3/1/2018: On December 5, 2017, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to Centre Liquors, located on Merchants Lane, in Leonardtown, for the report of an armed robbery.
Upon arrival contact was made with the employee/victim who advised two unknown males entered the business and began demanding money. One of the male suspects was in possession of a handgun; ultimately the suspects were able to remove currency and other items from the business before fleeing the scene.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene, and continued the investigation. Detectives located physical evidence which directly linked Lamont Luther Johnson, age 44, of Clinton, and Warren Duane Hayes, age 57, of Washington, DC, to the crime.
On March 1, 2018, both Johnson and Hayes were placed under arrest. Johnson was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, and Hayes was taken to a correctional facility in Washington, DC, to await extradition back to Maryland.
Johnson and Hayes were both charged with the following violations:
- Armed Robbery
- Robbery
- Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery
- Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
- Assault First Degree
- Assault Second Degree
- Theft $1,500 to Under $25,000
- Firearm Use/Felony-Violent Crime
The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation- Baltimore and Washington Field Office, Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Police Department, and the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division with their assistance in this case.
Anyone with further information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Melissa Hulse at (301) 475-4200, extension *1996, or by email at [email protected]. Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment.
Lamont Luther Johnson, age 44, of Clinton
Warren Duane Hayes, age 57, of Washington, DC
