Robbery Suspect and Police Injured in Gambrills Crash; Shots Fired

UPDATED 12:45 p.m.

No serious injuries were reported after a police officer was struck by a bank robber’s vehicle and officers shot at the suspected robber’s vehicle Monday night in Gambrills.

According to the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the suspect showed a weapon and threatened employees just before 6 p.m. Monday when he robbed Navy Federal Credit Union, 2288 Blue Water Blvd., No. 490 in Odenton. The suspect -- Lamar Dontreze Mills, 28, of the 300 block of Goldsborough Street in Easton – fled with an undetermined amount of cash.

Police spotted Mills driving a vehicle on Route 32 near Burns Crossing Road in Gambrills. Authorities say he stopped his vehicle, then sped toward several officers who had gotten out of their patrol vehicles. At that point officers feared for their lives and shot at the suspect, police say, but he was not hit by the gunfire.

Mills’ vehicle reportedly crashed into a police vehicle, which caused a police sergeant who had gotten out of his cruiser to be hit by a vehicle.

After Mills was arrested, he was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center for treatment of minor scrapes. The police sergeant was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Two other officers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries and released.

The officers involved in Monday’s shooting have been identified as Sgt. Andrew Wayson, a 20-year veteran of the agency assigned to the Western District; Cpl. Jeffrey Rothenbecker, a nine-year veteran assigned to the Special Operations Division K-9 Unit; and Cpl. Jesse Pattana, an eight-year veteran assigned to the Western District.

All three officers have been placed on routine administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation. Wayson was treated and released for non-life threatening injuries at an area hospital.

Route 32 eastbound was closed for several hours while detectives processed the crime scene. Inside Mills’ vehicle they reportedly found money and a realistic-looking BB gun.

Mills has been charged with multiple counts of attempted first- and second-degree murder, armed robbery, and several related charges.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call, email, or text your tip to Metro Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-866-7LOCKUP; or text “MCS plus your message” to CRIMES (274637); or visit the website at http://www.metrocrimestoppers.net.

Phone calls are not recorded and callers remain anonymous. You may also be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

»Bank robbery suspect Lamar Dontreze Mills, 28, of Easton, courtesy of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

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