Connect with us

Northeast

Armed off-duty cop sends suspected carjackers fleeing as crime spirals near nation's capital

Published

on

Armed off-duty cop sends suspected carjackers fleeing as crime spirals near nation's capital

An armed, off-duty Maryland police officer sent two suspected carjackers fleeing when he fired his weapon as they forced his family out of a vehicle near a large shopping mall outside of Washington, D.C., police say. 

“Continue to remain diligent. Be aware of your surroundings,” Prince George Assistant Chief Vernon Hale III said during a press conference last week. “As you can see, if this can happen to an off-duty officer, it can certainly happen to a family. So, we want to make sure that everybody remains diligent, take care of one another, and keep your eyes open.”

Hale said an unidentified off-duty police officer with the department was assisting two of his family members as they got into their personal vehicle at about 5 p.m. Thursday in Oxon Hill when they were approached by at least two suspects, Fox 5 DC reported. The family was in a parking lot that serves office buildings, including dental and medical offices, and is located across the street from the Tanger Outlets National Harbor shopping center. 

The off-duty cop and his family were forced from the vehicle, Hale said, calling the incident an “apparent carjacking.”

LICENSED GUN OWNER TURNS TABLES ON WOULD-BE CARJACKERS AMID SOARING CHICAGO VIOLENCE

Advertisement

Prince George Assistant Chief Vernon Hale III during a press conference. (Prince George’s County Police Department )

The off-duty officer fired his weapon, causing the suspects to flee in the vehicle. The family members were not injured during the incident and police do not believe any shots hit the suspected carjackers. 

“The officer was able to get his family safely out of the vehicle, discharge his weapon and the suspects escaped including his personal vehicle,” Hale said.

DC MAYOR REFUSES TO WATCH VIRAL VIDEO OF KIDS DEBATING WHICH CRIMES THEY’D ‘RATHER’ COMMIT: ‘WASTING MY TIME’

The officer used his department-issued firearm during the incident, police later said. 

Advertisement

The Tanger Outlets National Harbor shopping center in Maryland, near Washington, D.C. (Google Maps )

Police issued a “be on the lookout” for a black GMC Acadia shortly after the incident, according to NBC Washington. 

Police on Friday located one of the suspects, who was identified as Washington, D.C., resident Anthony Stewart, 19. He was found in D.C., arrested and will be extradited to Maryland. He is facing charges of carjacking, robbery, theft, and additional charges, police said. 

Anthony Stewart, 19, of Washington, D.C., is accused of carjacking an off-duty cop. (Prince George’s County Police Department )

The second suspect is still at large, according to police. 

Advertisement

DC PRE-TEEN ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTS TO CARJACK ARMED, OFF-DUTY-FEDERAL OFFICER, 13-YEAR-OLD KILLED IN GUNFIRE

Prince George’s County Police Department are asking for any tips on the identity of a second suspected carjacker. (Prince George’s County Police Department )

The carjacking is just one of hundreds this year that have plagued areas of Maryland, as well as Washington, D.C. There have been 500 carjackings as of last week in jurisdictions overseen by Prince George’s County Police, which is an 18% spike over data from last year, WJLA reported.

CONSERVATIVES SOUND ALARM ON DC CRIME CRISIS AFTER HOUSE DEM CARJACKED: ‘SOFT ON CRIME POLICIES’

In nearby D.C., which is located roughly 11 miles from the site of Thursday’s carjacking incident, such crimes have more than doubled over figures from last year. The outlet found there were 952 carjackings in the city as of last week, compared to 475 during the same time period in 2022. 

Advertisement

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

Crime in the city has even affected political leaders and their families, including in October when Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar was carjacked by three armed attackers near the U.S. Capitol. 

The Prince George’s County Police Department was still investigating the carjacking Thursday and calling on members of the public to come forward with any tips on the second suspect’s identity The off-duty officer was placed on administrative leave until the investigation is concluded. 

