Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Germantown TopGolf Shooting Suspect Arrested in Ocean City

Published August 30, 2023 at 6:16PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section have arrested and charged 28-year-old Cyprian Nwaigwe with the shooting that occurred at Topgolf on Monday, August 29, 2023.

The investigation has revealed that at approximately 12:06 a.m., a 23-year-old Topgolf security guard informed Nwaigwe to leave the premises because they were closing for the night. Nwaigwe proceeded to get into a physical altercation with the security guard. The physical altercation continued to the front door area, where Nwaigwe pulled out a handgun and shot the security guard in his upper body. An 18-year-old Topgolf employee was also shot in his lower body. Nwaigwe then left the scene.

Germantown

Traffic: Route 28 at 118 Closed Wednesday Evening

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 5:32PM

Montgomery County Police tweeted the following on Wednesday, August 30, at 5:05pm. “TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Route 28 at 118 is shut down following a single-vehicle traffic collision. Drivers should expect delays and seek alternate routes.”

We will post an update when additional information is available.

Restaurant

Sarku Japan Now Open in Wheaton Mall

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 5:12PM | Updated August 31, 2023 at 1:58PM

Sarku Japan has reopened in Wheaton Mall in a new location just outside of Costco, near the relatively new Sydney’s Burger. Sarku Japan is often found inside of malls and has a mall location in Bethesda’s Montgomery Mall. Its other MoCo location can be found a standalone store (located within a strip mall rather than in a food court) in the White Oak shopping center. The chain offers made-to-order teppanyaki-style Japanese dishes cooked on sizzling grills as well as a limited amount of sushi rolls.

History of Sarku: “In Japan, lunches are often taken quickly from small stalls where freshness and quality are key. Shops value their reputations very highly. This was the same dedication of our founders when they opened the first Sarku Japan in 1987.

MCPD

Sobriety Checkpoint to Take Place Saturday, September 2nd

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 4:27PM | Updated August 30, 2023 at 8:40PM

According to Montgomery County Police, “On Saturday, September 2, 2023, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police and allied agencies, including Howard County Police Department, will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint and will conduct focused enforcement on impaired driving laws. The exact location of the checkpoint will not be disclosed in advance.

Earlier this week, Montgomery County Police has announced that during the August 25 sobriety checkpoint on northbound Georgia Avenue at Weller Road, officers from MCPD and allied agencies stopped approximately 372 vehicles and arrested 5 people for driving while impaired. Last week MCPD announced that it stopped 565 vehicles and arrested 4 people for driving while impaired during an August 18th sobriety checkpoint on northbound Frederick Road at Game Preserve Road in Gaithersburg.

Bethesda

Police Investigating Bethesda Restaurant Theft

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 4:10PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police -2nd District Investigative Section are investigating a theft that occurred at Cubano’s Restaurant in the 4900 block of Cordell Avenue on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Detectives have released surveillance video of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

The preliminary investigation by detectives has determined that the suspect entered the restaurant at approximately 8 p.m. The suspect immediately walked to the back of the restaurant, grabbed the victim’s purse that was hanging on a rack and entered the bathroom. The purse was later located inside the bathroom by a customer but was missing cash, personal items and property. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 30-years-old, thin build, wearing a gray t-shirt.

MoCo History

‘A Bump in the Road: A History of Our Local Post Roads’ Will Be Presented Online by Montgomery History from Sept. 4-11

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 4:04PM

Per Montgomery County: The early evolution of the post roads and their impact on the development of Montgomery Country will be the subject of a free online presentation from Montgomery History that will be available Sept. 4-11.

“A Bump in the Road: A History of Our Local Post Roads” was originally presented by historian Bob Hines at the 2021 Montgomery County History Conference. His talk focuses on the County’s “post system,” the early road known as the Brookeville Turnpike and how post roads shaped the future of the country. To view the presentation starting Sept. 4, go to » WATCH (montgomeryhistory.org).

