Retired MRPD Chief's Discussion

There are no significant incidents to report. As a reminder, the MRPD administrative offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays from midnight tonight until Monday December 1st at 9 am. I’d like to wish all of our residents a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

3100 block of Queens Chapel Road: At about 5:30 pm officers responded for the report of an unattended death. When the officers arrived they were met by the decedent’s roommate. She told the officers that she last saw the deceased alive when she left for work at about 11 pm on the 23rd. When she returned home this afternoon she found him on the living room couch unresponsive. She called 911 and when medics arrived at about 5:20 pm they pronounced him dead. The officers were able to make contact with the decedent’s doctor who told them that he had a pace maker, suffered from high blood pressure and prostate cancer. No foul play was detected or suspected. The State Medical Examiner and PGPD homicide detectives responded to the scene. Family members were also contacted and responded. The Medical Examiner released the body of the decedent to the family for funeral arrangements. 4600 block of 30th Street: At about 6:45 pm officers responded for the report of a citizen armed robbery. T

Friday November 21 : 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 7:10 pm officers stopped a man who was seen urinating on the wall of the police station. The man was also found to be in possession of a quantity of marijuana. He was arrested and charged with both crimes and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. Saturday November 22 : 3400 block of Newton Street : At about 12:30 am officers responded for the report of a woman screaming and being assaulted. When the officers arrived they detained an individual for investigation. As they were questioning him another man began yelling obscenities at the officers from his residence. He came out of his home, with his mother, and continued to berate the officers. The officers instructed the man to go back into his residence and cease interfering with their investigation. The man refused to go back inside and instead approached the officers in an aggressive manner and became more loud and disorderly. The man was advised a final time

I received this earlier today courtesy of CPL Jim Flynn of the Bladensburg Police Department: For those of you who have a vehicle that has a remote entry device, you may also have a handy burglar/emergency alarm that you probably don’t think about. Most of these remote entry devices have a panic button that activates your vehicle’s security alarm system. Test it. It will activate from almost anywhere inside your house and will keep honking and flashing the lights until either your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the remote entry fob. It works if your vehicle is parked in your driveway or garage. So, the next time you come home for the night and start to put your keys away think of this: Put your car keys beside your bed when you retire for the night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone tries to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, within a few se

I received an e-mail from representatives of Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video regarding their store closings. The following information has been posted to their web site at http://www.moviegallery.com/company/blog.aspx . The information has been removed from my original post. It has recently come to our attention that there is information circulating the Internet regarding Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video store closures, which would have implications regarding gift card redemption. We would like to inform you that this information is not accurate. At this time there are no plans in place to close any of our Movie Gallery or Hollywood Video retail locations. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to serving you in our stores. Sincerely, Sherif Mityas Chief Operating Officer and President, Retail Operations Movie Gallery, Inc.

Holiday shoppers should be very careful when giving store brand gift certificates or gift cards this holiday season. If you already have a gift card or certificate use them or they may become useful only as a collector’s item! Ann Taylor : Closing 117 stores nationwide. A company spokeswoman said the company hasn’t revealed which stores will be shuttered. It will let the stores that will close this fiscal year know over the next month. Eddie Bauer : Will close even more stores. Eddie Bauer has already closed 27 shops in the first quarter and plans to close up to two more outlet stores by the end of the year. Cache : Women's retailer Cache announced that it is closing 20 to 23 stores this year. Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherine’s : Closing 150 stores nationwide. The owner of retailers Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherine's Plus Sizes will close about 150 under performing stores this year. The company hasn't provided a list of specific store closures and can't say when i

3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue (MRPD station): At about 8:30 am an individual walked into the MRPD station to turn herself in on an open warrant. A MILES/NCIC check confirmed that she had an open warrant through Prince George’s County for 2nd degree assault and malicious destruction of property. She was taken into custody and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 3400 block of Perry Street: At about 2 pm officers took a report of an injured person. The woman told officers that while walking to Mount Rainier City Hall to attend a community meeting on November 17th she fell stepped into an open hole surrounded by a tree grate. This caused her to fall and injure the left side of her body. She did not require medical attention and just wanted to report the incident to alert the City of the hazard. 3300 block of Chillum Road: At about 7:10 pm officers responded to investigate a two-car collision. Ambulance/Medics responded and tended to both vehicles’ occupants. None of the

