Swamp Watch: PGCPS keeps bonus money conditions a secret from new hires

March 3, 2019, 7:08 pm

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PGPCS interim Chief Executive Officer Monica Goldson. (ABC7)

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (ABC7) — In March, Prince George’s County Public Schools will be handing out $1.5 million of bonus checks to 520 new hires. Teachers say the District left out several important details back in the spring of 2018 when it used the bonuses as a hiring incentive.

Earlier this year the I-Team exposed the District had yet to inform teachers when the bonus money would be paid out even though the District had been sitting on the grant money since July.

This District email sent to new hires in January is another bomb shell. It wants teachers to sign an agreement that states if they accepted any bonus money they couldn’t leave the District for the next three years. If they did, they would have to pay all the bonus money back.

Here is a copy of the email sent to new hires in January:

Greetings PGCPS Educator:

You have been identified as an eligible recipient for one or more Teacher and School Leader (TSL) recruitment incentives based on the requirements below:

Early Hire Incentive

Signed a Regular Contract by June 30, 2018 for the 2018-2019 school year

Holds a Maryland Professional Certificate or Resident Teacher Certificate

Bilingual Incentive

Signed a Regular Contract for the 2018-2019 school year

Holds a Maryland Professional Certificate or Resident Teacher Certificate

Bilingual in an identified target language (Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese)

Deployed to a TSL School Incentive

New hire who signed a Regular Contract for the 2018-2019 school year

Tenured teacher who transferred from a non-TSL school to a TSL school for the 2018-2019 school year

Holds a Maryland Professional Certificate or Resident Teacher Certificate

In preparation for disbursement of the recruitment incentives, as part of the federal grant, the Division of Human Resources will host three Signing Day events for eligible employees. During this event, you will review and sign the Teacher Incentive Program Agreement Form in the presence of a notary public.

Eligible recipients are required to attend and sign the Teacher Incentive Program Agreement Form in order to receive the incentive. Please note we are unable to disburse incentive funding in the absence of a signed and notarized agreement.

The Signing Day events will be held at Dr. Henry A. Wise High School, 12650 Brooke Lane, Upper Marlboro, in the auditorium from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the following dates:

Tuesday, February 12

Wednesday, February 13

Thursday, February 14

You are required to have one of the following valid and original forms of identification for the notary public.

State-issued driver’s license

State-issued identification card

U.S. military identification card

Resident alien identification card (green card)

U.S. passport

After the notarized Teacher Incentive Program Agreement Form has been signed and received, eligible recipients can expect disbursements on Friday, March 8. Disbursements will be processed using the same method in which you receive your biweekly paycheck.

As a reminder, recipients of the financial incentives must serve as a classroom teacher for three consecutive years at their current school. In the event that recipients fail to fully satisfy the employment obligation, he/she must repay in full all monies provided through the Teacher Incentive Program via the Teacher and School Leaders (TSL) Grant.

Thank you for your commitment to the students of Prince George’s County Public Schools!

Sincerely,

TSL Grant Team

Division of Human Resources

We’re hiding the identity of district employees, because they fear for their jobs.

Scott Taylor talks with a district employee, identity hidden. (ABC7)

“Everything should be transparent?” asks I-Team Reporter Scott Taylor.

“Right, from the beginning,” says a new School District hire.

“And you don’t think it was?” says Scott Taylor.

“No, it was only then last week when they come transparent because they had too,” says the new hire.

The bonuses range from $3,000 to $9,000. School board member David Murray is not happy with the District’s last minute details.

“I think it’s unfair to ask teachers to be held to a standard that they didn’t agree to and I think if we are focused on teacher retention we need to be honest with all our perspective applicants up front,” says David Murray, PGCPS Board Member (District 2).

David Murray, PGCPS Board Member (District 2). (ABC7)

The District’s interim Chief Executive Officer Monica Goldson declined again to answer our questions on camera but the District did admit in an email it made a mistake.

While a repayment clause is standard for incentive pay agreements, we accept responsibility for not providing employees with clear information at the time of the offer. It is always our goal to be timely and transparent with our staff. In recent weeks, we have communicated next steps and the expected date of payment with the affected employees.

Thanks,

Raven Hill | Communications Officer

Office of Communications

Prince George’s County Public Schools

One district employee believes this is the wrong message to send to students.

