vehicle, and the trail of radiator fluid led back to Mr. Trendic’s house. His vehicle had damage with radiator fluid coming out of it.”
Massey said Trendic failed a field sobriety test and refused a chemical test. He was taken to police headquarters in Ocean Pines and eventually released, according to Massey.
No injuries were reported, and Massey said the parked vehicle was unoccupied when it was struck.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search on the Internet listed 16 separate charges related to the incident, including failure to control vehicle speed on a highway to avoid collision and changing lanes when unsafe.
Massey said it was not unusual to see 16 charges related to this type of incident.
“It’s different subsections,” he said. “What happens is they’ll charge with driving while intoxicated and driving while impaired, and that leaves leeway for the courts to determine whether they want to reduce it or charge it with the full amount. Typically with multiple charges, they’ll allow leeway.”
Trendic recently took part in a seven-candidate forum on June 24 at the community center in Ocean Pines. He previously ran for the board in 2014, but left the race early in order to throw his support behind Dave Stevens and Pat Renaud, who were both elected and later voted president and secretary, respectively.