WHEATON, MD – A dramatic scene unfolded in a Maryland JCPenney on Wednesday when an alleged shoplifter, armed with a knife, barricaded himself in a fitting room. The four-hour standoff led to the evacuation of the store and ended with the suspect’s arrest.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., police responded to the Westfield Wheaton Mall following reports of 37-year-old Christopher Lawrence attempting to steal a watch. Lawrence then retreated to a fitting room, brandishing a knife and threatening officers, according to Montgomery County Police Department.
The situation escalated, leading to the evacuation of the department store. Emergency response teams and negotiators were summoned to the scene, tasked with persuading Lawrence to surrender peacefully.
The standoff concluded around 2:30 p.m. when a SWAT team employed pepper balls to subdue Lawrence and take him into custody. He was examined on-site and found unharmed during the ordeal.
Lawrence, who lacks a known address, was subsequently transported to the police department’s Central Processing Unit. Charges of first-degree assault are expected to be filed against him. Fortunately, no officers or store employees sustained injuries during the incident.