Showing posts with label Montgomery County Police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Montgomery County Police. Show all posts

Friday, February 14, 2025

Police investigate assault at park in Rockville


Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault at a park in Rockville late Wednesday afternoon, February 12, 2025. The assault was reported at a park in the 5000 block of Baltic Avenue at 5:00 PM Wednesday. Aspen Hill Local Park is located on that block at 5013 Baltic Avenue.

Monday, February 10, 2025

Police increase visibility at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda after robbery wave


Police were more visible at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this past weekend, following a string of robberies at the popular retail center. In one instance, as seen above in the Dining Terrace food court, a uniformed police officer joined a mall security guard making the rounds of the property. Montgomery County police recently responded to three robberies in a nine-day period at the mall, on January 26 and 27, and on February 4. In the January 27 robbery, the victim was a business inside the mall.

Last year, assaults - not robberies - were the primary type of violent crime taking place at the mall. Eleven assaults were reported at the mall in 2024, up from five in 2023. The last assault was on November 12, 2024. A new leadership team was brought into the mall by parent company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield ten days later. No assaults have been reported at Montgomery Mall so far in 2025. 

There's no question that a visible police presence can not only deter criminals, but also make mall patrons feel safer. A sense of lawlessness, such as thieves being permitted to escape with large armfuls or bags of merchandise, only attracts more serious criminals as word spreads of easy pickings. TV news reports of New York City Police Department officers on subway platforms and trains, as that city's mayor announced that at least two officers would patrol each train during overnight hours, would give passengers a high degree of confidence in riding the MTA system. 

The newly-deployed NYPD officers are in addition to the existing ones patrolling MTA stations and platforms. Meanwhile, back in Maryland, the Montgomery County Council has defunded the police since 2020. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

2 robberies in 24 hours at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda


Montgomery County police were busy at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda as the last week in January began. Officers responded to two robberies in 24 hours at the popular retail center at 7101 Democracy Boulevard. A strong-arm robbery was reported at the mall on Sunday, January 26, at 6:30 PM. Less than 24 hours later, on Monday, January 27, a second robbery was called in at 12:40 PM. A business at the mall was the victim in that robbery. The tenant has not yet been identified. An unspecified weapon was implied or employed in the second robbery, but it was not a gun.

Montgomery Mall had nearly made it to the end of the first month of 2025 without a violent crime taking place there. Eleven assaults were reported at the mall in 2024, up from five in 2023. The last assault was on November 12, 2024. A new leadership team was brought into the mall by parent company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield ten days later. The peak holiday shopping period from Black Friday through Christmas then passed uneventfully, in terms of crime. Only the typical shoplifting calls expected at any mall during the holiday season were reported during that time. January had likewise been violent-crime-free, until this past Sunday.

Monday, January 20, 2025

Man charged in Rockville double homicide


Montgomery County police have arrested a man in connection with a double homicide that took place in the early morning hours of Friday, January 17, 2025 in Rockville. The shocking incident first came to the attention of law enforcement when a County police officer was driving along Shady Grove Road at 3:16 AM, and noticed a vehicle stopped in the intersection with Research Boulevard. Inside the white BMW, the officer found Marcell Jordan Hebron, 26, of Rockville. The officer determined that Hebron was deceased. Bullet holes were visible in the windshield of the BMW.

About four hours later, at 7:40 AM, Rockville City police received a call from a nearby parking lot at 2 Research Court. The caller advised there was a dead body in the parking lot. Rockville officers arrived at the scene to find Leilani Marroquin, 27, of Rockville. Marroquin was also deceased. Officers noted she had suffered gunshot wounds, and recovered shell casings in the immediate vicinity.

Montgomery County police detectives investigating both deaths determined they were homicides. They identified Kaloyan Dimov Stoev, 25, of no fixed address, as the suspect in both homicides. By noon on Friday, detectives had located Stoev at an unspecified location in Rockville, and placed him under arrest. Stoev was transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and additional handgun related charges. He is being held without bond. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to pay funeral expenses for the victims and their families.

