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Montgomery County Police Address Buzz Over Recent Drone Sightings Montgomery County Police Address Buzz Over Recent Drone Sightings
Montgomery County Police Address Buzz Over Recent Drone Sightings The recent rash of drone sightings up and down the East Coast has not reached parts of Maryland, though concern is still on the rise for some, prompting some police agencies to proactively reach out to their communities. On Thursday, the Montgomery County Department of Police issued a fresh alert addressing the reports of suspicious unmanned aircraft sightings that have made national headlines. Although the department is not currently investigating any drone-related incidents in the county, authorities released a statement reminding residents about their active drone program and emphasizing…

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by Zak Failla
News
Two Dogs Dead, Two Women Hospitalized In Violent Montgomery County Attack: Police (DEVELOPING) Two Dogs Dead, Two Women Hospitalized In Violent Montgomery County Attack: Police (DEVELOPING)
Two Dogs Dead, Two Women Hospitalized In Violent Montgomery County Attack: Police (Developing) Tragedy struck a normally quiet Montgomery County neighborhood on Wednesday following a violent incident that left two dogs dead and two women hospitalized. Shortly after noon on Wednesday, Dec. 18, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police responded to a reported dog attack in the 7000 block of Heather Hill Road in Bethesda that turned deadly. According to investigators, the attacking dog was shot and killed as it charged at officers and killed another dog. Two women were injured during the attack and taken to an area hospital for further treatment and evaluation. No detai…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
One Killed, Nine Injured In Mass Maryland Shooting (DEVELOPING) One Killed, Nine Injured In Mass Maryland Shooting (DEVELOPING)
One Killed, Nine Injured In Mass Maryland Shooting (Developing) One person was killed and several others injured in what has been described by the Baltimore County Police Department as a mass shooting. First responders were called at around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17 to the 8500 block of Lock Raven Boulevard in Towson to investigate a reported shooting with multiple people down and rushed to area hospitals. Later on Tuesday night, officials confirmed that one person has died, and nearly a dozen others were injured during the act of violence. The shooting led to road closures in the area as local and county police probed the incident. #BCoPD…

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by Zak Failla
News
Former Gov. Larry Hogan Shares Mysterious Video Of Possible 'Drones' Outside Maryland Home Former Gov. Larry Hogan Shares Mysterious Video Of Possible 'Drones' Outside Maryland Home
Former Gov. Larry Hogan Shares Mysterious Video Of Possible 'Drones' Outside Maryland Home It's a bird... It's a plane... It's a drone? Maybe?  Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is the latest to throw out thoughts about the plague of drones that have been spotted across the East Coast in recent weeks. Hogan fanned the flames of speculation recently after sharing a curious nearly two-minute video of what he believed to be drones in the area, though he cautioned that he was no expert in the matter in a social media post that garnered nearly 4.5 million views. Last night, beginning at around 9:45 pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large dr…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Teen Dead, Second Man Critically Injured In Maryland Double Shooting, Police Say Teen Dead, Second Man Critically Injured In Maryland Double Shooting, Police Say
Teen Dead, Second Man Critically Injured In Maryland Double Shooting, Police Say An 18-year-old from Germantown is dead, and another man is fighting for his life after a late-night shooting in Greenbelt, police said. The fatal incident unfolded Sunday, Dec. 15, just before 11 p.m. in the 8500 block of Greenbelt Road. Responding officers found Rasheed Davis and another man suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Prince George’s County Police. Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Davis was pronounced dead, while the second victim remains in critical condition, authorities said on Monday afternoon. Homicide Unit detectives are offering a reward of up t…

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by Zak Failla
News
Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport
Drone Disruption Shuts Down Runways At NY Airport Runways at a Hudson Valley airport were brought to a halt after drone activity disrupted operations for approximately an hour, prompting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to escalate calls for immediate federal intervention. Click here for a new, updated story: New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Airport To Shut Down Hochul said the incident happened in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor. “This has gone too far,” Hochul stated, addressing growing concerns over unauthorized drones in sensitive airspace. The incident ma…

