Tipster's Call Leads To Arrest Of Amazon Fresh Armed Robbery Suspect

FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS, MD — Montgomery County police said an anonymous tip has led to the arrest of a D.C. man who is a suspect in an armed robbery of a grocery store in the Friendship Heights neighborhood.

On Nov. 20 at about 12:45 p.m., officers responded to the Amazon Fresh in the 5400 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights for the report of an armed robbery.

In their investigation, police learned that four suspects entered the store and began filling bags full of items. When an employee approached the suspects, one of them pulled up his shirt, displayed a handgun in his waistband and announced the robbery, police said.

The Amazon Fresh employee then backed away, and all four suspects left the store carrying bags full of stolen items.

On Nov. 22, police distributed a news release and video asked for the public’s help in identifying the four suspects involved.

Five days later, an anonymous tipster helped detectives in developing Demetri Gaskins, 24, of Washington, D.C., as a suspect.

On Dec. 5, Gaskins was arrested on the strength of a warrant, according to police. He has been charged with first-degree assault, armed robbery and firearm related charges. He is currently being held without bond, police said.

Crimes Solvers is a program designed to solicit information from residents to help Montgomery County police solve crimes. If any information is provided that leads to an arrest or indictment of a suspect, the tipster may be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about Gaskins’ accomplices to call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Montgomery County police told Patch that the anonymous tipster who provided the assistance that helped detectives identify and arrest Gaskins is eligible for a reward of up to $10,000.

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