Montgomery County police brief Somerset on low local crime totals, surge in fraud and new drone response

Deputy Commander Ari Elkin of the Montgomery County Police Department’s 2nd District told Somerset officials and residents on Feb. 13 that crime in the town’s incorporated area remains low but new threats are emerging.

Elkin said, “in the last year there’s been a total of 5 reported incidents in the incorporated area,” and added that fraud and sophisticated scams are the area’s most notable problems. He told the forum that the department recorded two fraud incidents in Somerset in the past year and warned that scammers use targeted text messages and phony service notices to extract money from older residents and others.

The brief focused on prevention and reporting. Elkin urged residents to call police rather than rely on neighborhood listservs: “If you’re the victim of a crime, you should call. If it’s in progress, contact 911.” He said the department will provide community-facing scam-prevention materials and that the department’s community service officer (Demond Johnson) can support local outreach.

Elkin reviewed several nearby violent incidents that drew public attention, including an attempted carjacking in Friendship Heights that resulted in an arrest and a separate shooting under active investigation. He credited camera evidence and coordinated detective work for recent arrests but told residents there are currently no ongoing threats tied to those incidents.

On technology and enforcement, Elkin described the county’s expanding use of cameras, license-plate readers and automated traffic enforcement. He said speed-camera placement depends on road geometry and traffic volume and that the county’s program has grown since its early years; data cited by Elkin indicate the devices have reduced crashes and fatalities in locations where they are deployed.

Elkin also detailed a new district drone program he described as a “first responder.” He said drones typically launch from downtown Bethesda, operate most often between noon and 10 p.m., respond only to calls for service, and provide live 911 audio to pilots so they can get on-site before patrol officers when required. He added that the drones do not conduct continuous surveillance and cannot fly higher than 400 feet.

School safety was addressed: Elkin said decisions about lockdowns or shelter-in-place are MCPS determinations and that police provide advice and response support. He described the county’s Community Engagement Officers (CEO) model—officers assigned to school clusters who visit when requested, rather than being stationed full time in schools.

During a broad question-and-answer session, residents asked about swatting mitigation, Nextdoor postings, parking enforcement, mopeds and 911 response times. Elkin said staff add potential swatting targets to the CAD system so calls to those addresses trigger vetting by supervisors; he cautioned against relying on unverified social posts and encouraged residents to call police first so officers can vet video or images before they are shared widely.

On noncriminal issues such as unsheltered persons, Elkin said Bethesda Cares and county mobile crisis teams routinely partner with police to provide outreach and services. On panhandling, he said officers generally enforce only when pedestrian behavior creates a roadway hazard and often refer welfare concerns to behavioral-health teams.

Elkin closed by advising ordinary precautions against burglary (lock doors, secure valuables, consider a safe, avoid posting travel plans on social media) and offered to follow up with the town on several specific incidents—including a Capital Crescent Trail report where the town provided an incident number to police.

The town thanked Elkin for the briefing and said the recording and any distributed materials would be shared with residents. The police offered to send scam-prevention checklist materials and links to the district’s official social channels for verified alerts.