Investigators Anita Chavis (DPW) and Paul Kurgan (MPD) of DC's cross-agency Environmental Crimes Unit (ECU) made four arrests and confiscated two vehicles during last week's surveillance of the 1100 block of Okie Street, NE. The commercial cul-de-sac had been the site of repeated incidents of late-night dumping over the past few months. Business owners along the street turned to the Department of Public Works for help eradicating this stubborn - and costly - problem.
The investigators made their first Okie Street arrest on Thursday, May 31. Although a roof-top surveillance had been planned, rain and lightening kept the team on the ground in an unmarked vehicle. At approximately 9:00 pm, two men arrived in a pick-up truck loaded down with bulk trash. The suspects were caught on videotape illegally loading their haul into a local business-owner's commercial dumpster. The men were arrested and their car impounded. However, while Investigators Chavis and Kurgan were processing the arrests at the Fifth Police District office, another perpetrator hit the same location, dumping a sizeable truckload of trash and construction debris in the middle of the street. DPW's Investigator Chavis said, "We knew we could catch a bigger fish if we sat on that location for awhile longer."
Friday night's rainy stake-out yielded no incident of dumping and no arrests. Chavis and Kurgan returned to the scene Saturday evening, June 2. At 10:58 pm, a blue pick-up truck piled with rubbish and debris was spotted turning onto Okie St. Investigator Chavis began videotaping the two male suspects as they illegally threw broken furniture, steel pipes and appliances off their truck - and onto public space. The Investigators blocked the path of the truck as it tried to leave. The men were arrested and taken into custody.
On Monday, June 4, both of the suspects arrested the previous Saturday night, were charged in DC Superior Court with Felony Illegal Dumping, which carries a sentence of up to five years in a Federal prison. Additionally, one of the suspects was charged with violating probation subsequent to serving time for Involuntary Manslaughter, which may result in his re-incarceration to serve the remainder of his sentence.
DPW Director, Leslie Hotaling, said, "The message to all would-be offenders is clear: If you dump in the District, you will get caught."