Retired MRPD Chief's Discussion

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning effective midnight tonight until 6 a.m. Sunday morning. Heavy snow with accumulations in excess of 12" is possible. Residents should be aware that the DC government could declare a snow emergency as soon as overnight tonight. The City of Mount Rainier follows DC's snow emergency and residents are required to move their vehicles off the City's snow emergency routes when DC announces a snow emergency. Vehicles that remain parked or stopped on a snow emergency route are subject to a $100 fine and to being towed at the owner's expense. Please keep tuned to local news broadcasts for weather and snow emergency updates. You can also register with AlertDC to receive updates on your mobile device by registering at https://textalert.ema.dc.gov/index.php?CCheck=1 .

December 17th : 3000 block of Queens Chapel Road : At about 4:50 p.m. officers took a report of a stolen license plate. The Maryland plate 4DMN01 was stolen off of a white 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix. Officers were unable to locate any evidence or witnesses to the crime. December 18th (early morning): 4500 block of 30th Street : At about 6:30 a.m. officers took a report of a stolen vehicle. The victim/owner told the officers that sometime after 8 p.m. the previous evening someone stole her tan 1998 Nissan Maxima (SC tags DVR852). Officers were unable to locate any evidence or witnesses to the crime.

December 16th : 3700 block of Wells Avenue : At about 12:30 p.m. officers took a theft report. The owner/victim told the officers that sometime during the previous night someone broke into his mobile trailer and stole numerous items of his personal property. No evidence was recovered at the scene and no witnesses were located. December 17th (early morning): 2300 block of Varnum Street : At about 5:30 a.m. officers took a theft report. The store clerk told the officers that a black male described as 6’0” tall, 180 lbs wearing all black removed several items from the store shelves and left without paying for them. The individual fled the area on foot towards Queen Chapel Road. A search of the area for the man proved negative.

Monday December 14th : 4200 block of Rainier Avenue: At about 3:20 a.m. officers responded for the report of a citizen armed robbery. The victim told the officers that he was outside his residence when he was approached by four individuals described as two black males and two white males. The four men forced the victim back into his home where they took turns physically assaulting him, eventually stealing several items of his personal property. The victim was taken by ambulance to Prince George’s Hospital for treatment of injuries to his head and hands. He was not able to provide a useful description of his attackers. Prince George’s County Police robbery detectives responded to interview the victim and take over the investigation. Tuesday December 15th : Nothing significant to report.

Friday December 11th : 2300 block of Varnum Street : At about 7:45 p.m. officers issued a man a criminal citation for consuming an alcoholic beverage in a public place. 31st & Perry Streets : At about 11:25 p.m. officers impounded a 1996 Chevy Impala that had been involved in a motor vehicle crash. The driver struck a steel pole barricade causing the vehicle to leak gasoline. The vehicle was not drivable after the crash. The driver was issued several traffic citations, among them - driving without a license. Saturday December 12th : 4000 block of 29th Street : At about 3:20 p.m. officers responded for the report of a suspicious male knocking on apartment doors. The reporting person gave a description of the man and officers located him in the 3000 block of Bunker Hill Road. Further investigation revealed that he had an open arrest warrant through the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office for first degree assault. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC

2300 block of Varnum Street : At about 3:30 p.m. officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. As they approached the vehicle to talk with the driver they smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside. Further investigation revealed that a passenger was in possession of a small quantity of marijuana. He was arrested, charged and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville. The driver was issued a traffic citation and released. Arundel Road at Chillum Road : At about 7:15 p.m. officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. Further investigation revealed that the driver had an open arrest warrant through the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office for second degree assault. He was arrested on the warrant and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue : At about 9 p.m. officers issued a man a criminal citation for consuming an alcoholic beverage in a public place. 4300 block of Rhode Island Avenue (Brentwood) : At about 11:15 p.m. officers conducting a speed enforcement detail stopped a vehicle for driving 56 mph in a 35 mph speed zone. A subsequent field sobriety test indicated that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. He was transported to the University of Maryland Police Department for a blood alcohol test. The test showed that he had a blood alcohol content of .11. He was charged with DUI/DWI and speeding. His vehicle was impounded for safekeeping.

