Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Using red light and speed cameras, targeted stings and other methods, police departments and municipalities hope to prevent pedestrian-related accidents, after a number of fatalities.
Pedestrian-related accidents have seen an unfortunate increase recently, particularly in Montgomery County. There have been 14 pedestrian accidents just this year, five of which resulted in fatalities. There was even one incident in Bethesda where a car struck an infant in a stroller being pushed across a crosswalk. “We, the parents of students attending Bethesda Elementary School, are horrified by the number of traffic accidents and near-accidents in and around downtown Bethesda,” said an online petition launched by Bethesda elementary school parents. “The safety of this walkable haven is at risk.” While there haven’t been as many pedestrian-related deaths in Prince George’s County this year, College Park officials recognize that …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Police said the Damascus resident ran one man down with his car, targeted another.
A Damascus man has pleaded guilty to second-degree depraved heart murder in connection to the December hit-and-run death of a Potomac man in Gaithersburg, the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office said. "Depraved heart murder is the reckless action and wonton disregard for human life that a defendant takes or has towards another," according to a release from the State's Attorney's office. Fernando Josue Valenzuela, 20, of the unit block of Valley Park Court in Damascus, faces up to 20 years in prison. Under the plea agreement, he will not be tried on the original charges of one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. In March, Valenzuela was charged in the death of Billie Jay Genies, 34, of the …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Gaithersburg police partnered with Montgomery County and Rockville city police to aggressively enforce the nighttime use of seatbelts.
Gaithersburg police partnered with officers from Montgomery County and the city of Rockville to issue 139 traffic citations in a Friday night sting to aggressively enforce the nighttime use of seatbelts, county police announced. From approximately 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., officers were stationed at entrance and exit ramps of I-270 and I-495 and observed vehicles for seatbelt non-compliance and other safety violations, according to county police. The following citations were issued by police: Capt. Thomas Didone of Montgomery County police knows the vital importance of buckling up, both professionally and personally. “I’ve investigated hundreds of crashes in my career but, in 2008, tragedy hit home,” Didone said in a statement. “My son – a…
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The following information was provided by the Montgomery County Police Department. Arrests or charges do not indicate a conviction.
Montgomery County police released a crime summary for April 15 through April 23. The following incidents were reported in Gaithersburg: For questions about this blotter, email greg.cohen@patch.com.
Montgomery County police say drivers aren't yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks.
A cluster of Montgomery County police officers will give their traditional blue uniforms a rest this month, donning plainclothes to conduct a series of "pedestrian stings" at high-traffic intersections and ticket drivers who refuse to yield, said Capt. Thomas Didone, director of the traffic division. This year, police have received complaints that drivers aren't properly yielding to pedestrians at certain intersections. Moreover, investigators are finding that more pedestrian incidents have been the driver's fault. Officers would typically attempt to enforce that kind of law by driving around a high-traffic area and looking for drivers not following the rules, said Didone. That's not very efficient, he said. Now, police will pose as …
Friday, May 3, 2013
One man was apprehended; two others are at large, Montgomery County police said.
Police are looking for two men—one of whom police said had a gun—after reports of a home-invasion robbery in Derwood on Friday. The victims were robbed at gunpoint by three men in the 7600 block of Moccasin Lane, said Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery County police spokesman. One man was taken into police custody at the scene, Starks said. Police received the call around 4 p.m. The robbers knew the victims, Starks said.
Police: The suspect was located within the wooded area behind Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse and placed under arrest.
A 26-year-old man was was charged with two counts of second degree burglary and theft less than $1,000 in connection to two burglaries of a Gaithersburg veterinary hospital, police say. Joshua Richards, of no fixed address, twice broke into Negola's Ark Veterinary Hospital, located at 9401 Fields Road, according to Gaithersburg police. After the second incident, which occurred on April 30 at 2:17 a.m., Richards was observed fleeing on foot to the rear of the building, police said. He was later located within the wooded area behind Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse and placed under arrest. Two days earlier, police said they responded to the veterinary hospital at 3:57 a.m. for the report of a commercial burglary alarm. Richards is also believed to …
39.1115
-77.19238
9401 Fields Rd, Gaithersburg, MD
/articles/arrest-made-in-burglary-of-gaithersburg-veterinary-hospital
/locations/9353764
39.113261
-77.186663
Bugaboo Creek Steak House
15710 Shady Grove Rd, Gaithersburg, MD
/articles/arrest-made-in-burglary-of-gaithersburg-veterinary-hospital
390324
/locations/9353765
Monday, April 29, 2013
The following information was provided by the Montgomery County Police Department. Arrests or charges do not indicate a conviction.
Montgomery County police released a crime summary for April 8 through April 16. The following incidents were reported in Gaithersburg: For questions about this blotter, email greg.cohen@patch.com.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger will join 6th District officers for the meeting.
Montgomery County police will hold a public safety meeting in Montgomery Village on Tuesday, May 7, to discuss crime and crime stats, and provide an update on additional officers scheduled for the 6th district. Residents of and business owners in Montgomery Village are encouraged to participate in this discussion, which will include Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger, 6th District Commander Willie Parker-Loan and Patrol Services Bureau Chief Darryl McSwain. Police said the meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Marion Community Center, located at 8821 East Village Avenue. For more information call Director of Government Relations Sharon Levine at 301-948-0110, ext. 2313 or e-mail slevine@mvf.org.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The following incidents were provided by Montgomery County Police. Arrests do not indicate conviction. This is not an all-encompassing list. Please click on map markers—color-coded by district—to read about the incidents.
Costco Gas Man
3:06 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
According to the Md. DMV pedestrians are at fault 70% of the time. more ›