INCIDENT/ INFORMATION:
On 8-22-11, at approximately 1300 hours, an armed robbery occurred in the vicinity of Reich’s Ford Rd and Monocacy Blvd in Frederick City. Upon arrival at the scene, Frederick Police Department patrol officers discovered a male victim had been robbed at gunpoint. Further investigation revealed that the male victim had requested a ride from an acquaintance in WV to his bank in Frederick, MD. When the victim and suspects arrived in Frederick, the victim was robbed at gunpoint. The victim indicated that cash and other items were taken from him during the robbery. Det. Alston of the Frederick Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, was assigned as the lead investigator.
A lookout for the suspect vehicle was sent to allied agencies in the region, and Martinsburg, WV City Police Department’s Cpl. Usack located a silver two-door Saab that was similar to the lookout that had been given. Further distinguishing features of the vehicle were identified, such as a WV license plate and a missing bumper, helped officers confirm the vehicle as the one involved in the robbery. Martinsburg officers identified the occupants of the vehicle as Richard Mikel Bowers and Rebecca Sims.
A search warrant of the vehicle was executed by Det. Alston with the help of Martinsburg City Police detectives, Lt. Smartwood, Det. Doyle and Det. Luciano. Specific items from the robbery were found in the vehicle during the search warrant.
As a result of the investigation and search warrant, Richard Mikel Bowers of Martinsburg, WV was charged with armed robbery, robbery, second degree assault, theft and handgun violations by the Frederick Police Department. Rebecca Sims, an acquaintance of the victim, also from Martinsburg, WV, was charged as a co-conspirator and faces charges similar to Bowers’ charges. She is also charged with providing false statements to a police officer. She is also charged by the Frederick Police Department.
Rebecca Sims was recently extradited from West Virginia’s Eastern Regional Jail in Martinsburg, WV and was taken to the Frederick County, MD Adult Detention Center on the charges related to this investigation. Richard Mikel Bowers remains at Eastern Regional Jail in Martinsburg, WV awaiting extradition back to MD.