Rockville City Council to expand to six seats in 2024 election

Rockville's Mayor and Council voted unanimously Monday night to expand the number of seats on the City Council from four to six in the 2024 city election. The change was one of several recommended by the Rockville Charter Review Commission to increase turnout and participation in City elections. It will officially become part of the City Charter on the 50th day following the vote, unless a petition signed by 20% of voters is presented to the Mayor and Council by the 40th day calling for it to be overturned.

With the Mayor having one vote equal to a City Councilmember vote, this will make a total of seven elected offices representing city residents. A separate question being taken up by the Council that will determine if the city will be separated into Council districts, or continue electing all offices at-large.

Photo courtesy City of Rockville

Assault at Rockville convenience store

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a convenience store on Rockville Pike early yesterday morning, February 6, 2023. The assault was reported at a store in the 700 block of Rockville Pike at 1:20 AM. In addition to assault, the suspect is also facing a potential charge of trespassing.

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.

Rockville to hold public hearing tonight on voting age, size of the City Council in future elections

Rockville's Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the city's election laws tonight, Monday, February 6, 2023 at 7:00 PM at City Hall. Changes being considered by the elected officials include lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, permitting non-citizens to vote, setting term limits, creating representative districts instead of electing all seats on an at-large basis, creating an administrative process to fill a vacancy on the council, changing election years to coincide with presidential or gubernatorial elections, and implementing ranked-choice voting. The Mayor and Council will consider the public input from tonight's hearing when it discusses the changes at its February 27 meeting, before taking a final vote.

Photo courtesy City of Rockville

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.

Signage installed at Jolly Yolly in Bethesda

The permanent sign is up at Jolly Yolly Kids at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. An indoor gym, playground and learning center for children, Jolly Yolly can also host birthday parties. Look for Jolly Yolly on Level 1 next to The Cheesecake Factory, in the Old Navy wing of the mall.