Beyond MoCo Archives - Page 141 of 187

Fairfax County Police Confirms No Shots Fired at Tysons Corner; Suspects Taken Into Custody For Armed Robbery

Published December 18, 2022 at 10:29PM

Earlier on Sunday night Fairfax County Police confirmed that no shots were fired at Tysons Corner after rumors spread on various social media platforms following an evacuation of the mall. “We can confirm there were NO shots fired at Tysons Corner Center. We have numerous officers on the scene for a separate investigation.” tweeted Fairfax County Police.

Fairfax County Police later tweeted that “Tonight, our TUT officers located three suspects involved in a robbery in Arlington. No shots were fired. Two suspects taken into custody and a firearm was recovered. The investigation continues. One suspect outstanding. No outstanding threat to the mall or community.”

Beyond MoCo: Giraffe and Zebra Bones Confiscated at Dulles Airport

By Patrick Herron

Published December 18, 2022 at 3:39PM

Per U.S. Customs and Border Protection: There’s nothing funny about the bones that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists recently discovered in the baggage of a Virginia woman at Washington Dulles International Airport. During a secondary baggage examination on November 10, CBP agriculture specialists discovered bones that the Fauquier County, Va., woman admitted were giraffe and zebra bones she found in Kenya and kept as souvenirs. CBP detained the bones and checked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) inspectors on admissibility.

On November 17, USFWS inspectors reported that the bones violated provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Lacey Act. USFWS directed CBP to seize the bones.

Metro and Washington Commanders team up to run trains “overtime” to get fans home after the game Sunday night

By MCS Staff

Published December 16, 2022 at 5:01PM

When the Washington Commanders take the field on Sunday night against the New York Giants, fans will be able to cheer on the home team knowing Metro will stay open an extra hour late to get them home after the game. The extended service, announced today by Metro and the Commanders, is being funded by the team to cover the $100,000 cost to run more trains, keep all 97 stations open, and other operational expenses.

Under the agreement, the Commanders will provide free fare for all customers that want to stay until the end of the game and use Metro during the additional hour of service. Extra Blue and Silver line train service will operate during the one-hour extended service in the direction of Ashburn and Franconia-Springfield. Fans and workers leaving the game will be able to enter only at the Morgan Boulevard and Downtown Largo stations. All other stations will be exit only during this time. On Sunday, December 18, the last trains will now depart as follows:

Gaithersburg Man Arrested and Charged With Second Degree Murder in DC

By MCS Staff

Published December 15, 2022 at 4:55PM

Per the Metropolitan Police Department: On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, 44-year-old Anthony Williams, of Gaithersburg, MD, was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder while Armed. Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announces an arrest has been made in reference to a homicide that occurred on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in the 2700 block of Good Hope Road, Southeast.

At approximately 2:45 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to the listed location for the report of a traffic accident and a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim, unconscious and unresponsive suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead.

Maryland State Police Arrest Suspect In Fatal Prince George’s County Hit-And-Run Crash

By Patrick Herron

Published December 15, 2022 at 12:39PM

Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police last night arrested the person wanted in connection for a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred Dec. 4 in Prince George’s County. The suspect, Lidia Parada Benitez, 63, of Baltimore, is charged with leaving the scene of an injury collision and failing to report a collision to police. She is currently being held at the Prince George’s County Detention Center pending an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.

Troopers arrested Benitez following a traffic stop at 5:54 p.m. Wednesday night at Hollins Ferry Road north of I-695 in Baltimore. She was transported to the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack for processing before being transferred to the Prince George’s County Detention Center.

Beyond MoCo: Lottery Player Wins $191,129 Jackpot Prize in Frederick

By Patrick Herron

Published December 15, 2022 at 11:35AM

Per the Maryland Lottery: A FAST PLAY Lucky Numbers ticket sold in Frederick on Dec. 14 will make the holidays even brighter for the person who played the $10 game and won its $191,129 progressive jackpot prize. The site of the lucky sale was Wawa #8513 located at 1001 West Patrick Street in Frederick. Sales of the game closed after the big win. Lucky Numbers was one of the Lottery’s original FAST PLAY tickets, having launched in February 2020. The game featured a progressive jackpot that started at $100,000 and increased with the sale of each ticket until a jackpot-winning ticket was sold.

Instructions on claiming prizes in person or by mail are available HERE. Players must redeem prizes larger than $25,000 by mail or at Lottery headquarters in the Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330 in Baltimore. The Lottery’s Claims Center in Baltimore is open by appointment only (no walk-ins). Click here to schedule an appointment.

