LA PLATA, Md. - The Charles County Sheriff's Department today released the following incident and arrest reports.
ARMED ROBBERY: On July 19 at 9:19 a.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to St. Charles Towne Center located at 11110 Mall Circle in Waldorf for the report of an armed robbery. Investigation revealed two Downtown Locker Room employees were transporting the bank deposit from the previous day when they were approached in the parking lot by a male suspect with a gun who demanded the money. The employees complied and the suspect fled the scene. A lookout was broadcast for the suspect vehicle and officers located it traveling north on Route 301 shortly thereafter. Officers attempted a traffic stop but the vehicle refused to stop and fled to District Heights. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle rammed into several police vehicles and became disabled after crashing over a curb, over a sidewalk and into a parked car. Officers quickly arrested the suspect, Ryan Alexander Jones, 20, of Rockville. During a search of his vehicle, officers recovered the gun and the stolen deposit. Jones was charged with armed robbery, first-degree assault, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a handgun in a vehicle, possession of a handgun and use of a handgun in commission of a crime. He was being held at the Charles County Detention Center pending an appearance before a district court commissioner. Further investigation revealed one of the employees who was initially thought to be a victim conspired with Jones to stage the robbery. That employee will be charged accordingly. Maryland State Police, Prince George’s County Police Department, members of the Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement team and District Heights Police Department assisted the Sheriff’s Office during the pursuit. Det. G. Higgs investigated.
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: On July 18 at 10:54 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the 4300 block of Rock Court in Waldorf for the report of shots fired. Investigation revealed two male suspects were on the corner of Rye Court and Rock Court when one suspect fired two shots from a shotgun. One of the shots struck and shattered the rear window of an SUV and the other shot struck the side of a house. No one was injured and the suspects fled the scene on foot. The suspects are described only as black males.
On July 19 at 10:42 p.m., officers responded to the same area for another report of shots fired. Two homes were damaged in the 4300 block of Rye Drive and another was damaged in the 4400 block of Quillen Circle. The three homes were occupied but no one was injured. Officers found 9 mm shell casings in the area. The suspects may have been in a 1997 black Ford Crown Victoria or a dark-colored mini-van. Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Charles County Sheriff’s Office at 301-932-7777 or Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Officers P. DeBoe and J. Skelly are investigating. The Sheriff’s Office has increased patrols of the area in response to the shootings.