A woman was reportedly sexually assaulted in the 900 block of 8th street last week. The incident occurred on Wednesday, April 5, at about midnight when a group of men armed with a gun forced her into the backyard of a house. If you have information regarding this crime, please contact Detective Carmichael or Sgt. Pierce at 727-3700 (WDC Sexual Assault Unit). If you are generally concerned about crime in the area, please attend tonight's PSA 102 meeting (location & time info below).
THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED TO BETTER PROTECT THE VICTIM & CLARIFY THE APPROPRIATE REASONS ONE SHOULD CALL THE OFFICERS MENTIONED ABOVE. PLEASE EXCUSE THE DISRUPTION.
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The following are 4 responses from David Klavitter (PSA 102 volunteer coordinator)
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As the volunteer citizen PSA 102 coordinators, Marc Lesnick and I have not seen any reports of this alleged incident. We have phone calls into PSA 102 Lt. Sharon Mcinnis, as well as to the MPD sexual assault unit to confirm and get more information.
Obviously we must protect the victim and not hinder any ongoing investigation. But we also have serious public safety concerns.
Marc or I will post on this dicussion thread any information we receive from MPD about this incident.
In the meantime, there is a regularly scheduled PSA 102 monthly meeting Tuesday, April 11, 7-8:30 p.m. at Sherwoord Rec Center, 10th and G Streets NE.
For more information, go to: http://psa102.blogspot.com
David Klavitter
Marc Lesnick
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According to MPD PSA 102 Lt. Sharon Mcinnis:
The only thing I can say about this matter is that is was reported, through a second party, to the MPD Sexual Assault Unit. There has been an allegation of a crime and it is being investigated.
This was not reported directly to MPD at the time of occurrence, that is why it was not in any crime stats. I understand the residents' concern, but this seems to be an isolated incident.
I will explain further at Tuesday's PSA meeting.
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I spoke Monday with Sgt. Rice of the MPD Sexual Assault Unit. I'm not familiar with all MPD protocols, but he told me that a report in this case had not been filed (as of Monday), pending the results of MPD investigation.
Dave Klavitter
PSA 102 volunteer citizen coordinator
http://psa102.blogspot.com
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Metropolitan Police Dept. (MPD) First District Commander Diane Groomes and PSA 102 Lt.Sharon Mcinnis requested that Sgt. Rice of the MPD Sexual Assault Unit attend last night's
(April 11) PSA 102 meeting to address the community's concerns about an alleged sexual
assault, which reportedly happened on April 5 in the 900 block of 8th Street NE.
Information about the alleged incident was distributed Monday by a citizen's post to
several community blogs and listservs.
Sgt. Rice confirmed to the group that his unit is investigating an allegation of a crime, but
would not offer specific details of the case. He reiterated that if it was determined a crime
was committed—or there exists a potential danger to the community—his unit would
immediately notify PSA 102 officers.
When asked if residents should be concerned, he responded that residents always should
be mindful of their surroundings anywhere in the city.
Sgt. Rice explained that due to the difficult nature of sexual assaults, an investigation is
often necessary to ensure that a crime was committed. He said if police determine that a
crime has occurred, his team would file a report and proceed with a case.
Both Sgt. Rice and Lt. Mcinnis said they understood the community's concerns, but
emphasized, "this seems to be an isolated incident."
Lt. Mcinnis praised the online listservs and blogs as important communication tools for
the community. However, she cautioned residents to be careful about posting allegations
as factual information, especially when police investigations are not complete.
Full PSA 102 minutes of the April 11 monthly meeting will be distributed in the next few
days.
By David Klavitter
PSA 102 citizen co-coordinator
http://psa102.blogspot.com
11 comments:
Is she alright? Have there been any leads on who the suspects are?
So she was in her front yard at midnight and then they approached her and forced her through her house to the back yard? Or was she sleeping and they kicked the door down and forced her into the back yard? Or did they knock on the door and she answered it and then was forced into the back yard. She witnessed a group hanging out in the 900 block before the attack occurred?
Curious why a back yard would be chosen to commit a crime of this nature; doesn't seem as insolated as the interior of a house to commit such a crime.
Difficult to get details as the police report is confidential, but she was coming home late at night and was approached as she went to unlock her door. Police say it was a "crime of opportunity." Nothing was taken from the house. Hard to say why the assault took place in the backyard, but possibly b/c the men did not know whether someone else was upstairs.
I fail to see what difference it makes. Bottom line is some lowlife scum sexually assaulted this poor woman and they need to be apprehended as quickly as possible.
Yes, a crime was committed, but details are important for assisting in cases and in preventing future cases. Same reason why every detail of a plane crash is scrutinized by other pilots - they want to avoid crashing a plane themselves by analyzing the details of other crashes.
As the volunteer citizen PSA 102 coordinators, Marc Lesnick and I have not seen any reports of this alleged incident. We have phone calls into PSA 102 Lt. Sharon Mcinnis, as well as to the MPD sexual assault unit to confirm and get more information.
Obviously we must protect the victim and not hinder any ongoing investigation. But we also have serious public safety concerns.
Marc or I will post on this dicussion thread any information we receive from MPD about this incident.
In the meantime, there is a regularly scheduled PSA 102 monthly meeting Tuesday, April 11, 7-8:30 p.m. at Sherwoord Rec Center, 10th and G Streets NE.
For more information, go to: http://psa102.blogspot.com
David Klavitter
Marc Lesnick
According to MPD PSA 102 Lt. Sharon Mcinnis:
The only thing I can say about this matter is that is was reported, through a second party, to the MPD Sexual Assault Unit. There has been an allegation of a crime and it is being investigated.
This was not reported directly to MPD at the time of occurrence, that is why it was not in any crime stats. I understand the residents' concern, but this seems to be an isolated incident.
I will explain further at Tuesday's PSA meeting.
FYI - all police reports are "Public Information". You can view them at the staion withing weeks of an incident or on the 3rd floor records section at MPD Headquarters after. Not that it matters. What matters is your frind is ok. Unfortunately, MPD probably won't take this as seriously if it truly was reported later by a 2nd party. be safe.
I spoke Monday with Sgt. Rice of the MPD Sexual Assault Unit. I'm not familiar with all MPD protocols, but he told me that a report in this case had not been filed (as of Monday), pending the results of MPD investigation.
Dave Klavitter
PSA 102 volunteer citizen coordinator
http://psa102.blogspot.com
What happened to the original post? This was deleted for a period of time? What happened?
Just making some revisions.
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