Maryland DNR to stage prescribed fire at Rachel Carson Conservation Park in Brookeville

Here's something you don't hear about that often in Montgomery County: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the Montgomery Parks department, is planning to stage a "prescribed fire" at Rachel Carson Conservation Park at 22201 Zion Road in Brookeville. It will take place on a day sometime between now and April 2023. The fire is being planned to assist in restoration of a meadow in the park, and to maintain biological diversity.

Weather and other factors will play into the final selection of a calendar date, which will be announced prior to the fire. Montgomery Parks says to expect to see visible smoke rising from the park, and that the controlled burn will last about three hours. "The prescribed fire will be executed under strict requirements set forth in a Forest Service-approved prescribed burn plan,” Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks, said in a statement. “We will make sure the public is aware of the fire and take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of park patrons, staff, wildlife and habitats.” 

This apparently isn't something that happens frequently in Montgomery County. The Rachel Carson fire is the only one currently listed on the Parks department's Prescribed Fire Program page.

Takoma Park street closure scheduled for February 22, 2023

A street closure has been scheduled for tree removal on February 22, 2023 in the 1100 block of Lancaster Road in Takoma Park. Titan Tree Care will be removing a dead tree from a residential property there. Traffic controls will be in place between 1103 and 1109 Lancaster. A crane will need to park in the street in that vicinity, to assist with the tree removal.

Tuesday Morning to close in Aspen Hill, Rockville

Tuesday Morning will close its stores at Congressional Plaza in Rockville, and at Northgate Plaza in Aspen Hill, the company announced. A closing sale is underway, that includes all merchandise, the company said in an announcement. The Dallas-based home goods retailer said it is closing more than half of its stores, but the closures will have to be approved by a bankruptcy court, Business Insider reports. Tuesday Morning filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas on...Tuesday morning.

Stick shift foils would-be carjacker at Safeway in downtown Silver Spring

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed carjacking outside the Safeway store at 909 Thayer Avenue in downtown Silver Spring on Monday, February 13, 2023. The would-be carjacker was foiled by an old invention, the manual transmission. Unable to drive the stick shift vehicle, the suspect fled the scene on foot. 

Police describe the suspect as an African-American male, approximately 20-years-old, 5-feet, 6-inches to 5-feet, 8-inches in height, and weighing about 130 pounds. He was wearing a dark jacket, dark pants and a black mask. No surveillance camera footage has been released by detectives as of this writing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Callers can remain anonymous.  

3 shot outside Montgomery County government building in Wheaton

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a shooting in front of the Montgomery County Government office building at 2425 Reedie Drive in Wheaton early Sunday morning, February 12, 2023. Officers arrived on the scene around 3:27 AM Sunday, and found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The officers performed life-saving measures on the victim until an ambulance arrived to transport him to a local hospital, where is he now recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.

Two other adult males also suffering from gunshot wounds found their own way to an unspecified hospital. Detectives learned that they, too, were victims of the same shooting outside the government building. Police have not released any descriptions of the suspects. The recently-built 2425 Reedie Drive building is home to several Montgomery County Government departments, including Montgomery Parks, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and Montgomery County Planning Board, the Montgomery County Recreation Department, and the Department of Permitting Services.

Detectives are urging anyone with information regarding this shooting or the suspect(s) involved to call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s). Callers may remain anonymous. 

Assault at restaurant in Takoma Park

Takoma Park police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a restaurant early yesterday morning, February 12, 2023. Officers arrived at La Playita El Majahual, a popular Peruvian restaurant at 8638 Flower Avenue, at 2:42 AM Sunday. The adult male victim told them that he had been assaulted by four adult males, who then fled the restaurant in a burgundy pickup truck, which police say may have been a Dodge Ram 2500 model. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue were called by officers, and the victim was transported to a local hospital with unspecified injuries.

Anyone with any information about this assault is asked to contact the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100. Refer to case number #230007084.

Strong-arm carjacking in Takoma Park

Takoma Park police responded to a report of a strong-arm carjacking last night, February 9, 2023, at the intersection of Westmoreland and Carroll Avenues around 7:32 PM. The adult male victim was working in his parked 2016 maroon Honda CRV, PA Tag #LZB2505, on Westmoreland. Three masked suspects approached from Carroll Avenue, and proceeded to yank open his driver's side door. They ordered the victim to step out of the vehicle, and he complied. The suspects then got into the CRV, and sped away, making a right turn onto Carroll.

The victim's work tools were in the CRV. Officers later found some items the suspects apparently threw out of the vehicle in the 400 block of Elm Avenue. Police describe the suspects as two African-American males and one Asian male, all approximately 5'10-6'2, all wearing all dark clothing and all wearing black masks.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 301-270-1100, and refer to case #230006712.