PG & DC Police Chase 14-Year-Old Carjacker Through 4th and 5th Districts

No injuries were reported from the 4-car accident caused by the chase...from NBC4:

Prince George's County Police initiated a chase of a carjacked Jeep Cherokee driven by a 14-year-old boy Monday afternoon.

Police on patrol spotted the Jeep, which they said was carjacked at gunpoint on Nov. 15, and tried to pull it over in the area of Eastern Avenue near Riggs Road.

Police pursued the Jeep after it fled.

The chase went for several miles at varying speeds through neighborhoods in the district.

The Jeep went down Missouri Avenue, past the Fourth District Station, down 16th Street, down North Capitol Street, and out Rhode Island Avenue before ending up in the 3800 block of Harewood Road, NE, where the driver fled onto the campus of Catholic University, according to officials.

The driver was arrested a short time later. D.C. Police from the fourth and fifth districts, along with the D.C. Police Helicopter and Prince George's County Police assisted in the chase.

Police said the chase contributed to a four-car accident, but no injuries were reported.

Ward 5 Education Town Hall Meeting - Thursday, August 2nd

I've been out of town for a few days and am just catching up on the news....I'm aware of the shooting at Edgewood Terrace that left 7 wounded (where we seem to need "all hands on deck" at all times, not just on special occassions) and the off-duty firefighter who was shot and carjacked. Both of these incidents suck, and August is just beginning.

- - -

What: Share your thoughts and concerns about DC Public Schools with Ward 5 Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr. and new Chancellor Michelle Rhee

When: Thursday, August 2nd, 2007, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Agenda: 6:30 p.m. Athletic Field Walk-Thru; 7:00-9:00 p.m. Forum

Where: McKinley Technical High School, 151 T Street, NE

For More Information Contact: Ward 5 Council Office at 202.724.8028

**In anticipation of the townhall meeting, Harry Thomas's office has created an education survey you can take here. The results will be shared at the meeting.**

Armed Carjackings this Afternoon in the 4800 Block of 8th Street NE

From MPD-4D Commander, Hilton Burton:

This afternoon, within the last hour [message was sent at 5:36pm], there were two carjackings involving a dark green or black Jeep. Both carjackings took place in the 4800 block of 8th street NE. The current lookout we have is for 2 black males armed with a shotgun and a hand gun driving a black or dark green Jeep. Anyone with information about these suspects should call 911.

Carjackings and Abductions Near CUA, Hyattsville

MPD is working with the PG County Police Department on a recent series of seemingly related carjackings and abductions. From MPD:

Sometime after 7 pm, on Wednesday, November 8, 2006, a 23-year-old female operating a 2001 Pontiac Aztec near 12th and Newton Streets, NE, stopped behind a silver Honda [Accord]. It was at this time that a man displayed a handgun and forced the woman into the passenger seat of her Aztec and began driving her vehicle. At some point, she was forced into the trunk of a Honda, while another subject got behind the wheel of her Aztec and drove away. The victim is unclear as to how long she was driven around before she was placed in the trunk of the Honda.

At approximately 7:30 pm, on Wednesday, November 8, 2006, a 27-year-old female was entering a 2006 Chevy Cobalt in a parking lot in the 300 block of Taylor Street, NE. It was at this time that she was stopped by a white Mitsubishi and silver Honda. A man armed with a handgun entered her vehicle and drove off. The woman jumped from the car and made good her escape. It is reported that a short time later that night a man and woman were abducted in Prince George’s County, Maryland [Hyattsville]. The suspect in this case attempted to force the female into the trunk of the Honda, which was already occupied by the female abducted from 12th and Newton Streets, NE. The man and woman in this case managed to escape.

The woman in the trunk of the Honda is uncertain as to the length of time she was driven around and was in the trunk of the vehicle. However, her captors released her near her car in the Northeast section of the city after robbing her of cash, credit cards and a cell phone.

The suspect in the Newton Street case is described as a black male, 18 to 20 years old, approximately 5’5” tall, weighing 130 to 140 pounds, with a long pony tail and wearing a mask. The suspect in the Taylor Street case is described as a medium complexioned black male, approximately 6’1” tall, with a slim build, wearing dark jeans and a mask.

Anyone with information about these cases is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099. The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any robbery committed in the District of Columbia.

WaPo and NBC4 have additional details. Apparetnly the Honda was stolen on Sunday morning in Lanham and, the Post adds, "Prince George's police are investigating whether the carjackings are related to possible serial rapes. In the past month, at least four women have been assaulted after being abducted at gunpoint and forced to drive to various locations, where they were raped. [Diane Richardson, a Prince George's police spokeswoman] said that there is no evidence to suggest a connection but that police had not ruled one out."

Suspect(s) Sought in Armed Robberies/Carjackings in Woodridge

I know most of us take precautions when out in the evenings, but these incidents all occurred in the early morning, presumably as folks are heading off to work or returning from their night shifts. Luckily, no one was hurt, but I can't help but think about how pissed - and perhaps more inclined to use the gun - the perpetrator(s) must be, since two of the attempts failed. I'd like to remind everyone that pepper spray (NOT mace) is legal in the District, though it must be registered with the MPD. I purchased mine from Arnold Passman of Live Safe America when he spoke on personal safety at my office; if you tell him you live in DC, he can supply you with the proper paperwork to file. From MPD:

The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in identifying and locating the person or persons responsible for a series of similar armed offenses committed against female victims within the Fifth District. None of the victims in these cases sustained physical injuries.