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by Joe Lombardi
Traffic
Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck By Amtrak Train In Prince George's County (DEVELOPING) Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck By Amtrak Train In Prince George's County (DEVELOPING)
Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck By Amtrak Train In Prince George's County (Developing) One person was killed on Friday afternoon after being struck by an Amtrak train in Prince George's County on Friday afternoon, officials concerned. Shortly after 4 p.m. on Dec. 13, first responders were called to the area of Powder Mill Road and Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville, where there was a distress call about a person who required a rescue. Google Maps street view According to the Prince George's County Fire Department, upon arrival, crews were met by a pedestrian who had been struck by the train and died after the collision. CSX Police is now investigating the fatal strike. More i…

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by Zak Failla
News
CEO Murder: How A Hash Brown At McDonald's Led To Arrest Of Maryland's Luigi Mangione CEO Murder: How A Hash Brown At McDonald's Led To Arrest Of Maryland's Luigi Mangione
CEO Murder: How A Hash Brown At McDonald's Led To Arrest Of Maryland's Luigi Mangione The rare times in which Luigi Nicholas Mangione removed his face mask may have been the main reason for his arrest for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after a five-day manhunt. Click here for a new, updated story - CEO Murder: Luigi Mangione Notebook Detailing Shooting Plans Revealed, Reports Say In the first instance, Mangione was asked by a receptionist at a hostel in Manhattan's Upper West Side to remove the mask so she could compare his face to the photo on an allegedly fake ID. The 26-year-old Maryland native checked in there 10 days before the targeted shooti…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Authorities Arrest Woman In Connection With Maryland Shooting; Suspected Gunman Still At Large Authorities Arrest Woman In Connection With Maryland Shooting; Suspected Gunman Still At Large
Authorities Arrest Woman In Connection With Maryland Shooting; Suspected Gunman Still At Large Detectives from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Salisbury woman in connection with a November shooting that left another woman critically injured, while the suspected gunman remains at large weeks later. On Dec. 9, detectives took 27-year-old Briana Monique Bratten into custody, charging her with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy, and accessory after the fact, among other offenses, authorities announced.  The charges stem from the shooting on the 500 block of North Curlew Road in Salisbury, where deputies from the sheriff's office discovered a female victim suff…

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by Zak Failla
News
Drone Sightings Spark Security Concerns In Maryland Drone Sightings Spark Security Concerns In Maryland
Drone Sightings Spark Security Concerns In Maryland Authorities along the East Coast are grappling with a surge in drone sightings, raising security concerns and prompting high-level responses. In New Jersey, residents have reported numerous drone sightings since mid-November, particularly in Morris and Somerset counties, and more than a dozen mayors are calling for investigations. Gov. Phil Murphy is urging residents to report suspicious drone activity to law enforcement and emphasizing the state's commitment to public safety.  "We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement par…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Maryland Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Maryland Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Maryland Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder An Ivy League-educated high school valedictorian from a privileged, politically connected family has been charged with the execution-style murder of the CEO of one of the nation's largest healthcare providers after a days-long manhunt. Click here for a new, updated story - CEO Murder: Whiz Kid Suspect May Have Spiraled After Traumatic Back Surgery New York prosecutors have formally charged 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a native of Towson, Maryland, with the fatal shooting of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson.  The incident occurred outside the New York Hilton in midt…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Coordinated Crew Caught On Camera During 21-Vehicle Crime Spree Through Montgomery County: PD Coordinated Crew Caught On Camera During 21-Vehicle Crime Spree Through Montgomery County: PD
Coordinated Crew Caught On Camera During 21-Vehicle Crime Spree Through Montgomery County: PD A group of wanted suspects put police through their paces during a wild one-night crime spree that saw them targeting nearly two dozen vehicles in Montgomery County.  Four suspects vandalized and looted 21 vehicles across multiple Silver Spring streets in the early hours of Monday, Dec. 2, officials say, with one flashing a handgun at a residence. According to a Montgomery County Department of Police spokesperson, the group began terrorizing several neighborhoods beginning at around 2:30 a.m., hitting vehicles in the areas of Belvedere Boulevard, Woodland Road, Dameron Drive, Fore…

