Police Arrest 19 Suspects in Beginning of April

The Metropolitan Police Department has arrested 19 suspects as of April 10.

One suspect is charged with robbery, six suspects are charged with burglary, one suspect is charged with destruction of property and seven suspects are charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. Two of the 12 suspects have multiple charges.

Seven of the arrested suspects are juveniles.

Suspects

Tavesa Nitinia Rose-Moore was arrested April 10. the 43-year-old is charged with assault with intent while armed (knife) for allegedly stabbing a woman on the 400 block of M Street, SE earlier that day.

Thomas Christopher White, 58, was arrested on April 10. He is charged with burglary two for allegedly forcibly gained entry to a construction site office on the 800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Once inside, the suspect took property then fled the scene.

Ryan Harding, 24, was arrested on April 9 for allegedly entering a residential building located on the 1900 block of 3rd Street, NW on April 8 and taking property. He is being charged with burglary two and destruction of property.

Geovanny Alexis Grandos Turcios, 28, was arrested on April 7. He is being charged with burglary two for allegedly taking property out of an establishment located on the 3500 block of Garfield Street, NW on April 6.

A juvenile was arrested and charged with robbery (snatch). The juvenile allegedly snatched property from a victim on the 1800 block of 1st Street, NW earlier that same say.

Another juvenile was arrested on April 6. The juvenile was charged with armed robbery (knife). On March 30, the juvenile allegedly was one of two suspects who approached a victim, brandished a knife and fled the scene, located on the 2000 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE with property. The case is still under investigation.

Earnest Brown, 44, is being charged with burglary 2 for allegedly brandishing a knife during a dispute on April 6. The incident allegedly occurred on the 2500 block of 10th Street, NE. He was arrested on the same day.

Two 16-year-old juvenile males were arrested for burglary two April 6 for taking several vehicles from an establishment located on the 6200 block of Chillum Place, NW on Jan. 9.

The juveniles took a 2017 Mini Clubman, 2016 Ford Fusion, 2014 Honda CRV, 2015 Audi Q5, 2016 Volvo S60, 1997 Mercedes E420 and 2003 Honda Accord. All vehicles were recovered, according to the release. The juveniles were arrested on April 6.

Christian Anthony Davis-Gooding, 21, was arrested on April 6 and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (gun). He allegedly brandished a handgun, saw an officer and ran from the scene located on the 700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE earlier that day.

Two juveniles were arrested April 4 and charged with armed robbery (gun) for allegedly approaching a victim, brandishing a gun and demanding money. The robbery occurred on the 100 block of Wayne Place, SE on April 1.

Malick Gueye, 45, was arrested and charged April 4 with assault with a dangerous weapon (knife). He allegedly brandished a knife during a dispute on the 1400 block of Perry Place, NW earlier that day.

Travis Littlejohn, 35, was arrested on April 3 for allegedly shooting four individuals on the 3500 block of Clay Place, NE on July 5. He is being charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (gun). All four victims were treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

A juvenile was arrested and charged April 3 with robbery (force and violence) for allegedly assaulting a victim and taking property on the 1600 block of Columbia Road, NW earlier that day.

Willie Johnson, 63, was arrested April 2 and charged with burglary one. He allegedly took property from an occupied residence on the 4000 block Q Street, SE on March 24.

Wendell Eugene Hawkins, 26, was arrested on April 2 and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. He allegedly brandished a glass bottle and assaulted a victim during a dispute on March 31. The victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Jason Washington, 28, was arrested on April 2 and charged with robbery and burglary two. He allegedly committed two offenses, one on Dec. 21, 2019, when he assaulted a victim and took property and another on Jan. 20 where he took property from an establishment. Both incidents occurred on the 4400 block of Benning Road, NE.

Kimani Octavious Cromartie, 27, was arrested on April 2 and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (gun). He allegedly fired at an individual on the 3700 block of D Street, SE on Nov. 19, 2019.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to show additional arrests in the beginning of April that were announced after the post published.

Judge Denies Motion for Release Despite Low Cash Bond

A DC Jail inmate was denied her release despite having a low cash bond.

