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Montgomery County, MD

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Maryland Man Convicted Of Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend, Unborn Fetus In Historic Case Maryland Man Convicted Of Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend, Unborn Fetus In Historic Case
Maryland Man Convicted Of Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend, Unborn Fetus In Historic Case A Silver Spring man has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing his pregnant girlfriend and her viable fetus in what prosecutors say is a historic ruling in Montgomery County. Torrey Damien Moore, 33, was found guilty Friday, Nov. 22, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County for the deaths of Denise Middleton, 26, who was eight and a half months pregnant with an unborn child when he shot her seven times. The case marks the first time Montgomery County has secured a murder conviction for the death of a viable fetus, officials said Moore was also convicted of: Two counts of use…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Stabbed, Lied, And Delayed: Maryland Woman Found Guilty Of Murdering Boyfriend: Authorities Stabbed, Lied, And Delayed: Maryland Woman Found Guilty Of Murdering Boyfriend: Authorities
Stabbed, Lied, And Delayed: Maryland Woman Found Guilty Of Murdering Boyfriend: Authorities A 22-year-old woman has been convicted of second-degree murder for stabbing her boyfriend during an early morning argument and waiting hours to take him to the hospital, Montgomery County officials announced. Jennifer Abigail Espinoza Orellana was accused of killing her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jose Manuel Zavala Marquez, near her home in the 8000 block of Shady Spring Drive in Gaithersburg on Sept. 10 last year. Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called to Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center shortly after 5:50 a.m., when Zavala Marquez was dropped off s…

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Police & Fire
Elderly Woman Catches Fire In Maryland Home, Succumbs To Injuries, Officials Say Elderly Woman Catches Fire In Maryland Home, Succumbs To Injuries, Officials Say
Elderly Woman Catches Fire In Maryland Home, Succumbs To Injuries, Officials Say An elderly woman died after accidentally catching fire in her Maryland home late Thursday afternoon, officials confirmed. Shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, Montgomery County firefighters were called to the 12100 block of Livingston Street in Wheaton, where a fire broke out on the first floor of a single-family home. The scene of the fire. Twitter According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service officials, the woman, believed to be in her 80s, was the only person in the house when she accidentally caught fire.  She managed to escape but sustained critical injuries. Mo…

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Police & Fire
Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say
Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say A Long Island man is accused of orchestrating a $2.3 million gold bar scam that targeted an elderly Montgomery County mother and her daughter, police say.  Montgomery County police have charged 26-year-old Yash Shah of Baldwin, New York, in a government-imposter scam that defrauded an 88-year-old woman and her 61-year-old daughter out of millions worth of gold bars. Authorities said this is the first reported scam of its kind in the county. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, the scheme began in February 2023, when the victims were contacted by someone claiming to…

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News
Speeding DUI Driver Charged In Crash That Killed Maryland Father: Police Speeding DUI Driver Charged In Crash That Killed Maryland Father: Police
Speeding DUI Driver Charged In Crash That Killed Maryland Father: Police A Gaithersburg man is facing serious charges after a high-speed, alcohol-fueled crash claimed the life of a Germantown father earlier this year, police said. Montgomery County police have arrested 45-year-old Agustin E. Jaramillo Lopez of Gaithersburg on charges of negligent manslaughter by vehicle following a fatal collision on July 20 near the intersection of North Frederick Avenue near Travis Avenue. Around 10:12 p.m. on the night of the crash, officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to a crash involving a black 2022 Ram 1500 pick-up truck, driven by Jaramillo Lope…

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Police & Fire
Teen Committed Commercial Burglaries With Young Children In Maryland, Police Say Teen Committed Commercial Burglaries With Young Children In Maryland, Police Say
Teen Committed Commercial Burglaries With Young Children In Maryland, Police Say In a startling incident, three boys between the ages of 11 and 13 have been charged in connection with two early morning burglaries at auto businesses in Montgomery County, police say. On Tuesday, Nov. 19, at approximately 1 a.m., officers responded to a burglary alarm at Superior Auto Service in the 12200 block of Wilkins Avenue, where they found a front window that was shattered and property missing. While investigating the first incident, officers received a second report of a burglary at RMA Transportation, also in the 12200 block of Wilkins Avenue, where there were employees present at…

