Police Arrest Teen In Assault, Robbery Of BPD Civilian Employee

Baltimore police have arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with last week's beating and robbery of a Baltimore police lab technician in East Baltimore.

Police still seek a male and a female in the case of the July 24 attack on the 59-year-old in the unit block of Ablemarle Street.

The Warrant Apprehension Task Force arrested the teen Monday at a convenience store in Columbia. He was taken to a juvenile booking facility and formally charged with first-degree assault and robbery.

“This arrest was the direct result of the community’s outrage to this crime and the subsequent help that residents provided police," Maj. Milton Snead, of the Citywide Robbery Unit, said in a statement. "The floodgates of social media and anonymous tips opened and the information poured in.”

The attack was caught on surveillance video.

ATF, FBI, & Crime Stoppers are offering up to $32,000 for information leading to the arrest of three suspects, two men and one woman, for the assault of a @BaltimorePolice civilian employee on Albemarle St. in East Baltimore on July 24th. Call 866-7LOCKUP with tips. pic.twitter.com/PuRn7DxZAz — ATF Baltimore (@ATFBaltimore) July 26, 2019

“I’m glad that the suspect is in custody so no one else is hurt," the victim said in a statement distributed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "From my personal point of view, as a Muslim guided by my faith, I forgive them. Law enforcement is handling the case, and justice will run its course. They will have to face consequences, but it’s very important for them to get the help they need to become productive citizens of Baltimore.”

CAIR was among groups offering a reward in the case.

“On behalf of the survivor of last week’s attack, CAIR commends the officers who have been working tirelessly on this case, and thanks community partners who have stepped up to offer support," Zainab Chaudry, CAIR's director of Maryland outreach, said in a statement. "When young people engage in these kinds of brutal attacks, they are often themselves also victims of broken systems, of biased policies, and of structural racism that contributes to this vicious cycle of violence. We want to emphasize prioritizing rehabilitative solutions rather than criminalizing and incarcerating the youth who were involved.”

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call robbery detectives at 410-366-6341. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-7LOCKUP. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a reward of up to $32,000 for information leading to arrests in the case.

Last week, two teens were arrested and charged as adults for allegedly robbing Deputy Commissioner Daniel Murphy and his wife near Patterson Park.