I awoke this morning to find that a vehicle on the 600 b/o Rock Creek Church Road was up on blocks. The wheels were stolen during the night. I’ve alerted MPD but have no further details at this time. However, it is a reminder to us all that we need to be alert and report suspicious activity when we see it.
Vehicle on blocks on the 600 b/o Rock Creek Church Road.
Gee’s Market is located on the southeast corner of Warder Street and Otis Place.
Readers may recall that on February 22nd, officers with the Third Police District made a significant seizure of 50 pounds of KHAT as well as several cartons of cigarettes not authorized to be sold in the District of Columbia at Gee’s Market (3583 Warder Street, NW).
As a follow up, late yesterday MPD’s Commander Kimberly Chisley-Missouri sent out an email that informed the community that due to MPD’s efforts working with other DC Government agencies, the business license of Gee’s Market was revoked earlier in the day. Her email continued: “There has been several community complaints regarding this establishment and we will continue to work with our partnering agencies as this case makes its way through the judicial process.”
In related news, at the March 13th ANC 1A meeting, the Commissioners voted unanimously to request that Gee’s liquor license be revoked. This request was made due to the business’s history of infractions and its location across the street form both an elementary school and recreation center.
Ace check cashing at 3663 Georgia Avenue, from flickr user rockcreek.
When reading the daily crime reports, as many residents do, it is easy to wonder what if anything ever happens to those arrested committing crimes. Yesterday afternoon the 4D listserv posted the release below about a robbery that happened on the corner of Georgia Avenue and New Hampshire on October 6, 2012. It references a check cashing establishment which can only be the Ace at 3663 Georgia Avenue.
I found the report to be more detailed than most and, as it happened in the neighborhood, it will also be of interest to many.
District Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
For Robbery at Check Cashing Store
-With Help From Witnesses, Police Made Quick Arrest-
WASHINGTON – Michael Mitchell, 41, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a four-year prison term after earlier pleading guilty to robbing a check cashing store in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Mitchell pled guilty to a robbery charge in December 2012 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He previously was convicted of multiple violent and theft-related offenses dating to the 1990s. He was sentenced by the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz. Following his prison term, Mitchell will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, Mitchell entered a check cashing store at Georgia and New Hampshire Avenues NW at about 9:35 a.m. on Oct. 6, 2012. At the time, six other customers waited in line, including the victim. After entering the store, he approached the victim, an immigrant to the United States who worked two jobs as a nursing assistant and was in the store to send money home to her family in Uganda. Mitchell then grabbed the victim’s purse and an envelope containing money for her family.
The victim fought back and Mitchell ripped the items from her hands and ran out of the store. Multiple eyewitnesses came to the victim’s aid and helped her chase after her attacker, keeping him in sight. Members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were called and caught Mitchell fleeing in the 3500 block of New Hampshire Avenue NW.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the MPD officers and detectives who investigated the case, as well as the citizens who came forward to assist the victim. He also thanked Paralegal Assistant Todd McClelland and Intelligence Specialist Sharon Johnson for their work on this case. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Selden, from the Superior Court Felony Major Crimes Section, who prosecuted the case.
Image of 3D officers taking another gun off the streets (courtesy of Irving Street resident)
According to the MPD 3d listserv — last night, at approximately 5:45 p.m., Third District Crime Suppression Team officers initiated a traffic stop at the corner of Park Place and Irving Street (3000 block of Park Place), NW on a green, 2002, Oldsmobile Alero that was occupied by 2 males. Further investigation revealed that the driver was not licensed and the passenger was in possession of a handgun. The handgun was seized as evidence and both men were placed under arrest.
The message continued:
The Crime Suppression Team was deployed in the area for the prevention of robberies and this seizure and arrest takes another weapon off our streets tonight. If anyone has any further information regarding this vehicle or its occupants, please call (202)727-9099 or email me directly at aubrey.mongal@dc.gov. Thank you.
From WUSA9 this morning:
A taxicab driver was stabbed during a carjacking in the 500 block of Kenyon St NW, say D.C. police.
Police say the cab driver was conscious and breathing when emergency crews arrived at the scene.
Police are looking for a black 2007 Chevy Impala Black Pearl cab (#194) with DC tags 01939H. It was last seen headed east on Kenyon Street.
They are searching for a black male suspect in his 50′s who is possibly armed with a knife.
According to the MPD 4D listserv, there was a robbery early this morning on Keefer Place. The message from the listserv is below:
Shortly after 1 AM on December 15, 2012, three complainants were inside their vehicle in the 600 block of Keefer Place, NW, when two subjects approached them. One of the subjects displayed a small black handgun and demanded the complainants’ property. The complainants’ complied and gave the suspects their property. The suspects then fled the area on foot. None of the complainants were harmed during this event. The lookout for the suspects is:
1) Black male, 5’11 – 6’0 tall, 200-210 lbs, 20-21 years old, armed with a small black handgun
2) Black male, 6’2 – 6’3 tall, 150-160 lbs, 20-21 years old.
Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is urged to call 1-888-919-CRIM[E] or send a text to 50411.
Two gunshot victims were discovered by MPD on the 600 b/o Newton Place shortly after 10 p.m. last night. I do not yet have any details beyond what MPD send out to the 4D listserv early this morning. I’ve requested more information and will provide an updated when I get one.
From the 4D listerv:
On November 30, 2012, at approximately 10:15 PM, 2 adult male victims were located in the 600 block of Newton Place, Northwest suffering from several gunshot wounds to their legs. Both males were taken to an area hospital for treatment.
The suspects were described as unknown, males, 5’6-5’8” in height, wearing all black clothing and armed with a black color handgun last seen running toward 6th Street, Northwest.
If anyone has any information regarding this assault please call (202) 715- 7506, (202) 727-9099 or by Text: 50-411.
Police in alley between 400 b/o Kenyon and Irving. Photo from Twitter user @DawnCrothers
As many readers may already know, especially if they live in the 400 blocks of Kenyon or Irving streets, there was a shooting in that area a short time past 11 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27th. Yesterday evening, the Washington Post was able to publish a lot more details than had previously been released.
According to the Post, the charging documents in the case detail how a tactical officer in an unmarked vehicle saw Mark A. Vanderhall, 27, of Suitland walking on Georgia Avenue and suspected he had a concealed weapon. The officer, clearly identified, stopped Vanderhall and asked to pat him down. Vanderhall ran and the officer chased in pursuit.
The Post continues …
… Vanderhall ran north on Georgia Avenue, drawing a black handgun from his waistband. Police said the officer got back into his car and chased after the suspect, shouting through his open window, “Police, stop, drop the gun.”
Police said the man made his way back to Kenyon Street and then an alley, where officers tried to box him in. Police [said] he had his gun in his right hand.
Authorities said the man managed to run down another alley, where he stopped. The court documents say the tactical officer jumped out of his vehicle and again ordered Vanderhall to drop the gun.
“The defendant turned to his left and took a police type stance aiming his gun directly at [the officer],” the court documents state. “The [officer] ducked down behind the open door and fearing for his life fired several rounds at [Vanderhall].”
Vanderhall was wounded, conscious and breathing and transported to a hospital. He remains hospitalized in intensive care and “has been charged with felony assault on a police officer and carrying a pistol, according to authorities.” The shooting is also under internal investigation by D.C. Police.
Officers from MPD’s Fourth District are hosting a public meeting this Thursday, September 13th, to discuss the continuing problem of theft from automobiles. While there is no way to completely prevent this crime, there are many things residents can do to minimize their risk — such as not leaving iPhones, backpacks, and other valuables unattended in a locked vehicle.
While the crime statistics in the DC Crime map continue to show increases in theft from autos over last year, it is also important to note that many of these crimes go unreported. For example, the three instances that happened on Saturday, August 25th, do not appear on the DC Crime map page.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Park View Recreation Center — 693 Otis Place, NW (corner of Otis Place and Warder). All residents are welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting as thefts from autos is a city-wide problem.
Location of cars broken into on Saturday afternoon
Theft from autos is still a very real problem in the neighborhood. Due to this, I wanted to remind residents to be vigilant about not leaving things in their cars and — just as importantly — alerting out to town visitors to do the same.
Late Saturday afternoon, August 25th, in broad daylight three cars with out of District plates were broken into and contents removed within an hour of each other. They were on the 600 block of Rock Creek Church Road, the 3670 block of Park Place, and the 3620 block of Warder Street. In two of those instances, back packs had been locked in the car and were visible. The above map shows the approximate location of these incidents — and others may have occurred as well.
According to the DC Crime Map, during the period between July 20-August 19, 2012, there were 19 thefts from automobiles within 1,500 feet of 600 Morton Street compared to 9 during the same period in 2011. This is an increase of 111%.
There are things residents can do to minimize the risk of becoming a statistic. Below is a list from MPD that I posted at the beginning of this year, but the most important thing one can do is to not leave valuables unattended and visible in your car.
"The territory comprising Park View extends from Gresham Street north to Rock Creek Church Road, and from Georgia Avenue to the Soldiers' Home grounds, including the triangle bounded by Park Road, Georgia Avenue, and New Hampshire Avenue" (from Directory and History of Park View, 1921.)
Metrorail disruptions WUSA-TV – DC News Washington Business Journal
