D.C. a little safer (I hope).

Pangloss62 · 08-16-2006, 08:21 AM

My buds in D.C. have told me that crime has really been bad in our Nation's Capital. And shocking to some is how a lot of this violent crime was occuring right on the Mall, in the shadow of the Washington Monument. After reading about these crimes I'm surprised how it still utterly shocks me. The depravity of it all.

Five Arrested For Robberies, Sexual Assaults On Mall

By Channing Phillips, Public Affairs, Department of Justice
August 16, 2006

Five men ranging in age from 16 to 22 years old have been arrested and charged in connection with a series of armed robberies and sexual assaults that occurred on the National Mall last May and July. The five were taken into custody by USPP officers following an intensive investigation conducted by the Park Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Secret Service, the FBI, Prince George’s County PD, Metro Transit PD and Metropolitan PD. Another three individuals have also been arrested in connection with the use of credit cards stolen during the robberies. The following five incidents occurred on the Mall:

May 25, 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. – A couple walking on the Mall were approached by three young men, one armed with a gun. They were ordered to the ground at gunpoint and searched for money and valuables. Items taken from them included cash, a cell phone, and a wallet containing credit and ATM cards. One of the men committed a forceful sexual touching of the woman.

May 25, immediately after the above – The men approached another couple on the Mall and were also ordered to the ground and robbed of similar items. As in the first incident, one of them committed a forceful sexual touching of the woman. She was also kicked in the head by one of the men when she resisted.

May 27, 11 p.m. to midnight – A man and woman walking together on the Mall were approached by three young men, one armed with a gun. A jacket, wallet, cash and credit cards were taken from the man and his pants pockets were searched. Items and cash were also taken from the woman, who was then taken by the armed man to a grassy are of the Mall, where he raped her at gunpoint, then forced her to commit oral sodomy on him and a second man. The latter punched and kicked the man before joining the sexual assault.

July 11, about 10 p.m. – Two women were approached by two young men and robbed of their cell phones and cash on the grounds of the Washington Monument. During the robbery, one of the men committed a forceful sexual touching of one of the women.

July 11, 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. – A family of four – two adults with their two children, ages 9 and 15 – were walking on the Mall near the Washington Monument when they were approached by two men, one armed with a gun. They were forced to the ground at gunpoint, then robbed of cash and a camera.

Working methodically and following leads arising from an analysis of records from the stolen credit cards and a cell phone, interviews with witnesses, and the execution of more than a dozen search warrants, investigators identified and arrested the five men. A variety of assault and robbery charges have been filed against them. Three other men, ranging in age from 19 to 24, have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit theft in the first degree in connection with the use of some of the stolen credit cards. In announcing the arrests and charges against these defendants, U.S. attorney Kenneth Wainstein and USPP chief Dwight Pettiford commended the outstanding work of all members of law enforcement who worked tirelessly to close this investigation, particularly, lead detective Todd Reid of the U.S. Park Police and the outstanding team of detectives, along with David Knoedler of the U.S. Secret Service, Marty Flynn of the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Criminal Investigative Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, particularly, John Marsh and Larry Grasso. They also commended assistant U.S. attorneys Elana Tyrangiel and Dan Zachem.

MaggieL · 08-16-2006, 08:24 AM

Well, the citizens in D.C. have been disarmed... for their own protection, of course. See how well it works?

glatt · 08-16-2006, 08:45 AM

You've got to be pretty stupid to use credit cards that were stolen in a high profile crime like these.

MaggieL · 08-16-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

You've got to be pretty stupid to use credit cards that were stolen in a high profile crime like these.

I doubt the "three other men" knew exactly how hot the cards were. Probably they got nailed through the cards and then flipped on the original perps.

glatt · 08-16-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieL

I doubt the "three other men" knew exactly how hot the cards were. Probably they got nailed through the cards and then flipped on the original perps.

The original perps are the stupid ones. They should have taken the cash and tossed the wallets and credit cards. Not used them or given them away to others who could finger them. But I guess if they were smart, they wouldn't be doing this at all.

Pangloss62 · 08-16-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

But I guess if they were smart, they wouldn't be doing this at all.

I don't know. If I didn't want to get a job and I wanted to get some money and have some "fun" at the same time, I probably would assault people on the Mall, take their cash, then rape one of the victims and/or kick one of them in the head. It's all good.

Beestie · 08-16-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Well, the citizens in D.C. have been disarmed... for their own protection, of course. See how well it works?

But not the citizens of the fine state of Virginia who work in DC. At least not this one.

MaggieL · 08-16-2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beestie

But not the citizens of the fine state of Virginia who work in DC. At least not this one.

I don't think your VA carry permit will avail you of much in DC. And I say this as a holder of a FL permit that's good in VA, among other places.

OTOH, if you're operating under the "rather be judged by twelve than carred by six/easier to ask forgiveness than get permission" school of thought, good on you.

bluecuracao · 08-16-2006, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Well, the citizens in D.C. have been disarmed... for their own protection, of course. See how well it works?

Even if these victims had been armed, it probably wouldn't have done much good, unfortunately--the perps would have just stolen the victims' guns as they searched them. Everyone I know who's been mugged has been taken completely by surprise, and usually from behind.

MaggieL · 08-16-2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

Even if these victims had been armed, it probably wouldn't have done much good, unfortunately--the perps would have just stolen the victims' guns as they searched them. Everyone I know who's been mugged has been taken completely by surprise, and usually from behind.

How many of them were armed?

I know that becoming an armed citizen has done wonders for my situational awareness. Just because your friends wander around in Condition White doesn't mean everybody has to.

wolf · 08-17-2006, 10:33 PM

Legalizing firearms ownership and issuing Concealed Carry permits would start turning things around, based on the experience of quite a few states that have enacted such laws.

