Document: Suspect Sought in Assault Case

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking a suspect in connection to an assault with a dangerous weapon that occurred on Oct. 23.

At approximately 7:41 p.m., the suspect approached the victim on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. The suspect stabbed the victim and then fled the scene.

According to an MPD press release, the victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The suspect can be seen in the photos below.

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Document: Police Seek Suspect for Armed Robbery

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking a suspect for an armed robbery that occurred on Oct. 19.

At around 9:17 p.m., the suspect approached the victim on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. While brandishing a handgun, the suspect demanded property from the victim. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the scene in the victim’s car.

The suspect can be seen in the photos below.

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Document: Suspects Sought for Armed Robbery Offense

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking suspects in connection to an armed robbery that occurred on Oct. 24.

At around 9:01 a.m., the suspects approached the victim on a moped on the 3400 block of Croffut Place, SE. One of the suspects brandished a handgun and took property from the victim before fleeing the scene.

The suspects can be seen in the photos below.

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Document: Police Arrest Suspect for Assault With a Knife

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a suspect for an assault with a dangerous weapon offense that occurred on Oct. 22.

At around 11:50 a.m. the suspect approached the victim on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE and stabbed the victim with a knife. The suspect then fled the scene but was apprehended by MPD.

They arrested a 51-year-old from Southeast, DC and charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon.

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Judge Issues 3 Bench Warrants During Pretrial Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge presided over seven pretrial show cause hearings on Oct. 23.

Sulleman Harrington is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed, simple assault and destruction of property over $1,000.

On Oct. 20, 2019, Harrington allegedly stabbed the victim three times on the 5000 block of Benning Road, SE, following an argument. Harrington was re-arrested for allegedly kicking in the glass door of a liquor store that following December.

The victim was in critical condition and suffered a brain bleed, collapsed lung, punctured left orbital bone and multiple lacerations. He has since recovered.

Harrington was removed from home confinement in his last hearing on Oct. 9. Since then he has violated his stay away order twice.

“You’ve put me in a really tough position here,” said Judge Julie Becker. “I don’t want to have to put you back on home confinement.”

Judge Becker decided to discharge the show cause, but warned Harrington that if he enters his stay away zone again he will be placed back on home confinement.

Dashawn Vines is charged with assault on a police officer, threats to do bodily harm, resisting arrest and unlawful entry of private property.

Vines, 20, was advised on Aug. 14 by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers that he was barred from a hotel on the 50th block of M Street, SE. He was escorted out, but then he allegedly entered again despite being warned repeatedly that he would be arrested. Vines allegedly attacked officers when they moved to arrest him.

The PSA reported that Vines has been noncompliant and has failed to check in weekly.

Judge Becker decided to continue the show cause hearing to Nov. 20 so Vines has another chance to comply with his release conditions.

Ashley Hines was not present for his pretrial show cause hearing and has been a total loss of contact with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) since February.

Hines, 56, is charged with failing to register as a sex offender and for not appearing before the court as ordered. He was convicted of assault with intent to commit rape in 1986 and is supposed to be a lifelong registree on the sex offender list.

Judge Becker granted the prosecution’s request to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

Elton Harper, 45, was also absent from his pretrial show cause hearing. He has not been compliant with PSA since his release in May.

Harper is charged with possession of amphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

His attorney, John Machado, said he has not heard from his client.

Judge Becker issued a bench warrant for his arrest as well.

Judge Becker also issued a bench warrant for Jerome Hinkel after he failed to appear for his pretrial show cause hearing.

Hinkel, 47, is charged with unlawful possession of cocaine and has been a loss of contact since his release in March.

Defense attorney Angela Ramsey said that her client is homeless and she has no way of contacting him.

Samuel Broughton, 23, is charged with simple assault after he allegedly pushed a man when they were fighting about electric scooters on Oct. 9, 2018. He was re-arrested while on pretrial release for failing to appear in court for a separate case.

According to the PSA, Broughton has been a loss of contact since April.

Broughton’s attorney, Sean Murphy, says his client did not own a phone until recently. With a phone, Murphy says will be able to comply with the PSA conditions.

