Suspect Fired Shots During Armed Robbery in Bar

Authorities have arrested a man believed to be involved in an armed robbery at J.J.'s Tavern in Glen Burnie on Saturday, and linked him to an attempt to pass counterfeit money at a restaurant.

Arrested was Mark Donovan Hopkins Sr., 40, of 1000 block of 7th Street in Glen Burnie.

At 1:38 a.m. on Saturday, Anne Arundel County police responded to J.J.'s Tavern in the 1000 block of 1st Street after several reports of shots fired inside the bar.

According to a police statement, a man believed to be Hopkins entered the bar, announced a robbery and demanded money from the register. During the incident, the suspect fired shots into the glass of a coin-operated gaming machine and ultimately took an undisclosed amount of money from the machine along with a purse from one of the patrons. The suspect then fled the business. No one was injured.

Two hours later, northern district officers pulled over a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's vehicle, which led to Hopkins' arrest on the robbery charge.

Police also said Hopkins and two others in the vehicle had used a counterfeit bill at the Honey Bee Diner located in the 7300 block of Ritchie Highway. All three suspects were charged accordingly in relation to that incident, according to the statement.

The robbery investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Dzambo at 410-222-3605.