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Montgomery County Department of Police

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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by Zak Failla
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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by Zak Failla
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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by Zak Failla
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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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Charged For Multiple Indecent Exposure Incidents At Maryland Businesses: Police Man Charged For Multiple Indecent Exposure Incidents At Maryland Businesses: Police
Man Charged For Multiple Indecent Exposure Incidents At Maryland Businesses: Police A man who first exposed himself to employees at an area restaurant then at Safeway in Montgomery County days later has been charged, now investigators are concerned there could be additional victims. Steven Randolph, 31, was arrested at a bus stop and charged with indecent exposure following a pair of incidents that were reported at multiple businesses. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, early on Thursday, Oct. 31, Randolph walked into Olney Ledo's Pizza in the 3400 block of Olney Laytonsville Road while employees were prepping the restaurant for the day. Randolph was…

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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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by Zak Failla
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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by Zak Failla
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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by Zak Failla
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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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
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
News
Home Invader Targeting Elderly Women In Maryland Apprehended, Police Say Home Invader Targeting Elderly Women In Maryland Apprehended, Police Say
Home Invader Targeting Elderly Women In Maryland Apprehended, Police Say The man who has been targeting and assaulting elderly women during home invasions in Montgomery County has been identified and arrested, police say. Silver Spring resident Devin Jones, 34, is facing charges for two recent home invasions where he exposed himself to one woman, attempted to sexually assault another, and detectives believe there could be more victims. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, at around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, officers were called to the 3700 block of Greencastle Road, where an 88-year-old woman reported that a man forced his way into…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Son Charged With Murder After 88-Year-Old Father Found Dead In Maryland: Police Son Charged With Murder After 88-Year-Old Father Found Dead In Maryland: Police
Son Charged With Murder After 88-Year-Old Father Found Dead In Maryland: Police A Maryland man is facing a murder charge after his 88-year-old father - who shares the same home with him - was found with fatal injuries, police say. Fabian Newsome, 48, was arrested by members of the US Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force in connection to the death of David Newsome in the 12000 block of Sandalwood Lane in Silver Spring this week. Shortly before 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called to the area, where they found the elder Newsome dead, with apparent trauma to his body. His body was taken to the …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Murder Charge Dropped For Maryland Mom Keeping Kids In Filth: Authorities Murder Charge Dropped For Maryland Mom Keeping Kids In Filth: Authorities
Murder Charge Dropped For Maryland Mom Keeping Kids In Filth: Authorities A murder charge was dropped for a Maryland mom after her teenage daughter died and five of her other children were found living in filth, authorities said. Cynthia Moore, 41, of Montgomery Village, was found guilty by a judge of six counts of child neglect following a seven-day bench trial, the Montgomery State's Attorney's Office announced Wednesday, Oct. 16. Moore was initially indicted on charges of second-degree depraved heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child neglect, as was her husband, Dominique Moore, 46. Domonique is scheduled to go to trial next month. …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Loving Father Found Stabbed To Death In Median Of Maryland Roadway: Police Loving Father Found Stabbed To Death In Median Of Maryland Roadway: Police
Loving Father Found Stabbed To Death In Median Of Maryland Roadway: Police A 45-year-old found stabbed to death in Montgomery County is being remembered as "a vibrant man, who made everyone laugh until tears came out of our eyes (who) was the greatest story teller who could make you feel fear, happiness, and utter amazement."  Silver Spring resident Hesler Saul Sanchez Cruz was found suffering from fatal stab wounds on Sunday morning following an alleged attack by Emilio Ortiz Alba, 30, who has been charged with his murder. Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 13, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police in the area of University Boulevard an…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Hate Crime Under Investigation After Rabbi Assaulted On Maryland Sidewalk: Police Hate Crime Under Investigation After Rabbi Assaulted On Maryland Sidewalk: Police
Hate Crime Under Investigation After Rabbi Assaulted On Maryland Sidewalk: Police A hate crime is under investigation in Montgomery County after a rabbi was attacked by a 47-year-old man with a wooden stake near several places of worship. Junior Michael Reese, who has no fixed address, will face charges following an incident in Silver Spring early on Monday morning, officials say. Members of the Montgomery County Department of Police were called shortly before 10 a.m. on Oct. 14 to the 1400 block of Arcola Avenue, not far from the Silver Spring Jewish Center and Ohr Hatorah to investigate a reported assault. 1400 block of Arcola Avenue in Silver Spring Google Ma…

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by Zak Failla
Traffic
Maryland Motorcyclist, 22, Killed In Crash With Minivan Identified By Police Maryland Motorcyclist, 22, Killed In Crash With Minivan Identified By Police
Maryland Motorcyclist, 22, Killed In Crash With Minivan Identified By Police New details have been released by the Montgomery County Department of Police after a 22-year-old motorcyclist was killed over the weekend. Rockville resident Baeley Aubrey Thackston has been identified by investigators as the person who was killed on Saturday night after being struck by the driver of a minivan in North Bethesda, officials say. (~730p) NB Rt355 Rockville Pike at Tuckerman Lane, collision, involves motorcycle, traumatic injury, some lanes blocked — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) October 13, 2024 Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12, investigators determined that the drive…

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by Zak Failla
Traffic
Traffic Slowed After Overturned Truck Spills Debris Into Busy Maryland Roadway Traffic Slowed After Overturned Truck Spills Debris Into Busy Maryland Roadway
Traffic Slowed After Overturned Truck Spills Debris Into Busy Maryland Roadway Some motorists were held up on Wednesday afternoon in Montgomery County when a dump truck overturned and spilled debris into a busy roadway. Fourth District units were called at around 2 p.m. on Oct. 9 to a stretch of Layhill Road near Norbeck Road, which led to delays for some travelers heading through the area in the area of Aspen Hill. Twitter/@4DCommander Traffic was still able to get by amid ongoing cleanup efforts, though things were slowed as they removed the debris and worked to get the truck upright. TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A single vehicle collision has southbound Layhill Road shu…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Giant Food Employees Help Police ID Suspect Arrested For Assault In Maryland Store Giant Food Employees Help Police ID Suspect Arrested For Assault In Maryland Store
Giant Food Employees Help Police ID Suspect Arrested For Assault In Maryland Store Eagle-eyed employees at a Montgomery County grocery store assisted police in apprehending a man who attempted to return stolen merchandise for cash and assaulted an employee along the way.  Rafael Stedman Diaz-Powell, 25, who has no known address, returned to the scene of the crime and found himself behind bars for his troubles in connection to a strong-armed robbery over the summer. On Tuesday, June 25, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called before noon to the Giant Food in the 7100 block of Arlington Road in Bethesda, investigate a reported robbery. Inv…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police ID 18-Year-Old Found Shot To Death In Playground Area Of Maryland Park Police ID 18-Year-Old Found Shot To Death In Playground Area Of Maryland Park
Police ID 18-Year-Old Found Shot To Death In Playground Area Of Maryland Park An investigation has been launched in Montgomery County after an 18-year-old from Silver Spring was shot to death in an area playground, authorities say. Christian Ortiz has been identified by police as the person who was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound near Seek Lane Park earlier this week, investigators announced on Thursday. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, officers were called at around 9:45 p.m. on Oct. 1 to the area of Barron Street Drive and Domer Avenue, where there were reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found Ortiz in the playground …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Second Teen Charged As Adult For Murders At Maryland Park Months Later: Police Second Teen Charged As Adult For Murders At Maryland Park Months Later: Police
Second Teen Charged As Adult For Murders At Maryland Park Months Later: Police A second teenager will be charged as an adult following an ongoing investigation after two men were found murdered at a Silver Spring park over the summer, the Montgomery County Department of Police announced. Quincy Johnson, of Takoma Park, and Lanham resident D'Andre Wint, both 20, were found shot to death at the Nolte Local Park in the 200 block of Denver Road late in the afternoon on Sunday, May 26. Our officers along with @mcpnews are on scene of a shooting a Nolte Local Park in Silver Spring.Officers located two shooting victims. More information will be released as it be…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Maryland High School Student Killed Crashing Into Telephone Pole Identified By Police Maryland High School Student Killed Crashing Into Telephone Pole Identified By Police
Maryland High School Student Killed Crashing Into Telephone Pole Identified By Police The high school senior in Maryland who was killed in a crash with a telephone pole in Montgomery County had "high hopes of attending college in the fall," according to her family. Sherwood High School student Sanaa Virtue Vil, 17, has been identified by police as the person killed on Wednesday morning in a single-vehicle crash in Sandy Spring. Shortly before 8 a.m. on Oct. 2, police say that Vil was driving a red 2005 Toyota Corolla north on Norwood Road near Ashton Way on the way to school when it failed to navigate a turn and struck a wooden telephone pole. Traffic Advisory: A single-…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Family With Baby Displaced By Maryland House Fire, Officials Say Family With Baby Displaced By Maryland House Fire, Officials Say
Family With Baby Displaced By Maryland House Fire, Officials Say Seven people and a baby were displaced by an early morning fire that is believed to have broken out in a family's garage in Montgomery County. At approximately 5 a.m., first responders were called to a two-story home on Duvall Street near West Deer Park, where they were met by flames showing through the roof of the residence with smoke billowing through the area. A team of around 50 firefighters were able to get the fire under control quickly, though there was enough damage that seven adults, an infant, and dog were all displaced. First responders believe that the fire began in the garage,…

