Beyond MoCo Archives - Page 137 of 191

Maryland State Police Investigating Fatal Tanker Truck Crash In Frederick County

Published March 4, 2023 at 7:42PM

Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal tanker truck crash that occurred early this afternoon in Frederick County. Shortly before noon, troopers from the Maryland State Police Frederick Barrack responded to US-15 North, approximately a half mile north of Rosemont Avenue, for a report of a tanker truck that crashed into a tree and caught fire.

The driver of the tanker truck, whose identity has not been confirmed at this time, was declared deceased at the scene. According to a preliminary investigation, six homes and five vehicles suffered damage from the fire that originated from the tanker truck crash. No other injuries or fatalities were reported as a result of the crash or the subsequent fires. US-15 was temporarily closed in both directions following the crash. The southbound lanes were reopened by 2:30 p.m., while the northbound lanes will remain closed for several hours.

Big Greek Cafe Opens Laurel Restaurant

By MCS Staff

Published March 4, 2023 at 3:18PM

Big Greek Cafe has officially opened its seventh location with the Laurel store, located at 13600 Baltimore Ave, now open daily from 11am until 9pm. This is the local restaurant chain’s second location outside of Montgomery County after opening a restaurant in Urbana in 2022.

Big Greek Cafe opened its first location in Downtown Silver Spring in 2009 and has quickly grown to become a favorite across the county. In addition to Urbana and Downtown Silver Spring, there are currently locations in Bethesda, Hillandale, Kensington, and Rockville. More on the history of Big Greek Cafe:

Beyond MoCo: Maryland State Police Helicopter Crew Rescues Injured Mountain Biker

By Patrick Herron

Published March 2, 2023 at 5:33PM

Per the Maryland State Police: A Maryland State Police Aviation Command helicopter crew assisted with the rescue of an injured mountain biker, after a mishap on a remote trail at New Germany State Park in Garrett County on Wednesday. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Garrett County and Grantsville Volunteer fire Department personnel found the injured mountain biker on a remote trail. He reportedly told rescuers he was stranded in the woods for nearly eight hours following the mountain bike accident. The 56-year-old male victim was injured while cycling through Meadow Mountain Trail, a 14-mile trail, which stretches through New Germany State Park and the Savage River State Forest in Garrett County.

Garrett County rescue personnel requested Trooper 5, based out of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command Cumberland Section, for an aerial hoist mission due to the mountain biker’s remote location, the topography, an extended extrication time and the nature of his injuries. Upon the request, Garrett County rescue personnel initiated patient care and stabilized the injured mountain biker.

College Park Mayor Writes Letter of Resignation Ahead of Arrest and Charges For 56 Counts of Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

By MCS Staff

Published March 2, 2023 at 12:44PM

Patrick Wojahn, mayor of College Park since 2015, resigned last night in a letter submitted to the City of College Park ahead of his arrest and charges of 56 counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. His letter and the official statement from the City of College Park, released prior to when the investigation was made public information, can be seen below:

Patrick Wojahn’s letter is resignation: “It has been a profound honor and privilege to serve the City of College Park since 2007 as a City Councilmember and your Mayor. However, effective immediately, I must resign my position.

College Park Mayor Arrested and Charged With 56 Counts of Possession & Distribution of Child Pornography

By MCS Staff

Published March 2, 2023 at 12:10PM

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse – Internet Crimes Against Child Unit arrested a College Park man this morning for possession and distribution of child pornography. The suspect is 47-year-old Patrick Wojahn.

Per Prince George’s County Police: On February 17, 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the PGPD that a social media account operating in the county possessed and distributed suspected child pornography. The image and videos had been uploaded to the social media account in January of 2023. Through various investigative techniques, PGPD investigators discovered the social media account belonged to Wojahn.

Beyond MoCo: Maryland State Police Investigating Discovery Of Human Skeletal Remains In Cecil County

By Patrick Herron

Published March 1, 2023 at 5:36PM

Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains found Sunday in a wooded area in Cecil County. Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on February 26, troopers from the North East Barrack received a call from two hunters in a wooded area off of Mountain Hill Road, near Route 7 in Perryville. They told police that they located possible human skeletal remains along with a firearm, clothes, and jewelry. Troopers responded along with crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division. Investigators located the remains, a .22 LR/410 bore combination rifle and a gray backpack. Crime scene technicians processed the scene for evidence. The skeletal remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for analysis.

Police believe the deceased to be a Caucasian male, 6-feet tall, approximately 50 to 60 years old with a healed collarbone break and a healed broken rib. The preliminary investigation indicates the presence of a possible camp in the area where the remains were located.

