Regional Briefing

MARYLAND

Montgomery Officer Faces DUI Charge

An off-duty Montgomery County police officer was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol Friday night after he allegedly ran into a concrete barrier while driving a take-home police cruiser, the department said.

Officers said they responded to a report of a traffic accident at Route 270 and the Capital Beltway shortly after 11 p.m. and found Cpl. Fernando Martinez standing outside the car, which had minor damage to its front and driver's side.

After smelling alcohol on Martinez's breath, police said in a statement, "officers administered field sobriety tests and determined that it was appropriate to arrest him for driving under the influence." Martinez, whose police powers were suspended pending an investigation, has been a member of the force for 33 years, the statement said.

-- Paul Duggan

THE DISTRICT

Robbers Strike In Adams Morgan

D.C. police are investigating a string of daytime robberies in the Adams Morgan area this month. All of the robberies occurred in the 1700 block of Columbia Road NW.

On March 6, a failed robbery attempt took place at the Bancomercio about 3:10 p.m. According to 3rd District Police Cmdr. George Kucik, the robber handed an employee a note. When the employee had trouble reading the handwriting and sought help from a manager, the robber fled.

The second robbery occurred March 11 when three men held up the Metro Wine and Liquor store at 10:23 a.m. The third incident took place Tuesday at the Casa Librator grocery store at 12:51 p.m.

There were no injuries reported.

Kucik said he did not believe the robberies were linked. He said police have added two foot patrol officers in the area.

"We're trying to get the word out to businesses so they can be aware," Kucik said.

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) recently e-mailed his constituents informing them about the robberies.

-- Keith L. Alexander

Ex-Mayor Abandons Order of Malta Bid

Former D.C. mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) withdrew his application to join an elite Catholic service society last week amid complaints from members that he should be barred from the organization because he supports abortion rights and protections for same-sex unions.

Williams was applying for membership in the Order of Malta, a service organization whose members are called "knights" and "dames." Among its members are U.S. lawmakers and others who give money and time to charitable groups.

Critics using Internet blogs cited Williams's support for abortion rights and gay partnerships. In a statement Thursday announcing the withdrawal of Williams's application, Noreen R. Falcone, president of the order, said the "anonymous feeding of incomplete information to Internet sites" was unfair to Williams and "his sponsors."

-- Darryl Fears