A 22-year-old woman is in Howard County police custody following an ugly altercation last week at the Columbia Mall.
In a video circulated online by police this week, the alleged perpetrator, Ahleyah Marie Rockwell, appears to grab a woman by the hair and drag her to the floor. Police say the woman, a 69-year-old mall employee, was trying to stop Rockwell after she allegedly reached into a register at the carousel booth and stole cash. Rockwell is also accused of shoving an employee manning the register, as well as a witness who tried to intervene. She fled the premises through the food court, police said.
Police said Rockwell also bit the 69-year-old mall employee. The woman was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.
Luckily, someone was recording. Here’s the video that the police shared:
#HoCoPolice ask for public help to ID suspect in 8/5 robbery at Island Carousel in Columbia Mall. Reward offered! https://t.co/LsPFvbrzUJ pic.twitter.com/vMLsy1irxB
— Howard County Police Department (@HCPDNews) August 10, 2017
With tips and leads, Howard County authorities were able to identify Rockwell as the pictured suspect. She’s since been detained and charged with robbery, theft of less than $1,000 and three counts of second-degree assault, according to court records.
An attorney wasn’t listed under her name. Rockwell was previously charged with burglary, theft, disorderly conduct, assault and identity fraud in five other incidents; prosecutors dropped the charges in exchange for pleas in each case.
Rockwell’s court date is set for Sept. 1.
