Motorist At Fault In Pedestrian Accident

OCEAN CITY — A Bel Air woman was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk after striking an unidentified victim crossing Coastal Highway at 28th Street on Saturday.

Around 6:15 p.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Police responded to the area of 28th Street and Philadelphia Ave. for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. OCPD officers and EMS personnel arrived on the scene and determined a 25-year-old female, whose name is not being released, was walking with a pedestrian signal from east to west when she was struck by a vehicle turning onto northbound Philadelphia Ave. from Robin Drive.

The investigation revealed the driver at the intersection failed to yield the right-of-way to the pedestrian and struck her while she was in the crosswalk. The pedestrian was transported by Ocean City EMS to PRMC with injuries not believed to be life threatening. The driver, identified as Tess Ann Marianetti, 21, of Bel Air, was cited to failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Ocean City Police are urging citizens to use extra caution while crossing the street and advising motorists to be alert and aware of pedestrians on the roadway. Police remind individuals traveling on foot, or by motor scooter, moped or bicycle to cross the street at a marked crosswalk or intersection, make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy intersections and continue to watch for traffic for the entire time in a crosswalk.

Pedestrians are also urged to only use crosswalks and not take unnecessary risks by crossing busy streets against traffic lights. Parents area reminded to pay close attention to children while crossing busy roadways and keep hold of small children’s hands while waiting for traffic lights to change. Vehicle operators are urged to be extremely vigilant while driving and be consistently aware of pedestrians, bicycles, mopeds and scooters and allow plenty of time to stop or proceed through intersections.

Cameras Nab Inlet Thief

OCEAN CITY — A Berlin man was charged with theft last week after video surveillance at the Ocean City Inlet captured him allegedly swiping two large sets of aluminum steps.

Around 1 p.m. on May 9, Ocean City Police responded to the Inlet lot for a reported theft of town property. OCPD officers met with an Ocean City Public Works supervisor who told police two large sets of aluminum steps were stolen from a collapsible stage and trailer in the Inlet parking lot.

OCPD officers realized the sets of steps were stolen from an area of the Inlet covered by town of Ocean City surveillance cameras and were able to obtain surveillance images of a suspect stealing the items. After reviewing footage from several different cameras, OCPD officers were able to identify the suspect as Timothy Allen Aulinskis, 46, of Berlin.

OCPD officers then located Aulinskis’ pick-up truck at a residence in Berlin with the stolen city property still in the back. The stolen property was valued at around $3,000. Aulinskis was charged with two counts of theft from $1,000 to $10,000. The incident was another example of the town’s use of technology to solve crimes.

In an ongoing effort to improve public safety, Ocean City has strategically positioned video surveillance cameras at various public locations throughout the city. In addition to providing surveillance to catch criminals, the cameras also assist public safety with vehicle traffic management and large event planning.

Two Caught Searching Cars

OCEAN CITY — Two Clarksburg, Md. men, one of whom had to be Tased after allegedly assaulting an officer, were arrested last week after alert citizens reported spotting them tampering with cars in the area of Rusty Anchor Rd.

Around 1:30 a.m. last Wednesday, Ocean City Police responded to the area of Rusty Anchor Rd. in reference to citizen reports of three male suspects tampering with parked cars. When officers arrived, they observed two males tampering with parked cars by trying door handles to see if the vehicles were unlocked.

OCPD officers confronted two of the suspects, at which point one of them attempted to flee the scene. When the OCPD attempted to subdue the suspect, later identified as Harry Gardner Holmes III, 25, of Clarksburg, the suspect assaulted one of the officers. Holmes was then subdued and subsequently arrested by an officer equipped with an Electronic Control Device, or Taser.

The second suspect, identified as Christopher Ryan Holmes, 22, of Clarksburg, was taken into custody without incident. During the investigation, police determined the two suspects were brothers and were staying in the 94th Street area. OCPD officers located several victims and witnesses and determined the suspects had gained entry to at least two vehicles.

Per OCPD procedure, Harry Holmes was treated by Ocean City EMS and transported to AGH for treatment after being Tased. He was then released from AGH and transported by officers to the Public Safety Building. Harry Holmes has been charged with two counts of rogue and vagabond, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.  Christopher Holmes has been charged with two counts of rogue and vagabond.

Berlin Dealer Sentenced

SNOW HILL — A local man arrested in January after the Berlin Police Department’s SWAT team raided his residence and discovered large amounts of marijuana and heroin pleaded guilty last week in Circuit Court to two counts of possession with intent to distribute and was sentenced to a combined 10 years in jail.

On Jan. 16, members of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team executed a search and seizure warrant at a residence on West Street in Berlin. The Berlin Police Department’s SWAT team made entry to the residence and arrested Joseph Tyler Shanahan, 25, without incident. A search of the residence revealed 987 grams of marijuana, 99 individually wrapped bags of heroin and $1,510 in currency. Shanahan was charged with possession of marijuana and heroin, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and heroin, possession with intent to distribute in a school zone and possession of paraphernalia.

Last week in Circuit Court, Shanahan pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics and was sentenced to five years for each count to be served consecutively, netting a total sentence of 10 years.

Hazmat Accident

BERLIN — A single-vehicle accident closed Route 113 near Berlin on Tuesday morning when a truck pulling a trailer crashed and dumped 80 gallons of hydrochloric acid on the roadway.

Shortly after 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a single-vehicle accident on Route 113 at Dee Park Drive near Berlin. The investigation revealed a 2007 truck pulling a trailer traveled off the left side of the road, struck a guardrail and came to rest in the wood line located in the center median. The truck was driven by Clifford Hall, how failed to maintain control and left the roadway.

The trailer’s cargo consisted of 80 gallons of hydrochloric acid. Due to the containers being punctured during the accident, the Berlin Fire Department, the Worcester County Hazmat team and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) responded to assist with the clean-up. In addition, the Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division also responded to the scene to conduct an inspection of the truck and trailer.

Hall transported by ambulance to PRMC for treatment of undisclosed injuries, while his passenger, Antonio Baltazar-Juarez was not injured. Hall was subsequently charged with negligent driving.