MCDOT

Child and Adult Used Bicycles Can Be Donated at the Annual Department of Transportation Event on Friday, Oct. 20, in Rockville

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 4:03PM

Per Montgomery County: Bicycles that are no longer being used by some can make a big difference for others. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s annual Bicycle Donation Drive will be held on Friday, Oct. 20. The event will make it easy to donate previously owned bikes and ensure they will have a continued impact.

From  7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Oct. 20, bikes will be collected (rain or shine) outside of the Montgomery County Council Office Building Garage at East Jefferson and Monroe Street in Rockville. Bicycles should be in good working condition or in need of only minor repairs. Donations will be refurbished and MCDOT will match the bikes with residents in need through the Bike Match program.

Highways / Interstates

State Highway Administration in Midst of Roadside Litter Cleanup Program

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 4:01PM

Per Montgomery County: The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) this week launched an all-hands-on-deck litter and debris removal effort aimed at removing litter from its roadsides prior to Labor Day weekend. SHA maintenance shop personnel have been spanning the State to beautify roadsides as part of its “Operation Clean Sweep Maryland” project. In addition to making roadways look better, the project has additional goals.

Litter, including plastic bottles, fast food containers and cigarette butts, can wind up in highway drainage systems and clog the system or cause slow drainage. This creates dangerous conditions, such as ponding of water during storms. Litter that makes it past drainage systems can enter streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay and poses a threat to wildlife habitats.

Glen Echo

Glen Echo Park to Host 52nd Annual Labor Day Weekend Art Show Featuring the Work of More Than 300 Artists

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 3:59PM

Per Montgomery County: The 52nd Annual Labor Day Weekend Art Show at Glen Echo Park will be held in the park’s historic Spanish Ballroom from noon-6 p.m. each day starting Saturday, Sept. 2, and running through Monday, Sept. 4. The exhibition features the work of more than 300 artists from the Mid-Atlantic Region. Admission is free.

Glen Echo Park is located at 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. More information about the art show is available at LABOR DAY WEEKEND | Glen Echo Park. Presented by the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, the exhibition and sale is traditionally one of the largest art shows in the area. The show includes works in a wide range of artistic media including:

Crime

Woman Convicted on Murder Charge for Death of 17-Year-Old Brother

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 2:10PM | Updated August 30, 2023 at 4:12PM

Courtesy Google Maps

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, a jury found defendant, Leaundra Matthews, 25, of Accokeek, guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Christian Matthews, her 17-year-old brother. Christian Matthews was fatally strangled during an attack by the defendant’s boyfriend and another co-defendant while he was asleep inside the family’s Silver Spring home in the early morning hours of March 21, 2017.

Leaundra Matthews faces up to 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 19, 2024 at 2 p.m. In January of 2019, a jury convicted Leaundra’s boyfriend, 26-year-old Tysean Lipford, on a charge of second-degree murder for the death of Christian Matthews. He was sentenced in June of 2019 to 30 years in prison and is currently serving that sentence. Daniel Howard is the other codefendant facing murder charges. His trial is scheduled for April 2024. In addition, Leaundra’s twin sister, Lemae Matthews, pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in October of 2021 and will be sentenced following the conclusion of Howard’s April 2024 trial.”

Beyond MoCo

Governor Wes Moore Continues ‘More Opportunity Tour’ in Partnership with Federal Communications Commission to Highlight Affordable Connectivity Program Training Program at Salisbury University

By Patrick Herron

Published August 30, 2023 at 2:05PM

Per the State of Maryland: Today, Governor Wes Moore and Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel joined Marylanders during a free “train the trainer” Affordable Connectivity Program training session at Salisbury University. The latest ‘More Opportunity Tour’ stop highlighted the mission to ensure that all households can afford broadband services and to support the governor’s goal of getting every Marylander online by the end of his first term in office.

“Today, we celebrate the partnership that is needed to bridge the digital divide,” said Gov. Moore. “Broadband infrastructure means nothing if you can’t afford to connect to the internet. The Affordable Connectivity Program provides discounts that help tear down the cost barrier standing between Marylanders and internet access. Connectivity is no longer optional, and with programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program, we will create internet access for all.”