Beestie · 08-18-2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Legalizing firearms ownership...

That's a nice way to put it. I was thinking more along the lines of Removing the unconstitutional prohibition on an explicitly granted Constitutional right.

And the whole "crackdown" on crime going on in DC right now has less to do with protecting the defenseless citizens of DC and more (if not everything) to do with restoring the flow of tourist dollars into the city coffers. For DC, its all about the Benjamins. Except when it comes to citizen's rights which have nothing in common with anyone named Benjamin.

MaggieL · 08-18-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beestie

Removing the unconstitutional prohibition on an explicitly granted Constitutional right.

To pick a further nit, the Constitution doesn't *grant* that right, it recognizes that it is inherent and then prohibits infringement of it.

bluecuracao · 08-18-2006, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Good thing for him that he did; depending on the jurisdiction a court would probably have convicted him of ADW. Sounds like a real knucklehead...I bet his weapon wasn't legally carried.

No, it wasn't legal, he was in DC. And in this case, carrying a gun did not keep the guy from being robbed in the first place. Similar to a neighbor of mine in a recent incident in Philly--he carried a (legal, this time) firearm, yet was still robbed of his jewelry. This man apparently was not up on the various "Conditions," being out and about at two in the morning in the first place.

Quote:

Then the fact that he was blindsided doesn't speak to the issue, no matter how "street-wise" you think he is. The assertion was that being armed doesn't matter.

It does speak to the issue--whether or not he was armed didn't matter, because he didn't have the opportunity to access anything, not even to reach in his pocket to give up his wallet.

Pangloss62 · 08-18-2006, 06:58 PM

I carry a shod foot everywhere I go.

08-16-2006, 08:21 AM	#1
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	D.C. a little safer (I hope). My buds in D.C. have told me that crime has really been bad in our Nation's Capital. And shocking to some is how a lot of this violent crime was occuring right on the Mall, in the shadow of the Washington Monument. After reading about these crimes I'm surprised how it still utterly shocks me. The depravity of it all. Five Arrested For Robberies, Sexual Assaults On Mall By Channing Phillips, Public Affairs, Department of Justice August 16, 2006 Five men ranging in age from 16 to 22 years old have been arrested and charged in connection with a series of armed robberies and sexual assaults that occurred on the National Mall last May and July. The five were taken into custody by USPP officers following an intensive investigation conducted by the Park Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Secret Service, the FBI, Prince George’s County PD, Metro Transit PD and Metropolitan PD. Another three individuals have also been arrested in connection with the use of credit cards stolen during the robberies. The following five incidents occurred on the Mall: May 25, 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. – A couple walking on the Mall were approached by three young men, one armed with a gun. They were ordered to the ground at gunpoint and searched for money and valuables. Items taken from them included cash, a cell phone, and a wallet containing credit and ATM cards. One of the men committed a forceful sexual touching of the woman. May 25, immediately after the above – The men approached another couple on the Mall and were also ordered to the ground and robbed of similar items. As in the first incident, one of them committed a forceful sexual touching of the woman. She was also kicked in the head by one of the men when she resisted. May 27, 11 p.m. to midnight – A man and woman walking together on the Mall were approached by three young men, one armed with a gun. A jacket, wallet, cash and credit cards were taken from the man and his pants pockets were searched. Items and cash were also taken from the woman, who was then taken by the armed man to a grassy are of the Mall, where he raped her at gunpoint, then forced her to commit oral sodomy on him and a second man. The latter punched and kicked the man before joining the sexual assault. July 11, about 10 p.m. – Two women were approached by two young men and robbed of their cell phones and cash on the grounds of the Washington Monument. During the robbery, one of the men committed a forceful sexual touching of one of the women. July 11, 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. – A family of four – two adults with their two children, ages 9 and 15 – were walking on the Mall near the Washington Monument when they were approached by two men, one armed with a gun. They were forced to the ground at gunpoint, then robbed of cash and a camera. Working methodically and following leads arising from an analysis of records from the stolen credit cards and a cell phone, interviews with witnesses, and the execution of more than a dozen search warrants, investigators identified and arrested the five men. A variety of assault and robbery charges have been filed against them. Three other men, ranging in age from 19 to 24, have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit theft in the first degree in connection with the use of some of the stolen credit cards. In announcing the arrests and charges against these defendants, U.S. attorney Kenneth Wainstein and USPP chief Dwight Pettiford commended the outstanding work of all members of law enforcement who worked tirelessly to close this investigation, particularly, lead detective Todd Reid of the U.S. Park Police and the outstanding team of detectives, along with David Knoedler of the U.S. Secret Service, Marty Flynn of the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Criminal Investigative Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, particularly, John Marsh and Larry Grasso. They also commended assistant U.S. attorneys Elana Tyrangiel and Dan Zachem. __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem.

08-16-2006, 08:24 AM	#2
MaggieL in the Hour of Scampering Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Jeffersonville PA (15 mi NW of Philadelphia) Posts: 4,060	Well, the citizens in D.C. have been disarmed... for their own protection, of course. See how well it works? __________________ "Neither can his Mind be thought to be in Tune,whose words do jarre; nor his reason In frame, whose sentence is preposterous..."

08-17-2006, 10:33 PM	#11
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Legalizing firearms ownership and issuing Concealed Carry permits would start turning things around, based on the experience of quite a few states that have enacted such laws. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-18-2006, 06:58 PM	#15
Pangloss62 Lecturer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 768	Safety I carry a shod foot everywhere I go. __________________ Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem.

08-16-2006, 08:45 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	You've got to be pretty stupid to use credit cards that were stolen in a high profile crime like these.

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