Teela Lott is charged with unlawful entry-private property, attempted threats to do bodily harm, simple assault and violation of bail.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied Lott’s motion to be released even though she is currently being held on a $25 cash bond.

The case is being continued, so that it can be heard by Judge Jonathan Pittman, the judge who has presided over case.

Lott is not scheduled for any future hearings at this time.

Judge Denies Release of Inmate After Re-Arrest

A DC judge denied April 10 the release of a DC Jail inmate after being re-arrested on new charges.

Aaron Williams pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license after being re-arrested on March 2.

Williams previously pleaded guilty to robbery and carrying a pistol without a license in 2018. He was sentenced to serve his sentence under the Youth Rehabilitation Act which he violated with his March 2 re-arrest.

Judge Neal Kravitz denied his request to be released.

Williams is scheduled for sentencing on May 29.

Robbery Defendant Denied Release

On April 9, a robbery defendant was denied his release from DC Jail.

Zaid Morgan is charged with robbery committed while released and attempted identity theft in the second-degree. He allegedly committed the offenses during his release.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied the motion to release Morgan.

Morgan was initially charged with robbery and released with conditions on March 4, 2019. Morgan allegedly violated the terms of his release by committing two more offenses. He was rearrested on April 30, 2019.

Judge Denies Murder Defendants Request for Release Despite COVID-19 Concerns

A DC Superior judge denied a murder defendant’s request for release because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Herman Sylvester Williams, 28, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 36 year-old William Boykin on the 2600 block of Birney Place, SE on May 28.

On March 31, Williams’ attorney, Ieshaah Murphy, filed a motion to release Williams due to concerns over the coronavirus.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied the motion.

Williams is scheduled for a status hearing on June 16.

DC Court of Appeals Cancels July DC Bar Exam

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic the DC Court of Appeals has decided to cancel its July DC Bar Exam.

According to the DC Courts website, Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the DC Court of Appeals announcedApril 10 that the Court will not administer the July 2020 DC Bar Exam due to the ongoing public health emergency arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While we are making this decision several months in advance, we believe it necessary given the uncertainty that we currently face, including no firm date on which public gatherings – such as taking an exam – will be allowed. We do not make this decision lightly, understanding the impact it has on hundreds of recent law graduates and others seeking admission to the DC Bar,” she said just after the Court issued the order.

The DC Court of Appeals will make a decision on a Fall exam by early May and is considering expanding the rules to allow recent law school graduates to practice law in DC on a temporary basis.

“The Court understands that recent law school graduates are anxious to be certified to practice law as soon as possible, but we must balance that with public safety and our obligation to protect the public by ensuring that persons licensed to practice law in the District are competent and possess the requisite character and fitness,” the Chief Judge continued. “In the next few weeks, we will not only evaluate whether a fall exam will be possible, but we will also explore options that would allow law school graduates seeking bar admission in D.C. to practice here on a temporary basis should the pandemic adversely affect our regular admissions process for an extended period.”

For more information, please check the Committee on Admissions webpage, which will be updated no later than May 4, 2020, with further details.

Judge Denies Murder Defendant’s Release Request to Prevent COVID-19 Contraction

A DC Superior Court judge denied a murder defendant’s request for release, which was filed in order to prevent his contraction of COVID-19.

Javon Gunter, 18, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 15-year-old Thomas Johnson on Oct. 9, 2019, on the 1300 Block of Half Street, SW.

Judge Neal Kravitz denied Gunter’s release after asking the prosecution to file a response to the defenses motion on April 9.

Gunter was released to a halfway house on Jan. 4. However, on Feb. 14 DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson reversed the decision after the prosecution made the argument that the killing of Johnson was a, “targeted assassination.”

DC Jail COVID-19 Cases Reduce Despite More Positive Results

As of April 10, six more inmates at the DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) tested positive for COVID-19.

The DC DOC reported that there are now 39 inmates in custody who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Eight inmates have recovered from their illnesses and were released back into the general population.

The inmates who recently tested positive are male. Four of the six inmates are in their 30s, one is in his mid-forties and another inmate is 50 years old.

