On January 13, 2023, Rockville City Police responded to Richard Montgomery High School (RMHS) for the report of an assault which occurred inside the school and an allegation that a handgun had been displayed off school grounds forcing the school to enter a brief period of lockdown.

According to Rockville City Police, “through a joint investigation with RMHS Staff and MCPS Security, RCPD Investigators learned several students from Gaithersburg High School entered RMHS with the assistance of RMHS students. The Gaithersburg students were led to one of the school’s restrooms during school hours where they became victims of a robbery by several RMHS students.


On January 24, at approximately 4:20 am, Takoma Park Police responded to the 7600 block of Maple Avenue for the report of an attempt armed robbery. The victim was walking towards her front door when a suspect approached and blocked her from entering her building.  The suspect attempted to take property from the victim unsuccessfully.  The suspect fled in an unknown color older model jeep.  The victim reported seeing a handgun protruding from the suspect’s front pocket.

The suspect is described as an unknown race male, last seen wearing a blue winter jacket, white t-shirt, black jeans, black shoes and a black ski mask. Investigation continues under case #23000394.  Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100. Information per Takoma Park Police. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


On January 22, at approximately 12:20 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the 8600 block of Flower Avenue for the report of a strong arm robbery that had occurred earlier. According to Takoma Park Police, at approximately 10:15 am, the victim was walking southbound in the 8600 block of Flower Avenue when a green Nissan Pathfinder with North Carolina tags pulled up next to him. Two suspects exited the vehicle, a male and female; the male implying he was holding a knife. The suspects stole property from the victim and then fled the area in their vehicle, driving southbound on Flower Avenue and turning left on to eastbound Domer Avenue. The victim was not seriously physically injured.

The suspects are described as (1) white Hispanic male, 5’5, heavy-set, mid-40’s, black hair and (2) white Hispanic female, 5’8, slim build, mid-20’s, blonde hair. Investigation continues under case #230003558.  Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps


On January 20, at approximately 2:40 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to the 6400 block of New Hampshire Avenue (Pupusaria Y Taqueria Lupita food truck) for the report of an armed robbery that occurred earlier. According to Takoma Park Police, the suspect forced his way into the food truck with a hammer through the service window. Once inside, the suspect armed himself with a knife and forced the victim to the floor and stole property from the food truck. The suspect exited the truck through the rear door and fled west toward the back of the gas station, climbed over the fence and was last seen running through the wooded area toward Sligo Mill Road.  The suspect left behind the hammer and knife, both of which were impounded.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 5’8, thin build last seen wearing all dark clothing and a full mask. The victim was not seriously physically injured during the armed robbery.  Officers conducted a canvas of the area with negative results. Lookout information was provided to all surrounding jurisdictions. Investigators are asking that anyone with information about this incident, or knows the identity of the suspect, please contact the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230003284.


Per Takoma Park Police: On 01/13/2023, at approximately 4:00 pm, Takoma Park Police officers responded to the Pupuseria Luisa food truck located in the 6500 block of New Hampshire Avenue, Takoma Park, for the report of an armed robbery that occurred earlier. Upon arrival, officers met with the business owner, who advised on today’s date at approximately 2:00 pm, two Hispanic males stepped into the food truck and one suspect presented what appeared to be a handgun. The suspects demanded cash from the food truck workers. The two suspects fled the scene southbound on New Hampshire Avenue on foot.

Suspect One was described as a tall and skinny Hispanic male wearing a black face mask and red jacket. Suspect Two was described as a short, heavy set, Hispanic male wearing a black face mask and black jacket. Anyone with information on these events should contact the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230002143. Featured photo courtesy of the Pupuseria Luisa Facebook page.


Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced James Albert Borum, age 20, of Washington, D.C., to 11 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for carjacking and for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in connection with a series of carjackings he committed in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Jarod Towers of the City of Hyattsville Police Department; Chief Robert J. Contee III of the Metropolitan Police Department; United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy.


Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Brayan Contreras-Avalos, a/k/a “Anonimo,” “Humilde,” and “Malia,” age 28, of Langley Park, Maryland, late yesterday to the statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison on charges related to his participation in a racketeering enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or “MS-13” and a concurrent five years in prison for a drug distribution conspiracy.  Contreras-Avalos was convicted after a three-week trial, along with co-defendants Luis Flores-Reyes, a/k/a “Maloso,” “Lobo,”’ and “Viejo Lovvon,” age 42, of Arlington, Virginia and Jairo Jacome, a/k/a “Abuelo”, age 40, of Langley Park, Maryland.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the Drug Enforcement Administration – New York Division; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.


On 01/11/2023 at approximately 11:52 am, Takoma Park Police units were dispatched to 6400 block of New Hampshire Avenue Takoma Park, for an armed robbery carjacking that just occurred at a gas station. Upon arrival, Officers met with victim, who advised he was robbed and carjacked by an unknown suspect, described as a black male about 6 “3” in height, wearing a black ski mask and all black clothing.

The victim exited his vehicle which he left running and locked at the time. He further advised that he observed a black Dodge charger with black tinted windows drive into the parking lot and park nearby. When the victim exited the store, and he observed the suspect attempting to open the driver’s side door to his BMW X6 vehicle. Once he reached the field/grass area the suspect then chased him and pointed a black handgun towards him demanding his car/fob keys and wallet.


Per the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office: Today at approximately 11:30 a.m., a fight occurred in the Governor Thomas Johnson High School cafeteria. Several students were involved in the incident that stemmed from a recent verbal conflict. A FCSO School Resource Officer as well as additional deputies responded.

While intervening in the fight, a third student assaulted school staff after refusing direction from the staff to disperse from the area of the fight. The student who assaulted the school staff will be charged and all students involved will receive disciplinary consequences in accordance with FCPS policy.


A man was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at approximately 12:30am on Tuesday morning on the 500 block of Monroe Street in Rockville. According to police, the man was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries

Per the Rockville City Police Department: This morning at approximately 12:30 a.m. officers located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso in the 500 block of Monroe St. Fire/Rescue responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rockville City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation’s Unit at 240-314-8938.


Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the sentencing of Patrick Mpeck, 51, of Silver Spring, Maryland, for felony theft scheme. Anne Arundel County District Court Judge Kemp W. Hammond sentenced Mpeck to five years of incarceration, all suspended, with two years of supervised probation. Mpeck was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution.

During tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009, Mpeck filed false tax returns with the comptroller and received refunds to which he was not entitled. Mpeck obtained the personal identifying information of unsuspecting victims from the trash at the office building where he worked. He then filed the returns using that information supported by fraudulent W-2’s. Mpeck would then use fraudulent driver’s licenses with the victim’s information, but displaying his own photo to cash the refund checks at check cashing facilities.


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