Bridge Closure
The Union Arch Bridge will close for routine maintenance on April 21. The one-lane bridge on MacArthur Boulevard is part of the Washington Aquaduct. “It will be closed for annual, superficial maintenance,” said Tom Jacobus, of the aqueduct. Jacobus says the aqueduct, which is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be cleaning the drains and checking the structure of the bridge.
The bridge will be shut from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on April 21. Detour signs will be posted.
Community Center Flea Market
The Potomac Community Center will hold its annual indoor flea market in Saturday, May 22 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Vendor spaces cost $25 and those vendors who wish to rent a table can do so for an additional $5. Vendor set-up starts at 7:30 a.m. All proceeds go to benefit the activities at the center.
Individuals interested in becoming vendors can either stop by the center for an application or call the center at 301-983-4471 and ask for one to be mailed to them.
Commercial Burglary
Dunkin Donuts, 7739 Tuckerman Lane: Between 9:45 p.m. on March 22 and 4:08 a.m. on March 23, suspects entered the front door and took cash.
Residential Burglaries
* River View Drive, 11200 block: Between 12 and 6:15 a.m. on March 19, suspects entered the garage with an opener and took a purse and money.
* Three Sisters Road, 12600 block: Between 9:30 p.m. on March 16 and 8 a.m. on March 17, suspects entered the rear door and took baby clothes, money and a telephone.
* Overlea Drive, 9200 block: Between 7:55 a.m. and 1 p.m. on March 22, suspects broke through a front window. It is unknown what was taken.
* Buckboard Court, 7800 block: Between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. on March 22, a rear door was forced open and a car, telephone, camera equipment, DVD players and jewelry were taken.
* Calabash Court, unit block: Between 8:30 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. on March 19, suspects entered a basement door and took computer equipment.
* Declaration Lane, 7900 block: Between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. on March 26, suspects forced open the front door and took a camcorder.
* Hidden Trail Court, 10800 block: Between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on March 25, suspects forced open the front door and took a vehicle.
* Tuckerman Lane, 8700 block: At 1:49 p.m. on March 11, a window was opened but nothing was taken.
* Quail Run Drive, 15500 block: Between 2 and 6:30 a.m. on March 29, suspects entered through the rear door and took cash, a PDA and pocketbook.
* Whirlaway Lane, 19500 block: between 10 p.m. on March 28 and 3:10 a.m. on March 29, suspects entered through the garage door and took CDs.
Taxicab Hotline Established
A Taxicab hotline is now operational in order to collect information for Montgomery County's proposed overhaul of the way the county regulates taxicabs. Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan proposed the overhaul in January, submitting legislation that aims to improve customer service by setting performance goals and standards for cab companies and drivers. The information gathered through the hotline will give the county another tool to assess the performance of taxicab companies and individual taxicab drivers. The hotline is not designed to resolve immediate service issues, such as if a taxi cab is late. Instead, the hotline offers an opportunity for customers to share compliments or concerns about service issues. The hotline will be answered by staff from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. Messages can be left at all other times. The hotline can be reached by calling 240-777-2625, or at TTY 240-777-2630. The hotline is also an online service and can be reached by visiting www.montgomerycountymd.gov/taxihotline.
Suspicious Situation Leads to Burglary Arrest
Montgomery County Police officers from the 1st District and the Canine Section arrested two suspects after a witness reported a suspicious persona and car early on March 31 in the Fawcett Farms community of Potomac.
At 5:09 a.m., in the 10700 block of Rock Run Drive, a homeowner heard a noise and looked out the window. The homeowner saw a male suspect walking up the driveway and lost sight of him as he walked to the side of the home. The homeowner also saw an unfamiliar car parked in front of a neighbor's home. The homeowner called the police.
As officers arrived in the area, they learned that someone had broken into a home on Rock Run Drive. The victim of the burglary discovered that someone had entered his garage and removed property from his car. Officers on the scene requested assistance from a K-9 unit.
Officer Tim Carroll and his partner, Ronnie, responded to the area and tracked the suspects through a wooded area behind the victim's home. Two suspects were found a short distance away and placed under arrest. Property taken during the burglary was recovered near where the suspects were arrested.
Rory Leftwich, 35, of no current fixed address, and Lawrence Westbrook, 36, also of no current fixed address, were charged with First-degree Burglary, Theft under $500 and Conspiracy to Commit Burglary. Both suspects were remanded to the Montgomery County Detention Center on $100,000 bond. Additional charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.