Crime & Safety

Person Assaulted, Robbed By Four Masked Men in Long Reach: Howard County Crime Roundup

A sampling of crime reported in Columbia and around Howard County.

Compiled from the daily police bulletin.

Long Reach: Robbery

What started with four men asking a person for change soon progressed into those people assaulting and robbing that same person of his money, according to the Howard County Police Department.

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The robbery happened at about 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, on the 8700 block of Cloudleap Court.

The victim had refused to give the men change. The men then walked away and came back with masks on, assaulted the victim and took his wallet, police said. The suspects left on foot.

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Two suspects were described as black males with dark complexions, 19 to 24 years old, about 5-foot-11 with an average build.

One suspect was described as a black male with a "medium complexion," 19 to 24 years old, about 5-foot-10 with a medium build, and wearing a red jacket.

And another suspect was described as a black male with a dark complexion, 19 to 24 years old, about 6-foot-2 with a slim build. 

Town Center: Robbery

A Baltimore man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a cell phone from a person in The Mall in Columbia and then assaulting that person when he tried to get his phone back.

David T. Blackeney, 19, of 2234 Eutaw Place, is facing one count each of robbery, first-degree assault, second degree assault and theft, according to online court records.

He is accused of asking a man who was outside of the Starbucks coffee shop at the mall if he could borrow his cell phone to make a phone call. The man gave Blackeney his phone, and Blackeney then walked away with it, police said.

That led to an altercation between the man and Blackeney, and mall security guards wound up detaining Blackeney until officers arrived, police said.

The incident happened at about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

Long Reach: Break-in

A person returning home saw a "known suspect" inside a residence on the 6200 block of April Brook Circle. "The suspect did not have permission to be there and had gained entry by breaking a rear sliding glass door," police said in the daily bulletin. The break-in was reported at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13.

Ellicott City: Burglary

A saw was stolen from an unlocked garage on the 4700 block of Dower Court. A resident saw the suspect in the garage, and the suspect then fled in a vehicle. The suspect was described as a white male, 5-foot-9, skinny with a brown beard. The burglary was reported at 8:29 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

Elkridge: Break-in attempt

No entry was gained during an attempted break-in at Troy Farm Liquors on the 6100 block of Meadowridge Road. The suspect or suspects tied to get inside by tampering with window screens. The break-in attempt was reported at 4:18 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

Laurel: Break-in

Nothing was reported stolen following a break-in at a residence on the 9200 block of Brandy Lane. The suspect or suspects got inside through a window. The break-in happened sometime between 8:10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

Columbia and Highland: Vehicle thefts

- Columbia: A Mazda 3 was reported stolen from the 10600 block of Steamboat Landing – police say it was removed from the parking lot there and found parked on a street in the neighborhood. The vehicle was taken sometime between 9:30 p.m. on Monday, April 11, and 6:11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

- Columbia: A gray 1994 Volvo 940 with Maryland license plate EAL916 was stolen from the 5900 block of Millrace Court. It was reported stolen at 10:33 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

- Highland: A green 1998 Honda Civic with Maryland license plate JLC385 was stolen from the 6700 block of Cortina Drive. It was stolen sometime between 10 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12.


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