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by Zak Failla
News
Gunman Responsible For 'Hail Of Bullets' Caught On School Bus Camera In Maryland Sentenced Gunman Responsible For 'Hail Of Bullets' Caught On School Bus Camera In Maryland Sentenced
Gunman Responsible For 'Hail Of Bullets' Caught On School Bus Camera In Maryland Sentenced Zachary Ciccantelli will avoid nearly 500 years in prison, but will still spend decades behind bars for initiating a Maryland shooting for an incident caught on camera, authorities announced on Friday. Ciccantelli, 24, was sentenced to 490 years in prison, with all but 45 years to serve, followed by five years of supervised release after he and getaway driver Callen Baker were convicted in connection to "a hail of gunfire" that was reported in Rockville in March 2023. Prosecutors say that on March 1, 2023, Ciccantelli and Baker arrived in the neighborhood in the 700 block of Monroe Street a…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Man With Grill Fork Killed By Officer In MD Was Working to Aid, Reunite With Mother In Honduras Man With Grill Fork Killed By Officer In MD Was Working to Aid, Reunite With Mother In Honduras
Man With Grill Fork Killed By Officer In MD Was Working to Aid, Reunite With Mother In Honduras A grieving family is seeking the community's assistance as thy hope to send a man to his mother in Honduras after he was killed in an officer-involved shooting when police mistook a grill fork for a weapon in Montgomery County. At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, officers were called to the 3400 block of Janet Road in Wheaton after there was an emergency call placed about an assault in progress. Upon arrival, members of the Montgomery County Department of Police spotted a man, identified as 31-year-old Wheaton resident Melvin Omar Chavez-Paz in a yard holding an object in…

