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.