Beyond MoCo

In April 2022, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) began a joint investigation into the members and associates of a drugtrafficking organization known as “Wick Squad,” which operated in and around the 2500 block of Edmondson Avenue in West Baltimore. The investigation utilized a variety of investigative methods, including the use of undercover BPD detectives to make controlled purchases of narcotics, including Fentanyl. The investigation culminated in search warrants and arrests in October 2022. The most recent arrest took place in January 2023. In total, the investigation led to the seizure of 11 firearms and large amounts of controlled dangerous substances (CDS), ammunition, and packaging material.

On December 6, 2022, Arthur Beard, 29, of Baltimore, pled guilty before the Honorable Kendra Y. Ausby of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City to loaded handgun on person and possession of CDS. Beard was sentenced to four years of incarceration, suspending all but three years. Upon his release from incarceration, he will be on two years of supervised probation.


Glenmont

Update – R/O Kayson St, aviary shelter/coop, all animals (chickens/ducks) escaped unharmed, fire is extinguished (involved 2 sheds & coop), Damage ~$5K, a few chickens/roosters(?) & ducks will be displaced, cause of fire under investigation (likely electrical in nature) https://t.co/DUDxaeQDo8 pic.twitter.com/SldjM3KoWd

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) January 24, 2023


Montgomery Parks

Join naturalist Kerry Wixted on January 30, 2023, at 11 a.m. to learn about Maryland’s rare, threatened and endangered species.

Montgomery Parks invites the public to the January 2023 virtual session of its Parks Speaker Series on the topic of rare, threatened and endangered species in Maryland. The free session will take place online on January 30, 2023, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. During this presentation, Kerry Wixted will discuss the over 1,200 species that have been listed as rare, threatened, or endangered in Maryland and how the Maryland Natural Heritage Program ranks and manages rare species across the state. She will also cover a few ways to help with the conservation of rare species and their habitats.


Maryland

Arnelda was born and raised in Prince George’s County and is a graduate of Suitland High School. She is a proud member of Philos, an auxiliary organization of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Communications Team: The governor’s communications team is led by David Turner, Communications Director and Senior Advisor, and will include the following staff:


Event

Historic Indigenous Recognition Event to Take Place in Montgomery County, Maryland

The Taino American Indigenous National Organization (T.A.I.N.O.) proudly announces its upcoming signature public event,


Gaithersburg

On Monday, Roaming Rooster announced that its newest location at 511 Quince Orchard Rd in Gaithersburg will now be open 11am-10pm daily. The restaurant is located in the space previously occupied by Duck Donuts in the Firstfield Shopping Center. Last week, we reported that Roaming Rooster was holding its soft opening and would be open daily from 11am-4pm. The restaurant has an official grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting scheduled for February 15. Roaming Rooster is known for its variety of buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches that vary in heat depending on the diner’s preferences – mild, medium or hot. In addition to its free-range, grain-fed, antibiotic-free and Halal chicken. Roaming Rooster also offers wings, chicken tenders and hand-cut fries.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnxZ6iKu2fZ/


Kensington

Antisemitic flyers were found in the yards of several homes in Kensington on Sunday morning. According to a report by WUSA9, the flyers were placed in Ziploc bags that contained rice, and several of the homes targeted had mezuzahs (parchment inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah) displayed. Montgomery County Police has not released any information regarding the incident or suspects. In a statement on Monday, County Executive Marc Elrich said, “These attacks are meant to instill fear to weaken and divide our communities, but these are generating more support for our Jewish neighbors. We are united and are showing those who are pedaling hate that these antisemitic attempts at community disruption won’t be tolerated.”

Over the weekend it was reported drawings of a swastikas were found on desks at three Montgomery County Public Schools, including Silver Creek Middle School in Kensington on Thursday. In a statement released Saturday night, MCPS and the Board of Education said, “In each case, students and the staff addressed the vile impact of the hateful images, worked to immediately remove the drawings, and in each case, appropriate discipline in alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct was assigned. More important than disciplinary action, however, is what we do in response. As we fight these repeated acts of hate, we must challenge one another to learn and understand what antisemitism, hatred, and racism are and the harm they cause.”


North Potomac

In December, we let you know that Dunkin’ is continuing its massive expansion across the country and in MoCo, with an upcoming location coming to the Traville Village Center in Rockville. We have since learned that it will be taking over 1,500 SF in the back half of the building that was previously home to Capital One Bank building at 9761 Traville Gateway Drive (rendering available below). The location will also have a drive-thru. 1,700 SF on the front side of the building is still available to lease.

Since Inspire Brands acquired Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins in late 2020 for $11.3 billion, the company has been opening in former bank locations that allow for easy installation of a drive-thru window. Dunkin has also aimed for non-traditional development that includes opening in airports and on college campuses, including the University of Maryland.


White Oak

Zi Ayawoavi Eli Athiogbey was last seen on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at approximately 4 p.m., in the 1500 block of December Dr. Athiogbey is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a green sweater, black shorts and glasses. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Zi Ayawoavi Eli Athiogbey is asked to call the 3rd District Investigative Section at (240) 773-6870 or the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.


Takoma Park

The Police Department and Ward 3 City Councilmember Randy Gibson will be holding a community meeting to discuss public safety issues in Ward 3.   Police Department staff will be providing an update on recent incidents in Ward 3 and provide an overall overview of crime stats/trends and security measures put in place to address these trends.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 7pm-9pm at the Takoma Park City Building, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland, 2nd Floor Azalea Room.  The meeting will be in-person and a Zoom Webinar will also be available to join and ask questions.  To register for the meeting, the link is:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g5qFKHc2SR2YBB_9nnmPqQ


DC Sports

Montgomery County natives Brandy Louis Simms and George Johnson will start broadcasting their new radio show, ‘Sports Rap’, on Sunday, February 5th on Radio Arlington (WERA 96.7fm). Simms graduated from Newport Prep in Kensington Johnson is a graduate of Walter Johnson HS in Bethesda. Johnson has previously worked at Home Team Sports/Comcast SportsNet, while Simms is the manager former Sports Director at Montgomery Community Media’s “Cable News 21”.

The weekly show, ‘Sports Rap’, will air every Sunday at noon (12pm) and will primarily discuss local high school, college and professional sports along with other issues within the world of sports. Not a fan of sports? No worries, Simms tells us they’ll also talk about pop culture and comedy, music, movies, television, and more.