Statement on the Carjacking Incident of October 19

The Town Council acknowledges and appreciates the community's concerns regarding the events that unfolded on the evening of Saturday, October 19. The information we have at this time is that a carjacking occurred in Bethesda, and law enforcement pursued the stolen vehicle into our Town. Thanks to strong coordination among police agencies and resources, multiple suspects were apprehended, some within the Town. We want to clarify that the Town was not notified during the event and has yet to receive an official incident report, as the situation remains part of an ongoing investigation involving juveniles.

We have reached out to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) for guidance on how residents should respond in similar situations, specifically: 1) how to reduce the risk of being carjacked and what to do if it happens to you (A MCPD brochure about carjacking is available here); and 2) how to react to active crime scenes. MCPD officials have relayed that residents should not, under any circumstances, approach officers during an active crime scene. Residents should stay indoors and secure their homes.

The Town Council has invited MCPD’s Community Resources Officer to the November 21 Town Council meeting to discuss this matter.