(Aug. 30, 2024) Charges have been filed against a former Berlin Activities Depot employee following an incident earlier this month.
On Tuesday, Lionel Evans, 57, of Princess Anne, was arrested on one felony charge of second-degree child abuse and one misdemeanor charge of second-degree assault following an investigation into an incident that occurred at the Berlin Activities Depot playground Aug. 13. Steve Rakow, attorney for Mark and Carmella Solito, the facility’s owner, said his clients have cooperated through the investigation and have since notified parents of Evans’s arrest.
“Mr. Evans was initially suspended from his position while law enforcement conducted its investigation into the allegations, which is only fair to him,” he said in a statement Wednesday. “Mr. Evans is now no longer employed by Berlin Activities Depot. The Solitos published a notice to parents today – the day after the arrest.”
According to charging documents, an investigation was launched earlier this month after a parent of a four-year-old attending the Berlin Activities Depot had contacted Berlin police about an incident that occurred on the playground Aug. 13. The parent told officers Evans had grabbed his child by the back of his neck, leaving a red mark, scratches and bruising. The parent said the child was not listening and had run away from Evans on the playground.
“Child protective services was contacted and a forensic interview was conducted on August 14, 2024,” a statement of charges reads. “The child disclosed during the interview that he had marks on his neck. The child stated that Lionel (Evans) did it while he was playing on the playground. The child stated that Lionel (Evans) put his hand around the child’s neck and that it caused his neck to hurt. The child stated that afterwards, he was crying and Lionel stated to the child he was going to be in timeout for what he did.”