Police scuffle with suspicious man outside of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville

Montgomery County police, on heightened alert after an antisemitic firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado two weeks ago, observed a man circling the parking lot at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville at 2:54 PM on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Officers noticed the man's vehicle did not have a student pickup pass displayed. The officers, who were off-duty and assigned to security at the school, directed the driver to exit the parking lot. However, the man then drove back into the lot.

According to police, the officers ordered the man to stop. The man allegedly ignored the officers, and drove through cones into the student pickup line, toward oncoming cars. He then stopped the vehicle, but refused to get out of the car when ordered to by the officers. The man declined to answer questions about his identity, or what his purpose was in being on school property. 

Officers then attempted to forcibly remove him from the vehicle. He allegedly resisted, and then became combative. Officers struggled to subdue him, and noticed a pocket knife fall out of the man's clothing. After a brief scuffle, in which two officers suffered minor injuries, they arrested the man.

Joseph Amr Khairy Abdalla, 38, of Germantown has been charged with multiple counts of assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He is being held without bond at the County jail. Yesterday, the court called for Abdalla to undergo a Maryland Department of Health inpatient competency examination. This is typically ordered to determine if a defendant is competent to stand trial. A trial has been scheduled for July 29, 2025 in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.

Police say that at this stage of the investigation, they have not yet found evidence that Abdalla intended to harm anyone at the school, but did not elaborate on the findings that led to that conclusion. Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada praised his officers for their vigilance and quick action at the school on Thursday. “The actions of these officers shows our heightened efforts to protect our community and the courage of officers to take decisive action for the safety of all,” Yamada said in a statement.

Assault at 7-Eleven in Rockville

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the suspect in the May 7, 2025 aggravated assault at the 7-Eleven store at 11530-G Rockville Pike. Shortly before 7:30 PM that evening, police say, the suspect entered the store and dispensed a soft drink for himself at the soda fountain. When he allegedly began to drink the soda without paying for it, an employee confronted him to state that the beverages are not free. The suspect responded by striking the employee, police allege, and then began throwing merchandise at store employees. He proceeded to flee the store.

However, police say he then attempted to reenter the convenience store. Employees held the doors shut so that he could not. The suspect then pulled out a firearm and threatened to shoot them. But he instead ran toward the White Flint Metro station.

Police describe the suspect as a Black male, approximately 6'3" in height, with black hair and a beard. He was wearing black pants, a green shirt, a gray jacket, and a black Washington Commanders sweatshirt. The suspect was also carrying a pink shoulder bag and a black backpack.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org (http://www.crimesolversmcmd.org/) and click on the “www.p3tips.com (http://www.p3tips.com/)” link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. A reward of up to $10,000 is offered for information leading to the suspects’ arrest. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Teen girls arrested after assault in Rockville park

Two teenage girls were arrested following an altercation in the King Farm area of Rockville on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Rockville City police were called to investigate a 2nd-degree assault at King Farm Park at 401 Watkins Pond Boulevard at 2:50 PM Sunday. Officers took a 17-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl into custody. Their cases will be handled through the juvenile justice system. Police have not yet indicated who was victimized in the alleged assault.

Gaithersburg man dies after assault at Silver Diner in Rockville

A Gaithersburg man was the victim of a fatal assault at Silver Diner at 12276 Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza in Rockville on May 21, 2025, Montgomery County police say. Officers responded to a report of an assault at the popular restaurant at 11:52 PM that evening. When they arrived, they found Fredi Torres, 49, of Gaithersburg to be unresponsive. Officers immediately began lifesaving efforts, until Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services personnel arrived. MCFRS transported Torres to a local hospital, where he tragically later passed away.

Detectives are urging any customers of the restaurant who may have witnessed the incident 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. Tipsters may remain anonymous. 

Police called after assault at hotel in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to a hotel early Friday morning, May 23, 2025, after someone reported having been the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at a hotel in the 16000 block of Shady Grove Road at 4:00 AM Friday. A Red Roof Plus+ hotel is located on that block of Shady Grove Road.

Police respond to assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this past weekend. The assault was reported at the mall on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 12:41 PM. This the fifth assault to take place at the mall this year. There were 11 assaults reported at the popular retail center in 2024, 5 in 2023, and 12 in 2022.

Police called after assault at 7-Eleven in Rockville

Damage to 7-Eleven front door
allegedly caused by assailant

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault at the 7-Eleven store at 11530-G Rockville Pike on Thursday, May 1, 2025. The alleged assailant entered the store shortly before 2:00 PM that afternoon, and was confronted by employees, who accused him of shoplifting. In response, he threw unspecified items at the employees, kicked and cracked a glass panel in the store's front door, and fled. An officer responding to the assault call forwarded a photo of the suspect to other officers in the White Flint area.

The suspect was seen walking near the 7-Eleven by police around 3:01 PM. Officers followed the suspect to the nearby White Flint Metro station. When they informed the suspect he was under arrest, he attempted to run away. Following a brief foot chase, the suspect was arrested. Asked to identify himself, he allegedly provided a false name. A search of his person led officers to conclude he was in possession of clothing stolen from H&M and GAP at the nearby Pike & Rose development. Security at both stores confirmed that Shall had been in their stores earlier that day.

