A DC Superior Court judge granted a defense attorney’s request July 6 for a hearing so his client can accept a plea deal from the prosecution.
Earl Britt was charged with second-degree burglary on May 4. That day, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were dispatched to 5500 block of Colorado Avenue, NW for a burglary in progress.
DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck granted a hearing for July 22.
A witness saw the suspect break a glass door to a restaurant on the establishment’s security cameras. The person who reported the crime saw that a cash box was missing, according to court documents.
When canvassing the area, police officers observed the glass window to 4700 block of 14th Street, NW was also broken. Detectives, who arrived at the location saw a man who looked similar to the burglar on the security footage, the documents state.
Officers initially arrested Britt for burglary and destruction of property.
When processing the arrest, a MPD officer found that Britt’s DNA was a match with a blood sample found after a burglary that occurred Dec. 16 on the 3500 block of 14th Street, NW. He was charged with second-degree burglary for the incident as well.
A DC Superior Court judge agreed July 6 to hold a defendant’s hearing after his 28-day drug treatment program.
Amadu Fomah pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and simple assault on May 8, 2019. He was sentenced to two years of probation on Nov. 8.
Upon confirming Fomah’s continued participation in the drug treatment program during the July 6 hearing, Judge Robert Okun granted another continuance so that he could complete it.
This is the second time Fomah’s hearing has been continued. On June 23, Judge Herrmann granted Fomah a continuance until July 6 so the court could confirm whether or not he remained enrolled in the program. However, she noted the convenient timing of his enrollment.
The court has filed three notices of non compliance since the start of his probation on March 30, April 8 and June 16. A hearing was held on June 23 to address the compliance issues, but Fomah failed to appear.
A DC Superior Court judge found an assault defendant competent to stand trial.
Steven Jones was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon on Nov. 2, 2017. He is currently receiving mental health treatment at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.
Defense attorney Brandi Harden agreed that Jones is competent, but she asked that her client stop being forcibly medicated, saying “there’s no indication that he doesn’t wish to take the medication voluntarily.”
Harden also requested that Jones remain in the hospital to continue cognitive behavioral therapy.
A DC Superior Court judge decided July 6 to not release a defendant who is awaiting trial.
Antonio McCoy was charged with assault on a police officer, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon on May 4. He allegedly stole items from an ambulance on the 600 block of Florida Ave, NE the day before.
DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck denied this request, but said she would consider releasing McCoy if the defense could show that he was accepted into a treatment program.
According to McCoy’s defense attorney, the defendant has agreed to go to an inpatient treatment facility once an appropriate program would accept him.
Court documents state that McCoy pointed a knife in an officer’s direction, while he ran away.
Another MPD officer located McCoy in front of a building at 619 Florida Ave NE and arrested him.
On July 6, a DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing for three co-defendants charged with armed carjacking.
Rob Smith, Marc Kirk and Jihad Johnson allegedly stole a car on the 1600 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE On April 21. Smith, Kirk and Johnson are accused of pointing a handgun at the victim and demanding his car. The three then drove off in the vehicle, according to a press release from the police.
The victim contacted the Metropolitan Police Department and used his car’s tracking device to locate the defendants.
The defendants were charged with armed carjacking with a gun the day after the incident. Kirk was also charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Both Kirk and Smith were released under the High Intensity Supervision Program on June 8 and June 30, respectively.
Johnson is still being held at DC jail. His attorney, Stephanie Johnson, filed a motion for her client’s release on May 11, citing the disproportionate rates of COVID-19 infections on Black men. Judge Michael O’Keefe denied the motion the next day, but Johnson’s attorney renewed the motion on July 6.
Judge Juliet McKenna continued the hearing for the co-defendants. Johnson will partake in an independent bond review hearing, which will be scheduled at a later date with Judge McKenna’s chambers.
Kirk’s release was also discussed during the hearing. A notice was filed on July 1. Judge McKenna admonished Kirk to comply with the curfew requirements in his HISP contract if he wants to remain released.
Smith was absent from the hearing. His attorney, Sabitiyu Abou, suggested that his absence could be due to the shifting of courtrooms before the hearing began.
All three co-defendants will appear in court again on Sept. 8 to discuss the status of their cases.
A DC Superior Court judge accepted a defendant’s guilty plea for driving under the influence on July 6.
A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer responded to a report of a vehicle collision on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue, NE on March 3. Upon investigating the scene, the officer saw that Kelcy Sagsetter’s vehicle rear ended another vehicle.
The officer asked the defendant if she had consumed alcohol. She said she drank vodka with tonic water, according to court documents.
Documents also state that the defendant failed a series of sobriety tests.
Sagstetter entered into a deferred sentencing agreement with the prosecution.
