Crimes of note for Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
MPD arrested two suspects Thursday in the July 27 robbery and beating of a man on the 1400 block of R Street NW. The incident is one of five robberies and assaults under investigation as possible bias (hate) crimes. However, police are not yet sure whether the two suspects are linked to a string of other robberies and assaults that are being investigated as possible anti-gay hate crimes.
Four of the five crimes, including the one on the 1400 block of R, occurred in the Dupont-Logan area. The others occurred on the 1500 block of R Street NW; 2000 block of P Street NW; 22nd and P NW; and 800 block of Emerson Street NW. The crimes occurred between June 2 and July 30. Full details are below.
According to Third District Commander Jacob Kishter, the two suspects were arrested Thursday on the 1400 block of R Street NW. One is a resident of the 1300 block of Riggs Place NW and the other suspect lives outside the area; both are adults. The following details of the July 27 robbery on R Street are from MPD:
On Wednesday, July 27, 2010, approximately six black males approached a male victim as he entered the lobby of a building in the 1400 block of R Street, NW. One of the suspects made a homophobic epithet. The suspects began punching and kicking the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital for his injuries.
Details on Five Crimes
Details on all five crimes being investigated by MPD follow.
- On Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at approximately 5:20 p.m. in the 1500 block of R Street NW, three young black male suspects approached a male complainant while he was bending over to tie his shoe. One of the suspects used a homophobic epithet. The victim was then struck with a wooden object.
- On Tuesday July 6, 2010, at approximately 9:20 pm, a male complainant was approached by two black males in the 800 block of Emerson Street NW. A homophobic epithet was used and one of the suspects threw the complainant to the ground assaulted him. Both suspects fled towards the 4900 block of 8th Street, NW. The complainant sustained abrasions to the head and back, but refused medical attention. Suspect one is described as a black male with a medium complexion, 30 to 35 years old, standing at 5’11”-6’0″and weighing between 170-180 pounds. He had a short black buzz haircut and was wearing a white tank top and blue shorts. Suspect two is described as a black male with a medium complexion, 25-30 years old, standing at 5’7″- 5’8″, weighing approximately 145-150 pounds, with short black hair, a goatee, and wearing a yellow Polo shirt and blue jeans.
- On Saturday, July 24, 2010 shortly after midnight, a male complainant stated that he was walking outside a club with friends in the 2000 block of P Street NW, when he was approached by several black males. It is alleged that the assailants approached the victim and asked if the victim called them a homophobic epithet. At this point, the victim was knocked to the ground, assaulted and kicked. When the victim attempted to call police from his cell phone, two of the suspects returned, assaulted him more, grabbed his cell phone and fled. One of the suspects was described as having a dark complexion, weighing approximately 170 pounds and wearing a red shirt.
- On Wednesday, July 27, 2010, approximately six black males approached a male victim as he entered the lobby of a building in the 1400 block of R Street NW. One of the suspects made a homophobic epithet. The suspects began punching and kicking the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital for his injuries. The suspects are described as black males in the late teens. One of suspects had medium build, dark complexion, with short braided hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt. Another suspect was described as having a medium complexion with short dark hair.
- On Friday, July 30, 2010, at approximately 1:45 a.m., a male victim stated that he was leaving an establishment at 22nd and P Streets NW when a subject bumped into him and used a homophobic epithet. The victim walked away, but was followed by the subject and approximately 15 to 20 other black males and black females. One of the subjects knocked a water bottle out of the victim’s hand used a homophobic epithet. The victim was struck from behind and knocked to the ground. The suspects fled in three vehicles described as a white Chevy Impala, a blue Toyota Corolla, and a Silver Dodge Charger with Virginia tags.
How to Report Information
MPD asks that anyone with information about these cases call the police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746). Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to D.C. CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS and to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging50411. If the information provided by the caller to the Crime Solvers Unit leads to an arrest and indictment, that caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Find information about and from the D.C. MPD in the links section in the right-hand column.
Borderstanians, I received this today from MPD Second District Acting Commander Matthew Klein:
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Committing Gay Hate Crime in Georgetown
WASHINGTON – A 19-year-old Virginia man, Ruddad Abdulgader, pled guilty today before D.C. Superior Court Judge Harold L. Cushenberry, Jr. to two criminal counts, including Felony Assault with Bias Intent, for his role in an unprovoked hate crime attack with a bottle on a gay man in the 3400 block of M Street, NW, on October 3, 2008, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced.
Abdulgader pled guilty to one count of Felony Assault with Bias Intent and one count of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon. Because Abdulgader committed a bias crime, his maximum penalty on that charge is enhanced by District of Columbia law by 1½ times (Felony Assault carries a 3-year maximum penalty, and Felony Assault with Bias Intent carries a 4½ year maximum penalty).
In total, Abdulgader faces a maximum punishment of 5½ years incarceration, and he is likely to be sentenced according to the District of Columbia Sentencing Commission’s Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines. Abdulgader’s sentencing date has been scheduled for February 6, 2009, and he remains incarcerated pending his sentencing.
According to the Statement of Offense to which Abdulgader pled guilty, Abdulgader and another individual approached the victim and his friend, and entered into a conversation with them as to their sexual orientation. During the conversation, the victim and his friend were subjected to homophobic remarks, and they attempted to leave the area. After the victim and his friend tried to leave, Abdulgader moved ahead of them and pretended to apologize. In the middle of making an apology, with no warning or provocation, Abdulgader hit the victim in the left side of his face with a glass vodka bottle. The victim was knocked unconscious and required medical attention to deal with his injuries. Abdulgader admitted that he hit the victim in his face with the bottle based upon his prejudice against the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Taylor praised the work of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Detective Kathy Jackson, MPD Sergeant Vernon Gudger, and MPD Officers Heath Tucker, Monica Agusti, and Eric Adgerson. He also praised the work of Legal Assistant Kalisha Johnson-Clark, and Paralegal Supervisor Wanda Trice. Mr. Taylor also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal S. Chawla who investigated and is prosecuting the case.