Judge Becker extended the show cause to Nov. 20, so Broughton can come back into compliance.

Abel Gizaw’s pretrial show cause was discharged by Judge Becker since the PSA reported that he has come back into compliance.

Gizaw is charged with second-degree theft and receiving stolen property over $1,000.

Judge Becker said that he must maintain his release conditions going forward and set the next hearing for March 10.

Sierra Robbins wrote this article.

Document: Police Seek Second-Degree Burglary Suspect

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s help identifying the suspect of a second-degree burglary that happened on Oct. 20.

At around 10:42 p.m., a suspect entered an establishment on the 7600 block of Georgia Avenue, NW, took property and fled the scene.

The suspect was captured by a surveillance camera.

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Crime Alerts: October 25-26

Between 9 p.m. on Oct. 25 and 9 a.m. on Oct. 26, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out six crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 8:42 a.m. for a stabbing on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. Police are looking for a Black male, 5’9″ in height, short dreadlocks, wearing a black coat and skull cap.

An alert for a robbery investigation was sent at 1:42 a.m. on the 300 block of Hawaii Avenue, NE.

At 12:51 a.m., an alert for a stabbing was sent on the 1800 block of Good Hope Road, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

MPD sent an alert at 9:33 p.m. for a shooting investigation on the 1200 block of Meigs Place, NE.

A robbery snatch investigation alert was sent at 9:21 p.m. on the 900 block of U Street, NW. Police are looking for a Black male wearing a navy blue shirt and dark colored pants.

The final alert was sent at 9:08 p.m. for an armed robbery investigation on the 1300 block of D Street, NE. Police are looking for two Black males. The first suspect is wearing a ski mask with a blue sweatshirt, and the second suspect is wearing a green hoodie with black joggers/jeans.

Document: Police Warns Public About PEPCO Scam

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is warning the public about potentially fraudulent activity in DC concerning PEPCO.

Police say that a call to a business or residence saying “your PEPCO bill is overdue and unless you provide funds within the next hour your service will be shut off” is an attempt to gain money from people that will not be applied to their PEPCO account.

In most cases, these funds are not recoverable and victims will still owe PEPCO.

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Judge Holds 5 and Releases 20 During Initial Hearings

On Oct. 24, DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples released 20 and held five defendants in DC Jail during initial hearings.

Anthony Jones, 23, is being charged with second-degree murder while armed. Jones is charged with shooting and killing 29-year-old Cimerron Kennedy on the 3500 block of Jay Street, NE. On Sept. 21, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a report of a shooting. When MPD arrived on the scene, Kennedy was unconscious and not breathing. After compiling evidence that consisted of surveillance footage, still images and the alleged identification of Jones, the MPD arrested Jones on Oct. 23.

Jones’ attorney, Jason Tulley, argued that because the suspect is seen wearing shoulder-length dreads in the surveillance footage and Jones’ dreads are past his shoulders. He also noted that the two officers who identified Jones as being the alleged suspect were initially unsure of their identification of him.

“This case is paper-thin. ,” Tulley said, referring to the initial police affidavit as a “joke.”

The judge denied his request to dismiss the probable cause allegations and decided to hold Jones until his next court date on Nov. 12.

Roderick Chew, 31, was arrested on Oct. 23 for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. According to court documents, while members of the MPD were conducting an observation on the 4000 block of Edson Place, NE, they allegedly observed what appeared to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction between Chew and another person.

Officers attempted to stop Chew after he returned to his car, but he drove away, fleeing the officers. A first-responder allegedly saw Chew throw a gun out the window as he was driving away.

After officers stopped Chew’s vehicle, he was positively identified by the members of the MPD and the first-responder as the suspect. Chew was then placed under arrest for possessing a firearm with a previous conviction.

Judge Staples denied the motion to release the defendant and decided to hold Chew due to his previous criminal activity.

A defendant, 56, is being held for contempt and a misdemeanor for sexual abuse allegations. The prosecution requested that the defendant be held and requested a stay-away order from the victim. This is the defendant’s second charge against the same victim, and he has been non-compliant with his pretrial conditions in the past.

