A man with a history of violent offenses has been arrested in connection to a harrowing attempted kidnapping and armed robbery incident in St. Mary's County. According to SM News Net, William Francis Dixon, 52, of Mechanicsville, was apprehended on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting a woman, threatening her with a knife, and trying to force her into his vehicle.
The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office received a distressing 911 call shortly after the ordeal on Monday, with deputies responding to a report of an attempted robbery around 3:30 p.m. The 38-year-old female victim recounted the terrifying encounter that occurred while she was waiting in her car near a bus stop along Old Village Road. She described how the assailant, now identified as Dixon, had nonchalantly struck up a conversation before abruptly threatening her at knifepoint. Despite her resistance, he tried to "physically drag her out of her vehicle and into his vehicle," but fortunately, she managed to fend him off and flee for safety, WUSA9 reported.
Determined efforts by law enforcement to locate the perpetrator were successful. Local detectives reviewed CCTV footage from a nearby grocery store, which placed Dixon at the scene, meticulously watching the victim. The surveillance tape also captured images of the suspect's teal-colored Saturn SUV, confirming Dixon's identity. The victim's identification from a photo lineup solidified his arrest. Items stolen from the victim during the assault, including a purse, driver's license, and bank cards, were estimated to be worth $315, according to SM News Net.
Despite Dixon's past conviction for second-degree rape and attempted first-degree murder in 1994, he was released on supervised probation years after being handed a life sentence, suspended to 40 years. His present charges include kidnapping, first-degree assault, and armed robbery, among other offenses. A judge has ruled that Dixon be held without bond, and a preliminary hearing is set for April 14th, according to St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office.
