Per Takoma Park Police: The Takoma Park Police responded to the 7300 block of New Hampshire Avenue for the report of vandalism. Unknown suspect(s) threw rocks through a stained-glass window. The incident occurred in the overnight hours.
According to Fox 5, this incident occurred at the Bright Light Baptist Church. Anyone with information on this case should call the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #230001043. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.
Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Dwight Luis Clarke, age 32, of Germantown, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and four counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Clarke admitted that he sold crack cocaine and seven firearms, including five privately manufactured firearms, known as “ghost guns” to an undercover law enforcement officer.
According to his plea agreement, during late 2021 and early 2022, Clarke was identified as a suspected trafficker of narcotics and firearms. In February 2022, an ATF Special Agent, acting in an undercover capacity (the UC) contacted Clarke, who agreed to sell the UC crack cocaine and firearms. During three meetings that month, Clarke sold the UC: two privately made firearms (PMFs) that Clarke referred to as “ghost guns,” specifically, Polymer80 Inc. 9mm semi-automatic pistols, bearing no apparent serial numbers; a.22-caliber semi-automatic AR-style pistol; a 33 round 9mm extended magazine, which contained one 9mm cartridge; a .22-caliber extended AR-style magazine loaded with three .22-caliber cartridges, a .22LR caliber mini mag ammunition box containing 95 cartridges; a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and 44.48 grams of crack cocaine.
A digital sign on the back of a RideOn bus alerted the public to call 911, according to a witness– “HELP! Call 911” The distress signal, for the most part, is used when disruptive or threatening behavior occurs on the bus and the bus operator cannot visibly call for help– using the sign to signal surrounding drivers.
Upon arriving on scene, near Safeway on Darnestown Rd in Gaithersburg, Montgomery County Police officers located an adult male victim who had been assaulted. The victim, who was also the driver of the bus, was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. No suspects are in custody at this time.
On the night of Monday, January 2nd, while on patrol for illegal hunting in the area of Little Bennett Regional Park in Clarksburg, a car was observed spotlighting deer. Park Police officers stopped the car, and found that one occupant was illegally possessing a hand gun. The man was charged with numerous Maryland Department of Natural Resources offenses and weapons charges.
Monday night while on patrol for illegal hunting in the area of Little Bennet Park, a car was observed spotlighting deer. Officers stopped the car, and found one occupant was illegally possessing a hand gun. He was charged with numerous @MarylandDNR, and weapons charges. pic.twitter.com/hZji1Rxfha
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Judge Christopher Fogleman has sentenced defendant, Herbert Randall, 19, of Potomac, to nine years in prison and five years of supervised probation upon release for charges of Armed Carjacking and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence. Randall had pleaded guilty to both counts in November 2022. He used a Privately Manufactured Firearm (PMF) or ‘ghost gun’ in commission of this crime. Judge Fogleman is recommending Randall be admitted to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program while incarcerated.
The sentence was handed down yesterday by Judge Fogleman and the breakdown is 25 years suspend all but 9: Count Two- Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, 10 years suspend all but five years, with credit for 207 days of time-served and five years of supervised probation and on Count One- Armed Carjacking, 15 years consecutive to Count Two suspend all but four years, and five years of supervised probation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Peter Larson and Daniel Kroepsch. There are three co-defendants which are being processed in juvenile court. This stems from an incident on June 10th, 2022. Summery of events as adapted from court documents can be seen below:
Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Dennis James Harrison, age 40, of Rocky Ridge, Maryland, to 45 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for the sexual exploitation of children to produce child pornography, related to the sexual exploitation of two minors who were between the ages of 10 and 12 at the time of the abuse. Chief Judge Bredar also ordered that, upon his release from prison, defendant Harrison must continue to 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”).
Harrison also had a conviction from August 12, 2009, in the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County, Pennsylvania, for possession of child pornography and was a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest in this federal case.
The Montgomery County Police Department is investigating a shooting in the 8500 block of 16th Street at/near the Summit Hills apartment complex. According to a news release earlier today, an adult male victim was transported with serious injuries. No suspect is in custody at this time and officers believe this is an isolated incident.
Earlier today police was investigating a shooting on the 9200 block of New Hampshire Ave. An adult male victim was transported with non-life threatening injuries. No suspect is in custody at this time. Councilmember Kate Stewart released the following statement regarding the shootings:
Per USPIS: The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect who robbed a United States Postal Service letter carrier at 1215 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. on December 28, 2022.
The suspect is desribed as a Black male in his late 20s, aproximately 5’10” tall and of average build. The suspect was wearing a black shirt, black pants, and black and white Puma shoes. The suspect was carrying an orange jacket. The suspect fled in a red vehicle, possibly a Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Compass. TAKE NO ACTION TO APPREHEND THESE PERSONS YOURSELF. If you have any information about this incident, please contact the: U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 (say “Law Enforcement”) Reference Case No. 3938890.
Per Takoma Park Police: On December 27, at approximately 2:21 am, an adult male entered the 7-11 located in the 1300 block of University Blvd. suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. Officers arrived on the scene and provided medical aid until fire and rescue arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital.
Officers located a blood trail at the 7-11 leading to an apartment in the 7800 block of Kennewick Avenue. The entrance door to the apartment building revealed signs of forced entry. Officers cleared the apartment building and made numerous attempts to contact residents inside an apartment where blood was located but there was no response. Concerned that there might be potential victims inside the apartment, Takoma Park Police officers, with the assistance of Montgomery County Police officers, forced entry into the apartment where several individuals were found unharmed. The individuals were taken to the police department for questioning. Items of evidentiary value were located inside and outside of the apartment. No arrests have been made at this time.
On December 26, at approximately 2:45 pm, Takoma Park Police responded to a call reporting a stolen auto. According to the Takoma Park Police Department, on December 25 at approximately 9:00 pm, the auto was moved by the victim from the 100 block of Lee Avenue to Grant Avenue. When the victim went to retrieve the vehicle at approximately 1:00 pm on December 26, it was gone. The outstanding stolen vehicle is described as a 1995 black Honda Civic, MD Tag #926Z72. Case #220057289.
The outstanding vehicle has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) stolen vehicle database. Investigation continues. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to please call us at 301-270-1100 . Featured photo shows Grant Avenue, courtesy of Google Maps
Defendant Allegedly Threatened Victims with a Gun as They Drove on I-495 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Lavar William Henderson, age 44, of Richmond, Virginia, for the federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment was returned on November 16, 2022. Henderson was arrested on related state charges on November 16, 2022, and had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt yesterday on the federal indictment. Henderson consented to detention pending trial.