High-Speed Chase In Berlin Results In Major Pot Seizure

BERLIN -- After speeding through the Berlin area well in excess of 100 mph on Tuesday, three individuals were caught in a nearby shopping center and in the woods behind it, although a fourth suspect remains at large.

Around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Maryland State Police troopers were conducting a stationary speed enforcement detail on Route 50 near Route 346 when they attempted to stop a green 2003 BMW for going 72 mph in a 55 mph zone.

The vehicle swerved to the shoulder, went around the trooper and accelerated at a high rate of speed to avoid apprehension. The vehicle was clocked at 113 mph after it passed the speed enforcement detail and disappeared from sight once it turned onto Route 113 heading into Berlin.

A short time later, MSP troopers located the vehicle unattended in the Food Lion parking lot in the Brittingham Square Shopping Center. A detailed investigation was conducted including witness interviews and a review of store surveillance video, and troopers were able to locate two of the suspects from the vehicle hiding in a store in the shopping center and a third hiding in the woods behind it.

A fourth suspect, the front seat passenger from the vehicle, was not located and has not yet been identified.

The driver was identified as Martin Enriquez Santelices, 21, of Laurel, Md., while the two captured passengers were identified as Brandon Michael Fitzpatrick, 19, and Maxwell Fashola, 19, both of Columbia, Md.

The fourth suspect is described as a white male wearing red tennis shoes and a black shirt with white writing at the time of the incident.

A search of the vehicle revealed 12 ounces of marijuana, a digital scale and plastic baggies used to package and sell marijuana in the trunk. Each of the suspects was arrested and charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute marijuana along with possession of paraphernalia. Santelices was also charged with driving under the influence, fleeing and eluding and reckless driving. Each was taken before a District Court Commissioner was each was ordered held on a $5,000 bond. The fourth suspect has not been identified and remained at large as of Thursday afternoon.