Two suspects remain held without bail after robbing a business owner at gunpoint and attempting to extort $30,000.
According to Baltimore County Police, the incident happened around 1:45 a.m. on July 14 when the victim was returning home. Police say Anthony Smith, 32 of Philadelphia, pointed a gun at the victim and ordered him inside before ransacking the home for valuables.
During the incident, Smith was on the phone with 22-year-old Dana Jackson who ordered Smith to obtain PIN numbers for credit cards, but when the victim was unable to provide them, Smith repeatedly struck the victim in the face, causing serious facial injuries.
Before fleeing, police say Smith demanded information about the victim's business partner and then threatened to kill him if he called the police. Smith then left a threatening note at the business partners home demanding $30,000 be left at a designated location.
After Smith left, the victim called his business partner to warn him, and then they called police.
Smith and Jackson were arrested during a traffic stop on July 16 after detectives watched Smith take a bait package left in a designated location from the local business owner.
Detectives recovered the bait package and a loaded handgun, along with additional evidence during the search of the vehicle.
Both Smith and Jackson are charged with armed robbery, robbery and theft. In addition to those charges, Smith is charged with first and second-degree assault, the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime, illegal possession of a handgun, and extortion.