“Things appear to be escalating, and given the fact that he is unlikely to comply with pretrial conditions, he will be held,” said Judge Staples.

There were two defendants who were being transferred to the District Court and had mandatory holds. Both defendants have dates to return to court on Oct. 26.

Initially, there were two more defendants that the judge considered holding during the court hearings, but the motion to hold them was denied due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of those released, four defendants are charged in domestic violence cases. The charges included simple assault, unlawful possession of ammunition, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, and theft and destruction of property worth less than $1,000. All defendants were released with stay-away orders from the alleged victims.

Two of the three defendants being charged with felonies who were released are also charged with carrying a pistol outside a home or business. They were ordered not to possess any unlawful firearms in DC. The other defendant is charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Judge Staples also released nine defendants being charged with misdemeanors. All nine of the defendants were given stay-away orders from places and the alleged victims. The defendants were also ordered to report to Pretrial Services (PSA) once a week as part of their release conditions.

Two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, were released and ordered to turn themselves in to the demanding jurisdiction.

Among those released was a defendant charged with drinking while operating a vehicle and another defendant who was charged with failing to appear in court. Both defendants were released under PSA supervision.

Two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, were in the hospital and had their hearings moved to Oct. 26.

Emily Pengelly wrote this article.

Judge Holds 8, Releases 27 During Initial Hearings

On Oct. 23, DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples released 27 defendants and held eight defendants in DC Jail during initial hearings.

Tyrone Brown, 64, was arrested on Oct. 22 for first-degree murder while armed. The incident that occurred took place on Oct. 1 when Brown allegedly shot and killed 45-year-old Orlando Miller at Brown’s residence on the 1700 block of Lang Place, NE. Brown and Miller had been friends for around ten years, according to court documents.

Brown’s attorney, Stephany Reaves, argued that Brown should be released due to insufficient evidence regarding Brown’s involvement with the case. She also mentioned their friendship, which did not appear to have any “bad blood.”

Judge Staples found probable cause stating that evidence in the police report was sufficient, citing that Brown is allegedly seen on surveillance footage putting something in his pocket after the shooting, saying, “I had enough of you.”

Based on the nature and circumstances of the crime, Brown’s already pending drug possession case and his “very, very long criminal history,” Judge Staples denied the release request and held Brown at the DC Jail. A new court date is set for Nov. 12.

Nahum Posner is being charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. On Oct. 22, Posner, 51, was seen on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE and began stabbing the victim repeatedly. According to defense counsel, Posner deals with schizophrenia and was not on any medication on the day the offense.

Posner’s attorney, Carl Messineo, argued that he should be enlisted in the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) instead of being detained. The judge denied that motion based on the severity of the case and held Posner at the DC Jail.

Deangelo Mitchell, 28, is charged with robbery. According to court documents, Mitchell approached the victim at the Friendship Heights Metro station and informed the victim that he needed $140 to attend his grandmother’s funeral.

“I can take everything from you. I have a gun on me,” Mitchell said as he walked the victim to the ATM, where the victim withdrew $40.

Because of the severity of the offense and Mitchell’s past criminal history, Judge Staples decided to hold him.

A defendant is being held in a domestic violence case with charges of destruction of property less than $1,000 dollars, contempt and simple assault. Judge Staples said this is the defendant’s second case against the same victim this month, noting the escalating behavior in which he allegedly punched the victim in her face and broke windows at the residence. The defendant was held at DC Jail.

Dwayne Washington is charged with first-degree theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle and no permit. On Oct. 21, Washington, 37, wrongfully obtained and used a car that was not his with the intent to steal the vehicle.

Washington’s attorney, Reaves, argued that there was no evidence that the vehicle was stolen. “There is nothing in the Gerstein that states he did not know he did not have permission to be driving the vehicle,” Reaves said.

Judge Staples denied Reaves’ release request upon finding probable cause, citing that Washington already has pending cases. He said Washington is unlikely to abide by conditions of release.

