Crime Alerts: January 18-19

Between 9:00 p.m. on Jan. 18 and 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 19, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 4:42 a.m. for a stabbing investigation on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. Police are looking for a Black male, 5’9″ in height, wearing a red shirt and black shorts.

An alert was sent at 11:59 p.m. for a shooting investigation on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

The final alert was sent at 9:58 p.m. for a shooting on the unit block of Farragut Place, NW. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

Document: Police Arrest Suspect for Murder

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of 30 year-old Anthony Orr.

At around 9:23 a.m. on Dec. 7, officers responded to the 400 block of Xenia Street, SE for the report of a person down.

There, they found Orr suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital, but was ultimately pronounced dead.

On Jan. 14, 28 year-old Dennis Chase was taken to the homicide branch and charged with second-degree murder while armed.

At the time of his arrest, Chase was under supervision with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA.) He has an arrest history that includes charges of assault on a police officer, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device and possession of unregistered ammunition.

What We Need Most? Data

The country is under a very unprecedented time.

We are still suffering from a global pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 300,000 Americans.

Without going into political opinion, events and actions during these last couple of days in our city have been horrific to watch as not only a citizen of the United States, but also as a resident of the District of Columbia. And, unrest and uncertainty lurk in the days to come.

However, out of the confrontation one truth stands prominent. If we are to move forward, we can only do so with the facts, said Rep. Cedric Richmond, a congressman from the state of Louisiana who is poised to be President-elect Joe Biden’s senior aide.

Facts.

Facts will help us create better systems whether those systems are medical, political or within the criminal justice system. D.C. Witness agrees with the congressman about the need for facts.

For six years, D.C. Witness has provided the public with various data points on homicide and other violent crimes under court proceedings in the DC criminal justice system. Our policy and work ethic deems that we don’t get ahead of the story by reporting on presumptuous solutions to various crime issues, but that we step back and do the one job that is crucial yet has been the most overlooked — collecting data.

D.C. Witness houses the information on a robust database focused on integral parts of homicides and other violent crimes to provide policymakers, governmental agencies, researchers and organizations with the facts to create policies and initiatives that address specific issues to reduce violent crime.

This is a turning point in the country and daily life. The only way to make sure life tomorrow is better and more secure than life today is through data — the facts.

Crime Alerts: January 14-15

Between 9 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 9 a.m. on Jan. 15, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 6:47 a.m. on Jan. 15 for a robbery of an establishment on the 900 block of Bladensburg Road, NE. Police are looking for a Black male, 6’0″ in height, with a medium build, wearing a long, black hooded jacket, white shirt, black jeans, a light blue surgical mask, black shoes and black gloves. He is believed to be armed with a handgun.

An alert was sent at 2:23 a.m. for a shooting on the 3600 block of Ely Place, SE. Police are looking for a Black male wearing a grey hooded shirt.

The final alert was sent at 9:08 p.m. on Jan. 14 for an armed robbery on the 600 block of Kennedy Street, NE. Police are looking for three Black males, 5’10” to 6’3″ in height, wearing light jean jackets. One was wearing a surgical mask and is thought to be armed with a handgun.

Murder Defendant Rejects Plea Deal

On Jan. 14, a defense attorney in a murder case rejected the prosecution’s plea offer on his client’s behalf. A trial readiness hearing is scheduled for the first of March.

Larry Brown is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of 33 year-old Derrick Wright on March 24, 2018, on the 1300 Block of Florida Avenue, NE.

Brown, 34, is also charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and carrying a dangerous weapon in this case.

Judge Orders Competency Exam for Kidnapping and Sex Abuse Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ordered a full exam to asses if a kidnapping and child sex abuse defendant is competent to stand trial.

The 22-year-old defendant was charged with first-degree child sex abuse on April 20, 2018. He was kept at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, from August 2018 until May 2020, when he was released to a group home.

He was later charged with armed kidnapping for allegedly assaulting a victim, handcuffing him, taking him to a basement and stealing from him on Oct. 7, 2020. He is now being held at DC Jail.

A doctor said she thinks he can become competent to stand trial through receiving education, rather than psychiatric care.

During the Jan. 14 hearing, Judge Michael Ryan decided to order a full competency evaluation and provide him with educational services in the meantime.

Defense attorney Heather Pinckney asked Judge Ryan to send her client to St. Elizabeth’s.

However, he said he does not think he has a basis to do so at this time, saying there has been a backup at the hospital because of COVID-19 quarantine protocols.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for March 4.

Crime Alerts: January 13-14

Between 2 p.m. on Jan. 13 and 9 a.m. on Jan. 14, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert.

The alert was sent at 7:11 p.m. on Jan. 13 for a stabbing on the 500 block of Malcolm X Avenue, SE.

Police are looking for a Black male with an unknown clothing description.

Two Murder Cases Set for Preliminary Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled two defendants charged with murder for hearings to determine if their cases have enough evidence to go to trial.

