Strong-arm rape reported in parking lot in Wheaton

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape in a commercial parking lot in Wheaton on the afternoon of January 24, 2026. The sexual assault was reported in a parking lot in the 11100 block of Veirs Mill Road at 2:26 PM Saturday. That is in the vicinity of the Wheaton Triangle and Wheaton Plaza.

Alleged Silver Spring machete-wielding rapist arrested

Montgomery County police have arrested the suspect in yesterday's rape along the Northwest Branch Trail in Silver Spring. Jose Roberto Hernandez-Penal, 20, of Hyattsville has been with first-degree rape, kidnapping and armed robbery. At 2:40 PM on Tuesday, Hernandez-Penal allegedly approached two adult females on the trail, brandished a machete, and demanded property from the victims. They complied with the demand, but Hernandez-Penal then sexually assaulted one of the women, and then fled the scene. Shortly thereafter, he allegedly assaulted an adult male in the 1100 block of Devere Drive.

Montgomery County still does not have its own police helicopter, but a Maryland State Police chopper was called in to search the area. Officers set up a perimeter in the area. In cooperation with state troopers, Maryland-National Capital Park Police and Montgomery County police K-9 units, they located and arrested Hernandez-Penal.

In interviews with detectives, Hernandez-Penal allegedly "made statements of involvement" in Tuesday's incidents. Detectives believe that there may be additional victims of sexual assault by Hernandez-Penal that have not contacted police. They are urging anyone who believes themselves to be a victim to contact the police department's Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5050 or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477). Callers can remain anonymous. 

Olney man arrested for trading drugs for sex acts with 15-year-old girl

Montgomery County police detectives with the Special Investigations Division and Special Victims Investigations Division have arrested an Olney man they accuse of trading drugs for sex acts with a 15-year-old girl. Erik Calderon Pereira, 22, has been charged with a third-degree sexual offense, and sexual solicitation of a minor, for engaging in illicit sex acts with the girl between December 2021 and February 2023. Detectives allege that Pereira gave the girl drugs, for which she would pay him in the form of performing sex acts. 

Pereira is now free on $20,000 bond. Detectives believe there could be other teenage victims in this case. They are urging any victims to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.  

Strong-arm rape reported at Aspen Hill apartment complex

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape in an office/storage area of an Aspen Hill apartment complex late Wednesday night, March 23, 2022. The sexual assault was reported at an apartment building in the 4100 block of Postgate Terrace, off Georgia Avenue, at 11:04 PM, according to crime data.

Strong-arm rape at Silver Spring apartment complex

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape at an apartment complex on the edge of downtown Silver Spring yesterday afternoon, September 12, 2021. The rape was reported in a storage/office area of an apartment building in the 1500 block of N. Falkland Lane at 5:37 PM on Sunday, according to crime data.

Takoma Park pastor arrested for alleged sexual assault, rape of female church members

City of Takoma Park Police Chief Antonio DeVaul announced the arrest of a pastor of Iglesia Pentecostal El Fin Viene Church at 7523 New Hampshire Avenue. Pastor Erick Odir Vidal Fuentes, 37, of Hyattsville has been charged with 2nd degree rape, 4th degree sex offense and 2nd degree assault. The alleged victims are two female members of the church.

Takoma Park Police believe that there may be more victims, and request that anyone who believes that they are/were a victim - or has information regarding the sexual assaults - please contact Detective Charles Earle at 240-298-5500. Si usted solo habla español, por favor contacte nuestra Coordinadora de Victima/Testigos, Claudia Tolson, al 240-610-8284.

Strong-arm rape reported at Wheaton Metro station garage

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape in the Wheaton Metro station parking garage on Saturday afternoon. The rape was reported in the garage on Reedie Drive around 5:43 PM, according to crime data.

Strong-arm rape reported in Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape at a school in Silver Spring Saturday morning. The sexual assault was reported at a school in the 3100 block of Medway Street near Wheaton Claridge Local Park around 9:50 AM. Highland Elementary School is on that block.

