Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Police Investigating Residential Burglary and Attempted Burglary in Gaithersburg; Surveillance Footage Released

Published October 20, 2023 at 10:19AM | Updated October 20, 2023 at 10:42AM

Per MCPD: “Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 6th District Investigative Section are investigating a residential burglary and an attempted residential burglary that occurred on Sunday, September 3, 2023. Detectives have released surveillance video of the male suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

At approximately 6:09 a.m., 6thDistrict officers responded to the 8100 block of Irwell Court in Gaithersburg for the report of a residential burglary that just occurred. The investigation has revealed that, at approximately 5:54 a.m., the suspect forced entry into the rear sliding door of the home, stole property and left the scene. The victim was in the residence during the time of the burglary. At approximately 2:13 p.m., 6th District officers responded to a home in the 17400 block of Tauton Drive in Gaithersburg for the report of an attempted residential burglary. Investigators determined that at approximately 5:47 a.m., the suspect approached the front door of the home, then jumped over the fence, attempted to force entry into the rear sliding door and left the scene.

Maryland

Maryland Attorney General Announces $10 Million Multistate Settlement with ACI Worldwide Over Attempted Unauthorized Withdrawals from Consumer Accounts

By Patrick Herron

Published October 20, 2023 at 10:04AM

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined a coalition of 49 Attorneys General announcing a $10 million settlement with payment processor ACI Worldwide over a 2021 testing error that led to the attempted unauthorized withdrawal of $2.3 billion from the accounts of mortgage-holders. The settlement includes injunctive relief designed to prevent a similar incident in the future.

ACI Payments, a subsidiary of ACI Worldwide Corp., is a payment processor for a variety of third-party clients, including mortgage servicers. Nationstar Mortgage, known publicly as “Mr. Cooper,” offered ACI’s Speedpay product to its customers so they could schedule and electronically pay their monthly mortgage payments through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. On April 23, 2021, ACI was testing the Speedpay platform when it erroneously attempted to withdraw mortgage payments from hundreds of thousands of “Mr. Cooper” customers on a day that was not authorized or expected. In many cases, consumers were subjected to the attempted withdrawal of multiple mortgage payments from their personal bank accounts. The Attorneys General allege the April 2021 incident was due to significant defects in ACI’s privacy and data security procedures and technical infrastructure related to the Speedpay platform.

MCPD

Concern for Missing 41-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published October 20, 2023 at 7:46AM

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police, Silver Spring Investigative Section are looking for 41-year-old Freddy Hernandez Flores. Hernandez Flores was last seen on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at approximately 1:53 p.m. in the on the 8700 block of Geren Rd in Silver Spring. He is 5’07”, 170 lbs, with short brown hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a red shirt with long, gray sleeves and gray pants.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Freddy Hernandez Flores is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

Maryland

Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller Reinforce Administration’s Commitment to Keeping Marylanders of All Faiths Safe from Hate Crimes

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 10:23PM

Keeping Marylanders of All Faiths Safe from Hate Crimes

Per the State of Maryland: “In an effort to reinforce the administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Marylanders of all faiths, Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller today met with Muslim community leaders, educators, parents, and students at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr. and Islamic Society of Baltimore President Hasan Hammad joined the governor and lieutenant governor. Last week, Lt. Gov. Miller visited the Beth El Congregation of Baltimore to attend evening Shabbat service and meet with congregation members.

“In Maryland we do not—and we will never—tolerate hatred. Not toward Muslims. Not toward Jews. Not toward Christians. Not toward anyone. Now is the time for us to stand together in love and community.”

MCFRS

Pedestrian Struck and Critically Injured by MCPS Bus; Child Onboard Hospitalized With Minor Injuries

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 7:04PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) and Montgomery County Police responded to a collision involving a school bus and a pedestrian on Thursday, October 19 in Silver Spring.

According to police, “At approximately 3:54 p.m., MCP officers responded to the area of East West Hwy and Grubb Rd. for the report of a collision. The preliminary investigation has revealed that a school bus struck an adult male pedestrian who was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. A child inside the school bus sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

MoCo Government

Anti-Hate Task Force to Hold a Virtual Meeting on October 26

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 4:38PM

The Anti-Hate Task Force was formally adopted through a resolution with unanimous support in June. The task force is made up of community and faith leaders working to engage the community and develop recommendations to inform policies that promote safety and combat hate crimes in Montgomery County.

