Prince George's County Crime Solvers

(Click on the the image for the Crime Solvers website)

Do you have information that could help solve a crime in your community?  If so, contact Prince George’s County Crime Solvers.  You can remain ANONYMOUS.  We only want your information, not your name.

Crime Solvers offers three different methods for submitting your information: 
1.) The tip line....1-866-411-TIPS (8477);
2.) Online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, click on the “Submit a Tip” button;
3.) Our newest technology - the “P3 Tips” Smartphone App!

Tips can be submitted 24-hours a day, 7-days a week!  If your information leads to an arrest and indictment, you could be eligible for a CA$H Reward up to $2,500.

*** To report an emergency or a crime-in-progress dial 9-1-1 ***

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving & How Stay Alert Behind the Wheel

(Click in the image for Catherine Roberts' Consumer Report article)

• Sleep deprivation can impair your driving as severely as alcohol can. According to the National Sleep Foundation, if you’ve been awake for 24 hours, that’s equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of .10 (.08 is considered legally drunk).
• Studies show that neither driving with the windows open to keep cold air blowing on your face nor turning the radio up loudly will keep you alert.

[Read the article for what does work.]

Prince George's County Leads the Region in Both Alcohol-related and Overall Traffic Fatalities

(Click on the image for Luz Lazo's Washington Post report)

"Some jurisdictions, including Arlington, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, saw their numbers of alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities double during that period. In Prince George’s, the number rose to 34, up from 17 in 2016, and the county continued to lead the region in both alcohol-related and overall traffic fatalities, according to the data. Most recently, three children were killed Dec. 30 when a speeding truck driven by a suspected drunken driver slammed into the car in which they were traveling in southern Prince George’s. The driver of the truck, who authorities say had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit, was charged with vehicular manslaughter."
[See "How Safe Are Our Roads? 2018 Report"]

County Executive Alsobrooks' Strategy To Make Indian Head Highway Safer

County Executive Alsobrooks:
"On another crucial note, I want to update you on safety and enforcement plans that are underway for Indian Head Highway (MD-210), a road maintained by the State Highway Administration (SHA), which is responsible for maintenance and improvements along this roadway. The Prince George's County Police Department District VII Command and officers will strive to make Indian Head Highway safer by employing “The Three E’s of Traffic Safety,” which represent Engineering, Enforcement and Education.
Too many lives have tragically come to an end on MD-210. We must never forget these individuals and their families that will forever mourn the loss of their loved ones. We are employing new enforcement efforts in 2019 that entail officers from District VII regularly patrolling and enforcing traffic laws. The goal of the enforcement effort is to change driver behavior along the roadway with an increased presence and by ticketing violators. Emphasis will be on targeting speeding motorists, aggressive drivers and distracted drivers. Currently, officers have been issuing a large number of tickets and written warnings to violators.  Safety along the highway is a priority and I want to make it abundantly clear that reckless behavior will not be tolerated.
In addition, legislation has been introduced in Annapolis by Delegate Kris Valderama (District 26, Prince George's County) to amend the current bill which governs the location and operation of the stationary speed camera on 210. I fully support the delegate's bill which calls for a speed camera that can be moved to different locations along the roadway, as I believe it will greatly assist in reducing the speed of motorists in that specific stretch of road. Operations conducted by the Special Operations Division targeting impaired drivers, aggressive motorcycle operators and commercial vehicles will remain a major part in the strategy to make the roads safer for motorists and pedestrians.  Cooperation with the Maryland State Police in enforcement efforts will continue."

"Educating - the public on the importance of safe driving habits will be emphasized throughout the year. Efforts are underway to get middle school aged children involved in developing slogans to push out the driver’s safety message. Funding and cooperation from the Maryland Highway Safety Office will be sought to help us get the message to the communities around the MD-210 area as well as to those that use the roadway."

"Measuring Success - we strongly believe that reducing the speed of motorists will have the greatest impact on reducing the number and severity of crashes.  A request has been made to have a speed trailer that monitors, records and reports the driving practices of those that pass it. These trailers can generate reports that show the average speed during various times of the day, calculate average speed and percentages of vehicles travelling at excessive speed. A 30 day report generated early in the year compared with a year-end report will show if our efforts to reduce speed were effective in making this roadway safer."

