A defendant facing a third-degree felony domestic violence charge is scheduled for a disposition on Aug. 5.
The defendant is alleged of committing assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm on a family member.
The defendant is being held at DC Jail without bail.
On July 22, a prosecutor offered a domestic violence defendant a plea offer for simple assault.
DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck scheduled a hearing for Aug. 6, during which the defense can either accept or reject the plea.
On July 22, a DC Superior Court judge ordered a defendant to comply with the Pretrial Services Agency’s (PSA) mental health referral.
Buda Mulla is charged with kidnapping for allegedly trying to run off with a toddler on July 8. He was released the next day and placed on a GPS tracking device.
The day after his release, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Mulla having what appeared to be a mental health episode on a street corner in Washington, DC, according to court documents.
Mulla received a notice of non compliance on July 20 for failure to report with the PSA. However, a PSA representative said the defendant has been compliant since then.
Defense attorney Bernadette Armand said he was unable to comply with the release conditions until his release on July 16.
Mulla is accused of grabbing a three-year-old child and running away until the parents tackled him on the 200 block of 15th Street, NW.
When a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer asked Mulla why he grabbed the child, he said, “I wanted to pull the kids into the kingdom of Heaven.”
Judge Danya Dayson scheduled a hearing for Aug. 14 to assess Mulla’s compliance with pretrial release conditions.
On July 22, a DC Superior Court judge decided that she wasn’t going to change a defendant’s pretrial release conditions despite several instances of noncompliance.
Rashad Johnson is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle.
A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said that Johnson, 20, failed to comply with his conditions of release by not reporting weekly by phone or confirming his address.
Defense attorney Stephanie Johnson said her client does not have a phone. She said he was also unaware of the conditions since his mom maintains his paperwork and put the release order away. She said he now understands his release conditions.
Judge Danya Dayson said Johnson will be sent to jail if he does not get into compliance.
On April 21, the defendant allegedly broke a chain and lock and stole a motorcycle from the 1100 block of 4th Street, SE. When confronted by the victim, Johnson got off the vehicle and drove away on a different stolen motorcycle. He also committed multiple traffic violations to avoid a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer.
The defendant eventually got off the motorcycle, tried to run away by foot and was apprehended by the officer.
Johnson’s next court date is scheduled for Oct. 7.
On July 22, a DC Superior Court Judge denied a defendant’s second request to be released from DC Jail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tony Arrington is charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly entering a business on the 700 block of Kennedy Street, NW and stealing around $1,680 on Feb. 19. He has been held in DC Jail since Feb. 21.
Arrington, 50, has from a number of underlying health concerns that could make him more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus. He requested to be released from DC Jail because of health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic before.
A judge also denied his request in April.
The second motion for release was filed in June.
Defense attorney Sara Kopecki said her client’s underlying health conditions have made him “genuinely fearful” of contracting the coronavirus. She also said this stress has exacerbated his underlying medical conditions, and he is now receiving steroidal treatment.
Kopecki said Arrington could stay with his cousin in Capitol Heights, Md. and would willingly to wear a GPS monitoring device and comply with home confinement.
Judge Erik Christian said he found the motion was no different from the motion that was denied in April.
The judge said Arrington has received appropriate treatment from DC Jail for his medical issues and, while Arrington’s block-mates have been previously treated for the virus, there are currently no cases of the coronavirus within the facility.
Arrington, who has a criminal history, including a pending burglary charge in Maryland and noncompliance with release conditions in the past, still poses a danger to the community and is a flight risk, Judge Christian said.
According to Keena Blackmon, director of strategic communications and public information officer for the DC Jail, there have been no new COVID-19 cases at Department of Correction’s facilities since early June.
Blackmon said the jail has only identified one new inmate who tested positive during the jail’s intake process. The process includes a 14-day quarantine for medical observation for every new inmate. It was instituted as part of the DC Jail’s COVID-19 protocols.
Arrington is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 28.
On July 22, a DC Superior Court judge granted the prosecution’s request to hold a defendant.
Shawn Tolbert, also known as Shawn Tobart, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction after an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) conducted a search of his apartment on May 12 and found a shotgun and a handgun.
That morning, the MPD responded to a report of shots fired near a residence in the 3600 block of 6th Street, SE. When they arrived at the scene, they found multiple shell casings, according to court documents.
Officers said the suspect sat at the back door of the building and fired the shotgun into the ground.