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by Zak Failla
News
New Images Show Suspect Fleeing In Cab After Brazen Targeted Killing Of CEO In Manhattan New Images Show Suspect Fleeing In Cab After Brazen Targeted Killing Of CEO In Manhattan
New Images Show Suspect Fleeing In Cab After Brazen Targeted Killing Of CEO In Manhattan New images released by authorities show the suspect in the brazen targeted killing of the CEO of one of the nation's largest healthcare companies in midtown Manhattan fleeing the crime scene in the back of a taxi cab. Click here for a new, updated story - CEO Murder: 26-Year-Old Being Held In Pennsylvania In Connection To Manhattan Case The NYPD released the latest images early Sunday morning, Dec. 8.  "The full investigative efforts of the NYPD are continuing, and we are asking for the public's help," the NYPD said in a statement accompanying the release of the new i…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Officers Identified In Crash Following Cross-State Pursuit From Virginia Into Maryland: AG Officers Identified In Crash Following Cross-State Pursuit From Virginia Into Maryland: AG
Officers Identified In Crash Following Cross-State Pursuit From Virginia Into Maryland: AG The Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the officers and deputy involved in a high-speed police pursuit that started in Virginia, crossed state lines and ended in a violent crash in Charles County, leaving multiple people injured. The officers include Police Officer First Class Jacob Shuar, a two-year veteran, and Cpl. Tommy Johnston, a 20-year veteran, both from the La Plata Police Department.  The Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been identified as Cpl. Katie Bottorf, a nine-year veteran. All three are assigned to their respective Patrol Divisions, offici…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Game-Changing Tech: Drone Evidence Sends Man to Prison in Montgomery County Stabbing Game-Changing Tech: Drone Evidence Sends Man to Prison in Montgomery County Stabbing
Game-Changing Tech: Drone Evidence Sends Man to Prison in Montgomery County Stabbing For the first time, investigators in Montgomery County have secured a conviction largely through evidence collected by drones, and a 45-year-old man is heading to prison.  Fairfax County resident Jovan Ali, 45, was found guilty by a jury last month of second-degree assault in connection to a stabbing in April. On Thursday, Dec. 5, the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office announced that Ali has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being caught on camera by the drone. Prosecutors say that on April 17, Ali was involved in an altercation near the intersection of Georgia Av…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
PA Fire Captain Accused Of Faking University Of Maryland Training PA Fire Captain Accused Of Faking University Of Maryland Training
PA Fire Captain Accused Of Faking University Of Maryland Training A former fire captain with the Paxtang Fire Company is facing charges of forgery, reckless endangerment, and driving without a license, police announced on Thursday, Dec. 5. Steven Bartholomew, 55, allegedly created seven fraudulent training certificates from the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, presenting them as proof of advanced firefighting training, according to Swatara Township Police. Bartholomew used these falsified documents, along with self-reported experience, to secure his appointment as fire captain earlier this year. Authorities say Bartholomew drove fire appa…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Flannel-Wearing Firestarter Sought After $50K Maryland Business Blaze: Fire Marshal Flannel-Wearing Firestarter Sought After $50K Maryland Business Blaze: Fire Marshal
Flannel-Wearing Firestarter Sought After $50K Maryland Business Blaze: Fire Marshal Fire investigators are turning to the public for help identifying the suspect who set a Cumberland tire shop ablaze early Saturday morning, causing $50,000 in damages. The fire broke out around 4:42 a.m. at D&K Tires on Greene Street after surveillance footage captured the suspect igniting a flammable device on a window air conditioning unit. Cumberland Fire Department crews arrived at the two-bay auto repair shop to find flames shooting from a window. Firefighters contained the blaze to an office area, but smoke, soot, and water damage spread throughout the business. Video surveillanc…

