Following an anonymous tip, three Harford County men, the oldest 21 and the youngest 18, were arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in a snatch and grab robbery Wednesday at McDonald's in Rock Spring north of Bel Air.
The alleged "mastermind" of the crime, in the words of a prosecutor, remained in jail Thursday evening, after his lawyer said in court earlier in the day that family members did not want to bail him out.
Around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, a masked man ran into the restaurant, which is off Red Pump Road at Route 24, grabbed the cash register's coin dispenser then ran out the door, according to a release from Maryland State Police with the Bel Air Barrack.
Witnesses told troopers the masked and hooded man dashed into a black car parked near the dumpsters behind the restaurant and the car drove away down St. Francis Road.
Troopers received an anonymous tip a short time later from a person who said the masked man was Patrick William Kruzynski, 18, who was staying with a friend in the 900 block of Gainsborough Court in the Bel Air area, according to the release.
Troopers went to the home and spoke to Michael Essig Jr., 21, who lives at the home, and to Jonathan Joseph Klein, 20, of the 400 block of Dellcrest Drive in Forest Hill.
Troopers learned Essig, Klein and Kruzynski were allegedly involved in the crime together and allegedly cashed the stolen coins then went shopping, according to charging documents.
Essig allegedly resisted arrest and damaged a marked police cruiser in the process, according to charging documents.
At bail review hearings in Harford County District Court Thursday, a prosecutor characterized Kruzynski as the driving force behind the theft.
"It looks like this is the one who masterminded the entire thing," Assistant State's Attorney Elias Silverstein said of Kruzynski.
Essig worked at McDonald's until about two weeks ago, Assistant Public Defender O'Melia James told the court.
James said Kruzynski's parents, who were in the courtroom Thursday for the hearing, said they did not plan to bail him out and he was not welcome to live in their home.
James explained to Judge Mimi R. Cooper that Kruzynski has no other means to bail out and it would take a change of heart from his parents to secure his release.
Kruzynski and Klein were charged Thursday with two counts of theft less than $100, two counts of theft less than $1,000 and two counts of fourth-degree burglary theft.
Klein was released on his own recognizance. Kruzynski was being held Thursday evening at the Harford County Detention Center in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Essig was charged Thursday with resisting arrest, vandalism more than $500, making a false statement to police and two counts of accessory to a crime after the statute.
Essig was being held at the detention center Thursday evening in lieu of $5,000 bail.