The Metropolitan Police Department sent out one crime alert during the afternoon of August 25.
The alert, sent at 4:34 p.m. was for a shooting on the 4400 block of Southern Avenue, SE. The police do not have a description of the suspect(s) available.
Anyone with information about this incident should call 911.
A DC Superior Court judge decided push back a hearing to give the defense more time.
Anton Goodman, 19, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business and bail violation in four cases.
The defense was given more time to discuss a plea deal that was offered during the Aug. 25 hearing.
Defense attorney Lloyd Malech said he needed time to discuss the offer with his client. He asked Judge Judith Smith to hold the hearing on another day.
Judge Smith agreed, scheduling Goodman’s next court appearance for Oct. 14.
Goodman is currently being held in DC Jail.
On Aug. 25, a DC Superior Court judge ruled that a sexual assault case has enough evidence to go to trial.
The defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred on May 29 on the 4500 block of Benning Road, SE.
Judge Todd Edelman found probable cause, saying the victim’s injuries were consistent with the claims.
Judge Edelman also chose to continue holding the defendant at DC Jail. He said the facts of this case were alarming and contribute overall to a finding of dangerousness, citing the defendant’s prior four assault offenses and self-reported use of PCP.
According to court documents, the defendant is accused of closely following his victim, approaching her and making a sexual comment.
He then allegedly touched the victim’s buttocks, pushed her to the floor and dragged her behind a parked car, forcing his body onto the victim’s stomach, punched her multiple times and pulled her pants down.
A witness driving by the road intervened after hearing the victim cry for help.
Footage from cameras outside of the Department of Motor Vehicles nearby supported the prosecution’s theory that the defendant followed the victim. Photos taken by officers of the victim’s injuries were also presented to support the claim that she was punched and dragged.
The defendant’s attorney, Sylvia Smith said the alleged touching of the victim’s buttocks was not seen on the DMV footage, no forensic samples were taken off of the victim and she denied care or an examination from a sexual assault nurse. Additionally, Smith said there were inconsistencies between the stories of the witness and the victims.
Smith also said the victim is known to interact with individuals in the area in a sexual way.
But, the prosecution countered that the victim’s reputation or interaction with other people is not relevant to disputing probable cause.
Another hearing in the case is scheduled for Nov. 11.
Judge Edelman also ordered the prosecution to disclose the complaint’s name, but not her date of birth, to the defense. The discovery deadline is Oct. 1.
A DC Superior Court judge gave a defendant time to complete a 28-day in-patient drug treatment program.
Nicole McCray is on probation for driving under the influence and driving while impaired. McCray was not present for her Aug. 25 hearing because she is at the program.
Defense attorney Daniel Dorsey said he believes his client will receive outpatient care once she’s done.
“McCray needs treatment, I’m happy that she’s been accepted to a drug treatment program,” Judge Rainey Brandt said.
McCray was sentenced to two years of probation for her charges on April 11, 2019.
Judge Brandt scheduled another show cause hearing for Oct. 13. to assess the patient’s progress.
On Aug. 25, a DC Superior Court judge denied a motion to dismiss a murder defendant’s case.
Bobby Jordan, who is also known as Hilman Ray Jordan, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during crime of violence and carrying a pistol without license outside a home/business. Jordan, 47, is accused of killing 64-year-old Jawaid Bhutto on March 1 on the 2600 block of Wade Road, SE.
The defense is seeking mental health evaluations of Jordan.
Defense attorney Dana Page expressed concern over the prosecution’s blocking of questions to police about Jordan’s mental health status.
The prosecution said “the police are not mental health professionals” and questions regarding Jordan’s mental health would be “speculative.”
Judge Danya Dayson agreed with the prosecution. She suggested the parties communicate about how the evaluation would be carried out by a doctor.
Judge Dayson ordered the prosecution to consult with a doctor and provide the defense with updated information about how the mental health evaluation will take place by Sept 2.
Jordan’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 25.
On Aug 25, a DC Superior Courts judge released a defendant charged with assault.
Gary Reed, 51, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for allegedly threatening an off-duty taxi driver with a gun on Dec. 19, 2019, at 15th and U Street, NW.