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by Zak Failla
News
Guns, Ammunition Seized As Three Arrested During Joint Operation With ATF In Maryland: Sheriff Guns, Ammunition Seized As Three Arrested During Joint Operation With ATF In Maryland: Sheriff
Guns, Ammunition Seized As Three Arrested During Joint Operation With ATF In Maryland: Sheriff Authorities arrested three individuals, including a juvenile charged as an adult, following a collaborative operation between the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), officials said. On Thursday, Nov. 21, search warrants were executed at three residences across St. Mary’s County as part of an investigation led by the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division. During the operation, deputies recovered seven firearms and ammunition, according to authorities.  Arrested without incident were Bruce Bernard Franks, 32, of Dame…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Drunk Driver Hits Officer In Head-On Maryland Crash As Police Urge Holiday Safety Drunk Driver Hits Officer In Head-On Maryland Crash As Police Urge Holiday Safety
Drunk Driver Hits Officer In Head-On Maryland Crash As Police Urge Holiday Safety A police officer is recovering after being struck head-on by a drunk driver in a collision that underscores the dangers of impaired driving, authorities said. The officer is back home and recovering following a head-on crash involving an intoxicated driver while on duty late Wednesday night, according to authorities. The collision, which left the officer with injuries requiring hospital treatment, serves as a "stark reminder of the dangers of impaired driving," police said. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured. Photos from the scene highlight the severity of the crash, whic…

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by Zak Failla
News
Shots Fired Near Maryland YMCA Playground Leads To Lockdown, Two In Custody: Police Shots Fired Near Maryland YMCA Playground Leads To Lockdown, Two In Custody: Police
Shots Fired Near Maryland YMCA Playground Leads To Lockdown, Two In Custody: Police A daycare at the YMCA on Eastern Boulevard went into lockdown late Wednesday morning in Hagerstown after shots were fired near the facility’s playground, police said. At approximately 11:45 a.m. on Nov. 20, staff were outside with children on the playground when gunfire erupted from the direction of Cortland Manor, resulting in staff members moving children to safety inside the building and locking down the facility as a precaution..  Officers responded to the area and, following witness reports, located shell casings outside a building at Cortland Manor, police then identified an apar…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Found Dead After Jump From Harry Nice Bridge In Maryland, Authorities Say Man Found Dead After Jump From Harry Nice Bridge In Maryland, Authorities Say
Man Found Dead After Jump From Harry Nice Bridge In Maryland, Authorities Say A tragic scene unfolded at the Harry Nice Bridge on Wednesday morning in Charles County when emergency crews recovered the body of a man who reportedly jumped into the Potomac River, officials said. The call came in around 11:45 a.m. on Nov. 20, prompting fire rescue marine units from Charles and King George counties to respond to the bridge, where they found a body in the water. Crews retrieved the body and transported it to Aqualand Marina, where land units were waiting. The Maryland Transportation Authority Police have taken over the investigation into the incident. Fire rescue units cl…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Authorities Search For Maryland Man After Shooting Leaves Woman With Critical Injuries: Sheriff Authorities Search For Maryland Man After Shooting Leaves Woman With Critical Injuries: Sheriff
Authorities Search For Maryland Man After Shooting Leaves Woman With Critical Injuries: Sheriff Authorities in Wicomico County are on the hunt for a Salisbury man accused of opening fire on a woman, leaving her with life-threatening injuries, officials said. Deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 500 block of North Curlew Road in Salisbury shortly after 4:20 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, following reports of a shooting. When deputies arrived, they found a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.  Deputies secured the scene and rendered life-saving aid until paramedics arrived, according to a spokesperson from the sheriff's office. The victim was…

