September 10-16 Crime Blotter: University Warns of Car Break-Ins, Murder Suspect Arrested, and More
Image Courtesy of Patrick D. Lewis
By Patrick D. Lewis
Information for this crime report is taken from only official CUA Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management and D.C. Metropolitan Police Department statistics, statements, records, and notifications.
Crime in the immediate area of the Catholic University of America (CUA) remains a concern for the campus community. Although violent crime in Washington is down compared to last year, a rise in property crimes has continued to drive the overall crime rate up. According to D.C. Police Statistics, theDistrict of Columbia (D.C.) saw 29 more crimes citywide from September 8-14, 2024, than in the same period last year, according to D.C. Police statistics.
Some of those property crimes prompted an email sent to the university community by CUA’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) on September 12. According to the statement, several vehicles parked on Taylor St. near John McCormack Rd., the part of campus between Opus Hall and the DuFour Center, were broken into overnight.
Kirk McLean, Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management and Chief of the Campus Police Department, said in an email that at least four vehicles were broken into, some of which had stolen property. The incidents were reported to DPS, but as the vehicles were not on campus property the owners were asked to report the crimes to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). A spokesperson for MPD said in an email that they had not received any calls for the break-ins, although they had three records of stolen vehicle reports in the area.
Chief McLean commented on safety concerns.
“The Department of Public Safety had also requested MPD to increase their overnight patrol coverage along that stretch of Taylor Street,” McLean said. “They have informed us that they are increasing their patrols in the area to suppress and deter criminal activity. ”
On September 11, MPD announced a break in a more serious case. Law enforcement officials arrested 32-year-old Bryant Nelson of Temple Hills, Maryland, and charged him with first degree murder in relation to the September 2 death of 46-year-old Townsend Reginald Sowell. Sowell was found shot to death in the 2800 block of 7th St., NE, after officers responded to calls for shots fired around 1:19 am. The location of the homicide is six blocks south of campus.
Crimes near campus, September 10-16
September 10: Theft From Auto, 600 bl. Monroe St., NE
September 11: Theft From Auto, 400 bl. Michigan Ave., NE
3 Theft From Auto / Car Break-ins, 400 bl. Taylor St., NE (DPS reports)
September 13: Robbery (Carjacking), 600 bl. Monroe St., NE – DPS reported that the incident occurred around 5:29 am. The MPD report states a car being used for Amazon deliveries was stolen at gunpoint.
September 14: Theft From Auto, Taylor St. NE and Harewood Rd., NE
September 15: Robbery, Taylor St., NE, and John McCormack Rd., NE—DPS reported that the incident occurred around 3:07 a.m.
