OFFICE OF LARRY T. PRETLOW II
January 12, 2011
Seventh District Commander Joel Maupin
Metropolitan Police Department
Seventh District Station
joel.maupin@dc.gov
Subject: Seventh District MPD Officer observes and allows “dangerous dispute” to escalate then gives misleading account to Metro Transit Police and refuses to identify himself to victims.
Commander Maupin,
I am insisting MPD changes its procedures in which an officer is properly identified before engaging in any verbal or physical confrontation or communication with the public.
On Tuesday, January 11, 2011 during the overall timeframe of approximately 01:00PM and 01:40PM myself and DaMar A. Jackson, a member of my office staff were walking near the intersection of MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE & SHERIDAN RD SE en route to the Anacostia Metro Station. As we began walking onto Sheridan Road SE towards the station, we began being followed and taunted by an unknown female subject and another unknown female subject that accompanied her. The verbal assault, threats and pursuit of me and my staff member in regards to my political involvement in the area, continued onto WMATA property at the Anacostia Metro Station.
A 911 dispatcher directed that we approach the WMATA Personnel in the station booth and a Metro Transit Police Officer. I requested that the WMATA Personnel intervene and call for Metro Transit Police to ensure the safety of everyone not only involved in the unfolding situation but in the station overall. WMATA Personnel allowed the situation – which could’ve at any given moment resulted in a violent attack or a homicide, considering the nature of the situation and the “crowding” thus putting customers, citizens, myself and my staff members’ safety in great jeopardy - to continue on WMATA Property, at no time did the on-duty WMATA Personnel at the station make any attempts to contact Metro Transit Police or to dissolve the “crowding” or the “verbal confrontation” and “attempted physical assaults” (made by the unknown female subject and an unknown male subject towards my staff member).
Afraid to turn his back on the unknown male and female subjects, my staff member became frustrated throwing his food on the floor – it was at this time when the crowd began to dissolve and the unknown subjects walked away. I told my staff member to swipe his SmarTrip® so that we could go down to board the Branch Ave Green Line train to go to Congress Heights Metro Station where we had a car waiting for our appointment at Andrews Air Force Base.
At this time, a WMATA Employee that witnessed the entire ordeal stated that both my staff member and I had to exit the station (essentially forcing us outside where the crowd relocated) – meanwhile the unknown male and female subjects were making “threats of physical harm” from outside the station. I stated that I was “calling the police” and that “sending us outside would not be safe” and that we were “not exiting the station unless it was on the train”.
It was at this time when a Male Subject in “plain clothing”, (approx. height 5-08, black, light skin, long dreads, book bag on back, wearing a hat, and a jacket covering a dark blue shirt) appeared and stated “I am the Police, now what”, I asked him to identify himself with his name and badge number, he replied “I’m MPD and I saw the whole thing from Martin Luther King Avenue”. I and my staff member began to ask “why didn’t you stop all of this”, he responded “he threw his food, now exit the station” – in the meanwhile a WMATA Janitor quickly cleaned up the food – I was speaking with the same 911 dispatcher and she could hear all of this unfolding, I ask that she send out his superiors. Again, I asked for his name and badge number. The Male Subject continued to demand that we leave or be arrested. He never pursued the subjects that were targeting me and my staff member.
We were upset that a MPD officer had observed (along with WMATA Personnel) what was a “hostile pursuit” then “crowded, hostile and potentially violent confrontation” and “further threats” – and never identified himself as an MPD Officer in any effort to dissolve the unfolding situation.
Upon the arrival of two female Metro Transit Police officers and a female TSA Police Officer (Anderson) – whom of which abused her authority and failed to fully investigate the situation before demanding that we leave the station – the Unidentified Male MPD Officer gave a misleading account of what had taken place failing to make any mentioning of what he had publically admitted to having observed unfold from outside to inside the Anacostia Metro Station. The Unidentified Male MPD Officer painted a portrait that this matter was about me and my staff member refusing to leave the station after throwing food and not because we were targets of a dangerous dispute that he claimed to have witnessed in its entirety, while forcing us out into what was a declared battleground outside the station.
Metro Transit Police failed to retrieve the officer name and badge number after both my staff member and I requested that they do so. We later learned that a female MPD Officer that we witness escort the Unidentified Male MPD Officer out of the station was MPD 7th District Police Officer Watkins. Officer Watkins never came to speak with us.
A “situation” witnessed by persons armed with the duty of ensuring safety of the public – but did nothing to end the situation. However, we were made out to be everything but victims while the other persons involved were allowed to “make threats in front of Police Officers” and walk away. What frightens me is “what if this had not ended the way it did”. This is why I’m requesting to know who the Unidentified Male MPD Officer was so that further action can be taken against him.
MPD, WMATA and Metro Transit Police needs to establish more efficient procedures in which “crowding” and other behaviors expressed in this situation are not allowed to further unfold – and anyone requesting help is properly assisted and treated fairly not left stranded. This would increase contributions to Public Safety, reduced crime and saving lives. I would like to meet with you and other recipients to discuss the development of new identification and public safety procedures.
Sincerely,
Larry T. Pretlow II
CC: Chief Cathy L. Lanier, MPD
Richard Sarles, Interim General Manager – WMATA
Chief Michael Taborn, Metro Transit Police
Marion Barry, Councilmember
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pretlowontherise@gmail.com Official Site: http://www.LarryPretlow2.org/
Official Site of Larry T. Pretlow II. LaPret is a Recording Artist & ASCAP Songwriter, while at the same time, a D.C. Ward 8 Political Activist who has ran as a ballot-access candidate for Public Office.
