Retired MRPD Chief's Discussion

May 28th : 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue : Between the hours of 2 pm and 5 pm MRPD officers along with officers from the PGPD traffic squad participated in a joint seatbelt enforcement checkpoint in support of the Click It or Ticket campaign. The checkpoint was set up on the southbound side of Rhode Island Avenue between 33rd Street and Eastern Avenue. MPD traffic squad officers also participated by setting up a checkpoint on the northbound side of Rhode Island Avenue just south of Eastern Avenue. During the 3+ hours the checkpoint was in force over 60 citations were issued by MRPD and PGPD officers. The total number of citations issued by MPD officers was not available at the time of this writing. Monthly joint task force operation, various locations : Between the hours of 6 pm and 2 am officers from the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Mount Rainier Police and Hyattsville Police conducted a joint high visibility saturation patrol operation concentrating on various hot spot

May 27th : Nothing significant to report. May 28th (early morning) : 3800 block of 34th Street : At about 5:20 am officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. When the officers checked the driver through NCIC they learned that he had an open warrant for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle through Prince George’s County. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville without incident. The vehicle he was driving was impounded.

May 26th : One Municipal Place : At about 1:45 am officers responded for a citizen armed robbery. He victim told the officers that two black males, one armed with a black handgun and the other wearing all blue clothing approached him and announced a robbery. The victim complied with their demands that he surrender his property and gave them a quantity of US currency and his cell phone. Both suspects then fled on foot towards Washington, DC. A canvass of the area for the suspects was negative. A lookout was given to surrounding agencies and PGPD CID was notified of the incident. The victim was intoxicated at the time of the incident and his condition probably accounted for the limited description of the suspects he was able to provide. He was not injured in the robbery and did not require any medical assistance. During the officers’ investigation of the robbery an NCIC check was done on the victim. The officers learned that he was wanted through the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Offi

May 25th : 4500 block of Eastern Avenue (BP station) : At about 3:20 pm officers responded for the report of two thefts from auto. The victims in both incidents told the officers that they went inside to pay for gas returning to find that their purses had been stolen from inside their vehicles. One of the victims told the officers that her two small children were inside the vehicle at the time her purse was stolen and they did not see anyone take it. The gas station’s video surveillance camera system was broken and no one saw the perpetrator(s). 3500 block of Shepherd Street : At about 3:30 pm officers received a call for a vandalism to auto. Upon arrival they spoke to the owners of two vehicles that had been damaged between 7:00 pm on the 24th and 3:30 pm on the 25th. Both of the victim’s vehicles had an approximately 20-inch long scratch on the driver’s side door. It appeared as if the marks were made with a sharp fine instrument. 2800 block of Taylor Street : At about 11:30 pm powe

May 22nd : 2900 block of Allison Street : At about 7:30 pm officers responded for a domestic dispute. The female half of the dispute told the officers that the male half had left the residence prior to their arrival. She was not injured. The officers advised her to call back if he returned and of her protective order options should she desire to pursue them. 2700 block of Allison Street : At about 10:50 pm officers took a report of damage to a motor vehicle that occurred the previous night. 3700 block of Shepherd Street : At about midnight officers responded for the sound of shots. The County police also ran the call after receiving a similar report in the area of Volta Avenue in Brentwood. The areas were checked by officers from both agencies with negative results. May 23rd : 3500 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 5 am officers responded for a report of a fight. When they arrived they found a male and a female engaged in a verbal domestic argument. The officers quelled the distu

May 20th : Kaywood Apartments Complex : Between 7:30 am and 9 am officers took four (4) separate theft from auto reports. The thefts were in the 2700 block of Webster Street, the 4300 block of 28th Place (2 cases), and the 4200 block of Kaywood Drive. In all four cases the perpetrators damaged one of the door locks to gain entry into the vehicle. No evidence or suspects were developed in any of the four cases. 3700 block of 34th Street : At about 11:45 am officers took a report of a vandalism to auto. Investigation revealed that person(s) unknown attempted to gain entry into victim’s vehicle by damaging the vehicle’s door locks. It is unknown whether the perpetrator(s) were trying to steal property from the interior or to steal the vehicle altogether. A canvass of the area for evidence and/or witnesses proved negative. 3500 block of Shepherd Street : At about 5:10 pm officers took a report of a vandalism to auto. Investigation revealed that person(s) unknown scratched the victim’s ve

