Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on April 21, D.C. Witness was able to record 1 crime alert sent out from the Metropolitan Police Department.
At 1:56 p.m. an alert was sent out in relation to a shooting that occurred on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NE. A lookout was released for three black males wearing all black clothing. One of the suspects was wearing a white face mask. The suspects were last seen moving Northbound on North Capitol Street.
On April 21, judges at the DC Superior Court released 11 inmates including five that were being held at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.
Additional results from the proceedings included one defendant’s bond review hearing being delayed and three hearings, that were not in relation to emergency releases because of COVID-19, were vacated. Judges also denied the release of three inmates.
In total there were 18 defendants that had cases. A majority of the cases were for bond review hearings. You can read about each case on dcwitness.org.
None of the proceedings involved homicide defendants.
A DC judge allowed an inmate to be released on April 21. While released, the inmate will also be able to receive services from behavioral health doctors.
Ernestina Njie is charged with simple assault for getting into a fight on a metro bus. According to court documents, Njie allegedly scratched a female victim on the left side of her face and under her nose. The defendant told the police that she was off her medication.
Judge Michael Ryan allowed the defendant to be released on her own recognizance with release conditions that were not specified. Judge Ryan also allowed her to set up services with behavioral health doctors. The set-up will cause the defendant’s release date to be delayed by 48-hours.
Njie was detained in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, since Feb. 24.
The defendant requested release from the institution because of the COVID-19 pandemic on April 20.
Njie has no other hearings scheduled for the future.
A defense attorney agreed April 21 to review a defendant’s medical records before asking a judge to reconsider her ruling on releasing her client.
Travon Eliy was found guilty on April 18, 2019, of assault with the intent to kill a senior citizen in a gun-free zone while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed of a senior citizen while in violation of a gun-free zone, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in a gun-free zone, assault with significant bodily injury of a senior citizen in a gun-free zone, assault with intent to commit armed robbery against a senior citizen while in a gun-free zone.
Eily’s attorney, Heather Pinckney, told DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson that she would review Eily’s medical records before asking the judge to reconsider her denial of his motion to be released due to COVID-19.
Eily’s sentencing is scheduled for July 7.
On April 21, a DC Superior Court judge released an inmate who is awaiting sentencing.
Byron Brooks pleaded guilty to simple assault on Feb. 14 for knocking his neighbor unconscious after accusing him of “taking his K-2 pack.”
According to court documents the victim sustained multiple facial fractures to both sides of the face and left eye.
Judge Danya Dayson released Brooks and rescheduled his sentencing for July 7.
Brooks filed an emergency motion for release on March 18 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A DC Superior Court judge found an inmate competent to stand trial, and released him due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eugene Robinson is charged with unlawful entry of private property.
According to DC Courts, Robinson had a mental competency exam completed on March 12. The results found that he was incompetent to stand trial but would continue to receive competency restoration treatment.
As of April 21, Judge Michael Ryan found that Robinson is competent to stand trial and decided to release him from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution on personal recognizance.
The matter was continued to July 7. Robinson requested release because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 21, a DC Superior Court judge released a defendant who was being held in a psychiatric hospital.
Eugene Petty is charged with simple assault for attempting to hit his caretaker on Nov. 20, 2019.
Petty has been detained at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution since Jan. 31. However, Judge Michael Ryan decided to release Petty on his own personal recognizance with release conditions that were not specified.
According to DC Courts, the judge continued the matter for the next calendar judge on July 7. Petty’s request was made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A DC Superior Court judge asked the prosecution to provide reasoning as to why an inmate should continue to be detained at a mental hospital.
Wade Westmoreland is charged with simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm possession of a prohibited weapon and bail violation.
The prosecutor told Judge Michael Ryan that information on the prosecution’s position was not ready on April 21, but the prosecutor said the information would be ready on April 22.
Westmoreland has been at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC psychiatric institution, since Nov. 6, 2019.
