Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 19-year-old from Germantown. Melchizedek Meredith was last seen on Thursday, March 16, 2023, in the 18300 block of Cottage Garden Dr.
Meredith is approximately 6-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. It is unknown what he was last seen wearing. Police and family are concerned for his welfare.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a single vehicle collision with rollover on I270 on Monday morning around 9am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the accident occurred on SB I270 in the HOV/Express Lane between Shady Grove Road and Route 28, prior to Exit 6. There were no injuries reported, only property damage. Some lanes are currently blocked.
Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: Traffic Advisory – SB I270 after Shady Grove Road, single vehicle collision, rollover, property damage only, no injuries, some lanes block”
Per the State of Maryland (3.16.23): Governor Wes Moore is today calling on the federal government to declare the expanding population of invasive fish species—including blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakehead—to be an ongoing commercial fishery disaster in the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The governor sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo requesting the declaration under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act.
Since 2012, the total catch of seven of Maryland’s marquee commercial fishery species that share their habitat with invasive fish at some point in their life cycle has declined between 27% and 91%. The dockside value of these species has likewise declined between 12% and 85%. Commercial fisheries—including hard blue crab, striped bass, yellow perch, and others—have brought in an average $64 million yearly in dockside value during that time, making declines a significant loss for Maryland’s commercial watermen and the state’s economy.
Per Montgomery County: The joint Public Safety (PS) and Education and Culture (EC) Committee will meet on Monday, March 20 at 9:30 a.m. to receive a briefing on the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) Program and restorative justice practices within Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The joint committee will also receive a briefing and discuss school bus safety. The members of the PS Committee include Chair Sidney Katz and Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Kristin Mink. The members of the EC Committee include Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Mink.
The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. to review a $250,000 FY23 Supplemental Appropriation and FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Amendment for streetlighting. The committee will also review CIP amendments for transportation projects and receive a briefing on the Purple Line. The members of the TE Committee include Chair Evan Glass and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe and Kate Stewart. The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to receiving a briefing from representatives of the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) on Housing Choice vouchers. The members of the PHP Committee include Chair Andrew Friedson and Councilmembers Natali Fani-González and Jawando.
Signage is up for Margaritas Bar & Grill at 19201 Frederick Rd in Germantown. The restaurant is taking over the space that was previously occupied by the Fraternal Order of Eagle #3509 and Captain Mori’s Seafood House. Seafood in the Buff, a mobile steamed crab business, operates out of the parking lot of this location in the summer months. No additional information is known about the new restaurant at this time. There are two Margaritas Bar & Grill locations in Georgia, and signage at the Germantown location reads “serving Middle GA since 1988,” but it is unclear if the restaurants are related.
Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is investigating a fatal pedestrian collision that occurred on Columbia Pike at Stewart Lane. I On Thursday, March 16, 2023, at approximately 1:28 p.m., 75-year-old Teklu Bushen Siba of Silver Spring, was crossing the northbound lanes in a westbound direction on Columbia Pike when he was struck by a white 2002 Ford Explorer traveling northbound The driver remained at the location and Siba was pronounced dead at the scene. This is an active and ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at (240)773-6620.
Per MCPD: In a March 17, 2023 news release, United States Attorney Erek Barron, Montgomery County Chief of Police, Marcus Jones and other federal, state and local partners, announced the sentencing of 31-year-old Gregory Butler of Baltimore, MD to 30-years in federal prison. Butler was the leader of a criminal organization, named “NFL,” which operated across Maryland and neighboring states.
The criminal organization was involved in crimes such as distribution of cocaine and fentanyl and responsible for a number of murders and fatal drug overdoses in the region.
Per MCPD: A Rockville man is in custody for a burglary he committed while Montgomery County Fire Rescue investigated a fire in the Arrive Apartment complex on Saturday, February 18, 2023. At approximately 6 a.m., Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location, in the 8700 block of Georgia Ave., for a three-alarm fire in progress.
Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel evacuated the building and forced entry into several apartments by breaking locks and doors to ensure the safety of all occupants. While on scene, 3rd District officers were notified of a suspicious person. The suspect was seen exiting and re-entering the apartment building and was hiding a Sony PlayStation 5.
The Jolly Shows Carnival will be at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda) from March 29 through April 16. There will be over 30 attractions, including carnival rides, games, and food wagons. According to their website, “We are a new generation of carnival operators who strive to be more progressive and professional. We realize that we must produce a premium product for our customer’s hard earned money. We won’t forget our proud traditions, but we are committed to overcoming the stigmas which have hindered our industry for far too long.” Tickets can be purchased here.
ALSO SEE: What’s New and What’s Coming Soon to Montgomery Mall: Spring 2023
Per MCPD: 18-year-old Demari Brown, of Montgomery Village, along with a 16-year-old suspect, have been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting that occurred in the 18800 block of Walkers Choice Rd., on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
At approximately 12:26 p.m., 6th District officers responded to the location for multiple reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located two victims; a juvenile male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, who was transported to area hospital with serious injuries and Brown, suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.
The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is offering free Lyft rides from 4pm on Friday, March 17 to 4am on Saturday, March 18. Residents 21 and older can redeem the offer by downloading the Lyft app and entering the SoberRide code in the app’s ‘Promo’ section to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. WRAP’s 2023 St. Patrick’s Day SoberRideⓇ promo code will be posted at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17th on www.SoberRide.com. Full details below courtesy of WRAP:
“Preparing to combat that time of year when according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half (45%) of U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers, * a local nonprofit organization announced today that free safe rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area during this month’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.