Man Charged in WaWa Rape Attempt Deemed Incompetent to Stand Trial

A man accused of threatening to rape a woman and trying to get into her car at a Cockeysville convenience store was declared incompetent to stand trial Friday and will be committed to a state psychiatric hospital.

Micah Narteh, 25, was charged last fall with attempted rape, attempted kidnapping, attempted armed carjacking and disorderly conduct after police said he approached a woman in the Cockeysville area and instructed her to read handwritten notes containing threats and demands for sex. Police say he also tried to get into the woman's car.

A state mental health evaluation found that Narteh, who has no known address, does not understand the court proceedings against him and is unable to assist in his own defense. The evaluation also concluded he is a danger to himself and others.

Both the prosecution and defense agreed with the evaluation.

The Maryland Department of Health assessment also concluded that Narteh potentially could be restored to competency in the future.

Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Tompsett ordered Narteh committed to the Department of Health until he is either restored to competency or is no longer considered a danger to himself or others.

Narteh was arrested Oct. 5, 2025, on charges stemming from an incident at a Wawa convenience store on the 10000 block of York Road where he allegedly threatened in writing to rape a woman and shoot her if she did not cooperate.

After the incident was publicized via a social media post, police received reports of similar incidents.

Prosecutors cited a separate incident in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 29, 2025. Police there detained Narteh after he told officers he was looking for the White House and wanted to speak with the president. Officers searched his backpack and found notes stating he had a gun and wanted to shoot people, according to charging documents.

Police have not alleged that Narteh actually possessed a gun, nor have they accused him of committing any sexual assaults.

In the Baltimore County WaWa case, prosecutors said Narteh attempted to get into a woman's car as she drove away, but she locked the doors and escaped.

When Narteh was arrested two days after the WaWa incident, police said they found a threatening note in his backpack that read, in part:

"I have a gun in my backpack ... I will shoot you with a gun and kill you ... come with me and find a place to have sex ... don't tell the police and don't tell anyone..."

Narteh has remained in the Baltimore County Detention Center since his arrest. He will continue to be held there until a bed becomes available at a state psychiatric hospital.

Under Maryland law, defendants committed by the courts to state psychiatric hospitals are to be transferred from jail within 10 days. In practice, however, shortages of psychiatric beds routinely delay those transfers, with defendants often waiting months for placement.

Tompsett scheduled a status conference for Jan. 8, 2027. Narteh's competency also will be reviewed annually.