Assault at Shady Grove Metro station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the Shady Grove Metro station early Sunday morning, July 7, 2024. The assault was reported at the station at 3:52 AM Sunday. No trains operate at that hour on Sunday. Police were called to the parking lot of the station, which is located in the 15900 block of Somerville Drive in Derwood, to meet the victim of the assault.

Assault in Derwood parking lot

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in Derwood Saturday afternoon, June 22, 2024. The assault was reported in a commercial parking lot in the 17500 block of Redland Road at 4:52 PM. That is a busy commercial area near the intersection with Muncaster Mill Road.

Aldi opening in July at Walnut Hill in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Construction has accelerated in the final phase at the Aldi grocery store opening soon at 737 S. Frederick Avenue at the Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg. The store, which is the center's new anchor tenant, is now expected to open on July 24, 2024, according to Google. Signage is up on the storefront, and checkout counters and shelving are in place inside. Operating hours have been posted on the door. This Aldi is likely to draw many customers from communities like King Farm and Upper Rock in Rockville, as well as from Derwood, as it will be more convenient than the 1501 Rockville Pike location.

Derwood students are 2nd-place winners in Montgomery County DOT "Paint the Plow" contest

Top winners from Westland MS in Bethesda

This winter, Montgomery County residents may see one or more of the County snowplows decorated by Montgomery County Public Schools students during the County Department of Transportation's "Paint the Plow" contest. Teams from 16 middle schools in the MCPS system participated. MCDOT provided the snowplows and paint materials, and each team had four days to name and decorate their plow. The plows were displayed at MCDOT's annual Truck Day on June 1, and attendees voted for the top three winning plows.

Redland MS in Derwood

Bethesda's Westland Middle School team won the top prize of $500 for its Road Runner "Beep Beep" and Pokemon Squirtle design. Redland Middle School in Derwood took second, with a prize of $300, for their team's Snoopy-inspired "Scoopy" plow. Coming in third for $200 was the team from Roberto Clemente MS in Germantown, who went full zombie with their plow's Zombinator theme.

Roberto Clemente MS in Germantown

“The annual Truck Day and Paint the Plow contest lets us showcase the vital role public works employees play in contributing to and enhancing our quality of life,” MCDOT Director Chris Conklin said in a statement. “Public works employees are on the front lines during emergency conditions, including winter weather events, and these snowplows will serve as a reminder of the valuable work they do.” 

County Executive Marc Elrich

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich praised the student winners and the County's public works employees, including snowplow drivers. “I want to thank MCPS and the participating students and teachers for helping us recognize the hard work and dedication of our public works employees. From keeping our streets clear of snow and ice, paving our roads and collecting yard debris, to maintaining our vital sanitary and storm sewer systems, their efforts keep our County safe, clean and thriving.” 

MCPS Countywide Art Show at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Here are some of the exhibits displayed during the recent Montgomery County Public Schools Countywide Art Show at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The schools represented at the show included Ashburton Elementary School in Bethesda, Candlewood Elementary School in Derwood, and Germantown Elementary School. MCPS uses the annual art show to represent student talents, and illustrate the goals of its Visual Arts curriculum. "The visual arts promote the core competencies - Academic Excellence, Creative Problem-solving, and Social Emotional Learning - identified by MCPS as essential to prepare students for success in the 21st century," the school system explained in a description displayed alongside the artwork.

Rita's Italian Ice for sale in Derwood

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard at 7211 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood is available for sale. The shop shares a building with Ledo Pizza across the street from the Red Mill Shops. It has walk-up window sales, and outdoor seating. 

The asking price is $260,000, according to the sale listing. Inventory is not included in the sale price. Rita's opened here in 2017, and remains open for business.

Armed robbery at Derwood gas station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a gas station in Derwood early Monday night, April 1, 2024. The robbery was reported at a gas station in the 15800 block of Frederick Road, across from the King Farm neighborhood of Rockville, at 6:21 PM Monday. A firearm was the weapon used in the robbery.

Police investigating shots-fired incident in Derwood

Montgomery County police are investigating a shots-fired incident that occurred in the 15800 block of Frederick Road in Derwood, near King Farm, on March 14, 2024. Witnesses who heard gunfire around 7:34 PM that evening called police. A suspect in the shooting is described by police only as a Black male of unknown age. Anyone with any information about this incident or suspect is asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Do you recognize this Derwood burglary suspect?

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating a suspect in a burglary rampage across commercial properties in Derwood and Montgomery Village earlier this month. The suspect is accused of attempting to burglarize an ATM at the Bank of America in the 17500 block of Redland Road by smashing it with a rock at 10:58 PM on Sunday, March 3, 2024; forcing his way into and stealing cash from Spice Lanka on the same block moments later; and then trying and failing to force entry into Derwood Beer & Wine in the 17600 block of Redland Road. 

On Wednesday, March 6, police say the same suspect tried his luck in Montgomery Village, breaking into Vida Hair Salon at 19122 Montgomery Village Avenue at 11:02 PM. He allegedly took cash from the cash register and fled. A few hours later, at 3:21 AM on March 7, the suspect allegedly broke into Dollar Tree, Moe's Southwest Grill, Ledo Pizza and The Joint - all at the Montgomery Village Center. He is accused of stealing money from Moe's. The suspect then broke into the Metro by T-Mobile store at 9989 Stedwick Road in Montgomery Village.