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News
Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light
Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light A former middle school teacher in Maryland will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years once she completes her prison term for sexually abusing a student, authorities announced on Tuesday. Melissa Marie Curtis, 31, of Upper Marlboro, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with all suspended but 12 months to serve, followed by five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty in June to three counts of third-degree sex offense in connection to the abuse of a teen. In November 2023, police in Montgomery County launched an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse that ha…

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Police & Fire
Transit Center Assault Caught On Camera Lands Two Behind Bars In Maryland: Police (VIDEO) Transit Center Assault Caught On Camera Lands Two Behind Bars In Maryland: Police (VIDEO)
Transit Center Assault Caught On Camera Lands Two Behind Bars In Maryland: Police (Video) A violent assault caught on camera landed two men behind bars after they attacked their victim and robbed him in Montgomery County. Gaithersburg resident Davon Lopez, 30, and 25-year-old Anthony Tyrone Slater, Jr., of Germantown, are both facing multiple charges following an assault at the transit center earlier this week.  According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, officers from multiple agencies were called to the 9600 block of Lost Knife Road in Gaithersburg, where there was a reported robbery in progress. A witness desc…

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Business
Stores Evacuated At Maryland Shopping Center Due To Ruptured Gas Line (DEVELOPING) Stores Evacuated At Maryland Shopping Center Due To Ruptured Gas Line (DEVELOPING)
Stores Evacuated At Maryland Shopping Center Due To Ruptured Gas Line (Developing) Some businesses were evacuated on Friday morning in Montgomery County when gas leak was reported outside an area shopping center. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue crews were called before 11 a.m. on Nov. 15 to the 19700 block of Frederick Road in Germantown, when a two-inch gas line ruptured. First responders evacuated some businesses in the area and monitored the structures while Washington Gas responded to shut off the gas and make repairs. No injuries were reported as of noon on Friday. This is a developing story.  Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribu…

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Schools
First-Grade Teacher Left Classroom To Sell Drugs On School Property In Maryland: Complaint First-Grade Teacher Left Classroom To Sell Drugs On School Property In Maryland: Complaint
First-Grade Teacher Left Classroom To Sell Drugs On School Property In Maryland: Complaint A teacher in Maryland who allegedly left her classroom to sell drugs to people on school property is facing charges for distributing a fatal dose of fentanyl, according to federal authorities. Sarah Katherine Magid, 34, has been charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury and the death of a victim, according to a criminal complaint that was unsealed this week in District Court. Magid, a first-grade teacher at a Montgomery County school was arrested in August following a search and seizure warrant by the DEA and local police at her Burtonsville home fo…

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Traffic
Driver Hospitalized After Striking Maryland School Bus: Police Driver Hospitalized After Striking Maryland School Bus: Police
Driver Hospitalized After Striking Maryland School Bus: Police One person was hospitalized after crashing into the back of a Montgomery County Public School bus on Thursday, officials confirmed. Early on Nov. 14, first responders were called to the area of Bondy Lane and Darnestown Road in Darnestown, where there was a reported crash involving a driver who struck the bus. According to a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson, the driver of the sedan was taken to the hospital by paramedics with traumatic injuries that were described as non-life-threatening. Ten students who were on the bus were evaluated and were all uninjured and later release…

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News
Reward Offered For Info About Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found Outside Maryland School, Synagogue Reward Offered For Info About Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found Outside Maryland School, Synagogue
Reward Offered For Info About Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found Outside Maryland School, Synagogue The community is coming together in an effort to track down the suspects involved in a series of anti-Semitic incidents over the summer in Montgomery County. A $7,000 reward has been donated by local community organizations as they seek the public's assistance in identifying, arresting, and prosecuting whomever is responsible for vandalism found in the Bethesda area in August. The first incident was reported on Sunday, Aug. 11 at Bethesda Elementary School in the 7600 block of Arlington Road that was quickly scrubbed clean by crews the following day. "Free Gaza" and "Israel Rapes" were amo…

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Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Rape, Sexual Abuse Of Underage Girls In Maryland: Police Man Accused Of Rape, Sexual Abuse Of Underage Girls In Maryland: Police
Man Accused Of Rape, Sexual Abuse Of Underage Girls In Maryland: Police Police in Montgomery County are concerned there may be more potential victims following the recent arrest of a Damascus man who was accused of the rape and sexual abuse of multiple underage girls. Irvin Ariel Portillo, 28, was charged following an investigation after being tipped off late last month about a possible rape involving a minor. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the Montgomery County Department of Police launched an investigation into the alleged rape of a teenage girl by Portillo, and during the probe, two other underage victims were identified. According to police, on Friday, Nov. 8, Porti…

