Police report: July 12-18

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.

July 18^th:

34^th Street and Rhode Island Avenue: M/V collision – 1:15am. Officers observed a 2000 Nissan travelling north on Rhode Island Avenue at a high rate of speed. When the vehicle entered the traffic circle the driver lost control and struck the curb of the traffic circle causing disabling damage to the vehicle. The vehicle’s air bags deployed so the driver was not injured. Officers discovered an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the center console and that the driver had a suspended license. He was issued several traffic citations and released at the scene. The vehicle was not drivable and was impounded.

3200 block of Chillum Road: Theft from auto – 2:40am. The owner of a 2006 Honda told officers that he was inside his apartment when he heard his car alarm go off. When he went out to his car to investigate he discovered a passenger side window broken out and his parking permit was stolen.

3100 block of Perry Street: Theft from auto – 8:05am. Officers responded to the area for the report of a found blue gym bag. Officers recovered the bag and noted that it contained only a few personal grooming items. At about 10:30am officers returned to the area when the owner of a 2010 Ford reported that someone had broken into his vehicle. The victim told officers that several of his personal items had been stolen and most were contained in his blue gym bag. The officers showed the victim the bag recovered earlier and he identified it as the one stolen from his vehicle, however not all of the items stolen were still in the bag. Officers returned the bag to him and canvassed the area for the additional items with negative results.

3200 block of Queens Chapel Road (Sunoco station): Theft from auto – 2:45pm. Officers met with a PGPD officers who advised that he had just taken a theft from auto report. The victim of the theft had been pumping gas when two unknown black males riding in a red car approached the victim’s vehicle and stole her purse that was inside. PGPD took the initial report and will handle the follow-up investigation.

4600 block of 29^th Street: MIR – 10:15pm. A woman told officers that her daughter was not taking proper care of her grandchildren. The grandmother said that her daughter does not feed the children properly, screams at them and spanks them on an everyday basis. The officers checked the children while on the scene and determined that they were not in any danger. They did not see any visible trauma on the children and they appeared in good health and spirits. The grandmother was apprised of her options with Child Protective Services and the Department of Social Services.

3300 block of Bunker Hill Road: Criminal citation/EPS – 10:35pm. Officers patrolling the area stopped two individuals who were extremely intoxicated. One of the men was issued a criminal citation for possessing an open container of alcohol. The other was transported to Washington Adventist Hospital by fire/rescue personnel after the officers determined he was so intoxicated and incoherent that medical attention was necessary.

July 17^th:

3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue: 2^nd degree assault – 12:40am. Officers responded for the report of a domestic dispute. When they arrived they interviewed the parties involved and learned that it was simply a dispute between roommates. The officers advised all persons involved of their options with a District Court Commissioner. As the officers were leaving, they observed one of the individuals assault the other two roommates. He was arrested, charged with 2^nd degree assault and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

4600 block of 30^th Street: MIR – 8:35pm. Officers spoke with a woman who is concerned that a black male (NFD) has been stalking her. The woman said that just about every evening for the past two weeks the man has walked by her house and either winks at her or says “I’m watching you.” Officers took the information and will follow-up to try and identify the man.

Chillum Road and Queens Chapel Road: Hit and run M/V collision – 10:25pm. The owner of a 2015 Honda told officers that a Ford vehicle struck the rear of her vehicle causing minor damage. The driver of the striking vehicle failed to remain on the scene for identification and fled on Queens Chapel Road towards DC.

4000 block of 33^rd Street: Criminal citation – 11:05pm. Officers issued a man a criminal citation for disorderly conduct.

July 16^th:

3800 block of 32^nd Street: Traffic – 11am. Officers conducting a speed enforcement detail on Rhode Island Avenue attempted to stop a 2004 Chevy Suburban for exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 mph. The driver of the vehicle swerved around the officers and fled the scene. The officers pursued the vehicle and when they saw it in the 3800 block of 32^nd Street the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot making good on his escape. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle and the tags affixed to it were stolen but not yet reported.  The vehicle was impounded for safekeeping and the investigation is continuing.

34^th Street and Bunker Hill Road: Traffic – 11:40pm. Officers patrolling with an automated license plate reader received an alert on a vehicle with a suspended registration and a pick up order for the tags. Officers stopped the vehicle and confirmed the ALPR hit. The driver was issued the appropriate citations, the vehicle was impounded and the tags seized for return to MVA.

July 15^th:

3200 block of Varnum Street: Theft from auto – 11:40am. The victim told officers that he parked and left his vehicle unlocked about 11:00pm on the 14^th. When he returned to his vehicle this morning he discovered that someone had entered the vehicle and stole his wallet, change holder and IPod. The victim also said that his debit card was used at 3:48am this morning at the Mount Rainier Dollar & Food Mart (3800 block of 34^th Street). The incident was documented and is still under investigation.

2300 block of Varnum Street: Trespassing – 1:10pm. Officers were called to the 7-11 in reference to an individual trespassing after being involved in an altercation earlier in the day. Officers located the man and when they tried to issue him a criminal citation he became uncooperative and refused to provide adequate information and sign the citation. He was subsequently arrested, charged with trespassing and delivered to the custody of DOC in Upper Marlboro.

3249 Rhode Island Avenue: Warrant service – 5:20pm. A man came in to the police station to surrender on an open warrant. Officers verified that the man had an open warrant out of Ocean City, Maryland for a traffic related offense. He was arrested and delivered to the custody of DOC in Hyattsville.

July 14^th:

3100 block of Queens Chapel Road: Vehicle impound – 10:35am. Officers impounded a 2005 Lincoln for displaying suspended registration plates and having a MSP tag pickup order for the tags.

2700 block of Webster Street: Attempt burglary – 1:30pm. The resident told officers that he returned to his apartment to find the front door knob detached from the door. There was no evidence that entry was made into the apartment and nothing was reported stolen.

3200 block of Queens Chapel Road: MIR – 6:35pm. The reporting person reported that on July 4^th some money was taken from his apartment, he thinks by an acquaintance of his landlord. He could not advise how much money was taken or the identity of the suspect. He also did not want the officers to speak with the landlord about the incident as he feared the suspect would be alerted to him contacting the police and come back to the apartment. 

July 13^th:

4100 block of 28^th Street: Vehicle impound – 7:15am. Officers impounded a 2008 Mercedes for blocking a private driveway.

4000 block of 35^th Street: Vehicle impound – 1:35pm. Officers impounded a 1999 BMW for displaying expired registration plates that were listed to a Chevy product.

July 12^th:

3200 block of Rhode Island Avenue: MIR – 12:35pm. Officers received a request from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to assist in serving an Interim Protective Order. Officers located the respondent and served him a copy of the order. The return of service was faxed back to the Sheriff’s Office.

3300 block of Chauncey Place: Death report – 1pm. Officers responded for the report of an unattended death. The decedent was a 52 year old woman who was discovered by a friend. Fire/rescue personnel responded and determined that the woman had been deceased for several days. PGPD homicide detectives and a State Medical Examiner responded to conduct their own investigation, however the woman’s death is believed to be from natural causes.

4000 block of 30^th Street: Recovered stolen auto – 5:20pm. Officers responded for the report of an illegally parked 2005 International 4300 truck. Upon arriving they conducted a check on the truck and discovered it had been reported stolen from an address in Capitol Heights on July 9^th.  The vehicle wqas impounded for safekeeping and the owner was notified of the recovery.

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.