Police Report: May15-21

The Mount Rainier Police Department’s weekly report is not intended to be a listing of every incident or call for service handled by the police department, but merely a general summary of incidents that may be of interest to the community. Some reports may be outside the date parameters due to extended investigations or other circumstances. Some cases are not included at all due to ongoing investigations.

May 21^st:

3500 block of Perry Street: Emergency petition – 12:01am. The father of a 24 year old woman called police because his daughter was out of control and destroying property in the family home. Officers spoke with the woman and learned that earlier in the day she sent her father a text in which she threatened to have herself harmed; and that she had not been taking her depression medication. Officers took her into custody, transported her to Washington Adventist Hospital and released her to the medical staff for an emergency psychiatric evaluation.

4000 block of 33^rd Street: Missing person – 7:30am. The wife of a 48 year old man reported her husband missing. She said that she last spoke with him at about 7:30am on the 20^th. At about 10:35am officers were notified that the man had been found deceased in his beach house in Talbot County. The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into his death.

3300 block of Perry Street: Urinating in public – 6:40pm. Officers responded for the report of a man urinating in public. They located him and found that he was intoxicated and did not have any identification with him. He was taken into custody and transported to DOC in Hyattsville for charges and identification.

4700 block of 25^th Street: Vehicle impound – 11:15pm. Officers impounded a 2012 Toyota for blocking a private driveway.

May 20^th:

4200 block of 28^th Street: Vehicle impound – 7:50am. Officers impounded a 1998 Nissan for displaying tags that expired in January of 2016.

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Fraud – 6pm-6:30pm. Three additional victims reported as having purchased fraudulent airline tickets from Balbuena Travel. The purchases were made in January, March and April of this year.

May 19^th:

2700 block of Arundel Road: Warrant service – 6:55am. Officers stopped a man who they suspected had an open arrest warrant. Officers confirmed the warrant charging him with 4^th degree burglary issued through the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.  

3100 block of Buchanan Street: Theft from auto - 8am. The owner of a 2006 Dodge van told officers that he came out to his vehicle this morning and discovered that someone had broken in and stolen several items of his personal property. Further investigation revealed that the front driver’s door lock had pry marks on it and entry was made through that door.

May 18^th:

3800 block of 33^rd Street: Missing person – 11:50am. Officers responded for the report of a missing adult male. The man’s parents told the officers that they last saw their son on the 14^th. From past experience the officers knew that the man is bipolar and had recently attempted to commit suicide. Further investigation revealed that the man had been admitted to the Howard University Hospital Emergency Room after trying to commit suicide and had been run over by a vehicle in DC. Officer’s notified the family of his location and condition.

Rhode Island Ave and 34^th Street: M/V collision – 4:10pm. The driver of a 2007 Volvo stopped for a red light at the bus terminal. The driver of a 1998 Nissan failed to reduce his speed and collided with the rear end of the Volvo. There were no injuries.

3700 block of 34^th Street: CDS possession – 8pm. Officers stopped to investigate a suspicious person in the backyard of a residence on Newton Street. The officers noticed the odor of PCP coming from the man and when they tried to question him he fled on foot. Officers were able to apprehend the man just across Eastern Avenue in DC after deploying a Taser weapon. The man was found in possession of marijuana and admitted to recently smoking PCP. He was charged with CDS possession on a criminal summons issued by a District Court Commissioner.

4300 block of Newton Street: Warrant service – 9:50pm. Officers stopped to investigate a suspicious person loitering near a vacant house. Further investigation revealed that the man had an open arrest warrant through Prince George’s County for failing to appear in court on a DUI charge. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

2900 block of Allison Street: Destruction of property – 10:40pm. Officers responded for the report of a domestic disturbance. When they arrived they learned that three men had been involved in an argument that turned into a fight in the hallway. During the fight the men destroyed a wooden handrail and knocked two holes in the hallway wall. The incident was photographed and documented. All information will be referred to apartment management to see if they would like to pursue charges.

3700 block of 37^th Street: Assault – 11:40pm. Officers responded for the report of an assault that had just occurred. When they arrived they found the victim suffering from lacerations to his head and face. Further investigation revealed that the victim had been drinking and stopped to speak with some of his neighbors. A verbal altercation ensued and eventually turned physical. The victim was punched repeatedly by several of the men and left in the street as they walked away. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The officers tried to interview the victim but because of his injuries and his level of intoxication he was unable to give a full statement. The victim was only able to say that he did not remember what happened and that the suspects were friends with a neighbor. Officers were able to obtain surveillance footage from a neighbor’s house showing four possible suspects leaving the area. The investigation is still on going.

May 17^th:

2300 block of Varnum Street: Theft – 4pm. The victim told officers that after shopping she left her cell phone on the sales counter. She went to another store on Varnum Street and had a conversation with a man who flirted with her. She left the store and realized that she did not have her phone. When she called her number the man who she spoke with answered and said he would leave the phone at the Grand China restaurant. She went to the restaurant but the phone was not there.

3200 block of Chillum Road: Criminal citation – Officers issued a man a criminal citation for drinking in public.

3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Fraud – Various times. Two additional victims reported as having purchased fraudulent airline tickets from Balbuena Travel. The purchases were made in late March and early April this year.

4300 block of 28^th Place: Vandalism/theft – 6:20pm. The owner of a 2010 Nissan Altima told officers that she came out to her vehicle and discovered a scratch on the passenger side of the vehicle extending from the rear quarter panel to the headlight. She also noticed that her apartment door was defaced with a black marker and her welcome door mat was missing. She suspects that her downstairs neighbor is responsible due to ongoing disputes that have been addressed with management.

3100 block of Queens Chapel Road (Advanced Auto): Theft – 8:35pm. The store clerk told officers that she was discussing the sale of brake pads with a customer who asked to see other merchandise. She left the sales counter momentarily to check on the customer’s request and when she returned he had left the store. She later looked at surveillance footage with the officers and saw that the man had gone behind the counter and stole the brake pads. 

2900 block of Allison Street: Domestic Assault – 10:05pm. The victim told officers she and her husband (suspect) became engaged in a domestic argument that turned physical. The suspect choked her and hit her with a closed fist several times before fleeing the scene. She said that she has a protective order against him that was issued in DC but that he has permission to be at her Maryland address for supervised visits with his children. She screened positive on a lethality assessment and spoke with a counselor at the Family Crisis center. She was advised of her options with a District Court Commissioner.

May 16^th:

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Fraud (x3) – Various times. Throughout the day officers took reports from three different victims regarding the fraudulent sale of airline tickets from Balbuena Travel and Lucero Travel. All purchases took place in April of this year. The business is now closed and the owner has been charged with multiple counts of theft and fraud and is currently incarcerated on $20,000 bond awaiting trial. We expect additional victims to come forward as the case progresses.

4400 block of 28th Place: EPS – 10:55pm. Officers responded for the report of a man threatening to do harm to himself and others. The man’s father told the officers that his son had recently been released from hospital care and had attempted to drink bleach. The man told officers that he wanted to die. He was taken into custody and transported by EMS personnel to Washington Adventist Hospital. He was released to the medical staff for an emergency psychiatric evaluation.

May 15^th:

Nothing significant to report.

Citizens are reminded to PLEASE call and report suspicious activity. Even if you choose not to provide your name or other personal information, we still need your help as extra eyes and ears in the community.

See or Hear Something?

Say Something!

We WANT to be bothered! Call 301-985-6565/6566.