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Police & Fire
Family Safe, House Destroyed By Massive Maryland Fire Family Safe, House Destroyed By Massive Maryland Fire
Family Safe, House Destroyed By Massive Maryland Fire A fast-moving fire left a family of six displaced in Montgomery on Monday morning and reportedly caused millions of dollars in damages, officials say. Fire crews were called at around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 11 to the 21700 block of Peachtree Road in Barnesville, where there was a massive house fire that tore through a residence and spread to vehicles in the driveway. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO Firefighters also had to contend with trick conditions, as the home was in an area without hydrants in the area, forcing them to haul in thousands of gallons of water to help battle the blaze. Twitter/@mcfrsPI…

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Schools
These Are Maryland's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Maryland's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Maryland's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released Montgomery County is the place to be for parents with young children according to a new Niche report listing Maryland's top elementary schools. It was a clean sweep in the top five for Montgomery County, which led the latest rankings recently released by the organization following lists for the top middle and high schools in the country.  To determine the "best public schools in America," Niche's ranking was "based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from US Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche use…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Charged After Suspicious Package Delivered To Neighbor's Home In Maryland: Police Man Charged After Suspicious Package Delivered To Neighbor's Home In Maryland: Police
Man Charged After Suspicious Package Delivered To Neighbor's Home In Maryland: Police A 22-year-old man is facing charges after being busted with drugs and a weapon following the delivery of a suspicious package to a neighbor's home, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. Kalani Ayi Abulfata Ariyibi-Sani, of Silver Spring, was arrested on Thursday following an investigation into his delivery of a curious package to a neighbor in Silver Spring. Officers were called to the 1300 block of Alderton Drive, where there was a report of a suspicious package containing drugs that was delivered to a homeowner in the area. Police say that upon arrival, officers o…

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News
Woman Who Sold Fentanyl To 19-Year-Old Hours Before Fatal OD In Maryland Learns Fate Woman Who Sold Fentanyl To 19-Year-Old Hours Before Fatal OD In Maryland Learns Fate
Woman Who Sold Fentanyl To 19-Year-Old Hours Before Fatal OD In Maryland Learns Fate The woman who sold the fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose of a 19-year-old in Montgomery County will spend years behind bars, the state's attorney's office announced on Friday. Evelin Cabrera, 20, who has no known address, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for her role in the death of Daniel Pineda-Romero in December 2022, when he was found unresponsive in his family's home in Gaithersburg. According to prosecutors, on Dec. 10, 2022, a family member found Pineda-Romero unresponsive, and first responders declared him dead at the scene. "(His brother) saw him sleeping at 3 p…

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Politics
April McClain Delaney Declares Victory In Maryland's 6th District Congressional Race April McClain Delaney Declares Victory In Maryland's 6th District Congressional Race
April McClain Delaney Declares Victory In Maryland's 6th District Congressional Race Democrat April McClain Delaney has declared victory in the hotly contested race against Republican Neil Parrott in Maryland's 6th Congressional District. In her first time running for office, using a strong mail-in vote, Delaney was able to narrowly edge out Parrott, with 51.18 percent of the vote (174,514 in total) versus 48.61 percent (165,750) for her opponent, according to the Maryland Board of Elections on Friday, Nov. 8.  "I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the people of Maryland's 6th District have placed in me," Delaney said in a statement declaring her victory.&…

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Police & Fire
Investigators Bust Teen Drug Dealer With Hundreds Of Fentanyl Pills In Maryland: Police Investigators Bust Teen Drug Dealer With Hundreds Of Fentanyl Pills In Maryland: Police
Investigators Bust Teen Drug Dealer With Hundreds Of Fentanyl Pills In Maryland: Police Two tens are facing charges after being busted during a drug deal in Montgomery County, police say. Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were in the Glenmont area conducting an investigation when they spotted two people in the middle of a deal on Georgian Wood Place. An 18-year-old buyer from Riverdale and his 16-year-old seller were both detained without incident. During the subsequent search, the 18-year-old was determined to be in possession of 13, “M30” suspected fentanyl pills, while the underage dealer was found to be in possession of 432 “M30” suspected fentanyl …

