Aggravated assault at Shady Grove Metro station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at the Shady Grove Metro station yesterday morning. The assault was reported in the parking lot of the station at 6:09 AM, according to crime data. This adds to a recent trend of assaults at Metro stations in the Rockville area.

Pickpocket strikes at Derwood bus stop

Montgomery County police responded to a pickpocket incident in Derwood early yesterday afternoon. The victim reported the theft at a bus stop in the 15900 block of Somerville Drive at 12:50 PM on Tuesday, according to crime data. Watch your wallet!

Derwood townhome burglarized

Montgomery County police officers responded to a report of a burglary at a townhouse in Derwood Sunday afternoon. The burglary was reported at a townhome in the 16100 block of Bowery Street at 4:16 PM, according to crime data. Officers found no sign of forced entry at the home.

Mail stolen out of home mailbox in Derwood

Montgomery County police responded to a report of postal larceny in Derwood yesterday morning. Mail was stolen out of a mailbox in front of a home in the 16500 block of Grande Vista Drive at 10:27 AM, according to crime data. This is an increasing problem in Montgomery County, although the thefts have tended to be from USPS mailboxes, as opposed to those at individual homes. 

Criminals are typically seeking checks being mailed or received, and have a new way to erase the recipient's name, so they can write in their own name and/or amount. USPS officials have advised that postal customers place mail in USPS mailboxes as close to the collection time as possible. Customers in the Derwood and Rockville areas should be aware that such thieves are currently working the area. If your mail is stolen, call the police, and then the United States Postal Inspection Service stolen mail hotline at 1-877-876-2455. 

Photo courtesy USPS

Trespasser reported inside Derwood apartment parking garage

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a person trespassing inside the parking garage of an apartment complex in Derwood early Thursday morning. The suspect was also accused of resisting an officer in a garage in the 8000 block of Gramercy Boulevard. The Daley at Shady Grove Metro apartments are located on that block.

Car stolen from home in Derwood

A car was reported stolen from a home in Derwood early Tuesday morning. The vehicle was taken from the driveway of a home in the 17000 block of Dace Drive, according to crime data. It is believed to have been stolen sometime between 11:00 PM Monday night and 1:00 AM Tuesday.

Strong-arm rape and robbery reported in Derwood

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape and robbery at a home in Derwood on Sunday afternoon, March 6, 2022. The incident was reported at a home in the 16200 block of Carnegie Avenue at 4:05 PM, according to crime data. No further information is available at this time.

Signage installed at Rockville Beer & Wine in Derwood

The permanent sign has been installed at Rockville Beer & Wine, opening soon at 15809 Frederick Road in Derwood. It was already lit last night. In addition to adult beverages, the store will also sell Maryland Lottery tickets. A hearing on the store's liquor license is now scheduled for tomorrow, January 20, 2022.

Aggravated assault at Derwood convenience store

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at a convenience store in Derwood Thursday evening, December 30, 2021. The assault was reported at a store in the 15800 block of Frederick Road at 6:45 PM. There are two gas stations with convenience stores on that block - 7-Eleven and Marathon Gas.

Car stolen from Derwood auto dealership

Auto thieves broke into an automobile dealership in Derwood early yesterday morning, December 7, 2021, and stole a car. Montgomery County police responded to the burglary at a dealership in the 15900 block of Indianola Drive at 1:06 AM, according to crime data. 

Beer and wine store to open in Derwood

A new tenant has signed on at the small strip mall just south of the 7-Eleven at MD 355 and Redland Road in Derwood. The store will sell beer and wine, as well as Maryland Lottery tickets. It fills the end space at 15809 Frederick Road, across from the Rockville neighborhood of King Farm.

Tesla rival Polestar opens first Washington D.C.-area dealership in Rockville

The electric car age is fully upon us, and Montgomery County auto buyers are finding each year is bringing more options to the market. Polestar, a Swedish rival to Tesla, has just opened a location at 15401 Frederick Road in Rockville, just north of Gude Drive. This is on the site of the DARCARS Volvo dealership. That's not surprising, because Polestar is partly owned by Volvo.

Polestar is most strongly promoting its Polestar 2 sedan. It looks like a cross between a Volvo electric, a Tesla, and a hint of Lincoln at the rear. It goes 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. The company also offers something Tesla won't for another couple of years, a sports coupe called the Polestar 1. A Polestar 3 is anticipated to be built in America, and the company recently announced plans to go public.

