Lightcap was pronounced dead at the scene. The Collision Reconstruction Unit is conducting an ongoing investigation of this accident. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact CRU detectives at 240-773-6620.
One of the teens suddenly rushed toward her. He pushed the woman hard into a concrete pillar. After striking the pillar, she fell to the ground. He then stood over her, brandishing a black firearm, and demanded her car keys.
The female victim began screaming, and caught the attention of others in the garage. Those Good Samaritans rushed to help her, and the three ski-masked teens suddenly abandoned their plan and attempted to flee the scene. The bystanders chased after them, using their phones to capture images of the suspects. After being pursued to the intersection of E. Middle Lane and Helen Heneghan Way, the teens turned around and threatened the Good Samaritans with the firearm, causing them to back off.
A Rockville City police officer located the teens about 30 minutes later near the intersection of MD 355 and Gude Drive. When backup units arrived, all three were taken into custody without incident. In one of the suspects' bags, three ski masks and a black BB gun were allegedly found by officers.
All three boys were charged with attempted armed carjacking and first-degree assault. After referral to the Montgomery County Department of Juvenile Services, all three were released into the custody of their parents.
A Council press release states that it has chosen to reprimand Anderson, and Planning Board commissioners Carol Rubin and Partap Verma. The Council statement vaguely refers to the OIG report, but does not explicitly mention alcohol, or what the officials are being specifically penalized for. Anderson has previously issued an apology for his actions, stating that he has disposed of the alcohol in his office, and that he only drank after business hours.
This morning's press release states that "the Council has issued reprimands that will result in Chair Anderson losing four weeks of his salary and Vice Chair Verma and Commissioner Rubin each losing one day of their respective salaries. The three commissioners also must attend Employee Assistance Program counseling which is consistent with the Commission’s protocol.”
The press release goes on to say that the “Council is extremely disappointed in the violations of Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) policy by Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, as detailed in an advisory memorandum from M-NCPPC’s inspector general. The memorandum also found violations of Commission policy by Vice Chair Partap Verma and Planning Board Commissioner Carol Rubin."
Anderson is one of the most powerful public figures in the county, and serves at the pleasure of the Council. Extraordinary legislative steps were taken to allow Anderson to serve an unprecedented third term as chair, at a record salary for the position. Planning Board commissioners also are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the County Council.
The Council has stated that it will not say anything publicly about the case because it is a personnel matter. That assertion is patently false, because the individuals involved are political appointees holding public offices, not career employees.
When Miller's Ale House opened in 2012, it looked like a new age of nightlife might be upon us in Rockville. Bar Louie and American Tap Room had also just opened at Rockville Town Square. And there were old standbys like Gordon Biersch and Hooters. Look around in 2022, and every single one of those businesses is gone.
It started with a major hike in the County energy tax, one that saw businesses like Target and Magruder's having to dim their lighting, posting apologetic signs explaining it was due to the energy tax. A series of other anti-business votes were taken by the Council in the ensuing years, over the objections of business owners.
At the same time, the Council also lashed out at food trucks. Part of the bubbling up of a potentially vibrant new era of nightlife was the new phenomenon of food trucks, which would park in legal parking spots in busy areas at lunchtime in Bethesda, Rockville and Silver Spring. Some would also park in nightlife areas later, to serve patrons emerging after bars closed for the night.
Over the last decade, at least 21 nightspots closed in downtown Bethesda alone. Incredibly, all of those closures followed the Council's 2012 "Nighttime Economy Initiative." Hyped to the max by some local media outlets at the time, the initiative - along with the rest of the misguided Council actions of the last decade - ended up tanking the nighttime economy countywide. The demise of Miller's is only the latest example of that collapse.