Strong-arm rape in Wheaton park

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape at a park in Wheaton early Monday morning. The sexual assault was reported at an unspecified park on Reedie Drive around 12:11 AM, according to crime data.

Strong-arm rape reported in Wheaton

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm rape in the center of Wheaton Tuesday night. The sexual assault was reported in the 11100 block of Georgia Avenue.

Man allegedly uses storm as pretext to rape 12-year-old Wheaton girl

Montgomery County police report a horrifying story from Wheaton. Detectives allege that a man used an afternoon thunderstorm on May 23 as a pretext to rape a 12-year-old girl. James Allen Booker, 59, of Upper Marlboro, has been charged with the second-degree rape and third-degree sex offense of a 12-year-old female. 

According to police, Booker offered the girl a ride home during the thunderstorm. She agreed, but when they arrived at her residence, he allegedly sexually assaulted her in his car. Booker then allowed the girl to leave the car. She went into her house and reported the assault to a parent who called police.

Booker was arrested yesterday at his job in Wheaton.

Reports of rape continue to surge in Montgomery County

Montgomery County police have released a sketch of the Montgomery Village rape suspect, the latest incident made public as reports of rape continue to surge in the County. Detectives report that the white male suspect followed a woman after she got off a Ride On bus in the 19300 block of Watkins Mill Road Saturday night, April 20, around 10:15 PM. Realizing the man was following her, the victim began to run. The suspect then knocked the woman down, dragged her into a grassy area by the nearby woods, raped her, and fled.

The victim went home, and then to a local hospital, where the police were called. She identified the suspect to detectives as a white male in his late 20s, with brown hair. She said he is approximately 6-feet-tall, and weighs about 180 pounds. The suspect also has a tattoo behind his left ear, and was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans. Based on the sketch, the sweatshirt has a hood.

Detectives are asking anyone who recognizes the suspect or who may have information about this rape to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5050.  Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to their line that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this crime.

Reports of rape skyrocketed by 53% in mid-2018, according to an official police department memo submitted to the County Council. Police recently reported that rapes had spiked 28% by the end of 2018. The County Council has been silent on the surge in rapes in Montgomery County, and their allies in the local press colluded to silence the topic during the 2018 Council election. I was outspoken on the importance of the issue during the campaign, and my words have been vindicated by the continued increase in reports of rape.

Wake up, folks! Public indifference, and the propagandizing Pravda-style media coverage of County government, are perhaps the biggest challenges we face. The people of Montgomery County need to avail themselves of the information being provided by this Suburban News Network website, start asking why the Council has failed to take action, and begin intelligently voting for councilmembers who will actually take the problem of violence against women seriously.

Rape at Silver Spring hotel, strong-arm robbery and armed robbery in Aspen Hill, armed robbery in Wheaton

A "strong-arm" rape was reported to Montgomery County police on September 2 at 10:08 PM, at a hotel on Colesville Road in the 20910 zip code of Silver Spring (note: new, inferior County crime data no longer gives the block number for the location of a crime incident).

On the same day, at 8:45 AM, a victim was robbed at gunpoint in the street on Weeping Willow Court in Aspen Hill. The night before, at 11:11 PM, another person was the victim of a strong-arm robbery in a church parking lot on Aspen Hill Road. Minutes later, at 11:33 PM, an unspecified business on Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton was robbed at gunpoint.

Police: Rape of Sandy Spring teen "not a random act"

A troubling rape case in Sandy Spring is becoming murkier by the minute. While police had released a description of a suspect in the September 15 rape of a teenage girl walking to school, they now say they have identified and spoken to the alleged assailant. Detectives have now determined the assault was "not a random act," but are releasing no further details.

The state's attorney's office is reviewing the case, and police say there is no danger to the public related to this incident.

Sandy Spring rapist at large

A teenager was raped in Sandy Spring last Thursday, September 15, and Montgomery County Police are searching for the culprit.

