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By
Phoebe McConnell
- November 8, 2024
Burglary
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Carjacking
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Daily Stories
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An armed carjacking defendant was denied release by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum on Nov. 8 on the basis of circumstantial evidence, part of which was provided by GPS monitoring.
Anardo Little, 18, is charged with armed carjacking and aggravated assault knowingly while armed for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting and robbery of the victim’s motor vehicle on the 1200 Block of H Street, NE on Oct 14.
Court documents state Little allegedly committed the crimes with three other individuals, then fled the scene and was arrested at a separate location.
A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer testified at Little’s preliminary hearing that she arrested him but did not personally see him engage in criminal activity. The officer said four suspects approached the victim’s car, but she did not recall the identity of each individual.
Defense attorney Susan Ellis argued the court should not find probable cause to send the case to a grand jury, since the police officer couldn’t identify the four suspects. Ellis said there was nothing linking Little to the carjacking and he was not armed or behaving illegally when he was arrested.
The prosecution said Little’s GPS monitoring device located him among the group of four suspects, providing probable cause Little committed the crimes.
Judge Hildum conceded the police affidavit supporting Little’s arrest and the officer’s testimony were not the most compelling but cited circumstantial evidence as the basis of probable cause.
The details of the circumstantial evidence Judge Hildum laid out were that Little’s GPS monitoring placed him at the events of the armed robbery, then fleeing the scene afterward. Little was later found with three other individuals, one of whom allegedly had a gun in his waistband. More guns allegedly connected to the crime were discovered at a separate location.
Ellis asked for Little’s release, Judge Hildum denied the request, saying Little’s pattern of escalating conduct is troubling.
Parties are set to reconvene on Dec 11.