County police officer in distress resulted in 15-hour closure of Potomac roads  

Incident began Sunday with ‘unusual behavior,’ ended Monday night, police say

December 31, 2024 4:59 p.m.

Potomac Tennis Lane at Falls Road in Potomac was closed for 15 hours starting early Monday after a Montgomery County police officer in a cruiser was determined to be in distress, Montgomery County police said Tuesday in a statement.  

As of Tuesday morning, the officer is receiving medical care at a local hospital, according to the statement. 

According to the statement, the incident began Sunday when the officer’s supervisor “noticed unusual behavior during their scheduled shift and raised concerns about the officer’s welfare.”  

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Officers later made contact with the officer, who was in a patrol car near Falls Road and Potomac Tennis Lane, according to the statement. 

Police announced the closures on social media at roughly 4:30 a.m. Monday, stating that police activity closed the roads. While there was a large police presence in the area, the posts said there was no threat to the community.   

At roughly 6:30 a.m., police gave another update, sharing that officers were on scene for a person in distress and were attempting to resolve the situation by talking with the person.  Photos published Monday by WJLA showed a police cruiser blocked in by two armored vehicles.

Over the next 15 hours, according to the statement, “law enforcement and support teams worked to communicate with the officer and bring the situation to a peaceful resolution.” The response involved several police units, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service crews and the county Department of Health and Human Services.  

The situation ended peacefully at approximately 6:09 p.m., the statement said, and the officer was transported to an area hospital. 

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At 6:40 p.m. Monday, county police posted on social media that both roads were open, and the subject was “safe and in custody.” 

The statement said resources remain available for officers and staff facing stress or mental health challenges and thanked the community’s “patience and understanding” during the closure.  

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