“We are not teaching them honesty and transparency. In school we teach them values and this is not something else we need to air on television because we are not teaching anything but confusion,” says a new hire.

7 On Your Side reached out to the U.S. Department of Education who declined our on-camera interview request but emailed:

“Although the U.S. Department of Education encourages timely and transparent communication with all stakeholders, there is no specific requirement in the TSL program around the timeline or process for communicating with participants regarding recruitment incentives. The TSL program does not prescribe or require applicants to include in their grant applications specific details around stakeholder communication. PGCPS’ grant application does not state that the district intended to request repayment of incentives to new hires that do not remain in the classroom for 3 consecutive years. The TSL program does not prescribe or require applicants to include in their grant applications specific details around incentive payment processes.”

Elaine Quesinberry

Press Office

U.S. Dept. of Education

The bonus checks are expected to be paid out on March 8th, something the teachers had no idea of until the I-Team got involved.

Via wjla 7

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Local Development, Brewing Mess, Purple Line Progress, Nation in Distress

August 22, 2017, 6:12 pm

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Trump made me cuss, Capitol Heights & Woodmore Town Center development, Purple Line progress despite detractors, Density issues for Bowie Marketplace, Many connected pieces posing as power players in PGCo.

PGPD Investigating Hit and Run Pedestrian Collision

March 5, 2019, 11:48 am

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On Monday, March 4^th, at 9:10 pm, Prince George’s County Police officers were called to the 100 block of Monument Avenue in Oxon Hill for the report of an injured person in the roadway.  When officers arrived on scene they discovered a 27-year-old-male who was in and out of consciousness in the roadway.  There were no witnesses present who could relay any information to officers as to how the man sustained the injuries.  He was rushed to a local hospital suffering from trauma to his head and leg. He is currently listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit. 

Upon further investigation through the night, officers were able to locate and view surveillance video which showed the pedestrian attempting to cross Monument Avenue when an unknown-colored sedan traveling from Rivercrest Road merged onto Monument Avenue and struck the pedestrian.  Video shows the sedan, after impact, slowed down for a moment and then sped back up towards the Beltway and left the scene.  The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk.  We have identified the victim and notified his family.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Special Operations Division at 301-731-4422. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.

Wanted Wednesday

March 6, 2019, 10:00 am

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Theft Investigation

Do you know him? If so, please have him call our detectives. Investigators want to talk to him about a recent theft at a drugstore. On February 28^th, our investigation reveals he walked into the business in the 11000 block of Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville. Once inside, he stole several items. If you have information on this case, please call 301-937-0910.

Theft from Auto Investigation

Identifying and arresting thieves who break into cars is a top priority for this department. Please call us with any information on the pictured suspect who targeted a vehicle on Windflower Way in Bowie on February 25^th. The thief stole several items from inside the vehicle. Please call 301-390-2160 or 1-866-411-TIPS with any information. Please always remove or hide valuables in your vehicle.

Robbery Suspects

Robbery Unit detectives are working to arrest the two suspects who targeted a business in Lanham on Monday. At approximately 8:05 am, the suspects walked into the business in the 9000 block of Annapolis Road and demanded cash. Once they had cash, they fled the store. If you have any information on their identities, please call 301-772-4905 or 1-866-411-TIPS. A cash reward is being offered.

Cell Phone Store Robbery

    Suspect 1                          Suspect 2     

And finally, these two suspects are wanted for robbing a cell phone store in Takoma Park on Monday. They targeted the business in the 6000 block of New Hampshire Avenue at approximately 12:30 pm. The suspects stole phones and money before fleeing. Please call 301-772-4905 or 1-866-411-TIPS with any information. A cash reward is being offered. Tipsters do not have to give their names.

Principal in Prince George’s County apologizes for saying n-word during Black History assembly

March 6, 2019, 8:11 pm

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Joy Morrow (Photo: New Hope Academy)

HYATTSVILLE, Md.  (FOX 5 DC)  – The principal of New Hope Academy in Hyattsville is apologizing after she says she used the n-word during a Black History assembly last week in front of a group of students.

Principal Joy Morrow said in a press release obtained by FOX 5 Tuesday, the school was scheduled to host its annual Black History assembly last Thursday when 40 minutes before its start the keynote speaker canceled.

That’s when she says she offered to recreate a talk she gave 25 years ago on “What Dr. Martin Luther King’s teaching meant in my life.”

