WALDORF, Md. — A man walking home in Waldorf on Wednesday night was struck in the head by a robber with a handgun, then forced to hand over his jacket, his phone and its password, Charles County Sheriff’s Office officers said. Investigators then followed the money: the suspect, they said, used the stolen phone to send cash to his own payment app.
Mekhi Nathan, 18, was arrested and charged with robbery, aggravated assault, weapons violations and related offenses. A judge ordered him held without bond Friday, Oct. 9, at the Charles County Detention Center, the sheriff’s office said.
According to the sheriff’s office, officers were called to the area of October Place in Waldorf at about 10:21 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, for a reported armed robbery. The victim told police an unknown man walked up to him and demanded his jacket. When he hesitated, the man showed a handgun, struck him in the head and demanded the jacket again. The robber also took the victim’s cell phone and demanded its password. The victim gave it to him, and the man ran off.
Emergency medical crews treated the victim. The sheriff’s office did not describe the extent of his injuries.
The password demand turned out to be the investigation’s best lead. Officers found that money had been sent from the victim’s phone to the suspect’s personal cash app, according to the release. They then tracked the phone to a home in Waldorf, where the suspect was positively identified. Officers obtained a search warrant for the residence and recovered evidence the sheriff’s office says links him to the robbery.
Nathan was already wanted when officers found him. The sheriff’s office said he had an open warrant for violating probation in an earlier case, in which he was convicted of illegal possession of a firearm and first-degree assault.
In Maryland, robbery carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and charges involving a dangerous weapon carry higher potential penalties. Charges are accusations; Nathan is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case closely resembles one from this summer. On July 13, a man walking near Post Office Road and Gallery Place in Waldorf was approached by two suspects, one of whom displayed a weapon, and a 16-year-old was later charged as an adult. The sheriff’s office has not said the two cases are connected.
Forcing a victim to unlock a phone gives a robber access to banking and payment apps, which is what officers say happened here. Anyone whose phone is stolen should report it to police right away and contact their bank and payment services to lock their accounts. As this case shows, the same digital trail can also help investigators find a suspect.
Pfc. Harden of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. Charles County Crime Solvers pays rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment in a Charles County crime. Tipsters who want to stay anonymous can call 1-866-411-TIPS, submit tips at CharlesCountyCrimeSolvers.com or use the P3 Tips mobile app.
