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.
The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan Scope of Work at its June 22 weekly meeting. The Scope of Work lays out the Montgomery County Planning Department’s approach to developing land use recommendations for a section of the Clarksburg area on the east side of Interstate 270 and west of MD 355. The approval of the Scope of Work is the first step in the master planning process and outlines the purpose of the plan, elements to explore, boundary areas, public engagement strategy and the plan timeline. Montgomery Planning staff will begin community engagement and visioning, and study the existing conditions of the area, all leading up to developing recommendations for land use, zoning, urban design, transportation, environmental resilience, housing, historic preservation, and community facilities and infrastructure in the plan area.
Montgomery Planning invites the community to attend an open house on the plan on Wednesday, July 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the community building at the Clarksburg Neighborhood Park (22501 Wims Road at Route 355, Clarksburg, MD 20871). The open house will provide the public an opportunity to interact with the Montgomery Planning team about the plan, give their input, and discuss their neighborhood and community aspirations related to transportation, jobs, housing, land use, parks and open spaces, public amenities, and more. Planning staff will offer many more opportunities for community input throughout the plan process.
A $100,000 Mega Multiplier ticket sold on June 24 at Royal Farms (690 Watkins Mill Rd) in Gaithersburg remains unclaimed as of June 26. Two additional big winners in Montgomery County last week include a $100,000 winning scratch off sold at My Dollar & More (250 North Frederick Ave) in Gaithersburg and a $170,566 winning FAST PLAY lottery ticket sold on June 22 at the Liberty Gas Station (26241 Ridge Rd) in Damascus. Additional details below about winners across the state of Maryland courtesy of MD Lottery:
Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Claims Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.
Montgomery County Police responded to the 18500 block of Nutmeg Pl, off of Cinnamon Dr., at approximately 12:40pm for the sound of gunshots. According to MCPD, no injuries have been […]
The Maryland-Nation Capital Park Police Montgomery County Division have released additional information regarding a shooting that occurred in Germantown on Sunday, June 25. According to a press release, “The Maryland-National Capital Park Police are investigating a shooting that occurred today at approximately 6:30 p.m. at Clearspring Local Park located at 20101 Scenery Drive Germantown, Maryland.
Police are on the scene of a shooting that took place Sunday, June 25 around 6:30pm near Clearspring Local Park & Captain James E. Daly Elementary in Germantown. According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, one person was shot in the stomach and one person was injured when a bullet grazed their arm.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are investigating an attempted armed robbery that occurred on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in the 19200 block of Cross Ridge Dr. Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the male suspects. The investigation by detectives has revealed that the two male suspects approached the adult male victim, displayed handguns and demanded the victim’s property. Eventually, the suspects ran away without taking anything from the victim.
The first suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5-feet, 8-inches, to 5-feet, 9-inches tall, between the ages of 17 and 18, wearing a black sweatshirt, black pants and red and black sneakers. The second suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5-feet, 6-inches, to 5-feet, 9-inches tall, between the ages of 17 and 18, wearing a black sweatshirt, black pants and yellow and black sneakers.