CHESTERTOWN — Police here are investigating an attempted stickup at gunpoint Thursday night and a robbery about an hour later that appear to be related, according to Chestertown Chief Ron Dixon.
Dixon told The Evening Enterprise that in separate interviews the victims in both incidents described the suspects as males between the ages of 13 and 17.
According to a Chestertown Police Department news release, the first call came in just after 10 p.m. April 17 in the 300-block of Cannon Street, where a woman reported that she was approached by a male teenager as she was getting out of her vehicle. The woman, said to be in her late 60s, told police that the teen demanded her car keys and pointed what she believed to be a handgun at her.
The woman said when she refused, the teenager struck her in the face with the gun before fleeing on foot.
She was transported by Kent-Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad to the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, where she was treated for injuries and released.
No weapon was recovered at the scene, Dixon told The Evening Enterprise in a telephone interview Friday.
CPD was assisted by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office and the Kent County Office of Emergency Services’ communications division.
Also on Thursday night, just after 11 o’clock, a group of male Washington College students were walking in the 200-block of Washington Avenue near Cromwell Hall when they reported being approached by four male teenagers. The teens snatched the backpack of one of the students, and then fled on foot.
The only description provided was that the teenagers were dressed in dark-colored clothing.
No injuries were reported.
Numerous items of value were in the backpack, including a computer and camera equipment.
Neither the backpack or its contents were recovered.
Chestertown Police Department was assisted by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington College Department of Public Safety and Kent County Office of Emergency Services’ communications division.
This second incident generated several messages that were sent to Washington College students and staff through the college’s emergency notification system.
Dixon told The Evening Enterprise that the areas of the 300-block of Cannon Street and Washington Avenue at Campus Avenue were “extensively searched” Thursday night.
He said leads are actively being followed up and that surveillance video, both public and private, is being used to assist in the investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Chestertown Police Department at 410-778-1800.
In a written statement, Dixon said: “We will not stand for the dangerous and lawless behavior of anyone in our community, to include juveniles. The Chestertown Police Department remains committed to keeping our town safe by holding everyone accountable for their actions. This is unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated.”