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Wicomico County resident Ian Thomas Schweiger, of Hebron, was arrested in Pooler, Georgia, this week, following a multi-state investigation that spread down the East Coast following an incident in Bel Air.
On Tuesday, Dec. 20, members of the Bel Air Police Department responded to an armed carjacking at the MacPhail Crossing Shopping Center on West MacPhail Road, kicking off the search that ultimately led them to Schweiger.
Detectives were able to obtain photos and witness statements, which pointed them in Schewiger's direction - who is reportedly familiar with police - and he was identified as their main suspect.
Within hours of the incident, police say that investigators were able to obtain an arrest warrant charging Schweiger with:
- Armed carjacking;
- Armed robbery;
- Kidnapping;
- Use of the firearm during the commission of a felony or crime of violence.
Officials say that “detectives relentlessly pursued investigative leads and coordinated with allied law enforcement,” which led to both the arrest of Schweiger in Georgia and the recovery of the vehicle stolen in the carjacking.
This reportedly is not Schweiger’s first run-in with the law.
According to The Chesapeake Today, in 2015, Schweiger assaulted his parents during a violent holiday rampage while wreaking havoc on their family home with a hatchet. He was reportedly sentenced to years in prison on multiple charges.
Following his apprehension, the Bel Air Police Department issued an alert, during which they expressed appreciation to several law enforcement agencies for their assistance in tracking down Schweiger.
“The Bel Air Police Department would like to thank members of the community for their assistance throughout this investigation,” a spokesperson for the department stated.
“Additionally, the Bel Air Police Department would like to thank members of the Pooler, Georgia Police Department, and the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina for their extraordinary assistance in gathering crucial and valuable intelligence and for coordinating the arrest of this violent suspect.”
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