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News
District Man Sentenced After Attempted Murder Caught On Camera In Maryland (VIDEOS) District Man Sentenced After Attempted Murder Caught On Camera In Maryland (VIDEOS)
District Man Sentenced After Attempted Murder Caught On Camera In Maryland (Videos) A District man will spend decades in prison after pleading guilty mid-trial for an attempted murder that was caught on camera in Maryland, authorities announced. The 22-year-old saw the writing on the wall and admitted his guilt in the middle of a jury trial earlier this year in connection to his role in a shooting in a well-known Silver Spring alleyway following a wild chase in June 2022, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison with all but 30 to serve, followed by five years of supervised probation when he is released. …

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Police & Fire
Serial Arsonist Telling Tall Tales Admits To Setting Series Of Maryland Fires: State's Attorney Serial Arsonist Telling Tall Tales Admits To Setting Series Of Maryland Fires: State's Attorney
Serial Arsonist Telling Tall Tales Admits To Setting Series Of Maryland Fires: State's Attorney A firebug responsible for a series of arson incidents in Montgomery County has copped to the crime and faces up to 80 years in prison, according to the state's attorney's office. Fernando Herrera-Rivera, 24, pleaded guilty this week to four counts of second-degree arson in connection to multiple incidents reported in September 2023. Specifically, Herrera-Rivera admitted to lighting fires involving:  A vehicle along Russell Avenue; A Gaithersburg Police Department building on Fulks Corner; A beer and wine store in the 400 block of South Frederick Avenue; A market in the 400 block…

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Police & Fire
Suspect Who 'Seriously Injured' Officers During Disturbance In Maryland Learns Fate Suspect Who 'Seriously Injured' Officers During Disturbance In Maryland Learns Fate
Suspect Who 'Seriously Injured' Officers During Disturbance In Maryland Learns Fate The 36-year-old man who "seriously injured" two Montgomery County police officers while resisting arrest will spend decades in prison after being convicted of assault and other offenses. Gaithersburg resident Jermaine Palmer was sentenced to 38 years in prison, suspending all but 21 to serve following an attack on officers in June 2023, authorities announced on Thursday. Palmer did not go down quietly on June 30, 2023, after assaulting multiple officers who sought to take him into custody for breaking into a home, according to police. Shortly after 8 p.m. on the night of the incident, offi…

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Police & Fire
Maryland Woman Charged In Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Ex-Boyfriend, Police Say Maryland Woman Charged In Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Ex-Boyfriend, Police Say
Maryland Woman Charged In Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Ex-Boyfriend, Police Say Two are facing serious charges after a woman tried to enlist a former family member to help her kill her ex-boyfriend, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. Germantown resident Adelaida Consuelo Zacarias Chacon, 53, and 40-year-old Philadelphia resident Reyna Gomez Lopez have both been charged with conspiring to commit murder for an alleged murder-for-hire plot. According to police, in June, detectives were contacted by a case worker at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Family Justice Center after being tipped off that Zacarias Chacon had attempted to …

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Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Killing Roommate, Leaving Body Behind Bus Stop In Maryland: Police Man Accused Of Killing Roommate, Leaving Body Behind Bus Stop In Maryland: Police
Man Accused Of Killing Roommate, Leaving Body Behind Bus Stop In Maryland: Police Two weeks after 19-year-old Diego Edilberto Borja-Cardona was found suffering from traumatic injuries behind a Montgomery County bus stop, his roommate has been arrested for his murder, police say. Silver Spring resident Abraham Luna Perez, 26, has been arrested in connection to Borja-Cardona's death late last month after his death was ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. Shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called to the 9300 block of Piney Branch Road, where they found Borja-Ca…

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Police & Fire
Maryland Woman Who Called 911 Charged With Mother's Murder: Police Maryland Woman Who Called 911 Charged With Mother's Murder: Police
Maryland Woman Who Called 911 Charged With Mother's Murder: Police A 63-year-old woman is dead and her daughter is in custody for her murder after she called it in to the Montgomery County Department of Police on Monday. Tiffany Zhang, 29, has been arrested and charged in connection to the death of her mother, Guichun Hu, whose body was found in a grassy field in the 19400 block of Olive Tree Way in Gaithersburg. According to police, shortly before 10 a.m. on Nov. 4, the Emergency Communications Center received a call from Zhang advising that she had killed her mother the previous day. Upon arrival, officers were met by Zhang waiting outside near Hu'…

