Bethesda

Per MCPD:  Six suspects involved in a string of retail store pack thefts have been arrested. The six suspects; two adults and four juveniles, all from Washington, D.C., are accused of entering retail stores in groups and stealing large amounts of items from eleven Montgomery County stores between April 28 to June 15, 2023.

They are also suspected of pack thefts in D.C., and Anne Arundel County. During each of the thefts, the suspects used vehicles that were stolen or carjacked from D.C. The first of the two adults, 28-year-old Shaquille Pittman, is being held without bond. He is accused of stealing from Target on Western Ave (4/29/23), Ulta in the Congressional Shopping Center (5/8/23) and (6/15/23), Sephora in Pike and Rose (5/31/23), and The Nike Store on Arlington Road (6/8/23).


Highways / Interstates

Per the State of Maryland (7.12.23): Governor Wes Moore today announced the distribution of nearly $1 million in state highway safety grants to 33 organizations and law enforcement agencies for initiatives to promote pedestrian and bicyclist safety and local strategic highway safety plans. Funds will be dispersed by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office.

“These highway safety grants are instrumental in building a transportation system that works for all Marylanders,” said Gov. Moore. “We all must make safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians a top priority while empowering communities to work at the grassroots level to improve access and save lives.”


Beyond MoCo

Governor Moore and Orioles Chair and Managing Partner John Angelos released the following joint statement regarding Camden Yards:

“The last four months have been exciting on and off the field. Baltimore City and the State of Maryland all have Orioles fever. We’ve laid the groundwork for success, and progress is also being made on our vision to expand and revitalize the Camden Yards campus.


Crime

Per MCPD: Several people were injured and transported to area hospitals following an early morning shooting in Layhill. Montgomery County Department of Police 4th District officers responded to the rear of the Sole D’italia restaurant in the Norbeck-Layhill community at approximately 12:15 a.m., after multiple reports of shots being fired.

Investigators learned that there was an argument inside of the restaurant that spilled into the parking lot, where shots were fired. Investigators are working to determine who was involved in the shooting. This is an active investigation.


MCPD

Montgomery County Police tweeted the following on Thursday, Iuly 9: “The K9 Unit has new agility equipment thanks to Boy Scout Kage Tupa. For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Kage planned, proposed, built and replaced agility equipment that was more than a decade old.

He completed all the logistical work and got the necessary materials. Over two weekends, Kage built the equipment with the help of the K9 Unit, MCP Cadets, numerous parents and about 30 Boy Scouts from Trip 1094.


Crime

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “After a bench trial in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Karla Smith found defendant, Erick Odir Vidal-Fuentes, 39, of Hyattsville, guilty of Second-Degree Rape and Fourth-Degree Sex Offense. The trial concluded Tuesday, July 11, 2023.  Vidal-Fuentes faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on October 4th, 2023 at 9 a.m.

This stems from an incident on September 29th, 2020, at the Iglesia Pentecostal El Fin Viene on the 7500 block of New Hampshire Ave. in Takoma Park, where Vidal-Fuentes was serving as pastor. The victim was a parishioner. Vidal-Fuentes currently has another case pending for assault on an additional parishioner who came forward and testified during this trial.


Sponsored

James Creek Lawn & Landscape is a full-service lawn & landscape company offering everything from clean up services, to landscape install & construction, to creating the outdoor living space of your dreams! Owners, Tucker and Jeremy grew up in Montgomery County and graduated from Sherwood High School.  They pride themselves on working hard, being honest and reliable, and making sure each and every client is satisfied. Give them a call to set up a free consultation on your next landscape project, you won’t be sorry!

Email:  sales@jamescreeklawn.com


Beyond MoCo

A Montgomery County man is $50,000 richer after purchasing a winning Pick 5 lottery ticket at a Hyattsville convenience store. Back in May, the same man won a combined $200,000 after purchasing four winning Pick 5 tickets. Story below courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:

“Pick 5 is a sizzling hot game for a lucky Silver Spring player, who returned to the Lottery Winner’s Circle this week to claim his fifth $50,000 prize this year. In May, the 43-year-old arrived at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore to claim a combined  $200,000 Pick 5 prize comprised of four $50,000 winning tickets. The Montgomery County resident also bought his latest winning ticket at Hyattsville Convenience Store, which sold him the four previous winning tickets. The big difference came in the random numbers he selected – 98557 – in the July 10 drawing and the numbers of tickets he purchased with the same number.


MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery Connects,” Montgomery County’s digital equity and inclusion program, has launched a new program to distribute 34,000 free laptop computers to low-income families. There is a limit of one computer per address. Eligible recipients must be Maryland residents, but do not need to be U.S. citizens.

Qualifications to receive a computer include:


MCPD

For reasons still under investigation, Ramsay is alleged to have shot Bailey as he was walking with a group of people in the parking garage. There is no known connection between the suspect and the victim.  On Sunday, July 9, 2023, detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Ramsay with first-degree murder and other related charges. Ramsay, who has no known address, was arrested on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, and taken into custody without incident. He has been transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he was served with the warrant. This remains an active investigation.


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