Dropped Wallet Led Police to Robbery Suspects

You might not be a good robber if one of your victims is able to wrestle your gun away and start shooting at you.

You might be a terrible robber if, when fleeing from said gunfire, you drop your entire wallet, IDs and all, on the scene for police to find later on.

But according to Hyattsville police, that's exactly how officers were able to quickly identify and apprehend two suspects charged in a botched armed robbery attempt last week.

Lt. Chris Purvis, public information officer with the Hyattsville City Police Department, explained how investigators discovered the wallet.

"As our guys get out there and are securing the scene, they start canvassing for evidence," Purvis, public information officer for the Hyattsville City Police Department, said. "Then the victim explains that, in addition to leaving behind the gun, he [the suspected robber] also dropped his wallet over here."

A social security card, a drivers license and a recent receipt from a local business were found in the wallet, according to Purvis. Police were also able to view security camera footage from the store where the receipt came from, footage which showed the suspects getting into a car.

"With those facts, our investigators were able to identify two suspects," he said. "I'd like to say it's all passionate police work, but we are lucky we had good witnesses and that this guy got scared and dropped his wallet."

According to police, the incident began on July 8, at about 10 p.m., two suspects approached a man and woman in the 5600 block of 30th Avenue in Hyattsville. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun and brandished his weapon as he demanded valuables from the two victims. 

But the would-be-thieves got more than they bargained for. 

The male victim lunged for the gun, disarming his would-be robbers. Upon gaining control of the gun, the man reported that the second suspect began advancing towards him. The male victim proceeded to fire the gun at both suspects, prompting them to flee the scene. 

Neither the man or woman who were attacked were injured during the incident. 

Thanks to the discovery of the wallet, Hyattsville city police have arrested and charged Capitol Heights resident Jaison Knowlen Winters and Seat Pleasant resident Jermaine Delonte Dixon with attempted armed robbery, first degree assault, second degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.