Five of the inmates, who recently contracted the virus, were being quarantined at the Correctional Treatment Facility after they had been in close proximity to an individual who tested positive, a press release from the DC DOC said. The other inmate was being quarantined in the Central Detention Facility as a precautionary measure for new inmates.

The number of inmates who have the virus is two less than the 41 confirmed cases the DC DOC reported on April 9. According to a press release, the 39 inmates are in isolation.

The DC DOC’s medical division is working with the the DC Department of Health to trace any contact the individuals may have had.

Several Business Violate Mayor’s Orders during COVID-19 Pandemic

The Metropolitan Police Department reports that there have been 20 violations of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s orders during the coronavirus pandemic.

To minimize the number of individuals who contract the virus, the mayoral administration has enacted several orders that prevent mass gatherings of more than 10 people, require eating establishments to stop dine-in service and the close all non-essential businesses until April 24, according the District’s site on it’s reponse to the COVID-19 virus.

Even though the orders on large gatherings have changed since being enacted in mid-March, businesses continue to violate them.

According to documents obtained from the MPD, businesses in all four quadrants of the city have received violations since from mid-March to April 4 for not abiding by the mayor’s orders during the pandemic.

Documents show that 16 business located in Northwest, DC have violated orders by serving patrons inside dining establishments, holding large gatherings, violating the 10pm business curfew and disregarding the order for the closure of non-essential businesses.

Three of those businesses, including a retail company and two eating establishments have received multiple violations.

As of April 8, the mayor issued another order that implements social distancing protocols at retail food sellers, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, food banks and food halls.

The order does not apply to restaurants or other facilities that prepare food for delivery carry out or grab and go. However establishments must maintain social distancing protocols with markers outside and/or within the locations. The order does not apply to schools or senior centers that provide free food to students or the public.

Farmers markets and fish markets no longer qualify as essential businesses.

Read more information about the coronavirus in the District, here

Judge Reduces Inmate’s Sentence

A DC Department of Corrections inmate received a reduced sentence April 10, which resulted in his release from confinement.

On April 8, DC Superior Judge Juliet MCKenna e-signed documents granting the defense’s motion to reduce David Brown’s sentence. The defense filed the motion on March 14. Brown’s defense attorney, Susan Ellis, filed a motion to reduce his sentence.

Brown, 59, pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree theft and simple assault on June 28, 2019.

Brown’s sentence was reduced to a 45 days with credit for time served. He was placed on supervised probation for 18 months.

Brown must pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Act by April 8, 2021.

On April 9, Brown was sentenced to a 180 days or about 6 months for each charge. The sentences were scheduled to run concurrently.

Document: Fatal Shooting in Benning Ridge

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting on the 1200 Block of 44^th Place, SE.

According to a press release, 19-year-old Taejuan King was located April 9 suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The department is offering up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in Washington, DC. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE — 50411.

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Judge Denies Inmate’s Motion for Release during COVID-19 Pandemic

On April 10, DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied an inmate’s motion for release, which was filed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Vincente Tillman, pleaded guilty on March 10 to unlawful possession of a firearm and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

According to the motion, Tillman is requesting release because he suffers from asthma, which puts him at a high risk to contract the virus that attacks the respiratory system.

A ruling on Tillman’s motion for release was continued from April 8 so the defense could gather Tillman’s medical records for additional support for his motion.

According to court documents, on June 18, 2019, Tillman drove a 2008 white Mercedes without the owner’s consent. He was also arrested in December of 2019 after officers received information that several individuals were in possession of several firearms inside the hallway of an apartment building located on the 200 block of V Street, NW.

When officers arrived at the location, they noticed a group of individuals in the hallway. The individuals ran after seeing the police, documents state.

When officers followed, one noticed several individuals trying to access an apartment that was located on the second floor of the building. After further investigation, officers discovered that five individuals entered the apartment unbeknownst to the unit’s leaseholder.

Four of the five individuals were located in a room where officers located several firearms.

Police recovered an AR-semi-automatic pistol, two black .40 caliber Glock 23 pistols, and one black and silver Ruger pistol with a slide laster. All four guns had ammunition in the chamber and magazine, according to court documents.