The MPD requested a search warrant after knocking on Tolbert’s door and seeing guns directly inside of his apartment. While those guns ended up being BB guns, the MPD found a shotgun and a handgun in his apartment.
At the time of his arrest, Tolbert was on probation for second-degree assault and illegal possession of a firearm in Maryland. He was placed on GPS monitoring after the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from reporting to his probation officer in person.
When he was arrested, the GPS monitor was found cut off in his apartment.
Tolbert said he was under the impression that he only had to wear the monitor for a certain period of time.
Daniel Kolver, Tolbert’s attorney, requested that his client be released under home confinement with allowances to leave for work and physical therapy. Kolver said the MPD’s search of Tolbert’s apartment was “plainly illegal” and the weapons could have been owned by Tolbert’s wife.
However, Judge Renee Raymond sided with the prosecution, granting the request to hold the defendant.
She said she did not find the defendant’s GPS argument compelling, and she was especially concerned that shots were fired at two different times during early morning hours on the day of the incident.
Parties are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 3 to discuss the status of the case.
A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for a defendant who failed to appear in court for his July 22 hearing.
Alonte Hines pleaded guilty to robbery on Jan. 23. Hines, 19, has been under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) while awaiting sentencing since May 17, 2019.
A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said the defendant has been a loss of contact since July 5, when the battery on his GPS monitor died.
Defense attorney Russell Hairston opposed the bench warrant, saying his client may not have known about the hearing. Hairston’s attempt to contact his client was unsuccessful.
Judge Danya Dayson said the defendant would have known about the hearing if he was keeping in compliance with his release condition.
On May 15, 2019, three adult men dragged a victim into a building on the 5000 block of D Street, SE.
One of the suspects pointed a handgun at the victim while another went through the victim’s pockets and took his iPhone, Galaxy Note, keys and wallet. The group then took the victim’s vehicle and drove away, according to court documents.
A DC Superior Court judge found a defendant facing simple assault and possession of a dangerous weapon charges incompetent to stand trial.
Deborah Pipkin is charged with simple assault for allegedly striking a victim with a walking cane on July 7 on the 1300 block of U Street, NW.
The preliminary competency exam was ordered on June 11. During the July 22 hearing, Judge Ronna Beck agreed to transfer Pipkin to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, where she will receive mental health treatment in an effort to restore her competency.
A hearing to evaluate her progress is scheduled for Aug. 26.
On July 22, a DC Superior Court judge allowed a defendant to be taken off GPS monitoring while on pretrial release.
The defendant is charged with second-degree child sex abuse.
Judge Danya Dayson cited the defendant’s compliance thus far and lack of a criminal record when making her decision.
Defense attorney Solange Hilfinger-Pardo asked for her client’s GPS monitor to be removed because he wants to get another job and was told the ankle monitor will make obtaining employment difficult.
The prosecution expressed concern that the defendant would not comply with his stay away order from the victim and her mother if the tracking device was removed.
Hilfinger-Pardo said the defendant has been fully compliant with his pretrial release conditions. He calls in weekly with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and immediately got his GPS fixed when there was an issue with its battery.
The defendant’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 25.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect who is believed to be involved in a shooting on the 5000 block of H Street, SE.
According to a press release, officers found three victims suffering from gunshot wounds on May 2. The victims were transported to a local hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The 26-year-old suspect was arrested on an assault with a dangerous weapon charge.
The case is still under investigation.
Anyone who has knowledge of the incident should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text Department’s TEXT TIP LINE — 50411. The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a crime committed in the District of Columbia.
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A DC Superior Court judge continued a preliminary hearing for two defendants charged with armed carjacking and robbery while armed with a firearm.
On May 9, Keon Smith and Ja’cori Williams allegedly stole a dog and asked its owner to pay them $500 before they could return the dog. When the owner only provided $200, the two defendants pointed a gun at him and took his black Chevy Malibu. Surveillance footage showed them abandoning the vehicle at the intersection of Gainesville Street and Elvans Road, SE while being pursued by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers.
Defense attorney Leo Alley said the victim was giving conflicting statements to the MPD.
Alley screened body camera footage showing an officer accusing the victim of lying about the time of day he initially reached out to the MPD about his dog being taken. The officer was heard saying “that’s a lie” to the complainant throughout the clip.
