A Frostburg man is arrested after stealing a car, calling in a false police report and trying to break into a home. According to Maryland State Police on 4/14/2020 around 6:30 am, the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barracks received a report of a purple Ford Mustang passenger vehicle driving at a high rate of speed and illegally passing vehicles on northbound Rt. 220 in the area Shooter’s Bar and Grill. While troopers were responding to the area, another 911 caller reported the Ford Mustang had entered westbound I-68 going the wrong direction. Troopers arrived in the area and were unable to locate the vehicle.Shortly after the initial report, the Barracks received a call from a homeowner on Fairview Farm Road in Midlothian MD, who reported a vehicle matching the Mustang’s description had pulled into his barn. The driver of the Mustang attempted to enter the residence, but fled on foot when approached by the homeowner. Troopers from the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barracks located the male hiding in an outbuilding on the homeowner’s property. The male was identified as 34 year old Robert Brian Winner of Frostburg, MD. Winner was suspected of being under the influence drugs. He was detained and taken to UMPC hospital for an emergency evaluation. Troopers investigation revealed the Ford Mustang Winner was driving had been stolen from a business parking lot in the Bloomington area just prior to the incident. A combine investigation with the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services revealed Winner had also contacted 911 and reported he observed a female fall into the Potomac River in the area of Luke. It was determined Winner falsely reported the incident due to being under the influence of drugs. The Allegany County Special Operations water team was dispatched along with fire departments from Westernport, Barton, Piedmont, Bloomington, LaVale, Bowling Green and EMS units from Tri-Towns and George’s Creek. An Allegany County Department of Emergency Services supervisor also responded. With the additional calls reporting other locations, units were dispatched to check the Potomac River in the PPG Road area, Cumberland and Ridgeley corridor and various locations along Rt-220 from Bowling Green to McCoole. No subject or evidence of a person in the water was found at any of the locations. Winner will be charged for theft of a motor vehicle, driving under the influence of drugs and numerous other criminal and traffic related offensives.