Like Tesla, the company provides a different retail experience than traditional automakers. Its sites are called Spaces, not "dealerships," and are designed to look like exhibit-filled museums rather than sales floors. Polestar doesn't have the wide network of proprietary supercharger sites that Tesla owners enjoy. But unlike Tesla owners, you can charge up at standard charging stations wherever you find them. Kudos to Polestar for touting Rockville's "bustling restaurants and shops surrounding a traditional town square with its manicured lawn" in its promotional materials for the space.

Photos courtesy Polestar

Armed robbery in Derwood

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery on a residential street in Derwood on Wednesday afternoon, October 6, 2021. The robbery was reported outside a townhome in the 7900 block of Yellowstone Way, a new townhome development along Redland Road at 3:05 PM, according to crime data. A firearm was the weapon employed in the robbery.

Second Derwood McDonald's to get renovated interior

Renovations are ahead for the McDonald's at 16701 Crabbs Branch Way in The Grove shopping center. Unlike the complete overhaul seen at the other McDonald's in Derwood recently, this project will update the interior of the restaurant. 

This location already got a remodel to a newer McDonald's exterior design in the last decade. Other Rockville-area McDonald's have gotten varying degrees of updates in recent years, including the flagship Rockville Pike and White Flint locations.

Police release video of Derwood armed robbery suspect

A suspect has been caught on surveillance video in the August 3, 2021 armed robbery of the 7-Eleven convenience store/gas station at 15821 Frederick Road in Derwood. Montgomery County police have released the images, and are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect. Detectives say he displayed a knife, and lunged at the cashier behind the counter, although this is not shown in the video footage. The suspect then allegedly fled the store with "stolen property," which was not further described as merchandise or money by police.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or this crime is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or submit a Crime Solvers tip online or via the app. Crime Solvers may pay a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest in this case.

Armed robbery at Derwood gas station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a gas station in Derwood on Tuesday evening. The robbery was reported at a gas station in the 15800 block of Frederick Road around 6:08 PM, according to crime data. A weapon other than a firearm was employed in the robbery.

Robbery and assault at Derwood restaurant

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a robbery and assault at a restaurant in the Derwood area Saturday night. An unspecified weapon other than a firearm was utilized in the robbery, which occurred at a restaurant in the 15800 block of Frederick Road around 10:06 PM, according to crime data.

Next Level Studio opening new studio in Derwood

Next Level Studio, a dance studio with a competitive dance program and a variety of classes, will open a new facility at 15811 Frederick Road in Derwood, across from King Farm. Classes are currently being held in a space at the rear of the building, while construction on the new studio is being completed at the front.

Atlantic Guns opens new Rockville store

After 70 years in business, family-owned Atlantic Guns has consolidated its Rockville and Silver Spring gun shops into a brand-new Rockville location. The new Atlantic Guns is now open at 15813 Hungerford Drive (MD 355) in the King Farm/Derwood area of Rockville. It's right up the street from Wendy's and McDonald's.

Atlantic Guns carries long guns, handguns, ammo, and firearm accessories. They also sell non-lethal defense products like Tasers, camping and survival gear, archery equipment, knives and fishing supplies.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, only ten customers may enter the store at a time. The first customer at the new store received a free Benchmade knife.

Derwood home invasion invader posed as package deliveryman, police say

A frightening and brazen home invasion in Derwood Friday was attempted by a man posing as a package deliveryman, Montgomery County police said. The man rang the doorbell at a home in the 7200 block of Titonka Way carrying a package and wearing a UPS/Fed Ex-style deliveryperson uniform. Believing a package was being delivered, the homeowner answered the door, only to have the man draw a gun.

The homeowner called out to a second resident inside the home. At this point, the invader forced his way into the foyer of the house, and threatened that he would kill both residents, police say. He then pushed one resident, and pistol whipped the other. The second resident was treated for injuries resulting from being struck on the head by the gun.

Alleged Derwood home invader (at far left) runs
to getaway white van
(top photo)

After the assault, the invader turned and fled the residence, dropping his box in the driveway as he ran. He leaped into a white Ford van and sped off, his run and getaway being recorded all the while by a neighbor's doorbell camera. Unless the footage was edited, it also appears a second individual was driving the white van, as it moves after the suspect is already at the door of the invaded home.

Anyone with information about this suspect or this home invasion robbery is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5100.