Robbery in downtown Silver Spring; sex assault on Arcola Ave. + more - East MoCo crime update

Here's a roundup of some of the most notable crimes reported in the last week, according to crime data:

January 26

Assault. 14100 block Pear Tree Lane (Aspen Hill).

Assault. 3100 block Whispering Pines Drive (Aspen Hill)

January 27

Robbery. 8600 block Georgia Avenue at 2:47 PM (downtown Silver Spring).

January 28

Assault. 14600 block Tynewick Terrace.

Assault. 12000 block Claridge Road (Wheaton).

Assault. 13900 block Parkland Drive (Aspen Hill).

January 29

Assault. 14200 block Georgia Avenue (Aspen Hill).

Robbery. 6800 block New Hampshire Avenue at 10:46 AM.

Assault. Old Columbia Road at Tech Road.

January 30

Burglary. 13100 block Parkland Drive (Aspen Hill).

Assault. 12700 block Feldon Street.

Assault. 12300 block Charles Road.

Sexual assault. 1700 block Arcola Avenue at 12:22 AM.

January 31

Sexual assault. 8600 block Flower Avenue at 8:02 AM.

February 1

Assault. 9600 block Cottrell Terrace.

Kidnapping reported at Lotte Plaza in Aspen Hill

A kidnapping-in-progress was reported at the Lotte Plaza shopping center on Georgia Avenue in Aspen Hill early this morning, according to radio scanner reports. Montgomery County Police were called around 1:45 AM, and told that a man was forcing a woman into a white sedan outside of Rita's at Lotte Plaza.

Officers responding to the scene said they were finding no sign of the individuals or vehicle there, according to scanner reports. No further details are available as of press time.

Rockville teen charged in Aspen Hill stabbing

Montgomery County Police say a teenager has been charged as an adult in last week's fatal stabbing at an Aspen Hill gas station on Georgia Avenue. Elmer A. Galindo of Rockville has been charged in the as an adult in the homicide of Jose Santos Fuentes of Aspen Hill, also 17.

An officer saw Galindo fleeing the vicinity of the double stabbing, and caught him in the 14000 block of Grand Pre Road. The officer noticed Galindo’s pants were bloody, and found a knife on Galindo's person.

Galindo was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of armed robbery, and one count of robbery. He is being held without bond.

Police say their initial investigation suggests the altercation stemmed from a dispute over an earlier drug transaction. They have not yet announced any gang involvement in the incident. Previously, police had stated they were looking for as many as four suspects in the case.

Galindo's other alleged victim remains hospitalized in serious condition, according to police.

Aspen Hill stabbing now a homicide; manhunt underway for suspects still at-large

Is gang violence worsening in Montgomery County? There is no official word yet of gang involvement in a violent assault last night in Aspen Hill, but many residents have expressed concern about gangs in the area. This time the weapon of choice was a knife, rather than a gun. Wednesday night at 8:24 PM, Montgomery County Police responded to a report of an assault at the Sunoco gas station in Aspen Hill, at 14031 Georgia Avenue.

Upon arriving, officers found two Latino males who had been stabbed. One was suffering from life-threatening injuries, and later died at a local hospital. The other is still hospitalized.

Police say the motive for the savage assault is unclear, and that the suspects simply fled after the assault.

Detectives urge anyone who may have information regarding the suspect(s) in this homicide to contact the Major Crimes Division at 240.773.5070. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s). Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

There are reportedly as many as four suspects at large in this case.

Alleged downtown Silver Spring bank robber charged (Photo)

A man who allegedly robbed the SunTrust Bank at 8700 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring last week has been arrested and charged, Montgomery County Police say. Tony Linn Smith, age 55, of no confirmed address, has been charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of theft from $1000 to under $10,000.

The second set of charges relates to a second robbery police are accusing Smith of, which took place at the M&T Bank located at 51 West Edmonston Drive in Rockville on July 25. Smith's alleged robbery of the Silver Spring SunTrust branch took place on July 23, at 9:25 AM.

Police used surveillance footage to identify Smith as the suspect, and officers located him in Silver Spring on July 27. Smith is being held without bond.

Police impersonator accused of Silver Spring sexual assault (Photo)

A Silver Spring man has been charged with sexual assault while impersonating a police officer. Nicholas Morales-Macedo, 24, of the 9400 block of Thornhill Road in Silver Spring, was arrested in Rockville on July 17 by detectives of the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division.

Police say Morales-Macedo lured a 44-year-old woman to the Days Inn at 8040 13th Street in Silver Spring via the internet on January 15, 2012. The woman said she was waiting in a room at the hotel, when Morales-Macedo entered with a badge around his neck, and identified himself as a police officer. Police allege that Morales-Macedo then proceeded to handcuff the woman, and told her that if she performed sexual acts on him she would not be arrested.

Morales-Macedo then sexually-assaulted the victim, police say, and left the room after obtaining her identification information on a piece of paper. DNA evidence taken from the scene implicates Morales-Macedo in the assault, detectives say.

