Howard County police have charged a Laurel man in four commercial armed robberies since early December and a second man as an accomplice in one of those cases.
Demetrice Whitted, 19, of Thamesmeade Rd. in Laurel, has been charged with multiple counts of armed robbery, theft and weapons violations in four separate incidents. Malik White, 22, of the same address, was charged with armed robbery and theft in one of those cases.
The first incident occurred Dec. 2 at the Exxon in the 8800 block of Gorman Road in Laurel at 3:52 a.m. A store employee reported that a male suspect entered the store, displayed a gun and passed a note demanding money. The employee complied and the suspect fled. No one was injured.
On Dec. 12, a robbery was reported at Brewing Good Coffee Company in the 8600 block of Foundry Street in Savage at 3 p.m. An employee reported that a male suspect with his face partially covered entered the store, displayed a gun and demanded cash. The employee complied and the suspect fled. No one was injured.
A third robbery was reported Jan. 5 at Savage Liquors in the 8800 block of Gorman Road in Laurel at 3:17 p.m. An employee reported that a male suspect entered the store, implied a gun and demanded cash. The employee complied and the suspect fled with money, liquor and cigarettes. No one was injured. A witness reported that the same man had also robbed the store on Dec. 29, but that incident had not been reported to police.
Whitted has been charged in all four robberies and is being held at the Howard County Detention Center awaiting bond. White is charged in the Exxon robbery and is being held on no bond.