INDIAN HEAD, Md. — Charles County Sheriff’s Office patrol officers arrested Cato Alexander Johnson, III, a 21-year-old Washington, D.C. resident, outside a liquor store in the 4600 block of Indian Head Highway on March 15, 2025, at 9:23 p.m. The arrest followed reports of an armed individual flashing a handgun and threatening patrons.
Officers Giroux, Moates, and Cpl. Micklus responded to the scene and encountered Johnson at the store’s front entrance. He immediately became confrontational, stating he had a gun and intended to draw it. Officers secured his arms, and after a brief struggle, took him into custody. A loaded handgun was recovered from his possession.
Johnson continued to resist after being placed in a patrol vehicle, kicking the cage and headbutting the rear passenger window. He was charged with first-degree assault, resisting arrest, concealed handgun violation, and additional related offenses. On March 17, a judge ordered him held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.
The incident began when patrons reported Johnson displaying the firearm inside the store, prompting a 911 call. The officers’ quick response prevented any injuries, though the exact motive for his actions remains under investigation. The recovered handgun was loaded, heightening the potential danger of the situation.
Johnson’s charges reflect Maryland’s strict firearm laws. The state classifies carrying a concealed handgun without a permit as a misdemeanor, but the added assault charge escalates the case’s severity.First-degree assault, involving intent to cause serious harm with a weapon, carries a possible sentence of up to 25 years.
The liquor store, located along a busy commercial stretch of Indian Head Highway, had multiple patrons present during the incident. No one was harmed, and the confrontation was contained at the entrance. Detectives are reviewing witness accounts to corroborate the sequence of events.