Beyond MoCo: Stagg Bowl (D-III Football Championship) To Be Played in Maryland for First Time

By MCS Staff

Published December 15, 2022 at 9:41AM

The 2022 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game, more commonly referred to as the 2022 Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl XLIX, is a postseason college football game that is scheduled to be played on December 16, 2022, at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. This is the first time the game will be played in Maryland. It will determine a national champion in NCAA Division III for the 2022 season. The contest is scheduld to begin at 7:00 p.m. EST, and will air on ESPNU. The game will feature the two finalists of the 32-team single elimination playoff bracket- Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio) and North Central College (Naperville, Illinois).

No. 2 Mount Union advanced to the 2022 Stagg Bowl following a 34-31 win over No. 12 Wartburg in the NCAA Semifinals last Saturday at Kehres Stadium. North Central College finished as runners-up in the 2021 Stagg Bowl, and won the title in 2019, with the 2020 Stagg Bowl being canceled due to COVID-19. Mount Union and North Central College are two of just six teams to win the D-III national title in the past 20 seasons. Mount Union has the most D-III Championships in history, having won a total of 11 (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012). The championship game is named after Amos Alonzo Stagg. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as both a college football player and coach in 1951.

Detectives are Seeking Additional Victims in a Cash for Gold Robbery Scheme

By MCS Staff

Published December 15, 2022 at 9:26AM

Per Fairfax County Police: On Oct. 29, a victim was driving home, when he saw three people on the side of I-495 in Bethesda. The victim stopped to provide aid. A woman said the stranded group needed money to continue their travels. She showed the victim a watch and gold jewelry. She requested cash in exchange for the items. The woman convinced the victim to drive to an ATM. Two men in a black SUV followed the victim and woman. The victim began driving and quickly realized this was likely a scam. The victim stopped in a parking lot and exited his car. One of the men from the other vehicle exited their car and told the victim to sit in the driver’s seat while he drove the victim to obtain money.

The suspect then drove the victim to four locations in Fairfax County. Through intimidation, the crew forced the man to withdraw money. Once the victim’s accounts were empty, the suspects left the victim, and he called 911. Officers believed this crew was likely operating in the area and continued to search for the black SUV used in the crime. On Nov. 3, an officer saw a gray Chevrolet Tahoe that appeared to be disabled on the Dulles Toll Road. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the occupants as Magdalena Mazil, 39, Hagi Voinescu, 36, and Romeo Voinescu, 23 all from Baltimore. Officers obtained consent to search the vehicle and located large amounts of fake gold jewelry.

Silver Spring Man Arrested for Stealing Restaurant Grease

By Patrick Herron

Published December 14, 2022 at 4:46PM | Updated December 14, 2022 at 5:36PM

Lugo Peralta, 19, of Silver Spring was arrested in Lexington Park, MD on Wednesday morning for stealing used oil from nearby restaurants. Additional information courtesy of the St. Mary’s County Police Department:

“Deputy First Class Phillip Henry was conducting a premise check at the Lexington Village shopping center in Lexington Park early Wednesday morning when he came upon a suspicious vehicle and individual behind the Golden Chicken restaurant.

Beyond MoCo: Governor Hogan Announces 114 Economic Development Projects For Rural Communities

By Patrick Herron

Published December 14, 2022 at 11:49AM

View the full list of Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund projects.

“Back in 2014, when I was first running for governor, I said that if I was elected the war on Rural Maryland would be over, and that communities that had been ignored and neglected would no longer be forgotten,” said Governor Hogan. “We have made good on that promise, delivering unprecedented investments to our rural communities. These grants and the dozens of projects they support will have a lasting and transformative impact, helping to make these areas more attractive for tourism, jobs, and economic development. This is another shining example of how we are truly changing Rural Maryland for the better.”

Sears to Close Its Last Remaining Maryland Department Store

By MCS Staff

Published December 14, 2022 at 11:32AM

Many of us likely grew up with a Sears department store somewhere nearby, but lately you may have noticed that you haven’t seen much from the brand that has been a household name for decades. Sears has been rapidly closing locations since 2018, when it filed for bankruptcy in October of that year. According to a report from the Frederick News Post, the Sears department store at Frederick’s Francis Scott Key Mall is set to close on January 15th. Note: There is still a Sears Hometown Store listed as open in Chestertown, MD, but it is not a traditional Sears department store and focuses on selling appliances, tools, hardware and lawn and garden equipment.

“Sears at Frederick’s Francis Scott Key Mall — one of the final remnants of a once great department store empire — is going out of business.The last day customers can shop at the store will be Jan. 15, a manager, who declined to provide her name, told a Frederick News-Post reporter on Tuesday afternoon. Bright yellow signs advertising the store’s impending closure in red block letters are plastered on the store’s windows. More hang around the building’s interior.”