Friday, December 13, 2024

Montgomery County police to stage sobriety checkpoint tonight, December 13


If you drive while intoxicated tonight, Friday the 13th may truly be your unlucky day. Montgomery County police will conduct a sobriety checkpoint somewhere in the county tonight, December 13, 2024, beginning around 10:00 PM. The exact location is not being disclosed by the police department for obvious reasons, but you could anticipate it will be on a major road. Drunk-and-drugged driving and crash statistics are employed in choosing the site of the checkpoint. Any driver showing signs of intoxication will be ordered to pull over for further testing. 

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Police called after assault at recreation center in Rockville


Montgomery County police were called to a recreation center in Rockville Monday afternoon, December 9, 2024, after someone reported having been assaulted there. The assault was reported at a recreation center in the 14600 block of Bauer Drive at 4:11 PM Monday. Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center is located on that block.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Police investigate assault at busy Rockville intersection


Montgomery County police are investigating an aggravated assault that took place at one of the busiest intersections in Rockville on November 12, 2024. At 10:39 PM that evening, police say, four suspects assaulted an adult male victim at the intersection of Frederick Road (MD 355) and E. Gude Drive. The suspects are described only as three Black males of unknown age, and one Black female of unknown age. If you have any information about this incident, or can identify any of the suspects involved, call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Woman assaulted, robbed in Shady Grove Professional Park


A woman was the victim of three robbers at Shady Grove Professional Park in the early morning hours of November 2, 2024, Montgomery County police report. The woman was in the commercial townhome development in the 9000 block of Shady Grove Court on the border of Gaithersburg and Rockville when she was approached by three suspects. They allegedly assaulted her, and stole money and unspecified property from her. Police describe the suspects only as a Black male, and two Black females. If you can identify any of these suspects, or have any information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Armed fentanyl pusher busted in Rockville

Evidence seized in Friday's bust in Rockville

Fentanyl deaths in America are reportedly declining, but the dangerous synthetic opioid is still being pushed on the streets of Montgomery County. Thanks to Montgomery County police officers, a substantial number of pills have just been taken off the market. Officers searching for a juvenile male wanted for multiple offenses in the Twinbrook area of Rockville found him on Friday, November 8, 2024. The juvenile attempted to elude officers on foot, 4th District Commander Captain David Smith said, but he was ultimately caught and taken into custody.

On his person, police allege, the juvenile had a loaded gun, cash, and about 250 pressed fentanyl pills.  "The apprehension of armed individuals like this is difficult and dangerous work, but also important work," Smith said in a statement. "Fentanyl destroys lives and families, and the officers of 4D are committed to improving conditions. We also appreciate all of the members of our community who care and are equally committed to this cause."

Photo courtesy Montgomery County Police Department

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Police investigate embezzlement at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda


Montgomery County police responded to a report of embezzlement at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Saturday afternoon, September 14, 2024. The embezzlement was reported at the mall at 1:00 PM Saturday. Which mall tenant or office the funds were allegedly embezzled from has not yet been identified.

Monday, September 2, 2024

Hit and miss night for busy Rockville burglars


One or more burglars experienced the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat, in Rockville over the night between August 12 and August 13, 2024. Montgomery County police responded to a burglary at P&C Complete Car Service at 12516 Parklawn Drive on August 13. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry, and cash had been stolen from the auto repair shop. Police believe the burglary occurred between 4:00 PM on August 12 and 7:50 AM on August 13.

Officers also responded to a burglary call at Plaza Carpet on the same block of Parklawn on the 13th. There they found the burglar(s) had been unsuccessful at gaining entry to the business. No suspect descriptions have been released as of this writing. If you have any information about these incidents, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Monday, August 26, 2024

Auto parts stolen at several Rockville apartment complexes


One or more auto parts thieves hit several parking lots outside Rockville apartment complexes over the night between August 20 and 21, 2024. The properties impacted were all in the vicinity of Randolph Road. Parts were stolen from vehicles parked at the Village Square West and Lerner Oxford Square apartments, and at the Bethesda Park condominiums. Thieves are typically looking for airbags and catalytic converters. Police recommend installing a steering wheel device like The Club to discourage the former, and having your catalytic converter etched to ward off the latter.

