Maryland man arrested for using machete and gun to rob Anne Arundel County homeowner
A Maryland man was arrested days after police said he used a machete and a firearm to rob a homeowner in Anne Arundel County.
The robbery occurred on Feb. 9 in the 300 block of Caldwell Road in Pasadena.
Justin Mulcahy with the Anne Arundel County Police Department says the victim was renovating his home next door to the auto shop and met up with an acquaintance to discuss possibly renting it out.
The homeowner led the suspect — later identified as Nelson Alexander Martinez, 51, of Wheaton, Maryland — to the basement of his home.
Martinez then pulled out a machete and a handgun and demanded money from the homeowner, according to police.
Martinez allegedly stole the homeowner's phone and bank card before punching him and fleeing the scene, police said.
The homeowner was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Investigators determined that the incident was targeted.
On Feb. 12, Martinez was arrested in Montgomery County, police said.
The details
Christine Smith, who's employed at the auto repair shop Pasadena Bimmer next door, was working the front desk when the man came running inside, yelling for help.
"I just think I did what anybody would do," she said. "He had cuts on his hands, and his arms were zip-tied behind his back. He was terrified. He was in tears, he was terrified. We were all very scared."
The victim was told, "'If you don't cooperate, I'm gonna hurt you, I don't want to kill you yet because I'm gonna need you,'" according to charging documents.
Police say there is no threat to the community as the incident appeared to be targeted.
Though Smith says it's an accident she'll never forget.
"It was very unexpected. Who can ever prepare for a situation like that? It was a very scary situation for everybody," said Smith.
Martinez is being held without bond and is expected to appear in court again next month.
Robberies in Anne Arundel County
A similar robbery occurred in Anne Arundel County in 2023, after two suspects robbed a person in their Pasadena home after requesting to meet through a dating app. One of the suspects arrived at the victim's home for the date. Police said the suspect went downstairs and returned with another suspect who had a handgun.
The two suspects robbed the victim at gunpoint before fleeing the home, according to police.
In 2025, Anne Arundel County saw a total of 234 robberies and 146 stolen property cases, down nearly 30% from the 395 robberies and 150 stolen property cases in 2024, according to data from Maryland State Police.
In 2023, the county recorded 274 robberies and 38 stolen property cases, data shows.
