News Releases

Retail Blitz at Bethesda Safeway Leads to Several Arrests

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 27, 2025

Gaithersburg, MD – Officers from the 2nd District Station – Patrol Investigation Unit, Central Business District Team, Community Operations and Special Assignment Team have arrested five individuals during a retail blitz conducted on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Safeway store in the 5000 block of Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda. 

 

At approximately 12:30 p.m., two suspects, a male and female, entered the store. The male suspect selected property and left the store without paying. Officers arrested him and found stolen property that belonged to the Safeway as well as drug paraphernalia – not Marijuana. The suspect provided officers with a false name.

 

Officers were able to identify the suspect as 34-year-old Shelon Emmanel Johnson, of an unknown address. The search also revealed that Johnson had two active arrest warrants for theft and violation of probation for drug possession.

 

Officers determined that the female suspect conspired with Johnson to steal the property. They confirmed that she had also provided a false name and identified her as Dequita LaShawn Jones of Gaithersburg.

 

Johnson and Jones were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where Johnson was charged with theft $100 to under $1,500, possession of drug paraphernalia, false statement to peace officer and obstructing and hindering. Jones was charged with conspiracy to commit theft $100 to under $1,500 and released on her own recognizance.

 

At approximately 2 p.m., another suspect, later identified as Daniel Mossing Troen of Kensington, entered the store, took property and left the store without paying.

 

Officers confirmed his identity and issued a trespass notice and a criminal citation for theft less than $100. Troen was released after signing both documents. 

 

At approximately 2:55 p.m., two additional suspects entered the store, grabbed property and left the store without paying. Officers arrested the suspects at the Bethesda Metro Station and located in their possession stolen property from the Safeway.

 

The suspects, both of Washington, D.C., were identified as 39-year-old James Baker and 19-year-old Kristchelle Aniya Wedge. Officers issued trespass notices and criminal citations to Baker and Aniya and charged them with theft $100 to $1,500. They were both released from the scene.

 

# # #

Release ID: 25-111
Media Contact: CC 
Categories: arrest , theft