Document: October 1 Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Oct. 1.

At approximately 11:15 p.m. police responded to the Unit Block of Forrester Street, SW, due to sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival police located two adult females and four adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. Police transported one adult female and four adult males to a local hospital. The sixth victim, 35-year-old Temika Johnson, was pronounced dead on scene, according to the press release.

Crime Alerts: October 3-4

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 4.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:47 p.m. due to a robbery at North Capitol and O Street, NW. Police identified the suspect as a 20-30-year-old Black male with a thin build, wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans.

A crime alert was sent out at 11:11 p.m. due to a shooting in the 5200 block of 11th Street, NE. Police do not have information on the suspect(S).

A crime alert was sent out at 12:37 a.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE. Police identified the suspect in a

A crime alert was sent out at 12:37 a.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE. Police identified the suspect in a matte black Cadillac with Maryland tags.

DC Police Officer Indicted for Murder

Two Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers have been charged in connection with the death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown, who was struck by a vehicle during a police chase. One of those officers faces murder charges.

Terence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky turned themselves into federal court marshals on Sept. 24, Police Chief Robert J. Contee III said during a press conference that day. Sutton, a 37-year-old officer, is charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Zabavsky, a 53-year-old lieutenant, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

On Oct. 23, 2020, at about 10:09 p.m., officers saw Hylton-Brown driving a moped on a sidewalk without a helmet on the 500 block of Kennedy Street, NW, according to a MPD press release issued four days later.

According to the indictment, Sutton was driving an unmarked police car with three other officers. Zabavsky was alone in a marked police car. They reportedly tried to stop Hylton-Brown but, when he did not stop, activated their emergency lights and pursued him.

Sutton followed Hylton-Brown through an alleyway. As Hylton-Brown exited the alley, he collided with a vehicle.

Hylton-Brown sustained severe head trauma from the crash. He died two days later.

The MPD released Body Worn Camera footage of the incident shortly after.

According to the indictment, MPD General Orders prohibit officers from pursuing a vehicle for the purpose of a traffic violation.

The indictment alleges that Sutton “caused Hylton-Brown’s death by driving a police vehicle in conscious disregard for an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury to Hylton-Brown.”

Sutton and Zabavsky are also accused of trying to hide the circumstances of the fatal collision from MPD officials.

According to the indictment, the two officers allegedly failed to notify the MPD’s Major Crash Unit as to Hylton-Brown’s condition as he laid in the street following the collision. They also allegedly failed to take routine steps to collect evidence relevant to a traffic crash investigation and allegedly misrepresented the incident to a watch commander.

Sutton is accused of denying that he engaged in a vehicular pursuit of the victim. Zabavsky is accused of withholding all information about his involvement in the incident.

The two defendants appeared before District Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui on the afternoon of Sept. 24, according to the DOJ. They were released and scheduled to return to court on Oct. 4.

The defendants are on administrative leave, Contee said. They’ve been served a notice of intent for their indefinite suspension. They are currently being paid, but could loose their pay depending on the outcome of the process, which Contee said is part of a collective bargaining agreement.

“Police officers are sworn to uphold the law and ensure the safety of the community. The vast majority of officers execute their duties in an exemplary manner, and we are grateful for their dedicated service,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips in a Department of Justice press release. “But when a select few violate their oath by engaging in criminal conduct, they cannot do so with impunity and must be held accountable. This indictment seeks to do just that.”

Judge Sentences Sex Abuse Defendant to Serve 3 Months

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a sex abuse defendant to serve three months.

Darius Robinson was initially charged with first-degree sexual abuse. The prosecution accused him of sexually assaulting his friend’s relative in April 2020.

Robinson, 32, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sex abuse in July after making a deal with the prosecution.

“You could be a wonderful person, but you did a terrible thing,” Judge Marisa Demeo told him during the Oct. 1 hearing.

Judge Demeo took both Robinson’s “community ties and employment” and the severity of the crime into account when sentencing him.

Robinson’s defense attorney, Wole Falodun, asked the judge to “not impose any more active incarceration and put him under probation” because his client “had a rough time” while held at DC Jail. A judge decided to detain Robinson during his initial hearing on April 14. He was released into the High Intensity Supervision Program on May 3.

Falodun also said his client “is very sorry for what he did.”

The prosecution, however, expressed concern that Robinson does not understand the severity of the crime.

“I didn’t mean to do that to her,” Robinson said. “I didn’t know the magnitude of what I did… I hope she gets over what I did to her… I know I was wrong. What’s no is no.”

“It seems you are minimizing what you did,” Judge Demeo told him. She said Robinson’s description of him “misinterpreting” and “misunderstanding” the victim’s protests “does not ring true to the court.”

Judge Demeo sentenced him to six months, half of which was suspended, plus two years of supervised probation. Conditions of his probation include participating in a sex offender counseling group, receiving drug and alcohol tests and complying with a stay away order.

Document: Arrest Made in Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a Sept. 10 homicide.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 10 police responded to the 1400 block of 29th Street, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Officers located 39-year-old Anthony Kelly inside of a residential building with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene, according to the press release.

On Sept. 30, officers arrested 22-year-old Shaka Haltiwanger and charged him with second-degree murder while armed in relation to the homicide, according to the press release.

Document: Arrest Made in June Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a June homicide.