See: It's Our Responsibility to Make MD 210 Safer

'God Will Give Him What He Deserves': Alleged Drunken Driver Indicted in Crash That Killed 3 Children

(Click on the image for Darcy Spencer's News4 report)

A grand jury indicted an alleged drunken driver in a crash that killed three young siblings and injured their parents, the Prince George's County state's attorney said.
Thomas Hawks faces several charges, including three counts of vehicular manslaughter as a result of gross negligence and two counts of causing life-threatening injuries by motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
A warrant for Hawks was issued.
Hawks was driving at a high rate of speed on Indian Head Highway in Oxon Hill about 9:40 p.m. Dec. 30 when he struck a Honda Accord stopped at a traffic light on Indian Head Highway in Oxon Hill, the state's attorney said.
“Mr. Hawks was driving southbound on Route 210 in a Chevy Silverado while heavily intoxicated and impaired,” State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said.
The impact from the Silverado caused the Accord to strike the car in front of it, which then hit another vehicle, police said. The Silverado came to rest on top of the rear-passenger compartment of the Accord.
Five-year-old twins Alexander and Rosalie Mejia and their 1-year-old brother, Isaac, died on impact.
The family had just gone to church, then to a buffet at Rosalie's request.
“Their lives are cut short, but for the time that they were here, they knew nothing but love and joy,” said their father, Alexis Mejia.
He and his wife, Juanita, are still recovering from the injuries they suffered. She said her injuries make it physically painful to mourn her children.
“I have five broken ribs that don’t allow me to even cry,” Juanita Mejia said. “When I cry, I cry with pain not only from my heart. Not only my heart hurts when I cry, but also my body physically.”
She will be in a neck and back brace for at least another six months. Alexis Mejia suffered a concussion.
Hawks' had a blood alcohol content of 0.17, more than two times the Maryland legal limit, Braveboy said. He was on his way home from a Washington Redskins game.
“What this person has done to us is something that in hundreds of ways could have been avoided,” Alexis Mejia said.
Hawks faces a maximum penalty of 36 years.
The Mejias said they trust in God there will be justice.
[Click here to watch the full interview.]
[Click here for Lynh Bui's Washington Post report]: "The crash occurred along what AAA regularly calls one of the most dangerous roads in the Washington region. A week after the crash, local and state officials announced that they would push for legislation to increase the number of speed cameras along the 13-mile highway. Braveboy said the Mejias have also vowed to fight for improved safety measures along the road."

End Distracted Driving

(Click on the image for the video)

• Joel said “ Many people drive distracted and most have not yet been in a crash. Why should we think talking about the risk and dangers of distracted driving will motivate them to change the way they drive ?”
• Joel noted that most of us are more afraid of being in a crash caused by a distracted driver than a drunk driver, yet most of us still drive distracted. So how do we get those drivers to put down their smartphones?
• Maybe instead of focusing on distracted driving facts and statistics, we need to appeal to our values of respect for others, the need to be good role models for our teen drivers and how if we want to be defensive drivers we can’t be distracted drivers.

District VII 2018 Crime Hot Spots

Charts provided by Major Muldoon. They summarize all of 2018.

District VII 2018 Residential Burglary Hot Spots

District VII 2018 Stolen Vehicle Hot Spots

(note the cluster around the District VII Station is likely due to incidents being reported at the station and improperly coded)

District VII 2018 Theft from Auto Hot Spots

District VII 2018 Total Thefts Hot Spots

Speeding can kill; more could be done to slow drivers down, study says

(Click on the image for  Kristi King's WTOP report)

• WASHINGTON — Speeding is a persistent factor in nearly one-third of crash-related deaths, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. The group believes more should be done to try to save lives.
  “We continue to have a big problem with speeding in this country,” said Russ Martin, director of government relations for the Governors Highway Safety Association. “Historically, it’s been about 1/3 of total fatalities.”
• Martin said aggressive campaigns such as “click it or ticket” and “friends don’t let friends drive drunk” successfully targeted seat belt use and drunken driving. He believes similar state and federal programs could help change people’s complacency about speeding.
  “Changing the culture surrounding speeding might be one of the most important things that we need to do,” Martin said.
• Also, more aggressive enforcement could include automated ticketing using speed cameras.
  According to the study, the use of cameras on residential roads in Maryland, on a high-speed roadway in Arizona and on D.C. streets found that the proportion of drivers speeding more than 10 mph over posted limits declined by 70 percent, 88 percent and 82 percent, respectively, six to eight months after cameras were introduced.
• In Virginia, there is no state law or city ordinance allowing speed cameras. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 137 communities across the U.S. had speed camera programs as of January 2019.

