NEWS RELEASE
City of Takoma Park Police Department
• 7500 Maple Avenue • Takoma Park, Md 20912
For more information contact:
Det. Corporal Andrew M. John, Tactical Enforcement Unit
301/891-7148 E-mail:andrewj@takomagov.org
July 28, 2007 (3:00PM)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ROBBERY ARREST
Press Release
Chief Ronald A. Ricucci from the Takoma Park Police Department announced the arrest of a seventeen year old male from Oxon Hill, Prince George’s County, Maryland. The juvenile was arrested for a strong arm robbery, which occurred on Friday, July 27, 2007, at approximately 1130 pm, in the 7200 block of Maple Avenue Takoma Park, MD.
A Takoma Park resident was walking home from the Takoma Park Metro Station, when she was robbed by two males. The adult female had just passed the two suspects when they quickly turned around and began following her. She turned and observed the males walking behind her, when they pushed her in the back, in an effort to knock her to the ground. The other male then snatched her purse. The female struggled with the males, which drew the attention of a nearby Takoma Park undercover police officer. The Investigator was working a robbery suppression detail in the area along with other Investigators from the Takoma Park Police, Tactical Enforcement Unit. Recently there has been a spike in street robberies, which prompted the agency to strategically deploy plain clothes officers in the area near and around the Takoma Park Metro Station.
The officer observed the female struggling with the males and quickly took action. The males snatched the purse from the female and attempted to flee from the area on foot, to avoid being apprehended. The officer pursued the suspects until backup units could arrive and assist. One of the suspects was apprehended after a short foot chase in the 7200 block of Maple Avenue.
The suspect was positively identified by the victim and witness. Her purse was located by a female citizen who was in the vicinity and came to render some assistance to the victim.
The suspect was subsequently transported to the Takoma Park Police Station, where he was interviewed and made some admissions to his involvement during the robbery. He was later transported to the Alfred E. Noyes Juvenile Detention Center in Rockville, Maryland, where he was detained. He was charged with strong arm robbery, second degree assault and theft.
Members from the Takoma Park Police Department Criminal Investigations Division executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence in Prince George’s County.
Chief Ricucci and Lt. T. Collington praises the work of the Criminal Investigations Division, Tactical Enforcement Unit and the Patrol Officers who responded on the initial call. Many hours of hard work led to the arrest and closure of this case. The investigators will continue to coordinate and exchange information with Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, DC Metropolitan Police Department and the DC Metro Transit Police Departments to bring closure to other active robbery investigations which have occurred in the area. The investigation is ongoing to continue to identify other suspects who may be involved in these crimes.
D/Cpl. Andrew M. John
Takoma Park Police
Supervisor, Tactical Enforcement Unit