Judge Finds Probable Cause in Carjacking Case 

By Adrianna Bhan , Belinda Miguel - June 20, 2024
Carjacking | Court | Daily Stories | Suspects |

DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond found probable cause in a carjacking case during a June 18 preliminary hearing. 

Maurice Edwards, 20, is charged with armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a carjacking that took place on the intersection of 48th Place and Lee Street, NE on March 11. 

Edwards is being charged alongside Azusa Beatty, 29, who is being charged with unarmed carjacking for her alleged involvement in the incident.

According to court documents, two individuals, identified as Edwards and Beatty, were driving in a black Nissan Kicks when they struck a red Toyota Rav-4. Edwards, Beatty, and the Toyota’s driver exited their respective vehicles and Edwards and Beatty began to yell and engage in a verbal altercation with the victim. 

The victim said that the black Nissan had run the stop sign when Edwards pulled out a gun and the victim backed away from the door, according to court documents. Beatty allegedly drove the victim’s vehicle away while Edwards fled the scene in the Nissan

During the June 18 hearing, the prosecution presented a wired plea agreement, that requires both defendants accept the offer in order to be valid. The offer would require them to plead guilty to unarmed carjacking in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

Edwards rejected the offer. 

The prosecution called the lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)  to testify regarding his involvement in the investigation that led to Edwards’ arrest.

According to the detective, surveillance footage captured the incident, depicting a verbal altercation between the victim and the suspects, before the victim’s car is driven away and she is left at the scene yelling, “I can’t believe this is happening.” 

Due to the restrictive vantage point of the footage, the detective testified he was unable to advise whether or not the individual identified as Edwards was armed.  However, he confirmed that the individual’s body language of reaching down towards his hip could indicate that Edwards could have been in possession of a gun. 

According to the detective, the victim and an eyewitness stated they had seen Edwards’ gun in his pocket, before pointing it at the victim.

Raymond Jones, Edwards’ defense attorney, questioned the detective about his interview with Beatty. The detective said the interview was “erratic and inconsistent,” and that she “accused the victim of becoming argumentative.” 

The detective confirmed that Beatty called 911 after the incident to report a hit-and-run incident,  but failed to mention Edwards having a gun or their involvement in the carjacking.

Jones argued against the validity of the affidavit written by the detective, stating the detective inaccurately stated that Edward’s said “I did steal the car.” It should have been “I did not steal the car,” Jones said. 

The defense asked Judge Raymond not to find probable cause stating “you can’t see what that officer was testifying on video,” adding that Beatty is the one that actually took the vehicle, claiming that Edwards was following in the black Nissan.

“This doesn’t look like an ‘oops’ to me,” said Judge Raymond, as she ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to meet the probable cause requirement. 

Parties are set to reconvene July 12 with DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld.