Beyond MoCo Archives - Page 145 of 191

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

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.”

Raising Cane’s First D.C. Metro Area Location is Now Open

By MCS Staff

Published December 14, 2022 at 10:33AM

At the beginning of the year we let you know of Raising Cane’s planned expansion into the D.C. metropolitan region, with the first restaurant planned for Sterling, VA at 45545 Dulles Eastern Plaza. Raising Cane’s officially opened its first Metro area restaurant on Tuesday, December 13th. Raising Cane’s aims to open 14 stores in the next year, stretching from suburban Baltimore to the Richmond area, with more to on tap for 2023 including Bowie, Dumfries, Manassas and Springfield. No Montgomery County locations have been announced yet.

Founded by Todd Graves in 1996 in Baton Rouge, La., Raising Cane’s has more than 460 restaurants in 27 states, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with multiple new restaurants under construction. The international expansion began in 2015. The menu is simple and focuses on chicken finger combos , chicken finger sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, sweet/iced tea, and Cane’s sauce. The menu can be seen below:

Beyond MoCo: Grillmarx to Open College Park Location

By Patrick Herron

Published December 12, 2022 at 8:29PM

Grillmarx Steakhouse & Raw Bar has announced it will be opening a new location in College Park, MD. Grillmarx has additional locations at 18149 Town Center Dr in Olney and 10175 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. In August we reported that the Grillmarx in Clarksburg, located at 12011 Snowden Farm Pkwy, would be undergoing a rebrand as the restaurant is no longer affiliated with the other Grillmarx locations. Currently a timeline for the rebrand hasn’t been set. We’re told the Clarksburg restaurant will remain similar to what it is currently, but the team will implement more of the Houston’s feel with additional upgrades.

Gaithersburg Man Arrested on Firearms Charges in Frederick

By MCS Staff

Published December 12, 2022 at 8:12PM | Updated December 12, 2022 at 8:33PM

Per the Frederick Police Department: On Dec. 9, 2022, at approximately 2:16 p.m., The Frederick Police Department received several calls for a disturbance and the sound of gunshots. Callers advised that an altercation took place around the area of Key Parkway and Willowdale Drive. Officers responded to the area, but did not immediately locate any subjects that were believed to be involved. Patrol officers continued to canvass the surrounding area and eventually observed a subject that matched the clothing description of one of the possible suspects in an outside common area of a nearby apartment complex. Officers made contact with the subject and checked the surrounding area where he was observed. Within close proximity of the subject, officers found a loaded handgun hidden under a children’s toy. The subject immediately began to flee on foot from officers when they discovered the handgun. The subject ran to the area of McCain Drive and entered into an underground water culvert. The culvert travelled underground from McCain Drive to an area South of Route 40 near the Alternate Route 40 split.

Officers positioned themselves at both ends of the culvert and with the assistance of a Frederick County Sheriffs Office K9 Team, they entered and began to search for the suspect. As the officers were making their way through the culvert, the suspect emerged at the other end and was arrested. The suspect was in possession of a New Jersey ID card, however officers determined the ID card was fake and the name was not the suspect’s correct name. Officers eventually fully identified him as Gervon William Norris (11-08-1993) of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Officers discovered that Norris had an active arrest warrant through the Anne Arundel County Sheriffs Office for failing to appear in court. Officers also learned that Norris is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous criminal convictions.

Morgan County, WV Sheriff Requests Investigation Following Incident Involving Montgomery County Residents

By MCS Staff

Published December 12, 2022 at 5:42PM