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Suspects Charged with Vehicle Theft and Firearm-Related Offenses

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 3, 2017


Mario G. Alvarado, age 18, of the 2900 block of Dawson Avenue in Wheaton, has been arrested and charged with stolen vehicle and firearm-related offenses.  A Montgomery County Police Department School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Albert Einstein High School in North Kensington observed Alvarado operating a stolen vehicle on the grounds of the high school on May 1.  Officers located a stolen assault rifle in the stolen car.

On Monday, May 1 at approximately 10:33 a.m., the SRO was patrolling the school grounds in his marked cruiser and observed a blue Mazda 3 park to the rear of Albert Einstein High School.  The SRO observed the driver of the Mazda exit the vehicle, walk toward the school, and return to the Mazda a short time later.  As the driver of the Mazda drove away from the school, the SRO activated his cruiser’s emergency equipment and initiated a traffic stop on the car at the intersection of Norris Drive and Kenton Drive.  The driver of the Mazda stopped the car at the intersection, immediately exited the Mazda, and fled from the officer.

A short time later, the driver of the Mazda, identified as Alvarado, returned to the intersection of Norris Drive and Kenton Drive and was arrested by the SRO and assisting officers.

The SRO conducted a computer check of the Mazda’s registration and determined that the Mazda had been reported stolen on April 27 from a residence on Milton Street in Wheaton.

Fourth District officers searched the stolen Mazda and located an assault rifle in the trunk.  The assault rifle was determined to belong to the Rockville City Police Department (RCPD) and had been recently stolen from a RCPD cruiser in the Kensington area on April 29.

Fourth District officers also located a black Nissan Frontier parked near Albert Einstein High School that had been reported stolen on April 22 from a residence on Lafayette Drive in Wheaton.  Officers searched the Nissan and located a shotgun which had also been stolen from the same RCPD cruiser on April 29.

Alvarado was transported to the Central Processing Unit and charged with possessing a deadly weapon on school property, possession of an assault weapon, possession of a stolen vehicle, and other firearm-related charges.  Alvarado is being held on a $2,000 bond.

On Tuesday, May 2, Central Auto Theft Unit detectives arrested a 15-year-old male juvenile and charged him with auto theft offenses related to this investigation.  The juvenile was released to the custody of his parents.

This investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with information regarding these crimes is asked to call the 2nd District Investigative Section at 240-773-6710.

Mario AlvaradoMario Alvarado (Original Image)


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Release ID: 17-127
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: firearm