PGPD to Host Iron Team Competition Featuring First Responders & Military Members

First All Female Team To Compete

It’s a test of grit and teamwork and each year pushes competitors to the limit. This year, 35 teams are accepting the challenge, including the first all female team. The competitors of this popular event are coming from as far away as New Jersey. The PGPD's Iron Team Endurance Competition is now in its fifth year.

The event is open to law enforcement, fire personnel, government agencies and members of the military.  Four-person teams face obstacles that test their physical and mental strength.

This year, the first obstacle is new to the course. It's called "The Cube" and weighs more than 1,000 pounds. Team members will have to flip the cube to a designated color. Time is of the essence.

Here’s a look back at the grueling 2012 event:

http://goo.gl/yZFs8x 

Here are details of the 2014 event:

When:   Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Time:     9:00 am to 3:00 pm (approximate end time)

Where:  T. Howard Duckett Park

              16904 Supplee Lane

              Laurel, MD 

Members of the media are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact the Prince George's County Police Department's Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710. 

Chief Magaw to Honor Officers for Life-Saving Actions

They are credited with single-handedly arresting an attempted child kidnapper, finding a missing woman in the depth of winter and performing live-saving CPR on a two-year-old toddler. These are just three of the PGPD officers who Chief Magaw will recognize tomorrow at our Quarterly Awards Ceremony.

Police Officer Ariel Acosta’s sharp memory and police instincts led to the arrest of a suspect who had just tried to kidnap a little girl on her way to school in Clinton. After hearing the suspect’s description, PO Acosta recalled running into the man months earlier—and knew how to find him.

On a cold morning in February, a woman in District Heights wandered away from her home. Her frightened family called police for help. Corporal Don Smith and his bloodhound partner, Tayaut, joined the search. Thankfully, the K9 team found her. She was on the ground, tangled in thorn bushes, unable to get up on her own.

Corporal Michael Waters rushed to a home in Upper Marlboro after a drowning call came into 911. A two-year-old toddler was discovered in the family pool. The child’s family had started CPR. When he arrived, Corporal Waters took over and continued CPR until paramedics arrived. The little boy survived.

These three officers and several additional PGPD officers will be honored tomorrow at headquarters for their outstanding dedication to duty. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

When: Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Time: 2:00 pm

Where: Police Services Complex

             7600 Barlowe Road

             Palmer Park, MD

For more information, please contact the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.

WANTED WEDNESDAY

Armed Robbery Suspect

Detectives in our robbery unit are looking for this suspect. He’s wanted for an armed robbery at a gas station in the 800 block of Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro on September 22, 2014. He pulled out a gun and demanded cash from the employees. After grabbing the money, the suspect ran from the store and sped away in the car pictured below – possibly a silver Dodge Caliber.

If you know the suspect or have seen the getaway car, please call 301-772-4905. You can also call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Tipsters do not have to give their name.

Persons of Interest 

Detectives are looking for these two men who are persons of interest in connection with a burglary in the 2400 block of Queens Chapel Road back on September 5, 2014. Someone broke into a home and stole property. If you can help us identify these men, please call 301-699-2601.

Robbery Suspect

We’re looking for 20-year-old Jarrell David Harris. His last known address is the 5000 block of Lee Street in Northeast Washington. He’s wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Mount Rainier on September 12, 2014. Our investigation reveals Harris suspect and a second suspect robbed a man of cash in the 3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue. One of the suspects had a weapon. We did arrest the second suspect. If you know where we can find Harris, please call 301-699-2601 or Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.

Food Mart Robbery

Please take a look at this photo. Do you recognize this man? He’s wanted for an armed robbery at a food mart on Raleigh Road in Temple Hills. The store was targeted on September 22, 2014, at about 8:00 pm. A frightened employee handed over cash to the suspect, who then ran from store. Have info? Please call 301-772-4905.

Gas Station Robbery

Detectives are hoping this photo helps lead them to the suspect who robbed a gas station in the 8500 block of Oxon Hill Road in Fort Washington. The robbery happened on September 22, 2014, shortly after 3:00 am. The suspect pulled out a gun and demanded cash. He then ran away.  If you have information on this case, please call 301-772-4905.

PGPD to Deliver Game-Time Traffic in Real Time

On Thursday, the Prince George’s County Police Department will offer football fans heading to FedEx Field and rush hour commuters real-time traffic information. The Media Relations Division will tweet out traffic information from the police command bus at FedEx Field to help both fans getting to the game and commuters heading home. You can follow PGPD’s #GameTime at @PGPDNews and when it’s safe to tweet, please share what you’re seeing on the roads around FedEx Field. We will bring this information to you again on October 6th when the Washington Redskins take on the defending Super Bowl champs on Monday Night Football.

Fans are reminded the enhanced safety policy implemented by the NFL last year, which significantly limits the size and type of bags that can be brought into the stadium, remains in effect. For more information, we encourage fans to visit NFL.com for specific guidelines on what will be allowed inside FedEx Field.

For more information, please contact the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.

PGPD Shuts Down "The Yard"

Its nickname was "The Yard." The secluded property in Upper Marlboro attracted both drug dealers and buyers from around the region. It operated similarly to an open-air drug market; sellers and buyers gathered there to complete their illegal transactions. But thanks to a tip to Crime Solvers, the Prince George's County Police Department's Narcotic Enforcement Division shut down the illegal operation.

