Crime

“Horrible cab incident from DCA, but props to the cops!”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Jennifer

“Dear PoPville,

I just got home [Sunday night] from a business trip and after my boyfriend met me at the airport, we decided to cab home to NoMa instead of risk WMATA on a Sunday. We get to the cab line and are handed the normal piece of paper about fares and hop in the black cab marked INDEPENDENT that the guy pointed to. The immediately very rude driver suddenly adds $5.25 to the meter so I asked why and he gets angry and says “If you want to complain you can get another cab” as he pulls onto the parkway. Just before 395, I told him that he’s only supposed to charge an extra dollar for one additional passenger, not both of us, and he pulls off to the side of the road – where there is no shoulder – and says we can get out right there if we don’t like it and that “this isn’t a DC cab.” I guess he thinks he’s immune to the rules somehow.

I shut up so we can safely get home. When we pulled up to our building, we both realize we have no cash and ask him if he can take card – as all cabs are now mandated to be able to here – and of course he can’t. I told him at that point that he can call his dispatch and they can take my card information since he’s supposed to be able to take a card. He starts yelling at me calling me stupid and pulls out a square, so I hand him my card to pay, and as he’s still yelling at me, notice there’s a cop right in front of us, so I tell him if he doesn’t stop, I’ll get the officer.

He then throws his door open, and gets out of the car, comes right by my open door, yells at me that I’m a “stupid b*tch” at which point my boyfriend flips, and I yell to the cop asking him to come help. Officer Crittendon (1st District) jumped right in and calmed the driver down enough so we could pay and leave. As the driver was protesting demanding my information, the officer somehow managed to calm him down again and send him on his way, but made sure we got a picture of his plate and the taxi ID number on the back first. Officer Crittendon then came up and asked if we were ok again and told us to file a complaint with the Maryland Taxi Commission (that’ll be a fun one to figure out) and handed us his card saying we could get in touch if we had any trouble.

It was such a shitty experience, but I was so relieved that an officer was nearby AND helpful! Had to give props and warn others about shady taxis at DCA.”

Shooting in Petworth at 9:30pm Sunday Night – Daytime Shots Fired Saturday on H Street, NE

By Prince Of Petworth

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via google maps

Tim tweeted us just before 10pm Sunday night:

“Three shots fired on Crittenden in Petworth. @PoPville. Second time in six weeks we’ve had a shooting on this sleepy street. Too many guns.”

MPD tweeted:

“Shooting 2127hrs 1200 blk of Crittenden ST NW LOF 1 B/M 20-25 yrs old 5’2″ wearing a hooded sweatshirt”

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And thanks to all who emailed about the shots fired on H Street, NE Saturday afternoon – though MPD only calls it “sound of gunshots” – report from MPD:

“On September 26, at approximately 4:27 PM, a call came out for sounds of gunshots at the intersection of 8th and H Street NE. The initial investigation revealed that a suspect was shooting at someone at the intersection. After a thorough canvass MPD members were able to locate the suspect and an arrest was made. There were no reports of property damage and no reports of injuries to anyone at that location.”

DC Awarded $1 Million Grant from Obama Administration to Implement Body Worn Cameras

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC

From a press release:

“This week, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced that the Justice Department awarded the District of Columbia $1 million to support the expansion of its Body Worn Camera Program. DC’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has already deployed 400 body cameras in the 5th and 7th Police Districts. Mayor Bowser has proposed funding to equip 2,800 MPD officers who regularly interact with the public with cameras.

“Body Worn Cameras increase accountability, improve police services and strengthen policy-community relations,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “My Administration has developed a program that will put the District of Columbia on the forefront of body worn camera programs. This grant sends a strong message that we are on the right track. We appreciate the support of President Obama and Attorney General Lynch to help us make Washington, DC a safer and stronger city.”

The Mayor’s supplemental budget, passed by the DC Council, includes the additional funding need to implement the program – which covers the cost of 2,400 additional cameras, as well as the cost of Freedom of Information Act requests for video footage. (more…)

“we were awoken to a man in the house at 3am yesterday night…the robber was wearing a police uniform”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user KJinDC

“Dear PoPville,

Last week my neighbor’s home at 15th and Buchanan was robbed twice, likely by the same perpetrator within 12 hours! My husband saw the brazen thief exit through the back with the bike that was reported on your blog, as he was in the ally during broad daylight taking in the trash bin. He looked the guy straight in the eye and got a good description. He was wearing a construction uniform to blend in with the construction workers doing work in the ally.