May 18th: 3500 block of Bunker Hill Road : At about 1:45 pm officers came upon a white 1995 Buick that was disabled due to a flat tire. Further investigation revealed that the vehicles tags were suspended and an MVA pick up order for the tags was in force. The tags were removed from the vehicle and held for return to MVA and the vehicle was impounded. 4100 block of Kaywood Drive : At about 8:30 pm power shift officers stopped a vehicle when they observed that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt. When the officers approached the vehicle they smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. Further investigation revealed that the driver was in possession of eleven bags of marijuana having a street value of $220.00. He was arrested, charged with possession of a CDS and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. May 19 (early morning) : 4600 block of 29th Street : At about 4 am officers took a vandalism to auto report. The victim/owner told the officers that person(s) unknow

Friday May 15th : 2900 block of Queens Chapel Road : At about 10 am a man came into MRPD headquarters to report that he had robbed on May 12th at about 10 pm while he was walking in the 2900 block of Queens Chapel Road. He told officers that two black males approximately 18-20 years of age (no further description) struck him from behind and he fell to the ground covering his head and eyes. While he was on the ground the two suspects struck him several more times and stole personal property and US currency from his pockets. Both suspects then fled in an unknown direction. When asked why he delayed reporting the robbery to the police he said that he needed a police report in order to receive a replacement green card taken during the robbery. Had it not been for his green card it is unlikely he would have reported the incident. PGPD robbery detectives were notified of the incident for follow-up. 3700 block of 31st Street : At about 10:30 am officers took a motor vehicle crash report. Thei

The citizen robbery reported earlier was the only significant incident for the day.

May 13th : Nothing further of interest for the day. May 14 (early morning) : 4300 block of Russell Avenue : At about 2:30 am officers responded for the reported citizen armed robbery. The victim told the officers that she was walking to her apartment building from her car when a burgundy car (no description) pulled up next to her. A black male roughly 5’7” tall and about 160 lbs got out, pointed a black handgun at her and demanded her purse. The victim surrendered her purse and the suspect got back into the vehicle (driven by an accomplice who the victim could see) and the two drove off towards Eastern Avenue. A short time later the victim saw the suspect’s vehicle return and the gunman got out and, using the victim’s keys that were in her purse, stole her car. Both vehicles fled the area towards Eastern Avenue.

May 12th : 4200 block of Russell Avenue : At about Noon officers took a report of a hit and run motor vehicle crash. Their investigation revealed only that an unknown vehicle struck the victim’s/owner’s legally parked vehicle sometime during the evening/morning hours. The striking vehicle did not remain at the scene or leave any identifying information. The victim’s vehicle suffered only minor damage. 4700 block of 31st Place : At about 11 pm officers responded for a verbal domestic dispute. During their investigation of the incident they learned that the male half of the argument had an open warrant through Prince George’s County for assault. He was arrested and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 29th Street & Arundel Rd : At about 4:45 pm power shift officers observed two individuals drinking from open alcoholic containers. When the officers approached the two one of them threw two small baggies containing crack cocaine on the ground. That individual was arrested and

May 11th : 4300 block of Russell Avenue : At about 4 pm officers responded for a residential burglary. The officers arrived to find that the front door to an apartment had been forced open. The officers checked the apartment and found that it had been ransacked. No suspects could be located and the resident was not present and could not be immediately located. The management company was notified to secure the apartment and messages were left for the resident to call MRPD for a follow up investigation. 3200 block of Queens Chapel Road (vacant Texaco parking lot) : At about 10:50 pm officers on patrol observed a suspicious unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot. A check of the vehicle revealed that it was not stolen; however the tags were suspended by MVA for compulsory insurance violation. MVA also had a pick up order on the tags. The tags were removed and secured for return to MVA and the vehicle was impounded. May 12th (early morning) : 4000 block of 29th Street : At about 3:30 am offi

Friday May 8th : 3400 block of 11 Newton Street : At about 2 pm officers responded for the report of a woman who had been assaulted by her boyfriend. The boyfriend allegedly punched the woman in the mouth and choked her. She told the officers that she did not want any police assistance and refused to tell the officers what had occurred. She was referred to the District Court Commissioner if she decided to press charges at a later time. Saturday May 9th : Nothing significant to report. Sunday May 10th : 4500 block of Eastern Avenue (BP station) : At about 11 am officers responded for the report of a stolen auto. The officers met with the victim/owner who told them that he left the keys to his 2002 Lincoln on the front seat when he went inside to pay for gas. When he came out of the store he saw his Lincoln being driven up Eastern Avenue towards Rhode Island Avenue by a black male (no further description). A check of the area for the stolen car proved negative and a lookout for it was gi