Alley also said the detective, who the prosecution called upon to testify, said he could not confirm Williams was among the two suspects involved in the case. Footage of the detective interviewing the victim did not show him and the victim mentioning a person that fit Williams’ description.
The detective said he could not identify Williams from a surveillance video that allegedly showed the two men abandoning the complainant’s vehicle. The detective said the video was too blurry.
A judge, who was presiding over the case on behalf of Judge Erik Christian, asked the defense to save their arguments for the next day.
The hearing is scheduled to continue on July 23.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide in the Petworth neighborhood in Northwest, DC.
According to a press release, officers found 30 year-old Nurudeen Thomas, a resident of Greenbelt, Md., suffering from a gunshot wound on the 4100 block of 14th Street, NW. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of this case or any other homicide in Washington, DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-797-9099. Anonymous information can also be sent to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.
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The Metropolitan Police Department sent out four crime alerts on July 21.
The most recent crime alert was sent at 9:55 p.m. for a robbery with a gun crime on the 1300 block of Kenyon Street, NW. Police are looking for two black male juveniles driving a silver Dodge avenger with DC tags.
Another alert was sent at 8:36 p.m. for an armed carjacking that occurred at 8:01 p.m. on the 7400 block of 7th Street, NW. Police are looking for a black male wearing a white tank top with black pants. The suspect is also wearing a black mask and is armed with a gun. He was last seen driving a black in color Ford F150 bearing MD Tags — 6EA5101.
Six minutes before an alert was sent for a shooting on the 200 block of N Street, SW. Police are looking for two black males. The first suspect is wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans. The second suspect has dreadlocks and is wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.
At 3:38 p.m. police alerted the public of a stabbing on the 1400 block of W Street, NW. Police do not have a description of the suspect.
If anyone has information about these crimes, please call 911.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that an arrest has been made in connection to several robbery offenses that occurred between June 23 and July 19.
A 15-year-old juvenile male was arrested in connection with the crimes on July 19. Two other juvenile males were also arrested for armed robbery and attempting to commit robbery on July 4.
The string of crimes began on June 23. The suspect allegedly committed second degree-theft on the 1300 block of Farragut Street, NW. A week later, the suspect allegedly entered a location on 300 block of Varnum Street, NW in the middle of the night.
In the early morning hours of July 1, the suspect allegedly took part in unlawful entry and second-degree theft again.
The suspect was also arrested for armed robbery and attempted robbery for incidents that occurred on July 4 on the 1800 block of 14th Street, NW and the 1300 block of 9th Street, NW, respectively. Two juvenile males, 15 and 14, were arrested in connection with the crimes on July 7.
On July 6, the suspect allegedly used force and violence in a robbery on the 2600 block of 16th Street, NW at 5:20 a.m.
Then, on July 11, the suspect participated in an armed robbery on the 3400 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW at 2:55 a.m. On July 14, the suspect allegedly used a vehicle without authorization on the 600 block of Fairmont Street, NW.
The suspect also allegedly partook in two armed robberies with a knife and another using force and violence between 5:39 a.m. and 6:39 a.m. on July 15.
On July 18, the suspect allegedly stole a vehicle and committed armed robbery using a knife. Both of these crimes occurred around 3:36 a.m. on the 1600 block of 6th Street, NW.
On July 19 at the same time, the suspect allegedly committed robbery while armed with a gun.
He is also charged with unarmed carjacking, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and simple assault for events on the 1100 block of Wahler Place, SE.
Finally, on July 19, between 11:00 a.m. and 11:05 a.m., the suspect allegedly assaulted a victim with the intent to commit robbery and then allegedly committed another robbery, stealing a vehicle while using force and violence.
The suspect was also charged with robbery while armed with a gun, force and violence and assault for his alleged connection to criminal activities on July 19.
The case is still under investigation.
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A DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a preliminary hearing for a defendant charged with a bail violation.
Robert Smith, who is also known as Jamal Jerome Smith, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.
Smith was scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 24, 2019, for his jury trial. However, he did not show up, which resulted in his bail violation charge.
A plea deal for the violation is being offered to the defense.
Defense attorney Bruce Cooper asked Judge Ronna Beck to reschedule the hearing so he could have more time to discuss the deal with his client.
Judge Beck permitted the request, rescheduling the hearing for Aug. 5.
The defendant’s presence was waived for the July 21 hearing. Cooper asked for his client to be present for the next hearing so that his decision regarding the plea deal would be on the record.