As part of the agreement, she must complete a traffic alcohol program, community service hours, attend a victim impact panel and pay $100 fine. If she completes the requirements by her next court appearance, her guilty plea will be withdrawn and the case will be dismissed.
Sagsetter is scheduled to return to court on July 7, 2021.
An 11-year-old boy, 20-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man were fatally shot in different areas of Southeast, DC over the Independence Day holiday weekend.
On July 4, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department found 11-year-old Davon McNeal suffering from a gunshot wound on the 1400 block of Cedar Street, SE. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. According to news reports, McNeal was hit by a stray bullet while enjoying July 4 festivities.
Nearly an hour later, officers found 36 year-old Antonio Gardiner suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The day before, on July 3, officers found 20-year-old Jordyn Simmons on the 1900 block of 18th Street, SE suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Shortly after, officers found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The police department is offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction for any homicide in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may also be submitted through the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.
A defendant pleaded guilty July 6 to GPS tampering for failing to charge his GPS monitoring device.
On Sept. 16, 2016, Joshua Clark was sentenced to a little more than three years for first-degree child sex abuse. He was also required to complete three years of supervised release after serving his sentence. As a condition of his release, Clark was required to wear a GPS monitoring device, which was installed on Oct. 25, 2019.
However, the defendant intentionally failed to charge his device on Nov. 13, 2019. He was charged with tampering with a detection device on Jan. 31. He has been held in jail since then.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers are looking for suspects and vehicles connected to crimes throughout Washington, DC from May 30-July 5.
According to MPD press releases, police are searching for suspects and vehicles in connection to the following crimes:
Assault
MPD is searching for a person in connection with an assault that occurred May 30 on the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
On June 29, suspects fired gunshots in the direction of a victim on the 1400 block of Cedar Street, SE. The victim was not hit.
On June 29, officers responded to the 4600 block of South Capitol Street, SW for a shooting victim. They found a conscious adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. Police are looking for a person and vehicle of interest featured below.
A suspect assaulted and tried to steal property from a victim on the 800 block of 4th Street, NW on June 29.
Police are also searching for suspects involved in an assault with a dangerous weapon on the 4400 block of Benning Road, NE on June 30. A vehicle was damaged from gunshots.
MPD is also seeking the public’s assistance in locating a black Toyota truck involved in an assault with a dangerous weapon that took place June 3 on the 700 block of Kennedy Street, NW. The truck has damage on the driver’s side front window, front and rear windshield and passenger side door. It was last seen with lllinois tags.
Robbery
Police are searching for suspects in connection with an armed robbery on the 5400 block of New Hampshire Avenue, NW on June 25. Suspects left the scene with the victim’s vehicle.
The MPD is searching for suspects involved in a robbery on the 700 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE on June 30. Suspects stole a victim’s money.
Police are also requesting the public’s help in locating a suspect involved in a bank robbery June 30 on the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.
On July 3, a suspect, featured below, demanded money at gunpoint at a drive-thru business on the 2200 block of New York Avenue, NE. Police are also searching for the vehicle in the photo.
Burglary
Police are searching for a suspect connected to a burglary that occurred May 31 on the 3300 block of New Mexico Avenue, NW.
Police are also looking for suspects in connection to a burglary that occurred May 31 on the 1100 block of New York Avenue, NW.
Also on May 31, suspects broke into an establishment and stole property on the 3200 block of O Street, NW.
Suspects are wanted in connection to a burglary on the 1100 block of Vermont Avenue, NW on May 31.
Police are also seeking the public’s help located a suspect in a burglary that took place in the early hours of July 5 on the 1200 block of Gallatin Street, NW.
Destruction of Property
MPD is searching for a person of interest connected to a destruction of property offense that took place May 30 on the 800 block of 16th Street, NW.
Police are also seeking the public’s help locating a person of interest in a destruction of property offense that occurred on the 1500 block of H Street, NW on May 31.
Carjacking
On June 21, suspects stole a person’s property and car by gunpoint on the 4100 block of 19th Street, NE.
MPD officers are searching for a suspect involved in a first-degree sexual abuse offense that occurred in the early hours of July 5 on the 1400 block of Perry Place, NW. The suspect is described as possibly being Hispanic, around 5’1’’ with black hair and around 40 years old.
Police request that anyone with information on these suspects or events contact the department at 202-727-9099. Tips can be sent to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.
Between 7 p.m. on July 5 and 7 a.m. on July 6, the Metropolitan Police Department sent out two crime alerts.
The most recent alert was sent at 4:27 a.m. for a shooting on the 5100 block of Southern Avenue, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect.
The second alert was sent at 7:55 p.m. for a robbery investigation on the 1300 block of Kenyon Street, NW. Police are looking for two Black males, 14-15 years old. One is wearing a black shirt, and brown pants, and anther one is wearing a black shirt and blue pants.
