News Releases

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) have charged Michael Gainer Rothenberg, 27, of Buxton Terrace in Bethesda, with the March 1 armed carjacking that occurred at the Barnes and Noble parking lot in Rockville and the March 4 armed robbery of a 7-Eleven store in Glen Echo.

On Monday, March 6, Major Crimes detectives were notified by the Howard County Police Department that their officers had just recovered a 2004 Lexus that had been stolen during the March 1 carjacking that occurred at the Rockville Barnes and Noble. Howard County detectives informed MCPD detectives that on that day, a suspect had committed an armed robbery in their jurisdiction and fled the scene in the Lexus. The suspect then became involved in a collision and abandoned the Lexus.

The Lexus was recovered by the Howard County Police Department and a check of the vehicle’s registration revealed that it has been stolen from Montgomery County.

Howard County Police detectives conducted a search of the recovered Lexus and located a driver’s license belonging to Michael Rothenberg. They also located a receipt from a pawn store that documented that a musical instrument had been pawned for money. MCPD detectives noted that an instrument was in the Lexus when it was stolen from the Barnes and Noble parking lot.

Howard County Police officers located and arrested Rothenberg on March 6 for crimes committed in their jurisdiction. MCPD detectives responded to Howard County and interviewed Rothenberg. Rothenberg made admissions to his involvement in the March 1 carjacking in Rockville and the March 4 robbery of the 7-Eleven in Glen Echo. Detectives charged Rothenberg via a criminal warrant with armed robbery and armed carjacking.

The Montgomery County Police Department thanks the Howard County Police Department for its assistance during this investigation.

Synopsis of Carjacking and Commercial Armed Robbery Committed By Rothenberg:

On March 1 at approximately 5:00 p.m., officers responded to the report of a carjacking that had just occurred in the parking lot of the Barnes and Noble located at 12089 Rockville Pike. Investigation revealed that the suspect, identified through investigation as Rothenberg, approached the victim at her vehicle (a 2004 Lexus), displayed a black handgun, and ordered the victim to drop her car keys and bag on the ground. The victim complied. Rothenberg picked up the keys and victim's bag and then fled in the victim's Lexus.

On March 4 at approximately 8:57 p.m., officers responded to the 7-Eleven store located at 7305 MacArthur Boulevard for the report of an armed robbery. Investigation revealed that the suspect, through investigation identified as Rothenberg, entered the store, pointed a handgun at the clerk, and demanded money. Rothenberg ordered the store clerk to place cash from the registers in a store bag. He then fled from the store with the cash.

RLI

Howard County Police Department's Press Release: Suspect in Gas Station Robbery and Carjacking Taken Into Custody