Up County Archives - Page 101 of 203

Teenage Brothers Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder for Death of Rival Gang Member in Germantown

Published October 4, 2023 at 11:07AM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Cheryl McCally, and after a three week trial, a jury found defendants, Malik Hney, 16, of Kensington, and Malachi Hney, 17, of Kensington, guilty of Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder for the death of Taon Lamont Cline, 20, of Frederick, MD. Cline was fatally shot along the 19500 block of Gunners Branch Rd. in Germantonon April 22, 2022.

The jury returned its verdict late in the afternoon yesterday, October 3rd. 2023. The Hney brothers each face the potential of life in prison when they are sentenced. The sentencing date is TBA. The investigation revealed the defendants and two additional juvenile co-defendants were involved in an ongoing dispute between gangs in the Germantown and Gaithersburg areas. The victim was associated with a rival gang.”

Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo and Councilmember Balcombe to Hold Upcounty Transportation Town Hall

By Patrick Herron

Published October 4, 2023 at 9:39AM

Per Montgomery County: On Thursday, Oct. 12 from 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m., Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo and Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe will be hosting a town hall at the BlackRock Center for the Arts to discuss the transportation challenges and opportunities facing the Upper Montgomery County area. Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo represents District 15 in the Maryland General Assembly, and Councilmember Balcombe represents District 2 in the Montgomery County Council. Together, both members represent Upper Montgomery County, including Germantown, Clarksburg, Poolesville, Darnestown, North Potomac, Dickerson, and the surrounding areas.

“Upper and Western Montgomery County continues to be one of the fastest growing areas in the region, with new jobs, housing and opportunity coming to our communities every year,” Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo stated. “Despite this steady and sustained growth, state and County transportation services continue to leave Upcounty residents out of the loop. This town hall is both an opportunity for residents to hear directly from state and local leaders on the progress being made, and for these officials to engage with the residents who will be impacted by their policy decisions.”

Cafe Hong Kong Available for Sale in Germantown

By MCS Staff

Published October 3, 2023 at 5:40PM

Cafe Hong Kong, located at 13038 Middlebrook Rd in the Germantown Commons shopping center, is available for sale for an asking price of $250K. According to the business listing, the 3,150SF restaurant has a lease that expires in September of 2028 and has been in business for 45 years.

Per the listing, the “Chinese Restaurant for Sale – 45 Years in Business! Great Opportunity. Fully Equipped Turn-key Chinese Restaurant for Sale in Germantown Priced to Sell. Opportunities are endless when you have the high traffic counts and tenure this location has provided the nearby community.”

IRS Information Technology Supervisor From Germantown Facing Federal Charges for Extortion and Attempted Witness Tampering

By MCS Staff

Published October 3, 2023 at 4:25PM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Satbir Thukral, age 61, of Germantown, Maryland, for interference with commerce by extortion, and attempted witness tampering. The defendant had an initial appearance on September 29, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajmel A. Quereshi.

“A top criminal priority for the FBI is to investigate public corruption perpetrated against the government and American taxpayers,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Today’s indictment is an example of an important partnership with TIGTA and the work we do every day towards our common goal. The FBI will not relent in our mission to root out corruption and fraud within the government, and to hold those accountable who put greed above their trusted positions.”

Concern for Missing 31-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published October 2, 2023 at 10:20PM

The Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Eddy Prospero Zevallos, a missing 31-year-old. Zevallos was last seen on Monday, September 2, 2023, at approximately 4 p.m., in the 20600 block of Boland Farm Road in Germantown. He is 5’8″ tall, 160 lbs., with dark brown hair, a birth mark on his wrist, and was last seen wearing a gray shirt, blue pajama pants, bright orange Crocs.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Eddy Prospero Zevallos is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

Retail Building in Damascus Sells For $1.14 Million; Now Looking For Additional Tenants

By MCS Staff

Published October 2, 2023 at 1:17PM

A 5,600 SF retail building at 26437 Ridge Rd. in Damascus has been sold to a partnership headed by Alexandria, VA-based Harmon Capital Group for $1.14 million, according to a report by Maryland Newsletters. The building is currently home to Domino’s Pizza on the front-facing side on Ridge Rd, but the restaurant only takes up approximately 1,500 SF with no plans to close. There is an additional 4,100 SF looking to be leased with entrances on the back side of the building.

