D.C. police officer under investigation for lying about murder
A D.C. police officer is facing possible criminal charges for lying about a deadly shooting involving her boyfriend, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said.
Lanier confirmed the story Thursday while appearing on WTOP's "Ask the Chief" program, saying the officer was removed from duty and is being investigated by police about allegedly witnessing a murder.
It has been a rough seven days for the Metropolitan Police Department. A veteran police officer with two previous alcohol-related incidents was arrested after police said he was drunk and jumped on a vehicle and shot at transgendered people. Another D.C. police officer was convicted in West Virginia of having sex with a teenage girl he met online. And internal affairs is still investigating why officers in Columbia Heights failed to take a report of an racially motived attack on lesbians.
At least 23 officers have been arrested this year for charges ranging from murder to raping women who worked as prostitutes.
"We're very aggressive in weeding out dirty cops," Lanier said.
Lanier confirmed that the officer who was removed from duty is being investigated by police about allegedly witnessing a murder.
According to charging documents and law enforcement sources, the officer, a 10-year veteran from the 2nd District in Northwest Washington, was at the scene when 33-year-old Ricardo Mitchell fatally shot 33-year-old Wyatt Earp Robinson on Aug. 21. The story was first reported by Fox 5.
Police said Mitchell and two others were on the front porch of 3915 Clay Place NE at about 7 p.m. when Robinson walked by. Mitchell pulled out .40-caliber pistol and put the gun up to Robinson's head and fired several shots, police said. Robinson collapsed, the suspect fled, then turned back and fired more shots and ran back into the house.
Police said they have surveillance footage from nearby security camera that shows Mitchell and witnesses on the porch.
Police questioned the officer within minutes of the shooting, but she denied being in a position to observe the killing, according to the charging document. As the night progressed, she told detectives that she had not been forthcoming and she admitted to witnessing the slaying, documents said.
The officer has had her badge, gun and police powers pulled, Lanier said. The case is under investigation, and the officer could face obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact charges.
"If that is what happened, she's facing criminal charges," Lanier said.
