Germantown test ride turns into grand theft electric dirtbike

Who is stealing the dirt bikes of upper Montgomery County? There is another theft to report today, this time of an electric model. According to Montgomery County police, a seller met a supposed prospective buyer of an electric dirt bike in the 13100 block of Middlebrook Road at 6:00 PM last night. The "buyer" asked if they could take a test ride on the bike. Alas, the test rider rode off into the night, never to be seen again. Police have not released a description of the suspect, nor of the bike model stolen, as of this writing.

Germantown restaurant's contents to be auctioned off June 23

The contents of a restaurant in Germantown will be auctioned off starting on June 23, 2026. Described as a French bistro, the establishment appears to be the now-closed Laperaux: The Journeymanchef's French Bistro at 18056 Mateny Road at Cloppers Mill Village. Among the items hitting the auction block is one you rarely see in a Montgomery County restaurant liquidation: a baby grand piano. Check out the auction listing for all of the equipment up for grabs for the collector or budding restauranteur.

Two aggravated assaults in 2 hours & 10 minutes on same block in Germantown

What's going on in the 13100 block of Waters Landing Drive, folks? It was a rough afternoon outside of Waters Landing Elementary School in Germantown yesterday, May 31, 2026. Montgomery County police responded to two separate reports of aggravated assaults on that block just two hours and ten minutes apart. At 3:48 PM Sunday, multiple people were assaulted and injured by a suspect. And at 5:58 PM, two juveniles were walking along when they were assaulted by an unspecified number of suspects. Police have not released a description of any of the suspects involved in either assault.

Car stolen from apartment complex in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at an apartment complex in Germantown yesterday, May 25, 2026. The vehicle was parked outside of a building in the 13400 block of Daventry Way. Police believe the vehicle was taken sometime between 7:00 PM Sunday night, and 1:00 AM Monday morning. They say that the owner "accidentally left the keys inside" the vehicle.

Airsoft guns fired inside Germantown McDonald's

An Airsoft-toting posse rolled up on a McDonald's in Germantown and treated diners to an eight gun salute yesterday afternoon, May 19, 2026. According to Montgomery County police, seven or eight male suspects entered the restaurant at 12982 Middlebrook Road at 5:00 PM Tuesday. They allegedly were carrying Airsoft guns, which they proceeded to fire inside the restaurant, and outside in the parking lot. Police have not released descriptions of the suspects involved.

Aggravated assault at Safeway in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of shoplifting and aggravated assault at the Safeway store at 19718 Germantown Road on April 29, 2026. The incident was reported at 3:48 PM that afternoon. According to police, the suspect stole merchandise and then brandished a knife outside the store. Police describe the suspect only as a Black male of unknown age. If you have any information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Assault at Roberto Clemente MS in Germantown

Montgomery County police were called to a school in Germantown yesterday, May 5, 2026, after someone reported having been assaulted there. The assault was reported at Roberto Clemente Middle School at 3:27 PM Tuesday. Roberto Clemente MS is located at 18808 Waring Station Road. 

Pedestrian dies after being struck by driver in Germantown driveway

Montgomery County police are investigating a fatal collision that took place today in Germantown. According to police, a 75-year-old man was in a residential driveway in the 11600 block of Drumcastle Terrace just after 12:30 PM, when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a family member. The driver remained at the scene, and is cooperating with the investigation, police say. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he later tragically died from his injuries.

I think of this neighborhood as a townhome community without individual driveways, so I am somewhat puzzled by the description of "driveway." Police say the Collision Reconstruction Unit is conducting a full investigation of the incident. The identity of the decedent is being withheld until his relatives have been notified by police.

Police investigate hate speech at Seneca Valley HS in Germantown

Montgomery County police are investigating vandalism that allegedly included hate speech at Seneca Valley High School at 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown. Police were called to the school Tuesday afternoon, April 14, 2026, when the graffiti was discovered in a bathroom at 12:40 PM. Officers say that the graffiti they saw in the restroom included an anti-Semitic message. 

Montgomery County government liquor store burglarized in Germantown

One of the Montgomery County government liquor sales monopoly stores was burglarized late last month in Germantown. The burglary took place at Kingsview Wine & Liquor at 18323 Leaman Farm Road in the early morning hours of March 27, 2026. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the store. They determined merchandise had been taken from inside.

Police describe the suspects only as a White or Hispanic male of unknown age, and two additional males of no further description. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Montgomery County police arrest 2 in Germantown grocery store shooting

Montgomery County police have arrested two suspects in the March 20, 2026 shooting inside a grocery store in Germantown. One person was wounded in the shooting, which took place inside the Giant supermarket at 18331 Leaman Farm Road at 8:40 PM. Both suspects were armed, police say, and one of them fired multiple shots inside the store while chasing the victim.

Marcus Isaiah Jovon Braithwaite, 19, of Germantown and Demba Tandia, 16, of Montgomery Village have been charged with attempted first-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. Braithwaite is being held at the County jail pending a bond hearing. Tandia was located in Sterling, Virginia, and is awaiting extradition to Montgomery County. Police have released surveillance camera footage of the incident.

Teen stabbed aboard bus in Germantown

A teenage boy was stabbed during an altercation that began on a bus in Germantown Tuesday night, March 24, 2026. The 14-year-old victim was involved in an argument aboard the bus with a group of juveniles known to him that turned violent. He suffered a single stab wound, and managed to walk to a nearby grocery store, where he called 911 at 8:13 PM. The boy was transported to a local hospital, where police say his wound was determined to be non-life-threatening. 

Montgomery County police officers combed the nearby area, and located the alleged knife-wielding assailant. The 16-year-old suspect was arrested. Police say they are continuing to investigate the incident, but that there is no further danger to the community.