At approximately 7:56 pm. on June 24, police responded to the 3600 block of 22^nd Street, SE, due to a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, police located 27-year-old Damohn Gill with stab wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

On Sept. 30, officers arrested 28-year-old Aaron Jackson and charged him with second-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Crime Alerts: September 30 to October 1

The Metropolitan PoliceDepartment sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Sept. 30 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 1.

A crime alert was sent out at 9:03 p.m. due to a stabbing investigation in the 2200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

a crime alert was sent out at 10:29 p.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 3800 block of 9th Street, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

Judge Denies Second Request to Release Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge denied a second request to release a murder defendant.

Malachi McFarland, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year old Kerry Odoms on April 15 on the 3300 block of 10th Place, SE. He is currently in quarantine at DC Jail.

Judge Marisa Demeo denied a previous oral request for release on Sept. 20. Defense attorney Jacquelin Cadman filed another motion for release on Sept. 27. During the Sept. 30 hearing, this motion was denied.

Cadman argued that DC Jail’s COVID protocols do not keep inmates safe. She also argued that the quarantine period is too long. “If someone tests positive in a unit, [the inmates] go into a 14-day quarantine,” she said.

The prosecution said the delays “do not warrant the court to release the defendant,” because of the risk they argue McFarland poses to the public.

Judge Demeo said she understands the delays quarantines cause can be “detrimental” to defendants but said “it appears rational.”

A preliminary hearing to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial was previously scheduled for Sept. 30. That hearing has now been rescheduled to Oct. 19.

Judge Continues Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge continued a Sept. 30 hearing for a murder case.

Wesley Scott, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 28-year-old David Young on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE, on April 3, 2020. He is being held at the DC Jail.

During the Sept. 30 hearing, the prosecution requested a sixty-day continuance, which the defense did not oppose. Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled the felony status conference for Dec. 1.

Defense attorney Matthew Davies asked that the prosecution turn over any remaining discovery evidence as soon as possible. He also said he would likely file a bond review motion in the near future.

Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse

A man pleaded guilty to child sex abuse after making a deal with the prosecution.

Ada Piñeada, 30, was charged with first-degree child sex abuse and second-degree child sex abuse in June. The prosecution accused him of sexually abusing a family member on multiple occasions in 2019 and 2020, beginning when she was 8-years-old.

During the Sept. 30 hearing, Piñeada pleaded guilty to second-degree child sex abuse. The prosecution dismissed the first-degree child sex abuse charge as part of the plea deal.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled Pineda to be sentenced on Dec. 10.

Document: Suspect Sought in First-Degree Sex Abuse While Armed Offense

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are attempting to identify and locate a suspect in relation to a first-degree sexual abuse while armed offense.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Sept. 30 the suspect allegedly approached the victim in the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. He allegedly revealed a handgun and engaged in a forced sexual act with the victim. He then fled the scene, according to the press release.

the suspect has been identified as a Black male who is armed with a handgun. He is approximately 5 foot 7 inches to 5 foot 9 inches tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a dark hoody, dark sweatpants and a black ski mask, according to the press release.

Defense Requests Time to Review Plea Offer

A defense attorney requested time to go over a plea offer with a sex abuse defendant.

The defendant is charged with second-degree child sexual abuse in a domestic violence case.

During the Sept. 29 hearing, defense attorney Quo Judkins requested a continuance so she could go over a recent plea offer with her client.

The defendant is currently being held at St. Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution. In August, he was found competent to stand trial, but Judkins said her client shows cognitive issues, which makes it difficult for him to understand certain things.

Judkins requested 30 days to go over the plea deal. The prosecution has accepted the extension.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee set a hearing date for Oct. 22.

Judge Orders Competency Screening for Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ordered a preliminary screening to determine if a murder defendant is competent to stand trial.

Devon Stephens, 35, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 34-year-old Eugene Issac Jr. on the 100 block of N Street, NW, on Feb. 15, 2020.

During the Sept. 29 status hearing, defense attorneys Raymond Jones and Lisbeth Sapirstien asked Judge Marisa Demeo to schedule a forensic screening for their client. Stephens also asked for new defense counsel. Judge Demeo said the request will be addressed once the issue of mental competency is resolved.

Parties are slated to discuss the results of the screening during a mental observation hearing on Oct. 19.

Stephens is currently being held at DC Jail.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Fatal Stabbing Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if the case against a murder defendant has enough evidence to go to trial.

Christian Monge, 24, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 28-year-old Brittanie Clarke on the evening of Aug. 31 on the 5000 block of 1^st Street, NW.

Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled the preliminary hearing for Oct. 8. The prosecution said parties will begin plea negotiations in the meantime.

Domestic Violence Defendant Fails to Appear for Sentencing

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for a domestic violence defendant who failed to appear in court for a sentencing hearing.

Lorraine Owens was initially charged with assault with a dangerous weapon but pleaded down to simple assault in February 2020.

Owens also failed to appear for a sentencing hearing on Sept. 7. At that time, Judge John Campbell issued a judicial summons and rescheduled the sentencing for Sept. 29.

When Owens did not show up to that hearing, either, defense attorney Winston Yallery-Arthur said he had contacted her family member but had not heard from or seen the defendant.

Judge Campbell issued a bench warrant for her arrest and rescheduled the sentencing for Oct. 14.

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