Crime

According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable John Maloney has sentenced defendant, Mario Samm, to 60 years in prison suspend all but 55 years to serve and five years of probation upon release.  The sentencing hearing concluded yesterday evening. In April, a jury convicted Samm on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence for the death of 25-year-old Jahandar Darvish.”

This stems from an incident inside Darvish’s apartment on the 19300 block of Circle Gate Drive in Germantown on December 23, 2021. During an altercation, Samm fired seven rounds from two firearms, striking the victim three times. One of the other bullets went through the floor into an apartment unit below. There were no additional injuries. During the investigation it was found that social media posts of the defendant in the weeks preceding the incident, showed him with one of the guns believed to be used in the fatal shooting. Additional information below from the charging documents:


Crime

Per MCPD: “A former Montgomery County teacher has been arrested and charged with multiple sexual offenses for engaging in sexual acts with a minor. Detectives believe there may be additional victims. On Thursday, October 5, 2023, the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) initiated an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by an adult male victim. The victim alleges that he had engaged in sexual acts with 31-year-old Melissa Marie Curtis of Upper Marlboro, when he was a minor.

The alleged abuse began in 2015 when Curtis was 22-years-old. The incidents continued for several months while the victim was a student at Montgomery Village Middle School, and Curtis was a teacher at the same school. All of the incidents took place within Montgomery County.


Germantown

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the 18800 block of Bent Willow Dr in Germantown on Tuesday, November 7, for the report of a cell phone on fire. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, “cell phone overheated and caught on fire in apt, resident moved phone out of apt into hallway, occupant got out, closed door and called 911. Arriving firefighters encountered ‘smoking device’ in hallway.”

The building was evacuated and one patient is being evacuated for minor burns. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.


MCPD

Unless otherwise noted, the Council will hold the following hybrid public hearings at 1:30 p.m.  Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.

Zoning Text Amendment 23-08, Transferable Development Rights – Cemetery


Maryland

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore applauded today’s announcement of nearly $7 billion in awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration for Maryland projects that will make Amtrak and MARC rail service safer, faster, more reliable and more convenient for passengers. The projects, in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties, were selected through the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program and are expected to support more than 100,000 good-paying construction jobs and spark economic activity throughout the corridor. 

Funding awarded to Amtrak includes up to $4.7 billion to replace the 150-year-old B&P Tunnel with the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel. Two new high-capacity tunnel tubes will primarily serve electrified passenger trains, reducing noise and pollution for the community. The new tunnel will benefit MARC and Amtrak service and eliminate a key bottleneck between Washington, D.C., and New York City.


MCFRS

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire in the 9000blk of Center Way Rd, near Goshen Rd in Montgomery Village on Monday, November 6 around 10am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire was located in a pre-fabricated chimney and was caused by an overloaded fireplace. There was minor extension into the second floor of the home. There are no reported injuries and two occupants have been displaced.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Centerway Rd, Flower Hill/Montgomery Village, pre-fabricated chimney, overloaded fireplace, (burning construction debris in fireplace), no injury, 1 family displaced” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.


Crime

Per MCPD: “Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes, Homicide Division, have requested and obtained warrants for two men wanted in connection with a March homicide and are asking for the public’s assistance in locating them. 21-year-old D’Andre Lukes and D’Angelo Holley are wanted for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of Deandre Keith Ellis on Sunday, March 5, 2023.  Ellis was shot and killed inside of a car outside of the Sweet Sweet Kitchen in the 900 block of Bonifant Street.

Two other suspects, Kajohn McCombs and Ahmahd McCombs, both 22-years-old, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday, March 14, for their alleged involvement in Ellis’s death. They are being held without bond.


MDLottery

“I wanted to get a scratch ticket and was deciding which one to buy when I saw 50 Years!” the young professional said. The instant ticket, issued in February to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Maryland Lottery, offers a staggering $5 million top prize. Not surprisingly considering the big prizes it carries, the scratch-off costs $50. “I’m not one to spend that kind of money on a Lottery ticket,” the Olney resident said, “but I decided to, just this once.”


Bethesda

Westfield Montgomery has announced details for this year’s ‘Home for the Holidays Celebration’ taking place on Saturday, November 18th. The event will be hosted by The Holderness Family (The Amazing Race, YouTube) and feature performances by the Gay Men’s Chorus of DC’s, the Maryland Youth Ballet, and Rockapella. Full details below courtesy of Westfield Montgomery:

Westfield Montgomery Mall is getting into the seasonal spirit with their Home for the Holidays Tree Lighting Celebration in support of Children’s National Hospital on Saturday, November 18. Award-winning content creators and best-selling authors, Penn and Kim Holderness of The Holderness Family will host the free celebration that welcomes the winter holidays. With over one billion views across social media, The Holderness Family will bring their signature brand of family comedy and joy to Bethesda, Maryland for the day. The duo are best known for winning Season 33 of The Amazing Race and chronicling their marriage and family life through hilarious videos for their eight million followers.


Crime

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating an armed bank robbery that occurred on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, in the 9800 block of Falls Rd. in Potomac. Detectives have released surveillance photos of the male suspect and asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him. At approximately 11:05 a.m., 1st District officers responded to the location for the report of a bank robbery.

The investigation has revealed that the suspect entered the bank, approached the teller windows, displayed a black handgun and demanded money. The tellers handed over an undisclosed amount of money to the suspect who then left the scene. Detectives reviewed the bank surveillance video and obtained a description of the suspect.


View More Stories