Twenty-one year-old Deshaun Gaskins, also known as Antonio Deshaun Gladden, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 36-year-old Marcus Wallace on Nov. 21, 2020, on the 1400 block of L Street, SE.

Judge Steven Wellner scheduled his preliminary hearing for Feb. 16.

Rasheed Young, 42, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the fatal shootings of Cedric Rogers, 26, on June 11, 1996 on the 300 block of Franklin Street, NE., and 39 year-old Ronald William Richardson, Jr. on the on the 2300 block of 4th Street, NE in 2018.

Judge Wellner scheduled his preliminary hearing for Feb. 25.

Judge Finds Substantial Probability in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that evidence against a defendant charged in connection with a homicide that occurred one April evening in the Shipley Terrace neighborhood of Southeast, DC has enough evidence to bring his case to trial.

Ravel Mills, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting of Toussaunt Strong on April 18, 2020.

Around 6:53 p.m. that day, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were dispatched to the 3400 block of 24th Street, SE after gunfire detection technology picked up eight shots.

Officers would go on to recover eight 9mm cartridges scattered about the roadway of the crime scene. During the Jan. 13 preliminary hearing, the lead MPD detective on the case testified that no forensic evidence has traced those shell casings to Mills.

When responding officers arrived on scene, they found Strong suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

He was taken to the hospital, but did not survive. He was 28.

Surveillance footage shows an individual chasing the victim northbound on the east side of 24th Street and crossing to the west side, according to court documents. Strong limps as he flees, falling twice.

In one surveillance clip, the individual is seen extending his right arm in Strong’s direction as he runs away, but he then puts his hand back into his coat pocket. No surveillance footage of the shooting itself was recovered, and no witnesses said they saw the shooting. One witness does, however, describe hearing a loud noise.

The individual in the surveillance footage is seen wearing a unique jacket, which was traced back to the defendant, including through an Instagram picture and Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage from a police officer responding to a disorderly call in the area earlier on the day of the homicide. The patches on the jacket made it uniquely identifiable, according to court documents.

Judge Yvonne Williams ultimately ruled that the case has substantial probability, a higher standard than probable cause. She also decided to continue holding Mills at DC Jail. His next hearing, a felony status conference, is scheduled for March 4.

Andrea Keckley wrote this article

Police Arrest Another Suspect in Murder Case

At 9:08 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2020, 30-year-old Michael Bright was found suffering from apparent gunshot wounds on the 1100 block of 45th Street, NW within the Deanwood neighborhood. Bright was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The Metropolitan Police Department has now arrested three suspects, who have been charged with first-degree murder while armed.

According to the release, the most recent charge was placed on Jan. 11 when police arrested 21-year-old Exavior Pinnix, a resident of Accokeek, Md.

Pinnix’s co-defendants, 23-year-old James Flemings and 28-year-old Delonte Sameuls, were arrested on Oct. 30 and Oct. 29, respectively.

The death was allegedly part of an attempted robbery by the Flemings, Samuels, and Pinnix.

Pinnix is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 3. Flemings and Samuels are scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 8.

Judge Denies Release of Murder Defendant Charged in 2018 Drive-By Shooting

On Jan. 12, a DC Superior Court judge heard arguments from defense counsel as well as the prosecution on the possible release of a murder defendant. However, the judge decided not to release the defendant.

Torey Stockton, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, tampering with physical evidence and obstruction of justice for allegedly killing 23-year-old Jasmine Light and injuring three additional victims on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE on Jan. 17, 2018.

The alleged offense was a drive-by shooting, which began on the 1500 block of U Street, SE and ended on the 2000 block of U Street, SE.

During the hearing on Jan. 12, there was a continuation of a cross-examination from defense counsel Rachel McCoy of the prosecution’s witness, a detective with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On Nov. 2, 2020, the detective said he received information from two people at the jail whom Stockton allegedly told details of the murder and his involvement.

In the resumed cross-examination on Jan. 12, McCoy asked the detective several questions regarding the two witnesses who allegedly spoke with Stockton. According to the detective, he was unable to corroborate that the witnesses spoke to Stockton at the jail.

After the cross-examination, McCoy argued that the prosecution has relied heavily on the two witnesses who allegedly spoke to Stockton, saying that there is no corroboration and that both witnesses had slight differences in their stories, which the detective could not recall.

Additionally, both witnesses have “intense cases” going on in Maryland, which she suggested could give them reason to work with the prosecution. “Nothing would indicate that this was information that they actually received from Mr. Stockton.”

McCoy also suggested that the prosecution’s main witness, who places Stockton at the scene of the crime, has had many mental health and drug abuse issues, saying, “this is the eyewitness that the government’s case hinges on.”

McCoy also said, the differences between the testimony from the other two witnesses who allegedly spoke with Stockton. She questioned whether the other witnesses had gotten their information from the news or court documents.