The information that the officers received identified two people in possession of firearms. The identifications matched Tillman and another suspect in the room at the time of arrest.

DC Jail Coronavirus Cases Increase

The DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) reported that the number of Coronavirus cases increased to 41.

According to a press release from the department, four resident in the facility tested positive for the virus. The residents include one female, who is in her early 30s, and three men who are in their late forties and mid-fifties.

At the time the inmates tested positive, they were in quarantine at the Correctional Treatment Facility. The inmates were apparently in close proximity to another inmate that tested positive, the release said. The inmates are now in isolation and being monitored by medical staff.

The District’s site on the coronavirus shows that, as of April 9, there are 230 inmates in quarantine at the DC DOC. The number did not change from the amount of inmates quarantined on April 8.

The release said that eight inmates have recovered from the virus.

Eleven DC DOC personnel have tested positive for the virus as of April 9, according to the District’s site. Fourteen staff members have been cleared to return to work.

DC Police Modify Access to Headquarters

As of April 9, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has modified operations at its headquarters.

According to a press release, access to the MPD Headquarters building will be restricted to employees and members of the public with confirmed appointments. Restricted access went into effect immediately.

Members of the public should not show up, in-person, to MPD Headquarters to schedule an appointment. Instead, residents should refer to the options listed in the table.

What do I need?	Who do I call to make an appointment?
Obtain an Incident/ Offense/Traffic Report	Contact MPD’s Records Branch: Email: records.adminbox@dc.gov For appointments call: (202) 671-6705.
Obtain a Criminal History Report	Contact MPD’s Records Branch: Email: records.adminbox@dc.gov For appointments call: (202) 671-6705
Register a Firearm	Contact MPD’s Firearm Registration Branch: Email: gru.adminbox@dc.gov For appointments call: (202) 671-6705
Fingerprint Services	Contact MPD’s Civilian Fingerprint Section: Email: gru.adminbox@dc.gov For appointments call: (202) 671-6705

MPD requests that members of the public not schedule appointments or arrive to the facility should they be exhibiting flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms. People who are awaiting test results by medical staff for COVID-19 should also refrain from scheduling appointments or going to the facility.

All individuals who enter MPD Headquarters must submit to and pass a general health screening and temperature check.

For the latest information on DC’s response to COVID-19, please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.

DC Superior Court Motions for Release

In the wake of COVID-19, several inmates have filed motions for release.

According to Leah Gurowitz, director of media and public relations at DC Superior Court and DC Court of Appeals, judges are handling the requests as they come in. She said some motions for release can be decided the day of while others need to schedule hearings.

On April 9, 12 cases were heard by judges at DC Superior Court. Some cases were heard via telecommunications while others were held in person.

Four inmates’ request for release was denied.

Devin Hill is charged with first-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in the death of 28 year-old Michael Cunningham on Nov. 29.

Hill’s attorney Roderick Thompson, filed the motion for his release because Hill has a medical conditions that could increase his chances to contract COVID-19.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz, who presided over the hearing via phone, continued Hill’s hearing until April 17.

Lionel Garrison was the only defendant to have his charges dropped on April 9.

Seven defendants had their hearings continued until April 10. Three of these inmates were charged with felonies.

Javon Gunter 18, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 15-year-old Thomas Johnson on Oct. 9, 2019, on the 1300 Block of Half Street, SW.

After initially being released to a halfway house on Jan. 4, the decision to release Gunter was reversed on Feb. 14.

Travis Russell, 35, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Michael Hooker, 44, on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on May 26, 2019.

Travis’ defense attorney Mani Golzari made attempts to find Travis suitable housing pending the acceptance of the motion to release. However, since he could not find housing the hearing was continued until April 10.

No bench warrants were issued during proceedings.

As of April 9, DC Superior Court is operating through four courtrooms for adult arraignments and presentments, family court emergencies, neglect and juvenile hearings, criminal and domestic violence emergencies and civil, probate and tax emergencies, according to the DC Courts site. Most of the hearings are being conducted remotely.

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