Documents: Additional Award Offered in Homicide Case

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division and the FBI Washington Field Office has partnered with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to offer an additional award for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects of a shooting that killed one person and injured many others.

The shooting took place Aug. 9 on the 3300 block of Dubois Place, SE. One of the victims, 17-year-old Christopher Brown, was killed. An MPD officer was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries. According to a press release, twenty-two victims sustained gunshot wounds in total. Two others were injured while feeling the scene.

Both the ATF Washington Field Division and the FBI Washington Field Office have offered an additional $25,000, bringing the total reward amount to $75,000.

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Judge Holds Defendant After Probation Violation

On Aug. 12, a DC Superior Court judge held a defendant who violated the terms of his probation and picked up new charges.

The 40-year-old defendant was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and contempt on Dec. 4, 2019. He pleaded guilty to the charges on Dec. 18, 2019, and received a 28-month sentence for the assault charge, 24 months were suspended. He also received two months of incarceration for the contempt charge. Judge Michael O’Keefe set these sentences to run consecutively to each other He also sentenced the defendant to two years of probation.

A representative from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) said the defendant never reported to the agency after being released.

In addition to not reporting to CSOSA, the defendant also picked up a domestic violence charge on July 23 for allegedly violating a Court Protective Order (CPO.)

Defense attorney Alvin Thomas said his client has made multiple attempts to call CSOSA, but no one from the agency ever got back to him. He also said his client is homeless and has been giving CSOSA a relative’s phone number to call.

The representative said the agency has tried to get back to him, but that he is never with the relative when they have attempted to call. Both CSOSA and the prosecution requested that the defendant’s probation is revoked.

Judge Juliet McKenna decided to hold the defendant pending the resolution of his new domestic violence case.

She said the hold was an alternative to revoking his probation, since she had no evidence to corroborate the defense’s explanation for his lack of reporting.

Judge McKenna placed a $2,500 cash bond on the defendant’s hold, and scheduled another hearing to evaluate his probation on Aug. 26.

Defendants Plead Guilty

On Aug. 12, two defendants pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted credit card fraud.

Kachae Jackson, 26, and Michael Grantham, 50, stole a victim’s credit cards and license on Oct. 21, 2019, on the 900 block of H Street, NW. The two then tried to use the victim’s credit card at a designer store on the 900 block of Palmer Alley, NW.

As part of a plea agreement with the prosecution, both defendants pleaded guilty to lesser charges of second-degree theft and attempted credit card fraud. In return, the prosecution agreed not to file additional charges related to the incident.

The prosecution also agreed to recommend a 180-day sentence.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled Jackson’s sentencing for Feb. 5, 2021, because she lives out of town.

Judge McKenna sentenced Grantham to 180 days of incarceration for both charges with credit for time served.

Judge Revokes Probation for 2018 Cases

On Aug. 12, a DC Superior Court judge revoked a defendant’s probation.

Chance Coles is charged with armed robbery for allegedly stealing a car while threatening the victim with a paintball gun on the 700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE on Feb. 1. He has been held in DC Jail since then.

At the time of his arrest, Coles was on probation for two 2018 cases in which he pleaded guilty to robbery and armed robbery.

Coles is also charged with simple assault and assault on a police officer for two altercations that allegedly took place at the DC Jail on May 22 and July 24.

Defense attorney Roderick Thompson said his client did not oppose probation revocation and would like to move forward to resentencing.

The prosecution is offering a plea deal that would address Coles’s ongoing cases in addition to the 2018 felonies.

Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled a hearing for Sept. 11, so the defendant could consider the plea offer prior to resentencing.

Judge Reschedules Hearing for Burglary Defendants

On Aug. 12, a DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a status hearing for two defendants because they recently received new defense counsel.

Antonni Flores-Diaz and Ryan Harding are charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly stealing items from a storage room of a residential building on the 1900 block of 3rd Street, NW on April 8. .

