Car Crash Helps Montgomery Cops Catch Suspected Armed Robber

SILVER SPRING, MD — Authorities charged a Silver Spring man with armed robbery and other firearm-related offenses after they said he robbed two New Hampshire Avenue stores in the same week.

William T. Thompson, 23, was arrested and charged after he struck a mailbox in Rockville and a neighbor reported the crash to Montgomery County Police.

Both robberies, according to authorities, were committed a day apart. The first one took place on Aug. 9 — shortly after midnight — at a 7-Eleven store. Police say Thompson entered the convenience store at 15539 New Hampshire Ave. with his face covered and armed with a rifle. Threatening the employee, he was able to obtain cash and flee in a dark-colored sedan.

The following day, at approximately 3 p.m., police say Thompson entered the Hollywood Beer & Wine store at 12703 New Hampshire Ave. and demanded cash. Similar to the last incident, the man's face was covered and he was armed with a rifle. According to authorities, the suspected robber grabbed an undisclosed amount of money and fled in the same dark-colored sedan.

That evening, officers responded to the 15300 block of Hannans Way in Rockville for the report of a sedan that had struck a mailbox and then fled the scene. One resident saw the accident and called police after finding the vehicle disabled on the side of Carrolton Road.

When officers arrived, they detected an odor of marijuana coming from Thompson and the vehicle, giving them probable cause to conduct a search.

While searching Thompson, police said they found an empty handgun holster on his belt and money in his pants. A search of Thompson's vehicle turned up a loaded handgun, a loaded rifle, a black ski mask, and gloves.

Detectives later reviewed surveillance video from both robberies and determined that Thompson and the rifle he carried matched witness descriptions.

Thompson was arrested and taken to the Central Processing Unit in Rockville, where he was charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and one count of possession of a handgun in a vehicle, according to police. The 23-year-old Silver Spring resident is currently being held without bond.