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Suspect Armed with Knife Assaults Store Employee After Committing a Shoplifting in Downtown Silver Spring

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 11, 2019


Montgomery County Department of Police officers from the 3rd District have arrested and charged Dedric Owens, age 21, of the 5700 block of 9th Street in Northwest, Washington, D.C., with theft and assault charges after he stole merchandise from a retail store in Downtown Silver Spring.  After the theft, Owens then used a knife to assault a store employee who had confronted him about stealing from the store.

On Thursday, September 5 at approximately 2 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the Marshalls store located inside the Ellsworth Place mall at 8661 Colesville Road, for the report of a stabbing that had just occurred.   The investigation by officers determined that the suspect entered the Marshalls store and stole property.  As the suspect was attempting to leave the mall, a store loss prevention employee confronted the suspect.  The suspect pulled a knife from the backpack that he was carrying and threatened the employee.  A struggle between the suspect and the store employee then ensued over the knife.  During the struggle, the store employee was cut on the hand.  The suspect fled on foot from the mall after the employee had been cut on the hand. Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the mall and treated the employee at the scene for the cuts that he received to his hand.

Officers who were responding to the Marshalls observed the suspect running southbound on Georgia Avenue at Wayne Avenue.  Officers observed the suspect board a Ride On bus which was stopped in the 8400 block of Georgia Avenue.  Officers boarded the bus, identified the suspect as Owens, and placed him under arrest.

Owens was transported to the Central Processing Unit where he was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, second-degree assault, and theft less than $100.  Owens was ordered to be held without bond.

rlg/CTJ

Dedric OwensDedric Owens (Original Image)


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Release ID: 19-347
Media Contact: Rick Goodale 
Categories: assault