Montgomery County government offers self-defense courses for women as violent crime wave persists

Violent crimes such as armed carjackings, assaults, and robberies continue to plague Montgomery County, in all areas and at all hours. Montgomery County announced today that it will be offering low-cost self-defense courses for women this month and next, classes that will include "training on risk, crime awareness and prevention. Participants will be given a 13-piece student folio with information on how to reduce the risk of exposure to violence and how to escape violence. Participants also will learn some physical aspects of self-defense."

The courses will cost $12, and will be offered through the Montgomery County Commission for Women. You must pre-register to participate, and classes will have to fill up with at least 10 participants to be held. Teenage girls aged 13-17 are welcome to register, but must be accompanied by an adult, the County said in its announcement. Register online now and choose your location; the classes will be held at Montgomery County public libraries. All locations are in the East County or Germantown area.

The Commission for Women will not offer a course for men, but advises that such a course is available. Men are directed to call 240-777-8300 for information about that separate class.

Armed carjacking in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of an armed carjacking in the King Farm area Saturday night. The carjacking was reported in the 1300 block of Piccard Drive at 9:20 PM on March 11, 2023. According to police, the victim was approached by a thin black male in his early teens, who was approximately 5'7" tall, and wearing a black hoodie. The suspect pointed a handgun at the victim, and demanded their car keys. After the victim complied, the suspect allegedly fled in the victim's blue 2017 Hyundai Sonata with MD tag number 2DB6897. 

Tara Thai closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Tara Thai has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Signage has been removed from the exterior of the restaurant. This ends a long run in Bethesda by the local Thai chain, which was at Bethesda Row until 2015, when it relocated to the mall. Tara Thai's Rio location in Gaithersburg has also closed. The only good news is that this opens up a fairly large restaurant space at the mall for a new tenant. Which restaurant chain would you like to see here?

Car stolen from dealership in Rockville

Rockville City police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from an automobile dealership on Rockville Pike yesterday afternoon, March 11, 2023. The vehicle was taken from a dealership in the 800 block of Rockville Pike. There are two dealerships on that block: Ourisman Mazda and Ourisman Chevrolet. As thefts from dealerships have persisted recently, a security vehicle has been seen patrolling the Chevy dealership lot at night.

Police respond to disorderly conduct at Rockville Town Square

Rockville City police were called to Rockville Town Square Thursday night to respond to an incident of disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. Officers were called to the 100 block of Gibbs Street at 11:38 PM on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Some residents of the apartments upstairs at the development have complained on social media of the frequency of such incidents during the night and early morning on Gibbs Street.

Assault at Twinbrook Metro station in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd degree assault at the Twinbrook Metro station Tuesday night, March 7, 2023. The assault was reported in a parking lot at the station at 8:46 PM.

T-Mobile reopens at Montgomery Mall after renovations

T-Mobile has reopened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda after a store remodeling. The wireless provider is in the process of defining four types of stores, and creating cosmetic design cues that provide "visual distinction for customers to know what type of store they’re visiting to meet their needs," T-Mobile Consumer Group President Jon Freier said in January. Look for the "new and improved" T-Mobile on Level 1 in the Old Navy wing of the mall.