Montgomery County Police tweeted the following on Friday, June 30 at 7:41pm: “MCP 5th District officers are investigating a shooting in the 19600 block of Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown. No reported injuries. The scene is secured. More information will be released as it becomes available.”

We will post an update if additional information becomes available.


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a call for a vehicle fire that occurred on Ridge Rd. on Friday afternoon. The fire extended to the home the vehicle was parked at. According to Battalion Chief Jason Blake, one adult was was burned and taken to the burn center. Though there was damage to the home, no residents were displaced.

Ridge Rd (Gaithersburg) vehicle fire with exposure to a home. One adult burned, transported to the Burn Center. No residents displaced. PE728, PE732, PAT708, M708 & BC705. @mcfrsPIO pic.twitter.com/jlfbzaesXQ


Noodles & Friends and Gogi Friends Korean BBQ have opened inside of the food court at New Grand Mart supermarket at 13069 Wisteria Drive in the Germantown Plaza shopping center. Additional vendors, including Tous les Jours (bakery) and Fortune Cha (bubble tea and dessert) are expected to open by the end of July. Menu items at Noodles & Friends include JjaJang (noodles with blackbean sauce), Jjampong (seafood soup), KimChi fried rice, and Shrimp Tangsu. Menu items at Gogi Friends includes BulGogi, Bibim Bap, Ramyeon noodles, and dumpling soup.

New Grand Mart opened in the space previously occupied by Lotte Plaza on June 8th. According to its website, “New Grand Mart carries a variety of fresh produce, fish, meats, and ethnic specialty items that is hard for other markets to match.”


Harmonee is approximately 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighs 170 pounds. She has brown eyes and red hair. She was last seen wearing a gray shirt and black jeans. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.  Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Harmonee Sykes is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

 


Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings opens today, Friday, June 30, at 19877 Century Blvd in Germantown. Charleys is taking over the location that was previously home to Roll by Goodyear and Yogi Castle in the Shops at Town Center & Century Station shopping center. The restaurant is being opened by the same franchise group that owns the location at 405 N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg. Unlike most mall food court locations, this Charleys will also serve wings and milkshakes.

In March, we reported that signage went up for Charleys Philly Steaks inside of the Germantown Walmart at 20910 Frederick Rd, taking over the space formerly occupied by McDonald’s. No opening date for the Wal-Mart Charleys has been announced but it is expected to open this summer.


Montgomery County will host two free Independence Day fireworks displays this year, one on Saturday, July 1, and the other on Tuesday, July 4. The Independence Day celebrations will take place at the following locations:

“Our Independence Day fireworks displays are such wonderful events and the perfect opportunity to enjoy music, outdoors and time with family and friends,” said Montgomery County Recreation Director Robin Riley. “We look forward to celebrating together once again this summer.”


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for an explosion that occurred in the 14200 block of Cervantes Ave in the Seneca Estates neighborhood near Seneca Rd on Tuesday evening.

According to the initial report by MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, it was communicated that a model rocket malfunctioned and resulted in an explosion inside of the garage of a single family home. The investigation later revealed that the explosion occurred due to illegal fireworks that were misused with modifying components. Crews arrived to see smoke coming from the garage of the home and were able to extinguish the fire.


Updated to reflect that the explosion occurred due to illegal fireworks

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call on the 14200 block of Cervantes Ave in the Seneca Estates neighborhood near Seneca Rd on Tuesday evening.


Additional details on Crawford’s conviction below per the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office: David Crawford, age 71, was found guilty of eight counts of attempted 1st-degree murder, three counts of 1st-degree arson and one count of 1st-degree malicious burning by a Howard County jury today in a serial arson investigation spanning multiple counties in Maryland. Crawford was arrested in March of 2021 in connection to 12 arsons that occurred in Howard, Frederick, Charles, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Prince George’s County from 2011 to 2020.  Investigators had surveillance video in many cases where Crawford displayed a similar pattern of starting the fires with gasoline. Investigators linked multiple cases following a 2020 fire when they discovered Crawford had previous disagreements with multiple victims. In January 2021, a search of Crawford’s residence found several pieces of evidence, including a list of targets that were known victims.

Crawford is a former Police Chief for the City of Laurel, where he last served from 2006 until his resignation in 2010. Prior to that, Crawford was Chief of the District Heights Police Department and served as a Major for the Prince George’s County Police Department. Investigators say none of the civilian victims of the fires were connected to Crawford through his law enforcement career.


Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Beatrice Cole, a missing 15-year-old from Germantown.

Beatrice was last seen on Friday, June 23, 2023, at approximately 12 a.m., leaving her residence in the 19700 block of Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown. Beatrice is approximately 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.


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