Morrow, who grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, said she prefaced her talk with students in the sixth through 12th grades by drawing them closer, and explaining to them that she would “be giving them a testimony of how God worked in my life, through Dr. King’s teachings.”

She says she told the students she was going to use the n-word in her talk, which would explain what she experienced as a child who grew up in an “all white, racist community” in Iowa.

In her talk, Morrow says in Dubuque, “they were still burning crosses in the 1970s.” She says she explained to the students the language that was used during that time to “engender fear, hatred, and loathing of African Americans.”

Morrow says during this point in her talk she used the n-word “to explain what was said to me as a child, and the emotional fear it engendered. I talked about how such language is used to transmit hate to a young child.”

In hindsight, Morrow says “the n-word instead acted to distract some of the children rather than impacting the students to understand the negative power this word had on shaping a young child. For this reason and others, I regret using it.”

After the assembly, Morrow says it became clear that some of the children were troubled by her use of the n-word, despite the context she says it was used in.

The academy has since gathered groups and had sessions with both students and teachers, according to Morrow.

She says in each session, she “sincerely apologized that my use of the word made them feel disrespected, and detracted from the message I was trying to convey.”

FOX 5 spoke with the students about their thoughts on the controversy. Many did not want to go on camera.

“She shouldn’t have said it but I feel like it also got blown out of proportion at the same time,” said Josiah Faison.

Following this and controversial lessons at other area schools, Dr. David Ree, an associate history professor at Bowie State University told FOX 5 Tuesday that educators should collaborate more to make sure they’re dealing with sensitive topics appropriately.

“It involves dialoguing, I think, with the black community, because there are educators that teach these topics all the time,” said Reed. “We miss an opportunity to take young people and teach them lessons from the past to build a better, stronger future.”

Via Fox5 DC 

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Student safety, charter schools, and a misguided idea gaining steam in Austin

March 6, 2019, 8:59 pm

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Starlee Coleman, CEO of the Texas Charter Schools Association

Starlee Coleman, CEO of the Texas Charter Schools Association, insists that charter schools should have the right to exclude students they don’t want. 

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat who represents Austin, has introduced a bill proposing that charters act like public schools if they want to be public schools and serve all kinds of students, not just those who are easiest and cheapest to educate.

Of course, the charter lobby wants public money without acting like a public school.

Thank you, Rep. Hinojosa, for standing up for what is right!

If charter schools take public money, as they do, they should be subject to the same admissions procedures, discipline standards, transparency and accountability as real public schools.

But no, they want to get public money while acting like private schools.

Starlee Coleman, CEO of the Texas Charter Schools Association, insists that charter schools should have the right to exclude students they don’t want. 

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Bowie elementary school closed Thursday due to major sewage blockage

March 6, 2019, 10:53 pm

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BOWIE, Md. — Prince George’s County Public Schools announced on Wednesday that Rockledge Elementary School in Bowie will be closed Thursday due to a sewage blockage.

March 7, 2019 – Rockledge ES will be closed due to a sewage blockage.
7 de marzo 2019 – Rockledge estará cerrada debido a una obstrucción de los tubos de aguas residuales.

— PGCPS (@pgcps) March 7, 2019

PGCPS failed to give more updates as to when the school will be open for classes to resume.

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Suspended Officer Indicted by Grand Jury

March 7, 2019, 3:14 pm

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A grand jury today indicted a suspended Prince George’s County Police officer. Corporal Stephen Downey is charged with second degree assault and misconduct in office.

 

The allegations against the officer involve conduct in October of 2018 while the officer was on duty. Corporal Downey is accused of hitting a handcuffed suspect several times during an arrest. A fellow officer who was on the arrest scene immediately notified his supervisor, who contacted the Internal Affairs Division. The Internal Affairs Division launched its own investigation which was then brought to the State’s Attorney’s Office for consideration of criminal charges.  

 

Chief Stawinski issued this statement following the indictment:

“I want the community to know that when an officer is accused of wrongdoing, those accusations are taken seriously and are thoroughly investigated. As an agency, we value transparency and accountability. Serving as a police officer is a challenging and demanding job that requires professionalism at all times. If any officer fails to meet that expectation, he or she will be held accountable by my administration and this community.”

 

Downey is a seven-year veteran of the department. He is assigned to the Bureau of Patrol.

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PGPD Arrests Suspect on FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List

March 7, 2019, 3:23 pm

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Lamont Stephenson is now in custody after his arrest this morning in Lanham. The 43 year old is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List.

