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Judge Keeps Murder Defendant in Jail

After hearing a murder defendant’s arguments for why his release should be reconsidered,  a DC Superior Court judge agreed with an initial ruling to keep the defendant at DC Jail.  

Ravel Mills, a 26-year-old resident of Temple Hills, Md., has been charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of Toussaunt Strong, a 28-year-old resident of Clinton, Md. The incident occurred on April 18 on the 3400 block of 24th Street, SE, which is located in the Shipley neighborhood of Southeast DC. 

Judge Anita Josey-Herring upheld another judge’s decision to hold Mills because there is a simple assault misdemeanor pending for the defendant as well. There is also video evidence of a person, who is believed to be Mills, chasing the victim. 

Mills’ defense attorney, Madalyn Harvey, disputed the initial hold because the assault charge was not papered at the time of Mills’ first hearing for the homicide charge in March. The simple assault incident occurred in 2019. 

She also questioned Judge Heide L. Herrmann’s time table of the offenses, saying that a significant amount of time had passed between the assault case and the homicide case. 

Harvey requested that Mills be placed on home confinement at his mother’s house in Maryland under the high intensity supervision program (HISP), citing his lack of prior convictions.

During the June 3 proceeding, Harvey also requested that Mills receive a preliminary hearing. However, there is a backlog in cases at the DC Superior Court and Mills will have to request a preliminary hearing at his next hearing on July 7.

Document: Suspect Arrested For 2 Burglaries

A suspect has been arrested for two burglaries that took place June 2.

At about 12:41 a.m., the 31-year old suspect forcibly entered an establishment on the 200 block of Kennedy Street, NW, which is located in the Brightwood neighborhood of DC. The suspect then took property and fled.

The second burglary occurred at around 6:30 a.m. The suspect forcibly entered an establishment on the 3000 block of M Street, NW, which is located in the Georgetown neighborhood of DC. The suspect took property, but was ultimately arrested by responding officers.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6935748-Arrest-Made-in-Burglary-Two-Offenses-in-the.html” responsive=true]

Document: Suspect Arrested For Robbery

A suspect was arrested for a robbery that took place June 1.

Around 6:15 a.m., the suspect entered an establishment on the 300 block of Hawaii Avenue, NE, which is located in the Fort Totten neighborhood of DC. The suspect demanded property from an employee and fled the scene.


Later that day, Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested a 31-year-old resident of Clinton, Md.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6935746-6-2-20-Arrest-Made-in-a-Robbery-Fear-Offense-300.html” responsive=true]



Court Update: June 2

Judges from the DC Superior Courthouse released two defendants on June 2.

Isaac Spencer was placed on probation for 18 months for charges connected to a domestic violence case.

Devon Greenfield was released from jail after he violated parole in March. He also had a domestic violence case.

Judge Rainey Brandt continued Olivia Cartwright-Cole’s hearing to give her more time to comply with release conditions. Cole is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Joel Midgett in 2015.

A murder trial did not happen, and eight citation hearings that were slated for June 2 were rescheduled to August.

Convicted Felon Released from Jail

A probation show cause hearing for a convicted felon was vacated June 2. He was also released from the DC Jail.

Devon Greenfield was found guilty through a trial of unlawful entry on private property in a domestic violence case. He was found not guilty of simple assault.

Greenfield was sentenced to 12 months on probation on Jan. 13.

In March, Greenfield violated his probation and was held at the DC Jail without bail.

Judge Sentences Convict to Probation

A defendant who was found guilty of charges in a domestic violence case was sentenced to 18 months on probation.

Isaac Spencer pleaded guilty to attempted threats to do bodily harm and contempt on June 2. He was originally charged with simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, contempt from violating release and attempted threats to do bodily harm.

While on probation Spencer will also have to enter into and complete a domestic violence intervention program, get drug testing and treatment from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), get alcohol testing and treatment from CSOSA, undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment that CSOSA deems necessary and abide by stay away order.

Spencer was released from DC Jail on June 2.

Crime Alert: June 2

Between the hours of 8p.m. and 8 a.m. on June 2, the Metropolitan Police Department sent out three crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 6:32 p.m. for a shooting on the 700 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE.

Before that an alert was sent at 4:77 p.m. for a stabbing on the 3200 block of Martin Luther King Avenue, SE.

At 9:20 a.m., an alert was sent for a shooting that occurred on the 2500 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. Police are looking for a black male with a dark complexion. The suspect is 40-year-old with a heavy build, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. The suspect was last seen in a white Toyota Camry. A partial Maryland license plate was seen with number 39.

