Boys—Ages 12, 13 and 14—Arrested in July Robberies in Rockville

A 13-year-old and a 14-year-old have been charged in three July robberies, including one in which police say a 12-year-old also participated, Rockville City Police announced.

The boys used a pistol in two of the robberies, police said. In a third, in which the 12-year-old also was charged, four juvenile suspects implied that they had a weapon, police said.

All three boys lived in Rockville at the time of the incidents, said Maj. Tim Marsh a Rockville City Police spokesman. 

All three were charged as juveniles, he said.

Rockville Patch reported the Aug. 1 arrest of the 13-year-old for the armed robberies. The boy was later also charged in the strong-arm robbery, Marsh said.

 Marsh discussed the additional charges against the 13-year-old and the Aug. 2 arrest of the 12-year-old in an interview Monday evening.

The incidents include robberies of victims who were playing basketball at Welsh Park and of an employee of a College Plaza business who was taking out the garbage. In both of those incidents one of suspects displayed a black pistol, police said. The robberies were committed by two suspects and occurred about 30 minutes apart, police said.

The 12-year-old is charged in the strong-arm robbery, along with the 13-year-old and the 14-year-old.

The robbery was reported at 9:35 p.m. on July 21. Police said the victim was walking from the Rockville Metro station to a friend's house. Four juvenile males on bikes approached the victim at the entrance to Elwood Smith Park, near Mount Vernon Place and implied, but did not show, a weapon, police said. The suspect or suspects took the victim's wallet and cell phone. 

The 12-year-old was charged with strong-arm robbery, theft under $1,000 and credit card theft of less than $100. He was released into the custody of his parents, Marsh said.

The 13-year old faced the following charges:

• Two counts of armed robbery.
• One count of strong-arm robbery.
• Two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
• One count of conspiracy to commit strong-arm robbery.
• Seven counts of first-degree assault.
• Seven counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault.
• Two counts of theft under $1000.
• Two counts of conspiracy to commit theft under $1000. 

The charges have already been adjudicated, but no further details are available because the boy is a juvenile, Marsh said.

The 14-year-old was charged with:

• Two counts of armed robbery.
• One count of strong-arm robbery.
• Two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
• One count of conspiracy to commit strong-arm robbery.
• Seven counts of first-degree assault.
• Seven counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault.
• Two counts of theft under $1,000.
• Two counts of conspiracy to commit theft under $1,000.

He is being held in a juvenile detention facility, pending trial, Marsh said. 

Anyone with information about these incidents or the individuals involved is asked to call Rockville City Police Criminal Investigations Unit at 240-314-8938.