Armed Robbers on Little Patuxent Parkway: Two Reports in One Day, Police Say

COLUMBIA, MD — An attempted holdup and an armed robbery were reported on Little Patuxent Parkway Monday in Columbia, according to the Howard County Police Department.

At 5:35 p.m., a man threatened to assault a pedestrian walking by in the 10200 block of Little Patuxent Parkway. The suspect had a handgun and demanded money from the victim, who was a man, police said.

When the suspect unsuccessfully tried to take a bag from the man, the victim subsequently ran away, according to authorities.

The suspect was described as an Hispanic man in his 40s who was about 5'10" tall and 160 pounds with dark hair and a mustache. He was reportedly wearing a dark gray jacket with hood and black pants.

In a separate incident hours earlier, police said a driver was robbed at gunpoint in the 10400 block of Little Patuxent Parkway.

The victim was picking up a friend who was accompanied by someone he didn't know at 11:34 a.m., when the stranger pointed a handgun at him and ordered him to empty his pockets.

The driver surrendered his phone, and the two got out of the vehicle and ran away, according to police.

Police arrested an 18-year-old man from the 5900 block of Grand Banks Road in Columbia. The teen was charged with armed robbery; robbery; first and second-degree assault; theft less than $1,000; and using a firearm to commit a felony, court records show.

Police continue investigating the second person allegedly involved in the robbery, who was believed to be a juvenile.

Anyone with information may contact the Howard County Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 410-313-STOP.

Patch file photo.