A 41-year-old defendant is charged with sexual abuse and simple assault. During the hearing, the defendant attacked the officer in the Central Cell Block at the DC Jail. Judge Staples held the defendant, citing an attack that occurred during the hearing and similar offenses that the defendant has been charged with recently.

Kurtis Jackson is charged with being a fugitive from justice, where he is wanted in Maryland for failing to appear at his hearing. Jackson is charged with burglary in his underlying Maryland case. Judge Staples decided to hold Jackson for Maryland authorities to retrieve him, citing that he has multiple pending burglary charges in Maryland.

The final defendant held was Aman Ghirmi. Ghirmi, 49, was brought to court on two separate cases. In the first case, the defendant is charged with armed robbery for allegedly demanding $100 from the victim at gunpoint on the 700 block of Decatur Street, NW on Oct. 23.

Ghirmi was also brought in as a fugitive from justice, where he is wanted in Virginia for a probation violation with an underlying charge of robbery. Given the circumstances of his new case and the similarity of the charges in his Virginia case, Judge Staples decided to hold the defendant pending his next hearing on Nov. 12.

Of those released, six defendants were charged in domestic violence cases. The charges included simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, second-degree theft, possession of a prohibited weapon and destruction of property worth less than $1,000. All of the defendants were released with stay-away orders from the alleged victims.

Two defendants charged with being fugitives from justice were released by Judge Staples. He ordered the defendants to turn themselves in to authorities in the demanding jurisdictions of Virginia and Maryland.

Six defendants charged with felonies were also released. Five of the defendants are charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of the home or a business and the other is charged with fleeing a law enforcement officer. The defendants with the weapons charges were all ordered not to possess any unlawful firearms in DC.

Judge Staples also released 12 defendants charged with misdemeanors. Five of the defendants were given stay-away orders while one was given a no harassing, assaulting, threatening or stalking (HATS) order. The rest were ordered to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week.

Two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, had their hearings moved to Oct. 24 because they are both in the hospital.

This article was written by Emily Pengelly and Krystin Roehl

Judge Finds Probable Cause for Assault Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that an assault with a dangerous weapon has enough evidence to go to trial.

Bernard Speight is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly stabbing a victim on the 4900 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on July 23.

Speight’s co-defendant, Darryl Williams, is charged with assault with intent to commit armed robbery. However, his case was not heard during the Oct. 23 preliminary hearing, although that was originally the intention.

Williams, 53 is currently being held at DC Jail on a parole warrant. His attorney, Atiq Ahmed, said he has not been able to get in touch with his client but will try to do so again sometime next week.

The parties decided to proceed with Speight’s case anyway.

A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective identified Speight, 35, from MPD Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage from July 23, the day of the incident.

The detective also testified that the victim picked out Speight from a nine-person photo array. The victim said he was “eight of ten” sure that was the person who cut him with a knife.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Stephen Logerfo asked the detective about the BWC footage, where an officer is talking to Speight. Speight is holding a knife that the officer checks out which has no blood on it. The detective confirms that this is true.

Logerfo used this point in his argument. There was a picture shown by the prosecution that showed the victim’s stomach exposed and bleeding while he was talking to the police.

“There’s a significant amount of blood from the picture,” said Logerfo. “He (Speight) was stopped close by and in a close amount of time to the incident and no blood was found on the knife.”

Judge Renee Raymond found probable cause from the description of the knife by the victim and the identification of the witness.

Speight will remain held at the DC Jail.

Judge Raymond scheduled a status conference for Nov. 2 for Ahmed to get updates on his client, with a potential preliminary hearing to be scheduled.

Since the case involved both defendants, Speight’s next status hearing will also be scheduled on Nov. 2.

Sex Abuse Defendant Remains on Home Confinement in Virginia

A DC Superior Court judge denied a request to take a sex abuse defendant who is receiving medical treatment in Virginia off of home confinement.

The defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse in a felony domestic violence case on Sept. 16, 2019.

The defendant was placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), and on home confinement three days later. However, due to the defendant’s medical condition, Judge Anita Josey-Herring adjusted the release conditions to allow him to be on home confinement at a hotel near his hospital in Fredericksburg, Va.

