Crime

Ward 1 Council Member Responds to Recent Violence in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo of Ward 1 Council Member Brianne Nadeau by PoPville flickr user Adam Fagen

From the MPD and Columbia Heights listservs:

“Public Safety in Columbia Heights

Many of you are aware there was a shooting yesterday in the Columbia Heights area as well as additional gun fire. I’m working closely with MPD to address these incidents. You’ve probably already noticed an additional MPD presence in the area as a part of the response.

I want to thank everyone who has come forward and assisted the police in their investigation. Anyone with additional information should please call the Metropolitan Police Department on 202-727-9099.

I also want to make sure people have received the information about the public safety meeting hosted by my office and ANCs 1B, 1A and 2B happening this Saturday, June 6 from 11:30am-2:30pm at Cardozo Education Campus. The topic will be crime prevention and how to protect yourself and help reduce crime in the community and it will have representatives from MPD, Emergency Services, Neighborhood Watch and other safety agencies.

I know there are many who feel frightened by the shootings, and I want to assure you that MPD is working diligently to address this issue, and appreciates your partnership in helping to solve the crime. The community working together is the best way to prevent future incidents. MPD is on the street, but also depends on community engagement and each resident sharing the information they observe.

Thank you for your engagement on this issue as we work to solve and prevent these kinds of incidents in the future. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you have any additional concerns: [email protected].

Brianne

—————————–

Brianne K. Nadeau, Ward One Councilmember”

Elementary School Teacher Arrested for Alleged Child Sexual Abuse at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School

By Prince Of Petworth

From MPD:

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Investigations Division have announced that an arrest has been made in a child sexual abuse case. On Monday, June 1, 2015, the Youth Investigations Division received information regarding an allegation of sexual abuse involving a juvenile at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in the 2000 block of 19th Street, NW. School teacher, 31 year-old Giovanni Pena, of Northwest, was arrested by members of the Youth Investigations Division on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 and charged with Second Degree Sexual Abuse of a Child.

Anyone who has information regarding similar offenses involving Mr. Pena is asked to call police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, information may be submitted to the TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. Anonymous information can be submitted by calling or texting anytime.”

Shooting at 14th and Columbia Road, NW around 8:20pm

By Prince Of Petworth

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Multiple readers report a shooting/shots fired at 14th and Columbia Rd, NW.

“5-6 heard gunshots in #ColumbiaHeights on 14th and Columbia, cops chased someone on foot in alley behind @CentroNia. @PoPville”

“@PoPville There was just three shots fired near 14 and Columbia, couldn’t get close but supposedly someone was down.”

At 1pm today there was a shooting at 14th and Girard St, NW. Updates when more is known.

Shooting in Columbia Heights Around 1pm

By Prince Of Petworth

From MPD:

“The Third District is investigating a shooting that occurred in the park area of 14th and Girard.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Metropolitan Police Department on 202-727-9099.

There is conflicting information from the uncooperative victim.

The new location is near 14th and Girard closer to 14th street.”

Update from a reader:

“@PoPville per eyewitness: a guy fell while riding his bike, had a gun in his pocket, discharged 6-7 times, shot himself, collapsed at Hess”

“We’re particularly gutted about both the bike and the laptop”

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

My house up on 14th and Quincy NW was recently robbed while all me and my roommates were asleep. The robber(s) ended up ripping the security bars off of a first floor window and got in through there. We think it must have been a single person, as pretty much only a bike and laptop was stolen. We’ve contacted police and are keeping a vigilant watch on craigslist and the MPD lost and found. Figured we’d appeal the the PoPville as well!

We’re particularly gutted about both the bike and the laptop. The laptop, which is a mid-2009 macbook in a white hard shell incase branded case belongs to my roommate. This laptop had all my roommates school work and photos on it, which she had not backed up.

The bike is a 2014 Felt Z85 that I bought for the purposes of the Bike to the Beach charity ride. It’s more or less brand new and is pretty much the stock configuration from when I got it from bicyclespace. The only unique identifiers would be the black and red Ibera bottle cages and the shimano clipless pedals.The left side of the top tube also has some light scratches on it from a fall.

If anyone sees the laptop or bike, please get in touch with me at dbmaydoney(at)gmail.com. I will buy anyone who helps recover the bike/laptop all the beers!”

