WEST OCEAN CITY — Area law enforcement officials this week are looking for a suspect who forced a West Ocean City retail employee into the store at gunpoint after closing time before binding and beating the victim.
Last Friday, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to an alarm at the Lids store in the Ocean City Factory Outlets in West Ocean City. Upon arrival, deputies observed the store clerk on the floor of the store with the doors to the business locked. Deputies also observed the clerk had been tied up.
Deputies gained entry to the store and made contact with the bound clerk, who told police he had just been robbed at gunpoint and beaten. The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) arrived and took over the investigation. Upon arrival, detectives interviewed the victim, who told police he was taking out the trash when the suspect, described as a light-skinned African-American male dressed in all black clothing, placed a gun in his back and ordered him back into the store.
The victim told police once inside the store, the suspect forced him to lock the door and bound his hands and feet together before beating him repeatedly. Once the clerk was incapacitated, the suspect then stole cash and numerous hats from the store before exiting.
WCBI is currently investigating the case. Anyone with information regarding the armed robbery or the suspect is urged to contact WCBI at 410-352-3476, or Lower Shore Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.