Police Arrest Armed Carjacking Suspect: HCPD

COLUMBIA, MD — The suspect in an armed carjacking in Columbia has been taken into custody, police reported Tuesday morning.

Michael Gainer Rothenberg, 27, of Buxton Terrace in Bethesda, was charged in Monday's business holdup and armed carjacking off Dobbin Road, according to the Howard County Police Department.

Police said Rothenberg was taken into custody in Frederick and charged with armed robbery, robbery, first- and second-degree assault, theft and armed carjacking.

The Mini Cooper that was stolen in the carjacking was recovered in another jurisdiction, according to police.

Related: Carjacker Robbed Gas Station Near Columbia Crossing

Court records show that Rothenberg faces 12 charges in the case: two counts of armed robbery; two counts of robbery; two counts of first-degree assault; two counts of second-degree assault; theft less than $1,000; armed carjacking; carjacking; and theft from $10,000 to $100,000.

The charges stem from a series of events that transpired near the Columbia Crossing shopping center Monday morning. At approximately 10:45 a.m., police said a man walked into the Crown station in the 6300 block of Dobbin Road with a handgun and demanded money. He took off with an undisclosed amount of cash in a vehicle that had been stolen from another county, the Howard County Police Department reported.

Minutes later, the suspect allegedly hit a vehicle on Old Dobbin Lane at Dobbin Road. He pointed his gun at the woman driving the other vehicle and demanded she give him her red Mini Cooper, according to police.

The suspect was described as a man of unknown race wearing a gray hoodie and gray pants.

Rothenberg was being held Tuesday without bond at the Howard County Detention Center. Officials said they would not release his mugshot.

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