Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating missing 25-year-old missing adult from Damascus– Johnnai Slater.
She was last seen on Friday, July 14th at approximately 2pm leaving her residence on Honeysuckle Ct. in Damascus. She is 5’5, black hair, a scar above her left eye on her forehead, and has a Roman numeral tattoo on her arm. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and black shorts.
In honor of National Ice Cream Day (Sunday, July 16th), I wanted to share my current 15 favorite ice cream spots in MoCo. I say current because this list often changes with places moving in and out of my rotation. While I love just about every ice cream place there is, I’m choosing the 15 that appeal to me the most right now. I’m also including places that offer “frozen treats” because I consider it all in the ice cream family. If there’s a place not listed, it’s just not currently in my top 15, which is likely to look different than yours (I’m only one person and can only eat so much ice cream, so there are also likely places I haven’t been to yet 😊). The list you’ll see below is accurate as of July 16th, 2023:
15. Sprinkles (Potomac): A Potomac Village staple since the late 80s, I first tried Sprinkles at some point in the 90s. It’s a bit out of the way in terms of things I’ve done in general so I haven’t been lately, but I enjoy it when I go.
Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes detectives are looking for a 16-year-old wanted in connection with the shooting death of a Damascus man killed on Father’s Day. Isaiah Jamael Brown-Hawkins 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.
At approximately 9:58 p.m., 5th District officers responded to the address for calls of a shooting. Officers located the victim in the parking lot of the apartment complex with an apparent gunshot wound. Austin was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown-Hawkins drove away in a Honda that was located in Washington, DC, however Brown-Hawkins has not been found.
La Casita, founded in Montgomery County when the Silver Spring location opened in 2002, has announced an upcoming location in nearby Laurel. La Casita Pupuseria currently has locations serving Germantown, Gaithersburg, Nationals Park & Union Market District.
Per La Casita on social media, “We have a very special announcement to make (and please pardon our dust 👷🏽♂️)…a brand new La Casita Pupuseria is coming to Laurel, MD! Yes, we are super excited to finally be able to reveal after a long project that hopefully by Fall 2023 we will be able to serve the greater Laurel area right on Baltimore Ave.”
Target is kicking off its back-to-school and back-to-college season, announcing deep savings events and season-long deals to make back-to-school shopping easy and affordable for its guests. New this year, Target is also expanding its popular Teacher Appreciation Event to give teachers a one-time 20% discount on an entire shopping trip and bringing back a one-time 20% discount on an entire shopping trip for verified college students through Target Circle, the retailer’s free-to-join loyalty program. With deals starting at under $1 and most under $15, Target is offering even more ways to save as students and teachers prepare to return to school.
“Our back-to-school and back-to-college assortment features a broad range of essentials that are priced right for all families. From on-trend Cat & Jack outfits and fun and functional Room Essentials dorm décor, to supplies of all kinds from Mondo Llama and top national brands, Target has everything to help students from pre-K to college start the school year in affordable style,” said Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target. “We’re also pleased to expand our 20% teacher discount across the entire store and on Target.com, to provide teachers with even greater value on the items they need for their classrooms. Both teachers and students can count on Target for all their school-year gear at great prices.”
A Montgomery County resident is $170,566 richer after claiming a winning FAST PLAY lottery ticket purchased on June 22nd at the Liberty Gas Station (26241 Ridge Rd) in Damascus. Full story below courtesy of MD Lottery:
A Damascus man visited Lottery headquarters recently to cash a ticket that, to his surprise, couldn’t be cashed at the retailer where he purchased it. When the clerk explained the reason he was turned away, the $170,566 winner was in utter disbelief. The Montgomery County resident is a landscaper who rarely buys Lottery tickets. “Once in a while I’ll decide to,” he said, adding, “and only if I have cash in my pocket. If not, I wait until next time.”
Per MCPD: The Special Victims Investigations Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Leticia Guadalupe Martinez is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).
A “Stop the Violence!!” community town hall will be held in Germantown on Wednesday, July 12th from 6:30pm until 8pm at the Germantown Library (19840 Century Blvd, Germantown, MD 20874).
Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando tweeted, “We must come together to keep our community safe. Please join us for a community town hall meeting on July 12th from 6:30 – 8:00 pm at the Germantown library. All are welcome, especially parents and teens in the Germantown area.” The full flyer can be seen below. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.
Margarita Bar & Grill at 19201 Frederick Rd in Germantown has its beer, wine, and liquor license hearing with the Montgomery County ABS scheduled for August 3. The restaurant is taking over the space that was previously occupied by the Fraternal Order of Eagle #3509 and Captain Mori’s Seafood House. Seafood in the Buff, a mobile steamed crab business, operates out of the parking lot of this location in the summer months. Signage for Margarita Bar & Grill went up back in March. No additional information is known about the new restaurant at this time.
There are two Margaritas Bar & Grill locations in Georgia that use the same logo but it is unclear if the restaurants are related. Margaritas will join Mi Rancho (19725 Germantown Rd), Señor Tequila’s (20021 Century Blvd), La Gula (21030 Frederick Rd), Abi Azteca (11514 Middlebrook Rd), La Mexicana (13016 Middlebrook Rd), and Rio Grande (13541 Clopper Rd) as places to grab a margarita in Germantown.
Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division, Homicide Section is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a body that was recovered from Seneca Creek. On Sunday, July 9, 2023, at approximately 5:41 p.m., 1st District officers, along with officers from Maryland Natural Resources were dispatched to the area of for the report of a body in the Creek.
Montgomery County Fire Rescue responded and removed the body, and it was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who determined the manner of death to be a homicide.
Per MCPD: A 24-year-old Clarksburg man has died following a traffic collision that occurred on Sunday, July 9, 2023. At approximately 6:13 p.m., 5th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the intersection of Frederick Rd. at Milestone Manor Ln., for the report of a traffic collision involving a motorcycle and a vehicle.
Preliminarily, Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) detectives have determined that the operator of a black 2021 Yamaha MT09 motorcycle was traveling southbound on Frederick Rd. approaching the intersection at Milestone Manor Ln. when for reasons still under investigation, he struck a left turning white 2017 Toyota Prius. The driver of the Prius and a passenger were treated for minor injuries at an area hospital. The motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. The motorcyclist has been identified as Elijah Isaiah Shand Thweatt, of Clarksburg. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at (240) 773-6620.