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Northeast

Pennsylvania bus driver charged with endangering dozens of elementary students while intoxicated

Published

on

Pennsylvania bus driver charged with endangering dozens of elementary students while intoxicated

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A Pennsylvania school bus driver is accused of driving 54 elementary school children while over four times the legal alcohol limit, authorities said, after reports she was swerving through traffic and nearly hitting vehicles before the bus ended up in a snowbank.

On Tuesday, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Douglass Township Police Chief Robert B. Evans announced an arrest warrant for Kelly Weber, 46, of Boyertown.

Weber is charged with driving under the influence, 54 counts each of endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment and related summary offenses.

Authorities said police were alerted around 4 p.m. Feb. 6 that a school bus was driving erratically and narrowly missing other vehicles.

Advertisement

A Pennsylvania school bus driver is accused of driving 54 children with a .331% BAC before stopping in a snowbank. She faces DUI and 54 child endangerment counts. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

A responding officer later found the bus stopped in a snowbank.

Investigators said officers found an open 750ml bottle of Tito’s vodka, two empty 50ml bottles and a receipt showing the alcohol was purchased earlier that morning.

RHODE ISLAND TEACHER ACCUSED OF SEXTING, KISSING HIGH SCHOOL BOY

A Pennsylvania school bus driver is accused of driving 54 children with a .331% BAC before stopping in a snowbank. She faces DUI and 54 child endangerment counts. (iStock)

Advertisement

According to authorities, a blood test showed Weber’s blood alcohol concentration was .331%, more than four times the legal limit of .08%, and detected Delta-9 Carboxy THC.

Investigators said 54 children were on the bus, including five younger than 6. Several children called or texted their parents during the ride because they were frightened by the driving, and one child exited at an earlier stop and was picked up by his parents, authorities said.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH CHARGED WITH RAPING FOSTER DAUGHTER, SERVING VICTIM TEQUILA SHOTS: REPORT

A Pennsylvania school bus driver is accused of driving 54 children with a .331% BAC before stopping in a snowbank. She faces DUI and 54 child endangerment counts. (iStock, File)

“More than 50 young children were in a dangerous situation created by this defendant, who chose to consume a significant amount of alcohol and then get behind the wheel of a school bus and drive miles while intoxicated,” Steele said. “We are all thankful that this defendant didn’t crash the bus and cause further harm to these children.”

Advertisement

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Weber checked herself into a rehabilitation facility after the incident, authorities said. She is expected to turn herself in for arraignment, at which time bail will be set.

Related Article

Woman allegedly steals bus from elementary school parking lot, goes on late night ride

Read the full article from Here

Continue Reading

Boston, MA

Each mile is for her miracle: This Granby mom is running the Boston Marathon with her daughter in mind

Published

on

Each mile is for her miracle: This Granby mom is running the Boston Marathon with her daughter in mind


Boston Marathon

“With every mile I run, I will be thinking of her strength, her transplant journey, and the families who are walking similar paths right now.”

Brianna Poehler is running the 2026 Boston Marathon.
Brianna Poehler

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.


Name: Brianna Poehler

Advertisement

City/State: Granby, Mass.

I am running the 2026 Boston Marathon with Miles for Miracles in support of Boston Children’s Hospital. The Boston Marathon is deeply personal to me and my family. 

My daughter is a liver transplant survivor, and at just 11 months old, she received a life-saving liver transplant at Boston Children’s Hospital. 

What could have been the most devastating chapter of our lives became a story of hope, resilience, and extraordinary care because of the BCH team.

When our daughter was so small and so sick, the doctors, nurses, and staff at Boston Children’s carried us through the unimaginable. 

Advertisement

They combined world-class medical expertise with compassion that went far beyond treatment plans and hospital rooms. They cared for our daughter as if she were their own. They supported us as anxious, exhausted parents. They gave us answers when we had questions, and reassurance when we were overwhelmed. 

Most importantly, they gave our daughter a second chance at life.