Defense attorney Stephany Reaves requested her clients release, pointing out that Reed’s detention has been extended several times without any indication of when jury trials will resume.
However, the prosecution said that the defendant should be held, citing the seriousness of the allegations and arguing that all standards in place have been constitutional.
Reaves acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations against Reed but argued that because of the pandemic, health concerns, and Reed’s “indefinite” detention that his release is needed.
Judge Judith Smith decided to release Reed under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP.)
On Aug. 25, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna released 12 defendants and held six defendants in DC Jail during their initial hearings.
Lawrence Gatewood is charged with assault with significant bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly fracturing a victim’s skull with a baseball bat on the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE on Aug. 24. Judge McKenna held Gatewood due to the severity of the crime.
Joshua Smith is held on charges of simple assault and second-degree theft for allegedly stealing a cell phone from a taxi driver in front of Union Station on Aug. 25. Smith was also charged with simple assault on Aug. 22 and unlawful entry on private property on July 13. The judge held him due to the frequent and repeated nature of his offenses.
Judge McKenna held a domestic violence defendant charged with destruction of property less than $1,000 and a separate case in which he is charged with a bail violation. The defendant allegedly damaged a vehicle on Aug. 25 while on release for several pending cases involving similar assaultive and destructive conduct.
Judge McKenna cited the defendant’s noncompliance with release conditions as well as the “allegations of substantial destruction of property” in his new case for her hold decision.
Judge McKenna also held another domestic violence defendant who is charged with contempt for violating a stay-away order given to him by another judge in another domestic violence case.
Olonzie Coney is held for violating his probation multiple times since his release. On July 30, Coney pleaded guilty to simple assault for acting aggressively with a knife on a DC metro train on March 1. Since his probation began, the defendant has failed to charge his GPS device or report to a probation officer.
Sylvia Gassaway is temporarily being held on fugitive charges for an arrest warrant in Maryland. Maryland authorities have three business days to retrieve Gassaway from DC Jail. If authorities fail to pick Gassaway up, she will have another hearing in DC to discuss her release.
Gassaway is also charged with unlawful possession of liquid PCP and carrying a pistol without a license outside of her home or business for an incident which took place on Aug. 25. Judge McKenna released her on these charges with orders not to possess firearms once she is released in her fugitive case.
Of those released, two defendants were charged with domestic violence related offenses. Both defendants were given stay-away orders while one was also given a GPS ankle monitoring device.
Two defendants were released with fugitive charges. Both defendants are wanted in Maryland. One defendant is wanted for probation violation and shoplifting, and the other defendant is wanted for a family offense. The judge ordered them to turn themselves in to Maryland authorities immediately.
Five additional misdemeanor cases were presented. The charges included GPS tampering, contempt, simple assault, destruction of property, attempted threats to do bodily harm and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.
Judge McKenna released all five defendants and gave three of the defendants stay-away orders from the alleged victims.
Two defendants, charged with felonies for unlawful possession of liquid PCP and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, were also released by Judge McKenna.
One defendant, charged with second-degree theft, has reportedly been in the hospital since July 20.
However, the defendant’s defense attorney said he spoke to the hospital where the defendant was being treated and discovered that the defendant is no longer under the care of the hospital.
The defendant, who is on probation in two cases, has two outstanding bench warrants for his arrest for failure to appear to his hearings. Judge McKenna issued a judicial summons and scheduled his arraignment in his new case for Oct. 15.
One final defendant, charged with assaulting a police officer, has been in the hospital since Aug. 12, so his hearing was rescheduled for Aug. 26.
A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing so that the defense attorney could locate his client.
Antwon Ray is on probation for a second-degree burglary, which he pleaded guilty to in November of 2018.
Ray did not show up for his Aug. 25 probation show cause hearing.
Defense attorney Ralph Robinson said he tried to contact his client but didn’t get an answer.
Judge Rainey Brandt continued the hearing to Aug. 26 so that Robinson can find his client.
On Aug. 25, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled another hearing for an armed robbery defendant.