“a young man ran up, hopped up on the ledge to get his arms over the fence and into her purse, grabbed her wallet and phone and then ran off”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

“Dear PoPville,

On Saturday evening I was enjoying some drinks with my partner and friends on the patio of Rustik Tavern (around 10:30 pm). Two women were sitting at a table right along the fence, pretty much right in the middle edge of the deck. One of the women’s purse was sitting out on the table, right next to the railing. Although the patio is a bit raised and surrounded by a shoulder-high fence from when you are standing on the sidewalk, as we were sitting there, a young man ran up, hopped up on the ledge to get his arms over the fence and into her purse, grabbed her wallet and phone and then ran off, up T Street. The bag’s owner sprinted after the guy, stopping when he ran into an alley halfway up the block. My boyfriend and friend ran after her, to make sure nothing happened, and then the three of them called the police, who responded quite quickly showing up probably less than 10 min after it all happened. A few minutes prior to the theft, I saw the young man (probably 16-18 years old) walking back and forth in front of the tables, and I realize now he was scoping out what he eventually grabbed.

Luckily no one was hurt (good thing the girl decided to stop chasing him and did not go into the alley), but this and several other similar crimes I heard of happening this weekend are good reminders to keep your bags/valuables out of reach and just to be aware!”

“Armed robbery in front of police station”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear Popville,

While I fully acknowledge that even a strong police force can’t prevent all crime, I do expect the police to have at least some deterrent effect. Which is what makes Friday’s armed robbery directly in front of the 4D headquarters so disturbing. Two men, armed with at least one handgun, were able to rob someone in broad daylight and have not been caught as of the next morning. I live nearby, and can vouch that there are almost always cops sitting in a van in the station parking lot, looking out onto the street. For these criminals to feel no fear of being caught in the act of robbing someone at 4 in the afternoon tells me that there are potentially deep problems within the fourth police district.

When two cars were lit on fire and destroyed right behind this police station last month, I told myself that such a thing could happen only in the dead of night, that it was a one-off event, that I shouldn’t draw any harsh conclusions about the state of the police force. Now, I’m not so sure.

I’m also not sure where to go from here. Is this primarily a morale problem that could be at least partly solved by replacing the 4D commander? Or does this speak to larger, more fundamental issues within the police force that need to be addressed from the top down? As a concerned citizen, where should I focus my attention, and my rage?”

Ed. Note: I’ve found the 4D commander, Wilfredo Manlapaz, to be responsive and overall quite good. Having said that, I feel OP’s frustration.

Props to the Cops and the Community – Arrest Made in an 11am Mugging of an elderly couple

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user KJinDC

From MPD:

“The Metropolitan Police Department announced an arrest has been made in a Robbery Force and Violence offense against an elderly couple, which occurred on Friday, May 29, 2015, near the intersection of 23rd and Q Streets, Northwest at approximately 11:00 am.

On Friday, May 26, 2015, at approximately 3:00 pm, officers and detectives from the Second District arrested 50-year-old Milton Hood of Northwest, DC after receiving help in identifying the suspect, from the community.”

Woman Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder While Armed In Stabbing of David Messerschmitt at the Donovan Hotel in February

By Prince Of Petworth

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From MPD:

“Jamyra Gallmon, 21, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder while armed for the Feb. 9, 2015 murder of David Messerschmitt in a robbery at a downtown Washington hotel, announced Acting U.S. Attorney

Vincent H. Cohen, Jr. and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Gallmon pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a sentence between 18 and 25 years.

Also today, a co-defendant, Dominique Johnson, 19, also of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery for her role in events on the day of the crime. Johnson faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison.

The Honorable Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for both defendants to take place on Aug. 14, 2015. (more…)

“A woman with a very young baby in a carrier had her wallet and phone snatched…it was inspiring to witness the fearless tenacity of some of our neighbors”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the New Hill East listserv Thursday:

“I wanted to send thanks out to the amazing people who chased down a robber at Lincoln Park this afternoon.

A woman with a very young baby in a carrier had her wallet and phone snatched. The thief took off across the park, pursued by at least 2 people on foot. Confronted by another pedestrian outside P&C Market where the first pursuers caught up to him, he handed over the things he had stolen. He then tried to get away with the young woman he had originally been walking with. At that point a jogger with a dog accosted him and kept him company until the police arrived and took him into custody.

With all the recent assaults and fear in the air, and as someone who wasn’t quite sure what to do when a crime was playing out just across the street, it was inspiring to witness the fearless tenacity of some of our neighbors. Thank you!”

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