The first offense, an armed carjacking, occurred in the 3400 block of South Dakota Avenue, NE, at about 4:30 am, on Saturday, August 5, 2006. Reportedly, an adult female was approached by a tall, thin black male armed with a silver colored handgun while she sat behind the wheel of her auto at a red traffic light. The suspect entered the passenger side of the auto and made the victim drive. He then directed her pull over in the vicinity of 20th Street and South Dakota Avenue, NE, where he told her to exit the vehicle and then forced her into the trunk of her car. The suspect drove for a while, and apparently picked up another black male. At some point, the victim was coerced into revealing the Personal Identification Number (PIN) for her ATM card. The suspect(s) then obtained cash from the victim's bank account. The victim was released from the trunk of her car in the area of 20th and Franklin Streets, NE, and her car and keys were returned to her before the gunman fled on foot.

The second offense, an attempted armed carjacking, occurred in the area of South Dakota Avenue and 22nd Street, NE, at about 5:17 am, on Wednesday, August 9, 2006. As she sat behind the wheel of her auto, an adult female was approached by a tall, thin black male wearing a white mask and a white tee shirt and armed with a silver colored handgun. The suspect threatened the victim with the gun, but she drove away.

The third offense, an attempted armed carjacking, occurred in the 2600 block of South Dakota Avenue, NE, at about 5:30 am, on Wednesday, August 9, 2006. As she sat behind the wheel of her auto, an adult female was approached by a tall, thin black male wearing a white mask and a white tee shirt and armed with a silver colored handgun. The suspect threatened the victim with the gun, but she drove away.

The fourth offense, an armed robbery, occurred in the 3800 block of 22nd Street, NE, at about 5:44 am, on Wednesday, August 9, 2006. An adult female waiting for a [G8] bus at a bus stop was robbed at gunpoint by a tall, thin black male wearing a white mask and a white tee shirt and armed with a silver colored handgun. The suspect stole the victim's purse and fled on foot through the north alley.

These cases are under investigation members of the MPDC/FBI Robbery Task Force and Fifth District detectives. Anyone with information about these offenses is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any robbery committed in the District of Columbia.

I'll post updates if/when they come in.

Bad Day on NE Gateway Streets

Around 7am four suspected carjackers were arrested after crashing into several cars and flipping "their" SUV on New York Avenue, NE near Bladensburg Road. Then, at aproximately 8:20am, a gasoline tanker collided with a tractor-trailor on Kenilworth Avenue at Eastern Avenue. The cab of the tanker caught fire; luckily the 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel it was carrying did not. Inbound New York Avenue has reopened, but those using both northbound and southbound 295 should look for alternate routes. Be careful!

2nd Arrest Made in Connection with Carjacking and Robbery Spree

From the latest update in the WaPo, it looks like the 16-year-old kid arrested at the National Zoo early Tuesday is connected:

Police officials said they also had renewed interest in the 16-year-old District youth arrested after a car chase early Tuesday. The pursuit began about 12:30 a.m. after police spotted another Nissan that had been carjacked just an hour earlier in Northeast Washington.

The youth was caught inside the National Zoo, arrested and charged with unlawful entry. Police said Tuesday afternoon they did not think he was connected to the spate of crimes.

That night, crime scene technicians realized a key seized from the youth belonged to another carjacked vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe stolen in Northeast Washington Monday afternoon, police said.

And there's just nothing better than getting caught in front of a pawnshop tearing the speakers out of a stolen vehicle:

John West was ordered held without bail pending a hearing Friday in D.C. Superior Court. West, of no fixed address, was arrested Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of a pawnshop on Georgia Avenue NW. He was driving one of the carjacked vehicles, a tan Chevrolet Blazer, police said.

As West tried to rip out one of the speakers in the hopes of selling it to the pawnshop, he was arrested, police said. In West's pocket, investigators found the key to the carjacked vehicle of the off-duty officer, police said.

Video of the carjacking at the Universal Ballet Academy on Harewood Road NE here.

DC, MD Hit by Carjacking-Robbery Wave

WaPo article here. Looks like the last, and possibly related, carjacking took place at 24th and Perry Streets NE.

This update was given by Lt. Donald Craig this morning on the MPD-5D listserv (includes additional crimes):

Last night there was a homicide in the 2000 block of 3rd Street N.E. The decedant was the target and we made an arrest for Carrying a Pistol Without a License. The case should be closed out rather quickly on the homicide charge.

Then we had an Armed Carjacking at 24th and Perry Place N.E. About an hour later the vehicle was spotted at 4th and Franklin Street and fled from our officers. The stayed with the car until the suspects bailed out in the Third District. One arrest was made but the other suspect(s) got away. We are checking to see if they are related to the robberies and carjackings that occurred yesterday.

Then there was an attempted robbery in the 3100 block of Rhode Island Avenue N.E. The complainant was shot and then drove himself to the hospital. If anyone has any information about this please send Lieutenant Hughes an e-mail.

Finally Officers Oden and Hinton answered a call for a Theft from Auto at 123 W Street N.W. They caught the subject in the act and tried to arrest him but he resisted. During the struggle Officer Hinton was injured (nothing too serious though). They finally were able to handcuff him. He was charged with Assaulting a Police Officer and First Degree Theft.

Updates: The article now has more details (it's grown from 1 page to 2), and a new graphic of the crime spree is here. MPD's press release is here.