<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>This is horrible and all the more shocking as it took place in broad daylight. I'm also glad that neither the woman nor her daughter were seriously injured. I also saw on crimereports.com the other week that around 9:00 in the evening a woman was assaulted in the 4700 block of Ravenswood Road; no details about exactly what happened. </DIV>
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<DIV>I would "second" Mayor Archers' post that we all remain alert as to what's around us, especially if we're out and about. Too, if you ARE approached by someone who demands your money, please don't try and resist, give them the money, it's not worth getting hurt or killed. </DIV>
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<DIV>Speaking of being alert - I've noticed that the lights at the entranceway to my apt. building on the 4700 block of Ravenswood are being turned out overnight. My apartment doesn't face the front of the building, so I can't see who is doing what. However, I can't imagine why anyone would "need" to turn out the lights unless they were doing something they didn't want seen. If you see anything suspicious outside my building (or anywhere), people loitering, etc., please notify the police and let them check into it. </DIV>
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<DIV>As they used to say on Hill Street Blues, "Let's be careful out there." <BR></DIV>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Vernon Archer <varcher@gmail.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> TownTalk <TownTalk@riverdale-park.org><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Sat, September 18, 2010 12:13:31 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [RP TownTalk] shocking strong armed robbery on Harrison Street<BR></FONT><BR>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dear friends and neighbors,</SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I have some information about a strong armed robbery that took place on Harrison Avenue yesterday afternoon at about 3 PM.<SPAN> </SPAN>While we sometimes get jaded by the crime that unfortunately occurs around us, this particular incident is so shocking that I feel I must bring it to your attention so that you will remain alert to what I must consider a continuing threat.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Two of our neighbors were attacked while leaving their home on Harrison Street. I thank God that the mother and her 10 year-old-daughter escaped serious physical injury.<SPAN> </SPAN>Police report that an arrest of someone they believe to be one of the two attackers has been made; however, at least one of the attackers remains at large. We must also be aware that it is possible the person arrested may prove to not be the other felon. On the reverse side of this letter is an edited version of the police report of the incident which is provided to help you to stay safe.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Please remember in times like these to report suspicious activity to the police. They are trained to be cautious and if what you report turns out to be inocent, they will quickly figure it out and act accordingly.<SPAN> </SPAN>Often times the way police are able to identify and stop crime is by piecing together a variety of bits of information, and the small thing you report might just be the piece of the puzzle they need!</SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Stay safe and best wishes,</SPAN></P>
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<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Vernon</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Archer</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">_________________________________________________________________________<BR clear=all>Information from Riverdale Park Police:</SPAN></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">On 09/17/2010, at approximately 3 p.m., Riverdale Park police officers responded to the area of Baltimore Avenue and Oliver Street for a report of a citizen robbery. The victim reported that she had been robbed in the 5900 block of Harrison Avenue.<SPAN> </SPAN>There were two witnesses to the incident, and detailed descriptions of the suspects were obtained from all parties. </SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The crime occurred when two suspects announced a robbery and demanded the victim’s money. When the victim refused to comply, one suspect punched her in the face and took her purse. The victim’s daughter was held in a choke hold by a second suspect as the first suspect attacked the victim. The victim fought back but was overpowered. </SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The suspects then fled on foot towards Baltimore Avenue with the victim chasing after them. One of the suspects (the one who punched the victim) was stopped by a Riverdale Park police officer near the intersection of Queensbury Road and Lafayette Avenue.<SPAN> </SPAN>The victim and witnesses positively identified this subject, later identified as Dashaun Terrence Richardson of 5901 Harrison Avenue, as one of the robbery suspects.<SPAN> </SPAN>Richardson denied involvement and refused to talk to police investigators. The other suspect made good his escape and remains at large. He is described as a black male in his mid 20s, approximately 5’7” tall, 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, light-skinned, heavy set.<SPAN> </SPAN>At the time, he was wearing a black or blue button-up shirt and blue pants.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The stolen property has not been recovered. </SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3> </FONT></SPAN></P><BR clear=all><BR>-- <BR>Vernon Archer, Mayor<BR>Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland<BR></DIV></DIV></div><br>
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