Aggravated assault at gas station in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at a gas station in Germantown on March 6, 2026. The assault took place at the Exxon station at 21101 Frederick Road at 8:23 PM. Three suspects displayed an unspecified weapon, and physically assaulted the victim.

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

Montgomery County starting work on Hoyles Mill MARC station project in Boyds

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is making final preparations to begin work on the Hoyles Mill MARC station project. Utilizing land around the Boyds MARC commuter rail station, including the Anderson property the County acquired for this purpose, several upgrades and amenities will be added to the station. These include construction of a new parking lot, a new Ride On bus loop, sidewalks, a shared-use path, and restrooms for bus drivers. The current parking lot has only 15 spaces that typically fill up fast in the morning; the new lot will provide 55 spaces for commuters, as well as new bicycle parking spots.

In addition to the station improvements, the historic Hoyles Mill structure will be stabilized. It is essentially a ruin, but stabilization is needed to insure it doesn't collapse. Montgomery County has received a total of $590,000 in grants from state agencies for this purpose. According to the Library of Congress, much of the mill's sheathing and internal machinery remain intact, and it is one of a few timber-frame mills that remain standing in Montgomery County.

Overall, the goal of the project is to encourage more ridership for MARC from the Germantown and Clarksburg areas. Massive development was allowed in both, but the County Council engaged in a rug pull with new homebuyers who had expected to commute via a new Corridor Cities Transitway rail line, and M-83 Highway. After they purchased their homes, the Council pulled the plug on both projects. The Hoyles Mill MARC station project was approved in 2019, and is only now moving forward.

Motorcycle stolen from home in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a stolen motorcycle in Germantown on February 20, 2026. The motorcycle was stolen from a residential parking lot in the 18200 block of Smoke House Court sometime between 10:00 PM on February 19, and 4:20 AM on February 20, police believe. That is at the Pleasant Fields townhome community off of Mateny Road.

Police say they have no suspect descriptions at this time, and have not released a description of the stolen motorcycle. If you have any information about this incident that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Assault at apartment complex in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at an apartment complex in Germantown on February 14, 2026. The assault was reported in the 12900 block of Falling Water Circle at 7:49 AM. It took place in the parking lot. That is the location of the Acclaim at Germantown apartments.

T.J. MAXX shoplifting attempt goes sideways in Germantown

An alleged attempt to steal merchandise from T.J. MAXX in Germantown went sideways on February 4, 2026, according to Montgomery County police. The male suspect attempted to leave the store at the Milestone Shopping Center with merchandise he hadn't paid for, police say, but was taken into custody by an officer. He was found to also be in possession of a loaded firearm.

Ian Morgan, 21, of Germantown, has been charged with theft, obstruction, loaded handgun on person, possession of an unregistered rifle/shotgun, and possession of an assault weapon with the intent to sell it. He is being held without bond pending a March trial.

Germantown man dies in Damascus auto accident

A one-car auto accident claimed the life of a Germantown man early yesterday morning, January 14, 2026. Michael Patrick Fitzgerald Jr., 28, was found unconscious in his 2025 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which left the roadway and struck a tree at the intersection of Bethesda Church Road and Johnson Drive in Damascus at 1:19 AM Wednesday. Fitzgerald was transported to a local hospital, where he tragically passed away later from his injuries. Montgomery County police ask that anyone with information regarding this collision contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.

Maryland's MARC earns F grade in survey of America's commuter rail systems

Trains magazine, a publication that provides in-depth coverage of the passenger and freight railroad industries, recently used federal transit data to rate America's commuter rail systems. Maryland's MARC commuter rail received a failing F grade, ranking it as one of the nation's worst. In contrast, Virginia Railway Express earned a B.

The magazine noted that MARC service expanded during the 1990s, and that the state made great effort to update train equipment during the gubernatorial terms of William Donald Schaefer and Parris Glendening. This century, the picture has turned far bleaker for Maryland rail commuters.

Trains found MARC ridership dropped 64% between 2018 and 2023. MARC now has the worst cost efficiency, and the poorest mechanical reliability record of any medium size commuter railroad in the country. In other words, Maryland is at rock bottom in commuter rail service. The magazine summed up its analysis of MARC by saying, "it's tough to find a silver lining."

Reporter John Friedmann described the criteria and data utilized in the magazine's survey as follows: Each railroad was graded on the same five criteria. Efficiency was calculated by the operating cost per passenger mile. Utilization, or how much do passengers utilize the network, was measured by the number of passenger miles per route mile. Growth was determined by a comparison of 2018 ridership versus 2023 ridership. Relevance was measured by number of rail trips per area resident. And reliability was rated by the number of mechanical failures per train mile.

All data was compiled from the Federal Transit Administration's National Transit Database.

Not surprisingly, the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North Railroad in New York earned an A grade in the survey. So did commuter systems in Salt Lake City and Denver, railroads that aren't discussed as often as their more famous counterparts like the MBTA, Metra, and SEPTA, all of which scored below the Utah and Colorado lines in this survey - but far higher than our beleagured MARC. Can it get any worse for Maryland? Yes! Beyond a massive structural budget deficit forecast, any Purple Line financial losses will siphon even more money from MARC over the coming decades.

Walmart burglarized in Germantown

Montgomery County police responded to a burglar alarm at the Walmart Supercenter at 20910 Frederick Road at the Milestone Shopping Center in Germantown in the early morning hours of December 20, 2025. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry at the store. Merchandise was stolen from inside. Police have no descriptions of the burglar(s) at this time. They have not yet indicated how surveillance cameras inside and outside the store would have failed to capture images of any individuals involved.