Essex Man Linked to Armed Robbery Spree

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged with 20 criminal offenses in connection with four armed robberies in Essex since February.

According to charging documents, Travis L. Wallace, 23, of the 700 block of Snowberry Court in Essex, was arrested by on Monday evening as he allegedly attempted to pawn an X-Box video game console stolen from one of his robberies.

Police had previously provided Fast Cash Pawn, located on the 1200 block of Eastern Boulevard, with a photo of the uniquely painted X-Box. An employee contacted police when Wallace allegedly came in the store with the console.

At the time of his arrest, Wallace possessed a silver semi-automatic handgun that matched the description of the weapon that victims told police were used in all four robberies.  He also had a cell phone listed among the items stolen during the spree.

Wallace’s crime spree allegedly began at about 11:40 p.m. on Feb. 23 when, according to charging documents, he approached a man along the 900 block of Ashbridge Drive, pointed a gun in his face and made him hand over everything he had. Wallace escaped with the victim’s wallet, cell phone and Sony PSP game system.

Then on March 20, Wallace allegedly approached another man at about 8:40 p.m. near Southeastern Terrace. Again, Wallace is believed to have pointed a gun at the victim and threatened him before the victim handed over his backpack—which included the X-Box Wallace tried to pawn—$40 and his keys.

The next day, police said, Wallace allegedly robbed a 25-year-old at gunpoint at the intersection of Hartland and Middleborough roads. According to court reports, at about 6:55 a.m., Wallace approached the victim and displayed a silver semi-automatic handgun and demanded property. The suspect ran off with the victim’s wallet, money, bankcards, license and cell phone.

Finally, on March 25, a 21-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint while standing at a bus stop at the intersection of Hartland and Middleborough roads. According to police, Wallace approached the victim at about 9:30 p.m. and produced a silver semi-automatic handgun and took the victim’s cell phone and wallet.

In each case, the victims provided police with a similar description that resembles Wallace. In 2005, Wallace was convicted of attempted armed robbery in Baltimore City. He was also convicted in 2010 of second-degree assault in Baltimore County.

Both convictions meant Wallace was prohibited from owning and/or possessing a firearm. Wallace is being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center, said county police spokesman Det. Cathy Batton.