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Goings on in Gaithersburg, Maryland

February 18th, 2008

District 6 Crime Report for 02/06/08

OK, this is the last one until the County posts more reports. From February 6:

P1 Beat:

  • An assault occurred on Wednesday, 1/30, just before 8:00 p.m. at West Deer Park Road. and Duvall Lane in Gaithersburg. Two suspects knocked an adult male off his bicycle with a baseball bat. No property was taken.

    Suspects: B/Ms 18 to 20, 5’7”-5’8”, black baseball caps

  • A robbery occurred sometime between Sat 2/2 and Sunday 2/3 near the Diamond Square Giant, 46 Bureau Drive in Gaithersburg. An adult male was robbed by suspects described as four B/M’s.
  • Vehicle-related thefts occurred on more than one date between 1/29 and 2/06 from overnight to between 8:00 am and10:00 a.m. on both weekday and weekend dates, in the area of the Rio Center at the Washingtonian complex in Gaithersburg. Property taken ranged from stereos to purses to GPS systems.

P2 Beat:

  • Six commercial burglaries occurred between Saturday, 2/2 and Sunday, 2/3 between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to offices at 910 Clopper Road in Gaithersburg. Forced entry. Property was taken.
  • A residential burglary occurred on Thursday, 1/31 between 2:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. in the 800 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard in Gaithersburg. Unknown entry. Property taken.
  • Vehicle-related thefts occurred in many areas of the beat, with the largest number of incidents occurring overnight between Sunday, 2/3 and Monday, 2/4 in the area just north of Great Seneca Highway and Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg. The method of entry for most was described as unknown.

R1 Beat:

  • Vehicle-related thefts occurred overnight from Sunday 2/3 into Monday, 2/4 just south of Montgomery Village Avenue in the Centerway/Harkness Drive area of Montgomery Village. Forced entry. Property was taken.

R2 Beat:

  • A robbery occurred on Sunday, 2/3 around 2:15 a.m. in the 18900 block of Mills Choice Road in Montgomery Village. The adult male victim was approached by three suspects in ski masks. He was not injured. Property was taken.

    Suspect: B/M 5’10”, 150-180 lbs., black Northface jacket, black sweatpants, handgun
    Suspect: B/M 5’7” to 5’8”, 150-170 lbs., black Northface jacket, black jeans
    Suspect: B/M 5’6” to 5’7”, 150-160 lbs., black goose down jacket, black jeans

  • An assault occurred on Tuesday 2/5 around 2:30 p.m. in the 20400 block of Shadow Oak Drive in Montgomery Village. The 15-year-old male victim was assaulted by a known suspect. The suspect struck and injured the victim in the face, and took personal property. Charges are pending.

S1 Beat:

  • A commercial burglary occurred on Thursday 1/31 around 4:30 a.m. at Olympic Auto Parts at 9136 Gaither Road in Gaithersburg. Forced entry. Property taken.

S2 Beat:

  • A theft of copper wiring and piping occurred from two businesses during the first four days of February. At this stage of the investigations, they are not believed to be related.
    • 2/2-2/3 During this weekend, at a first-floor garage under construction at 9901 Medical Center Drive in Rockville.
    • 2/2 At approximately 8:30 a.m. A suspect was seen climbing the fence at Rockingham Construction, 19200 Woodfield Road in Gaithersburg. He fled but left behind his vehicle, a Ford Pickup.
February 18th, 2008

District 6 Crime Report for 01/30/08

Still catching up on the County crime reports. This one from January 30:

P1 Beat:

  • A robbery occurred at Gigi’s Jewelry at 241 Muddy Branch Road in Gaithersburg on Saturday 1/26 around 9:54 p.m. There were four suspects, with at least two of the suspects armed with handguns. Property was taken. Some of the property was recovered around the corner in the 300 block of West Side Drive.

