Rockville police warn of increase in thefts from vehicles this week

Rockville City police report an increase in thefts from vehicles in several communities across Rockville over the last few days. Many of these vehicles had been left unlocked, police said. In cases where the doors had been locked, valuables like purses had been left in plain view inside the vehicle. Thieves then smashed windows to grab those items. The police department exhorted residents in a social media post to "lock it or lose it," and to never leave valuables where they are visible, as thieves are very active in Rockville at the moment.

Man arrested in Rockville allegedly thought he was meeting a teen girl, but she was really a cop

A Mount Airy, Maryland man traveled to Rockville on January 19. Police say he was expecting to meet up and have a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on social media. She had informed him she was only 15, but he proceeded to "have sexually explicit conversations with her," detectives from the Montgomery County Vice and Intelligence Unit alleged in a press release this afternoon. When the man arrived at the agreed upon meeting place, he discovered that the teen girl was actually a police officer.

Todd Eugene Immel, 51,  was arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. He was charged with solicitation of a minor. Immel is currently being held without bond.

V&I detectives are concerned that there may be other victims who have been contacted by Immel. They are encouraging anyone who believes themselves to be a victim, or anyone with information related to this case, to contact the V&I Unit at 240-773-5958 or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous. 

Online ads lead Montgomery County police to illegal massage parlor in Rockville

Montgomery County police detectives with the department's Vice and Intelligence unit have arrested and charged a New York woman with prostitution and sex trafficking. Police say online ads featuring photos of "scantily-clad Asian women in lingerie" led them to an unlicensed massage spa in the 14800 block of Physicians Lane in Rockville. Detectives have not publicly identified the name of the spa; there are three spas on that block.

Starting last November, V&I unit detectives began watching the spa, and noted male clients entering and leaving the business. Using evidence gathered, the detectives were able to obtain a search warrant for the spa premises at the end of December. They executed the warrant on January 4, 2023. Inside, they found an alleged sex trafficking victim, who told them that 63-year-old Yang Jiang had allegedly told her she could make extra money by providing sexual services to her massage clients. 

“This arrest is the third incident in recent months involving an illicit spa and human trafficking in Montgomery County.  This underscores the real and rising threat posed by human trafficking in the region,” MCPD Police Chief Marcus Jones said in a statement Monday. “Victims of human trafficking are not always forced into trafficking by brute, physical means. Victims are often coerced into being trafficked over a period of time through deliberate, psychological tactics used by their traffickers, so the signs of trafficking may not always be obvious. There are several ways that victims of trafficking can obtain help and can contact either the police department directly or the Montgomery County Crisis Center.”  

Anyone with information regarding Yang Jiang is asked to contact the Montgomery County Department of Police Vice and Intelligence Unit at 240-773-5958 or contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.  

Police urge anyone who is a victim of sex trafficking to contact the Montgomery County Crisis Center. The Crisis Center provides free crisis services 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Services are available to you by telephone (240-777-4000) or in person at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville (no appointment needed). Alternatively, you can call 911.

Assault reported in West End area of Rockville

Rockville City police were dispatched to a home on a quiet cul-de-sac in the West End neighborhood on Friday, February 5, 2023. At least one suspect was accused of 2nd-degree assault, obstructing police and resisting an officer. Officers responded to the house in the 200 block of Adclare Court at 12:14 PM Friday.

Assault at restaurant in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to a restaurant after someone reported being the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at a restaurant in the 1400 block of Research Boulevard at 12:00 PM on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

Rockville 7-Eleven robbed...again

Rockville City police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven in the Twinbrook area early Tuesday morning, January 31, 2023. The robbery was reported at 1:48 AM at the store, which is located at 13251 Atlantic Avenue. This 7-Eleven was robbed on November 27 last year.

Teen identified by police as alleged anti-Semitic caller to Jewish Rockville Outreach Center

Montgomery County police say they have identified a teenager as the suspect in a series of anti-Semitic phone calls to the Jewish Rockville Outreach Center. Police were called to the center on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, after a staff member reported receiving multiple phone calls from an individual using anti-Semitic language. An investigation found that the caller was allegedly a 17-year-old male "who lives in the community."

