Police Report: May 5-11

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 11^th:

3500 block of Shepherd Street: Trespassing/suspicious person – 7:45am. Officers responded for the report of a black male wearing a black jacket and gray jeans who was seen walking behind a neighbor’s house while putting on black gloves. When the officers arrived they found the juvenile walking in the 3600 block of Shepherd Street and stopped him for a field interview. During the interview he gave the officers conflicting information as to why he was trespassing on private property and they identified him as a person of interest in two other burglaries of vacant houses in the area. Witnesses told officers that he had been seen jumping the fence and entering another yard along Shepherd Street earlier. The juvenile was detained and released to his Grandmother pending further investigation. Officers did not find any evidence that the juvenile broke into either of the houses where he was seen trespassing.

3200 block of Chillum Road: Criminal citation – 3:50pm. Officers responded for the report of loud music coming from a first floor apartment. While speaking with the resident about the loud music the officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the apartment. Further investigation revealed that a man was in possession of a small quantity of marijuana. He was issued a criminal citation for possession of less than 10 grams of the CDS.

29^th and Shepherd Streets: Recovered stolen tag – 5:45pm. Officers responded for the report of a found license plate. When they arrived they spoke with the complainant who said that she heard a crash at about 2am this morning. At about 5pm this evening she saw that a stop sign had been damaged and found a license plate on the ground near the sign. Officers took possession of the tag after learning that it belonged on a Toyota that had been reported stolen from an address in Montgomery County on May 10^th. Montgomery County police were notified of the tag’s recovery and Public Works was notified to repair the sign.

May 10^th:

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Criminal citation – 11:25am. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for drinking an alcoholic beverage in a public place. He was also issued a loitering warning notice barring him from the area for 30 days.

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Vehicle impound – 5pm. Officers on patrol discovered a 1988 Ford Escort that was parked and displaying tags issued to another vehicle. The tags had expired back in December of 2012 and the vehicle was not otherwise registered in Maryland. The tags were seized for return to MVA and the vehicle was impounded.

3000 block of Queens Chapel Road: Stolen vehicle – 11:55pm. The owner of 1998 Jeep Cherokee told officers that sometime between 10pm and the time he called police someone stole his vehicle.

May 9^th:

4200 block of 29^th Street: Theft from auto – 8:20am. The owner of a 2009 Nissan Versa told officers that she parked and locked her vehicle at about 8:15pm on May 8^th. When she returned to her vehicle this morning she discovered that someone had smashed out the front passenger window and stole a GPS unit from inside.

4000 block of 32^nd Street: Theft from auto – 9:10am. The owner of a 1996 Lincoln Continental told officers that sometime between 3am this morning and the time he called police someone smashed out the front passenger window and stole a book bag from inside.

3500 block of Bunker Hill Road: Residential burglary (abandoned house) – 7:05pm. Officers responded for the report of a burglary in progress at an abandoned house. When the officers arrived they found the back door to the house forced open. A search of the interior revealed that no one was inside, however some graffiti and other damage was noted. Officers have gathered information that leads them to suspect that two juveniles are involved in the incident. The investigation is still ongoing.

May 8^th:

3700 block of 37^th Street: Theft from auto – 6am. The owner of a 2007 Toyota Rav4 told officers that sometime between 3pm on May 7^th and the time she called police someone broke the vehicle’s right front passenger window to gain entry. Once inside those responsible stole a GPS unit. The vehicle was processed; however no viable prints were obtained due to the overnight rain.

29^th Street and Arundel Road: Hit and run collision – 1pm. The owner of a 2004 Honda Accord told officers that he parked his vehicle at the location on May 7^th at about 6:30pm. When he returned this afternoon he discovered damage to the front bumper and hood. Officers believe that the damage may have been caused by a truck with a trailer hitch ball mount.

4000 block of 37^th Street: Missing juvenile located – 4:45pm. Officers stopped to interview two juveniles who are believed to be involved in several recent crimes. During the interviews the officers learned that one of them was listed as a missing person (runaway) and both were found in possession of suspected stolen property. The property was recovered and the missing juvenile was returned to his family. The investigation into the property is still ongoing.

May 7^th:

34^th and Otis Streets: Strong arm robbery – 2:55pm. The juvenile victim told officers that while he was waiting for a school bus he was accosted by another juvenile who demanded his cell phone and money. When the victim told the suspect that he didn’t have either the suspect forcibly went through the victim’s pockets and stole his ZTE-brand phone. During the robbery the suspect pushed the victim’s head against a wall causing him to sustain an abrasion and a bump on the left side of his head. The victim refused medical treatment and was taken to PGPD District I station where he was interviewed by detectives. The victim was able to name his assailant and detectives are in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant for him.

3100 block of Queens Chapel Road: Theft – 5pm. Officers interviewed a store clerk who said that an individual known to him came into the store and stole several items having a total value of about $75 before fleeing in an unknown direction. Officers canvassed the area for the suspect and were able to locate him a short distance away. He was arrested, charged with misdemeanor theft and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

4000 block of 33^rd Street: Criminal citation – 10pm. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a public place.

May 6^th:

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Theft – 1:50pm. A patron of the Mount Rainier Library told officers that she was using one of the computers when a Hispanic male juvenile ran into the library grabbed her cell phone and fled back out the front entrance in an unknown direction. A canvass of the area for the suspect proved negative.

3400 block of Bunker Hill Road: Strong arm robbery – 5:50pm. The victim told officers that he was accosted by two juveniles who physically stole his hat. Both juveniles have been identified and PGPD detectives are following up on the case. Charges are expected against both juveniles.

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Loitering warning notice (x2) – 6:05pm. Officers issued a man and a woman loitering warning notices banning them from the area for a period of 30 days.

May 5^th:

2700 block of Queens Chapel Road: Vehicle impound – 3am. Officers responded for the report of a motor vehicle collision. When they arrived they discovered a 2007 Acura TL that apparently lost control and struck a curb. The driver of the vehicle was nowhere to be found. The vehicle was impounded for safekeeping.

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.

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