Aggravated assault at Rockville Town Square

Rockville City police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at Rockville Town Square early yesterday morning, February 25, 2023. The assault was reported in a parking area on the Gibbs Street/N. Washington Street side of the development at 2:42 AM Saturday morning.

Rockville man charged in Cricket Wireless robbery and assault (Video)

Montgomery County police have arrested and charged a suspect in the recent robbery of the Cricket Wireless store, at 2102 Veirs Mill Road in the Twinbrook Center in Rockville. Craig Donnell Johnson of Rockville, age not given, was taken into custody Wednesday in connection with the February 18, 2023 robbery and the assault of an employee. 

Detectives say that Johnson entered the store at 4:15 in the afternoon that day, approached a store employee, and asked to see a specific phone. As the employee retrieved the phone, Johnson allegedly covered his face and followed her to the back of the store. He then allegedly grabbed her in a headlock, and demanded she open the cash register. 

When Johnson noticed that the employee's daughter was coloring in a coloring book in the rear of the store, detectives say he ordered the child into the employee restroom. He allegedly took the keys to the register from the employee, and ordered her into the bathroom with her daughter. When he was unable to open the register with the keys, Johnson allegedly commanded the victim to come out of the bathroom and open it. When she complied, Johnson assaulted her, and ran out of the store with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Johnson has been charged with robbery and 2nd degree assault. His bail status was not disclosed by police. Detectives have released a portion of the surveillance camera video of the robbery and assault.

Signage installed at LaserAway in Rockville

The permanent sign has been installed at LaserAway, opening soon at 926 Rose Avenue, in the ground floor of the Canopy by Hilton hotel at Pike & Rose. This was previously the location of Taylor Gourmet.  LaserAway is a laser hair removal practice with locations in 24 states and the District of Columbia. It also offers botox treatments, tattoo removal, photofacials, dermal fillers, Thermage skin tightening, Coolsculpting fat removal, Clear + Brilliant laser treatments and other skincare services. 

Rockville biotech firm to expand with new lab space in Gaithersburg

Rockville-based Shuttle Pharmaceuticals will expand its footprint within Montgomery County this summer. The company announced yesterday that it is leasing additional laboratory and office space at an unspecified property in Gaithersburg. Shuttle Pharmaceuticals was founded by faculty members of Georgetown University Medical Center in 2012, and specializes in improving radiation therapy treatments for cancer, while attempting to reduce their side effects. Among the therapies in development at Shuttle is Ropidoxuridine, its lead clinical sensitizer drug candidate.

2 cars stolen on same street in Rockville

At least two vehicles were stolen on the same Rockville street Sunday night, February 19, 2023. Montgomery County police are investigating the theft of two vehicles on Braxfield Court, indicating a coordinated effort by multiple thieves in the Bethesda Park condo community. The vehicles were reported stolen at 7:00 PM and 7:50 PM, respectively. 

Taco Bamba in Rockville celebrating National Margarita Day

Celebrate National Margarita Day today, February 22, 2023, at Taco Bamba at 1627 Rockville Pike in the Congressional Plaza shopping center in Rockville.  Taco Bamba's signature Margarita Bamberas and rotating margarita del dia will be available for $5 today only. Their classic Illegal Mezcal Margarita will be available for $8. A few of these, and you, too, will be ready to believe National Margarita Day was started by President Richard Nixon in 1971.

Rockville real estate firm acquired by KLNB

Commercial real estate giant KLNB just got 20% percent bigger with the acquisition of Rockville-based Edge Commercial Real Estate. Located at 2273 Research Boulevard, Edge CRE has expanded to offices in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and Pennsylvania in its 16 years in business. Thirty-two Edge employees will join KLNB to form one of the Mid-Atlantic region's most-formidable commercial real estate firms.

The acquisition provides several strategic advantages for KLNB. Edge has developed a specialized business in tenant representation, and that six-person staff is now moving to KLNB. The addition of Edge provides KLNB with entry into the multi-family residential real estate market. And the merger also widens KLNB's presence in Montgomery County, where residential real estate development and biotech remain the only bright spots in an otherwise-moribund county economy. 

“The acquisition of Edge fits perfectly in our timeline for smart and disciplined progression,” KLNB President Marc Menick said in a statement. “Our evolution has always been calculated to ensure it makes sense for our team and our clients. By acquiring Edge, we will be able to do virtually everything we’re already known for, but at an even higher level and a wider reach. And in the case of multi-family, this opportunity brings the KLNB customer experience to a whole new sector that we have wanted to approach for some time.”