Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division have arrested and charged 25-year-old Jerald McCalla, of Clarksburg, with auto theft related charges.
In July 2023, detectives from the Auto Crime Enforcement Section began an investigation into a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT that was stolen in May 2023 through fraudulent means from a car dealership in Farmington, Missouri. During the investigation, detectives identified McCalla as the suspect.
Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and involved officer in the fatal shooting that occurred on July 22, 2023, in Montgomery County. The decedent has been identified as 19-year-old Franklin Castro Ordonez of Gaithersburg, Maryland.
The involved Montgomery County Police Officer has been identified as Officer Justin Lee. Officer Lee has been with the department for one-and-a-half years and is assigned to the Patrol Services Bureau. Per MCPD:
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating a commercial burglary that occurred on May 30, 2023, at the News & Valet shop in the 1300 block of East West Hwy. in Silver Spring. Detectives have release photos of the suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying them.
At approximately 8 a.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location for the report of a burglary that occurred earlier. The preliminary investigation by detectives has revealed that while the store was closed, between Friday, May 26, 2023 and Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the suspect broke the lower window of the store, with a rock, went inside and stole an undisclosed amount of merchandise.
Gal Luft, a Dual U.S.-Israeli Citizen and the Co-Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) in Gaithersburg, has been charged for violating U.S. sanctions, arms trafficking, making false statements to U.S. federal agents and acting as an unregistered foreign agent to China, according to a federal indictment that was unsealed earlier this month on July 10th.
He is now a fugitive. If you have any information about LUFT’s whereabouts, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Tips can be reported anonymously and can also be reported online at tips.fbi.gov.
Per MCPD: A male suspected of stabbing four people was shot and killed by a Montgomery County Police officer late Saturday morning.
At approximately 10:36 a.m., on Saturday, July 22, 2023, Montgomery County Department of Police 4th District officers were dispatched to the Unique Thrift Store, located in the 12200 block of Veirs Mill Road, after receiving multiple calls for a stabbing that just occurred. Upon arrival, officers located an adult female suffering from apparent stab wounds.
Per Montgomery County Police: “MCPD 4th District officers are on scene of an officer involved shooting in the 4300 block of Havard Street. The Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division has been notified and are enroute. The scene is secured and there is not a current threat to the community.”
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer tweeted that MCFRS “assisted injured persons (from assault) found in several nearby locations within close proximity, @MCFRS_EMIHS transported at least 4 patients to local hospitals.”
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Michael McAuliffe has sentenced defendant, Aaron Jefferson, 28, of Washington D.C., to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised probation upon release, for a shooting on the 7900 Block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. Judge McAuliffe issued the sentence on July 17th, 2023. On May 31, 2023, Jefferson pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and reckless endangerment for his role in the incident, which occurred on October 2, 2021. Investigators believe this shooting was the result of a rival gang dispute.
More than 40 rifle and handgun casings were recovered from the scene. Bullets struck a man in the hand and leg. That victim survived. Three commercial businesses and five vehicles were also hit by bullets. The investigation by Montgomery County Police showed that Jefferson was one of multiple individuals shooting handguns and a rifle. Jefferson was shot in the back and back of his neck. It’s believed he sustained his injuries as a result of the other shooters hitting him from behind. The search continues for additional suspects. Assistant State’s Attorney Thea Zumwalt prosecuted this case.”
Per Fairfax County Police: Officers assigned to the Tysons Urban Team (TUT) successfully prevented an organized retail theft crew from carrying out their intended plan and made a swift arrest. On July 13, officers received a tip from Sak’s Fifth Ave Regional Loss Prevention team that the Saks Fifth Avenue store located in Chevy Chase, Maryland reported a retail theft crew left the store in a gold Chevrolet Impala with Pennsylvania tags.
With this information, TUT officers utilized LPR technology and learned that the vehicle had entered Virginia and was in the immediate vicinity. The vehicle was located and observed by TUT units heading in the direction of Saks Fifth Avenue in McLean. The vehicle’s occupants were observed by the TUT team entering the store. Once in the store, they selected multiple high-end handbags and other luxury merchandise and headed toward the exit without paying. When approached by the store’s Loss Prevention team, the two suspects ran. TUT units were already in the area and were able to take one suspect into custody. The other suspect was found in a nearby dumpster after a brief search of the area. The driver of the vehicle was soon located and taken into custody, as well.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating a commercial burglary that occurred on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Montgomery County Liquor and Wine store in the 11200 block of New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring. Detectives have released surveillance video of the six suspects and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying them.
At approximately 5:49 a.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location for the report of burglary. The investigation by detectives has revealed that the six suspects arrived at the store in a black Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and a black BMW 5-Series sedan. The suspects forced entry into the store, stole an undisclosed amount of merchandise and left the scene in their vehicles. Detectives reviewed the surveillance video of the store and obtained a description of the suspects.
Per MCPD: A 21-year-old Washington D.C. woman, wanted in connection with pack retail thefts throughout Montgomery County has turned herself in. An arrest warrant was issued for Regina Christmas for thefts that she is alleged to have committed between April 28 and June 15, 2023. Christmas was initially arrested for these crimes on Friday, June 21, 2023, and was subsequently released in Washington D.C.
On Tuesday, July 17, 2023, she turned herself in at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where she is currently being held without bond. This is an active and ongoing investigation.
Per MCPD: Two men have been arrested for multiple thefts from autos in the Bethesda area that they committed on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. At approximately 3:18 a.m., 2nd District officers responded to the 8500 block of 16th Street for the report of a theft from auto in progress. The preliminary investigation revealed that two Black males, wearing all black clothing with blue rubber gloves, were walking around and attempting to open the doors of multiple cars in the area.
Upon arrival, officers located two suspects matching the description and placed them under arrest. The suspects were identified as 23-year-old Matthew Alfonso Scott Jr., of Washington D.C. and 22-year-old Manden Jervell Turner, of Hyattsville. During a search of Scott, officers located a window punch and blue latex gloves. While searching Turner, officers located a loaded black High Point 10 mm handgun and a backpack containing a stolen purse and multiple stolen wallets and bank cards.