An Edgewood man is in custody, charged with kidnapping and assault resulting from an incident on November 8, 2021, in Edgewood.

On Monday, November 8, 2021, at 8:53 a.m., Deputies with the Southern Precinct of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded to Clover Valley Way in Edgewood for the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, deputies were met by a female victim who reported she had been robbed at gunpoint. Through investigation, it was determined the victim was in the 1300 block of East Spring Meadow Court, with her 5-year-old child when an unknown black male approached her with a knife and demanded money. When the suspect learned the victim didn’t have any cash, he forced her to drive him, and her child, to a local ATM where he made her withdraw cash from her account. Upon obtaining the cash, the suspect forced the victim to drive him to the area of Clover Valley Way, where he fled on foot.

The investigation was assumed by detectives with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division. Investigators from the Forensic Services Unit responded to the scene to collect and preserve physical evidence in support of the investigation.

Detectives and Patrol Deputies followed leads, examined the evidence, and sought additional information and on December 7, 2021, Michael Joseph James was arrested on unrelated charges. After his arrest, James was transported to the Criminal Investigations Division where he was questioned. During this questioning, James revealed information that indicated to detectives he was involved in this incident. As a result of the investigation, James was charged on January 5, 2022, with armed robbery, robbery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts each of 1st and 2nd-degree assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, and theft $100 to under $1,500. James is being held at the Harford County Detention Center without bail.