Lamont Stephenson

At approximately 2:00 am, Prince George’s County Police received a 911 call about a suspicious person in a rental company truck parked outside of a closed business. This took place in the 7900 block of Annapolis Road. Responding PGPD patrol officers approached the truck and began to talk to the man who was still inside. The officers then began to check whether the man, Lamont Stephenson, had any open warrants. It was at that point, Stephenson told the officers he was wanted in New Jersey for murder. Stephenson was also checked for weapons and one was recovered. The suspect told the PGPD officers he also committed a crime in the District on Wednesday night. 

Stephenson was taken into custody and brought to our Criminal Investigation Division. The Prince George’s County Police Department immediately contacted authorities in Essex County, New Jersey and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Stephenson is currently in the custody of the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections pending extradition. 

Swamp Watch:Bill Would Make Background Checks by School Officials Rigorous

March 8, 2019, 1:29 am

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By Scott MacFarlane

The Maryland General Assembly is deliberating legislation to stiffen the background checks conducted by public school districts.

The bill is gaining supporters and poised to be approved by the state House of Delegates, multiple officials told the News4 I-Team. It was introduced months after an I-Team investigation revealed loopholes in the safety net that protects public school children from abuse by predatory teachers.

The bill sponsored by Del. C.T. Wilson, D-Charles County, requires school districts contact prior employers listed by job applicants before hiring those applicants. It also requires teachers to confirm in writing that they’ve never been the subject of a child abuse investigation, unless the investigation found the allegations to be false.

“We don’t do the proper background checks,” Wilson said. “We only do a criminal background check, which is pretty useless in these matters.”

He said the bill provides civil liability from lawsuits for school administrators who release records about substantiated sexual misconduct investigations involving former employees. It also bans non-disclosure agreements between schools and teachers involving child abuse investigations.

Wilson said his bill offers much needed protections.

“I know (teachers) support this bill, because this is about them,” he said. “They don’t want to be viewed as the enemy, because they’re not. But there are a few bad apples, and they spoil the whole barrel.”

A 2018 investigation by the I-Team revealed a music teacher who’d lost his job in Florida — for sending text messages with sexual language to a female student — avoided detection and later found work in two Maryland public school districts. Among the revelations in I-Team report: The two Maryland school districts acknowledged they don’t contact all prior employers for background information about teachers who apply for jobs.

University of Maryland law student Kevin Redden testified on behalf of the bill before the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee in mid-February. Redden said the legislation will help flag teachers who have groomed children for possible misconduct.

“It’s a preemptive strike. It helps principals, teachers and parents identify individuals,” Redden said. “It would tip off principals not to hire these individuals.”

“The Maryland State Education Association supports this legislation to prevent child sex abuse and misconduct in our schools. We are working closely with Del. Wilson to strengthen the bill so educators are empowered to police their own profession and make sure anyone who commits these horrible actions never works in a school again,” said a Maryland State Education Association spokesman. The organization represents public school teachers throughout the state.

via NBC4

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Swamp Watch: Bill Would Make Background Checks by School Officials Rigorous

March 8, 2019, 1:45 am

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By Scott MacFarlane

The Maryland General Assembly is deliberating legislation to stiffen the background checks conducted by public school districts.

The bill is gaining supporters and poised to be approved by the state House of Delegates, multiple officials told the News4 I-Team. It was introduced months after an I-Team investigation revealed loopholes in the safety net that protects public school children from abuse by predatory teachers.

The bill sponsored by Del. C.T. Wilson, D-Charles County, requires school districts contact prior employers listed by job applicants before hiring those applicants. It also requires teachers to confirm in writing that they’ve never been the subject of a child abuse investigation, unless the investigation found the allegations to be false.

“We don’t do the proper background checks,” Wilson said. “We only do a criminal background check, which is pretty useless in these matters.”

He said the bill provides civil liability from lawsuits for school administrators who release records about substantiated sexual misconduct investigations involving former employees. It also bans non-disclosure agreements between schools and teachers involving child abuse investigations.

Wilson said his bill offers much needed protections.

“I know (teachers) support this bill, because this is about them,” he said. “They don’t want to be viewed as the enemy, because they’re not. But there are a few bad apples, and they spoil the whole barrel.”

