Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Update: One Person Shot and Killed Inside Public Parking Garage Early Saturday

Published July 8, 2023 at 9:21AM

Montgomery County Police is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in downtown Silver Spring early Saturday morning. According to MCPD, “At approximately 2:40 a.m., the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received multiple calls for shots fired inside of Public Parking Garage 3, near Thayer and Silver Spring Avenues.

Third District officers located an adult male on the first level of the parking garage with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.” There is no suspect in custody and MCPD is expected to issue a press releases with additional information later today.

Uncategorized

Governor Wes Moore Announces $13.5 Million in Maryland Waterway Improvement Funds

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 8:33PM

Applications are reviewed and projects are selected based on local government and state needs and priorities, which are evaluated to determine the benefit to the general motor boating public. Starting after July 15, the Department of Natural Resources will accept Waterway Improvement Fund applications for the next fiscal year through the department’s online Grants Gateway.

Statewide Emergency Maintenance and Dredging

MoCo Government

Montgomery Update: Smokey Skies Are Reminder of Need for Climate Action

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 7:57PM

Per Montgomery County:

Gaithersburg

Cinnabon/Auntie Anne’s Now Open in Rio

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 5:30PM | Updated July 7, 2023 at 6:40PM

Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon combination restaurant is now open at 220 Boardwalk Place in Rio, taking over the location that was recently home to Lilly Magilly’s– as the cupcakery is still preparing for a move to a new location.

The two brands, popular for their presence in malls, are co-branding to open locations across the country. In recent years, Cinnabon left then returned to Montgomery Mall. There’s also an existing Cinnabon location in Wheaton Mall. Auntie Anne’s has locations at the outlets in Clarksburg, Ellsworth Place Mall, Montgomery Mall, and Wheaton Mall in MoCo.

Beyond MoCo

Auto Crimes Enforcement Detectives Apprehend Auto Theft Duo

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 3:08PM

Per MCPD: On Wednesday, July 5, 2023, Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division Auto Crime Enforcement Section (ACES) located a stolen Lexus IS300 in the 13800 block of Avonshire Drive, in Silver Spring. Two adult males were observed getting into the stolen vehicle and attempted to drive away. ACES detectives, along with Montgomery County K-9, and 1st and 3rd District Special Assignment Teams (SAT) officers, immediately surrounded the Lexus, taking both occupants into custody without incident.

The occupants of the Lexus have been identified as 20-year-old Jeferson Figueroa of Capitol Heights and 19-year-old Steven Becerra of Cheverly, MD. Through the course of the investigation, ACES detectives learned that the Lexus had been stolen from Prince George’s County. Within close proximity to the Lexus was a second vehicle, a Hyundai Elantra, which was determined to have been stolen from Montgomery County. Figueroa and Becerra were arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. Both face multiple auto-theft related charges. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.

Crime

Man Sentenced to 55 Years in Prison for Brutal Murder of Wife in North Kensington

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 3:02PM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Margaret Schweitzer sentenced defendant, Reginald Dunlap, 45, of Silver Spring, to life in prison suspend all but 55 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. On March 10^th, 2023, a jury found Dunlap guilty of First-Degree Murder for the brutal slaying of his wife, 40-year-old Lauren Charles. Charles was beloved in the community and dozens of friends and family members attended today’s sentencing hearing.”

Charles’ body was found inside the couple’s home on March 7^th, 2021. She had asphyxiated due to a pillowcase forced down her throat and was beaten to death. A decorative Buddha statue is believed to have been the murder weapon. After murdering his wife, defendant, Dunlap poured bleach on her body and ransacked their bedroom in order to stage a crime scene.

Health

Medicaid Access Now Available to Pregnant Individuals Regardless of Immigration Status

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 12:43PM

Per Montgomery County: More than 1,300 pregnant Montgomery County residents currently enrolled in the County’s Maternity Partnership Program, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), are now eligible to receive Medicaid, regardless of immigration status. A bill passed in the Maryland General Assembly earlier this year—the Healthy Babies Equity Act (HEBA)—went into effect July 1 and provides Medicaid coverage to low-income individuals, regardless of immigration status. Maryland joins 17 other states, including Virginia, and the District of Columbia in providing Medicaid to the expanded group.

Medical and dental services previously offered through the Maternity Partnership Program are now part of the Medicaid program and pregnant individuals must apply for Medicaid to receive prenatal care, dental care, labor and delivery hospital care and postpartum care. To be eligible for Medicaid, an individual must be pregnant, live in Maryland and be 250 percent or below the Federal Poverty Level (approximately $4,340 or less per month for a family of two, $6,600 for a family of four).

MCPD

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 60-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 11:15AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3^rd District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Porfirio Adolfo Diaz-Sanchez, a missing 60-year-old from Silver Spring. Diaz-Sanchez was last seen on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m., in the 8600 block of Flower Avenue.

Diaz-Sanchez is approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall and 130 pounds. He has gray hair and gray eyes. He was last seen wearing a black baseball hat, white short-sleeved shirt, khaki pants, and brown dress shoes. He uses public transportation. Family and police are concerned for his welfare.

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Office of Procurement Digitized Bidding System Wins National Association of Counties Award

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 11:03AM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Office of Procurement won a National Association of Counties (NACo) Award for the Digitization of County Contracting in the County Administration and Management category. NACo is an organization that represents county governments in the United States. It works to advance excellence in public service. Until recently, the County’s Office of Procurement utilized paper-based methods to manage procurement actions for more than 2,600 contracts, totaling goods and services valued at more than $1 billion annually. Due to the unforeseen urgency brought on by COVID-19, paper-based methods of submitting and receiving bids were no longer possible.

To improve the system, technical and operational staff fast-tracked the development and implementation of an e-bidding system to accept responses to solicitations online. These efforts were fully developed and maintained with existing staff at no cost and implemented within one year.

MCPD

Shooting Suspect Arrested and Charged With Attempted First-Degree Murder

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 10:55AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section have arrested and charged 43-year-old Olutoye Ayorinde of Silver Spring, in connection to a shooting that occurred in the 2900 block of Marlow Farm Terrace. On Saturday, February 25, 2023, at approximately 1:03 a.m., the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received multiple calls for shots fired in the area of Fairland Road. Officers subsequently located the scene of the shooting in the 2900 block of Marlow Farm Road. Montgomery County Police Officers also responded to a local hospital for a patient suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Cloverly

Family of Four Displaced After Friday Morning Fire

By Patrick Herron

Published July 7, 2023 at 9:06AM | Updated July 7, 2023 at 12:27PM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a house fire in the 900 blk of Briggs Chaney Rd, off New Hampshire Ave in Clovery on Friday Morning, July 7. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire was caused after oily rags were placed inside trash bags next to the exterior of the house and were ignited by nearby combustibles.

One family of four has been displaced and there are no reported injuries. Damage is estimated to be ~175K. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.