A group committed to preventing crime in the District is on the lookout for locals who can keep an eye out for criminal activity in Hill East.
The DC Safety Network is hoping to find dozens of people who can commit to standing watch near the Potomac Avenue Metro station one to two hours per month as part of its “DC SafeRoutes Program.”
The safety campaign, which launched last month, isn’t viable unless it has at least 40 locals who can participate, acting DC Safety Network co-chairman Richard Lukas wrote in an email to residents today.
“During the past 2 weeks we heard from many concerned neighbors that this program instilled greater confidence to walk about their community,” he wrote. “While this pilot program concludes this week, we have learned many valuable lessons. This exercise allowed us to measure the community’s support for it, to hear how people feel about their neighborhood’s public safety, and to learn what it takes to sustain such an initiative.”
Local interested in volunteering can contact DC Safety Network online.
Photo via DC Safety Network
Police Arrest Youth For Making Threats Against Schools — Police announced last night that they arrested a boy for a series of seven threats made against District schools between Jan. 19 and Feb. 1. Three of the threats were made against Kingsman Academy Public Charter School at 1375 E St. NE. [Washington City Paper]
Officer Who Shot Man in Metro Tunnel Near Potomac Avenue Station Will Not Face Charges — Federal prosecutors announced that they will not charge a Metro Transit Police officer who fatally shot a violent 35-year-old man in a Metro tunnel near the Potomac Avenue Station. [WTOP]
Bayou Bakery Enters Hybrid Dessert Market With The Cruffin — Bayou Bakery (901 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) pastry chef David Guas has created a croissant/muffin hybrid pastry called a cruffin available on a very limited basis every Friday at 10 a.m. [Eater]
ANXO Cider Takes Over Sally’s Middle Name Tuesday Nights — Next Tuesday will be the second of three evening takeovers by ANXO Cide at Sally’s Middle Name on the H Street corridor. The cider company will offer small plates and 12 different ciders between 5 and 10 p.m. at the eatery at 1320 H St. NE. [Frozen Tropics]
A man was shot on Friday night a block away from the Waterfront Metro station in Southwest.
Police discovered the man suffering from a gunshot wound on the 200 block of L Street SW about 10:15 p.m. Friday. The man was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Police did not release any suspect description but mentioned that there was a group of people loitering in the area before the shooting.
Earlier on Friday, two people were threatened by a person with a weapon near the Potomac Avenue Metro station.
The confrontation happened about 2:30 p.m. Friday on the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Police officers searched the area after the incident and arrested a suspect who was also wanted for a robbery committed in November. Police did not say what the weapon used was.
Early Saturday morning, a newspaper deliverer was robbed at gunpoint near King Greenleaf Recreation Center in Southwest. The man reported that he was delivering newspapers on the 1300 block of 1st Street SW about 5 a.m. when he was accosted by two men. One of the men displayed a handgun and demanded money.
The thieves stole money from the man and fled on 1st Street SW and may have gotten into a white vehicle, according to an email from Metropolitan Police Department First District Commander Mark Beach. The suspects were both described as black men with black, hooded North Face jackets and face masks.
On Saturday night a man was robbed at gunpoint in an alley on the H Street corridor. The man was taking trash to a back alley on the 1300 block of H Street NE about 11 p.m. when he was threatened by a man armed with a handgun.
The attacker stole the man’s cell phone and money before fleeing the alley, according to an email from MPD Lieutenant Brian A. Murphy. The thief was described as a skinny black man about 6 feet tall wearing a tan hooded sweatshirt, black jacket and dark pants. The victim was not injured in the robbery.
Early this morning, two men robbed the 7-11 near the Eastern Market Metro station.
Two armed men entered the convenience store at 429 8th St. SE about 3:45 a.m. and demanded money. Both men were armed with handguns, according to an email from Murphy.
The men stole an undetermined amount of money from the store before fleeing on 8th Street SE. One suspect was described as a black man about 6 feet tall with a slim build. The other suspect was described as a black man about 5 foot 5 inches tall with a slim build.
New York City Pizza Chain Two Boots Planning H Street Corridor Location — Two Boots, a cajun pizza chain in New York City is planning to open its first D.C. location in May at 1025 H St. NE. [Washington Business Journal]
ANC Approves of Mixed-Use Development Near Potomac Avenue Metro Station — Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B voted to support a new development at 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE that will have 19,000 square feet of retail space and 174 residential units. [Capitol Hill Corner]
D.C. United Release Renderings of Buzzard Point Stadium — D.C. United released three new renderings of its new stadium planned for Buzzard Point. [Washingtonian]
Uni Bistro on H Street NE Introduces New Menu — Uni Bistro at 403 H St. NE introduced a new menu that includes beer and wine. The eatery formerly known as Batter Bowl Bakery is also developing a cocktail menu. [District Cuisine]
A man was fatally shot on Saturday night in Southwest near King Greenleaf Recreation Center.
After hearing a gunshot about 9:50 p.m. Saturday, police discovered 20-year-old Kwaza K. Blue of Southwest unconscious on the 1300 block of 1st Street SW, according to the Metropolitan Police Department Public Information Office. Blue was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives from the police homicide branch are investigating the case but have not released any suspect description.
Also on Saturday, police responded to an attempted assault with a dangerous weapon at a home on Capitol Hill about 11:30 p.m. A woman told police that while in an argument with a person in a home on the 900 block of 5th Street SE, the other person threatened to stab her with a kitchen knife. A third person intervened and no injuries were reported. The suspect in the case fled before police arrived.
On Friday night, police responded to a robbery near the Potomac Avenue Metro Station in Hill East. A woman reported that while on the crosswalk at the intersection of 14th Street SE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE a man took her cell phone from her hand and fled down 14th Street toward Potomac Gardens. The woman was not injured in the robbery and police were unable to locate the suspect.
District Government Moves Closer to Closing D.C. General — The District took another step toward closing the homeless shelter at the former D.C. General hospital when Mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans for between six and eight new shelters across the city. [WAMU]
Owner of Taxi Involved in Crash With Police Questions Police Speed — Rock Creek Cab Company owner Mo Rahim is questioning how fast a police car was traveling when it collided with a cab on H Street NE Friday. [WUSA 9]
Building Intended as Site of H Street NE Bar Back On the Market — The building at 1336 H St. NE is back on the market after plans for a sports bar, Sin Bin Sports Bar and Restaurant, fell through. [District Cuisine]
Developers Submit Revised Designs for Apartments Near Potomac Avenue Metro Station — Developers have submitted new designs for an apartment building at 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE after city planners suggested that they make the building appear shorter. [Washington Business Journal]
Eastern High School Wins Second Straight Gravy Bowl — The Eastern High School football team won the Gravy Bowl championship last night with a 45-8 win over Bell High School. [Eastern HS Football]
Police are seeking public assistance finding a teen who was last seen yesterday in Hill East near the Potomac Avenue Metro Station.
Dajah Bradley, 16, was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black Kingsman Academy shirt and a black hooded sweater, according to a missing person notice sent by police this morning.
Bradley is a black female, 5’9″ tall, 180 pounds with shoulder length black hair and brown eyes, according to the notice. She was last seen on the 700 block of 14th Street SE about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Dajah Bradley is asked to call the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099, the Youth and Family Services Division at 202-576-6768, or 911.
(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) A man was shot near the Potomac Avenue Metro station around 10:30 this morning.
The shooting occurred at the intersection of 13th Street SE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE, according to a police spokesperson. Police believe the suspects are in a blue or black vehicle and were headed toward downtown from the scene of the shooting.
The victim was hit in the leg and driven to the hospital in a private vehicle, according to an email from Metropolitan Police First District Commander Jeff Brown. Police believe road rage may have been involved in the shooting, noting that a traffic altercation between the victim and the suspect may have taken place at the Sunoco gas station near the site of the shooting.
The shooting is the second in Ward 6 this morning. Another man was critically injured in a shooting around 9:05 a.m. in Southwest near Nationals Park.
Photo via Flickr/nullvalue
A string of five armed robberies occurred in a span of about 30 minutes last night on Capitol Hill and in Navy Yard.
The first armed robbery occurred near the intersection of 9th and F streets NE about 8:55 p.m., according to police. The victim was accosted by three young men, one of whom flashed a gun in his waistband, according to an email from Metropolitan Police First District Lieutenant Joseph Cullen. The thieves took the man’s cell phone and fled south on 9th Street NE.
Robbery Gun / 9 and F street NE/ LOF 3 B/M’s North face jackets with mask. pic.twitter.com/9Zx4orKeHI
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) October 22, 2015
Less than ten minutes later, two robberies occurred near the unit block of Half Street SE in Navy Yard. The first occurred on the unit block of K Street SE about 9 p.m., according to police. The victim was approached from behind by a man with a black gun and said “give me what you got.”
About three minutes later, another robbery occurred on the 1000 block of Half Street SE. The victim was pushed from behind by two men. One of the men flashed a black gun and said “take out what you have,” police said. The thieves took the victim’s iPhone and credit card.
Robbery Gun in the 1000 block of Half Street SE, LOF 2 B/M's wearing red jackets. pic.twitter.com/pe57CaGCCL
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) October 22, 2015
Around 9:15 p.m., a woman was robbed near Garfield Park at the intersection of 3rd and G streets SE. The woman was approached from behind by two men while she was talking on a cell phone. One of the men had a gun and told her to be quiet, police said. The men stole the woman’s purse and iPhone.
About 15 minutes later, a similar incident occurred near the intersection of 13th and E streets SE. A woman talking on a cell phone was approached from behind by three men, police said. The thieves pushed the woman to the ground, flashed a black hand gun an stole her purse and iPhone.
Robbery Gun at 2130 hrs at 13th and E Streets SE. Lookout for (3) B/M's all wearing dark clothing,one with a ski mask and a black gun.//5307
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) October 22, 2015
Police have not said whether they believe any of these robberies are related.
Earlier last night, there was a robbery with force and violence that did not involve a gun near the Potomac Avenue Metro station. A man at the station was approached by four young men on the 1000 block of 12th Street SE around 6:25 p.m., according to an email from MPD First District Commander Mark Beach. One of the attackers placed the man in a choke hold while the other thieves took his cell phone and bike.
A would-be thief flashed a gun in an attempted robbery by a group of people in Hill East yesterday afternoon, police said.
The encounter happened on the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE about 4 p.m. The area is near the Potomac Avenue Metro Station
A man was in the area when the would-be robbers approached him, according to authorities. One of them flashed a black handgun and said, “Come here.”
The victim then ran to the Sunoco gas station at 1248 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, where an employee called police.
Authorities have not released a description of the people who confronted the man.
Photo via Google Maps
A group of juveniles stole money from a customer and various items from a Barracks Row 7-Eleven in a flash mob-style robbery, police said.
The robbery occurred about 5 p.m. yesterday at the 7-Eleven on the 400 block of 8th Street SE, according to a police report. The thieves stole various items from the shelves and $20 from a customer who was waiting to make a purchase.
The same 7-Eleven location was robbed in early September in a similar incident involving a group of juveniles.
A man also was assaulted during an attempted robbery last night, according to police.
The man was walking near the intersection of Potomac Avenue SE and 14th Street SE about 7 p.m. when he was approached by another man who demanded his cell phone. When the victim did not hand over his phone, the attacker punched him in the face and fled. DC Fire officials say that the victim was not hospitalized.
Police responded to reports of gunshots at 3 p.m. yesterday in northeast Capitol Hill. The gunshots were heard on the 1600 block of Kramer Street NE near the Rosedale Recreation Center. When police arrived, a man told police he was shot at by an unknown person but was not injured. Around midnight last night, police arrested two suspects that they believe were involved in the shooting.
Photo via Flickr/nullvalue
(Updated at 9:05 a.m.) Smoke from a Metro power substation near the the Stadium-Armory Metro station has closed the stop and the Potomac Avenue Metro station, according to authorities.
The stations closed about 7:30 a.m. when smoke was reported at a Metro-owned traction power substation in a lot near RFK Stadium. No smoke has been reported in Metro stations or tunnels.
Stadium update 4: Power removed. Correcting location, now reported as a traction power substation in RFK lot that IS Metro owned. #wmata
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) September 21, 2015
Stadium-Armory – MTPD out w/DCFD in area of Stadium investigating smoke from power substation. Expect disrupted BL/OR/SV service. #wmata
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) September 21, 2015
Metro is providing bus service between the Eastern Market Metro station and either the Minnesota Avenue or Benning Road Metro stations on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines as the Metro Transit Police and D.C. Fire and EMS departments investigate the smoke.
OR/SV/BL passengers expect delays in both directions, FD activity at Stadium-Armory, station is temporarily closed. 8:33a #wmata
— Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) September 21, 2015
Last month, police, firefighters and paramedics held a drill at the Stadium-Armory Metro station to practice their response to fires and smoke in the Metro system. The simulation was designed to be similar to an incident in January when the L’Enfant Plaza Metro filled with smoke, leaving one Metro rider dead and 84 hospitalized.
Photo via Flickr/NCinDC
Two teenage boys pushed a man to the ground and robbed him near the Potomac Avenue Metro station yesterday.
The robbery happened on the 1300 block of Potomac Avenue SE about 4:30 p.m., police said. The thieves ran down Potomac Avenue before police arrived.
The victim was not injured, according to authorities.
Robbery Force & Violence_ Pennsylvania/ Potomac Ave.SE. LOF: 2 B/M's black shirt, 16-17 yoa. (2) Blue polo shirt. pic.twitter.com/WK67CugDYK
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) September 1, 2015
Photo via Google Maps
The Stadium-Armory and Potomac Avenue Metro stations are scheduled to shut down this weekend as crews repair rail lines and police, firefighters and paramedics respond to a fictional fire.
The closures are slated to run from 12:01 a.m. Saturday until the end of Sunday, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Free shuttle buses will replace Blue, Orange and Silver line trains between the Eastern Market Metro station and stations east of Stadium-Armory.
From 7:45 to 10 a.m. Sunday at Stadium-Armory, Metro Transit Police and the D.C. Fire and EMS Department are scheduled to run a “full-scale emergency response drill” intended to help emergency personnel practice their response to fires and smoke in the Metro system, according to a WMATA news release.
The simulation is designed to be similar to an incident in January when the L’Enfant Plaza Metro filled with smoke, leaving one Metro rider dead and 84 hospitalized.
The Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency will also participate in the drill.
In addition to testing the on-the-scene emergency response, the drill will test the station’s ventilation fans, which are controlled remotely from Metro’s Rail Operations Control Center. Problems with Metro’s radio communication systems are believed to have caused some of the confusion and late response to the incident in January.
The stations are expected reopen Monday morning.
Photo via Flickr/NCinDC
Metro riders won’t be able to access two Capitol Hill-area Metro stations this weekend.
The Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory Metro stations are set to close to passengers on Saturday and Sunday as part of rebuilding work on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines, Metro announced today.
Free shuttle buses will replace trains between the Eastern Market and Benning Road Metro stations on the Blue and Silver lines. On the Orange Line, the buses will operate between the Eastern Market and New Carrollton Metro stations.
Buses will take about 10 minutes to travel between each of the closed stations, according to Metro.
Normal service on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines is expected to return Monday.
