Airsoft gun assault leads to barricade situation in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to an aggravated assault in the Layhill area of Silver Spring Wednesday, April 1, 2026. In the 13100 block of Ideal Drive at 10:13 AM Wednesday, a resident fired multiple rounds from an airsoft gun at a victim standing outside of his home. When officers arrived, the resident threatened them and barricaded himself inside his home. Police deployed an Emergency Response Team, which handles specialized and volatile scenarios such as barricaded suspects with the goal of protecting first responders, the community, and the suspect in question from harm if possible. The ERT team was successful in facilitating the arrest of the suspect, police say.

Wetzel's Pretzels opens in Wheaton

Just over a year after it was announced, Wetzel's Pretzels has opened at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall at 11160 Veirs Mill Road. Now you'll have the chance to settle once and for all the question of which mall pretzel vendor is the best: Wetzel's Pretzels, or the ubiquitous Auntie Anne's. Each Wetzel's pretzel is hand-rolled, baked fresh and served hot from the oven. Look for Wetzel's Pretzels on Level 2 of the mall, near Costco.

Auto theft spree in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police are investigating an auto theft spree that took place overnight in several neighborhoods in the Connecticut Avenue and Randolph Road corridors of Silver Spring. Multiple vehicles were stolen from homes, including those parked in the 4000 block of Weller Road, the 3900 block of Isbell Street, and the 12200 block of Charles Road. Connecticut Avenue Park and Stoneybrook Estates were the primary targets of the thieves. Police believe all of the vehicles were stolen between 9:00 PM on March 30, 2026, and 8:00 AM on March 31.

Silver Spring traffic stop leads to arrests for handguns

Montgomery County police officers conducting a traffic stop north of downtown Silver Spring last night discovered firearms in the vehicle. At 9:24 PM Monday, officers observed the driver of a vehicle on Colesville Road commit a moving violation. They pulled the vehicle over near the intersection of Colesville and Noyes Court. Two suspects inside the vehicle were allegedly found to be in possession of handguns, and were arrested.

Drive-thru marijuana dispensary opening April 14 in Kensington

Crabtree Dispensary, a drive-thru marijuana dispensary, will open April 14, 2026 in Kensington. It is located in a former bank building at 3470 University Boulevard West. This will be the third Montgomery County dispensary to offer drive-thru service, but only the second to serve recreational marijuana users, with the other being Curaleaf in Montgomery Village. There are 15 drive-thru dispensaries statewide in Maryland.

"We offer a curated selection of premium cannabis products, including flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, concentrates, tinctures, topicals, and accessories, with a focus on supporting local Maryland brands," Crabtree Dispensary says in a promotional statement. "Customers can enjoy fast, friendly service in-store or through our convenient drive-thru. Join our loyalty program to earn rewards and experience a community-focused dispensary where passion, care, and quality come together for an elevated cannabis experience."

Strong-arm robbery in White Oak

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in the White Oak area of Silver Spring on the afternoon of March 16, 2026. The assault and robbery were reported in the 11100 block of New Hampshire Avenue at 1:15 PM. Two suspects assaulted the juvenile male victim and absconded with his property. 

Police describe the suspects only as two Black males of unknown age. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Progress on new parking garage in downtown Silver Spring (Photos)

The new parking garage under construction at 8615 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring now rises five stories above street level at its highest point. United Therapeutics is constructing the public parking garage in exchange for Montgomery County giving it the Cameron Street Public Parking Garage at 8700 Cameron Street. The 8615 Georgia site became available when a planned office building there was canceled, a victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy. In addition to 675 parking spaces, the new garage was also planned with ground floor retail space in mind.