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Press Release

Federal Charges Filed Against Armed Man Arrested in Penn North After Baltimore Riots

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland
“Officers Who Detect Armed Criminals Save Lives”

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted Robert “Meech” Tucker, age 23, of Baltimore, yesterday for being a felon in possession of a gun.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby; and Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts.    

“Police officers save lives when they detect, investigate and arrest armed criminals, and we are thankful for their proactive work,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “People who throw bricks and bottles at police officers should be arrested and go to jail, just as they would if they attacked any other human being.”

According to the allegations in the federal indictment and documents filed in state court, on May 4, 2015, police, who were patrolling in the Pennsylvania Avenue/North Avenue section of Baltimore, the same area impacted by street riots several days earlier, noticed that Robert “Meech” Tucker was displaying characteristics of an armed gunman. When police approached Tucker, he ran and threw a Ruger Blackhawk .357 handgun to the ground, causing it to fire. Fortunately no one was hit by the bullet. When police caught Tucker, he repeatedly screamed as if he had been injured, but Tucker was not injured. Bystanders then threw bricks and bottles at police officers.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office sponsors statewide training seminars for police officers to identify characteristics of armed gunmen and safely investigate them.

Tucker faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.  Tucker is presently in state custody.  His initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore has not yet been scheduled.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hoff, a cross-designated Baltimore Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to Exile cases, who prosecuted the case.

Updated June 19, 2015

Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods