Arrest in 14th Street Murder

WUSA Channel 9 is reporting on an arrest in the 14th Street murder of a 48 year old woman over the weekend. A 17 year old has been arrested and charged as an adult. Read the story here: http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=90474.

Has anyone heard any more about the Park Street shooting? Someone asked in the comment section. All we know is what 3D put out on the listserv.

Fatal Shooting on 14th & Columbia

There was a fatal shooting last night right on 14th Street at Columbia, with cops and neighbors around. The update from Councilmember Jim Graham:

Dear Friends, I am now just returning from the crime scene at 14th and Columbia. A 19 year old male was shot in the head, and killed. I have the name/address of the victim but I am not releasing it since his family may not have been notified. I am told he lived in the immediate area. Our prayers and sympathy go to those who loved him.

The shooting was targeted, and reportedly related to gang beefs that have been ongoing since the murders in Dec/Jan. Another young adult, Paul Jones, was shot and killed by LaFonte Carlton this past January on the 1300 block of Columbia. Carlton is now facing two murder charges.

There has been a constant police presence in this block ever since.

In this shooting, at least three police officers were right there at the shooting. There are various cameras, including an MPD crime camera at 14th and Columbia, and other cameras on the buildings. All of that is now being checked for evidence.

All of this reinforces my support for fast Council action on Mayor Fenty's omnibus crime bill. We held a press conference on that on Thursday at 14th and W.


Guess the whole notion that a well-lit well-trafficked street keeps you safe just went out the window in CH.

All Around the Neighborhood: Pancakes, Crime and Love

Pancakes! Maybe... Prince of Petworth is reporting some "scuttlebutt" that IHOP is considering coming to DCUSA. The big question, says ArtBart, is how late it would stay open. The Heights Life has long supported a 24 hour restaurant to save us from 2AM CVS mac and cheese purposes. And hey... pancakes! Did we mention the many kinds of syrup?

Crime! It's warm out, which means more people on the streets and an inevitable crime spike. The Heights Life witnessed a good amount of police activity around the neighborhood this weekend. Yesterday evening, three police cars raced up 14th at ridiculous speeds. And the CH Yahoo Group has two disturbing reports. One person asked about shots fired in broad daylight on Sunday afternoon. Another says there is a groper in the neighborhood.

Love! The CH News Forums are notoriously nasty. Last year a group of forum posters held a happy hour to try to engender a little forum love, but DCDireWorlf and broNat continue to battle with CH Kool Aid and New2CH. Alas, one friendly forumite has decided to seek some common ground based on universal support for escalators at the Metro and universal hate for zombies. As of this update, nobody has joined in the attempt at forum community building.

Help Find Sparky, 11th Street Dognapping - UPDATED

UPDATE from Inspector Delgado:

I am happy to report that SPARKY is back home and in good health. A good citizen saw some children that do not own a dog playing with it. SPARKY was taken and returned. I want to thank the community for the overwhelming support for SPARKY and it's owner.

ORIGINAL POST: A local dog was dognapped, leaving a 92 year old man from Columbia Heights puppy-less. Please help find him, and let us know if the story has a happy ending.

From the forums/email list:

This is a very sad, tragic story. Apparently two teenage boys stole a black shitzu right off the porch of a house on 11th Street. The owner - a 92-year old man - saw the boys take him. NBC 4 and the police are tracking this story and trying to find the dog named Sparky. They are handing out photos of the man and his dog -- the man is apparently understandably very distraught. Those of you in the neighborhood probably have seen him walking Sparky regularly. I know that a photo is posted on a tree in front of Red Rocks. Please check it out and keep your eye out for the little pup so he can be reunited with his owner.

Councilmember Graham on 1300 Block of Columbia Shooting

From Councilmember Jim Graham:

Dear Friends, I have just returned from 14th and Columbia, where a short time ago shots were fired on the 1300 block of Columbia. An innocent bystander was sitting in her car, which was about to be parked, when a bullet penetrated the chassis and struck her in the leg.

The 1300 block of Columbia has been heavily patrolled with a squad car and a light tower present since Paul Jones was shot in January. (His alleged, barely 18 year old murderer was with this and another murder and is now in jail.)

Indeed, just last night, I attended a community meeting with MPD on the violence at 1300 block of Columbia.

However, another tragedy tonight--a fatal stabbing at Gresham and Georgia--led to the officer on the 1300 block being pulled to the location of that homicide. (There are very good leads, I am told in thta case.)

In the brief time thta followed--when the police were not there, and the light tower was still dark--shots were fired and the person was wounded.

This has all the earmarks of more gang violence.

More information will be revealed as it becomes available.

Sincerely, Councilmember Jim Graham

Breaking News: 14th Street Shutdown

14th Street is shut down at Irving Street, heading south. Traffic is being directed down Irving Street.

Not sure what's going on just yet - but there were at least two cop cars and a fire truck at work. We would have run down 14th to scope it out - but it's COLD out there tonight. Anyone have an update?

UPDATE: Commenters point out there was a shooting on the 1300 block of Columbia Road. A woman was shot in the leg while parking her car. Prince of Petworth and The Washington Post have more details.

"Solidarity" Event with Jim Graham at 14th & Girard

From Councilmember Jim Graham:

Dear Friends, Monday night's shooting at the Columbia Heights Community Center was a tragic and despicable act. The shattered glass remains and will soon be replaced. However, the shooting has not shattered our commitment and determination to support young people and to end gang and crew violence.

Please join me on Friday, January 16, 11:30 AM, at the Columbia Heights Community Center to take a stand for Peace and Solidarity in Ward One. Joining me will be Gail Oliver of the Columbia Heights Youth Club, directors of numerous other community based organizations in Ward One, principals, ministers and community residents in an action of solidarity and determination to work together to end gang and crew violence in Ward One.

Please join in. Contact Calvin Woodland or John De Taeye in my office for more information at 724.8181.

Crime Update: Homicide, Mail Theft, Irving Street

The Heights Life thinks it's time for some crime fighting resolutions in 2009. Maybe MPD and Jim Graham should resolve that this year... things will actually get better. Maybe? Because so far, '09 is off to a rough start.

Homicide

Last week a homicide occurred around 13th and Columbia, in an alley. This location has been cited previously for shootings. Here are the details divulged by Jim Graham:

According to MPD, just minutes ago, a 25 year old African American was shot dead in what is reportedly a drive by shooting on the 1300 block of Columbia Rd NW. A silver SUV was seen leaving the site. Police indicate that this as a targeted shooting.

There were many shots fired at 1310 Columbia Rd.

Another man with gun shot wounds apparently took himself to MedStar. It is not clear now whether there is any connection between the two shootings.

There were other shootings in southeast DC, some four or five persons shot within one hour.....a very violent night for our city.

There are no further details at this time, but more will follow soon. Councilmember Jim Graham

Mail Theft

The Columbia Heights listserv is overflowing with reports and complaints about mail theft. One individual said he/she followed a woman after her mail was lifted and watched her do it to several other homes. Repeated calls to MPD didn't help, as when they finally showed up to investigate it was too late to prove a thing.

I've personally experienced this problem about a year ago when I attempted to have a UPS package delivered. It was stolen and apparently signed for - but not by me. Like many of the folks on the listserv, I now have all packages delivered to an office.

Irving Street

Last night, the 1300 block of Irving Street was closed down for a police investigation. Dogs were sniffing around several front yards and at least four police cars were present. The officers wouldn't say anything other than, "we're just conducting an investigation." So, for more information, I attempted to use the DC Crime Map that ArtBart wrote about.

Though it wasn't up to date enough to help, I did learn that within 1000 feet of the busiest intersection in Columbia Heights (14th and Irving), there have been 11 violent crimes and 22 property crimes reported and logged in the last 30 days.

So, with an economic downturn and crime upswing... is there any hope that maybe this year be better than the last?

Good-bye listserv crime logs, hello crimemap.dc.gov

In light of Spud Lite's earlier post about the absence of daily crime logs on the local MPD listserv, Police Chief Lanier sent a message to listservs promoting the department's new online crime mapping system at http://crimemap.dc.gov.

I checked out the website and while the information is (thankfully) current, it lacks the quick read nature of the the crime log. Upon searching by address, police district, or police service area, as well as date range, the crime statistics reporter is posted. To see where these crimes occurred, you then have to click the "view map" feature. When reading the earlier crime reports it was easy to do a quick scan to see of anything happened around my apartment. Now there is an extra step and the need to visit the website on a regular basis. Because of course DC is not using Google Maps (thus the need for screen grabs).

Update: The More Things Change...

Since we last blogged...

Nothing happened. Really, now, did anything happen? Because Royal Blue is still a Royal Bust (though I suspect some activity behind those papered windows), we don't have any new sushi to speak of, Target is still there, the Metro escalators are still busted, and where is that new Ellwood Thompson grocery store even going?

But here are a few neighborhood tidbits for your reading pleasure.

First - the WSC whining continues over at the Columbia Heights Forum. I was there when this person was at least once or twice and I got a towel. But hey - I have my own complaints about the place... the new arc trainers caused a shift in weight machines causing no place to do crunches on a massive bouncy ball! Oh my!

Second - where have all our crime reports gone? ArtBart reported on this today for me when I realized it's been AGES since I've known who got mugged where and when and which type of car is being stolen today. Apparently the MPD has decided that the lists were often inconsistent and potentially hindering their investigations. What do you think? Was the daily crime report useful? If so, how?

Finally - The Heights Life would like to beg you to NOT rent your place for the Inauguration. This neighborhood has the benefit of being hotel free. Let's be good neighbors and not invite the madness! We promise to stay if you will... (then again, if you've rented to someone famous - please let us know ASAP (TheHeightsLife@gmail.com)!)

CH Listserv Post of the Day: On Target Muggings

Sent to the Columbia Heights listserv from "Janet" on Wednesday, April 30:

Your suggestion that an earlier post concerning a mugging at the CH mall parking lot was an "urban myth" is remarkable and offensive. I think if you were the victim of this type of physical violence, you wouldn't take such a smug attitude. Anyone paying attention KNOWS that this type of incident is an every day occurence in Columbia Heights. Why would we think a parking garage in a new shopping center would be immune to the damaged kids that haunt this part of the city?

And to the DC police and CM's office that might happen to read this post, ANSWER the god damn question about this mugging!

This post was responded to on the listserv, though Janet's question wasn't answered (yet). This blog, however, hears from our own tipsters that the Target parking garage mugging was, in fact, a myth.

Listserv Post of the Day

In addition to this blog, the various Columbia Heights listservs are a must read in knowing what is going on in the community on all fronts. This new feature highlights a listserv message of the day, even though we might not post one every day. Today's comes from Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham on the Columbia Heights Yahoo Group:

CORRECTION: shooting, 700 NOT 1200 block of Irving

Posted by: "Jim Graham" grahamwone@gmail.com grahamwone2000
Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:32 am (PDT)

Sorry about that, I was providing information given to me by MPD. The shooting in fact occurred on the 700 block of Irving.

Crickets on the CH Listserv

As any subscriber to the CH listserv, or any avid reader of the Craigslist "Rants and Raves" section, knows, there was a disturbing report of a mugging in the DC USA parking garage published online.

This blog has, up until this point, declined to write about it because we were waiting to see if this was just another rumor, or if Inspector Delgado would confirm the report.

On Sunday, someone sent the item to the CH listserv. The same day, Councilmember Jim Graham asked Inspector Delgado to review the report. And since then, nothing but crickets on the listserv.

We checked the 3D substation crime reports and saw nothing that looked like this mugging, so why then have we not had this rumor put to rest or confirmed? Why has it been two days since anyone responded? What happened to Councilmember Graham's concern? Do you, fellow CH residents, think we should expect a quick response on this question, or should we leave Insp. Delgado and the rest of the 3D officers alone to fight crime? Does the whole listserv have a right to know? The Heights Life comments section is open for discussion.

An update from the comments section: "For what it is worth -- I received an email from CM Graham & Insp. Delgado. MPD did follow up on this rumor with the shopping center and there have been no reports of muggings in the garage. Apparantly people just enjoy spreading these rumors and wasting community resources. I don't know why people do this -- perhaps they are anti-development or just enjoy sowing the seeds of controversy, but it is incredibly irresponsible. MPD does have an obligation to respond to the community's concerns. But folks really need to be aware that much of this talk about predators roaming the DCUSA garage and stores is false."

Saturday Night Mash-Up: Motorbikes, Wine and Surveillance

On Going the Right Way

As I pedaled home up 14th street tonight going the RIGHT way, I was nearly run down by two large men on little motorbikes going the WRONG way. Keep an eye out around Columbia Road for the renegade bikers, they don't seem to love the traffic laws.

While their disregard for the law is troubling, their heft straddling the dainty bikes is kind of amusing. If anyone gets a picture, send it over.

On Drinking at Home

An anonymous tipster tells us to look for D'Vines to open this weekend or Monday. As of Friday night it was still quite shuttered, but with this weather it might be nearing the time for a glass of pink wine on the stoop!

And yes, THL (the height life) shamelessly supports pink wine even if it jumped the shark with that New York Times style section article two years ago.

On Target's Surveillance Cameras

Lisa Raffensperger, an intern at WAMU and THL tipster, reported on the new Target's surveillance cameras for WAMU radio. Will the extra surveillance provided by the Target cameras help our neighborhood?

As regular readers of the Columbia Heights listserv know, the DC crime cameras have delivered some disappointment, but can our superstore do better? What would William Jordan do? Listen to Lisa's story HERE and discuss.

On the Way Things Were

A flashback courtesy of Google Earth's satellite image.

Does anyone know what year this would have been?

Drunk and Disorderly on Irving

As I exited the Metro just before 9PM I ran right into an arrest, complete with horses.

An attractive young man passing by asked if maybe the fellow in cuffs was caught feeding the animals, but since the creatures were contained butt-out in their trailer, I didn't think so.

I spoke with one of the police officers who had been transporting the horses. He said they came across the now-arrested man on their way out of the neighborhood for the night. No hard criminal here, he was just drunk and belligerent.

The officer also told me, "We try to keep the neighborhood safe."

Yes, they do, not always successfully - but they were certainly present and in control this time. And hey - they brought the horses!

PSA 302 Citizen Survey Form

Liveblogging as we fill out our police citizen survey form...

ArtBart 6:49PM: There's three emails I look forward to every morning on my bus ride... 1. New York Times headlines, 2. Washington Post headlines, and 3. 3D Substation listserv.

Spud Lite 6:50PM: So what's the first question?

ArtBart 6:50PM: "Residency: Own, Rent, Visitor." Why would a visitor get this survey about living in this neighborhood?

Spud Lite 6:51PM: So what's the second question?

ArtBart 6:51PM: You know what would be really fun? To fill this out as though you were William Jordan.

Spud Lite 6:51PM: Maybe we should do that.

ArtBart 6:51PM: But I actually care that the MPD wants my opinion.

Spud Lite 6:52PM: Whatever.

ArtBart 6:52PM: "How are we doing? Check the box that best describes how you feel about the MPD and the job we are doing: Excellent, good, fair, poor, don't know." I have to put fair.

Spud Lite 6:53PM: Dude, people got mugged in the metro station during rush hour and you want to put fair?

ArtBart 6:53PM: It's not their fault.

Spud Lite 6:53PM: But who's fault is it? Nobody should be getting mugged like that.

ArtBart 6:53PM: It's the hoodlums fault. It's just bored kids. "What would you like to see the police department concentrate on in your area? Check all that apply - burglaries, auto thefts, traffic violations, thefts from autos, vandalism, loitering, loud parties, drugs."

Spud Lite 6:55PM: Put loud parties.

ArtBart 6:55PM: I'm answering this truthfully! So loud parties is out, drugs are out.

Spud Lite 6:55PM: You like drugs?

ArtBart 6:55PM: The drug war does not work. I don't care about a little crack. Loitering could be connected to truancy... I'm putting down community policing and telling them I miss the cop on the Segway.

Spud Lite 6:56PM: Yeah, I like Segway cops better than horse cops.

ArtBart 6:57PM: "How often do you walk, run or bike in your neighborhood?" Do you think they mean physical activity, or just like - walking around. I'll say frequently for daytime, and infrequently for after 12AM because really, we only walk home from the Wonderland that late about twice a week.

Spud Lite 6:58PM: What would William Jordan do?

ArtBart 6:58PM: "Personal involvement: Check all that you would do... report suspicious activity, report crime, assist as a witness, assist a person in need of help, testify against a criminal, not get involved."

Spud Lite 6:59PM: Why didn't you circle "testify against a criminal."

ArtBart 7:00PM: I would do that, but what if it doesn't go trial? I would do that before I would assist as a witness.

Spud Lite 7:00PM: Aren't they the same thing?

ArtBart 7:00PM: No, you can assist as a witness and it wouldn't go to trial. Assist as a witness could also be that someone you knew went on trial for a drug charge and you're going to act as a character witness. I'll circle all of them except "not get involved."

Spud Lite 7:01PM: What's next? What would William Jordan do?

ArtBart 7:02PM: "Circle the word that represents your level of concern for the following questions." I'm not concerned that my car will get stolen... now watch, my car just got stolen. Oh! Awesome! "How would you like to see us better serve you in your neighborhood? Cruiser patrol, foot patrol, bicylce patrol, acceptable as is." I'm going to do foot patrol, police need to get out of the cars.

Spud Lite 7:03PM: Put down that I want William Jordan on a Segway patrol.

ArtBart 7:04PM: "What is your perception regarding the importance of the following existing services?" I fully believe in the power of after school programs.

Spud Lite 7:04PM: Did you do D.A.R.E.?

ArtBart 7:05PM: No, we only had MADD, or SADD... one time my friends played corpses in this role play and they had to lay in body bags in 80 degree heat so fake helicopters could rescue them.

Spud Lite 7:05PM: No D.A.R.E.? That explains why you said you like crack.

ArtBart 7:06PM: Traffic enforcement can be good... Since I know how much you like your D.A.R.E. t-shirt, I'll put that as very important. "Have you had contact with a MPD officer within the last year?"

Spud Lite 7:07PM: Remember that time we came home drunk and saw a guy getting beat up in the alley and I called the cops?

ArtBart 7:08PM: But we didn't actually talk to the police. "Additional comments and suggestions that you feel will improve the effort of the MPD in serving you and your community."

Spud Lite 7:08PM: What would William Jordan do?