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Police & Fire
No Hung Jury This Time: Man Convicted Second Time Around For Killing Friend In Maryland No Hung Jury This Time: Man Convicted Second Time Around For Killing Friend In Maryland
No Hung Jury This Time: Man Convicted Second Time Around For Killing Friend In Maryland A man previously tried last year before being granted a temporary stay of execution by a hung jury was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for the death of his 33-year-old friend in 2021, authorities announced on Monday. Rockville resident Jonathan Mohelski, 39, will face a decade in prison in connection to the death of Brandon Sutherland in November 2021 following multiple trials, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office. Brandon Sutherland Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office Mohelski was convicted following a 10-day trial after the jury wound up un…

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News
Father Avoids Murder Charge, Admits To Child Neglect In Maryland: Authorities Father Avoids Murder Charge, Admits To Child Neglect In Maryland: Authorities
Father Avoids Murder Charge, Admits To Child Neglect In Maryland: Authorities The Maryland father who housed his six children in deplorable conditions in Montgomery County will avoid a murder charge after one died, but faces decades in prison for child neglect. Dominique Moore, 46, pleaded guilty to six counts of child neglect of his six minor children and will face 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in February 2025. Both Moore and his wife, Cynthia Moore, were arrested in May 2023 and initially indicted on charges that included second-degree depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child neglect following an investigation into the death of the…

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Traffic
Driver Crashes Into Back Of Police Vehicle During Maryland Speeding Stop On I-270 Driver Crashes Into Back Of Police Vehicle During Maryland Speeding Stop On I-270
Driver Crashes Into Back Of Police Vehicle During Maryland Speeding Stop On I-270 One of Montgomery County's top cops got a scare on Saturday morning when a driver plowed into his vehicle as he was conducting a traffic stop. District 3 Commander Jason Cokinos stopped a driver early on Nov. 2 for driving 110 mph on I-270 near I-495 when he was rudely interrupted by another reckless motorist in a Mercedes who crashed into the back of his vehicle. No serious injuries were reported, according to the commander, who was out of his vehicle when the Mercedes caused the crash. When you see police vehicles 🚔, emergency vehicles 🚒, tow trucks, etc. on the side of the road... MO…

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Police & Fire
Virginia Stabbing Suspect First To Be Convicted Based On Drone Evidence In Montgomery County Virginia Stabbing Suspect First To Be Convicted Based On Drone Evidence In Montgomery County
Virginia Stabbing Suspect First To Be Convicted Based On Drone Evidence In Montgomery County For the first time, investigators in Montgomery County have secured a conviction largely through evidence collected by drones.  Fairfax County resident Jovan Ali, 45, was found guilty by a jury of second-degree assault in connection to a stabbing in April. Prosecutors say that on April 17, Ali was involved in an altercation near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring, which was witnessed by a Montgomery County Police officer. There was also a Montgomery County Police drone above that captured Ali pulling a knife from his pocket and stabbing an adult male …

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Police & Fire
Several Residents Rescued From Two-Alarm Apartment Fire In Maryland (VIDEO) Several Residents Rescued From Two-Alarm Apartment Fire In Maryland (VIDEO)
Several Residents Rescued From Two-Alarm Apartment Fire In Maryland (Video) Several people were rescued after a fire broke out inside a Montgomery County apartment building on Thursday morning. First responders were called at around 9:45 a.m. on Oct. 31 to the 3500 block of Pear Tree Court in Silver Spring, where there was a reported fire in the third floor of a four-story building. Silver Spring, MD - Aerial from the scene of a two alarm fire in the 3500blk of Peartree Court. @mcfrsPIO @DavidPazos15 @TheMoCoShow @ModeratelyMoco @CordellTraffic @HHFireProds @ArmisteadIsaac @mcpnews @mcfrs @Djp1Me @DCNewsLive @alanhenney @DCNewsNow #mcfrs @MoCoFireWire… pic.twitt…

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Schools
Students Uninjured After School Bus Crash With Pick-Up In Maryland Students Uninjured After School Bus Crash With Pick-Up In Maryland
Students Uninjured After School Bus Crash With Pick-Up In Maryland The day got off to a rough start for a school bus driver in Montgomery County who was in an early morning crash with a pick-up truck in Colesville. At around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, first responders were called to the area of New Hampshire Avenue and Norwood Road, where there was a reported crash involving the bus and a landscaping truck, officials say. There were no reported injuries to any students, who were transferred to another bus, and one person in the truck suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital. An alert was issued by police advising that drivers should …

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by Zak Failla