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.”
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke announced a new partnership between the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) and the DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to enhance public safety and security on the transit system. The partnership will increase police presence and MPD will be the first partner.
“We know that residents and visitors want to see a strong police presence in our community, and that’s what this partnership will allow us to provide,” said Mayor Bowser. “When police are in the community, people feel safer and our officers can respond faster. Hundreds of thousands of people use Metro every day to move around DC, and now, they can expect to see more MPD officers out during their commutes.”
The Bazaar by Chef Josés Andrés is now open at the Old Post Office building at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. According to the restaurant, “The Bazaar takes guests on a sensory adventure where anything is possible and pays homage to José’s Spanish roots and inventive style. The culinary experience in Washington, DC will offer The Bazaar’s signature playful dishes, while infusing new menu items that boast an Americana flair and nod to US history.” Andrés gained fame as the chef at the Washington, D.C., tapas restaurant Jaleo. Locally, Andrés owns Spanish Dinerat 7271 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda (formerly Jaleo) as well as DC restaurants China Chilcano, Jaleo, Oyamel, and Zaytinya. Full details below:
José Andrés Group is proud to introduce The Bazaar by José Andrés in the historic Old Post Office building in Washington, D.C., relaunched in 2022 by CGI Merchant Group, in partnership with Hilton under the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand. The opening of The Bazaar at Waldorf Astoria Washington DC signals the culmination of a 30-year journey for Chef Andrés, who has dreamed of opening a restaurant in the historic building since he arrived in Washington, DC in 1993.
Per Seymour, Connecticut Police: On February 1, 2023, following a lengthy and complex investigation by the Seymour Police Department Detective Bureau with assistance from the Gaithersburg Police Department in Maryland, Officers from both Departments arrested the following individual, Charles Ukasanya, for his role in the theft of approximately $375,000 in funds from the Town of Seymour.
Mr. Ukasanya was charged with one count of Larceny in the 1 degree which is a Class B felony. He was taken into custody in Maryland on an extraditable warrant issued by a judge in Milford Superior Court, CT. The court set bond on this warrant is $60,000. Mr. Ukasanya is in custody in Maryland, and will be extradited to Connecticut for prosecution. This investigation into the theft of funds is still active and ongoing at this time.
Per the State of Maryland (2/3/2023): Governor Wes Moore last evening attended the 53rd annual Taste of Maryland Agriculture Celebration at Live! Casino and Hotel in Hanover, MD. Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, Maryland Department of Agriculture Acting Secretary Kevin Atticks, and more than 700 agricultural leaders joined the governor to learn directly from producers and supporters of Maryland agricultural products and business and to induct the Fritz family of Carroll County into the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame.
“For generations, Maryland’s farmers have stewarded the conservation of land and advocated tirelessly for their way of life and industry—all while putting food on our tables,” said Governor Moore. “Together we will build back our farming and agricultural industry to instill lasting strength for generations to come.”
Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police are continuing to investigate a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred Thursday evening in Prince George’s County. Shortly before 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, troopers from the Maryland State Police Forestville Barrack responded to the area of Central Avenue at Campus Way in Kettering, Maryland for a report of a struck pedestrian. According to a preliminary investigation, a white truck ran the red light and struck the pedestrian, who was in the crosswalk. Investigators believe the driver left the scene, but later returned.
The pedestrian, a 34-year-old male, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was declared deceased at the scene. The road was closed for about four hours following the crash.
Per Prince George’s County Police: “The Prince George’s County Police Department is actively investigating a 13-year-old student at William Wirt Middle School in the unincorporated section of Hyattsville for bringing a loaded gun onto school property.
At approximately 11:40 am, a student alerted School Security that the 13-year-old was in possession of the gun while on school property. School Security located the student who admitted to bringing the gun to school but advised that he placed the handgun inside of a classroom. The loaded gun was recovered from a classroom drawer.
Per the State of Maryland (2.1.23): Today, Governor Wes Moore and the Baltimore Orioles announced their joint commitment to creating a long-term, multi-decade, public-private partnership that both develops and revitalizes the Camden Yards complex as a magnet for sports tourism and leverages Maryland taxpayers’ investment in the property. Governor Moore and the Orioles look forward to continuing the conversation about the next evolution of this critical partnership for Maryland and the City of Baltimore.
Since 1992, Oriole Park has hosted more than 2,500 events, welcoming nearly 75 million fans and generating more than $10 billion in economic impact for the benefit of both the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland. Under legislation passed by the General Assembly last year, a new lease agreement will unlock $600 million in funding for upgrades and improvements to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The entire Orioles organization will continue to dedicate the necessary time and resources to ensure a shared vision for a reimagined Camden Yards site and revitalized surrounding downtown Baltimore area.
Per MCPD: Maryland State Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a male pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening in Prince George’s County. The male is described as Hispanic, approximately 25 to 35 years old, approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. He was wearing black jeans, black sneaker and a black hooded sweatshirt at the time of the crash.
Shortly before 6:25 p.m. on Jan. 31, troopers from the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack responded to the area of northbound Baltimore Avenue (US Route 1) in the area of Powder Mill Road in Beltsville, Maryland for a report of a pedestrian-involved crash.