Steven Ray Beitzel, Jr. Via MCSAO.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office (MCSAO), a serial bank robber who tried to disarm a Sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to prison on Wednesday.
Steven Ray Beitzel, Jr., 33, of Germantown, was sentenced in Montgomery County Circuit Court to 85 years in prison with all but 32 years suspended, as well as five years supervised probation after release, per MCSAO.
In March, Beitzel was found guilty of one count of attempt to disarm law enforcement and two counts second-degree assault. After the conviction, a plea agreement resolved four remaining criminal cases involving motor vehicle theft, assault, armed robbery, robbery and burglary, per MCSAO.
Beitzel refers to himself as “Stick-up Steve,” per MCSAO.
In Nov. 2021, he was ordered held without bond following a vehicle theft and was transferred to the Avery Road Drug Treatment Center, according to MCSAO. But, Beitzel absconded from the center on the same day.
A bench warrant was issued and he was apprehended in Jan. 2022. However, over the two months in between, he robbed two convenience stores and committed multiple bank robberies.
He stole about $60,000. He used the money to buy two motorcycles and a car, according to a witness statement to police.
Beitzel made trips to Baltimore to buy fentanyl, which he used and sold, per MCSAO.
While he was in custody in Jan. 2022, he faked illness and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where he tried to disarm a sheriff’s deputy monitoring him in a hospital restroom.
Beitzel lunged for the deputy’s weapon and a scuffle started. He lowered the safety hood of the weapon, which MCSAO stated is the first step to remove the gun from the holster.
Two deputies were involved and injured and were treated for concussions.
MCSAO stated a firefight was avoided.
“Thanks to the discipline and restraint of the two Sheriff’s Deputies and an off-duty Montgomery County Police officer who stepped in to assist, a firefight was narrowly avoided.”
