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Additional Charges Filed Against Suspects

January 30th, 2012 by WCBC Radio

Additional charges have been filed against four individuals who were arrested in December for a series of armed robberies and home invasion robberies in the Cumberland area. 20 year old Cory Joseph Crabtree, Cumberland, 24 year old Cody Jerome Crabtree, Cumberland, 22 year old Gregory Thomas Laisure, Cumberland, and 35 year old Melvin Ray Howell III, Oldtown, have all been charged with Armed Robbery, Burglary, 1st Degree Assault, Theft, and related charges.

On December 4, 2011, at approximately 11:00 PM, three suspects, all dressed in black and wearing ski masks, entered a private residence in Rawlings and confronted the victim. While displaying a handgun they demanded money from the victim. The victim was struck in the head with the handgun, but was able to escape the residence and run to a nearby home and call the police. A female victim who was in the residence heard the commotion and met the suspects as she exited another room. She was also assaulted when she was grabbed around the throat and thrown to the floor. The suspects then fled the residence.

The victim was taken to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center for treatment of a head injury and was released.

The Maryland State Police responded to the scene. A search was conducted at that time, but the suspects were not located. Investigators with the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I) also responded to assist in the investigation.

As a result of the earlier arrests, information was developed that enabled Investigators to obtain new charging documents for the suspects in this crime.

Three of the four defendants remain incarcerated at the Allegany County Detention Center, Cory Crabtree on $525,000.00 bond, Cody Crabtree on $500,000.00 bond, and Laisure on $520,000.00 bond. Howell remains incarcerated in Pennsylvania pending extradition to Maryland to face these charges, as well as the charges related to the other armed robberies and home invasion robberies.

Cody Crabtree

 

 

 

 

 

Cory Crabtree

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory Laisure

 

 

 

 

 

Melvin Howell

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