Retired MRPD Chief's Discussion

October 29th : 3800 block of 34th Street (MR Mini Grocery): At about 5:20 p.m. two black males walked into the business and announced a robbery. Before the victim/clerk could give them the money, one of the suspects fired two shots. One of the shots struck the victim in the back. Both males then fled the store on foot across 34th Street and got into a blue mini van or small SUV in the 3800 block of 35th Street. Witnesses told the officers that the vehicle was last seen leaving the area down Bunker Hill Road towards 38th Street driven by a third person described only as a female. Fire/rescue personnel treated the victim at the scene and transported him to MedStar for further treatment of a single, non life threatening gunshot wound. Prince George’s County Police robbery investigators responded to the scene to assume a follow-up investigation. A lookout for the suspects and the vehicle was broadcast to surrounding police agencies and distributed to subscribers via the Nixle network. Susp

Symptom Cold/Flu H1N1 Flu Fever Fever is rare Temperatures of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days Coughing A hacking (mucus-producing) cough is often present A drycough is usually present Aches Slight body aches and pains Severe aches and pains Stuffy Nose Stuffy nose is commonly present and typically resolves spontaneously within a week Stuffy nose is not commonly present Chills Chills are uncommon Chills occur in 60% of cases Tiredness Tiredness is fairly mild Tiredness is moderate to severe Sneezing Sneezing is common Sneezing is not common Symptoms Symptoms tend to develop over a few days Rapid onset within 3-6 hours with sudden symptoms of high fever - muscleaches - shortness of breath - tight chest. Headache Headaches are fairly mild Headaches occur in 80% of cases Sore Throat Sore throat is commonly present Sore throat is not commonly present Chest Discomfort Chest discomfort is mild to moderate Chest discomfort is often severe The only way to stop the epidemic is to spread the awar

4600 block of 29th Street : At about 7 a.m. officers took a report of a stolen/recovered vehicle. The victim/owner told the officers that he parked his 2005 Dodge Magnum in front of his residence the night before. This morning he received a call from the Park Police telling him that his car was found at Avondale Park with the wheels missing and the ignition damaged. 3249 Rhode Island Avenue (MRPD): At about 4 p.m. a man came into the police station telling officers that he believed he was wanted on an open arrest warrant. Officers did some research and found that he did in fact have an open warrant through the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office for violation of an ex parte order. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 3200 block of Chillum Road : At about 5 p.m. officers took a missing persons report. The father of a 17 year old female told the officers that his daughter had run away earlier in the day after having an altercatio

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 12:30 p.m. officers received a complaint of individuals trespassing in a vacant apartment building. When the officers arrived they discovered an individual inside the building. Further investigation revealed that he did not have permission from the owner to be on the property and he also had an open arrest warrant through the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office for obstructing and hindering. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. Additional trespassing charges are pending.

Friday October 23rd : 3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 12 pm officers observed an individual with an open container of an alcoholic beverage. He was issued a criminal citation for the violation and sent on his way. 2700 block of Webster Street : At about 6:30 p.m. officers took a report of a citizen armed robbery. The victim told the officers that he was robbed at gun point while working in the parking lot area of the Kaywood Apartments. The victim described the gunman as wearing a mask, blue jeans and a green shirt and was armed with a gold semi automatic pistol. The victim last saw the gunman getting into a green Isuzu Rodeo which fled the area on Webster Street and turning right onto 28th Place. The Prince George's County Police were notified and the lookout information was shared with neighboring police agencies. 3100 block of Queens Chapel Road : At about 9:30 p.m. officers responded for the report of an unattended death. A 65 year old man was discovered unresponsi

3500 block of Perry Street : At about 10 a.m. officers took a hit and run motor vehicle collision report. The victim’s vehicle was legally parked and had been struck by a second vehicle that failed to remain at the scene. The vehicle sustained rear end damage but was drivable. 4000 block of 34th Street : At about 2:35 p.m. officers in investigated a 3-vehicle collision. Their investigation revealed that a vehicle traveling east bound on 34th Street at high rate of speed lost control and struck two other vehicles traveling west bound. All vehicles remained at the scene and no injuries were reported. The driver of the striking vehicle was found at fault and received nine (9) State traffic citations. 3200 block of Chillum Road : At about 4:10 p.m. officers took a theft from auto report. Their investigation revealed that person(s) unknown broke into the victim’s vehicle through a rear passenger vent window. Once inside the thieves stole various electronic items. The officers found no evide

Nothing significant to report. There is an article on CrimeReports.com entitled “Halloween Safety Myths.” It’s an interesting read. You can access it at: http://neighborhoodcrimemap.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/halloween-safety-myths/

October 19th : 4000 block of 31st Street : At about 8 a.m. officers received a call for an attempt theft from auto. Upon arrival officers learned that an unknown subject (s) entered the victim’s unsecured vehicle and removed nothing. The victim stated that the vehicle was ransacked but that there was no missing property. 3000 block of Taylor Street : At about 4 p.m. officers received took a theft from auto report. The victim/owner told the officers that sometime during the night an unknown suspect (s) entered their unsecured vehicle and stole a portable GPS unit. 4100 block of Russell Avenue : At about 6:20 p.m. officers received a call for a residential burglary. The victims told the officers that they went out of town for an extended period of time. When they returned they found that the door to their apartment had been forced open and several items of their personal property had been stolen. 3300 block of Chillum Road : At about 8:45 p.m. officers on patrol observed a man consuming