He has been charged with two counts of second degree sex offense, and ordered held without bond. The police impersonation allegations are still under investigation, and police have indicated charges are possible on that front as well.

Wheaton Metro shooting now a homicide case

Montgomery County Police responded to a report of "shots fired" at the Wheaton Metro station garage at 7:06 PM Tuesday night. Initially, the station and garage were both closed.

An adult male victim was located on the 3rd level of the parking garage. According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, that victim was transported to the trauma center at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda.

The victim has died, and police are now calling the incident a homicide. Police said they would not release the name of the victim immediately, and are talking to several "persons of interest" regarding the case. No motive has yet been determined in the shooting.

An update from Montgomery County Police is expected after 8:00 AM this morning.

3 ROBBERIES, 4 STOLEN CARS + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON/EAST COUNTY CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on October 17, according to crime data:

Robbery. 4600 block Aspen Hill Court at 12:42 PM.

Burglary. 3000 block Bonview Lane (Aspen Hill).

Stolen car. 11700 block Highview Avenue (Wheaton).

Stolen car. 2800 block Schoolhouse Circle (Wheaton).

Stolen car. 3100 block University Boulevard W. (Wheaton/Kensington).

Burglary. 10800 block Lockwood Drive (White Oak).

Stolen car. 2500 block Shanandale Drive (Fairland).

Burglary. 14700 block McKnew Road (Burtonsville).

Robbery. 8000 block 13th Street.

Robbery. Arliss Street at Flower Avenue (Long Branch).

WHEATON SHOOTER FINALLY CHARGED AS AN ADULT IN ALLEGEDLY GANG-RELATED ATTACK

Almost 3 months after a 13-year-old boy allegedly shot an 18-year-old woman in the vicinity of Plyers Mill Road and Douglas Avenue in Wheaton, the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office has charged the youth as an adult in the crime.

Issac Quinteros of Wheaton, now 14, is charged with 22 crimes in total. According to Kevin Lewis, Montgomery County reporter for ABC 7 News, Quinteros was expelled from A. Mario Loiederman Middle School last year. Police say he and adult accomplice Eber Umanzor are both members of the Little R gang, which has made a name for itself for numerous brazen crimes in the county.

A judge had to determine whether the case justified charging Quinteros as an adult.

SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN GLENMONT, COLESVILLE & LONG BRANCH + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on October 10, according to crime data:

Burglary. 14400 block Gaines Avenue.

Burglary. 12800 block Layhill Road.

Theft. 2200 block Glenallan Avenue (Glenmont).

Sexual assault. 2100 block Randolph Road (Glenmont).

Sexual assault. Unit block of Silver Moon Drive (Colesville).

Theft. 10800 block Huntley Place (Wheaton).

Burglary. 11500 White Oak Vista Terrace (White Oak).

Assault. 12200 block Tech Road.

Sexual assault. 8800 block Glenville Road (Long Branch).

Assault. 500 block Thayer Avenue.

ROBBERY IN WHITE OAK, ASSAULTS IN ASPEN HILL AREA + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on October 9, according to crime data:

Assault. 14100 block Georgia Avenue (Aspen Hill).

Assault. 14400 block Taos Court (Bel Pre/Kimberly Place).

Stolen car. 3300 block Kayson Street.

Assault. Georgia Avenue at Randolph Road.

Robbery. 1500 block November Circle (White Oak).

Assault. 11200 block New Hampshire Avenue (White Oak).

Assault. 8400 block Colesville Road.

Burglary. 600 block Sligo Avenue.

SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ASPEN HILL, STOLEN CAR ON WALDEN RD. + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on October 8, according to crime data:

Sexual assault. 13200 block Bluhill Road at 9:08 PM (Aspen Hill).

Theft from vehicle. 12600 block Dalewood Drive (Connecticut Avenue Estates).

Theft. 2300 block Randolph Road (Glenmont).

Theft from vehicle. 1900 block Randolph Road (Glenmont).

Stolen car. 8900 block Walden Road.

Assault. 8400 block Colesville Road.

Assault. 1900 block Rosemary Hills Drive.

Assault. 900 block Ellsworth Drive.

SILVER SPRING STABBING SUSPECT TO VICTIM: " YOU ARE GOING TO DIE TONIGHT! "

Montgomery County Police detectives are turning up the heat on the still-at-large suspect in the September 29 attempted robbery and stabbing at the Forest Park Apartments. They plan to hand out flyers with the suspect's description around the Piney Branch Road apartment complex this afternoon around 4:00 PM. That description is more detailed than the previous one.

Police say the suspect approached the female victim early that evening (police responded at 7:46 PM) and demanded money. When she failed to comply, he said, "then you are going to die tonight." After knocking the woman to the ground, he stabbed her several times with a knife. A passerby called police. The victim survived and has been discharged from the hospital.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 17-19 years old, 120 pounds, thin build, medium height, black hair, with a black and white pattern bandana covering the lower part of his face, and wearing a blue shirt, “skinny” blue jeans, an unknown color baseball cap, and a black belt.

