Thursday, May 17, 2012
Teen substance abuse now is similar to the problems of 1993, when authorities were called to action to combat teen drinking and driving, police said.
A year ago this week Montgomery County was rocked by the loss of three Magruder High School students killed in a drunk driving accident. Now, activists say, it’s time for the community to wake up. The Montgomery County Council of PTAs hosted a community action forum Wednesday, gathering police, community leaders, parents, teachers and students to discuss a growing substance and alcohol abuse problem in Montgomery County. “We are far too overrepresentive of drug and alcohol related tragedies. The number one cause of death continues to be alcohol related crashes and teen driving crashes,” said Captain Thomas Didone, director of the Montgomery County Police Traffic Division. “The summary of what’s going on with underage drinking – we’ve …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The estimated cost of renovating the space is $750,000, according to organizers.
When the Third District police station—located at 801 Sligo Ave.—vacates next year, East Silver Spring residents are advocating that an arts center should take the station's place instead of a new housing project. The station will be relocating closer to the Colesville area near the intersection of Colesville Road and New Hampshire Avenue. In 2009, the police station’s move was announced and shortly after Karen Roper, an East Silver Spring Civic Association board member, started her campaign for a community space that would be useful for artists, according a Greater Washington report. The Gateway Arts Center (GAC), spearheaded by Roper and local architects, would serve as a community space for artists who need it. A petition in support of…
The measure was overturned by referendum in 2010 and brought back up by County Executive Isiah Leggett this session.
Despite voters striking down the Montgomery County ambulance fee in a referendum on the ballot in 2010, Montgomery County Council passed the fee again Tuesday with a 6-3 vote. Several councilmembers said there was a misinformation campaign surrounding the 2010 referendum vote. Councilmembers Councilman Phil Andrews (D, Dist-3), Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) and George Leventhal (D-At Large) were opposed. While Andrews implored councilmembers to respect the will of the voters, some of the county lawmakers were disturbed at how voters were educated about the ambulance fee. Many residents who voted against the fee thought county residents would have to pay the $300 to $800 fee per ambulance ride, Councilman Mark Elrich (D-At Large) said. “That…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A new weekly feature allows readers to ask the Montgomery County Police Department questions.
Patch has partnered with Montgomery County Police to answer residents questions about crime, public safety, police procedures and the law in a new feature called Ask A Cop. So District 3 residents, ask a cop about laws you are curious about, how often they patrol your neighborhood and why you got that ticket. Ask your question in the comments section below or e-mail Editor Sonia Dasgupta at sonia@patch.com. We'll get an answer to your question by the following Tuesday.
Monday, May 14, 2012
The robbery occurred on April 27, 2012.
Montgomery County Police are asking for the public’s help to locate two suspects involved in the robbery of a 7-11 near White Oak. The convenience store located at—10203 New Hampshire Avenue—was robbed on April 27. In a video released on Friday, May 11 it shows two men walking into the store wearing masks and holding handguns, where they confront two employees who were in the store at the time. The two suspects pointed their handguns at the two employees and demanded that the employees open the cash registers, according to police. Both suspects were last seen leaving the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of money with bags they brought into the store, police said. The first suspect is described as a black male standing 5 feet 7 …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
MoCo police ticketed 197 motorists with seat belt violations.
The Montgomery County Police kicked off its "Click It or Ticket" seat belt campaign Wednesday morning with 35 officers spending two hours on Route 355 issuing citations to motorists for failing to wear them. The two-hour enforcement period yielded 197 seat belt violation citations, three citations for other traffic violations and four warnings, according to a Montgomery County Police news release. The two-hour detail was funded by the Maryland Highway Safety Office. Under Montgomery County law, anyone under 16 years old riding in the back of the car must be using a seat belt and anyone over 16 in the front seat of a car, as an operator or passenger, must buckle up.
The Chevy Chase man charged with starting a fire that damaged 34 apartments in a Terrace Drive building could face up to 34 counts of arson, prosecutors said.
The Chevy Chase man charged with starting a fire that damaged 34 apartments in a building at 2815 Terrace Drive, Chevy Chase, could face up to 34 counts of arson, prosecutors said, The Gazette reported. Abraham Ogazgi Kiflu, 24, is being held on $300,000 bail for allegedly starting the fire in his family's apartment on Tuesday, May 1. The fire spread to 33 other apartments, displacing more than 100 people, The Gazette added. In Maryland, each count of first-degree arson carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, The Gazette reported. Kiflu has already confessed to starting the fire, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Chief Richard Bowers said, Patch reported last week. Two firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Aaron William Murray Lamere, of the 25400 block of Jarl Drive, was arrested Monday for several sex-related offenses.
A Gaithersburg man was arrested Monday for several sex-related offenses, Montgomery County police announced in a press release. Aaron William Murray Lamere, of the 25400 block of Jarl Drive, was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography, four counts of sexual solicitation of a minor, four counts of committing a third degree sex offense, three counts of sexual abuse of a minor, one count of committing a fourth degree sex offense, and two counts of indecent exposure, police said. Lamere, 39, had worked as a media services technician at Silver Spring’s Northwood High School until recently, police said. While investigating a March 14 tip that a Northwood employee—later identified as Lamere—was in possession of child …
Saturday, May 5, 2012
An estranged husband is in police custody, after turning himself in after stabbing his wife.
Montgomery County Police are investigating the fatal stabbing of Silver Spring woman. Her husband turned himself in for the crime and is in custody, according to an NBC Washington report. The body of Ana Ayala, 47, was found in the front passenger seat of a car around 8:15 a.m. Saturday in the 8600 block of Garland Avenue. Ayala was later pronounced dead from her wounds at a local hospital, the report states. Ayala's estranged husband, Hector Granados, 44, turned himself into police at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, according to NBC's report.
This week's top Montgomery County news.
Catch up on the news you missed this week including a budget proposal for a larger police force in Gaithersburg, what Potomac looked like 400 million years ago and a Twitter gun threat at Quince Orchard High School. QO Administrators Investigated Twitter Gun Threat Tuesday NORTH POTOMAC - Early Tuesday morning, a student notified the Quince Orchard High School administration of a Twitter post suggesting a student might bring a gun to school. After an investigation, it was determined there was no credible threat, according to a letter sent home to parents by principal Carole Working. Read the full story on North Potomac-Darnestown Patch. Young Heroin Overdose Survivor Warns Peers GERMANTOWN - Lea Edgecomb never regained the ability to …
Joe Thomas
5:23 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012
Not that it makes a huge difference but there were two girls killed in that wreck on River Road. Not three. Didone gets that wrong all of the time. I doubt seriously if there is any epidemic. its kids being teenagers. Yesterday six girls were found drinking in some woods near Great Seneca Hghwy. You would have thought it was the capture of John Dillinger. Kids are going to drink just like we … more ›