New defense counsel was appointed for the defendants on Aug. 10 after Flores-Diaz, 36, requested a Spanish-speaking attorney. The co-defendants were also considering a plea offer, but said they were not satisfied with their legal representation. The plea offer’s deadline has been extended.

Flores-Diaz, who is also known as Spongie, was released on April 11, but was re-arrested on April 14 and has been held in DC Jail since then . He is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly trying to fight someone with a knife on April 14 on the 3100 block of Mount Pleasant Street, NW.

The defendant was also charged with contempt on April 30.

Harding, 24, has been held in DC Jail since April 10.

“We have not had a chance to speak with our clients yet,” Harding’s attorney, Andrew Ain, said. “We will need at least two weeks to properly converse with the defendants.”

Flores-Diaz’s new attorney, Rachel McCoy, was in agreement.

Judge Rainey Brandt rescheduled the hearing to Aug. 26.

Judge Holds Defendant at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

On Aug. 11, a DC Superior Court judge transferred a defendant to St. Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.

The defendant is charged with leaving after colliding, fleeing a law enforcement officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, destruction of property less than $1,000, assault with the intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, simple assault, threats to do bodily harm, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. The charges stem from four incidents that took place in June and July. One incident is a felony, two are misdemeanor cases and one of the incidents was domestic violence related.

After a doctor recommended that the defendant continue receiving mental health treatment, Judge Michael Ryan decided to bring him to St. Elizabeth’s and order a full mental competency exam.

“He should continue to be detained and give the doctor a further chance to assess his competency,” said the prosecutor, who agreed with the doctor’s recommendation. “There is an undeniable red flag here where he has no criminal history and he’s suddenly picking up a series of cases.”

The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9.

Waiting on Autopsy Report to Determine Charge, Prosecutor Says

A prosecutor said he is waiting on an autopsy report to determine if a defendant’s charges should be changed to homicide.

Tyrone Williams, 50, is charged with assault with intent to commit robbery while armed on March 30. After Williams was charged, the 80-year-old victim of the assault died. Authorities have not released the name of the victim.

An autopsy was conducted by the chief medical examiner to determine if the assault was the cause of death.

On March 29, the defendant allegedly pressed an object against the victim’s lower back and said, “don’t move or I’ll blow your head off.” He punched the man, causing him to fall and hit his head on a gate. He took items from the victim’s pockets and fled from the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled Williams’ next hearing for Sept. 1, when the prosecution believes the report will be completed by.

2020 CF3 003849

Arraignments Held for Alleged Offenses at DC Jail

On Aug. 11, a DC Superior Court judge presided over four initial hearings for assaults that allegedly happened at the DC Jail.

Judge Steven Wellner held one defendant and released two other defendants for the assault charges. He also rescheduled one hearing. According to court documents, three of the four cases involved the defendant throwing liquid at a correctional officer.

However, all of the defendants are being held in their underlying cases that brought them to jail.

Ch’Juan Robinson is charged with simple assault for allegedly throwing a liquid substance at a correctional officer on June 29. Judge Wellner held Robinson for this case due to the severity of his other ongoing charge. Robinson is also charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Louis Kingsbury on April 29 on the 200 block of New York Avenue, NW.

Michael Coles is charged with simple assault for allegedly throwing a cup of an unknown liquid at a nurse in the correctional facility on June 3. Coles is also charged with GPS tampering for allegedly failing to charge his device on June 20, 2019. The judge imposed a $1,000 cash bond.

Antowan Lynch is charged with simple assault for allegedly throwing liquid at a correctional officer through his food slot on May 17. Judge Wellner released Lynch in this case. However, he still being held at DC Jail due to an active warrant from North Carolina.

Martinez Raynor is charged with simple assault and assault on a police officer for allegedly fighting with an officer at the jail on June 17. Raynor’s attorney requested more time to prepare.

Judge Wellner said he will reschedule the hearing to later this week.

Raymor, 20, is being held without bail for charges involving the murder of 19-year-old Malik McCloud in 2018 and a firearms possession case.

