Blog Archives
Overnight: Gunshots on Holbrook Terrace and Stabbing at Layla Lounge
The Police Department issued the following alert by email yesterday after 11:30 pm:
“Alert: 5D is working a confirmed shooting at 1128 HOLBROOK TER NE DC.
DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/ EVENT #I20150612057
Sent to 5th District (PSA 501-507) Alert DC
Sent by MPD Cad #7623”
The Twitter notice provided additional details:
No additional information has been posted on that event and there was no victim identified in the shooting. Anyone with information should contact MPD.
There was also a stabbing incident last night at Layla Lounge near Union Market on Morse Street. The press release from MPD on the homicide is below.
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Public Information Office 202-727-4383
October 22, 2015
Homicide: 500 Block of Morse Street, Northeast
(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that took place in the 500 block of Morse Street, Northeast, on Thursday, October 22, 2015, at approximately 1:10 am.
Members of the Fifth District responded to the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, they located an adult male within the block suffering from stab wounds, who was unconscious and unresponsive. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to area hospital. The victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The decedent has been identified as 19-year-old Eric Jones of Clinton, Maryland.
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.
Crime Mapper
Do you ever wonder which way crime trends shift in the neighborhood or if what you are seeing matches statistics?
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has a crime mapper that is used to search by address, Police Service Area, or District, and other geographic or site locators such as a recreation center, school, or ward. Timeframes can be 30 or 60 days, a year or calendar year to date. Statistics are measured against the same time frame in the prior year.
Not all crime are covered but it does track property crimes (theft, burglary, theft from auto, etc.) and violet crimes (homicides, sex assault, robbery, assaults, etc.).
You can access the tool on the Crime Map website.
Hit and Run and/or Stolen Car?
This morning a driver in a white Stratus with Virginia tags exited the alley behind West Virginia Avenue NE turned right onto Owen Place NE and rammed into a black BMW parked on the street. The black SUV was pushed on the sidewalk and into a tree. The driver fled the scene.
Neighbors who were outside and witnessed the crash called 911. It is likely that the white car may have been stolen and then abandoned after the crash. No one was injured in the accident.
MPD will be at the TNA regular August meeting tomorrow for a security update. Please join us and bring questions you may have for them regarding crime and crime prevention in the neighborhood. Also on the agenda are the Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity and 405 Yoga (opening at FL Ave and W Va Ave). The meeting will start at 7 pm at the Trinidad Recreation Center on Childress Avenue NE.
Mayor Bowser’s Statement on Public Safety
Dear Washingtonians,
As Mayor, my top priority is your safety. While crime as a whole remains flat, the District of Columbia has experienced a spike in violent crime in 2015, similar to what is happening in cities across the country – from Los Angeles to Milwaukee to New York. I want you to know that my Administration is working around the clock to prevent crime, respond swiftly when it happens, and hold criminals accountable.
Over the past several weeks, I have been meeting with my public safety team on a frequent basis, talking to community leaders, and working with our federal public safety partners to address violent crime in the District. Meanwhile, Police Chief Lanier continues to keep MPD officers on the forefront of effective policing. Just last week, the Chief hosted a national summit with big city police chiefs to identify trends and share best practices.
We are using proven methods and trying new ones to tackle crime. MPD has increased its street presence through a combination of foot, bike, and Segway patrols. We are beefing up our patrols in neighborhoods that have experienced higher levels of crime. And we are using every tool at our disposal to prevent the violence that occurs from synthetic drugs – including our new law that punishes bad acting businesses that sell these extremely harmful and dangerous substances.
We are also working hard to close cases: we will find and arrest individuals that commit violent crime. We work closely with Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent Cohen and our federal partners to ensure that criminals are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that their sentences reflect the harm they cause to our communities.
Most importantly, we are listening to the residents of DC. Remember, during an emergency, you should call 911. And if you have information about a crime, we urge you to send an anonymous message to MPD’s text tip line (50411). If you see something, please say something.
As we fight crime, we continue to build stronger ties between the police force and District residents. Our officers regularly attend ANC and community meetings, and they conduct frequent neighborhood walkthroughs. Residents can sign up for MPD’s neighborhood listserv groups HERE.
Together, we are stronger. We need your continued involvement and support to maintain the strength and vibrancy of our community. To find ways to get involved, please reach out to your ward representative at my Office of Community Relations and Services by clicking HERE.
With innovative policing, a committed public safety team and your help, we will keep DC on the right path toward safety and security.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
National Night Out at Starburst Intersection
[Apologies for the repost caused by a human/technical error. ]
National Night Out (NNO) enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It also provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. This is needed as across the country law enforcement and communities have been in less than positive interactions, as reported in too many recent news articles. NNO is held the first Tuesday each year as a community-building campaign promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods a safer, better place to live. It was started by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), a non-profit crime prevention program. This is the 32nd year of the night against crime and the Metropolitan Police Department has organized activities in Patrol Service Areas (PSA) across the city to participate in the national set of events.
In Ward 5, activities will center around the Starburst Intersection on Tuesday, August 4th.
Description: Join the Fifth District for an evening to celebrate community pride, unity, and most importantly our public safety partnerships. We will provide crime prevention tips/safety information, good food, great music and more. Residents will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with MPD Command staff, the CAC, and with your Neighbors. Pack up the Kids, put on your comfy dance shoes, come on out, and GET F.R.E.S.H. with MPD5D.
Time: 6-9 pm
Location: The Starburst Intersection // Maryland Avenue, Bladensburg Road, and H Streets, NE
Contact: Fayette Vaughn-Lee, fayette.vaughn-lee@dc.gov, (202) 497-0814
To learn more about MPD’s NNO program, click here or download the flyer here: NNO 2015 Kickoff.
Trinidad Public Safety Summit
Do you have questions or concerns about public safety in and around Trinidad?
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie will is hosting a Public Safety Summit here in our neighborhood. The event will be held on Thursday, July 30th from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the New Samaritan Baptist Church, Lower Auditorium, 1100 Florida Avenue NE. Come learn what is being done for public safety in our neighborhood and how you can help protect our residents and local businesses.
Bring your questions and concerns for the panelists scheduled to attend including the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, MPD, the Attorney General, US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Offices of United Communications/HSEMA, CSOSA, the Fire Department, and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. After dialogue with the panelists, there will be time for specific questions from the Patrol Service Areas (PSA) in attendance from the fourth and fifth districts. Trinidad falls under PSA 506.
The event is free and open to the public. There is an Eventbrite page for RSVPs to the event. Click here to register.
Councilmember McDuffie Takes on Illegal Dirt Bikes & ATVs
We’ve all seen them — dirt bikes and ATVs racing through the neighborhood, often driving the wrong way on one-way streets. Most people consider them a dangerous menace that are inappropriate in a dense urban environment. Yet police are limited in what they can do to enforce the law. Chasing the violators only increases the danger to the community. At recent community meetings, MPD has encouraged residents to report where these bikes are stored so that they can work to impound them. Now, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie has introduced legislation to bolster enforcement abilities and increase the penalties for illegal dirt bikes and ATVs. Read the press release and a selection of news articles below.
Councilmember McDuffie introduces bill that dramatically increases the penalties for illegal dirt bikes and ATVs
Contact: Ronan Gulstone, 202-257-4129, rgulstone@dccouncil.us
Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D – Ward 5) introduced legislation to address the growing problem of illegal dirt bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles (“ATVs”) in the District.
The “Enhanced Penalties for Operation of All-Terrain Vehicles and Dirt Bikes Amendment Act of 2015” provides the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) with additional “tools” to combat what many reside
nts have described as a terrifying increase in the prevalence of packs of dirt bike and ATV riders. The measure would allow MPD to tow any dirt bike or ATV parked on public property; requires registration of all ATVs and dirt bikes with the Department of Motor Vehicles so there is a record of each vehicle; and importantly, the bill creates the following enhanced penalties for offenders:
- For a first violation, the perpetrator will be fined up to 250.00 and/or imprisoned no more than 30 days.
- For a second violation, the Mayor or her designated agent shall suspend the individual’s provisional or operator’s permit for six months from the date of the conviction. The perpetrator will also be fined up to 500.00 and/or imprisoned no more than 90 days.
- For the third or subsequent violation, the Mayor or the designated agent of the Mayor shall suspend the individual’s provisional or operator’s permit for a year and the individual will be fined up to 1000.00 and/or imprisoned for no more than 180 days.
“I have heard from countless residents, and police officers about the illegal use of dirt bikes and ATVs,” said McDuffie. “Currently our laws just do not serve as a sufficient deterrent to the use of these machines. Dirt bikes and ATVs are not appropriate for use on our roads, are dangerous, and have been used completely irresponsibly on sidewalks and in packs to intimidate pedestrians and drivers.
“This bill will go a long way to serve as a warning to those who are thinking about using dirt bikes and ATVs on our streets, and also provide MPD with the ability to tow parked dirt bikes and ATVs.”
The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Allen and Nadeau.
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DCist: McDuffie Seeks To Increase Penalties For Illegal Dirt Bikes and ATVs
Washington City Paper: McDuffie Proposes Stricter Penalties Against ATVs and Dirt Bikes
Synthetic Drug Crackdown Hits Bladensburg Road, Starburst Plaza
The Bladensburg Market Dollar Plus at 1109 Bladensburg Road NE (on the Carver-Langston side of the street) is the first store to be temporarily shut down under DC’s new synthetic drug law. MPD also arrested two people charged with selling the synthetic drugs just down the road at the Starburst Plaza.
Earlier this month Mayor Bowser signed emergency legislation to prohibit the sale of synthetic drugs, marketed under names such as Scooby Snax and Bizzaro, and giving MPD power to shutter any offending business for four days and impose a $10,000 fine. Subsequent offenses may lead to loss of the establishment’s business license. Use of the drug leads to overdose and violent behavior, according to District officials.
Fox 5 reports: DC shuts down store for synthetic drugs; arrests made nearby
BREAKING NEWS: 19 Year Old Arrested for Murder of Heineken McNeil (UPDATE with MPD press release)
Mayor Bowser and Police Chief Lanier held a press conference this afternoon regarding violent crime and homicide in DC and the uptick in incidents this summer. They also announced an arrest in a recent murder.
Today Zacchaeus Blanding was arrested in the brutal murder of Heineken McNeil. Mr. NcNeil was found murdered on Holbrook Terrace NE on June 23rd. Initially this murder was thought to be the result of a neighborhood feud and that belief sparked other violence in Trinidad, according to Mayor Bowser and Chief Lanier. It was not a rivalry or a feud but in fact the suspect and victim were friends and knew each other. The suspect and victim were noted to be associates in the same neighborhood.
Zacchaeus Blanding, aged 19, has been charged with second degree murder. Chief Lanier would not comment on possible motives for the murder.
Our thoughts are with Heineken McNeil’s family as they mourn and seek closure.
The MPD Press Release is below:
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Arrest made in Homicide 1200 block of Holbrook Terrace Northeast
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the homicide that occurred on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at approximately 5:42 am.
Members of the Fifth District and DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the report of a fire in the 1200 block of Holbrook Terrace, Northeast. Upon extinguishing the fire, human remains were discovered.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2015, members of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death is homicide.
On Wednesday, July 8, 2015 pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) arrested 19 year-old Zacchaeus Blanding of Northeast, DC. He was charged with Murder Two While Armed for the shooting death of 19 year-old Heineken McNeil.
Persons of Interest Sought in Robbery (1300 block Montello Ave NE)
Published Tuesday, July 7, 2015 by the DC Police Department:
Persons of Interest Sought in a Robbery (Gun): 1300 Block of Montello Avenue, Northeast
(Washington, DC) – The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating two persons of interest in connection with a Robbery (Gun) offense, which occurred on Sunday, June 7, 2015, at approximately 4:40 am in the 1300 block of Montello Avenue, Northeast.
The persons of interest can be seen in this video: http://youtu.be/fgOt75LZ2is
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. 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 a robbery committed in the District of Columbia.
Trinidad Neighborhood Association 