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.
Police say 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.