In Howard County

Pair rob Blockbuster, assault store manager

COLUMBIA - Two men assaulted the manager of a Blockbuster Video in Columbia's Long Reach Village Center shortly after midnight yesterday, hitting him in the head with a handgun. The men took an undisclosed amount of money from the store and fled, police said.

Howard County police said the men entered the store, showed an employee they had a gun and forced the employee to get down onto the floor. Then the men went into the manager's office, where the assault took place, police said. Police did not identify the manager.

In Baltimore County

Man stabbed behind Owings Mills movie theater

OWINGS MILLS - Baltimore County police were investigating the stabbing of a man last night behind the movie theater at the Owings Mills Mall.

The 23-year-old man, who was taken to Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, suffered two wounds to his back, a hospital spokesman said.

Police said the stabbing, reported about 7:15 p.m., may have occurred after a robbery attempt near the Metro parking lot. The name of the victim was not released.