Per the Capstar Commercial Realty listing, there are two spaces currently available in the building– A 2,800SF space and a 1,250 SF space that was previously home to Verizon. The retail building was built in 1987, and touts “Multiple access points off the intersection of Ridge Rd and High Corner St.” and a “Location adjacent to McDonald’s and at the primary gateway to the bustling Damascus Shopping Center which houses prominent names like Chipotle, Dollar Tree, Advance Auto Parts, T-mobile, Mathnasium, and several more.”

Germantown Flea Market Returns This Saturday, October 7th

By Patrick Herron

Published October 2, 2023 at 12:01PM

The Germantown Flea Market returns this Saturday, October 7, from 8am-1pm at the MARC rail commuter lot at the intersection of Germantown Rd. (Rt. 118) and Bowman Mill Drive. Additional details below courtesy of the Germantown Historical Society:

The Germantown Community Flea Market is the place to find bargains and treasures. There’s something for everyone – toys & games – fashions and footwear – antiques and collectibles, lawn mowers and bicycles. You can search for your favorite CDs or books, discover kitchen gadgets you never knew you needed, jewelry to go with your favorite outfit – all kinds of things that you just can’t live without — and all at bargain prices! And the first bargain you find is when you come in – there is no admission or parking fee.

Concern for Missing 79-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published October 1, 2023 at 1:35PM

The Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section is asking for the public’s assistance in locating John Covington, a missing 79-year-old. Covington was last seen on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at approximately 6 a.m., in the 1900 block of Observation Drive in Germantown. He is 6-feet, 4-inches tall, 237 Ibs., with brown eyes, salt and pepper hair, stubble facial hair, and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pans and black shoes.

Germantown’s Deka Biosciences Closes $20 Million in Series B2 Financing

By MCS Staff

Published September 30, 2023 at 8:32AM

Germantown, Maryland-based biotech company Deka Biosciences (“Deka”) announced that it has successfully closed a USD $20 Million Series B2 financing with a syndicate of life science investors led by MPM BioImpact. The proceeds of the financing will support the advancement of Deka’s pipeline and drug product manufacturing as they continue clinical trials following the receipt of a notice to proceed letter from the FDA for their investigational new drug (IND) application to evaluate DK2¹⁰ (EGFR). Additionally, Detlev Biniszkiewicz, Ph.D. of MPM-BioImpact, will join the Deka board. Deka Biosciences is located on the Montgomery College Germantown campus at 20378 Seneca Meadows Pkwy. Full press release below:

“This financing round is a significant milestone. We appear to be the only company that has dissociated IL-2 potency from toxicity,” said Dr. John Mumm, CEO of Deka. “It is gratifying to be supported by investors who recognize the potential of our innovative science to radically improve immunotherapy treatments by evaluating each patient’s immune system and combining biology with the power of precision medicine. We have only raised $55 million to date and are already proceeding to dose our third cohort in our Phase 1 clinical trial. Thus far, we have established safety and clear signs of immune activation in our first 2 cohorts. We are encouraged by these results and believe that this combined approach will result in safer, more efficacious, and cost-effective immunotherapies.”

MCPS To Pay $9.7 Million in Damascus Sex Assault Case Settlement

By MCS Staff

Published September 30, 2023 at 7:52AM | Updated September 30, 2023 at 8:43AM

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is paying $9.7 million to settle the lawsuits against the Montgomery County Board of Education, former Damascus High School principal Casey Crouse, former football coaches Vincent Colbert and Eric Wallich, and former athletic director Joseph Doody, stemming from the sexual assault in the boy’s locker room at Damascus High School in October of 2019.

In a FOX 5 report, the victim’s attorneys shared that they believe this is the largest settlement of its kind in Maryland history. “The Board Of Education has agreed to pay these four young men who were sexually assaulted at Damascus High School a total of $9.7 million dollars, and that appears to be appears to a record settlement in the State of Maryland,” said attorney Timothy Maloney.” MCPS wrote in a statement to FOX 5, that they have “taken extensive measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. This is protocol rooted in an increase in monitoring and oversight of all locker rooms across our school district.“

Collision Closes Southbound I-270 After Clarksburg Rd on Friday Night

By Patrick Herron

Published September 29, 2023 at 9:01PM

A collision with rollover that occurred Friday night on southbound I-270 between Rt121 and Rt27 has closed all lanes after Clarksburg Rd. The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (OEMHS) tweeted the following at 8:45: “Traffic incident closes SB I-270 after Clarksburg Rd (MD121). Expect significant delays and seek alternate route.”

We will provide an update when additional information becomes available. Featured image courtesy of @crystalyu_ on Instagram.