Bag of Chicken Wings Helps Cop ID Intoxicated Burglary Suspect

A bag of chicken wings too tasty to be left behind by an intoxicated burglary suspect may have helped police identify the man after he fled a Silver Spring shopping area.

Police were called about 9:45 p.m. Monday to the City Place Mall at 8661 Colesville Road in Silver Spring for an assault on a mall security guard.

A security guard was patrolling the food court area of the mall when he saw a man inside the Brass Hen restaurant after it had closed for the day. When the guard confronted the suspect, the man climbed over the restaurant counter and attempted to flee with a bag of chicken wings.

A second security guard came to help detain the suspect, who reportedly bit the first security guard's upper arm and fled. Police identified the suspected burglar as Michael K. Ray, 50, of the 8200 block of Dixon Drive in Silver Spring.

A Montgomery County Police officer looking for Ray near the mall saw him walking north on Colesville Road and took him into custody. Ray appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, police said, and admitted during questioning that he took the food and bit the security guard.

Ray was charged with second-degree burglary, theft, and second-degree assault.