Briefing Given at Jan 14 MD 210 Safety Meeting

Note, Ron made a few minor updates since the meeting.
The next MD 210 Safety Meeting will be on Feb 11, 7 pm, at the District VII Station.

Thieves Targeting Unlocked Cars

(Click on the image for Jackie Benson's News4 report)

• Lock your car every time you park!
• Remove all items including key fobs and and door opener remotes!

District VII Crime Report: Jan 2-8, 2019

From Cpl. S.Rannacher, Cell 240-507-8110, Desk 301-292-5339, sdrannacher@co.pg.md.us

There were 12 theft from autos in the county on Monday.  Please remember to remove valuables from an unattended vehicle.

There has been an uptick in Tire/Rim theft in the surrounding area. Below are some tips to take to prevent the theft before it occurs.

1. Park your car in a closed garage whenever you can. If you live in an apartment or have a house without a garage, this is often not an option. However, a garage works as a barrier that has to be bypassed, and thieves usually have a harder time getting your car elevated in a garage without alerting anyone in the house.
2. Install a car alarm that includes sensors that attach to the wheels. The alarm detects when the car gets tilted, and the wheel sensors also detect when the wheels get tampered with. 
3. Park in an area with a lot of traffic when out in public. The more car and foot traffic going by where you park, the less likely thieves want to risk detection by stealing wheels or tires in that area. Park in view of surveillance cameras whenever possible.
4. Turn your wheels when parking. This makes the wheels harder to remove because they get stuck in the wheel well. The car’s steering column lock makes it difficult for the thieves to turn the wheels forward again without a key in the ignition. 
5. Use wheel locks on each wheel, including your spare. The locks fit on each wheel and make the lug nuts extremely difficult to remove without a key. It’s important never to lose the key because you’ll need it if you ever get a flat tire. However, the locks greatly reduce your risk of losing your wheels and tires. Lug Nut locks are also useful since they require a specially sized wrench to remove. However, the lug nut locks can be melted quickly with a blowtorch to make them fit a regular wrench, so they are not as effective as wheel locks.

Crash killing 3 children renews safety concerns on one of Md.’s most dangerous roads

From Lynh Bui and Keith L. Alexander's January 4, 2019 report in The Washington Post:

Legislators and law enforcement called on drivers to exercise extra care on Indian Head Highway after a crash that killed three children last weekend again raised safety concerns about one of the busiest and most dangerous roads in the Washington region. 

Prince George’s County officials and Maryland state delegates also announced they would be pursuing legislation in coming months to increase the number of speed cameras along the 13-mile stretch of state highway.

“This is a death trap that should not be so,” Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks said. “This is a state road. We will be working with the governor and with the state who also have a responsibility to make sure that our families are safe when they’re driving down this road.”

Following are clips from the WJLA video of the press conference. (Click on the images for the clips):

County Executive Alsobrooks

Chief Stawinski

Senator Patterson

Delegate Valderrama

Council Member Anderson-Walker

Ron Weiss

About 10 minutes of  Q&A are at -14:35 of the video at https://wjla.com/news/local/indian-head-highway-crash-prevention-maryland

From WTOP: Although police stepped up enforcement on Indian Head Highway/Route 210 in each of the last three years, the number of accidents has remained about the same. There were 336 accidents in 2016, 329 in 2017, and 354 in 2018.
“We’ve gone from more than 3,600 traffic stops, to 5,600 traffic stops, to (in) 2018, more than 6,400 traffic stops,” Stawinski said.
“And I want you to know that the men and women of the Prince George’s County Police Department issued more than 10,000 citations in those 6,400 traffic stops, made more than 70 arrests and, yet, we still have this level of collision, this level of tragedy,” he added.

• ABC7 report on "Why no charges yet in Oxon Hill crash that killed 3 children?"
• Del. Valderrama's testimony in front of the Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of the original speed camera bill (HB 175).

Posted by a Driver Doing 62 MPH in the Left Lane on MD 210

(Warning, this site encourages bad language!)

Posted Jan 2 AM:
"Y’all need to slow you’re a****! I’m going 7 over in the left lane and getting blown by! I’m looking at you Black Crosstour"
Among the remarks:
By the original poster: "Normally I don’t cruise in the left lane, but I was passing a semi and before I could even get over 3 different people flew by me going easily 70-75!"
By another driver: "You need to get out of the d*** passing lane going that d*** slow."