A petition was filed on April 15 that stated that the court received a report from the Department of Mental Health that stated that Westmoreland is currently incompetent to stand trial.
According to the report, there is “no substantial probability that the defendant will attain competence, or make substantial progress towards that goal, in the foreseeable future.”
Westmoreland’s attorney, Marnitta King, said Westmoreland cannot be held at the institution for an indefinite amount of time per a Supreme Court ruling in 1972.
Judge Ryan said he would continue the case until either April 23 or April 24, depending on courtroom availability.
A DC judge released an inmate from a psychiatric hospital April 21.
Milton Pugh Jr. is charged with sex abuse for rubbing himself up against someone while in line at a restaurant. The complainant also said that Pugh knew he did not have consent to touch her.
Judge Michael Ryan released Pugh from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution where he had been held since Feb. 7.
The defendant’s request was made in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pugh is not scheduled for any other hearings at this time.
A DC Superior Court judge released an inmate April 21 from a psychiatric hospital.
Alysia Blackwell is charged with unlawful entry of private property and a bail violation.
Judge Michael Ryan decided to release Blackwell from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution. Blackwell had been detained at the hospital since Jan. 21.
Blackwell requested release from St. Elizabeth’s due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She is scheduled for a status hearing on July 7.
A DC Superior Court judge released April 21 an inmate. The inmate made the request in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gregory Terry is charged with unlawful entry of private property, attempted threats to do bodily harm and simple assault.
Judge Danya Dayson released Terry on personal recognizance but also with pre-trial release conditions put into place. D.C. Witness could not specify what the conditions are.
Terry has no upcoming court date as of April 21.
ADC Superior Court judge released a man April 21 charged with a misdemeanor.
Sheldon Knights is charged with GPS tampering for failing to charge his monitoring device.
Judge Danya Dayson released Knights on personal recognizance, however, she imposed release conditions that were not stated on the DC Courts’ website.
Knights has no other hearings scheduled at this time.
A DC Superior Court judge denied April 21 an inmate’s request to be released from a youth correctional facility. He will remain in the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).
Makhi Inge, 18, pleaded guilty to armed robbery and robbery on Jan. 23. Inge is being charged as an adult despite committing the crimes while he was 17.
Judge Danya Dayson ordered Inge to remain in custody until his sentencing date, which is scheduled on July 7.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect April 21 who may be connected to a homicide that occurred on the 100 block of N Street, NW.
According to a press release, officers arrested 34-year-old Devon Stephens and charged him with first-degree murder while armed (felony murder) for allegedly shooting 34-year-old Eugene Isaac, Jr. on Feb. 15.
Stephens’ is scheduled to make his first appearance in DC Court on April 22. The hearing was originally scheduled to occur on April 21, but it was moved back a day.
On April 17, Lejeevan Toudle, 36, was also charged with first-degree murder while armed (felony murder) in relation to the homicide.
Toudle is scheduled for a felony status conference on June 18.
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The Board of Judges at DC Superior Court recently amended its order for compensation given to victims of crime. The new order will temporarily raise the amounts paid to the victims.
The amended order is the Board of Judges’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order, which began on April 15 will last until Oct. 15.
According to the Board of Judge’s resolution, the Crime Victims Compensation Program’s (CVCP) will compensate victims for up to $750 for food. The original compensation amount was $400.
Victims can also receive up to $9,000 for housing. The amount was raised from $3,000.
The CVCP is in touch with all victims who are currently receiving funding, Leah Gurowitz, director of media and public relations at DC Superior Court and DC Court of Appeals, told D.C. Witness. She said those victims are also eligible to receive funds for emergency housing and food for longer.
All victims who apply to the CVCP between now and the fall will also be eligible to receive higher funds, she said.
All other compensable costs have not been raised.
Applications for the Crime Victims Compensation Program can be accessed on the DC Courts’ site.
