Beyond MoCo Archives - Page 124 of 187

Rockville Man Arrested in Connection With Stolen Dogs and Armed Robbery; Police Searching for Additional Suspects

Published July 8, 2023 at 2:21PM

Enrico Brown, 51, of Rockville was arrested and charged with Receiving Stolen Property in connection to an armed robbery in which two dogs were stolen in Washington, DC. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, “Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s First District seek the public’s assistance in locating a suspect and a vehicle in reference to Armed Robbery (Gun) and Assault with Intent to Commit Robbery offenses that occurred on Monday, July 3, 2023, in the First District.

On Thursday, July 6, 2023, during the course of the ongoing investigation, members of the Violent Crimes Suppression Division recovered Uno and Cartier. Both dogs were in good health and were reunited with their family. This case remains under investigation.

Maryland State Trooper Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

By MCS Staff

Published July 7, 2023 at 8:30PM | Updated July 9, 2023 at 12:05PM

Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police computer crimes investigators have charged a Cecil County man, employed as a state trooper, with the possession of child pornography. The suspect is identified as Christopher Black, Sr., 48, of Elkton, Md. He is charged with six counts of possession of child pornography. After consultation with the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office, an arrest warrant was issued for Black. He was arrested by Maryland State Police this morning without incident, processed at the North East Barrack and taken before a District Court commissioner for a bond hearing.

Black is employed as a Sergeant and assigned to the North East Barrack. He is a 21-and-a-half-year veteran of the Department. Black’s police powers have been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

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.

Police Searching for Missing 6-Year-Old Believed to be With Mother’s Boyfriend

By Patrick Herron

Published July 6, 2023 at 7:27PM | Updated July 7, 2023 at 8:27AM

Isaiah was last seen on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m., in the area of Montgomery Avenue and East West Highway in Bethesda. Isaiah was seen inside a dark gray 4-door F-150 bearing New Jersey license plate PGTW70 that was driven by his mother’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Chris Mitchell, who resides in New Jersey.

Isaiah is approximately 4-feet tall and weighs approximately 55 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing an orange long sleeved sweatshirt and navy-blue shorts. Isaiah is believed to be traveling with his mother’s boyfriend, Chris Mitchell, to New Jersey.

Germantown Man Drowns in Potomac River Near Harpers Ferry

By Patrick Herron

Published July 6, 2023 at 7:11PM

Daniel Aldazabal Cucho, 44, of Germantown drowned in the Potomac River while fishing on Tuesday, July 4, The Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the follwing information regarding the incident:

“A 44-year-old Montgomery County man drowned in the Potomac River in Frederick County on July 4. Maryland Natural Resource Police Officers responded at about 5 p.m. to the area of Lock 33 in Knoxville for a report of a missing person in the water. Officers learned that the victim, Daniel Aldazabal Cucho of Germantown and two companions had been fishing on the Maryland bank of the river when they attempted to cross through the water to a rock island. Shortly after entering the river Aldazabal Cucho began to yell for help and slipped beneath the water. The two companions attempted to reach him but were unsuccessful.

Iron Rooster is Coming to College Park

By MCS Staff

Published July 6, 2023 at 12:52PM

Restaurant Broker & Developers recently facilitated a major leasing deal for a 6,000 sq.ft restaurant space within The Hotel at University of Maryland’s Conference Center. The space has been leased to Iron Rooster, a Maryland-based restaurant renowned for its unique offerings and warm hospitality.

This will mark Iron Rooster’s 5th location in Maryland, reinforcing their commitment to serve the local community. With the addition of this new location, the dining scene in College Park is about to get a lot more exciting. Per Restaurant Broker & Developers, “This location is poised to be a vibrant hotspot for students at the nearby University of Maryland, offering a perfect blend of delicious food, a welcoming ambiance, and a unique setting.”

