Suspect Arrested For Serious Assault In Worcester Co.

(WEST OCEAN CITY, MD) – A suspect is under arrest in Worcester County and charged with the assault of another man who is in critical condition in a Baltimore hospital.

The suspect is identified as Eric J. Jarrett, 48, of no fixed address. After consultation with the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, Maryland State Police have charged Jarrett with first degree assault, second degree assault and reckless endangerment. He is currently being held in the Worcester County Detention Center.

The victim is identified as George L. Stinnet, 58, of no fixed address. Stinnet is at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he is in critical condition.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. on December 19, 2019, troopers from the Berlin Barrack were dispatched to assist emergency medical services personnel at an apartment in the 10000-block of Golf Course Road, West Ocean City, Md. Arriving troopers found an EMS team attending to an unconscious man, later identified as Stinnet, who was in the apartment. An ambulance crew transported Stinnet from the scene, but a Maryland State Police helicopter was soon called and the victim was flown to the Shock Trauma Center.

Troopers called for criminal investigators to respond. Personnel from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation and the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division and Homicide Unit responded.

The preliminary investigation indicates both the victim and suspect are homeless and were in an apartment with other individuals. During the evening of December 18th, information developed during the investigation indicates the suspect assaulted the victim while in the apartment. Details of that assault are still being investigated. When someone could not wake the victim the next afternoon, they called for an ambulance to respond.

Investigators developed additional information about the suspect and requested assistance from the Ocean City Police Department. The suspect was taken into custody by that department for another unrelated assault yesterday evening. He has since been charged with the crimes listed above in connection with the assault on Stinnet.

A motive for the assault has not been identified at this time. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.

Multiple agencies assisted with this investigation. They include the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean City Police Department, Berlin Police Department, Pocomoke Police Department and the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, Criminal Enforcement Division, Crime Scene Unit, Berlin Barrack and the Computer Crimes Unit.