SUSPECT CHARGED WITH ADDITIONAL ARMED ROBBERIES IN CARROLL COUNTY

(Eldersburg, MD) – An armed robbery suspect Maryland State Police arrested last week as he attempted to flee a crime scene is facing additional charges today after troopers connected him with two more Carroll County armed robberies that occurred earlier this year.

The accused is identified as James K. Wilcox, 45, of the 2800-block of Kaywood Place, Sykesville, Md. Troopers served arrest warrants on Wilcox today at the Carroll County Detention Center charging him with two counts each of armed robbery, robbery, second degree assault, theft under $1,000, and one count of making a bomb threat. Wilcox continues to be held at the detention center without bond.

Wilcox was arrested by state troopers just after 10:00 p.m. on April 19, 2010, as he ran from the Safeway store in the 1300-block of Londontown Blvd., Eldersburg, where witnesses said he had just committed an armed robbery after telling an employee he had a bomb. The bomb turned out to be a look-alike fake. After the arrest, investigators from the State Police Westminster Barracks Criminal Investigation Section continued to review information from similar armed robberies that occurred in the Eldersburg area.

Just after midnight on February 24, 2010, Maryland State Police responded to the Exxon gas station in the 1300-block of Liberty Road, Eldersburg, for an armed robbery. Witnesses gave a description of a suspect who had entered the station armed with a butcher knife and, after announcing a robbery, left with a cash drawer. The suspect was seen leaving the scene in a red pickup truck.

On April 14, 2010, just before 9:30 p.m., troopers responded to the Food Lion grocery store, in the 6300-block of Monroe Avenue, Eldersburg, for an armed robbery. Witnesses told troopers a suspect walked to the service counter, told an employee he had a bomb in a plastic bag, and demanded money. The suspect left the store with a cash register drawer.

As part of the continuing investigation after Wilcox was arrested last week, State Police investigators served a search warrant at his home and continued to review evidence obtained in all three armed robberies. Evidence established during the investigation led to the charges against Wilcox for the two additional armed robberies for which he was charged today.