MCFRS Assist in Response to Collision on I-95 Thursday Night

By Patrick Herron

Published June 30, 2023 at 10:19AM | Updated June 30, 2023 at 10:47AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) provided mutual aid for a collision that occurred Thursday night on southbound I-95 near Old Gunpowder Rd in Prince George’s County. Additional information courtesy of the Maryland State Police: “Maryland State Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash in which two people lost their lives Thursday evening in Prince George’s County. Shortly after 10:40 p.m. on Thursday, troopers from the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack responded to the area of southbound I-95 just north of MD Route 212 for a report of a multi-vehicle crash. According to a preliminary investigation, a 2017 Dodge Charger, driven by Michael Daniel, 24, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was in the right lane and attempted to switch lanes and pass a tractor-trailer.

At the same time, a Hyundai Elantra was traveling in the next lane over to the left when it was rear-ended by the Dodge. The impact caused the Dodge to go off the left side of the road and the Hyundai to go off the right side of the road. The Hyundai came to rest facing north on I-95 and caught fire.

University of Maryland (College Park) Awarded Nearly $40 Million Grant for Electric Buses

By MCS Staff

Published June 28, 2023 at 9:08PM

Per the University of Maryland: Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that the University of Maryland will receive nearly $40 million in grant funding to fast-track its plans to convert its bus fleet from diesel to electric vehicles. Funds will be used to purchase 35 battery electric buses, bus charging stations and associated infrastructure renovations to enable onsite electric bus charging as well as to support workforce development, and train drivers and maintenance staff on how to operate and service electric buses.

The funds were awarded through the FTA’s FY23 Low-No Program, which will provide nearly $1.7 billion for transit projects in 46 states and territories. UMD’s grant was the largest given to a university in this award cycle and one of the largest of the 130 grants awarded overall.

Former Montgomery County Police Officer Featured in Ad For Presidential Candidate/Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

By MCS Staff

Published June 27, 2023 at 7:21PM | Updated June 27, 2023 at 9:49PM

Mercedes Phillips, a former police officer in Montgomery County, is featured in a new campaign ad for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his bid for the Republican nomination for President of the United States (video available below).

In the advertisement, Phillips states she was a police officer in Montgomery County for three years and that “it’s a really big difference when you have the Governor of an entire state that supports law enforcement because I know that trickles down immediately to the community because when the government supports law enforcement, then they follow suit.”

Former Laurel Police Chief Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Murder in Connection to Twelve Acts of Arson in Maryland, Including Clarksburg

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2023 at 2:46PM | Updated June 27, 2023 at 6:13PM

Additional details on Crawford’s conviction below per the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office: David Crawford, age 71, was found guilty of eight counts of attempted 1st-degree murder, three counts of 1st-degree arson and one count of 1st-degree malicious burning by a Howard County jury today in a serial arson investigation spanning multiple counties in Maryland. Crawford was arrested in March of 2021 in connection to 12 arsons that occurred in Howard, Frederick, Charles, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Prince George’s County from 2011 to 2020. Investigators had surveillance video in many cases where Crawford displayed a similar pattern of starting the fires with gasoline. Investigators linked multiple cases following a 2020 fire when they discovered Crawford had previous disagreements with multiple victims. In January 2021, a search of Crawford’s residence found several pieces of evidence, including a list of targets that were known victims.

Crawford is a former Police Chief for the City of Laurel, where he last served from 2006 until his resignation in 2010. Prior to that, Crawford was Chief of the District Heights Police Department and served as a Major for the Prince George’s County Police Department. Investigators say none of the civilian victims of the fires were connected to Crawford through his law enforcement career.

Montgomery Village Resident Wins $107,801

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2023 at 1:46PM | Updated June 27, 2023 at 8:53PM

A Montgomery Village resident is $107,801 richer after purchasing a winning lottery ticket in Prince George’s County. Full story, courtesy of MD Lottery: A lucky 32-year-old Montgomery Village lady found a six-figure Lottery win was in the cards when she bought a FAST PLAY World Championship Poker ticket. She won a $107,801 progressive jackpot prize!

On June 26, the winner briefly stopped by Maryland Lottery headquarters to claim her prize. The Montgomery County woman is still pondering what to do with the windfall and quickly left to celebrate her Lottery luck with loved ones. Kenilworth Liquors at 5401 Kenilworth Avenue in Riverdale Park shares in her good fortune, receiving a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling a progressive jackpot-winning FAST PLAY ticket on June 22. The World Championship Poker game went on sale Sept. 6, 2021 and has eight progressive jackpots remaining. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.