Update: The FREE wheel locks have all been given away. We are happy we were able to assist our community with this FREE service. If we get any more, we will make an announcement. Thank you.
The FREE wheel locks are open to ALL Montgomery County Residents – criteria: Takoma Park Police have FREE anti-theft steering wheel locks to help prevent vehicle thefts. Montgomery County residents can receive one free steering wheel lock per vehicle, while supplies last.
Per MCPD: 23-year-old Manuel Alejandro Ayala, of Layhill, has been arrested and charged with a shooting and murder that he allegedly committed on Monday, September 4, 2023. At approximately 7:54 p.m., 4th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 14200 block of Punch St. for the report of a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male in the street, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. When officers entered a nearby home, they located 65-year-old Rosa Maria Benitez-Ozuna, of Layhill, deceased. Officers also located the suspect’s mother suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to an area hospital in serious condition.
Maryland State Police arrested a man Wednesday on charges he solicited sex from an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a child over a smartphone app in Anne Arundel County. Luis Esteban Borunda, 65, of Essex, Maryland, is charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor. He is being held without bond at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center. Borunda served in Maryland’s State Department during the Hogan and Ehrlich administrations and was named the deputy Secretary of State in 2015.
According to a preliminary investigation, on August 22 Borunda engaged in an inappropriate text chat who he believed was an underage female. Borunda was actually chatting with a special agent with the Fort Meade Army Criminal Investigation Office posing as a 13-year-old female online.
Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland:– Adam Michael Nettina, age 34, of West Friendship, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to using the telephone to threaten a group that advocates for LGBTQI+ people. As part of his plea agreement, Nettina also admitted sending messages to Maryland and Virginia state delegates due to their statements in support of transgender people.
“You have the right to your own opinions, but you don’t have the right to threaten the lives of those who disagree with you,” said United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron. “We’ll continue prosecuting these threats to the fullest extent of the law.”
Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland:
S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Gregory Thomas Clement, age 53, of Rockville, Maryland, yesterday to nine years in federal prison, followed by 15 years supervised release, for transportation of child pornography. Judge Chuang also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Clement must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”).
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- 4th District Investigative Section are investigating a burglary and multiple thefts that occurred at the Westfield Wheaton Shopping Center, formerly known as the Wheaton Plaza Mall in the 11100 block of Veirs Mill Road in Silver Spring. On Monday, April 3, 2023, at approximately 8:11 a.m., the suspect entered the shopping center and broke into the stand-alone, Cellairis kiosk. The suspect stole property and an undisclosed amount of cash before leaving the area.
On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at approximately 8 p.m., the suspect entered the shopping center and began to walk around the Toy World kiosk. The suspect then approached the kiosk, stole an undisclosed amount of cash and walked away. The suspect then walked around the shopping center looking at other kiosks. The suspect approached Rico’s Ice Cream, jumped over the counter, opened the register and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect is described as a heavy-set, Black male, possibly in his early twenties, with short black hair.
Per MCPD: A 16-year-old wanted in connection with a Father’s Day homicide is in custody. Isaiah Brown-Hawkins was arrested by Forest Heights police officers on Thursday, August 31, 2023. The Damascus teen is accused of shooting and killing 32-year-old James Joel Austin on Sunday, June 18 in the 9800 block of Bethesda Church Road in Damascus. Brown-Hawkins drove away in a Honda belonging to Austin. The car was located in Washington, DC, however he has been on the run since the shooting.
Brown-Hawkins was seen driving a stolen vehicle on Audrey Lane in Oxon Hill. When officers attempted to make a traffic stop, Brown-Hawkins allegedly rammed police cruisers, got out of the car and ran away. Brown-Hawkins was taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit. A handgun was found by officers during the pursuit. Detectives requested and obtained a warrant for Brown-Hawkins’ arrest on Monday, June 19. He has been charged with first-degree murder, armed carjacking and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Auto Crime Enforcement Section (ACES) are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying two auto theft suspects. On Sunday, August 27, 2023, 2nd District officers responded to the victim’s Bethesda home for the report of a stolen 2018 Black Nissan Rogue. The victim stated that sometime between 6 p.m., on Saturday, August 26 and 1 p.m., on August 27, her car was stolen.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that the suspects used the victim’s credit card at multiple locations. Detectives obtained surveillance photos of the suspects.
According to Gaithersburg Police, “On August 26, 2023 at 3:22 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of Bralan Lane for the report of a theft from vehicle.
Responding officers observed two suspects running from the area and pursued after them on foot. One of the suspects was apprehended. Further investigation revealed that the suspects entered and rummaged through multiple vehicles in the area. Located on the suspect who was apprehended was a loaded 9mm handgun. While checking for additional targeted vehicles, officers located a Toyota SUV with out of state registration plates that had bullet holes in it. After conducting a stolen check of the vehicle, it was revealed that the vehicle was stolen out of Montgomery County in July 2023 and was used in an armed robbery in Prince George’s County in August. Any potential connection between this vehicle and the suspects is under investigation.
At approximately 6:35PM on Wednesday evening, an individual handling a rifle accidentally shot himself on Willard Avenue near MD-355 Wisconsin Avenue. The incident occurred while the man was in a car that was parked near the outdoor dining area of a restaurant, according to our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh. Westbound Willard was briefly blocked by the response while Montgomery County Police 2nd District handling the scene.
The Commander of MCPD’s 2nd district tweeted the following update, “Officers are in the area of Willard/Friendship Blvd for an accidental discharge of a firearm. There is no threat to the community at this time. Adult male transported with non-life-threatening injuries.”
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section have arrested and charged 28-year-old Cyprian Nwaigwe with the shooting that occurred at Topgolf on Monday, August 29, 2023.
The investigation has revealed that at approximately 12:06 a.m., a 23-year-old Topgolf security guard informed Nwaigwe to leave the premises because they were closing for the night. Nwaigwe proceeded to get into a physical altercation with the security guard. The physical altercation continued to the front door area, where Nwaigwe pulled out a handgun and shot the security guard in his upper body. An 18-year-old Topgolf employee was also shot in his lower body. Nwaigwe then left the scene.