A DC Superior Court judge ordered a 24-hour detained mental exam for a robbery defendant instead of releasing him.
Kenneth Phillips is charged robbery for allegedly taking a $20 bill from a person on the unit block of Hanover Place, NW on March 26. The victim was allegedly punched in the head by Phillips, 19. According to court records, the victim and the defendant do not know each other.
Judge Anita Josey-Herring ordered that Phillips,19, be detained for mental observation instead of granting his motion to be released because of coronavirus.
There were allegedly two suspects. The second suspect walked away from the scene when an officer was trying to separate Phillips, who had become “irate and begun shouting,” from the victim, documents state.
Phillips is pending a grand jury. He is scheduled for a felony status conference on May 29.