$100,000 Winning Scratch-Off Sold in MoCo; $2 Million Winning Scratch-Off Sold in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published February 27, 2023 at 7:57PM

A $100,000 winning $100,000 Extreme Cash scratch-off sold at Hillandale Beer ‘N’ Wine (10117 New Hampshire Blvd) was the top lottery prize claimed in Montgomery County for the week of February 20 – 26. Other local winners this past week included a $10,000 winning scratch-off sold at Safeway (9807 Main Street) in Damascus and a $14,204 winning Racetrax ticket sold at Beer on Tapz (19520 Walters Road) in Germantown. Additional information on winners across the state of Maryland, including a $2 million winner in Millersville, below courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:

Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Claims Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.

Beyond MoCo: Construction Ahead of Schedule on New 126,000 SF Indoor Water Park; Updated Opening Information

By Patrick Herron

Published February 27, 2023 at 9:52AM

Great Wolf Lodge, North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, will be opening its newest resort in Perryville, MD (located in Cecil County, northeast of Baltimore City) this summer. Originally scheduled to open in August, USA Today reports that construction is ahead of schedule and the lodge is now opening on July 15. Great Wolf Lodge Maryland will be the company’s 20th resort in North America, and their largest. It will offer 700 family-friendly suites, a 126,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 57,000 square-foot entertainment center, and 12,000 square-feet of conference space. Perryville is about 70 miles and a little less than an hour and a half away from most parts of MoCo. The company has released additional information about the water park and is offering a 25% discount on reservations.

Per Great Wolf Lodge: Careening down slides, jumping over waves, floating down a lazy river, and getting drenched by a thousand gallons of water cascading from a giant tipping bucket are a few of the water-filled adventures families will discover at the all-new Great Wolf Lodge Maryland. The indoor water park is the marquee attraction at Great Wolf Lodge, and the water park planned for the company’s Maryland resort will be the largest Great Wolf Lodge has ever built. The water park at Great Wolf Lodge Maryland will offer more than 128,000 square feet of enclosed fun with slides, pools and water play for all ages, and a cozy 84-degree temperature year-round.

Beyond MoCo: Maryland Police Release More Details In Road Rage Shooting As Investigators Continue To Seek Information Leading To Suspect

By Patrick Herron

Published February 24, 2023 at 6:49PM

Per the Maryland State Police: As the one-year anniversary of a fatal road rage shooting approaches, investigators release more details and continue to seek the identity of the suspect pictured in video footage captured during the incident. On March 19, 2022, Delonte Hicks, 29, of Washington, D.C. was shot while driving a tow truck in Prince George’s County. He was transported from the scene to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Autopsy results indicate his cause and manner of death as homicide by multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators believe the suspect vehicle is a 2018 or 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The color of the vehicle is either black or gray. The suspect appears in the driver’s seat in the photos below.

Beyond MoCo: Howard County Adjusts School Start Times for the 2023-2024 School Year

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 8:21AM

At its meeting on Feb. 23, 2023, the Howard County Board of Education adjusted the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) school start times for the 2023-2024 year, shifting high schools to begin at 8:00 a.m., among other changes. The exact start time for each school will be determined later this spring and shared with the community as transportation routes are finalized. There is no impact to the current school year. The new start times will take effect beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, slated to begin for students on Aug. 28, 2023.

The process of evaluating adjustments to school start times began on April 15, 2021, when the Board of Education directed the Superintendent to review and evaluate the current school start times. The HCPSS Office of Student Transportation worked with Decision Support Group to analyze current start times, bell schedules and transportation routes, and develop a plan that could adjust school opening times. Two options were provided for Board and stakeholder consideration.

Montgomery County, MD Files Lawsuit Against McKinsey and Company, Inc. for Company’s Role in Creating Opioid Epidemic

By Patrick Herron

Published February 23, 2023 at 7:25PM

Per Montgomery County: On Wednesday, the Office of the County Attorney for Montgomery County filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Northern District of California against McKinsey and Company, Inc. for the company’s role in marketing opioids to the public and medical providers. The suit alleges that the McKinsey defendants served as marketing advisors to several opioid manufacturers, and in this role, helped counter the “emotional message” from the families of overdose victims and advised Purdue on how to “turbocharge” the sale of opioids. To read the full complaint, please click here.

“As Purdue and other pharmaceuticals companies made billions off the harm and death their products brought to millions of Americans, McKinsey and Company, Inc. were their enablers and a profiteer of this blood money,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This is another example of the corporate structure being used to shield people from their immoral actions. They must be made to account for their callous greed and the filing of this lawsuit marks an important milestone in our county’s efforts to do just that. We will aggressively advocate for the many Montgomery County residents who have been harmed by this deadly and preventable epidemic. The actions and decisions of this company were immoral, inhumane, and unconscionable. They need to be held equally accountable.”