DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond found probable cause in a carjacking incident based on a detective’s testimony, and denied a defendant’s release on April 17.
Tywan Jackson, 32, is charged with carjacking for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on the 4800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE on Feb. 20. No injuries were reported.
According to court records, two parents were reportedly outside their car when Jackson allegedly drove off with their seven-year-old in the backseat. Jackson allegedly drove to the end of the block before fleeing the car.
During the hearing, prosecutors called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective, who investigated the case. The detective allegedly identified Jackson as the suspect in court.
The detective stated that MPD identified Jackson as the suspect through surveillance footage of a car alleged to belong to Jackson. The car is seen pulling into a nearby parking lot minutes before the incident. In addition, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent identified a person said to be Jackson through surveillance footage taken two hours prior to the incident in front of Jackson’s residence.
During cross-examination, Diana Yu, Jackson’s attorney, said no eyewitness or victim identified Jackson as the suspect.
According to the detective, one victim gave a description of the carjacker, “Black male, in his 30’s, five foot eight inches-to-five foot ten inches.” The victim also described the carjacker wearing a black jacket and pants. The detective stated that those descriptions aided in identifying Jackson as the carjacker.
Yu played surveillance footage taken minutes before the incident, of the car the detective said was Jackson’s pulling into a parking lot outside his known residence. The detective said Jackson lived on the same avenue as the incident. Yu pointed out that no license plate or model identification could be seen on the suspect car in the footage.
In additional footage Yu played, the detective alleged Jackson left his car and walked towards the victims’ car.
The detective stated that he identified Jackson’s car through footage of him getting in hours earlier and previous investigative knowledge.
The detective stated that an FBI Special Agent recognized the “build, complexion, and hair” of Jackson from previous encounters in a separate investigation though no additional details were provided.
Yu played the footage from two hours before the incident, in which Jackson can allegedly be seen walking from his residence to the parking lot. In the video, Jackson is wearing similar black pants as the victim’s description with long dreadlocks.
Yu asked the detective if Jackson is the only person in the DC area to have his build, complexion, and hair. The detective responded, “no, Jackson is probably not the only person.”
Yu argued that probable cause was not proven because there was no identification made by an eyewitness or victim, and the identifications made were not reliable. According to Yu, there are differences in the victim’s description of the carjacker and the surveillance footage.
Judge Raymond found prosecutors met the low standard of probable cause, although she stated the prosecution does not have “a whole lot of strength in their case right now.”
Yu requested Jackson’s release, stating that Jackson has a stable job and two children. According to Yu, Jackson has been on supervised release since 2019 for an unrelated case in Maryland, and has complied with release conditions, until this alleged violation.
The prosecution stated Jackson’s criminal history included a carjacking and theft in Maryland, along with a case in DC for unauthorized use of a vehicle from 2016. According to prosecutors their evidence is strong in the case, including Jackson being the registered owner of the car seen on video and a connection to the incident location.
The prosecution stated they have “tremendous concerns” regarding releasing Jackson.
Judge Raymond denied release due to Jackson’s criminal history and finding probable cause.
Parties are slated to reconvene on April 29.