Fast forward only 6 days, we were awoken to a man in the house at 3am yesterday night, who we chased out. Video surveillance at the back of our house caught the robber wearing a police uniform spending about 15 minutes using tools to manipulate the locks on a back window, and opened it an crawled in the house. This was the same man who broke into the neighboring house last week. (more…)

Suspect Arrested in Another Daytime Shots Fired Incident on Wed.

By Prince Of Petworth

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via google maps

From MPD:

“On September 23, 2015, at approximately 3:00 pm, Fifth District units responded to the 1600 block of Kramer Street, NE, in reference to the sounds of gunshots. Once on the scene, the units interviewed a subject who indicated that unknown person(s) had shot at him and he further advised that he was not injured. Later during the midnight tour on the same date, members of the Fifth District were able to locate two suspects believed to have been involved in the earlier shooting and place them under arrest. Additionally, the officers were able to recover one handgun in the south alley of the 1600 block of Benning Road, NE. This case is an excellent example of the Fifth District Crime Suppression Team and Patrol officers working hand-in-hand with the Fifth District Detectives’ Unit to make an arrest and get another dangerous weapon off the streets of our community.”

Gunshots Fired 8:45am near 5th and Jefferson – Update Arrest Made, Gun Recovered

By Prince Of Petworth

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via google maps

UPDATE from MPD:

“Around 8:40 am, MPD responded to the sounds of gun shots in the area of 5th and Kennedy Streets, NW. A lookout was provided for a subject in possession of a gun. The officers were able to locate this subject and recover a firearm. This person was arrested and charged for possessing the firearm.”

A reader reports:

“police are responding to gunshots on the corner of 5th and Jefferson. 5-6 shots. No injuries.”

Another reader writes:

“i heard 4 very clear gun shots around 8:40, but couldn’t determine the location. i’m closer to the georgia ave metro though.”

“After finding the tills empty, the burglar even busted into the donation containers.”

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all who passed news about Annie’s Ace Hardware getting broken into:

“Did you see that someone broke into Annie’s? After finding the tills empty, the burglar even busted into the donation containers. What a d*ck.”

From MPD:

“The Metropolitan Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest in reference to a Burglary II incident which occurred in the 1200 block of Upshur Street, Northwest, on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at approximately 9:59 pm.

Anyone who has information regarding this case should call police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, information may be submitted to the TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.”

Another Shooting at 14th and V St, NW at 8:25pm Tuesday – Update: Homicide, Suspect Arrested

By Prince Of Petworth

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Update from MPD:

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 1400 block of V Street, Northwest on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at approximately 8:25 pm.

Members of the Third District responded to the sound of gunshots and upon arrival, located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The decedent has been identified as 29-year-old Delany Christopher Epps of Northeast, DC.

Shortly after the shooting on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at approximately 8:28 pm, a suspect was developed and 29-year-old Raphael Antonio Roy of Northwest, DC was arrested. He was charged with First Degree Murder While Armed in the shooting death of Mr. Epps.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.” (more…)

Beware of who you “buzz in to a building, it can have some very severe consequences for you or those around you”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Clif Burns

“Dear PoPville,

Neighbors, I wanted to report a break in at the Adams Court Condominiums on August 28th around 1:30 in the afternoon in Columbia Heights just a block from the metro.

The burglars, whose pictures are attached, were buzzed into the building by a fellow resident (not the owner of the unit that was burglarized) most likely saying they were delivering a package. In roughly 10 minutes they broke into my apartment after picking the lock (cops and the locksmith said they were pros) and ransacked the place, stealing several thousand dollars worth of small electronics and jewelry among other things and then walking calmly back into the activity of the city carrying the items in bags that also belonged to me.

Thank you for sharing! I hope this serves as a lesson to people in condo buildings everywhere to be more aware of who they just “buzz in” to a building, it can have some very severe consequences for you or those around you.

The cops told me there was a string of them happening around Columbia Heights of late. I really want people to be aware of this, especially those in buildings with a buzzer system.”

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