A 2018 investigation by the I-Team revealed a music teacher who’d lost his job in Florida — for sending text messages with sexual language to a female student — avoided detection and later found work in two Maryland public school districts. Among the revelations in I-Team report: The two Maryland school districts acknowledged they don’t contact all prior employers for background information about teachers who apply for jobs.

University of Maryland law student Kevin Redden testified on behalf of the bill before the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee in mid-February. Redden said the legislation will help flag teachers who have groomed children for possible misconduct.

“It’s a preemptive strike. It helps principals, teachers and parents identify individuals,” Redden said. “It would tip off principals not to hire these individuals.”

“The Maryland State Education Association supports this legislation to prevent child sex abuse and misconduct in our schools. We are working closely with Del. Wilson to strengthen the bill so educators are empowered to police their own profession and make sure anyone who commits these horrible actions never works in a school again,” said a Maryland State Education Association spokesman. The organization represents public school teachers throughout the state.

via NBC4

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Prince George’s County Police Detectives to be Honored

March 12, 2019, 6:02 am

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Prince George’s County Crime Solvers is hosting its annual “Detectives and Deputies of the Year Awards” luncheon Tuesday, March 12, 2019. The organization selected more than three dozen detectives and deputies who have demonstrated outstanding investigative skills that led to significant arrests and case closures.

Please join us in celebrating these detectives and deputies for their excellent service and commitment in keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Who:       Mr. Mark Magaw, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

                for Public Safety     

     Chief Hank Stawinski, Prince George’s County Police 

     Sheriff Melvin High, Prince George’s County Office of

     the Sheriff

     The Honorable Aisha Braveboy, State’s Attorney

When:    Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Time:     11:30 am

Where:   Colony South Hotel

     7401 Surratts Road

               Clinton, Maryland

If you are a member of the media and wish to attend this event, please RSVP by calling the Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.

Prince George’s County Crime Solvers is a non-profit organization run by an all-volunteer board of directors comprised of business owners and community members.  It relies on private donations and fundraising to complete its vital mission.  Crime Solvers provides cash rewards to tipsters who anonymously provide critical information in crimes committed in our community.

PGPD Announces the Graduation of Session 138

March 12, 2019, 1:54 pm

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The Prince George’s County Police Department is proud to announce the graduation of thirteen recruits from the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Training and Education Division on Wednesday.

Of the thirteen graduates, six will join us here at the Prince George’s County Police Department, two will join the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff, one heads to the City of Laurel Police Department, one will be headed to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Police, one will be joining the Cheverly Police Department, and one will be joining the Prince George’s County Fire Department as a Fire Investigator. 

We’re looking forward to celebrating their accomplishments with family and friends and officially welcoming the newest members of the PGPD family!

When:   Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Time:    11:00 am

Where:  Riverdale Baptist Church

              1177 Largo Road

              Upper Marlboro, MD

Members of the community and the media are welcome to attend. 

WANTED WEDNESDAY

March 13, 2019, 7:56 am

≫ Next: ATM Stolen From Local Convenience Store

≪ Previous: PGPD Announces the Graduation of Session 138

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Cell Phone Store Robbery Suspects 

Suspect 1                                             Suspect 2

Robbery Unit detectives are working to arrest the two suspects who targeted a business in Clinton on March 9th. At approximately 8:20 pm, the suspects walked into a cell phone store in the 7700 block of Old Branch Avenue, implied a weapon, made demands, and stole multiple electronic devices and then fleeing the store.  If you have any information on their identities, please call 301-772-4905 or 1-866-411-TIPS. A cash reward is being offered.

Storage Unit Burglaries 

Do you know these individuals? Investigators are attempting to identify these suspects in connection with several burglaries at a storage facility in the 2500 block of  Kenilworth Avenue in Hyattsville. The suspects were seen fleeing the area in the pictured pickup truck.  If you have any information on this case please call  301-937-0910.

Theft Investigation

    Suspect 1             Suspect 2         Suspect 3          Suspect 4

Do you know these suspects?  Detectives are attempting to identify 4 suspects who stole various items from a grocery store in the 10000 block of Greenbelt Road on the morning of March 12^th.  Two days earlier on March 10th, these suspects stole items from the same store and fled the area in the above pictured car.  Anyone with information to the identities of these suspects are asked to call Crime Solvers at (301) 390-2160. 