Anyone with information on these events should call 911. Please do not take any other action.
On July 4, officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a 23-year-old man for second-degree burglary.
The suspect allegedly broke into an establishment on the 1100 block of 10th Street, NW at approximately 10 a.m. the same day he was arrested. He fled the scene, without taking any property, when MPD officers confronted him.
The suspect was previously charged with carrying a pistol without a license, possession of narcotics and multiple DUI counts, resulting in his driver’s license being suspended.
On July 2, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna released 13 defendants out of 16 after their initial hearings.
Four of the released defendants had no charges filed against them. There were two domestic violence cases.
Maliq Campbell, a fugitive from the State of Maryland, was held with no bond. He will be transferred to Maryland within three days.
Malik Beverly was charged with armed carjacking, robbery and armed robbery. While acknowledging that the defendant’s weapon turned out to be a “bb gun,” Judge McKenna refused to release him, given his extensive criminal history.
Judge McKenna also held another defendant, Robert Redding, who was charged with assault with the intent to kill while armed and assaulting a police officer. Redding had an extensive criminal history, including various felony convictions and active arrest warrants from Georgia.
One defendant was charged with destruction of property, second-degree theft and unlawful entry. Judge McKenna released him on the condition that he stay away from the 1300 block of 13th Street, NW and the 1400 block of Columbia Road, NW.
Another defendant who was charged with selling narcotics was released despite non-compliance with the terms of his probation.
His attorney cited there has been almost no trace of violence in his criminal history. He also mentioned he was recently shot in the hand and requested his release.
In one case, the defendant had an arrest warrant from Maryland for failing to appear before court in an assault case. He was released and ordered to turn himself over to Maryland authorities.
A defendant was charged with DUI and operating a vehicle while impaired. Judge McKenna released him and said he must undergo drug and alcohol testing. She also warned the defendant against driving without a license.
Judge McKenna also released two defendants charged with simple assault. They were issued stay away orders from their victims’ addresses. One of the defendants was prohibited from carrying a firearm.
One defendant charged with shoplifting was released and asked to stay away from a store on the 3100 block of 13th Street, NW.
Another defendant was released and asked to register with pretrial services. Police arrested him for possessing various firearms and high capacity feeding devices despite his past involvement in a domestic violence case prohibiting him from owning them.
The last defendant who was released was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. Judge McKenna discovered that he discharged his gun by accident when he was using the grip to hit another person.
All the released defendants will return to court on Oct. 1.
On July 2, DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman ordered that evidence be provided to the defense by July 10.
Costello Coleman is charged with armed robbery.
The day before, Coleman, 19, met with the victim on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE. The victim had planned to sell a laptop to the defendant via the “Let Go” application. When the victim arrived, Coleman said he had no money., according to court documents.
On Coleman’s request, the victim drove the defendant to two different ATMs. The defendant entered the banks and said he was unable to get money. He then asked for a ride back to the location where they originally met.
Coleman allegedly brandished a firearm from the backseat and held it against the victim’s head. He demanded the victim hand over his laptop and a duffle bag, which contained another laptop and around $2,000.
When Coleman left the vehicle, the victim sped off in a panic. The victim flagged down a Metropolitan Police Department officer.
The victim provided the officer with the phone number he used to arrange the meeting earlier that day. Officers searched the number in a law enforcement database and found that the owner of the phone number had listed Coleman as a relative.
The victim identified the defendant in a nine-person color photo array, saying he was “very confident” that it was the person who robbed him.
A search warrant was issued for Coleman’s home on May 1. Police forcibly entered Coleman’s house and detained him. They found a duffle bag with $2,000 cash, a pistol and ammunition in his bedroom.
During the arrest, Coleman said he had COVID-19 and was taken to a hospital. He later admitted this statement was a lie meant to delay his arrest.
Judge Todd Edelmandenied Coleman’s motion for release based on COVID-19 because he said the defendant is a threat to the community.
The prosecution is open to offering a plea deal to the defendant.
Another hearing is scheduled for July 13 to discuss Coleman’s release status.
On July 2, a DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman postponed a defendant’s hearing for two weeks at the defense’s request.
Francisco Rochie was charged with unlawful possession of liquid PCP on May 1.
The day before, Metropolitan Police Department officers pulled over Rochie, 30, on the 4200 block of Arkansas Avenue, NW.
Police said the stop was for invalid tags on the defendant’s vehicle. Officers looked Rochie up on the Washington Area Law Enforcement System and discovered his license was suspended in Maryland.
Officers asked Rochie to step out of the vehicle and tell them if there was anything in the vehicle they needed to know about. The defendant said, “I got PCP in the center console, I smoke PCP.”
Police found a half-full 1oz clear glass vial containing a substance that smelled like PCP. They also found a half-full 1oz clear glass vial containing a substance that smelled like PCP.