Detectives are working with all of the business owners who were affected to determine if any other property or cash was stolen from their spaces. Police describe the suspect as an adult Black male, approximately 5-feet, 10-inches in height, with a slim build. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Detectives have released a photo of the suspect, shown above.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or these crimes is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org, and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page, or call 1-866-411-8477.  Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Indecent exposure at restaurant in Derwood

Montgomery County police were called to a restaurant in Derwood yesterday afternoon, December 3, 2023, to investigate a case of indecent exposure reported there. The incident was reported at a restaurant in the 15800 block of Frederick Road at 4:25 PM Sunday. There is a McDonald's and a Wendy's restaurant on that block.

Police called after assault on residential street in Derwood

Montgomery County police were called to a residential street in Derwood early yesterday morning, November 11, 2023, after an individual reported being the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported in the 17400 block of Beauvoir Boulevard at 1:22 AM Saturday. That is near Mill Creek Towne Local Park.

The Phantom of the Shady Grove Metro station

Montgomery County Halloween Countdown

Tomorrow is Halloween, and what is Halloween without a ghost? There's one who haunts the area around the Shady Grove Metro station in Derwood, and has since his untimely death there in 1864. Walter "Wat" Bowie was among many Marylanders who were Confederate sympathizers during the Civil War. Like some, such as Bethesda plantation owner Nathan Loughborough, Bowie couldn't resist getting in on the fighting action himself despite living in a state that hadn't seceded from the Union. And yes, Wat Bowie was a member of that Bowie family, whose home turf is now a fast-growing city in Prince George's County.

Bowie's final adventure began on an ambitious note: a botched plan to kidnap the governor of Maryland. Retreating back to Virginia from Annapolis via Montgomery County, Bowie made the mistake of trying to loot a store in Sandy Spring. Tired after previous pillaging by earlier Confederate raiders, the store owner rounded up a posse, and pursued Bowie and his men as they traveled toward Poolesville. 

The vigilantes caught up with Bowie in Derwood, near the site of today's Metro station. His party escaped, but Wat himself wasn't as lucky. Bowie was shot off his horse with a shotgun blast. Historian Earl Eisenhart pinpoints the exact location as being next to the Metro tracks off Somerville Road, by the McDonald's. Bowie's ghost is said to haunt that area to this day.

Sources:

AmericanCivilWar.com

MontgomeryGhosts

FindAGrave

Police called after assault at school in Derwood

Montgomery County police were called to a school in Derwood yesterday afternoon, October 26, 2023, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. Officers responded to a school in the 5900 block of Muncaster Mill Road at 4:13 PM Thursday. Col. Zadok Magruder High School is located on that block.

Pickpocket strikes at Shady Grove Metro station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a pickpocket theft at the Shady Grove Metro station yesterday, August 15, 2023. The theft was reported at 6:00 AM Monday. Watch your wallet, as thieves may be watching it when you pull it out to buy a farecard at the station.

Car thieves prowling parking garages in Derwood

Another parking garage in Derwood was targeted by car thieves early yesterday morning, July 31, 2023. A vehicle was reported stolen to Montgomery County police overnight from a residential parking garage in the 8000 block of Gramercy Boulevard. Two cars were stolen from another Derwood apartment building's parking garage last Thursday, July 27. If you are living in a residential building in the Derwood area, make sure your vehicle is locked, and don't leave your keys in the ignition or glove compartment.

Car stolen from home in Derwood

Montgomery County police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from a home in Derwood. The vehicle was parked along the street in the 7000 block of Horizon Terrace. Property was also stolen from another vehicle on that block. It is believed the car was stolen sometime between 9:30 PM on July 27, 2023, and 7:17 AM July 28.

Two cars stolen from same garage in Derwood

Montgomery County police are investigating the thefts of two vehicles in Derwood early yesterday morning, July 27, 2023. The vehicles were taken from a residential parking garage in the 16000 block of Redland Road. It is believed that the vehicles were stolen sometime between 12:30 AM and 6:50 AM Thursday morning.

Two cars stolen in Derwood

Montgomery County police are investigating the thefts of two vehicles in the Derwood area yesterday, July 12, 2023. The first stolen vehicle was taken from a residential parking garage in the 15900 block of Frederick Road. It is believed the vehicle was stolen sometime between 12:00 AM and and 10:03 AM Wednesday. The second vehicle was reported stolen at 5:11 PM in a commercial parking lot in the 17500 block of Redland Road.

Achieve Veterinary Urgent Care opening in Rockville

Achieve Veterinary Urgent Care will open a Rockville clinic in the Derwood area of MD 355. The clinic will be located at 15811 Frederick Road, in the small strip center next to Atlantic Guns. It will coincidentally be just down the street from the Playful Pack doggie daycare and boarding facility. Achieve will open this spring, the company says, but the sign is already installed and lit.

Wendy's reopens in Derwood (Photos)

Wendy's has reopened at 15807 Frederick Road in the Derwood area of Rockville. The restaurant has completed a major renovation inside and out for a "fresh new look." It's apparently going forward with that blank building front; perhaps the front facade signage is still in-transit and will be installed later. Time for a Baconator, Chili Cheese Fries and a Chocolate Frosty.