Essex Couple Arrested After Resident Finds Them in Basement

Two Essex residents were arrested and charged with burglary last week after a man found them in his basement in a home on the unit block of Goeller Avenue around 10 p.m. on Nov. 7.

Baltimore County police arrested Debbie Lynn Merryman, 46, of the 100 block of Virginia Avenue and Antonio Santiago Palmes, 51, of the 700 block of Mansfield Road. 

Both are charged with first-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, destruction of property and theft. Merryman and Palmes were released on Nov. 8 on $15,000 bail each.

Police first responded to the Goeller Avenue home at 6:19 p.m. that evening for a report of a stolen DVD player and dryer, according to police. Just hours later, the resident called police after he came home to find a man and woman in his basement. He struggled with the pair before they fled.

Police arrested Palmes and Merryman nearby shortly afterward. Both had suffered cuts and were taken to an area hospital for treatment.