On December 5, 2017, deputies
from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to Centre Liquors,
located on Merchants Lane, in Leonardtown, for the report of an armed
robbery. Upon arrival contact was made
with the employee/victim who advised two unknown males entered the business and
began demanding money. One of the male
suspects was in possession of a handgun; ultimately the suspects were able to
remove currency and other items from the business before fleeing the
scene.
Detectives from the Criminal
Investigations Division responded to the scene, and continued the
investigation. Detectives located physical evidence which directly linked
Lamont Luther Johnson, age 44, of Clinton, and Warren Duane Hayes, age 57, of
Washington, DC, to the crime. On March 1, 2018, both Johnson and Hayes were
placed under arrest. Johnson was
transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, and
Hayes was taken to a correctional institute in Washington, DC, to await
extradition back to Maryland. Johnson and Hayes were charged with the following
violations:
·
Armed Robbery
·
Robbery
·
Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery
·
Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
·
Assault First Degree
·
Assault Second Degree
·
Theft $1,500 to Under $25,000
·
Firearm Use/Felony-Violent Crime
The Sheriff’s Office would like
to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation- Baltimore and Washington Field
Office, Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Police
Department, and the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division with their
assistance in this case.
Anyone with further information
regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Melissa Hulse at (301)
475-4200, extension *1996, or by email at melissa.hulse@stmarysmd.com. Citizens may remain anonymous and contact
Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message
to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime
Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for
information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or
indictment.
