Washington, D.C
Mayor shares ‘grave concern’ about federal police pursuits in DC
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has “grave concern” about federal police pursuits after a chase in Southeast D.C. two weeks ago ended in a crash that left a man paralyzed and another two months ago near the Tidal Basin that killed an 18-year-old.
Prior to August, when President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington and ordered federal law enforcement surge, U.S. Park Police officers only pursued suspects if a violent felony had taken place or the suspect was known to be in possession of a firearm.
A change in policy implemented at the beginning of the federal surge, as described by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, drew laughter in a White House Cabinet meeting.
“I was shocked to find out when we were talking to them and you just pull somebody over and they just drive away and you can’t pursue ‘em, and they said, ‘No, we can’t.’ They said, ‘Old rules,’” he said. “We got that rule changed in 24 hours because of President Trump’s leadership. The next night, they had so much fun. They pulled people over, they started to take off, they chased ‘em, they stopped ‘em.”
According to the general orders published on the U.S. Park Police website, Park Police may pursue vehicles when the suspect is wanted for or suspected of committing a felony offense or a threat exists to the public.
Just after 11 p.m. May 3, firefighters responding to a horrific crash found a red Audi in the woods near the intersection of 9th Street and Southern Avenue in Southeast.
According to a court affidavit, a federal task force working in Southeast stopped the driver for “speeding and changing lanes without caution.” The driver, identified as Blake Washington, suddenly accelerated around the agents and took off at speeds exceeding 100 mph, according to the affidavit.
Shortly after federal agents began to pursue the vehicle, it hit a car with a man and woman inside, the affidavit says.
A court affidavit says the man was knocked unconscious and doctors said he had a 50% chance of walking again.
“Here’s the thing with car chases: People get hurt, and it’s not always the bad guys, and nobody should be speeding for minor crimes in the city,” Bowser said.
The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed one of its officers was a passenger in the vehicle that initiated the pursuit and they are investigating for any role they had in the chase.
On March 12, U.S. Park Police officers saw a stolen car on Hains Point and began a pursuit. A tire deflation device was deployed, police said, but the car continued at a high rate of speed before crashing into a tree near the Tidal Basin.
Josue Chavez, 18, died, and two passengers were injured.
News4 has been unable to reach Chavez’s family.
U.S. Park Police denied requests to talk to News4 about the pursuit policy. The U.S. Marshals Service also declined to comment.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Foggy start Tuesday morning
- Scattered showers & a few storms again Tuesday
- Not as hot Tuesday
- Slowly moving storms could cause flooding conditions later Tuesday afternoon/evening
After Monday night’s storms, we’re waking up to a fair amount of fog. Expect highs in the low 80s on Tuesday.
A few isolated showers are working across some of the northern suburbs of D.C. and they’ll move towards to east. Like Storm Team4 said on Monday, there’s daily chances of thunderstorms in the forecast now until the start of the upcoming weekend.
Look out for storms starting at about 6 p.m. Tuesday night and again at 9:30 p.m. In some areas, there’s a chance of flooding again.
On Wednesday, we’ll see clouds again but less rain chances. There’s a chance of on-and-off showers and a rumble of thunder on Thursday and then finally we’ll start to see a trend where things will start to get brighter and drier as a weather front comes though on Friday.
That weather front actually late into the evening may touch off a few more showers and storms that could linger into Saturday morning, but the trend Saturday and into Sunday is for drier air to replace all this moisture humidity. We’re going to see drying conditions on Saturday with highs right around 87 degrees.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
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QuickCast
TUESDAY
Mostly Cloudy | Muggy | Scattered Showers & Storms (50% Chance)
HIGH: 84F
TUESDAY NIGHT
Scattered Showers/Storms | Muggy
Temps: 70s Area-Wide
WEDNESDAY
Mostly Cloudy | Muggy | Scattered Showers & Storms (50% Chance)
HIGH: 83F
THURSDAY
Mostly Cloudy | Showers/ Storms Likely (60% Chance)
HIGHS: Upper 80s
FRIDAY
Partly Sunny | Isolated Showers/Storms Storms (30% Chance) | Hot
HIGHS: Near 90F
SUNSET: 8:36p
Averages: 89/72F
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
Metro is marking it’s 50th anniversary with gear featuring original Metro concept art an it’s wildly popular.
The hottest T-shirts in D.C. have nothing to do with U.S. soccer or even America’s 250th birthday. People are waiting in long lines for Metro gear.
Those lines have spilled out the door of the transit agency’s pop-up shop in the 300 block of 7th Street in Southwest D.C. and onto the hot sidewalk.
Metro is marking its 50th anniversary with designs that apparently people, such as Matthew Peterson, just have to have.
“I use Metro like every day and I’ve used all the lines,” Peterson, who has lived in D.C. for eight years, said. “I don’t even have a car. and it’s been essential to getting around so I just wanted to be able to commemorate it, and they’ve got cool marketing and cool merch.”
The shop features original Metro concept art on shirts, hats, postcards and other items. Katrina Gross picked up a shirt for her friend.
“They are pretty hot. I was surprised by how many people are here,” Gross said.
Tanner Holcomb also grabbed a shirt.
“I think these are really cool. There are some really nice vintage designs and I’m excited to wear it around,” Holcomb said.
The pop-up shop is open through July 10.
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Washington, D.C
White supremacist group demonstrates on Capitol Hill ahead of America 250 celebrations
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A self-proclaimed white supremacist group demonstrated on Capitol Hill on Independence Day, ahead of the America 250 celebrations in the District.
The group, Patriot Front, is recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist hate group that is an offshoot of Vanguard America, a now-inactive neo-Nazi group known for leading the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va.
George Washington University’s Program on Extremism explained, “Patriot Front is a white nationalist and fascist organization that promotes the idea of a homogenous, white ethno-state in the United States. The group advocates for the preservation of white European culture, viewing multiculturalism, immigration, and diversity as existential threats to its vision of America.”
According to the Associated Press, hundreds of uniformed members of the group could be seen wearing white masks, carrying drums, combat shields, and flags. The group could be heard chanting, “Reclaim America,” as they marched past the U.S. Capitol building towards Union Station. Group members were also seen crowding several Metro stations.
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In this image provided by Mark Sherman, members of the group Patriot Front wear masks as they march through Washington before Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Mark Sherman via AP)
Some of the flags included the Confederate flag and the fascio flag, which combines “fascist imagery with American patriotism” and was first used in fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini, according to GWU.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, Patriot Front is considered one of the U.S.’ most visible white supremacist groups, frequently participating in localized “flash demonstrations.”
As described in Patriot Front’s manifesto, the group claimed, “The time of the Republic has passed in America as the system grows too weak to perform its duty. … The damage done to this nation and its people will not be fixed if every issue requires the approval and blessing from the dysfunctional American democratic system. Democracy has failed in this once great nation.”
According to U.S. Park Police, no injuries were reported, and there is no threat to public safety.
Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department told DC News Now, “The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was tracking First Amendment activities that occurred this morning in the Eastern Market neighborhood. MPD recognizes the rights of individuals to peacefully express their views and remains committed to maintaining public safety and security for DC residents and visitors.”
DC News Now reached out to the Southern Poverty Law Center for comment but has yet to hear back.
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