Sometime between 7:00-8:00 AM that morning, a teenage girl was walking in the area of Olney-Sandy Spring Road. She was approached by a lone male, who directed her non-verbally to a grassy area off of the road. He then proceeded to rape her. The victim went to her home and told her parents she had just been raped. Detectives arrived at the hospital where she was then taken for treatment.

No description of the suspect has been released, but police say they will have more details for the public once additional information has been confirmed.

Anyone with information about this sexual assault is asked to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400 or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to their line that leads to an arrest in this case. Residents are reminded to immediately call 911 if they observe suspicious activity.

Wheaton men charged in kidnapping, rape of 12-year-old girl

Enrique Carbajal

Two Wheaton residents have been charged in the rape of a 12-year-old girl. Montgomery County Police executed a D.C. Superior Court arrest warrant on Wednesday at the home shared by the men, in the 11500 block of Elkin Street. Their alleged victim is a District resident.

The rape occured at their Elkin Street residence, police say.

Victor Tome

Enrique Carbajal, 24, and Victor Tome, 19, have been charged by detectives of the Special Victims Investigations Division with with one count each of first-degree rape, second-degree rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and second-degree assault.

Police allege Carbajal and Tome picked the victim up in Northeast Washington, and brought her to Wheaton. They allegedly later took her to an undisclosed address in Virginia. D.C. and Alexandria police are also investigating the two men, in connection with similar crimes committed in their jurisdictions.

Carbajal and Tome were both ordered to be held on a $500,000 bond. Their immigration status was not disclosed in the police statement.

ROBBERY AT SILVER SPRING METRO, ASSAULT ON FALKLAND LANE - SILVER SPRING/WHEATON CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on May 27, according to crime data:

Assault/"rape." 1500 block Falkland Lane.

Robbery. Silver Spring Metro Station.

Theft. Target at Wheaton Plaza.

Theft. Wheaton Plaza.

Vehicle burglary. Cameron Street at Fenton Street.

NORTHWEST BRANCH TRAIL RAPE SUSPECT ARRESTED (PHOTO)

Joaquin Orellana Torres

Montgomery County and Maryland-National Capital Park Police have arrested a suspect in the May 5, 2014 rape that was reported in Northwest Branch Park in Silver Spring.

Park Police detectives searching the park for evidence on Friday, May 9, discovered a backpack matched the description of the one the victim described as being the suspect's. Close by, they encountered the suspect himself, wearing the same necklace the victim recalled him wearing during the attack.

Not only was Joaquin A. Orellana Torres, 24, of Hughes Road in Hyattsville taken into custody, but he also admitted his involvement in the attack, according to Montgomery County Police. He has been charged with one count of 1st degree rape, and one count of armed robbery. A hearing to determine bail will be held on Monday at 1:00 PM.

“The arrest of Joaquin Orellana Torres helps to maintain the safe environment for everyone who uses the Montgomery County Park system," Chief Antonio DeVaul of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police (Montgomery County Division) said in a statement early Saturday morning. "This case was closed quickly due to great work and coordination by detectives from the Montgomery County Police and the Maryland-National Capital Park Police.”

Photo courtesy Montgomery County Police

SILVER SPRING/WHEATON/ASPEN HILL CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across eastern Montgomery County on April 12, according to crime data:

Theft. 1700 block Luzerne Avenue (Woodside Park).

Drug arrest. 11100 block Veirs Mill Road (Wheaton).

Liquor arrest. 11200 block Grandview Avenue (Wheaton).

Liquor arrest. Grandview Avenue at Ennalls Avenue (Wheaton).

Vehicle theft. 8200 block Georgia Avenue (downtown Silver Spring).

Liquor arrest. 13600 block Georgia Avenue (Aspen Hill).

Rape. 300 block E. Indian Spring Drive (Franklin Knolls).

Disorderly conduct. University Boulevard E. at Carroll Avenue (New Hampshire Estates area).