On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) responded to Farmland Elementary School in the 7000 block of Old Gate Road in Rockville after receiving a report of a suspicious situation involving a student. According to Principal April Longest, the student reported being grabbed by the collar by an unknown man while walking to school near Hitching Post. After a thorough investigation, MCPD determined the case to be unfounded.
Principal Longest’s May 27 message to the school community appears below:
Dear Farmland Families,
This message is to inform you of an incident that occurred this morning near our school.
At approximately 9:00 a.m., a student was walking to school and took a commonly used shortcut near Hitching Post, passing through the back field. As the student came through the tree line, they were approached by an unknown adult male, believed to be in his early 20s and described as wearing blue shorts and a black shirt. The individual grabbed the student by the collar, but the student was able to break free and ran directly to the school. The adult did not follow. The student immediately reported the incident to a teacher, and law enforcement was notified right away. Police are actively investigating, and at this time, no further information is available.
To support student safety, I have requested additional police presence in the area as well as support from MCPS security personnel on campus. We will continue to take every precaution to ensure our students feel safe and secure at school.
We are incredibly grateful that the student is safe and commend them for their quick thinking and bravery in reporting the situation. We are sharing this information to keep you informed and to emphasize the importance of safety awareness.
Please take a moment to review safety practices with your children, including walking in groups and with adults when possible, staying on well-traveled routes, and reporting anything suspicious to a trusted adult or the authorities right away.
We will continue to work closely with local law enforcement and keep you updated as we receive more information.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping our students safe.
Sincerely,
April D. Longest
Principal
Farmland Elementary School