Saturday, January 31, 2026

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda


Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on January 26, 2026. The assault was reported at the mall at 3:15 PM Monday. This is the second assault reported at the mall this year, with the first having taken place on January 10. The mall is now on-pace for 24 assaults this year at this rate; 12 took place at the property in 2025.

14 comments:

  1. Shoplifters caught in the act and fighting back. There is no shame in being a thief among a certain group.

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    1. What group is that? Be specific.

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  2. I still want to know what the arrest was for last week in front of the Value City on Rockville Pike. A large show of force was on the scene.

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    1. 2:04: Do you remember the day and approximate time? I'll try to find out.

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    2. Jan. 28, approx 2:15 pm

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  3. With all the snow on Monday, it was still an assault?

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  4. These reports are only minimally useful without more detail. It would be helpful to know the circumstances and if there are shoppers being assaulted in the mall or in the parking lot. Or are merchants being assaulted? The seriousness of the assaults, etc.

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    1. 7:00: I provide all of the information available. The alternative is not knowing at all, which goes against the purpose of informing the community. Yes, in some cases it has been store employees assaulted by shoplifters trying to flee with their haul.

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  5. 13 percent gang , its always them

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  6. Police scanners were encrypted precisely so residents would know less detail about county crime.

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    1. Police broadcast have been encrypted in most jurisdictions now, not just the county. Stop being so blatantly biased.

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    2. What's "biased" about wanting to get the full story about what's happening in your own region? What's the big mystery? Crikey!

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    3. Dear Marion;
      Key reasons for this shift include;

      *Officer Safety: Criminals have used police scanners to monitor, avoid, or counter police responses.
      *Privacy & Legal Mandates: Officers transmit sensitive information regarding victims, witnesses, and suspects. Encryption protects this data, meeting legal standards for privacy.
      *Prevention of Misinformation: Unfiltered, real-time broadcasts can spread misinformation via social media, causing unnecessary public panic.
      *Modernization: Many agencies are moving to encrypted digital systems (e.g., P25, DMR) that replace old, analog systems that could not be encrypted.

      While some agencies adopt partial encryption (e.g., only for SWAT or narcotics teams), many are moving toward full encryption, which restricts the ability of the public and media to monitor police activities. Critics often raise concerns that this reduces transparency and accountability. By transitioning from open to encrypted digital radio, agencies aim to prevent suspects from monitoring movements in real-time, safeguard personal data (e.g., social security numbers, addresses) transmitted over the air, and comply with, for instance, FBI CJIS privacy policies. (Blames it on the Don).
      Happy now?

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