Residential Burglary 

Suspect 1                      Suspect 2

Finally, Investigators are seeking to identify theses suspects who are responsible for the burglary of a home in the 1700 block of Stourbridge Court in Bowie  The burglary occurred on March 8th at approximately 2:20 in the afternoon.  Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (301) 390-2160 

ATM Stolen From Local Convenience Store

March 13, 2019, 1:39 pm

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The Prince George’s County Police Department is investigating the theft of an ATM from a convenience store in Lanham.

On March 13, 2019 at approximately 1:45 am, patrol officers were called to a convenience store in the 7700 block of Finns Lane for a robbery.  Two suspects entered the store and directed all employees to get down on the ground. The suspects laid on top of the employees protecting them from debris, as a third suspect smashed a white pick-up truck through the front of the store. All three suspects pushed an ATM onto the bed of the truck and fled the scene.

 

Evidence Photo PGPD CSID

At approximately 9:00 am, officers were called to a vacant lot in Landover where they discovered three stolen ATMs on fire. We have confirmed one was stolen from the convenience store mentioned above.  Adjacent to the fire,  officers located the stolen suspected white Ford F-250 truck used in the theft. 

Detectives are investigating the possibility this incident is linked with other ATM thefts in the region.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Criminal Investigation Division – Robbery Division 301-772-4905. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.

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PGCPS Central High Students to Be Relocated Due to Repair Project

March 13, 2019, 2:42 pm

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Many parents and students are worried after Prince George’s County Public Schools announced that Central High School will be closed to students next year to make way for a major repair project. News4’s Tracee Wilkins tells what will happen, and what responses it’s getting.   Full story on nbcwashington.com

(Published Tuesday, Mar 12, 2019 | Credit: Tracee Wilkins)

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Detectives Investigate Fatal Shooting in Hyattsville

March 13, 2019, 3:57 pm

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Homicide Unit detectives are working to identify and arrest the suspect(s) who shot and killed a woman in Hyattsville on Tuesday. The victim is 27-year-old Salina Rivera of Belcrest Road in Hyattsville. 

On March 12^th, at approximately 7:55 pm, patrol officers with the Hyattsville City Police Department were called to the 6200 block of Belcrest Road in the City of Hyattsville for a reported shooting. When they arrived, officers discovered Rivera in the walkway suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

The preliminary investigation reveals the fatal shooting stemmed from a robbery during an illegal drug transaction.

If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives at 301-772-4925.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)

PGPD To Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint

March 14, 2019, 8:39 am

≫ Next: PGPD Assumes Homicide Investigation Out of Stafford County, Virginia

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The Special Operations Division will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, March 15, 2019 from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am. Officers will focus on the southern portion of the county. This is one of the many checkpoints that will be conducted throughout the year.

Please never drive under the influence. The consequences are not worth the risk.

PGPD Assumes Homicide Investigation Out of Stafford County, Virginia

March 14, 2019, 1:19 pm

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The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit today assumed a homicide investigation out of Stafford County, Virginia.

On Saturday morning, at approximately 5:00 am, a Stafford County Sheriff’s deputy located the remains of a murder victim in a remote, grassy area. The victim is 16-year-old Jacson Chicas of Parkwood Court in Falls Church, VA.

During the course of the investigation this week, investigators determined Chicas was killed inside of a home in the 7000 block of Varnum Street in Landover Hills before his remains were driven to Stafford County.

The Prince George’s County Police Department is actively investigating this case. Preliminarily, detectives do not believe this was a random crime. Additional details will be released when available.  

If anyone has information on this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives at 301-772-4925.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)

Detectives Arrest Suspect for Sexual Assault In Brandywine

March 15, 2019, 10:07 am

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Nahvarj Mills

Detectives arrested a suspect in connection with a recent sexual assault in Brandywine. The suspect is 25-year-old Nahvarj Mills of the 12000 block of Cross Road Trail in Brandywine. Detectives are concerned there could be additional victims in the region and are asking anyone with information on this suspect to call investigators. 

The preliminary investigation reveals the victim and the suspect met at a nightclub in Washington, DC on February 22nd. The adult female victim tells detectives she was sexually assaulted by the suspect at his home. The suspect released the victim when a third person walked into the room. The victim and suspect did not know each other prior to the evening of the sexual assault.

During the course of the investigation, Mills was developed as the suspect. He’s charged with first and second degree rape and related charges. 

If you'd like to talk to detectives, please call the Sexual Assault Unit at 301-772-4908. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)