The tipster made the call to Crime Solvers in June, launching an extensive investigation. On September 10, 2014, the Narcotic Enforcement Division executed a search warrant at the property in the 15000 block of Marlboro Pike. Here's a picture taken from Air 1 during the execution of the search warrant. It shows the activity at the "The Yard" when officers arrived.

Detectives recovered eight weapons, crack cocaine and percocet pills. Two suspects were arrested. Other arrests are expected.

"'The Yard’ was a magnet for problems in the community. Shutting it down will make a positive difference for neighbors," says Captain Chuck Hamby, Assistant Commander of the Narcotic Enforcement Division.

Wayne David Burley

Ernest Antonio Ward

The suspects are identified as 52-year-old Wayne David Burley of the 4300 block of Canyon View Drive in Upper Marlboro and 23-year-old Ernest Antonio Ward of the 1400 block of K Street in Southeast Washington. They are charged with multiple drug possession charges.

For more information, please contact the Prince George's County Police Department's Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.

PGPD Conducting Death Investigation in Chillum

Update: September 25, 2014, testing has confirmed the decedent's identity as Lasana Mack.  

The Prince George’s County Police Department is conducting a death investigation in Chillum. The decedent’s body was discovered in a park.  While detectives are awaiting confirmation of the identity, they believe the man to be Lasana Mack, who was recently reported missing in Washington, D.C. 

On September 20, 2014, at about 4:30 pm, patrol officers were called to Chillum Hills Park in the 1100 block of Parker Avenue for the report of a body. When they arrived, the patrol officers discovered a man’s body along a trail.

The preliminary investigation reveals no signs of foul play, and this appears to be a suicide.  Once the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirms the decedent’s identity, which could take several days or possibly weeks, we will provide that information. Detectives will continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police Department as this death investigation continues.

For more information, please contact the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.

PGPD Searches for Missing Man

David Smith

The Prince George’s County Police Department is seeking the public’s help in finding a missing man. He is identified as 69-year-old David Smith. He was last seen in the 5200 block of Redd Lane in Camp Springs, at about 10:00 am on October 3, 2014.

Smith is described as an African American male, 6’2”, and 202 pounds, with gray hair, short gray beard, and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown, white, and red striped long sleeved polo shirt with tan cargo pants. Mr. Smith suffers from mild dementia.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Regional Investigation Division – Southern Region at (301) 749-5064.

For more information, please contact the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Media Relations Division at (301) 772-4710.

PGPD Suspends Officer After Assault Charge

A Prince George's County Police Officer is suspended after the Baltimore Police Department charged him with second degree assault on Saturday, September 20, 2014. Police Officer Michael O’Connell was off duty at the time of his arrest. 

Our Special Investigation Response Team (SIRT) launched an administrative investigation after learning of the arrest.  Officer O’Connell is currently suspended with pay pending an administrative hearing.

O’Connell has been employed by the PGPD for three years, and is currently assigned to the Bureau of Patrol. 

  

For more information, please contact the Baltimore Police Department's on-call public information officer at 410-396-2012.

PGPD to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Special Operations Division will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, September 19, 2014, from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am. Officers will be focusing on the northern portion of the county.

WANTED WEDNESDAY

Video Game Store Robberies

Please take a moment and watch this surveillance video. It begins by showing three suspects walking around outside of a store in the 5700 block of Silver Hill Road in District Heights on September 12, 2014. The suspects then pull down masks and walk into the video game store. One of the suspects had a gun. The suspects demanded cash from the register. Before leaving the store, the three grabbed merchandise. If you recognize either of these suspects or have information on this case, please call 301-772-4905. You can also call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. A cash reward is being offered in this case.

A few days later, another video game store was robbed. On September 16, 2014, at about 11:00 am, two suspects targeted a store in the 6200 block of Livingston Road in Oxon Hill. The suspects wore masks that partially covered their faces. One of the suspects pulled out a gun and demanded cash. The suspects grabbed cash and merchandise before running out of the store. Detectives are looking into whether the two cases are connected.

Robbery Suspect

Do you recognize this suspect? He’s wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Mount Rainier on September 12, 2014. Our investigation reveals this suspect and a second suspect robbed a man of cash in the 3400 block of Rhode Island Avenue. One of the suspects had a weapon. After the robbery, the two suspects ran south on Rhode Island Avenue toward the District.

Convenience Store Robbery

Robbery detectives are also actively searching for these armed robbery suspects. The two men robbed a convenience store in the 6800 block of Race Track Road in Bowie on August 29, 2014. The suspects pointed a gun at an employee and demanded cash. They then ran from the store. If you have any information on this case, please call 301-772-4905.

Arson Suspect

The Office of the Fire Marshal for Prince Georges County in conjunction with the Prince Georges County Police Departments Arson Task Force is investigating a 2nd Degree Arson.  On September 8, 2014, at about 4:00 am, the suspect started a fire inside a trash can in the 4800 Block of Marlboro Pike.  Investigators are asking for help in identifying the suspect shown in the above video.  Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect and/or his whereabouts is asked to call the Office of the Fire Marshal for Prince Georges County at 301-306-5686.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.