Police Report: September 1-7

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.

September 7^th:

3700 block of 34^th Street: Vandalism to auto – 12:15am. Officers responded for the report of damage to a private vehicle. The owner told the officers that she heard the sound of glass breaking coming from the area where she parked her 1999 Mercedes. When she went to investigate she saw a man sitting in her car and called police. By the time the officers arrived the suspect had fled the scene. Evidence suggested that the man got into the vehicle by breaking out the front passenger window. The victim said that she did not find anything missing from in or on her vehicle.

2200 block of Varnum Street: Recovered property – 9:20am. Officers stopped a person of interest in a recent theft of cell phones for a field interview. During the interview the man was found in possession of a new phone similar to ones recently reported stolen. The phone was seized for further investigation and possible theft charges are pending against the suspect.

4200 block of 28^th Street: Stolen auto – 10:05am. The owner of a 1998 Nissan Maxima told officers that he came out to his vehicle this morning and discovered that it had been stolen sometime overnight. No evidence was recovered and no witnesses were identified.

2700 block of Webster Street: Theft – 12:15pm. The victim told officers that on September 5^th he left his apartment to pay his rent and report a plumbing issue. He said that when he left his cell phone was inside his apartment. When he returned he discovered a work receipt from maintenance and noticed his cell phone was missing. An attempt to locate the phone with a GPS was unsuccessful. The case remains under investigation.

2200 block of Varnum Street (Kay Liquors): Emergency petition – 4:50pm. Officers responded for the report of a disorderly customer. When they arrived they confronted a man who was screaming and yelling profanities at the store owner. Officers escorted the man out of the store and tried unsuccessfully to get him to calm down. He was arrested and taken to DOC in Hyattsville. At DOC the man complained of shortness of breath and was taken to a local hospital for a checkup. Once at the hospital he made several statements about wanting to commit suicide. The suspect was admitted for medical and mental evaluation; and criminal charges will be obtained for disorderly conduct.

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Loitering warning – 5:40pm. Officer observed a man loitering in the area for over an hour claiming to be waiting for a Metro bus. Officers are familiar with the man who they know habitually consumes alcohol in public while waiting for the buses. The suspect was issued a no loitering notice. He promptly got onto the next available bus.

September 6^th:

One Municipal Place: Criminal citation – 8:10am. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for drinking in public.

29^th Street and Arundel Road: Hit and run collision – 9:55am. The owner of a 2003 Toyota Camry reported that his vehicle had been struck by a second vehicle. Officers observed that the owner’s vehicle had been legally parked and was struck by a second unidentified vehicle that failed to remain at the scene.

3249 Rhode Island Avenue: Miscellaneous incident (MIR) - 12pm. A citizen came into the police station to dispose of a BB gun and some ornamental swords. The items were logged into property and marked for destruction.

2800 block of 37^th Street: 2^nd degree assault – 4:50pm. Officers responded for the report of unknown trouble. When they arrived they encountered a domestic argument that has escalated when the male half assaulted the female. The man was arrested, charged with 2^nd degree domestic assault and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

3400 block of Rhode island Avenue: Criminal citation (x2) – 4:35pm. Officers issued each of two men a criminal citation for drinking in public.

2200 block of Varnum Street (Family Dollar): Theft – 6:35pm. Officers responded for the report of a theft of several cell phones. The store clerk told the officers that a man known to store employees only as “Malcolm” came into the store and stole three brand new cell phones. The incident is under investigation and officers are in the process of identifying the suspect.

4300 block of Russell Avenue: 2^nd degree assault – 7:05pm. Officers responded for the report of a violent domestic dispute. When they arrived they were met outside by the female victim who was bleeding from her face. Fire/rescue personnel responded to treat the victim while the officers searched for her assailant. He was located in the victim’s apartment and arrested. Further investigation revealed that the suspect also assaulted the victim’s son when he tried to intervene. The suspect was charged with two counts of 2^nd degree assault (one domestic related) and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

4600 block of 27^th Street: 1^st degree assault – 10:20pm. Officers responded for the report of a man who had been shot in the head. When they arrived they encountered the victim who was suffering from a graze wound to the head. The victim told the officers that he and a friend were walking across the parking lot, and as they approach the apartment building an unknown suspect appeared and fired several shots at them. The victim was struck in the head but was able to flee without any additional injury. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his non-life threatening injuries. PGPD detectives assisted with the incident and are looking into a possible motive for the assault. 

September 5^th:

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Criminal citation – 10:40am. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage.

4000 block of 34^th Street: Theft of services – 8pm. A cab driver told officers that he picked up a fare in Glen Burnie and drove him to Mount Rainier. When they arrived the cabbie told the man the fare was $77.75. The man exited the cab without paying the fare and fled the scene in an unknown direction.

September 4^th:

One Municipal Place: Criminal citation - 3:20pm. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage.

September 3^rd:

4500 block of 29^th Street: Vandalism to auto (x3) – 9:45am. Officers responded for the report of several cars that had been vandalized. When they arrived they learned that three vehicles in the block had their side mirrors smashed. Witnesses told the officers they heard some type of noise at about 2:30am but did not look outside or notify police.

3400 block of 34^th Street: Hit and run collision – 5:25pm. Officers took a report of a motor vehicle collision involving a bicyclist. The victim told officers that he rode into the traffic circle and was struck by a motor vehicle that failed to yield the right of way. The driver of the striking vehicle failed to stop and provide identification after the collision. The cyclist was not injured.

2400 block of Chillum Road: Traffic – 8:05pm. Officers stopped a 2006 Nissan Murano for a traffic violation. Further investigation revealed that the driver did not have a license. She was issued several traffic citations and her vehicle was impounded.

September 2^nd:

4400 block of 28^th Street: Vehicle impound – 9am. Officers impounded a 2001 Chevy Blazer for parking on a City street without registration plates.

3800 block of 34^th Street: Criminal citation – 9:25am. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for drinking in public. Due to the man’s level of intoxication fire/rescue personnel responded and transported him to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation.

3300 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Criminal citation – 10:40am. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for drinking in public.

3400 block of Newton Street: Recovered stolen auto – 1:40pm. Officer on patrol observed a vehicle displaying expired registration plates. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had been previously reported stolen from an address in Edmonston. There was also evidence that someone had tried to set the vehicle on fire. PG fire investigators responded to the scene and collected physical evidence. The vehicle was impounded and the owner was notified of the recovery.

3100 block of Queens Chapel Road: M/V collision – 11:10pm. The driver of a 1997 Toyota 4 Runner driving east on Queens Chapel failed to pay full time and attention and collided with the rear end of a 2006 Dodge Caravan. Three passengers in the van were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their minor injuries. The driver of the Toyota was issued several traffic citations and sent on his way.

September 1^st:

3700 block of 36^th Street: Residential burglary – 4:30am. Officers responded for the report of a woman being held against her will. When the officers arrived the victim told them that an ex boyfriend broke into her home through a rear window. Once inside the man broke open her bedroom door to get to her. Officers detained the man and learned that he had an open arrest warrant through Prince George’s County for driving without a license. He was arrested, charged with 1^st degree burglary and other crimes and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue: Criminal citation – 5:35pm. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for urinating in public.

2500 block of Arundel Road: Criminal citation – 1:30pm. Officers stopped a 1994 Chevy Caprice for a traffic violation. 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 less than 10 grams of marijuana. He was issued a criminal citation for the CDS violation and two traffic citations before being sent on his way.

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.