White Plains, MD – The Charles County Sheriff’s Office reported April 18 that during the early morning hours, officers responded to a Dash-In on Crain Highway (US 301) in White Plains for the report of an armed robbery. Four suspects entered the store. One of the four was wielding a gun. The four stole cigarettes and cash. “As they were exiting, the suspect with the gun shot a display case and also shot one round into the ceiling,” a sheriff’s office press release stated. “The suspects fled in a minivan, which was located a short time later on fire, on Padgett Road.”
According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, a passerby discovered the van ablaze at approximately 5:18 a.m., about 11 minutes after the Dash-In robbery was reported. The vehicle, a 2000 Chrysler Town and Country, sustained $2,500. Four firefighters were dispatched to the scene and brought the flames under control in 10 minutes.
The “unknown suspects intentionally ignited available combustibles in the vehicle,” a deputy fire marshal stated in the investigation notice.
Neither incident—the robbery nor the vehicle fire—yielded any injuries.
According to the sheriff’s office, the suspects were wearing dark clothing and their hands and faces were covered.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Detective C. Gregory of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s Investigations Division. Anyone who may have more information about the fire or the van that was torched is asked to contact the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Southern Regional Office at 443-550-6832.
Charles County Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrators. You may contact Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS, by texting cHARLES + the tip to CRIMES (274637) or submitting tips online at tipsubmit.com.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com