Search Icon Search site

Search

2 more Inmates at DC DOC Test Positive

Two more inmates housed in the Central Detention Facility at the DC Jail tested positive for the coronavirus on April 26.

According to a press release, both inmates are male. One inmate is 28 years old and the other is 36.

As of April 26, 52 inmates have tested positive and are in isolation. Seventy-two inmates have recovered from their illnesses and returned to the general population.

In order for an inmate to return to the general population, that inmate has to be free from fever for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, according to the release. 

The inmate must also show improvements in other symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath. For inmates to go back into general population at least a week needs to pass since the first symptoms appeared, the release says. 

On April 13, the DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) announced that one inmate died from the coronavirus. 

According to the District’s site on the coronavirus, 37 personnel members at the DC DOC have tested positive for COVID-19. Twenty-nine of those members are not at work as of April 26. One personnel member died from the coronavirus. 

13 DC Jail Inmates Test Positive for COVID-19

Thirteen more inmates housed in the Central Detention Facility of the DC Jail tested positive for the coronavirus on April 25. A majority of the 13 are aged in their 20s.

According to a press release, all of the inmates are male. Seven inmates are in their 20s, one inmate is 35, four inmates are in their 40s and one inmate is 57 years old.

As of April 25, 54 inmates have tested positive and are in isolation. Sixty-eight inmates have recovered from their illnesses and returned to the general population.

In order for an inmate to return to the general population, that inmate has to be free from fever for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, according to the release.

The inmate must also show improvements in other symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath. For inmates to go back into general population at least a week needs to pass since the first symptoms appeared, the release says.

On April 13, the DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) announced that one inmate died from the coronavirus.

According to the District’s site on the coronavirus, 37 personnel members at the DC DOC have tested positive for COVID-19. Twenty-nine of those members are not at work as of April 25. One personnel member died from the coronavirus.

Document: Police Arrest Juvenile for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

On April 24, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a juvenile male.

The juvenile is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (gun).

According to a press release, officers responded to the sound of gunshots and found an adult male and two juveniles suffering from gunshot wounds. All three victims were treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital.

The case is still being investigated.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6877199-4-24-20-Arrest-Made-in-an-Assault-With-a.html” responsive=true]

Document: Police Make Arrests for Multiple Robberies

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested multiple suspects for robberies.

On April 21, officers arrested four suspects for robberies in multiple areas of the city. One of the suspect was a 17-year-old juvenile.

One suspect was arrested on April 20.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6877198-4-24-20-Arrests-Made-in-Multiple-Robbery-Offenses.html” responsive=true]

Document: Homicide on A Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested April 24 a suspect who is believed to be connected to a homicide that occurred in Southeast, DC.

According to a press release, 26 year-old Eldred Watts is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 33-year-old Zenus Epps on the 3500 block of A Street, SE on March 25.

Watts is also charged with armed robbery for an offense that occurred on the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE on Jan. 30.

The homicide case is still under investigation.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6877196-4-24-20-Arrest-Made-in-a-Homicide-3500-Block-of.html” responsive=true]

Crime Alerts: April 24

Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., D.C. Witness was able to track three crime alerts sent out from the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The most recent alert was sent out at 6:20 p.m. in relation to a fifth district robbery that occurred on the 300 block of Douglas Street, NE. A lookout was released for two suspects. The first is a black male wearing a grey hoodie and a ski mask. The second is a black male wearing an orange hoodie and black pants. 

Another alert was sent out earlier at 4:57 p.m. in relation to a robbery on the 700 block of Alabama Ave., SE. A lookout was released for a black male in his mid-twenties, wearing a black jacket with white writing on it, as well as blue jeans, and a face mask. He was armed with a handgun and last seen running towards 6th Street, SE. 

The first alert came out at 9:19 a.m. in relation to a carjacking that occurred on the 2500 block of Calvert Street, NW. A lookout was released for a 2006 black Nissan Maurano with unknown Florida tags occupied by a black male. The suspect was last seen wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. 

Written by Wyatt Mullins

Court Update: April 24

On April 22, judges at the DC Superior Courthouse released four inmates.

One defendants’ bond review hearings were carried for a ruling at a later date.

There were four hearings that were not in relation to emergency releases because of COVID-19. Two were status hearings. One was a pretrial show cause hearing which the defendant did not show up for resulting in a bench warrant being issued. One was a motion hearing for an inmate to reduce his sentence which was denied.

