Helicopters over GBMC andTowson University on 2/7

County, City Detectives Clear 24 Convenience Store Robberies

Towson, Md. (February 15, 2013) – Following a weeks-long investigation by detectives in Baltimore County, Baltimore City and the FBI Baltimore Field Office, three area men have been charged in connection with 24 convenience store robberies.

The suspects are:

• Omar Hance, 31, of the 600 block East 29th Street, Baltimore, 21218
• Darrell Blackwell, 26, of the 8700 block Greystone Lane, Columbia, 21046
• Willie Vinson, 24, of the 1000 block Bethune Road, Baltimore, 21225

The armed robberies of 7-Eleven, Royal Farm and High’s stores took place between December 23, 2012 and February 7, 2013. These crimes were not concentrated in any particular geographic area, but occurred in various neighborhoods at all times of the day.

In all 24 cases, one suspect drove and remained in the vehicle while the other two robbed the store. Employees were threatened with a stun gun and a pellet gun (which looks like an actual handgun). No one was injured.

Cash was stolen in all but two of the cases.

Twenty-Four Robberies

Fifteen of the robberies occurred in Baltimore City, and nine occurred in Baltimore County. They are:

• December 23, 2012, 8:10 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 6100 Holabird Avenue, Southeast District
• January 1, 2013, 7:33 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 6435 Pulaski Highway, Northeast District
• January 1, 2013, 8:28 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 3701 Fleet Street, Southeast District
• January 6, 2013, 6:07 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 3360 Annapolis Road, Southeast District
• January 10, 2013, 8:15 p.m., 7-Eleven, 7410 Windsor Mill Road, Precinct 2/Woodlawn
• January 10, 2013, 9:40 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 211 West 29th Street, Northern District
• January 13, 2013, 9:15 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 4918 Harford Road, Northeast District
• January 13, 2013, 9:20 p.m., 7-Eleven, 5232 Harford Road, Northeast District
• January 13, 2013, 9:48 p.m., 7-Eleven, 206 W. Coldspring Lane, Northern District
• January 15, 2013, 1:45 a.m., 7-Eleven, 4700 Erdman Avenue, Northeast District
• January 15, 2013, 2:01 a.m., 7-Eleven, 5401 Radecke Avenue, Northeast District
• January 15, 2013, 2:04 a.m., 7-Eleven, 6401 Golden Ring Road, Precinct 9/White Marsh
• January 15, 2013, 10:15 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 2501 Liberty Heights Avenue, Northwest District
• January 15, 2013, 10:49 p.m., 7-Eleven, 2704 Washington Boulevard, Southwest District
• January 20, 2013, 9:10 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 6067 Falls Road, Precinct 6/Towson
• January 20, 2013, 9:35 p.m., 7-Eleven, 5455 Reisterstown Road, Northwest District
• January 26, 2013, 7:31 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 4045 Wilkens Avenue, Precinct 1/Wilkens
• January 26, 2013, 7:49 p.m., Royal Farm Store, 4384 Hollins Ferry Road, Precinct 1/Wilkens
• January 30, 2013, 1:05 a.m., 7-Eleven, 8601 Liberty Road, Precinct 2/Woodlawn
• January 31, 2013, 8:23 p.m., 4315 Annapolis Road, Precinct 1/Wilkens
• February 1, 2013, 11:37 a.m., 7-Eleven, 8601 Liberty Road, Precinct 2/Woodlawn
• February 5, 2013, 8:38 a.m., High’s, 8710 Liberty Road, Precinct 2/Woodlawn
• February 7, 2013, 10:56 p.m., 7-Eleven, 630 West 33rd Street, Northern District
• February 7, 2013, 11:01 p.m., Royal Farms Store, 1119 West 41st Street, Northern District

Shortly after the last two robberies, on February 7, Baltimore City police officers and Baltimore City Police Department’s Foxtrot helicopter located the suspect vehicle and followed it. The suspect vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, crossing into Baltimore County.

The suspects were apprehended by Baltimore County and Baltimore City officers in the parking garage at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

“There is no doubt that these three men would have continued victimizing businesses and store employees if our robbery detectives in the County and the City had not used solid police work to put the pieces together, and then relentlessly pursued this case,” said Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson.

Hance and Blackwell face 11 counts, including armed robbery and first degree assault. Vinson faces 12 counts, including armed robbery and first degree assault. All are held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

“These arrests are a testament to the effective partnership and dedication of City, County and Federal law enforcement agencies to apprehend those individuals who threaten the safety of our communities," said Byron Conaway, commander of the Baltimore Police Citywide Robbery Unit.