Friday, August 23, 2024

Montgomery County police officer found guilty in January 6 case


A Montgomery County police officer was found guilty today by a U.S. Circuit Court judge in Washington, D.C. of charges stemming from the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Officer Justin Lee, 25, of Rockville, was found guilty of two felony offenses: assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder. Judge Trevor N. McFadden also found Lee guilty of the misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Lee will be sentenced by Judge McFadden on November 22, 2024.

The Montgomery County Police Department issued a statement today in which it said that Lee was not yet employed by the County police force on January 6, 2021. It stated Lee's actions at the Capitol did not come to light through its standard background investigation when Lee was hired. Lee was relieved of his police powers while the case went to trial. The MCPD stated that Lee's employment by the department will now be terminated following today's guilty verdict. 

Lee was identified in 2023 by law enforcement officials who were reviewing video footage from the Capitol on January 6, 2021 after they first noticed his Maryland flag gaiter. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia specifically accused Lee of throwing two objects at officers who were trying to prevent people from entering the Capitol. One incendiary device produced a smoke cloud. Lee was also accused of pointing a flashlight beam at officers. 

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Self-storage unit broken into in Rockville


Montgomery County police are investigating a burglary incident at Extra Space Storage at 11850 Parklawn Drive in Rockville. Police are not sure when the burglary occurred, but the crime was discovered at noon on July 14, 2024. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry to one of the storage units at the facility. Unspecified property was stolen from inside the unit.

If you have any information about this incident, or can identify any suspects involved, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Suspect detained in Rockville armed robbery


Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in Rockville Wednesday night, July 17, 2024. The robbery was reported in the 12500 block of Village Square Terrace at 9:50 PM Wednesday. @DCNewsLive on Twitter reported that a vehicle was later pulled over by police on Old Georgetown Road at the interchange with I-495 in Bethesda. At least one person in that vehicle was detained in relation to the armed robbery.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Armed robbery in Rockville


Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery in Rockville this past Saturday, July 13, 2024. The robbery was reported in the 2600 block of Research Boulevard at 9:58 PM Saturday. It took place in a commercial parking lot near the intersection with Shady Grove Road.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Strong-arm robbery at Rockville apartment complex


Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in the Twinbrook area of Rockville on Thursday, July 12, 2024. The robbery was reported at 4:30 AM in the 13200 block of Twinbrook Parkway. It occurred at an apartment building on that block, which is near Veirs Mill Road.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Police seek suspects in Park Potomac assault


Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and located multiple suspects in the June 22, 2024 aggravated assault at the Park Potomac development. Police say that as many as four suspects ganged up on the two adult victims around 4:10 PM that afternoon, in the 12500 block of Park Potomac Avenue. The suspects displayed unspecified weapons, and assaulted both victims.

Police describe the suspects as three or four Black females in their late teens. If you have any information about the suspects or this incident, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Rockville school principal charged with assaulting student


Rockville City police have arrested the principal of Ritchie Park Elementary School at 1514 Dunster Road for allegedly assaulting a student in the building. The department jointly investigated the accusation with Montgomery County police detectives after the assault was reported to the RCPD by a staff member at the school on February 9, 2024. Principal Andrew Winter, 54, turned himself into police at the Montgomery County jail central processing unit on June 3, after a warrant was issued for his arrest by Judge Roger Zepeda that day. 

According to court records, Winter has been charged with misdemeanor 2nd-degree assault. He posted $1500 bond on June 4. A trial has been scheduled for July 18, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville. Winter has led Ritchie Park ES since his appointment in May 2020. WTOP reports that Winter is accused of stomping on a student's foot during a disciplinary interaction that was allegedly captured on video, and has been on leave since the incident was first reported.

Monday, June 10, 2024

Armed robbery at Park Potomac


Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Park Potomac development early Saturday night, June 8, 2024. The robbery was reported on the street in the 12400 block of Park Potomac Avenue at 6:41 PM. It is still daylight at that time, and also the height of dinner hour.