File photo by Chris Parypa

OCEAN CITY — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on malicious destruction of property and intoxicated endangerment charges last week after allegedly attempting to break into a downtown residence and being held at gunpoint by the resident until police arrived.

Around 9 p.m. last Thursday, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers were dispatched to a residence on Dolphin Street for a reported breaking and entering in progress. Upon arrival, three OCPD officers retrieved their patrol rifles from their vehicles, while a fourth officer drew his handgun.

While the officers were approaching the residence, a female victim stepped outside and told them there was a man attempting to break in the back door and her husband was holding the suspect at gunpoint. All four officers entered the residence and found the male victim holding a black semi-automatic pistol and pointing it toward the back door.

OCPD officers observed a suspect, later identified as Aaron Dill, 38, of York, Pa., at the back door and licking the glass. According to police reports, the OCPD officers pointed their weapons at Dill and gave him commands to get on the ground. The officers also ordered the male victim to put down his gun and he complied, putting the handgun on the coffee table.

Dill was detained by the officers, but was not yet under arrest. Dill agreed to speak with officers and told them he was directed to the house by a friend, although he could not identify the friend or provide a description. Dill acknowledged he didn’t belong there and admitted to being intoxicated. According to police reports, Dill’s pants were wet in the crotch area and a strong odor of urine and fecal matter was emanating from his person, although it is not clear from the report if Dill soiled himself before or after the male victim and later the police pointed their guns at him.

The male victim told police he was in the shower when the female victim told him someone was trying to break in the back door. The male victim told the female victim to call 911 and take their two boys, ages 5 and 2, to the master bedroom to wait for police to arrive. The male victim then retrieved his handgun from a safe and moved toward the back door.

According to police reports, the victim pointed his gun at Dill and asked him “What are you doing?” Also according to police reports, Dill responded “Trying to kick the door in.” The victim kept his gun trained on Dill until police arrived. The victim told police he did not know Dill and that Dill had never entered the residence.

An inspection of the door revealed the screen had been kicked in at the bottom. At that point, Dill was arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property and intoxicated endangerment.