When arguing for Stockton’s release, McCoy cited that he has a job waiting for him, he has support from his family, he has a place he can live, he is not a flight risk and there is no real danger to the community.

“There’s been a great deal of time since he’s been indicted, and there’s not a great deal of evidence,” McCoy said.

But, the prosecution argued that Stockton is a danger to the community as he has picked up two additional felony cases since being at the jail, both of which involve alleged stabbings. She also said there are concerns about his family support as his grandmother allegedly lied to the police about his whereabouts at the time of the crime.

Judge Danya Dayson agreed with McCoy that there could be an issue with the two witnesses who allegedly spoke with Stockton as they may have motivation to curry favor with the prosecution, given their pending cases. However, she disagreed with defense counsel surrounding the competency of the witness who places Stockton at the scene of the crime.

Judge Dayson decided not to release the defendant, citing the nature of the offense, the probable cause finding and the fact that he has picked up two additional felony cases while held at the jail.

Stockton’s next hearing is scheduled for March 4.

Judge Finds Substantial Probability in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a case involving a fatal shooting in Columbia Heights has enough evidence to go to trial.

Randle Price, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 33-year-old John Pollard on Sept. 30, 2020.

Judge Yvonne Williams ruled that there was substantial probability that Price was involved in the homicide. She also decided to continue holding the defendant at DC Jail.

Around 1:14 a.m. on the day of the murder, gunfire detection technology picked up multiple shots on the 3100 block of 16th Street, NW. Upon responding, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Pollard on the 3200 block of Hiatt Place, NW, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

During the Jan. 12 preliminary hearing, an MPD detective testified that, while searching Pollard’s phone, he found a text conversation that appeared to be about a drug deal. An investigation found that number to be associated with the defendant.

However, during cross-examination, the detective said the number was not found to be registered to Price. Rather, the phone number was connected to Price via a witness.

Detectives found a satchel with a marijuana grinder, rolling paper and four small packages containing a green weed like substance at the crime scene, according to court documents. They also found tennis shoes and a total of seven 9mm shell casings.

Video footage presented in court depicts a man with a satchel, who the detective believes to be Price, and another person identified to be the shooter.

After the shooting, the suspect’s vehicle travels away from the scene.

According to court documents, an off-duty police officer provided a lookout for a small, dark colored vehicle fleeing the scene where the gunfire technology picked up the gunshots. The officer said they saw a small, dark colored SUV or crossover style vehicle traveling westbound at a high rate of speed on the 1400 block of Park Road towards 16th Street, NW. The officer tried to follow the vehicle, but lost it on the 4400 block of 16th Street, NW.

A 911 caller described the vehicle as a black BMW X5 with a license plate beginning with “UGY5.” An investigation found that a black 2006 BMW X5 with Virginia tags was consistent with the caller’s description.

Police went on to find and seize the vehicle.

During cross examination, the detective said that police don’t have any indication that the items found in the vehicle belong to Price.

Price’s next hearing is scheduled for June 7.

Crime Alerts: January 11-12

Between 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 11 and 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 12, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert.

The alert was sent at 4:15 p.m. for a confirmed stabbing on the 700 block of H Street, NW.

Police are looking for a Black male in his 20s. The suspect is believed to be 5’5″ in height with a bushy hair style, wearing a brown jacket. He was last seen heading east on foot.

Judge Hears 8 Domestic Violence Cases During Initial Hearings

On Jan. 11, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe heard 35 cases, releasing 30 defendants and holding five at DC Jail during initial hearings.

Of all of the cases heard, eight were domestic-violence related, and the judge released all but one of the defendants.

Judge Pipe held an adult male defendant charged with simple assault. Defense counsel requested the defendant’s release given his compliance with his probation requirements.

Judge Pipe decided to hold the defendant because he reportedly violated the stay-away order from his probation case in which he pleaded guilty to simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. His new case also involves the same complaining witness as his probation case.

Additionally, he is alleged to have assaulted the complaining witness as well as two other victims who attempted to intervene.

The defendant will be held at DC Jail pending his next hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 26.

The remaining seven domestic violence defendants are charged with either simple assault or violation of a Civil Protection Order (CPO).

Four of the defendants were given stay-away orders from either the alleged victim or the location of the incident, two defendants were given orders not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the alleged victims and one defendant was given both a stay-away and a no HATS order.

Defendant Charged in 2010 Homicide Set for Preliminary Hearing

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if the evidence against a man charged last month in connection with a 2010 homicide is strong enough to bring his case to trial.

Isaac Moye, 43, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Unique Harris.

On Oct. 10, 2010, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was notified of a woman missing from her home on the 2400 block of Hartford Street, SE. A missing persons report was filed. In October 2018, the court granted a petition for Presumption of Death of a Missing Person, and a death certificate was issued.

Moye, 43, was arrested on Dec. 19, 2020.

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled the preliminary hearing for Feb. 18.

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