    Suspect: B/M dredlocks, black Northface hooded jacket with fur trim, ski mask
    Suspect: M 6’1”, blue & purple jacket with an orange hood, ski mask
    Suspect: M wearing a black and white camouflage jacket, ski mask
    Suspect: M wearing a black winter coat with tan trim around the hood

  • An aggravated assault occurred involving a mentally unstable individual who attacked two MCP officers with a knife in the 100 block of Timberbrook Lane in Gaithersburg on Wednesday 1/23 around 9:55 p.m. Suspect was taken in for a mental evaluation. Warrant on file.

    Suspect: W/M, 30 years old, 5’10”, 170 lbs.

  • A road rage incident turned into an aggravated assault at Muddy Branch Road and West Deer Park Road in Gaithersburg on Friday 1/25 around 12:30 p.m. The suspect fled after ramming the back of the victim’s vehicle.

    Suspect: B/M, 6’3”, 205 lbs., multicolored Jamaican hat
    Suspect Vehicle: white Chrysler 4-Door, D.C. tags

P2 Beat:

  • The reported rape that occurred at the Motel 6 on Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg on 1/27 at 6:00 a.m. involved a known suspect. Investigation is continuing.
  • A food deliverer was the victim of an armed robbery on Tuesday 1/22 around 8:50 p.m. after responding to a bogus food order on Longpoint Way in Gaithersburg. Upon arriving, the victim was met by a female who displayed a small handgun. A male then came up from behind with a larger handgun. The victim’s delivery money and food were taken. The suspects then stole other property from the victim’s vehicle.

    Suspect: B/F 20 years, black winter coat, black scarf covering her face, small handgun
    Suspect: B/M 20 years, grey winter coat, black scarf over his face, larger handgun

  • Many of the vehicle-related thefts centered around two areas, with each area visited on more than one night. The method of entry was unknown with most victims insisting their vehicle was locked and, as usual, small items like sunglasses and GPs systems were taken.

Cherrywood Lane Neighborhood

Kentlands Neighborhood

R1 Beat:

  • A strong arm robbery occurred at Tunstall Road and Treyford Drive in Montgomery Village on Thursday 1/24 around 4:40 p.m.. Three MS-13 members were caught fleeing the area and arrested; one still having the victim’s cell phone.

    Defendant: H/M 5’8”, 185, 19-years-old
    Defendant: H/M 5’6”, 160, 18-years-old
    Defendant: H/M 5’6”, 170, 21-years-old

  • Two Attempted residential burglaries occurred when unknown suspect(s) tried to break into two townhouses under construction in the 300 block of North Summit Avenue in Gaithersburg, between Tuesday 1/23 and Saturday 1/26 overnight. Attempted forced entry, but no entry was made.

R2 Beat:

  • An aggravated assault occurred on Saturday 1/26 in the 9400 block of Vineyard Haven Drive in Montgomery Village after an argument escalated. The defendant, who was arrested, struck the victim in the head with a hammer.

    Defendant: H/M 5’10”, 185, 31-years-old was arrested.

S1 Beat:

  • An attempted traffic stop at Goshen Road and Midcounty Highway in Gaithersburg at 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday 1/22 escalated to a pursuit, two struck cruisers, and a bailout. The offender was finally subdued in the area of Emory Grove Road and Tea Rose Place.

    Defendant: B/M 23 years, 5’9”, 175 lbs., no fixed address

S2 Beat:

  • Four residential burglaries occurred when homes were broken into in the Flower Hill neighborhood in Gaithersburg on Friday 1/25 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. One neighbor described seeing a B/M 5’8”, 155 lbs., with a dark Northface jacket with grey trim near one address. A suspect has been developed. All involved force. Property was removed at all four homes.

  • Vehicle thefts of Honda Accords continue to occur in the beat with the most recent in the Spiceberry area of Gaithersburg. As with the pattern that began in earnest around January 5, different 1990’s model Accords have been stolen. These latest three probably occurred after midnight on Saturday 1/26. Suspects have been developed.
    • 8100 block of Morning View Drive attempted on a 1991 Accord; purse and jewelry taken
    • 8100 block of Pepper Ridge Way 1996 Accord taken
    • 8200 block of Ironclad Court 1994 Accord taken

February 18th, 2008

More on last night’s suspicious death; now being investigated as a homicide (Update 4)

Update 3: County Police still have not posted press release on their website concerning this issue. However Ernesto Londoño writes in the Washington Post, Robbery Considered Possible Motive in Fatal Attack:

A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing, said it appeared that the victims had been drinking and were walking to a store to buy more alcohol when they were attacked.