Rhode Island Avenue @ Eastern Avenue: At about 10:15 am officers effected a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle. Investigation revealed that the driver was wanted on an open warrant through Prince George's County Sheriff's Office for failure to appear on a traffic charge dating back to 2000. He was arrested without incident and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

3700 block of 37th Street: At about 1 am officers responded to assist the fire department with traffic control while they battled a house fire. One vacant house was completely destroyed by the fire and two adjacent houses suffered fire damage. No one was injured. The State Fire Marshall will conduct a follow-up investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Friday November 14: 4400 block of 28th Place: At about 8:20 am officers took a report of a vandalism to auto. The victim told the officers that sometime during the previous night person(s) unknown flattened two tires on her personal vehicle. The victim believes the crime was committed by her estranged husband; however she did not see him do it. The two are in the process of a divorce and had a heated argument over the phone the previous evening. 2900 block of Shepherd Street: At about 11:50 am officers effected a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle was checked trough MVA/NCIC and found to have an FTA fugitive warrant through NY State. He was arrested and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 3500 block of Perry Street: At about 6:30 pm officers responded for a report of a citizen robbery. The victim told the officers that he was walking home when he was approached from behind by several individuals who threw victim to the grou

Wednesday November 12: 33rd Street & Bunker Hill Road: At about 10:10 am officers received a citizen complaint of an individual drinking alcohol in the gazebo park. The individual was located and the violation confirmed. He was issued a criminal citation and sent on his way without incident 4700 block of 27th Street: At about 2:30 am officers responded for a vehicle fire. The officers discovered a 1999 Plymouth Voyager fully engulfed in flames. Fire board responded and extinguished the blaze. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had been previously reported stolen. Two vehicles which were parked next to the stolen vehicle both sustained fire damage. Shepherd Street & 29th Street: At about 3:40 pm officers assigned to the power shift observed what they believed to be a hand to hand narcotics transaction. One of the subjects involved in the transaction was stopped and found to be in possession of marijuana. He was arrested and transported to DOC In Hyattsville. 39th

On Monday November 17th the Mount Rainier Police Department will host a town hall style meeting for residents of the Artpace building. The meeting will take place at City Hall (1 Municipal Place) beginning at 7 pm. The Chief of Police, City Manager, representatives from Edgewood Management, and local elelected officials will be in attendance to hear and respond to residents' needs and concerns. If you are a resident of ArtSpace, please take time out of your busy schedules to attend this important meeting.

31st and Shepherd Streets: At about 12:30 pm officers working the power shift stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. As the officers approached the vehicle to speak with the driver they smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. Subsequent investigation revealed that the driver was in possession of three bags of marijuana totaling 4.3 grams. The driver was arrested and transported to DOC in Hyattsville without incident.

Monday November 10: 3300 block of Otis Street: At about 8 am officers responded for the report of a residential burglary. The victim told the officers that person(s) unknown forced entry into his home through the basement door. Once inside the individuals stole various items valued at approximately $1,300. The scene was processed with negative results and PGPD detectives were notified for a follow-up investigation. 4100 block of 30th Street: At about 12:30 pm a resident called MRPD to advise that unknown individual obtained funds from his credit union account without authorization from him. The victim contacted his credit union to report the unauthorized transaction and then contacted MRPD to file a report. The officers provided the victim with a police case number and forwarded the information to the PGPD County Financial Crimes unit for follow-up investigation. 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue: At about 12:40 pm officers on patrol observed a subject drinking an alcoholic beverage

Friday November 7: 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue: At about 4:45 pm an individual walked into the Mount Rainier Police Station and told officers that he wanted to turn himself in on an open warrant. A check through Communications revealed that the man had an open warrant for 2nd degree assault. He was taken into custody and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 3800 block of 30th Street: At about 9:30 pm officers responded for the report of an individual who had attempted to harm his father with a knife and caused damage inside the family residence. The officers observed that the individual had been drinking alcoholic beverage and smoking marijuana and was acting irrationally. He was taken into custody and transported to Washington Adventist Hospital for an emergency psychological evaluation. Saturday November 8: 33rd and Perry Streets: At about 9 pm officers on patrol stopped two individuals who were observed consuming alcoholic beverages in public. Both individua

