Police seek robbery suspect

Third incident in recent weeks

Friday, July 3, 2009

The clerk on duty at the store told Det. Scott Brown of the Criminal Investigative Team that a black male, wearing a mask over his face, approached her with a gun and asked for money, the Calvert County Sheriff's Office press release stated. The store clerk gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money from the store cash register and he left without further incident, traveling south on foot at the rear of the business, the report stated.

The suspect is described as approximately 6 feet tall and was wearing blue jeans and a black sweatshirt.

Nearly three weeks ago an unknown black male wearing a heavy coat and a red bandanna over his face approached a woman at gunpoint on Joy Lee Road in Lusby and then fled on foot in an unknown direction shortly before 9 a.m. Schools in the area of Olivet Road were put on lockdown on June 12 for about and hour and a half while police canvassed the area.

"There are no suspects in those two robberies," Sheriff Mike Evans said, adding the Joy Lane robbery incident is very rare. On Joy Lane a person on the street was approached by an armed robber who demanded money.

Evans suggests employees who are getting ready to close their businesses for the evening be mindful of their surroundings and be aware of anyone who is hanging out in the establishment or if vehicles are running in the parking lot.

"When in doubt, give us a call," Evans said. Robberies are not an epidemic, but "we hate to see that," he added.

In May an employee at Domino's Pizza on Church Street in Prince Frederick was pushing a trash dumpster to the alley behind the Prince Frederick Shopping Center around 10:30 p.m. and was approached by a black male who was pointing a gun yelling, "Get on the ground, give me your money," the sheriff's office reported.

An investigation by members of the Criminal Investigative Team resulted in the arrest of two men — Stephen James Covington, 23, of Temple Hills and Marcus Dwayne Spencer, 26, of St. Leonard. Both men were indicted in the Calvert County Circuit Court on June 22 for armed robbery, robbery, second-degree assault and theft less than $500, judicial records state.

Anyone with information about the Dunkirk armed robbery is asked to contact Brown at 410-535-2800, Ext. 2456.

For a possible reward and to remain anonymous, call Crime Solvers call 410-535-2880. For more information call The Calvert Investigative Team Deputy Sgt. Michael Moore at 410-535-1600, Ext. 2454, or Sgt. Rose King 410-535-1600, Ext. 2455.

charvat@somdnews.com