Document: Suspects and Vehicle Sought in Burglary

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspects and a vehicle in a burglary case that occurred on Aug. 11.

At approximately 3:43 a.m, suspects forcibly gained entrance to an establishment on the 5300 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW.

The suspects took property before fleeing the scene.

The suspects and the vehicle of interest can be seen in the video below.

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Crime Alerts: August 11-12

Between 9 p.m. on Aug. 11 and 9 a.m. on Aug. 12, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 11:38 p.m. for a robbery on the 1700 block of Lange Place, NE. Police are looking for two Black juvenile males wearing white tank tops.

Another alert for a robbery was sent at 11:31 p.m. on the 7800 block of Eastern Avenue, NW. Police are looking for a 27-year-old Black male, 5’8″ in height with a dark complexion, wearing a white tank top and black jeans.

The final alert was sent at 9:12 p.m. for a shooting on the 1200 block of Valley Avenue, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

If anyone has information about these events, please call 911.

Crime Alerts: August 11

The Metropolitan Police Department sent out a crime alert for a shooting at 3:53 p.m. The incident occurred on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Police are looking for a black male who is wearing a blue mask and a white tank top.

Anyone with information about this crime should call 911.

Judge Revokes Probation

On Aug. 11, a DC Superior Court judge revoked a defendant’s probation.

On Dec. 12, 2018, Clenteous McCoy pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and second-degree theft for participating in a home invasion in 2016. He was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) and received consecutive sentences of 180 days, all of which were suspended, for each charge. He was also sentenced to two years of probation.

McCoy was re-arrested twice in June.

Judge Rainey Brandt said she did not want to consider re-sentencing the defendant until McCoy’s open cases had been addressed.

“I will set another probation show cause in this case for early November to give both felony cases enough time to air out,” Judge Brandt said. She continued the hearing to Nov. 10.

McCoy is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for an incident which took place on the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on June 7. He was released in this case.

He is also charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance for an incident on the 300 block of 61st Street, NE on June 17. He has been held in DC Jail for this case since his initial hearing on June 18.

Hearing Scheduled for Murder Defendants

On Aug. 11, a DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled a hearing for Sept. 1 to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Dajuan Jones, 19, and Michael Mason, 16, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of Brea Moon. Moon, 21, was shot on April 7 on the 3900 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

According to court documents, Prince George’s County Police Department responded to a report on a shooting on Suitland Road in Maryland. They found Moon, a 21-year-old resident of District Heights, Md., suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

According to a D.C. Witness report, Mason is also being charged with another murder in connection with the death of Antwaun Roach, an 18-year-old resident of Southwest, DC who was killed on May 22.

He is also charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and assault with intent to commit any other offense while armed.

Judge Transfers Defendant to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

On Aug. 11, a DC Superior Court judge transferred a defendant to St. Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital, after he was found incompetent to stand trial.

Bradley Middleton has two open cases for assault with a dangerous weapon. Middleton, 27, picked up the first case for allegedly punching a victim and chasing the victim with a knife on the 5000 block of Nebraska Avenue, NW on June 5.

He was charged again for allegedly threatening another victim with a knife on the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE on June 9.

Middleton has been held in DC Jail since June.

On July 8, Judge Julie Becker ordered a competency examination for Middleton.

On Aug. 6, the court received a Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) report that deemed Middleton incompetent and recommended that he be moved to St. Elizabeth’s for competency restoration.

Judge Juliet McKenna agreed to transfer Middleton.

Middleton’s next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 7.

Judge Continues Possession Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna continued an Aug. 10 hearing for a possession case to Aug. 25.

Anthony Coleman is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers saw Coleman, 29, fleeing the scene of a shooting on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE, according to court documents. When Coleman saw the officers, he approached them empty-handed.

However, officers found an unregistered firearm where the defendant hid from the shooting.

Coleman told officers he returned fire at a vehicle that was shooting at him. He said he had cocaine and $300 on his person. The white powder police found tested positive for cocaine.

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