Thursday November 6: 3100 block of Perry Street: At about 6 pm officers responded for a citizen complaint of a suspicious unoccupied vehicle. The officers located the vehicle and an MVA check revealed that the tags displayed on the vehicle were not were not issued to it by MVA. The vehicle had not been reported stolen. The tags were removed and the vehicle was impounded. Friday November 7: 3700 block of 36th Street: At about 2 am On-Star notified MRPD that a vehicle stolen from the Dover Downs valet service in Dover, Delaware a few hours earlier was in the 3700 block of Perry Street. As soon as the officers arrived they observed an individual get out of the stolen car. When the individual saw the officers he quickly started walking down 36th Street in the direction of Otis Street. The officers ordered the individual to stop but instead he fled on foot and disappeared in the 2700 block of 36th Street. The officers immediately set up a perimeter with the assistance of Bladensbur

2900 block of Shepherd Street: At about 7:30 am officers responded to the report of a purse snatch. The victim told the officers that she was walking towards a bus stop when she saw a burgundy Lexus circle around her twice. She next observed a dark skin black male, approximately 30-39 years of age, 6’1” tall, 180 lbs., wearing black jeans and a black hat come up to her right side. The suspect snatched victim’s purse, ran away and got into the burgundy Lexus and fled the area. The suspect and the suspect’s vehicle described by the victim match the description of the suspect and stolen vehicle involved in the carjacking/abduction case reported Sunday November 2nd. Carjacked vehicle: Maroon 2005 Lexus 330 with Maryland tags 8DSD99. Suspect: Black male, 17-25 years of age, 6'3" tall, 180 lbs., short black hair, black North Face coat, silver revolver style handgun. 3300 block of Chauncey Place: At about 9:30 am officers responded to a home invasion robbery. The victim told the of

4300 block of 31st Street: At about 12:00 pm officers responded to a motorcycle collision. Investigation revealed that two juveniles, one rider and one passenger crashed a red Honda motorcycle into a fence. Witnesses said that just prior to the accident the motorcycle was seen driving in excess of 100 mph on Rainier Avenue. Evidence showed that the rider tried to stop the bike at the intersection of 31st Street but was unsuccessful because of the wet pavement and the bike’s speed. Both the rider and the passenger were extremely lucky and received only minor injuries. Further investigation revealed that the motorcycle had been reported stolen out of Fairfax, Virginia. The rider of the bike told the officers that he asked the individual who originally stole it if he could ride it. The individual agreed and the collision ensued. Officers charged the rider with various traffic violations and for possessing stolen property. The passenger was charged with possession of stolen property as we

3300 block of Otis Street: At about 9:30 am officers responded for the report of a storehouse burglary. The victim told the officers that she was told by her neighbor that two suspects were seen in her garage. The garage was locked with a pad lock and primarily used as a storage space. The perpetrators cut the lock to gain entry into the garage and stole various items of clothing and a number of DVD movies. 2200 block of Varnum Street: At about 10 pm officers responded for the report of a vandalism to auto. The victim told the officers that he went out to his car to find that person(s) unknown had thrown a rock through his windshield and driver’s side window. Nothing was stolen from the vehicle and a canvass of the area for witnesses/evidence was negative. 3700 block of 36th Street: At about 5:30 am officers to a report of a stolen auto. The victim told the officers that when she came out of her residence she noticed her vehicle was no longer parked where she left it the n

Friday October 31: 4200 block of 31st Street: At about 10 am officers responded for the report of a residential burglary. The victim told the officers that sometime between the dates of October 20th and October 31st person(s) unknown made forced entry into the residence through a rear window. Once inside the suspect(s) made good in stealing various items of personal property including the victim’s gray 2002 Ford Explorer bearing Maryland tags 394M847 that was parked in front of the residence. The victim also told the officers that the residence is currently vacant and not being occupied. The exact date of the theft is unknown. Officers attempted to process the point of entry and other areas with negative results. 3800 block of Shepherd Street: At about 5:10 pm officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for various traffic violations. As the officers were speaking with the driver they noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver submitted to several field sobr