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by Zak Failla
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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by Zak Failla
Schools
First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose; Selling On School Grounds: Feds First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose; Selling On School Grounds: Feds
First-Grade Teacher Accused Of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Dose; Selling On School Grounds: Feds 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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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Packing Explosive Devices Broke Into Estranged GF's Home: Maryland Fire Marshal Man Packing Explosive Devices Broke Into Estranged GF's Home: Maryland Fire Marshal
Man Packing Explosive Devices Broke Into Estranged GF's Home: Maryland Fire Marshal A man who was found with a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) after breaking into his ex-girlfriends home is behind bars and facing serious charges, according to the Office of the Maryland Fire Marshal. Andrew Ervin Romack, 62, was arrested following a joint investigation by the fire marshal and Maryland State Police following a reported burglary earlier this week at an Allegany County home. Investigators say that shortly after 1 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, troopers were called to the 20300 block of Lower Georges Creek Road, where it is alleged Romack forced his way into his estranged…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Packing Pellet Gun 'Made Concerning Statements' About Maryland Church, Police Say Man Packing Pellet Gun 'Made Concerning Statements' About Maryland Church, Police Say
Man Packing Pellet Gun 'Made Concerning Statements' About Maryland Church, Police Say A man who is no stranger to police in Frederick County is back under the spotlight after being busted with faux weapons at an function hosted by an area church. Halloween was filled with more tricks than treats for 49-year-old David Michael Beers, who found himself in hot water after being busted with a pellet gun during a local event. On Thursday, Oct. 31, the Frederick Police Department was tipped off by a security company contracted by a local church regarding Beers, who was "a known individual who previously exhibited aggressive behavior, (and) had made concerning statements about the c…

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by Zak Failla
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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by Zak Failla
News
Judge Departs From Sentencing Guidelines For Maryland Police Sergeant Accused Of Misconduct Judge Departs From Sentencing Guidelines For Maryland Police Sergeant Accused Of Misconduct
Judge Departs From Sentencing Guidelines For Maryland Police Sergeant Accused Of Misconduct A police officer in Maryland will find himself on the wrong side of the iron bars after using a departmental cellphone to target teens and high school students on social media while flaunting his position, state prosecutors announced. Veteran Easton Police Sgt. Jason Dyott was sentenced to four years of incarceration, with all but six months suspended, followed by three years of probation for "awful" and "embarrassing" conduct, according to a judge in Easton. "The judge found that regardless of the applicable guidelines, there were several reasons for departure from the guidelines when…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Shooter Who Targeted Pair At Montgomery County Park Arrested In DC, Police Say Shooter Who Targeted Pair At Montgomery County Park Arrested In DC, Police Say
Shooter Who Targeted Pair At Montgomery County Park Arrested In DC, Police Say The shooting suspect wanted for opening fire in the parking lot of a Montgomery County park has been apprehended in Washington, DC, police say. Gaithersburg resident Kenneth Oates, 38, is facing multiple charges following an incident reported at Welsh Park in Rockville over the weekend, though no injuries were initially reported. Gunshots rang out at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the park, when Oates allegedly fired several shots in the parking lot and fled in a black Honda Civic that was later recovered in Frederick County. During the investigators, police say that detectives det…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Maryland Medical Office Damaged By Driver In Single-Vehicle Crash Maryland Medical Office Damaged By Driver In Single-Vehicle Crash
Maryland Medical Office Damaged By Driver In Single-Vehicle Crash A driver wouldn't have had to go far to seek assistance after crashing through the front of a medical office in Carroll County. First responders from the Westminster Fire Department were called on Tuesday afternoon to the Carroll Precision Imaging Center on Poole Road, when a driver accidentally crashed into the front of the building. Carroll Precision Imaging Center on Poole Road in Westminster. Google Maps street view According to fire officials, upon arrival at the office, they found a single vehicle that struck the front and went partially inside the building, leaving extensive …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Man Hitched Ride From Maryland To DC On School Bus: Prince George's County Police (DEVELOPING) Man Hitched Ride From Maryland To DC On School Bus: Prince George's County Police (DEVELOPING)
Man Hitched Ride From Maryland To DC On School Bus: Prince George's County Police (Developing) A strange scene played out on Wednesday afternoon when a man boarded a Prince George's County school bus and was later dropped off in the DC area before coming back, according to police. An investigation was launched at 2:05 p.m. on Oct. 23, when a passerby called 911 after spotting a grown man getting on the bus in the 4100 block of Suitland Road, which was occupied by three elementary school students. Officers were dispatched and stopped the bus at 2:09 p.m., when they determined the students were all safe; however, the man who was seen getting into the bus was no longer on board. The pr…

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by Zak Failla