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by Zak Failla
News
Gunman Responsible For 'Hail Of Bullets' Caught On School Bus Camera In Maryland Sentenced Gunman Responsible For 'Hail Of Bullets' Caught On School Bus Camera In Maryland Sentenced
Gunman Responsible For 'Hail Of Bullets' Caught On School Bus Camera In Maryland Sentenced Zachary Ciccantelli will avoid nearly 500 years in prison, but will still spend decades behind bars for initiating a Maryland shooting for an incident caught on camera, authorities announced on Friday. Ciccantelli, 24, was sentenced to 490 years in prison, with all but 45 years to serve, followed by five years of supervised release after he and getaway driver Callen Baker were convicted in connection to "a hail of gunfire" that was reported in Rockville in March 2023. Prosecutors say that on March 1, 2023, Ciccantelli and Baker arrived in the neighborhood in the 700 block of Monroe Street a…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Pedestrian Struck By Driver In Montgomery County Dies At Hospital: Police Pedestrian Struck By Driver In Montgomery County Dies At Hospital: Police
Pedestrian Struck By Driver In Montgomery County Dies At Hospital: Police A 61-year-old man has died at an area hospital after being struck by a driver earlier this week in Montgomery County, police confirmed. Jose Rene Del Cid Ramos has been identified by investigators as the person who was struck by a Nissan Maxima in Rockville on Tuesday night. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, shortly before 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 24, first responders were called to the intersection of Hungerford Road and Beall Avenue, where there were reports of a person who had been struck by a vehicle. Hungerford Dr. in the area of Beall Ave. is closed in both direct…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Virginia Man Busted Breaking Into Maryland Homes By Cell Phone Motion Center: Police Virginia Man Busted Breaking Into Maryland Homes By Cell Phone Motion Center: Police
Virginia Man Busted Breaking Into Maryland Homes By Cell Phone Motion Center: Police A Virginia man who crossed over state lines to burglarize at least two Maryland homes in the middle of the day has been apprehended, authorities announced. Manassas native Gregory Jerome Stamps, 65, is facing charges in Montgomery County after being flagged by a Bethesda homeowner who caught him on camera red-handed breaking into an area home. According to a spokesperson from the Montgomery County Department of Police, Stamps was arrested in connection to at least two residential burglaries that were reported earlier this months in the 6000 block of Brookes Lane in Bethesda. Investigators …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Investigators ID Man Holding Grill Fork Killed During Officer-Involved Maryland Shooting Investigators ID Man Holding Grill Fork Killed During Officer-Involved Maryland Shooting
Investigators ID Man Holding Grill Fork Killed During Officer-Involved Maryland Shooting The Independent Investigations Division (IID) has identified the griller and veteran police corporal implicated in the officer-involved shooting in Montgomery County over the weekend, according to the Maryland Attorney General's Office. At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Saturday night, officers were called to the 3400 block of Janet Road in Wheaton after there was an emergency call placed about an assault in progress. Upon arrival, members of the Montgomery County Department of Police spotted a man, identified as 31-year-old Wheaton resident Melvin Omar Chavez-Paz in a yard holding an obje…

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by Zak Failla
News
ATM Thieves Used Van As Battering Ram To Break Into Maryland Gas Station: Police (VIDEO) ATM Thieves Used Van As Battering Ram To Break Into Maryland Gas Station: Police (VIDEO)
ATM Thieves Used Van As Battering Ram To Break Into Maryland Gas Station: Police (Video) A curiously coordinated smash-and-grab robbery using a 16-passenger van to break into a gas station and steal an ATM is under investigation in Montgomery County, police say. The group of robbers used the van as a battering ram to shatter the storefront of the Shell gas station in the 21000 block of Frederick Road in Germantown this week, before taking off with the ATM. In video released by the Montgomery County Department of Police, the group can be seen backing into the front of the gas station before several suspects got out, dragged the machine out of the store, and tossed it in the back…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Teen Shot During Football Game Outside Maryland Park Expected To Survive, Police Say Teen Shot During Football Game Outside Maryland Park Expected To Survive, Police Say
Teen Shot During Football Game Outside Maryland Park Expected To Survive, Police Say A teenager was struck by a bullet over the weekend after gunshots rang out while a group of minors were playing football in a Montgomery County park, officials say. An investigation was launched by police following a reported shooting on Saturday afternoon at the South Valley Park in the 19000 block of Watkins Mill Road in Montgomery Village. The incident was called in shortly before 5:45 p.m. on Sept. 21. According to a spokesperson from the Montgomery County Department of Police, officers were called to the park to investigate a reported shooting, which left a 17-year-old suffering from …

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by Zak Failla