A recall of face paint in May that gave some Girl Scouts rashes is one of the reasons the Food and Drug Administration is warning parents to be careful that the paints don't cause problems of their own this Halloween. "Most of these products are completely safe, but there have been reports of adverse events and allergic reactions," says a FDA representative. Under the law, the FDA doesn't have the authority to regulate cosmetics and face paints before they go to market, though it does regulate the colors used in them. And when there are problems, the FDA also can't recall them; it can only ask the manufacturer or distributor to do so. The FDA is asking parents to report any problems with face paint this Halloween to its "adverse event" hotline at 800-332-1088. The FDA's advice : 1. Don't use anything on the face that isn't intended for skin. 2. If face paint has a bad smell, it could be a sign of contamination or bacteria. Throw it away. 3. S

Friday October 16th: 3100 block of Varnum Street : At about 7:45 a.m. officers took a report of a theft from auto. The officers observed that person(s) unknown entered victim’s vehicle by breaking open the driver’s side window. Once inside the thieves stole a GPS unit. A check of the area for evidence and/or witnesses proved negative. 3100 block of Queens Chapel Road : At about 12:10 p.m. officers took a report of an attempted residential burglary. The victim/resident told the officers that she left home early in the morning returned to find the kitchen window open and the window screen lying on the stove. There was no evidence that the person(s) responsible actually gained entry into the apartment and nothing was found missing or disturbed. 3100 block of Queens Chapel Road : At about 9:30 p.m. officers took a report of a missing juvenile (repeat offender). The child’s father told the officers that his son left home at about 9 a.m. without permission and came home at about 4 p.m. An ar

October 14th : 3200 block of Queens Chapel Road : At about 12:50 a.m. officers responded to the Caribbean Market for an alarm off. When they arrived they saw that the front door glass had been broken out. The officers searched the inside of the store and found no one inside. A store representative arrived and after looking through the store advised that nothing appeared to be missing. No evidence could be found that could help identify the person(s) who broke the door glass. 3600 block of 36th Street : At about 2:10 a.m. officers took a stolen car report. The victim told the officers that he parked his rented blue Toyota Camry (MD tags 7FFW17) in front of a friend’s house at about 8 p.m. the previous evening. When he returned for his car he discovered that it had been stolen. He told the officers that he believes that he left the keys in the car. October 15th : 2900 block of Taylor Street : At about 4 p.m. officers took a report of a stolen blue 1998 Saturn (KY tags 452EHZ. The victim

3700 block of Wells Avenue : At about 10:45 a.m. officers took a report of a vandalism that occurred at various locations around the Mount Rainier skate park. The vandalism took the form of spray painted graffiti and included the words “skate or die,” “F.A.M.E.” and other initials that could not be identified at the time of the report. All graffiti was photographed and a follow-up investigation is ongoing. 4400 block of 31st Street : At about 11:30 a.m. officers took a theft by deception report. The victim told the officers that she contacted an individual via email in reference to buying a car that he had listed on Craig’s list. After negotiating with him over the final price she wired the seller money for the car. After sending the money she was not able to contact him again. The PGPD fraud unit was brought into the case to conduct a follow-up investigation. 3249 Rhode Island Avenue (MRPD Headquarters) : At about 11:40 a.m. an individual who MRPD officers had previously arrested came

Friday October 9th : 3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 5 p.m. power shift officers stopped a vehicle when they saw that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. When the officers approached the vehicle they smelled an odor of marijuana. Further investigation revealed that the passenger of the vehicle was in possession of marijuana. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the DOC in Hyattsville without incident. The driver was sited for the seatbelt violation and sent on his way. One Municipal Place : At about 6:55 p.m. officers on patrol observed and individual urinating in public. He was issued a criminal citation for the violation and sent on his way. Saturday October 10th : 2700 block of Allison Street : At about 8:45 p.m. officers responded for a loud verbal domestic. During their investigation they learned that the male half had an outstanding arrest warrant through Montgomery County Police for failing to appear in court. He was arrested on the warrant and deliver

3200 block of Perry Street : At about 9 a.m. officers impounded a vehicle that had been marked previously for 48-hour towing 3300 block of Shepherd Street : At about 7:30 p.m. officers responded for the report of an individual trespassing on private property. The officers located a man who had been previously warned not to return to the property earlier in the evening. He was arrested, charged appropriately and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

New resources are now available on the federal government’s one-stop resource for flu information -- www.flu.gov. The Web site now features a new H1N1 Flu Self-Evaluation guide for adults 18 and older along with a new Flu Myths and Facts section, which provides the public with the latest and most accurate information about the flu. The new Flu Myths and Facts section debunks some of the myths about the H1N1 virus and vaccine, and provides accurate information on vaccinations, the flu, and public health. The H1N1 Flu Self-Evaluation guide will give individuals 18 and older more information about what they can do to take care of themselves, prevent the spread of the flu to other members of their families, and identify the warning signs of more serious flu symptoms -- symptoms that require the attention of a medical professional.

