Suspect Faces Charges In Massage Business Robberies In Stafford, Spotsylvania

Updated: 4:20 p.m.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A 22-year-old Spotsylvania County man has been arrested in connection with two robberies at a massage business where employees were assaulted, including one worker who suffered broken facial bones, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office.

Elijah Tishawn Thomas Deane was arrested Thursday and charged with armed robbery, two counts of abduction, grand larceny and two counts of assault and battery, authorities said. Court records list Deane with a Fredericksburg mailing address in the 22408 ZIP code, which is in Spotsylvania County.

The charges stem from an investigation into incidents at Taiji Works, 4705 Plank Road, Suite 207, beginning in March. The Sheriff's Office said additional charges are pending.

Employees Reported Assaults During Two Robberies

Deputies first responded to the business March 16 after a reported robbery. Investigators said a man entered the business and paid for a massage before requesting a refund.

The man followed an employee to an area where money was kept, punched one worker in the face and stole cash and checks before fleeing, according to the Sheriff's Office. Two employees were injured, including one who suffered broken bones in their face.

Deputies returned to Taiji Works on April 25 for a second reported robbery. Employees told investigators that a man again paid for a massage before requesting a refund.

During the confrontation, the man displayed a firearm, threatened an employee and forced the employees into a back room while demanding money, according to authorities. He left with cash and documents belonging to the employees.

Both employees reported being assaulted and identified the man as the same person involved in the March incident, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Suspect Returned Months Later, Sheriff's Office Says

On Sept. 19, an employee recognized the suspect when he' returned to Taiji Works and kept the business door locked, authorities said.

The man left but returned about an hour later and threw a large rock through the front door, according to the Sheriff's Office. He fled after employees and a customer inside began yelling.

Detectives used nearby Flock cameras, security footage and a phone number during their investigation to identify a suspect, authorities said.

Also See ...

• Former Stafford Sheriff’s Sergeant Indicted On 2 Federal Child Exploitation Charges
• Spotsylvania Man Faces 20 Child Pornography Charges After CyberTip Investigation
• Police Seek Man Accused Of Brandishing Firearm At Fredericksburg Store

With assistance from the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, deputies executed a search warrant Sept. 24 in the 2200 block of Mallard Landing Drive in Spotsylvania County and arrested Deane.

Spotsylvania General District Court records show six cases filed against Deane on Thursday: felony robbery using a firearm, two felony counts of abduction by force or intimidation, felony grand larceny and two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery.

The court records list Deane as being in custody. An attorney review is scheduled for Oct. 1. Preliminary hearings on the felony charges are scheduled for Nov. 18, while adjudicatory hearings on the two misdemeanor charges are scheduled for the same day.

The Sheriff's Office said additional charges are pending.

Stafford detectives collected surveillance video, interviewed witnesses and reviewed other evidence as part of their investigation.

The Stafford investigation ultimately converged with the Spotsylvania investigation. On Sept. 24, deputies from both sheriff's offices jointly executed a search warrant in the 2200 block of Mallard Landing Drive in Spotsylvania County, where Deane was arrested. The new information from Stafford clarifies that its deputies participated in the search warrant because they were separately investigating Deane in connection with robberies at the Chatham Heights Road massage spa.

Stafford authorities charged Deane with three counts of robbery and two counts of illegal use of tear gas, phosgene and other gases. The Sheriff's Office said he was being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Those charges are in addition to the armed robbery, two abduction, grand larceny and two assault-and-battery charges filed in Spotsylvania County.

Stafford County Links Suspect To Additional Robberies

Deane also faces charges in Stafford County stemming from a separate investigation into robberies at a massage spa on Chatham Heights Road, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.

Stafford deputies responded Sept. 21 to a reported robbery in progress at the business. Investigators said the suspect entered the spa and was directed to a room but later left the room unattended and began entering other rooms and an employee area.

Employees found the suspect in a different room and asked him to leave, according to the Sheriff's Office. Authorities said he then pepper-sprayed the employees and fled.

An initial search of the surrounding area produced no additional information. Investigators later determined the suspect had stolen money from the business on multiple occasions, including during the Sept. 21 incident, the Sheriff's Office said.

Stafford detectives collected video footage, conducted interviews and reviewed other evidence as part of the investigation.

The Stafford investigation ultimately converged with the Spotsylvania investigation. On Sept. 24, deputies from both sheriff's offices jointly executed a search warrant in the 2200 block of Mallard Landing Drive in Spotsylvania County, where Deane was arrested. The Stafford Sheriff's Office's account clarifies that its deputies were involved in the search because they were separately investigating Deane in connection with the Chatham Heights Road incidents.

Stafford authorities charged Deane with three counts of robbery and two counts of illegal use of tear gas, phosgene and other gases. The Sheriff's Office said he was being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Those charges are in addition to the armed robbery, two abduction, grand larceny and two assault-and-battery charges filed against Deane in Spotsylvania County.