Cohort groups representing the Jewish, Black/African American, LGBTQ+, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic and Muslim communities will present their policy recommendations at meetings throughout the fall. Each of the six cohort groups may also hold listening sessions to provide an opportunity for the public to engage and provide input.

Crime

19-Year-Old Driver Who Intentionally Struck Police Officer on Highway to be Held Without Bond; Had Over 200 Previous Traffic Violations

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 3:45PM

At a bond hearing this afternoon at District Court in Rockville, Raphael Mayorga, 19, of Frederick, MD, was ordered to be held without bond for allegedly striking Montgomery County Police Officer Patrick Kepp with his vehicle on I-270 in Gaithersburg early Wednesday morning. Officer Kepp remains in critical condition and is said to have lost the use of both of his legs. Mayorga is being charged with attempted first-degree murder.

The incident occurred around 3:48 a.m. on October, 18 after Kepp got out of his vehicle to deploy “stop sticks” near the Watkins Mill Rd exit on northbound I-270 after a citizen was almost run off the road by Mayorga. Mayorga is believed to have been traveling over 100mph when he intentionally struck Kepp with his vehicle. A second officer successfully deployed stop sticks near Clarksburg Rd, eventually bringing the Mayorga’s vehicle to a stop. A second person who was in the vehicle with Mayorga has not been charged and is being treated as a witness.

Beyond MoCo

Montgomery County Police Officer Indicted for Involvement in January 6 Insurrection; Recently Involved in Shooting Death of Suspect Armed With Butcher Knife

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 3:15PM

According to the United State’s District Attorney’s Office, Montgomery County Police Officer Justin Lee, 25, of Rockville, has been charged in a seven-count indictment that was unsealed today in the District of Columbia with offenses including assaulting a law enforcement officer and obstructing, impeding, or interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder. Lee is accused of “entering and remaining in the U.S. Capitol grounds while the Vice President was and would be temporarily visiting without lawful authority to do so and engaging in disruptive conduct, physical violence, and disorderly conduct while on restricted grounds of the Capitol.” Montgomery County Police released the following statement announcing his supension:

“The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) announces the suspension of Officer Justin Lee without pay as a result of his involvement and subsequent indictment in connection with the events of the January 6 insurrection. In July of 2023, MCPD was informed that Officer Justin Lee was the subject of an FBI investigation. Prior to his suspension, Lee had been on administrative leave for his involvement in the shooting death of an armed suspect on July 22. The Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division is currently overseeing the investigation into this incident to ensure a thorough and impartial examination of the facts.

MCPD

Concern for Missing 26-Year Old Last Seen September 28

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 2:05PM

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Missing Persons/Cold Case Unit are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Isabel Echeverria Silva, a missing 26-year-old. Silva was last seen on Thursday, September 28, 2023, in the 9300 block of Cherry Hill Road in College Park. She is 4-feet, 11-inches tall, 105 Ibs., with brown eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Isabel Echeverria Silva is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Leaders to Hold Press Conference Calling on the Owners of the Enclave Apartments to Make Overdue Improvements;

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 10:11AM

Per Montgomery County: “Tonight, Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m., Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink (District 5), County Executive Marc Elrich, and Maryland State Delegate Lorig Charkoudian will join the newly formed Enclave Tenants Association at their first press conference, calling on the owners of the Enclave Silver Spring Apartments to make overdue improvements.

The tenants association, a group of nearly 150 residents, is demanding the resolution of longstanding maintenance and safety issues and code violations at the White Oak property, which has been on Montgomery County’s list of troubled and at-risk properties for years because of extensive code violations. The property owners continue to be cited on a regular basis by Montgomery County and state regulators.

Bethesda

$50,000 Winning Lottery Ticket Sold at Long-Standing Bethesda Business

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 9:57AM

The 64-year-old found her Lottery luck waiting at Talbert’s Ice & Beverage Service, which is located at 5234 River Road in Bethesda. She frequently goes there to play her favorite Lottery games. The lucky lady told Lottery officials that she rarely checks her tickets soon after buying them. But on July 20, she received the free Pick 5 ticket for that evening’s drawing. She decided to check the ticket later to see if she won anything. The Montgomery County resident thought she had matched a few numbers, but was unsure. A scan of the ticket’s prize check area quickly confirmed the big win.

Although excited, the happy lady kept quiet upon learning of her $50,000 windfall. She plans to use her winnings to pay bills, donate to a charity of her choice and possibly take a vacation. She usually works temporary part-time jobs, which often consists of elder care. When she’s not working or playing Lottery games, the winner enjoys reading a good book.