Governor Wes Moore released the following statement on the officer-involved shootings in Baltimore and Harford counties:
“Today I visited with the family and colleagues of the Baltimore County detective who is currently on life support after being shot while in pursuit of the individual who ran from police and this morning was apprehended in Harford County.
Per the Maryland Attorney General (2.6.23): Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the indictments of nine Baltimore men for their participation in a criminal gang that operated throughout Baltimore City distributing drugs and carrying out violent acts. One of those men is responsible for the November 2022 homicide of Marquis Carter of Baltimore. The defendants are Keontae Moore, 23; Dayvonta Mackey, 27; Daquan Battle, 27; Jawaan Jordan, 28; DaMarvin Singletary, 28; Brandon Ledbetter, 29; Carlos Jordan, 32; Darrell White, 33; and Theodore Easton, 44. The indictments include counts for participating in a criminal gang, the distribution of narcotics, illegal possession of firearms and firearm drug trafficking, and acts of violence, including murder.
Over the course of nine months, an investigation led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group 54, and the Baltimore City Police Department’s homicide squad revealed that a criminal enterprise known as the “1800 Boys” operated throughout Baltimore City, including in the 1800 block of Wilkens Avenue where they maintained an open-air drug market. The organization facilitated the sale of various narcotics to undercover officers, including, but not limited to, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Detectives observed the organization distributing narcotics daily and participating in thousands of apparent hand-to-hand narcotics transactions over the course of the investigation. Through the use of undercover officers, detectives also discovered that the organization was distributing large amounts of narcotics at a time for resale.
Malick Boly is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency suspended its global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries in March 2020. Boly grew up in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso in West Africa before moving to Gaithersburg in 2011, where he attended Lakeland Park Middle School and Northwest High School (Class of 2016) in Germantown. Boly graduated from UMBC with a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and will serve as an English literacy volunteer in Samoa.
“My mother was a volunteer in Gabon during the early 80’s,” said Boly. “Her decision to join Peace Corps sent her on a thirty plus year humanitarian journey that culminated in the creation and management of multiple schools and a happy family of five. I am proud to follow in her footsteps.”
Per Montgomery County:
The members of the TE Committee include Chair Evan Glass and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe and Kate Stewart.
Isaac’s Poultry Market at 12167 Darnestown Rd in Gaithersburg, the former site of Pizza Hut, is scheduled to open the week of February 20th. The restaurant is being opened by Rob Gresham, a lifelong MoCo resident and the former Director of Operations at CAVA. The restaurant will feature American roasted chicken, wings, sandwiches, and salads. You can view the full menu here.
Gresham tells us that everything they sell will be made from scratch and that the menu will feature plenty of healthy options. Isaac’s will also feature frozen custards, slushies, juice, and a variety of baked goods and desserts.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Major Crimes Division and Takoma Park Criminal Investigations Division are investigating a series of commercial robberies that began in January 2023. Detectives have released surveillance photos of the suspects and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects believed to be responsible for multiple food truck robberies in Montgomery County and Takoma Park.
On Monday, January 23, 2023, 4th District officers responded to Elvira’s Kitchen Food Truck in the 14000 block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring for the report of a robbery that just occurred. The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 2:55 p.m., two Hispanic male suspects approached the food truck, vaulted the barrier and climbed inside. Once inside, one of the suspects began to pull an object from his waistband. Believing it was a weapon, the employee fled the truck. The suspects stole an undisclosed amount of money and fled the scene in an unknown direction.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CofPcCrO5Gp/
Per the State of Maryland (2.9.23): Today, Governor Wes Moore, Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and state legislators announced a comprehensive reproductive rights legislative package, taking the first steps towards enshrining reproductive rights in the Maryland constitution. The bill package will provide concrete protections for Marylanders’ reproductive freedoms, protect private medical information, and expand access to reproductive healthcare services.
“As long as I am Governor, our home will be a safe haven for abortion access,” said Governor Moore. “While some states have decided to move toward restricting reproductive rights, I can assure you, we will protect them.”
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a deck fire Friday morning around 1:30am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire occurred at a home in the 6000 blk of Stonehenge Pl, off Josiah Henson Pkwy, in North Bethesda. All occupants made it out of the home safely and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is believed to be improperly discarded smoking materials.
Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update – Stonehenge Place, 3-level, MOTH; Origin/Cause, rear deck, w/ extension to exterior siding, Cause- improperly Discarded smoking materials; no injuries; functioning smoke alarms; 1 occupant displaced”
Kabongo pleaded guilty to two counts of Second-Degree Rape and two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor for the abuse of four female victims who rode the bus he drove for Montgomery County Public Schools. One of the victims came forward after an incident in July of 2018 and a Montgomery County Police investigation resulted in the discovery of school bus surveillance footage of multiple incidents involving three additional victims. Two of the girls were minors at the time and the other two were both 18-years old.
The defendant had maintained that he was not criminally responsible due to an alleged mental disorder, but today the jury found he is indeed responsible for these crimes. Kabongo faces up to 40 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for March 30th 2023.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 2nd District Investigative Section are investigating a commercial burglary that occurred on Friday, January 20, 2023, in the 4400 block of East West Highway in Bethesda. Detectives have released surveillance photos of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying him.
On Monday, January 23, 2023, at approximately 8 a.m., 2nd District Officers responded to the location for the report of a commercial burglary that occurred earlier.