3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 7:50 am officers received a complaint of a vehicle parked at a meter that had not been moved in several days (the vehicle, not the meter). The vehicle was cited and impounded pursuant to the City’s 48-hour parking ordinance. 4700 block of 27th Street : At about 5 pm officers responded for the report of a fight in progress. The reporting person told the officers that several juvenile females were involved in a fight, during which one or more of them bumped against her vehicle. She said that when she came out to see if there was any damage to the vehicle she saw that the passenger side outside rear view mirror was missing. The officers checked the area for the juveniles and the mirror with negative results. 3300 block of Chauncey Place : At about 7:50 pm Queenstown Apartments security officers called to report several suspicious individuals loitering in the area. The officers located two of the individuals described by security. Both were chec

3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue (Thrifty Rental Car) : At about 9 am officers took a report of the theft of three Maryland license plates. The owner of the business told the officers that sometime during the previous night person(s) unknown entered the lot and stole the license plates off three rental vehicles. No additional damage was done to the vehicles and no evidence as to those responsible could be located. 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 12 pm officers stopped a vehicle for exceeding the posted speed limit. The driver of the vehicle was checked through NCIC and found to have an open arrest warrant through Prince George’s County for theft over $500. She was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. She was also issued the appropriate traffic citations for the speed violation. 3200 block of Varnum Street : At about 7:50 pm officers responded for a loud noise emanating from a parked vehicle. The officers located the vehicle and advis

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 7:30 pm the owner of an apartment building called police in reference to a landlord tenant dispute. When the officers arrived to investigate the owner told them he wanted to report observing damage to the door of an abandoned apartment. The officers took a vandalism report for the damage they observed. No evidence was provided as to who may have been responsible for the damage, and the officers had no additional witnesses or evidence to proceed further. 2300 block of Varnum Street (7-11) : At about 8:10 pm officers responded for the report of a man passed out inside the store. When they arrived they found the man conscious and breathing and he refused any medical attention. Further investigation revealed that he had an outstanding arrest warrant for driving with out a license issued out of Prince Georges County. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville without incident.

3700 block of Eastern Avenue : At about 1:40 pm officers responded for the report of a naked man walking in the roadway. When the officers arrived they discovered the man in question standing in the front yard of a private residence. During the course of speaking with the man it became apparent that he was under the influence of PCP. He was taken into custody and transported to the Prince George’s Hospital Center for an emergency psychological evaluation. While at the hospital he became combative with hospital staff and was able to free himself from his restraints. The officers were forced to deploy a department issued Taser to get him under control. He offered no further resistance and was turned over to hospital staff for treatment and evaluation. 3400 block of Windom Road : At about 11 pm officers stopped a vehicle for failing to stop for a stop sign. When the officers interviewed the driver about the violation he told them that he did not have a driver’s license. He was asked to ex

Friday May 1st : 3200 block of Taylor Street : At about 12:50 pm officers responded for an unknown trouble call. When the officers arrived they learned that a female resident had obtained an ex parte (stay away) order against a male acquaintance. The male subject had left the area prior to the officers’ arrival so they began a search of the area for him. They were able to locate the individual a short distance away and served the order. A short while later the officers received a return call from the female stating that the man had returned. The officers returned to the residence and found the man there in violation of the ex parte order. He was arrested for violating the order and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 2400 block of Arundel Road (Grand China parking lot) : At about 9:45 pm officers on patrol observed three subjects consuming alcohol in a public place. All three were stopped, checked for warrants (negative) and issued criminal citations for the violation. They

With the outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus now affecting residents across the United States, and the possibility that some Maryland residents may have been infected with the disease, the Mayor & Council along with the MRPD deemed it wise to let Mount Rainier residents know of precautions that individuals should take in order to minimize the possibility of being infected by this virus. The most important precaution recommended by health officials is for individuals and families to take common sense, everyday actions to stay healthy. The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following precautions: · Stay informed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website will be updated regularly as information becomes available. http://www.cdc.gov/ · Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing by infected people. · Take everyday actions to stay healthy. · Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the

3300 block of Chillum Road : At about 8:35 pm power shift officers along with officers from Hyattsville City Police, Maryland National Capitol Park Police and Metro Transit Police were conducting joint crime suppression task force sweeps of the Queenstown Apartments when they observed a male subject urinating in public. The man was stopped, identified and issued a criminal citation for the violation. A few minutes later the task force officers were flagged down by Queenstown Apartments security officers and told of three males acting in a suspicious manner. The officers stopped the subjects and identified all three as known gang members of the LBC (little brown criminals) crew. One of them, a juvenile, was found to have two open body attachments for his arrest issued through the Prince George’s County Sheriffs Office. The attachments were for possession with the intent to distribute narcotics as well as burglary. He was arrested and delivered to the juvenile detention facility in Chelt