Montgomery County Police have apprehended a 25-year-old suspect, Rafael Stedman Diaz-Powell, following a June incident at a Giant Food store where he attempted to return stolen goods for cash, then assaulted an employee and stole money. The crime, taking place in the 7100 block of Arlington Road, landed Diaz-Powell charges of commercial strong-arm robbery and assault. Montgomery County Department of Police detailed the sequence of events in their latest release.
The chain of events unfolded on June 25, 2024, around 11:30 a.m. when Diaz-Powell entered the Giant Food location, where detectives uncovered that Diaz-Powell's subsequent actions led to the aforementioned charges, and after several months of investigation and identification assistance from alert store employees, local law enforcement was able to place the suspect into custody—an unrelated outstanding warrant, also, confirmed his detention by officers on September 22, a fortuitous Sunday. Store employees at a Kensington Giant Food store recognized Diaz-Powell from an MCPD News Release, they quickly contacted local authorities who were able to apprehend him.
Once identified, Diaz-Powell was held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, with no bond, pending further legal action. The subsequent arrest warrant, issued on September 25, stems directly from the June 25 robbery and assault, signaling an end to the summer-long investigation that culminated in the collaboration between local commerce employees and law enforcement officials.