Police say the teen faces charges, but has not yet been charged. That will be up to the Department of Juvenile Services. Detectives are recommending a charge of "telephone misuse." Hate crime charges were not mentioned in the department press release.

Car stolen in King Farm neighborhood of Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the King Farm community yesterday afternoon, January 25, 2023. The vehicle was parked outside of an apartment building in the 500 block of King Farm Boulevard. It is believed the car was stolen sometime between 6:00 PM Tuesday night and 3:53 PM Wednesday. If you have any information about this incident, please call the RCPD at 240-314-8900.

Assault at auto repair shop in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to an auto repair shop yesterday morning, January 25, 2023, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. The assault was reported at a shop in the 1300 block of E. Gude Drive at 9:46 AM.

Car stolen from apartment complex in Rockville

Montgomery County police were called to an apartment complex in the Twinbrook area of Rockville Monday night, January 23, 2023, after a vehicle was reported stolen from the parking lot there. The vehicle was reported stolen from a lot in the 12800 block of Twinbrook Parkway at 8:00 PM. It is believed the vehicle was stolen sometime between 8:00 AM Monday morning and 8:00 PM.

Aggravated assault with firearm in Rockville

Rockville City police were called to a townhome in the Woodley Gardens area of the city Friday night, January 20, 2023, after an aggravated assault with a gun was reported there. The assault was reported at 11:21 PM Friday, in the 600 block of Azalea Drive.

Montgomery County Executive condemns weekend anti-Semitic incidents

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) strongly condemned a series of anti-Semitic incidents across the county this past weekend in a statement. Swastikas were found on desks in three public schools, and flyers targeting several Jewish families were distributed in Kensington. Elrich revealed that, unlike many of the other incidents in recent years, perpetrators of the desk graffiti were identified and have been disciplined by Montgomery County Public Schools. Police are investigating the flyer incident to determine if it qualifies as a hate crime, Elrich said.

Elrich said he is glad the school cases were resolved quickly, but that this "does not heal the pain that these schools are dealing with." He added that, rather than divide the community as intended, the incidents have only had the effect of "generating more support for our Jewish neighbors." 

"We are united and are showing those who are pedaling (sic) hate that these antisemitic attempts at community disruption won't be tolerated," Elrich said. "Montgomery County is home to one of the most diverse areas in the nation. We are proud of that diversity and antisemitic activities do not reflect our community values. It’s not the Montgomery way."

Purse snatched at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a purse-snatching at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda last Friday night, January 20, 2023. The theft was reported at 8:00 PM in a department store at the mall.

Rockville apartment burglarized

Montgomery County police are investigating the burglary of an apartment in Rockville early Thursday morning, January 19, 2023. The burglary was reported at an apartment building in the 13200 block of Twinbrook Parkway at 2:39 AM. Officers did not find evidence of forced entry at the unit in question, indicating the burglar(s) utilized an open door to enter.

Car stolen from parking lot in Rockville

Rockville City police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from a parking lot in East Rockville early yesterday morning. The vehicle was reported stolen from a lot in the 400 block of N. Stonestreet Avenue at 1:42 AM Thursday. 

Car stolen from apartment building in Rockville

Rockville City police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from outside of an apartment building Monday morning, January 16, 2023. The vehicle was reported stolen in the 700 block of Monroe Street at 7:30 AM. A theft was reported in the same apartment building that morning, on a block where an apartment was burglarized just last week.

Assault in Rockville parking lot

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in a parking lot Saturday night, January 14, 2023. The assault was reported in a commercial parking lot in the 16000 block of Shady Grove Road at 7:44 PM.

Rockville school burglarized

Rockville City police responded to a report of a burglary at a school last night, January 14, 2023. The burglary took place at a school in the 600 block of Great Falls Road at 8:33 PM Saturday. Julius West Middle School is on that block. 

2nd assault in 2 days at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to the second assault in as many days at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on Friday afternoon, January 13, 2023. A 2nd-degree assault was reported at the mall at 5:30 PM on Friday. This was the 14th assault reported at the mall since May 18, 2022, and the second of 2023.

Assault at Magruder High School in Derwood

An assault was reported at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School at 5939 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood the morning of Wednesday, January 11, 2023. The assault was reported at 8:57 AM Wednesday.