Anyone who has information about this suspect or the attempted armed robbery is asked to call the 3rd District Investigative Section at 240-773-6870, or the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.  Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the tip line at 240-773-TIPS (8477).

ASSAULT AT DUNKIN' DONUTS, LIQUOR ARREST AT WHEATON-CLARIDGE PARK + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on October 2, according to crime data:

Burglary. 8500 block 2nd Avenue.

Drug arrest. 11600 block Highview Avenue (Wheaton).

Theft from vehicle. 2700 block University Boulevard W. (Wheaton).

Theft. JC Penney at Wheaton Plaza.

Theft. Wheaton Plaza.

Assault. Dunkin' Donuts, 2405 Reedie Drive (Wheaton).

Disorderly conduct. 11200 block Georgia Avenue (Wheaton).

Vehicle burglary. 1000 block Wayne Avenue.

Liquor arrest. Wheaton-Claridge Local Park.

ASSAULTS IN GLENMONT, FAIRLAND, WHITE OAK, TAKOMA PARK + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on September 26, according to crime data:

Theft. 14200 block Catamount Court.

Burglary. 13400 block Hathaway Drive.

Assault. 2100 block Georgian Woods Place (Glenmont).

Assault. 11200 block New Hampshire Avenue (White Oak).

Theft. 600 block Concerto Lane (White Oak).

Assault. 3500 block Olive Branch Drive (Fairland).

Assault. 12800 block Big Horn Drive (Fairland).

Theft from vehicle. 3000 block Schubert Drive.

Stolen car. 8400 block Piney Branch Road.

Assault. 8200 block Flower Avenue (Takoma Park).

Burglary. 8800 block Manchester Road.

Assault. 8800 block Lanier Drive.

SEXUAL ASSAULT ON NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE., ROBBERY IN WHITE OAK + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on September 23, according to crime data:

Assault. 2200 block Bel Pre Road (Aspen Hill).

Theft. 3000 block Bel Pre Road.

Theft from vehicle. Georgia Avenue at Randolph Road (Glenmont).

Theft from vehicle. 12000 block Milton Street.

Assault. 2400 block Plyers Mill Road (Wheaton).

Stolen car. 11400 block July Road (White Oak).

Robbery. 11600 block Lockwood Drive (White Oak).

Sexual assault. 10100 block New Hampshire Avenue.

Stolen car. Unit block of Noyes Court.

Burglary. 1300 block Spring Street.

Assault. 1300 block Fenwick Lane.

Assault. 8500 block Colesville Road.

HOCKEY COACH WHO STOLE WALLETS FROM WHEATON ICE ARENA HEADED TO SLAMMER

Barry Fig, a Rockville resident and hockey coach, pled guilty to theft and drug charges yesterday in Montgomery County Circuit Court. Fig, 36, was sentenced to 14 months behind bars for crimes that included stealing wallets at local ice rinks, including Wheaton Ice Arena. The cause of Fig's downfall was his addiction to the prescription drug Adderall, according to ABC 7's Kevin Lewis.

ASPEN HILL SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LEADS TO ARRESTS

Montgomery County Police set up a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday at Veirs Mill and Aspen Hill Roads. According to police, the checkpoint stops led to 6 drivers being arrested for DUI, 4 citations being issued, 57 traffic citations, and 17 auto equipment repair orders. County officers arrested over 3,300 drivers for DUI in 2013, but the issue remains a major concern for police and the public.

ASSAULT W/DEADLY WEAPON IN WHITE OAK, STOLEN CAR IN DT SILVER SPRING - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on September 17, according to crime data:

Theft from vehicle. Bel Pre Court at Bel Pre Road.

Theft from vehicle. 12600 block Dalewood Drive (Connecticut Avenue Estates).

Burglary. 12300 block Selfridge Road.

Assault. 10800 block Georgia Avenue (Wheaton).

Assault. 11300 block Columbia Pike (White Oak).

Assault with deadly weapon. 11500 block Lockwood Drive (White Oak).

Theft from vehicle. 11200 block Lockwood Drive.

Theft from vehicle. 11100 block Oak Leaf Drive (White Oak).

Theft from vehicle. 1500 block Heather Hollow Circle (White Oak).

Assault. 9300 block Warren Street.

Burglary. 9300 block 2nd Avenue.

Assault. 1300 block Fenwick Lane.

Stolen car. 800 block Ellsworth Drive.

ASSAULTS IN BEL PRE, WHEATON, DT SILVER SPRING + MORE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on September 14, according to crime data:

Assault. 2300 block Sun Valley Circle (Bel Pre area).

Theft. 3100 block Hewitt Avenue (Aspen Hill).

Theft. 1500 block Casino Drive.

Assault. Andrew Street at Veirs Mill Road.

Burglary. 2200 block Shorefield Road (Glenmont/Wheaton).

Theft from vehicle. 2300 block Blueridge Avenue.

Robbery. 2900 block University Boulevard West (Wheaton).

Assault. 800 block Ellsworth Drive.