This morning about 10 a.m. Captain Stoots and I took care of the graffiti that was on the upper wall of the old pawn shop building. The whole business took about half an hour and maybe ¾ of a gallon of paint; and, of course a tall ladder supplied by the Mount Rainier Fire Department.

3300 block of Shepherd Street : At about 5 p.m. officers responded for an attempt suicide. The officers discovered that a man attempted to commit suicide by cutting himself on the right forearm with a razor knife. Fire/rescue personnel responded to treat his injuries and transported him to Prince George’s Hospital Center for further treatment. Officers filed an emergency psychiatric petition and he was released to hospital staff for psychiatric evaluation. 4700 block of 25th Street : At about 11:50 p.m. officers took a report of a missing 16 year old female. The juvenile’s mother told the officers that she last saw her daughter this morning when she left for school. The mother was able to contact one of the juvenile’s friends who told her that she was seen around 8 p.m. with two other teens supposedly going to a party. The juvenile has one prior incident of running away and returned on her own. Her information was entered into the NCIC missing persons database.

2300 block of Varnum Street : At about 12:15 p.m. officers took a vandalism to auto report. The victim told the officers that, when she arrived at work, she noticed her rental vehicle had a broken driver’s side window. The officers found no evidence as to who may have been responsible for the damage. 4700 block of 31st Place : At about 9 a.m. officers took a property damage report. The owner of a 1997 Acura with Maryland tags told the officers he noticed that the driver’s side doors were scratched and dented. The cause of the damage was undetermined.

The following news article appeared on Denver Colorado’s 9news.com web site last night. I reviewed the video, which is about eight minutes long, and found it to contain some very good information that is just as relevant to residents of Mount Rainier as it is in Colorado and across the country. I recommend it highly. The video tells individuals that if they observe any of the eight signs of terrorism they should call the Colorado Information Analysis Center at their toll free number. That will not work here in Maryland . Residents should replace the CAIC number with that of the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC): 1-800-492-TIPS (8477) . You can view the video by clicking on the following web link: http://thecell.org/wp/8-signs-of-terrorism-video/ Video Teaches Public to Spot Terror Plots Written by: Jeffrey Wolf Deborah Sherman 9News.com (Colorado) A new video released Monday teaches Coloradans how to recognize eight signs of terrorism, including suspects testing securi

Chillum Road at Queenstown Drive : At about 8 p.m. officers initiated a traffic stop on a white Chevy van. When they approached the van to speak with the driver they smelled the odor of marijuana coming inside. A consent search of the vehicle turned up a sandwich baggie containing 17.9 grams of marijuana. Further inquiries revealed that the driver had a suspended license. He was arrested, charged with CDS possession and driving on a suspended license. He was delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. 2300 block of Varnum Street : At about 10:10 p.m. officers stopped two men for consuming alcoholic beverages in a public place. Further inquiries revealed that one of the men had an open arrest warrant through the U.S. Marshal’s Service for violation of probation. Both men were issued criminal citations for the alcohol violation. The wanted subject was arrested and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

Friday October 2nd : 3800 block of 33rd Street : At about 7:30 a.m. officers took a stolen auto report. The victim/owner told the officers that she parked her vehicle outside her residence the previous evening and when she returned for it she discovered it had been stolen. On Sunday October 4th at about 3:15 a.m. officers were notified by Takoma Park PD that they had recovered the vehicle. It was impounded for safekeeping and the owner was notified of the recovery. 4600 block of 30th Street : At about 8:45 a.m. officers took a report of an attempt stolen auto. The victim/owner showed the officers where person(s) unknown had damaged the drivers’ side door lock and ignition. A check of the area failed to locate any evidence or witnesses to the crime. 3200 block of Queenstown Drive : At about 11:45 p.m. officers on patrol observed an individual slumped over behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. The vehicle had its lights on, the radio playing, and the keys in the ignition. When the office

Cedar Lane Alley behind the old firehouse : At about 11:30 p.m. officers on patrol stopped a man for a field interview. During the interview they learned that he had an open arrest warrant through the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office for failing to appear in court on a CDS possession charge. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

Tuesday September 29th : 2700 block of Allison Street : At about 2:45 p.m. officers took a stolen auto report. The victim/owner told the officers that she left her vehicle parked by her residence when she went out of town on September 26th. When she returned she discovered that it had been stolen. There was no record of impound or repossession and a check of the area for evidence and witnesses was negative. 3100 block of Webster Street : At about 4:15 p.m. officers took a report of fraud. Investigation revealed that an unknown individual fraudulently obtained the victim’s personal tax return information, filed an amended return and received funds from the State of Maryland. The victim’s tax preparers and the State Comptroller’s office are handling a follow-up investigation. 4700 block of 31st Place : At about 10:45 p.m. officers responded to a verbal domestic dispute. When the officers arrived they discovered that the male half of the argument had had two open arrest warrants through P