WEST OCEAN CITY — Three Washington, D.C. residents were arrested on strong-arm robbery, assault and other charges this week after allegedly jumping a store employee along the side of Route 50 in West Ocean City before fleeing the scene in a vehicle with four young children inside.
Around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Maryland State Police received a 911 call regarding an assault in the area of the Mattress Warehouse on Route 50. Troopers arrived and met with a victim who told police she was walking home from work when a silver vehicle pulled up next to her. The victim told police two African-American women got out of the vehicle and assaulted her and stole her purse containing a large amount of money.
The Berlin Police responded to assist and discovered the stolen items on the shoulder of Route 50. MSP troopers were later able to locate the vehicle in Wicomico County. Troopers approached the vehicle and located three suspects, identified as Kaleah N. McMillam, 24; Latasha Renee Tucker, 25; and John Garcia Scott, 26, all of Washington, D.C. Also located in the vehicle were four children, ages 6, 5, 4 and eight months.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a large sum of money. McMillam, Tucker and Scott were arrested and charged with strong-arm robbery, theft over $1,000, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. The suspects were taken before a District Court Commissioner and were ordered to be held on bond. The Department of Social Services was contacted and placed the four children in protective custody. Assisting the MSP in the investigation was the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (WCBI), the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and the Berlin Police Department.