Judge Finds that Previous Ruling Stands

One June 2, a DC Superior Court judge decided that the preliminary hearing’s initial ruling would stand.

Kristopher Sims is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to DC Courts, there was no new evidence that undermined the previous probable cause ruling. Judge Michael O’Keefe denied the defense’s request for release.

The motion to reopen the preliminary hearing was an appeal submitted on May 1.

On April 21, DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson also denied the defendant’s motions for humanitarian release and emergency release because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defendant is scheduled for another hearing on Aug. 24.

Judge Gives Murder Defendant More Time to Comply With Release Conditions

A judge continued a hearing on May 22 to give a murder defendant time to comply with release conditions.

Twenty-eight-year-old Olivia Cartwright-Cole, also known as Tristian Tee Cole, Sky Janae Mills and Tristian Melvin Cole, is charged with second-degree murder while armed. She allegedly stabbed 24-year-old Joel David Midgett on the 200 block of K Street, NW in 2015. She is a transgender woman.

Cole is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program. There have been multiple notices of non-compliance since Cole’s release on Feb. 10.

Judge Rainey Brandt continued the hearing so that Cole could get into compliance with the release conditions.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Judge Todd Edelman found probable cause that Cole killed Midgett because a witness was able to identify her.

Another hearing is scheduled for June 26.

Case Continues to Give Time for Forensic Exam

A case will continue so that there is time for the defendant to be evaluated for a 24-hour forensic exam. 

Corina Smyers is charged with simple assault and possession of a prohibited weapon. The weapon in question is a knife.

A mental observation hearing is scheduled for June 9.

Document: Suspect Arrested for Following Shootout

A suspect has been arrested following an exchange of gunfire with a police officer.

The incident took place May 31 around 10:45 p.m. on the 4400 block of Livingston Road, SE, which is located in the Washington Highlands neighborhood of Southeast DC. 

Members of the Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the location because of the sound of gunshots. When they arrived, the suspect fired several rounds with a handgun in the direction of the officers, one of whom returned fire. 

No injuries were reported. The officer, however, is now on administrative leave, per MPD policy.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6935387-6-2-20-Arrest-Made-in-an-Assault-on-a-Police.html” responsive=true]

Document: Man Arrested Following Traffic Fatality

A suspect has been arrested following a traffic fatality that killed two people.

Police arrested Kyle Alexander Wooden, a 32-year-old resident of Southeast DC, on June 1. He has been charged with second-degree murder.

According to a press release, Wooden was traveling at a high speed at the intersection of Bryant Street and North Capitol Street, NE on May 31 when he hit another vehicle. The impact killed the occupants in the second vehicle. 

After the crash, Wooden fled the scene on foot. 

The first victim has been identified as Donald Malloy, an 81-year-old resident of Temple Hills, Md. The second victim has been identified as 79-year-old Mattie Young, a resident of Southeast DC.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6935382-6-2-20-Traffic-Fatality-Intersection-of-Bryant.html” responsive=true]

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reference the identify of the second victim in the fatal crash.

June Murder Trial Not Happening as Scheduled

A murder defendent’s jury trial, which was set to begin June 2, did not happen as scheduled. It has not yet been rescheduled. 

Alphonso Walker has been charged with first-degree murder while armed in the deaths of Anton Brown, a 44-year-old resident from Capitol Heights, Md., and Dalonte Wilson, a 23-year-old resident of Northeast DC. Brown and Wilson were shot on April 25, 2018, on the 400 block of 61st Street, NE, which is located in the Northeast Boundary neighborhood of DC. 

Walker, 42, resided in Northeast DC. He was arrested on Dec. 29, 2018. 

His next court date, a status hearing, is scheduled for June 17. 

Judge Reschedules 8 Citation Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge rescheduled hearings for eight citations on June 2.

The citations, which were for misdemeanor offenses, occurred in April and May.

  • Jeremiah Nicholson is charged with unlawful entry.
  • Marus Lewis is charged with unlawful entry
  • Edward Cowser is also charged with unlawful entry, simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm.
  • Antoinne Butler is charged with threats to do bodily harm, unlawful entry, and second-degree theft.
  • Careitha Long is charged with destruction of property less than $1,000
  • Jerome Mercer is charged with destruction of property less than $1,000
  • Ronald Leach is charged with second-degree theft
  • Luis Gonzales is charged with assault on a police officer

The hearings were not in reference to events that occurred on May 29-31.

Judge Juliet McKenna rescheduled all eight hearings for Aug. 18.