Reader Recounts His Experience with Police Activity on Irving St., NW Yesterday

“Dear PoP,

I thought I would write to you you and give you my account of the police activity that occurred yesterday afternoon on Irving street in between 14th and 15th streets. At around 4:45 PM I was walking east on the north side of Irving street after a ten hour work day at my office in Dupont. I was about 50 yards from the Five Guys when I heard someone yell, “Police! Stop!” I looked up and saw a man running full speed on the south side sidewalk with four or five street clothed police officers (the ones with the badges aroudn their neck) chasing after him. The suspect then ran across the street diagonally towards me. Realizing that I had an an angle on him I threw myself at him (kind of a hockey body check) and knocked the suspect onto the hood of a pickup truck. He then rolled off but by then the police had caught up and tackled him to the ground. The suspect had shoved his arm down the sewer drain and the Police kept yelling “drop it.” I heard a clanging sound from the sewer below and the cops pulled his hand out empty handed. One of the officers turned to me to say thanks and then got on his radio.

I didn’t stick around to see what he was suspected of as I was pretty freaked out at this point. On my walk home to 11th st I saw a lot more police cars on their way to the scene. Any idea what that was all about?”

Wow, that is insane. Props to you for helping out. I can imagine how scary that experience must have been. I think that is when instinct kicks in and you don’t really think about it, you just react. Obviously, I’m glad you didn’t get hurt. Folks have to remember to be careful though particularly if a weapon is involved. Reminds me a bit of this incident from the Columbia Heights metro where a reader helped break up an assault. But thanks again for your response, I’m glad the guy was caught.