Miranda-Fuentes was apparently struck on the head with an object and hit his head on the pavement during the scuffle, the source said. Police have not found the object.

Police said witnesses described the assailants as black males 25 to 35 years old. One was described as about 5 foot 8, of medium build and with cropped hair. He wore a leather zip-up jacket and black jeans. A second attacker was described as about 5 foot 8 and heavyset. He wore a black, hooded sweat shirt. The third was described as about 5 foot 6 and muscular.

The Gazette also has an updated story in today’s print edition, but I cannot find it online. It says that Mr. Miranda-Fuentes was stabbed and likely beaten with a baseball bat and an iron pipe.

Update 4: The above-mentioned Gazette article (by Sebastian Montes) is now online.

Update 2: The Gazette now has an article on this; Sebastian Montes and Meghan Tierney write, Gaithersburg man found dead in his apartment parking lot:

A Gaithersburg man was found dead in the parking lot of his apartment complex Sunday night in what county police are investigating as a homicide.

Police are looking for two suspects in Miranda-Fuentes’ death, said Officer Diane Tillery, community services officer for the county police 6th District station. He was stabbed and beaten, she said.

Update: I received a copy of the following MCPD press release via a neighborhood mailing list; as far as I can tell the police have not posted it online:

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION

For Immediate Release

February 18, 2008

Police Investigate Suspicious Death in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County Police detectives from the Major Crimes Division, Homicide/Sex Section are investigating a suspicious death in Gaithersburg.

Last night at approximately 9:00 p.m., Gaithersburg Police and officers from the 6th District responded to the 500 block of S. Frederick Avenue for an assault and battery in progress that involved multiple subjects. Upon arrival officers found a deceased male in the parking lot of the apartment complex at that address.

The subject has been identified as Aureliano Evelio Miranda-Fuentes, age 42, of the above address in Gaithersburg. Currently detectives are classifying his death as suspicious. The Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore will perform an autopsy where the exact cause and manner of death will be determined.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about this incident to call 240.773.5070. Callers may remain anonymous.

###

PRS/prs

Channel 4 reports:

The victim has been identified as Aureliano Evelio Miranda-Fuentes, 42, of Gaithersburg.

Authorities have classified the death as suspicious. They are awaiting autopsy results for the exact cause and manner of death.

Further details have not been released.

Police are asking anyone with possible information about this incident to call 240-773-5070. Callers may remain anonymous.

February 18th, 2008

Recent City Police Crime Reports, including a suspicious death last night

From the City’s website:

Sunday, February 17, 2008
Undetermined Death

On 02/17/08, at approximately 9:00 p.m., police were dispatched to a fight in progress involving multiple subjects in the 500 block of South Frederick Avenue. Upon arrival, police located a deceased Hispanic 42 year old male in the parking lot. The death is being investigated by Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division and has been classified as suspicious.


Saturday, February 16, 2008

Armed Robbery

On February 16, 2008 at approximately 10:34 p.m., three individuals were approached by four suspects in a brown or black mid-eighties model Cadillac in the 400 block of Girard Street. The suspects produced a handgun, a taser, and three knives and took property and money from all three victims. The suspects fled the scene in the Cadillac in an unknown direction. An investigation is ongoing.

Suspect Vehicle Description: Brown or Black Mid-Eighties Model Cadillac Sedan with a broken passenger side front bumper.
Suspects: One black female and three black males. No further description was provided.


Monday, February 11, 2008

Burglary

Sometime between 5:00 p.m. on 02/08/08 and 8:00 a.m. on 02/11/08, there was a burglary in the 100 block of Odendhal Avenue. The door was pried open and property was taken. A suspect has been identified.