Shaquille Pittman is accused of robbing a pharmacy on July 18 on the 4300 block of Polk Street, NE. According to court documents, Pittman, 25, fled the pharmacy, ran from a police officer and dropped a handgun during the chase.
During the Aug. 25 hearing, defense counsel told Judge Julie Becker that the prosecution was extending a plea deal but would need 30 days to do so.
Parties agreed to continue the hearing until Sept. 21.
On Aug. 25, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a drug possession defendant to six months and 15 days in prison for two drug possession charges.
Richard Bennett was sentenced to six months for possession with intent to distribute marijuana but was given credit for time served as he was held in Miami for months. The judge also sentenced him to 15 days in prison for possession of drug paraphernalia.
The original charges were from Nov. 23, 2016. Judge Michael O’Keefe said “bad decision making” and “delaying tactics” are the reasons why this case has taken years to resolve. Bennett was brought to Miami after being deported from Colombia, where he originally fled before his original sentencing last summer.
Bennett is also sentenced to 60 days of probation and must pay $200 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund.
Judge O’Keefe also ordered Bennett to participate in comprehensive mental health assessments during his probation, citing “serious anxiety problems” for the reasons why Bennett has put himself in this position.
According to the defense, Bennett suffers from serious disabilities such as Crohn’s disease and was diagnosed with COVID-19 recently.
“He has 0 criminal history, he is not a violent person,” says his defense attorney Carrie Weletz.
Although Bennett has had 10 or 11 lawyers in the past few years, the defense claims that Bennett is beginning to settle down.
“He’s living with his family friend, he wanted to give physical distance between him and the DC jail by living in Virginia…I don’t think he’ll ever enter the system again,” the attorney said.
Bennett is also charged with a bail violation for his failure to show up in court in September 2018 to which he pleaded not guilty.
The next hearing for the bail violation is scheduled to take place on Jan. 25, 2021.
A DC Superior Court judge denied a release request from a defendant charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in a domestic violence case.
The defendant is accused of threatening a victim with a gun while the two of them were in his car. After escaping the car, the victim called police and reported the incident. The defendant has been detained at DC Jail since being charged on June 8.
During the Aug. 25 hearing, defense attorney Sabitiyu Abou asked Judge Rainey Brandt to release her client. However, Judge Brandt denied the request due to his past history of not complying with his release conditions.
The defendant also waived his right to a preliminary hearing, which would evaluate if his case has enough evidence to go to trial.
The defendant’s next court date is scheduled on Sept. 14.
A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to six months of unsupervised probation.
Jarret Young pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business in December of 2019. He picked up the charge on Sept. 17, 2018.
“It all was a huge mistake,” Young said during the Aug. 25 hearing. “…I didn’t mean to cause anyone any harm.”
The prosecution did not recommend that Young spend any time incarcerated, noting how he took responsibility for his actions. The prosecutor asked Judge Gerald Fisher to give the defendant a suspended sentence plus six months of supervised probation.
Although the offense occurred in DC, the defendant lives in Virginia.
Defense attorney Elizabeth Weller expressed concern about the expenses that may come with doing probation in Virginia.
Weller asked that her client’s probation be unsupervised. “I don’t think I’d ask for this if it weren’t for the pandemic,” she said.
Judge Fisher agreed to make the probation unsupervised. Young must also pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime compensation fund.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a suspect for assault with a dangerous weapon.
At around 6:58 p.m. on Aug. 24, the suspect allegedly assaulted a victim with a knife on the 5500 block of 1st Street, NW. The suspect, a 60-year-old resident of Northwest, DC, was arrested that same day.
The victim was taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
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The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspects involved in an unarmed carjacking on the 6200 block of Dix Street, NE on Aug. 21.
The suspects assaulted the victim and took the victim’s vehicle at around 12:27 p.m.
The suspects can be seen in the video and photos below.
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Between 10 p.m. on Aug. 24 and 10 a.m. on Aug. 25, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert.
The alert was sent at 2:21 a.m. for a shooting investigation on the 3300 block of Wheeler Road, SE. Police are looking for a Black male, driving a green Jaguar with unknown tags.
If anyone has information about this event, please call the police.
