ASSAULT REPORTED FROM WESTBARD CIRCLE IN BETHESDA SATURDAY

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

One day before a 21-year-old female jogger was sexually assaulted on the Capital Crescent Trail, an unspecified type of assault was reported to police a few blocks away.

Saturday's assault was reported from the 5300 block of Westbard Circle in Bethesda.  That is the Kenwood Place condominium complex off of Westbard Avenue.

The assault comes about a month after a pepper spray assault and robbery blocks away at Massachusetts Avenue and Baltimore Avenue.  There was also a recent robbery on Cammack Drive on October 6 [previously reported here], and a burglary in the 6000 block of Massachusetts Avenue on October 15.

An assault could simply be a domestic violence incident, or a fight between intoxicated individuals.  So Saturday's assault is not a cause for alarm, unless details emerge to suggest otherwise.  But given the serious nature of the nearby trail assault the following day, and the September pepper spray assault/robbery, any assaults reported in that area of Bethesda are worthy of attention.

In related news, Park Police are now conducting extra patrols along the CCT.  But the best advice at this time is to avoid using the CCT after dark.  Period.

BETHESDA ROBBERY IS SECOND IN A WEEK ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET - BETHESDA CRIME REPORT

INCIDENT NOT

FAR FROM FIRST

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

A robbery in the 5800 block of Madaket Road Thursday was the second on a Bethesda residential street in a week.  Madaket is a one-street enclave of townhomes that meets MacArthur Boulevard at its intersection with Sangamore Road.

The first robbery, on Cammack Drive, was just minutes away by car or bicycle.  I mention bicycle, because both of these robberies just happen to have taken place near bicycle trails.  If a robber cut through the path at the top of Cammack, he or she would have emerged on Massachusetts Avenue a mere 2 blocks from the Capital Crescent Trail.  Likewise, there are trail entrances off Sangamore and MacArthur right near Madaket.

The point is, all residents in that area should not only be aware of suspicious vehicles in their neighborhood, but also of any suspicious people on bicycles.

I would also remind you of the description police gave of the alleged suspect in last month's robbery on Massachusetts Avenue - again, in the same general area as the more recent two:  adult white male, unshaven, short hair.  Not much to go on.

If something seems suspicious, don't hesitate to contact the county police.

ROBBERY ON BETHESDA RESIDENTIAL STREET - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

SECOND MASS. AVE

AREA ROBBERY IN

THREE WEEKS

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

A robbery occurred Saturday, October 6, in the 5100 block of Cammack Drive.  Cammack is a dead-end street with a cul-de-sac, and some very expensive homes, in the exclusive west Bethesda enclave of Spring Hill.

The incident was the second robbery in that area in the last three weeks.  It took place yards away from the first of those robberies, the September 15 pepper spray assault and robbery on Massachusetts Avenue, near Baltimore Avenue.  The suspect in that case was described as an adult white male, unshaven facial hair, and short hair.  He is still at large.  Could it have been the same guy?  There is no description of the newest robber to go by yet.

The best advice is to be alert for a man of that vague description, or any other suspicious person, particularly in the Massachusetts Avenue corridor.