3/26/13, 5 p.m.: Charles County Sheriff’s Department officers responded March 24 at 6 p.m. to the 3200 block of Plaza Way for the report of a theft in progress. Investigation revealed a man and a woman approached a group of Girl Scouts who were selling cookies in front of a store. The man and woman appeared to be intoxicated and were arguing with each other.
The female suspect suddenly pushed the cookies off of the display table and the male suspect reached for a money envelope. The scouts’ troop leader grabbed the envelope but the male suspect pushed her and attempted to steal it.
Both suspects fled without the money. As officers were responding, the father of one of the scouts – who is a federal police officer – was contacted; he was nearby and responded to the scene. He located the male suspect about 200 yards away and tried to detain the man but the suspect resisted.
Officer J. Morales arrived and helped secure the suspect. James Ernest Wright, 48, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with attempted robbery, second-degree assault, theft, and disorderly conduct. Officers are working to identify the female suspect.
