News Releases

Detectives Arrest Former Employee and Boyfriend For Gaithersburg and Damascus Chipotle Robberies

For Immediate Release: Friday, November 30, 2012

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division – Robbery Section have arrested two suspects involved in two armed robberies of Chipotle restaurants.  The first robbery occurred on October 21 at a Chipotle restaurant in Gaithersburg and the second robbery occurred on November 25 at a Chipotle restaurant in Damascus.

On October 21 at approximately 10:43 p.m., 6th District officers responded to the Chipotle restaurant located at 564 North Frederick Avenue (in the Gaithersburg Square Shopping Center) for the report of a commercial armed robbery.  Investigation revealed that the suspect entered the rear door of the business as an employee was disposing of trash through that door.  The suspect displayed a handgun and forced the employees into an office.  The suspect then ordered the manager to open the restaurant safe and removed an undisclosed amount of cash.  The suspect fled on foot towards the area of the Montgomery County fairgrounds (to the rear of the shopping center).

During the investigation of this robbery, a former employee of a Mount Airy Chipotle, identified as Marvel Alegria, was developed as a possible suspect.  Alegria had been terminated from her job and subsequently made threats to retaliate.  Alegria had also spoken to others about committing a robbery.  Lamont Alexander Bonds, Alegria's boyfriend, was developed as the possible suspect who had entered the restaurant and committed the robbery.

On November 25 at approximately 10:30 p.m. 5th District officers responded to the Chipotle restaurant located at 9815 Main Street in Damascus for the report of a commercial armed robbery.  The suspect entered the front door of the restaurant, announced a robbery, ordered the employees to the ground, and demanded money from the safe.  The suspect obtained cash and was last seen leaving the parking lot in a Ford utility vehicle.

Immediately after the robbery, detectives recognized the similarity between the two robberies and plain clothes officers began surveillance of Alegria and Bonds' residence on Knoll Mist Lane in Gaithersburg.  At approximately 11:55 p.m. that night, officers observed the two suspects exiting the residence in a Ford utility vehicle and then observed Bonds hide a jacket in a sewer drain.  Investigation revealed that it was the same jacket Bonds had worn in the Damascus robbery.

In the early morning hours of November 26, detectives executed a search warrant at Alegria and Bonds' residence; several items of evidentiary value were seized. Lamont Alexander Bonds, age 26, of the 1000 block of Knoll Mist Lane in Gaithersburg, was placed under arrest at his residence for the Gaithersburg and Damascus robberies and transported to the Central Processing Unit.  Bonds has been charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of theft $1,000 to Under $10,000, and two counts of reckless endangerment.

On November 29, Marvel Alegria, age 22, of the same address, was arrested and transported to the Central Processing Unit.  She was charged with accessory after the robbery, theft scheme $1,000 to Under $10,000, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.  A photo of Alegria is not available at this time.

11/9/12 Press Release - "Detectives Release Video of Gaithersburg Chipotle Robbery – Ask for Public’s Help in Identifying Suspect"

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Release ID: 12-319
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases