(L) Johnson (R) Hayes

UPDATE – 3/01/18

LEONARDTOWN, Md. – On Dec. 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.

UPDATE Dec. 6, 9:54 a.m. – On December 5, at approximately 7:38 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to Centre Liquors, located at 40955 Merchants Lane, (Leonardtown Center), in Leonardtown, for a reported robbery. 

An employee at the establishment advised two African American males wearing ski masks entered the store, brandished a handgun, demanded money, and assaulted the employee.  Both suspects then fled the area on foot; the victim suffered minor injury from the assault and was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment. 

This investigation is being continued by the Criminal Investigations Division.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Melissa Hulse at (301) 475-4200 extension *1996 or by email at Melissa.Hulse@stmarysmd.com.  Citizens may also remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637).

LEONARDTOWN, Md. – On December 5 at 8:25 p.m., TheBayNet.com breaking news team reported of police activity in the Leonardtown Center shopping mall. Reportedly, police were responding to an armed robbery of a liquor store located in the shopping center. Unconfirmed reports say the encounter may have involved two suspects and at least one injured vitctim. 

This is a developing story. Stay with TheBayNet.com for updates.