During the Oct. 23 hearing, defense attorney Roderick Thompson asked Judge Josey-Herring to remove his client from home confinement, and place him in general supervision.

Judge Josey-Herring immediately denied this request.

“I don’t want to put other people at risk,” she said. “That is my primary concern.”

Judge Josey-Herring went on to say that protections needed to be in place to lower the risk of the defendant reoffending, given the seriousness of the charge.

Thompson reiterated that the defendant is currently receiving chemotherapy for his medical condition, and that living in a hotel creates financial burden.

The prosecutor did not agree with Thompson’s request for his client’s removal from HISP. The prosecutor said that the defendant had allegedly violated his conditions of release, and had been warned in the past that if he did so he would be detained.

Judge Josey-Herring continued the hearing, as she did not have time to deliberate further on the matter.

“While I do appreciate that he is not in good health, generally speaking…he is charged with first-degree sex abuse,” she said.

She asked Thompson to file a written order with modified release conditions that would ensure the safety of the community, and she would consider the matter again at the following hearing.

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12.

Judge Denies Motion to Take Kidnapping Defendant Off GPS Monitoring

A DC Superior Court judge denied a defense attorney’s request to have her client taken off GPS monitoring.

Buda Mulla is charged with kidnapping for allegedly trying to run off with a toddler on July 8.

Mulla, 56, is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with orders to receive mental health treatment.

During the Oct. 23 hearing, a representative from the Public Defender Services (PDS) said Mulla has been receiving mental health treatment every week. Mulla’s defense counsel, Dinah Manning, requested that he be removed from HISP due to his compliance.

“He had 55 years of a pristine record, and now this happened,” said Judge Julie Becker.

Judge Becker denied the defense’s request, saying she wanted the court to be able to understand what led Mulla to the alleged offense before placing him into general supervision.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was called to the corner of 15th and E Street, NW. Mulla allegedly grabbed the three year-old and attempted to flee the scene.The parents were able to tackle Mulla to the ground, according to court documents. Mulla walked to a bench nearby, and sat down. MPD was able to approach the defendant and arrest him.

When asked why he grabbed the child, Mulla reportedly said, “I wanted to pull the kids into the kingdom of Heaven.”

The child was not seriously injured.

Mulla’s next hearing is scheduled for March 11, 2021.

Defendant Waives Right for Presence At Hearing

On Oct. 23, a defendant waived his right to be present for his upcoming preliminary hearing, which will determine if his case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Rakeem Willis is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed with a sharp object. He is accused of stabbing another inmate at the DC Jail, where he was being held while awaiting trial for murder.

The preliminary hearing had previously been rescheduled twice because Willis, 28, refused to take a COVID-19 test.

Judge Neal Kravitz said the court is not currently offering virtual appearances at preliminary hearings for first-degree felony defendants. One preliminary hearing can often take hours to complete and the DC Jail only has two or three facilities to offer virtual hearings.

If Willis were to appear in person, he would have to go through a quarantine process upon returning to jail. Defense attorney Michael Bruckheim said this was not something his client was willing to do.

Judge Kravitz explained the purpose of preliminary hearings and the potential consequences of not being present for the event. Willis acknowledged these consequences but still asked for the waiver.

Judge Kravitz determined that Willis knowingly and voluntarily made the decision to waive his right to appear in person on Monday.

The preliminary hearing is set to take place on Oct. 26.

Wills is also charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting 24-year-old Tyrik Hagood, 26-year-old Javon Abney, and 26-year-old Sean Shuler on Jan. 26, 2019. on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE.

Maria Marzullo wrote this article.

Judge Reschedules Sentencing Because Defense Counsel Is Unprepared

A DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a sentencing that was set to happen on Oct. 23 because defense counsel was unprepared to proceed.

Andrew Wooten pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon for assaulting someone with a brick on Nov. 7, 2019.

Wooten, 35, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and aggravated assault knowingly while armed. He took a plea deal in December 2019.

Judge Milton Lee re-scheduled the sentencing for Nov. 19. In the meantime, Wooten will remain released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP,) as he has been for most of the duration of his case.

This article was written by Yasmeen McGettrick.

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