(UPDATED 6/13) Police Seeking Assault, Robbery Suspect Captured on Video
The incident happened in late May at an Oakland Mills bar.
This story was updated June 13 with a chance in the description of the suspect, as well as an increase in the amount of the reward.
Howard County police are seeking a woman caught on camera assaulting and robbing a woman who was walking into a Columbia bar.
The video, seen above, was taken on Sunday, May 29, at about 2 a.m. at the Second Chance Saloon, which is located in the Oakland Mills Village Center on the 5800 block of Robert Oliver Place.
The victim, who police identified as a 27-year-old woman, was entering the bar when the suspect hit her, knocking her to the floor. The suspect appears to punch the victim a few more times before taking her purse.
“Police do not believe the victim knew the suspect and do not believe there was any communication between the two before the robbery,” said Sherry Llewellyn, spokeswoman for the Howard County Police Department.
The victim was treated at the scene for minor facial injuries, police said.
The suspect was described as a black woman, approximately 5' 5" and 180 to 190 pounds, with dark brown hair in a ponytail, and wearing a short-sleeved yellow shirt and a short black skirt or shorts.
Police are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the suspect’s identity and arrest. Anyone with information about who the suspect is or know her whereabouts can call a tip line at 410-313-STOP (7867). Callers can remain anonymous.
David Greisman
11:18 am on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
A quick note on why the camera says 1 a.m. even though the incident happened at about 2 a.m.: the security cameras at the bar don't have their times adjusted for Daylight Savings Time, according to police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn.
Paul Browne
12:09 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
It says a lot (negative) about where we are as a society when everyone just ran away or did nothing. Maybe the man who ran away when it all went down was "afraid" of the woman who committed the act. Such a small man for such a large man.
Brandie Jefferson
12:20 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
I thought the same thing, Paul, but I also remembered we've had so many incidents in the short time that I've been here where people have put themselves in danger to help people in fires and accidents and that made me feel a bit better.
David Greisman
3:10 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Second Chance Saloon has posted a message on its Facebook page:
"...help us find this girl. This kind of behavior will never be tolerated at Second Chance. The police are offering a $500.00 and we will throw in dinner for two and a nice little reward package. If anyone would like to donate to the reward money let me know. Declan@2ndchancesaloon.com Thank you all for your help."
Willie
12:30 pm on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
I worked at the Oakland Mills Giant for ten years in the late 80s early 90s and the area was pretty rough back then. As for getting involved in a physical dispute between two women, that can go sideways pretty quick.
David Greisman
1:29 pm on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
But what about if the "dispute" is actually not a dispute, but someone assaulting and robbing a victim?
Elizabeth
1:44 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Why didn't that big, fat black guy not do anything? It happened right in front of him. WTF. If he is an employee, he needs to be fired. If he's not, he needs to be banned from the bar. There is no excuse for not helping that woman.
CJ23
10:38 am on Monday, June 13, 2011
It is relatively easy to watch a video of something like this and quite another to be five or ten feet away when it happens nearby. Don't be so quick to judge people for omission of action. Unless you are used to seeing people come to blows, it can confusing to sort out what is going on and come to a decision what to do. And you SHOULD think before you act in these situations.
This is going to sound very wrong to most of you but the truth of the matter is, the lack of involvement by bystanders says one thing very clearly: people don't usually see this kind of thing in Oakland Mills. Is that bad? I don't think it is.
David Greisman
11:45 am on Monday, June 13, 2011
Thanks for your thoughts. What, if anything, do you think bystanders should have done? When should people get involved in such situations?
Jennifer
12:14 pm on Monday, June 13, 2011
It is pretty awful to watch someone get assaulted.
1) Is staff trained to act on the issue at hand or is the business more concerned about a law suit? What does a 'bouncer' do? With these questions in mind, is a bystander (in this situation a customer) correct in assuming the bar will be responsible to help, especially if a bystander / customer is also injured?
2) I would hope if I were the victim, that people standing right next to me would help, especially in this particular situation. Staff should be trained in self defense as well as how to subdue a person until the police arrive. Trained staff can respond quickly.
Check out Wikipedia on the 'Bystander Effect' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect it's pretty interesting.