NEWS RELEASE
City of Takoma Park Police Department
• 7500 Maple Avenue • Takoma Park, Md 20912
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Catherine Plevy, 301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901
February 20, 2009 (4:30 p.m.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chief Ronald A. Ricucci from the Takoma Park Police Department announces the arrests of Rashawn Ikeya Johnson, 20; Jameise V. Christian, 17; and Tobias R. Dyer, 17, all of Washington, D.C., for armed robbery, unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon, carrying or transporting a handgun, use of a handgun during the commission of a felony, theft greater than $500, first degree assault, second degree assault, false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit all of the above. The juveniles have been charged as adults.
Since October 2008, the City of Takoma Park Police, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, the District of Columbia, and the City of Hyattsville Police have been investigating a series of robberies targeting Asian-owned businesses.
On February 19, 2009, at approximately 11:53 p.m. Takoma Park Police responded to 1163 University Boulevard East, Takoma Park, Maryland, China Town Carry Out business, for a robbery that had just occurred. Upon arrival, Takoma Park officers met with the victims who identified a red vehicle which fled towards New Hampshire Avenue. Patrol units canvassed the area, at which time a Prince George’s County police officer observed a red vehicle matching the description, traveling at a high rate of speed without headlights on, southbound on New Hampshire Avenue. A traffic stop was conducted in the 6400 block of New Hampshire Avenue, wherein the vehicle was positively identified by the victim as being the one involved in the robbery. All three occupants in the vehicle matched the descriptions previously given by the victims. Property, to include a .45 caliber handgun, a large amount of U.S. Currency and other items of evidentiary value, were also recovered from inside the vehicle, linking the suspects to the robbery that occurred at China Town, as well as others in surrounding jurisdictions.
Takoma Park Investigators are coordinating efforts with surrounding agencies to link additional Asian-owned establishments that were victims of robbery and to file charges accordingly.
The suspects were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. All three suspects are being held on a $250,000 bond.
Posted by Plevy at February 20, 2009 04:32 PM