Annapolis man wanted in robberies

Police in Anne Arundel County and Annapolis have warrants for the arrest of a 25-year-old Annapolis man on suspicion of robbing a cafe in the Anne Arundel Medical Center on Monday.

A man handed a note to a 22-year-old female employee of the City Roast Cafe on Monday evening that said he was a heroin addict and that he had an HIV-infected needle in his pocket, county police said. The woman gave him money from the cash register, police said.

Police identified the suspect as Mark Joseph Richards Jr. of Lincoln Parkway.

City police believe that Richards is the man who used a similar method to rob the BB&T Bank at 400 Sixth St. in Annapolis at 2:15 p.m. July 17. In that instance, police said, a man threatened to stab a bank employee with a hypodermic needle but did not mention HIV. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

No needle was displayed in either robbery, police said.

The city and county police departments have warrants for Richards' arrest.