Ceolus Shall, 32, of no fixed address, was charged with theft of less than $100, malicious destruction of property, obstructing and hindering an investigation, and failure to truthfully identify. However, he was quickly released on a $100 unsecured personal bond. A woman was assaulted at the same 7-Eleven store 16 days earlier.

Photo courtesy Montgomery County Police Department

Assault at Rockville High School

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Rockville High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The assault was reported at 9:16 AM. No further information is available at this time.

Assault at bus stop in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a bus stop yesterday afternoon, April 25, 2025. The assault was reported at a bus stop in the 700 block of Hungerford Drive (MD 355). It occurred at 3:15 PM Friday. In other exciting bus stop news, just 27 minutes before the assault call, Rockville City police had located a fugitive from another Maryland county at a bus stop in the 300 block of W. Montgomery Avenue.

Garbage time: Trash can employed in Rockville assault

Quick reflexes allowed a victim to escape injury when a trash can was hurled in their direction in the Rockcrest neighborhood of Rockville on Sunday, April 13, 2025. The victim, and a suspect known to the victim, were engaged in a verbal argument in the 1500 block of Rockwood Drive at 7:11 PM Sunday. When the dispute escalated, the suspect hoisted a garbage can, and threw it toward the victim. 

The victim was able to sidestep the trash can, but their vehicle was not as fortunate. It was damaged when the can slammed into it instead of its owner, leaving a dent. Rockville City police responded to the scene, and after investigation, the case was referred for charges.

Woman assaulted at 7-Eleven in Rockville

A woman was assaulted at the 7-Eleven at 11530-G Rockville Pike Tuesday night, April 15, 2025. Police were called to the convenience store, which is located in the Metro Pike Center, at 8:09 PM Tuesday. @MoCoMag on X reported that the woman was knocked to the ground by the suspect. Police radio communications indicated that the victim declined to be transported to a hospital.

Rockville road rage ends with knife attack

A road rage incident near the I-270 interchange with W. Montgomery Avenue in Rockville escalated until one driver pulled out a knife and attacked the other vehicle involved in the dispute. According to Rockville City police, the male driver of a blue Ford SUV became enraged with two women in another vehicle at the intersection of W. Montgomery and Nelson Street at 3:08 PM on April 11, 2025. He allegedly yelled racial epithets at the women. 

Eventually, police say, the suspect emerged from the SUV brandishing a knife. He allegedly proceeded to strike a window of the women's vehicle, and then stab one of their rear tires. The suspect then fled in the SUV.

Police describe the suspect as "a male of unknown race with light skin," heavy-set, and wearing a gray hoodie and jeans. If you can identify this suspect, call police at 240-314-8900.

Armed robbery at Rockville apartment complex

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at an apartment complex in Rockville on March 29, 2025. The robbery was reported in the 12900 block of Crookston Lane at 5:45 PM. That is at the Halpine View apartments off of Twinbrook Lane near Veirs Mill Road. 

According to police, six males displayed a weapon, and proceeded to assault the adult male victim. They then stole property from the victim and fled. Police describe the suspects only as "6 males, no further descriptions." If you have any information that can assist detectives in identifying the alleged robbers, call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Assault at Rockville Metro station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault at the Rockville Metro station early Friday morning, March 28, 2025. The assault was reported at the station at 1:27 AM Friday. It reportedly occurred in the parking lot area of the station.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were once again called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this past weekend, after a report of an assault. The assault was reported at a department store inside the mall at 5:33 PM on Saturday, March 22, 2025. This was the third assault reported at the mall so far this year. There were 11 assaults reported at the popular retail center in 2024, 5 in 2023, and 12 in 2022.

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 March 14, 2025. The incident was reported at 3:47 PM at the mall. This is the second assault at the mall so far this year. There were 11 in 2024, 5 in 2023, and 12 in 2022.

Strong-arm carjacking in Rockville

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm carjacking in Rockville Monday morning, March 10, 2025. The assault and carjacking were reported in the 5500 block of Randolph Road at 10:50 AM Monday. That is near the intersection with Nebel Street, and the CSX railroad crossing.

Assault reported at Rockville High School

Montgomery County police were called to investigate a report of an assault at Rockville High School, located at 2100 Baltimore Road, late Tuesday morning, March 11, 2025. The assault was reported at the school at 11:50 AM Tuesday. No further information is available as of this writing.

Argument escalates to assault at Rockville restaurant

An argument between two dining parties escalated into a physical altercation at a Rockville restaurant on March 3, 2025. The incident occurred at a restaurant in the 2000 block of Veirs Mill Road at 1:49 PM, according to Rockville City police. A man and a woman allegedly began arguing with another party of two women, and then physically assaulted them. The man and woman proceeded to flee the scene in a white Honda Civic. Police say they have obtained the tag number of the Civic. If you were a witness to the incident, and have any information that could help police, call the department at 240-314-8900.

Rockville assault victim asked child to stop kicking car

A reprimand of an out-of-control child led to a painful assault in East Rockville on February 24, 2025. The victim noticed a child kicking their parked car in the 500 block of N. Horners Lane at 11:23 AM. After telling the child to stop, the victim was approached and assaulted by an unknown male suspect. Rockville City police have not released a description of the suspect. If you have any information that can help identify him, contact police at 240-314-8900.