Two Youths Charged in Columbia Street Robberies: Police

COLUMBIA, MD – A 12-year-old and a 16-year-old have been charged in a series of recent street robberies in east Columbia, police said Friday.

The younger individual will be charged as a juvenile due to his age and will not be identified, police said. He was also involved in the spray-painting of approximately 200 vehicles dating back to 2014, according to police.

Authorities said the 12-year-old has been put in a juvenile detention facility.

The other suspect—Michael Jonas Mays, 16, of the 7400 block of Hickory Log Circle—is being charged as an adult with multiple offenses including armed robbery, assault and theft, according to police. He is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center, police reported.

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Police said both Mays and the 12-year-old are charged in connection with the following crimes:

• Armed robbery on Saturday, Feb. 6, in the 9300 block of Ourtime Lane—A man was approached by two suspects. One asked to use his phone to call his mother, then held him at gunpoint and demanded his Apple watch and iPhone.
• Armed robbery attempt on Friday, Feb. 5—When a woman answered her door in the 7500 block of Broken Staff, an individual asked to use her phone to call his mother. As she opened the door, a second individual appeared and pointed a handgun at her, prompting her to close the door.
• Armed robbery and assault on Thursday, Jan. 21—Two teens were assaulted while walking to the Owen Brown Village Center in the 6600 block of Cradlerock Way. Three suspects approached them. One asked the teens if he could use their cell phone to call his mother. Then the suspects showed they had a knife and handgun and demanded the victims' belongings, according to police. Upon finding the teens did not have any other valuables, the trio ran away. Authorities say they are continuing to investigate who the third suspect is.

Police said the 12-year-old is also charged in a kidnapping and robbery case that happened outside the East Columbia Library.

In that incident, police said that two suspects visited the home of an acquaintance in the 6600 block of Cradlerock Way on Tuesday, Feb. 2, then ordered the individual out of the house at gunpoint and compelled him to go toward the East Columbia Library, where they demanded his belongings in the parking lot. When they found he did not have anything valuable with him, the suspects ran away. Officials said they arrested one 12-year-old suspect soon after a foot pursuit. The second individual has not been charged, according to police.

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Police continue to investigate whether the pair of youths is involved in any further crimes.

Anyone with information should contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.