Today, she is thriving because of that gift. Every milestone she reaches is a reminder of the miracle she received and the team that made it possible. Running the Boston Marathon is my way of honoring that gift and saying thank you in the most meaningful way I can.

The marathon is a test of endurance, determination, and heart — qualities I saw in my daughter during her fight and in the Boston Children’s team every single day. 

With every mile I run, I will be thinking of her strength, her transplant journey, and the families who are walking similar paths right now.

Advertisement

By running with Miles for Miracles, I hope to raise funds that will support groundbreaking research, life-saving treatments, and compassionate care for children like my daughter. This race is more than 26.2 miles — it is a celebration of survival, gratitude, and hope.

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.

Sign up for our Boston Marathon newsletter

Get Boston Marathon registration information, start times, live runner tracking, road closures, live updates from race day, special features, and more.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Pittsburg, PA

Can Pittsburgh Handle an NFL Draft Crowd?

Published

on

Can Pittsburgh Handle an NFL Draft Crowd?


Along with the best football prospects the season has to offer, the NFL Draft promises to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Pittsburgh from April 23 to 25.

If the turnout approaches that of Detroit in 2023, those descending on the North Shore and Downtown could reach 700,000 over the three days. For reference, that’s more than 10 times Acrisure Stadium’s 68,400 seats, and more than double the city’s roughly 308,000 residents.

Where will they stay? How will they get around?


Event planners at VisitPittsburgh say the city is up to the task.

Advertisement

“They picked us out of several cities because we have the infrastructure,” said Perry Ivery, general manager of the Oaklander Hotel and board chair of VisitPittsburgh.

Last year, Wisconsin’s Green Bay comfortably accommodated a unique visitor count three times its 106,000 population, according to residents and local leaders.

Rooms Enough?

Ivery said there are some 26,000 hotel rooms across the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, the bulk of which are concentrated in and around Downtown.

Even if each room holds two to four people, the total still appears to fall short. But Ivery said many attendees will be locals, whether from Pittsburgh, surrounding counties or neighboring states within a day’s drive.

Advertisement

Plus, a high proportion of out-of-town guests could have Pittsburgh roots and a free bed to claim in a family home, he added.

There are also around 3,500 units available for short-term rental in and around Pittsburgh through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

“We’re all working together to make sure everybody has a great hospitality experience in the City of Pittsburgh,” Ivery said.

Infrastructure from roads to parking, and bus and light rail routes, will also feel the strain.

Strain on the Train?

Pittsburgh Regional Transit normally services around 100,000 riders on an average weekday, across its entire network. Spokesperson Adam Brandolph said the agency is prepared for the transit demands of what’s expected to be the biggest event the city has hosted.

Advertisement

“We’re confident that we’ll be able to meet the needs of visitors to the draft as well as daily riders,” he said, noting “no major closures or detours” are planned for the event other than the University Line project, which may see less construction during that week.

Brandolph said the agency is finalizing plans and intends to make more information public soon.

A spokesperson for VisitPittsburgh said a local committee is working with a range of stakeholders including transportation agencies, engineering partners and local government “to deliver a coordinated and comprehensive plan for the region.”

“This includes collaboration with public transit agencies on adjusted service plans, clearly marked detour routes, designated rideshare zones and proactive communication with residents, businesses and commuters,” said Alex Kenzakoski, communications director for VisitPittsburgh.

“Our shared goal is to minimize disruption, keep the region moving and make travel as predictable and seamless as possible for both fans and locals.”

Advertisement

Kenzakoski said details on road closures, transit adjustments and travel guidance will be made known ahead of the draft, and encouraged fans to download the NFL OnePass app for transportation information and updates.

Ivery said a successful draft week execution could line Pittsburgh up for future hosting prospects.

“There’re going to be folks that come in that have never been to Pittsburgh … This is a case to showcase our town, and our hotels,” he said.

“We’re friendly, we have grit, we’re very excited to showcase that we can do large-scale activities.”

This story first appeared in Pittsburgh’s Public Source. Read the original here.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending