Washington

News Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Traci Hughes (202) 727-4383

September 17, 2009

METROPOLITAN POLICE AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

SEIZE THOUSANDS IN CASH AND DRUGS IN SE TAKEDOWN

Washington, DC – The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today the arrests of 23 suspects for the possession and distribution of narcotics.

The DEA Mobile Enforcement Team (MET), a joint operation of MPD and DEA, has been targeting violent drug related crime in the Parkland Park neighborhood of Southeast DC in the Seventh District since May 13, 2009. MET has been targeting violent offenders who are trafficking in crack cocaine, heroin, PCP, and marijuana in this neighborhood. MET quickly determined that drug trafficking took place in this neighborhood at all hours of the day and night. In addition, MET is dismantling the sources of supply who provide the drugs and guns to the violent drug crews. MPD’s Narcotic and Special Investigations Division (NSID) and MET have executed ten search warrants and made 23 arrests of suspects for numerous offenses, including distribution and possession of crack cocaine, heroin, PCP, and marijuana, and seized drugs with a street value in excess of $89,000. Three guns and nearly $80,000 is cash was also seized.

“Where there are drugs there is crime, and this neighborhood has been plagued by both,” said Chief Cathy L. Lanier. “As Chief, I have a responsibility to this community to make sure the people who live here can do so peacefully and without fear. Today’s takedown clears this neighborhood of the crews who are tied to the much of the violence here.”

“This continued show of force and zero tolerance approach taken by DEA and our partners in the Metropolitan Police Department sends a strong message to those engaged in drug trafficking, violent crime, gun, and gang activity that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. Together, DEA and MPD will vigorously pursue these criminals and lock up those engaged in such violence and illegal conduct,” said Ava Cooper-Davis, DEA Special Agent in Charge Washington Field Division.

The primary mission of MET is to disrupt and dismantle violent drug trafficking crews/organizations and their drug and gun sources of supply.

Anyone with information about crimes that occur in the District is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIM [E]. Anonymous information may also be forwarded to the DC Crime Solvers Unit at 1-866-411-TIPS and to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. If the information provided to Crime Solvers leads to an arrest and indictment, that caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

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At 2100 hours, Guardian Angels Jordan Estrada and Taylor Smith arrived at China Town/Gallery Place for patrol.

At 2150 hours, we responded along with MPD officers to a call of dissorderly conduct at the Red Velvet Cupcake establishment on the corner of 7th and E streets. We shielded for MPD officers and directed civilian traffic around the scene of the arrest. We assisted officers Caroline Hodges and Sean Rooney in detaining the individual and completing the arrest.

At 2258 hours we responded along with MPD officers to reports of a fight inside the Gallery Place mall but found the situation resolved upon our arrival.

At 0000 hours, we responded to a disturbance inside the Metro Station on the greenline platform. A large group of juveniles rushed the escelator from each side, meeting in the center and causing havoc. We assisted in dispersing the crowd and restoring order. The instigators of the distrubance fled the scene and we persued them along with Metro Transit officers. We did not apprehend them.

At 0015 hours, we disbanded the patrol without further incident.

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At 2100 hours, Guardian Angels Jordan Estrada and Delanta Cowens met at China Town/Gallery Place for patrol.

At 2138 hours, we responded to a situation on the 7th street steps along with multiple MPD and Metro Transit officers. Officers had firearms drawn and were detaining a large group of juveniles suspected of criminal activity on the sidewalk in front of the steps. Numerous bystanders were fleeing the scene while other groups were crowding around and heckling the police. Angel Cowens and myself immediately posted on the officer’s south flank, blocking off the sidewalk leading up to the scene. We rerouted civilian traffic until the situation was resolved.

At 2156 hours, we shielded for Metro Transit officers at the corner of 7th and H streets while they detained an individual for disorderly conduct.

At 2330 hours, we posted up inside the metro station where a large group were loitering in order to deter any criminal activity with our presence.

At 0015 we disbanded the patrol.

At 0020 hours, as I was leaving the scene of the patrol, MPD officers were confronting several individuals at the bus stop on the corner of 7th and H streets. MPD officer Pitzen hailed me, asking me to find a Metro Transit officer. I located several Metro Transit officers around the corner, who were detaining another individual. One of them went to speak to officer Pitzen, and I took his place on scene until the detained individual was released.

Jordan Estrada
Patrol Leader

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At 2030 hours, Guardian Angels Jordan Estrada, Jeff Cargill, and Delante Cowens gathered at China Town/Gallery Place for patrol. We proceeded to hand out Guardian Angel fliers, talk to citizens about the mission and work of Guardian Angels, and conduct recruitment.

At 2049 hours, a female pedestrian gave us a crime tip about a male pedestrian, informing us that he had been involved in an assault on a bus. We passed on this information to MPD officers, asking them if there had been any reports of an assault, or if they were searching for an individual matching the provided description.

At 2115 hours, a fight broke out at the 7th and H metro exit. We were the first responders on site and separated the combatants. Angel Cowens immediately detained one assailant at the scene, while Angels Estrada and Cargill assisted MPD and Metro Transit officers in pursuing the second. Angels Estrada and Cargill detained the second assailant at the corner of 7th and F street. We turned both individuals over to the police, who released them with a warning.

At 2135 hours, we shielded for metro transit officers while they detained and question an individual at the 7th and H metro street exit. While this process was occurring, Metro Transit officers arrested a second individual for threatening an officer. We assisted Metro Transit officers in blocking off the area and rerouting civilian traffic.

At 2215 hours, we assisted a disabled individual onto the metro access bus.

At 2245 hours, we posted up at the 7th street bus stop, where a number of juveniles were engaging in disorderly behavior. We talked to them, verbally pacifying the situation.

At 2345 hours we responded to a disturbance inside the metro station along with Metro Transit officers, who invited us to accompany them. We posted up in the station to deter any criminal activity.

At 0010 hours, we disbanded the patrol without further incident.

Jordan Estrada
Patrol Leader

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Beat The Streets, Kennedy Street,  NW

At 1600 hours, Guardian Angels Jordan Estrada, Boot, BK Lunde, and Delante Cowens gathered at the 500 block of Kennedy Street, NW to assist with the “Beat the Street” community event. For the next few hours, we talked with members of the community and MPD officers, passed out Guardian Angel fliers, conducted recruitment, helped facilitate the event, and supervised children at the inflatable moonbounce activity.

China Town/Gallery Place,  NW 

At 1945 hours, we concluded our involvement in the event. Guardian Angels Jordan Estrada, BK Lunde and Delante Cowens then proceeded to China Town/Gallery Place for patrol.

At 2030 hours, we arrived at China Town/Gallery place and began patrol. We received pass-downs regarding local gang activity from Metro Transit Officer Apgar.

At 2116 hours, Angel Cowens discovered a lost purse and delivered it to Officer Apgar.

At 2300 hours, we disbanded the patrol without further incident.

Jordan Estrada

Patrol Leader

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China Town August 15, 2009
At 8 PM on August 15, Delante, Unique and B. K. met at the Chinatown Metro station. We patrolled the area between the station and the Crime Museum, along 7th St. until 10:30 PM. The street and the steps of the Smithsonian American Art Museum were crowded, but the crowd was well behaved, despite being disturbed by the Metro Police.

On the 600blk of 7th street the steps were full of young people. The steps was full of trash. At one point metro police told them to leave the steps
There was a lot of police presence. Besides us, there were a couple of DC police cars and at least a half dozen officers, besides the Metro police. The DC police did make several arrests.

Famliy Fun Day In Bal Air MD August 16, 2009
At 10:30 AM on August 16, 2009, Delante, Unique and B. K. left the Anacosta Metro Starion, bound for Darlington, MD in the Guardian Angels cruiser. The Race Against the Abuse of Children Everywhere organized a motorcycle ride for about 500 motorcycles and 1000 people over 51 miles of country roads in north east Maryland. It started at noon. After the motorcycles took off, we followed, over hill and dale, through forest and corn fields. From a hill, we could see about two miles of motorcycles riding two abreast. State police in large black hats held the traffic, so we could go through red lights and stop signs. We were followed by an ambulance, with flashing lights, but the ambulance was not needed.

The ride ended with a loop, so all the riders could see the others. The end was at the Chesapeake Harley-Davidson in Darlington, MD. The cycles parked in the lot and boy, did they sparkle. It was almost blinding. The dealership had a show room with about 100 new bikes. There was a live band and food stands. There were also races on an oval dirt track, including lawn mower races. These are four wheel vehicles that are like riding lawn mowers, but they do not have blades. Many people wore t-shirts advertising other Harley dealers.

Guardian Angels had gathered to support the ride. Several were in it. The leaders from Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and our leader, Unique were there. The leader from Philadelphia had traveled on his motorcycle. The Baltimore group brought a half dozen junior Angels. All together, about 20 Angels attended. There was no trouble with the crowd. It was hot, about 88 degrees, and even hotter in the parking lot, with bright sunlight. The ride was well organized and the crowd behaved itself. All was peaceful, and that is the way we like it.

BK Lunde

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At 2000 hours, Guardian Angels John Ayala, Allison Pinkney, Jordan Estrada, Jeff Cargill, and Delante Cowens gathered at China Town/Gallery Place for patrol. For the next hour, we conducted on-site training of street tactics and Guardian Angel protocols. Also at this time, we spoke with MPD Sergeant Sheldon, who passed down information on gang activity in the area to us.
 
At approximately 2100 hours, we observed two rival gangs posturing against each other. We moved to the area and posted up to observe.
 
At 2117 hours, we assisted MPD officers in making an arrest of an armed suspect on the 600 block of 7th street.
 
At aproximately 2200 hours, Angels Ayala and Pinkney departed, and we were joined by Angel Dennis Harvey.
 
At 2235 hours we assisted MPD officers, lead by MPD Sergeant Baetchel, in making a search and arrest for drug possession on the corner of 6th and H streets. Sergeant Baetchel asked us to accompany an officer as he questioned another suspect in the area. The second individual was arrested as well.
 
At 2315 hours, we assisted the MPD officers in conveying the suspects to the point of transport. While in transit, an altercation occurred in front of the 7th street McDonalds. MPD officers asked us to guard one detainee while they responded to the fight. I directed my angels to respond to the altercation as well while I escorted the detainee to the transport vehicle. We posted up around the scene until the situation was normalized.
 
At 2329 hours, we assisted an MPD officer with a bag search of a suspicious individual.
 
At 2345 hours we posted up at the 7th and H street metro exit, where an individual was engaging in borderline, mildly disorderly behavior. Our presence deterred him from committing any crime at that time.
 
At 0010 hours, we returned to the 7th and H street metro exit after performing a patrol of the surrounding areas. Once on scene, we assisted MPD officers in making two arrests. An MPD officer attempted to detain a suspect and the the suspect evaded him and began to run. All Guardian Angels immediately converged on him and performed the take as a group. Metro Transit Officer Lilly  completed the arrest. Once arrested, the suspect became violent, biting a hole in officer Lilly’s trousers, kicking, and attempted to break free. We assisted officer Lilly in restraining him and shielded, as numerous of his friends were crowding around. MPD and Metro Transit officers thanked us for our assistance.
 
At 0030 hours, we responded with Metro Transit officer Smith to a report of disorderly and resistant behavior inside the Metro. We accompanied her into the station, where a male individual was attempting to flee from Metro Transit officer Purvis. Angel Harvey performed the takedown, and Guardian Angels detained and searched the individual under the direction of Metro Transit officers. Metro Transit officer’s UIbiera and Purvis completed the arrest, and thanked us for our assistance.
 
At 0100 hours, we disbanded the patrol without further incident.
 
Jordan Estrada
Patrol Leader

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