‘He Hit a Whole Person, Man,’ Says Carjacking Defendant After Judge Denies Release

By Emily Reed , Thomas Hinton - June 25, 2024
Carjacking | Court | Daily Stories | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond found probable cause for charging a defendant with carjacking and denied him pre-trial release on June 24, despite the defendant’s assertion that the victim, “hit a whole person”. 

Michael Robinson, 39, is charged with unarmed carjacking for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on May 26 on the 3000 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. The victim was an active Lyft driver who had a passenger in the back seat of the car, but both the driver and passenger were able to flee.

According to court documents, the Lyft driver stopped in the road after tapping a cyclist who pulled out suddenly in front of the car. The cyclist approached the driver with a second suspect, whom police later identified as Robinson. The two reportedly assaulted the victim until he got out of the car, at which point the unidentified cyclist drove off with the car. Robinson followed the victim down the sidewalk but got on a bus after the victim photographed him

At the June 24 hearing, the prosecution called as a witness a police detective with the carjacking task force at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

The prosecution played a video captured from a Metro bus of the alleged crime. It showed the Lyft driver’s car stopping in the middle of the road and two individuals – allegedly the cyclist and Robinson – approaching the driver. In the video, the individual identified as Robinson opened the driver door and confronted the driver in what the prosecution characterized as an “aggressive manner.”

On cross examination, Robinson’s defense attorney, Martin Rosendorf, asked the detective if the video showed Robinson ever attempting to get into the car. The detective said it did not, but stated that, in her opinion, Robinson would not have approached the victim at all if he were not trying to get him out of his car.

During probable cause arguments, Rosendorf described Robinson as someone who was concerned for the cyclist. Rosendorf stated that Robinson watched the cyclist get hit by the Lyft driver and thought the driver was going to get away.

However, Judge Raymond found probable cause to continue the case due to the video evidence and the testimony given by the police detective.

Given’s Robinson’s prior felony convictions and failures to comply with previous release conditions, Judge Raymond denied him release.

After Judge Raymond ordered Robinso detained, Robinson began crumpling pieces of paper and mumbling incoherently at the judge. 

“He hit a whole person, man,” said Robinson as US Marshals removed him from the courtroom.

Parties are slated to appear before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on July 17.