2300 block of Arundel Road (Grand China) : At about 6:30 p.m. officers stopped a man for a field interview. During the interview he was found in possession of a crack pipe. He was issued a criminal citation for possession of narcotics paraphernalia and sent on his way. 3300 block of Chillum Road (7-11) : At about 8:15 p.m. officers responded for the report of a theft. The officers stopped a man who had walked out of the store with a beef and bean burrito without paying for it. He was issued a criminal citation for misdemeanor theft and sent on his way. 3300 block of Rhode Island Avenue (Party Time Liquors) : At about 9 p.m. officers responded for the report of a theft. Once on the scene they identified a man who had concealed two bottles of vodka under his jacket and tried to leave the store without paying for them. He was issued a criminal citation for misdemeanor theft and sent on his way. 3300 block of Chauncey Place : At about 6:45 p.m. power shift officers observed a vehicle stopp

3700 block of 35th Street : At about 12:40 p.m. officers impounded a white 1997 Ford Explorer displaying no tags and illegally parked in a driveway. 4600 block of 25th Street : At about 2:45 p.m. officers arrested a juvenile for tampering with a motor vehicle. The owner of the vehicle confronted the juvenile about an hour earlier when he saw him using a screw driver on the driver’s door lock. The juvenile fled but was later spotted by the victim who called police. The officers detained the juvenile who was positively identified by the victim. He was arrested, charged via juvenile petition and released to his parents pending appearance in juvenile court. 2300 block of Varnum Street : At about 7 p.m. power shift officers ran a registration check on a red Ford Explorer. The vehicle’s tags came back as suspended for a compulsory insurance violation. The officers stopped the vehicle and when they approached to speak with the driver they smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside. Fur

Friday December 4th : 4200 block of Kaywood Drive : At about 8 am officers took a report of a stolen vehicle. The owner of a red 1996 Ford F150 pickup truck (expired DC tags AD2468) told the officers that he came out to his truck this morning to discover that it had been stolen sometime during the previous night. There was no evidence found at the scene that would lead to the identification of those responsible for the theft. 3600 block of Wells Avenue : At about 6 p.m. officers issued a criminal citation to a man observed urinating in public. 2300 block of Arundel Road (Grand China) : At about 7 p.m. officers issued a criminal citation to a man observed drinking an alcoholic beverage in a public place. Russell Avenue & Arundel Road : While issuing the criminal citation listed above, officers observed a white Lincoln Continental driving down Russell Avenue with no headlights. As the vehicle approached the officers could clearly hear loud music blaring from the vehicle. The vehicle

3300 block of Buchanan Street : At about 6:45 a.m. officers on patrol observed a suspicious truck parked on the grass. Further investigation revealed that the 1998 Isuzu white box truck (MD tags 12V104) had been reported stolen through the Howard County Police Department. The truck was impounded for safekeeping and owner was notified of the recovery. 3300 block of Buchanan Street : While officers were in the process of recovering the stolen white box truck described about, they were notified of a theft of a North Carolina that had occurred sometime during the previous night. The stolen NC tag is XRT872. A check of the area for any clues as to who stole the tag was negative.

The buzz of the holiday season is in high gear. It’s a time to celebrate and partake in activities that include social drinking. It is a time for parties and social gatherings; a time for Christmas and New Year’s parties. Unfortunately, it is also a time when police officers have the difficult job of informing families about the untimely death of a loved one because someone decided to drink and drive. December consistently ranks as one of the deadliest months of the year for drunk driving related fatalities. It is a time when we in law enforcement welcome all the help we can get to raise awareness and prevent the tragic loss of life that too often results from someone having a few innocent drinks and then getting behind the wheel. In 2008, 152 Maryland citizens were killed in crashes that involved a driver impaired by alcohol. Law enforcement agencies statewide arrested 24,000 drunk drivers. That’s nearly three drunk drivers per hour, 65 drunk/drugged driving arrests per day! This hol

2500 block of Queens Chapel Road : At about 6:45 a.m. officers took a report of a stolen auto. The victim/owner told the officers that she parked her gray 2006 Toyota Corolla (MD tag 2CGX87) by her residence at about 8 a.m. on November 30th. When she returned for the car this morning she discovered that it had been stolen. No evidence or witnesses to the crime could be found. 3800 block of 33rd Street : At about 11 p.m. officers responded for the report of loud music coming from an occupied vehicle. During their investigation they discovered that the tags attached to the vehicle were suspended for a compulsory insurance violation; and that the tags were issued to another vehicle. Neither occupant was the registered owner. The tags were removed for return to MVA and the vehicle was impounded.

Nothing significant to report.

3200 block of Queens Chapel Road : At about 1 p.m. officers took a stolen vehicle report. The victim/owner told the officers that sometime during the previous morning someone stole his white 1996 Chevy Van with Maryland tags 702M604. The van had not been reported impounded or repossessed and a canvass of the area for evidence/witnesses was negative. 4000 block of 34th Street (GLUT) : At about 4 p.m. officers responded for the report of a shoplifting. Store employees witnessed an individual putting items into his coat pocket and leaving the store without paying for them. The employees gave a description to Communications who relayed the information to responding officers. The officers were able to locate the individual from the employee’s description and when they tried to stop him he ran. After a brief foot pursuit the officers were able to catch and detain him. He was positively identified by store employees as the one who committed the theft. He was charged accordingly and delivered