Judges also denied the release of six inmates.

In total there were 16 defendants that had cases. A majority of the cases were for bond review hearings. You can read about each case on dcwitness.org.

Leonard Smith was released from a halfway house after parties were able to agree on conditions for release.

Smith, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, and carrying a dangerous weapon (knife) for his alleged roll in the stabbing of 26-year-old Leonte Butler on the 4000 block of South Capitol St., SE, in March of 2017. 

Defendant Who Tested Positive for COVID-19 Denied Removal from Isolation

During an April 24 hearing, a defendant’s request for removal from isolation was denied. 

Jaquel Davis, 19, is charged with receiving stolen property in excess of $1,000, and unauthorized use of a vehicle for an incident that occurred on the 1500 block of South Capitol Street, SW, in June of 2019. 

According to court documents, Davis tested positive for COVID-19. DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson denied his request for release from isolation.

Davis has a probation show cause hearing slated for July 17. 

Written by Wyatt Mullins

Murder Defendant Skips Out on Hearing

A murder defendant did not show at his hearing on April 24.

Michael Anthony Grant, 34, is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly assaulting 33-year-old Lucas Alonzo Thomas on the 3100 block of Randle Place, SE on July 28.

Grant was released to a halfway house in November of 2019. He has been missing from the halfway house since April 17.

He failed to appear to his pretrial show cause hearing and Judge Juliet McKenna issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

A felony status conference is scheduled for July 10.

Murder Defendant Released from Halfway House

A man accused of murder was released from a halfway house on April 24.

Leonard Smith is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Leonte Butler, 26, on the 4000 Block of South Capitol Street, SE in 2017. Smith’s was declared a mistrial on Dec. 3, 2019.

On April 23, Judge Danya Dayson delayed Smith’s hearing until parties could agree on release conditions. The conditions they agreed to were not disclosed however, Smith was released from a halfway house in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smith is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on June 12.

Judge Orders Prosecution to Preserve Video Footage of Jail Unit

A judge required the prosecution to preserve video footage of the floor a jail unit until a defendant’s COVID-19 symptoms were remedied.

Dexter Brown is charged with kidnapping while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson ordered that the prosecution keep track of video footage from Brown’s unit from April 23 until his COVID-19 symptoms subside. Brown is currently in isolation.

Brown’s bond review has been carried until April 29.

Hearing Addresses Defendant’s Medical Concerns

During a status hearing, an assault defendant had his medical concerns addressed. 

Maurice Byars, 28, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed with a firearm, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of an unregistered firearm for an incident that occurred on April 7, 2019. Byars allegedly attempted to assault and kill a victim. 

During the hearing on April 24, the defense addressed medical concerns regarding the defendant, who has been quarantined since April 19, and had multiple visits from health officials in March and April. 

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled a status hearing for June 18. 

Written by Wyatt Mullins

Judge Denies Release to Defendant Who Assaulted An Officer

During an April 24 hearing, a defendant who assaulted a Metropolitan Police Department officer was denied his motion for release. 

Robert Frazier, 38, pleaded guilty on Nov. 25, 2019. He was initially charged with assault of a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, fleeing law enforcement, reckless driving, leaving the scene after colliding with an animal, and unlawful possession of a firearm for an incident that occurred in the 300 block of Parkland Place, SE, on Oct. 24, 2019. D.C. Witness could not confirm the charges he pleaded guilty to.

Frazier is being held without bail. He filed for release because of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 17. 

Two sentencing hearings were set for Frazier, but one was vacated and another changed into a status hearing. On April 17, Frazier’s defense lawyer filed a motion to continue the sentencing. A sentencing date has not been scheduled as of April 24.

Frazier was identified in a car that was previously used in a carjacking and attempted to flee the scene when confronted by officers. 

Frazier has a status hearing set for June 16. 

Written by Wyatt Mullins

Judge Denies Motion for Release

During an April 24 hearing, a judge denied a defendant’s motion for release. 

Antwone Ford, 25, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business for an incident that occurred on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW, on March 9. According to court documents, Ford was openly carrying the weapon. 

Ford’s defense attorney, Joseph Molina, filed a motion for release based on the unsafe conditions in D.C. jails because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson denied the motion for release. Ford is being held without bond. 

He is scheduled for a hearing on June 30. 

Written by Wyatt Mullins