More Trouble on Metropolitan Branch Trail

Photo by sally henny penny

Prince of Petworth reports that a man was robbed and shot at while walking on the multi-use Metropolitan Branch Trial in Northeast yesterday. The police narrative on the incident:

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at approximately 6:15 pm, an area resident was walking on the Metropolitan Branch Bike Trail in the area of 3rd & R Street, Northeast, when he was accosted by three individuals. One subject produced a weapon and demanded the victim’s possessions. After complying and without provocation, the victim was punched in the face. The victim then attempted to flee from the scene and sustained a graze gunshot wound to the hip area after the suspect fired his weapon.
All three suspects then fled on foot. The victim received treatment for his injuries and an area hospital. The Metropolitan Police Department continues its investigation into the identity of these three individuals.

To ensure this area remains safe for all, the bike trail will be monitored and patrolled by officers on a regular basis.

Last summer the eight-mile-long trail that connects Silver Spring to Union Station was the site of a number of robberies, leading police and the Guardian Angels to step up patrols in the area. Beyond the problems with crime, Greater Greater Washington reported that MPD dispatchers were having trouble telling police exactly where to go when a crime was reported.

On the MetBranchTrail Yahoo! group today, some avid users expressed concern over the shooting and asked if bike caravans should be formed for people riding along it. Another said she would wait until she saw another cyclist on the trail before using it herself.

"My latest tactic for minimizing risk and increasing peace of mind is to ensure I'm within sight of another cyclist while on the trail. If there isn't a cyclist within sight when I get on, I just wait by the entrance until someone comes along. I've never had to wait more than a few minutes, since during peak times there are usually plenty of riders," wrote Jennifer Brundage.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@dcist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Martin Austermuhle in News on January 26, 2012 2:30 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

D_Rez

Georgia avenue is also about 8 miles long.
During the same span of time did it have fewer or more such incidents?

guestymcspanky

Probably many times more, but:

a) The pedestrian density on Georgia Ave. is probably 100 times greater than on the MBT. I suspect (pretty damn sure) the incident rate per pedestrian, and per pedestrian mile, is much greater on the MBT.
b) Police are able to patrol Georgia Ave. 95-99% of the DC police force patrols in cars, consequently, they are not able to patrol the MBT adequately.

D_Rez

Yes, true. It would be interesting to see the rates.

PelosiLoveChild

Gun weilding thugs, say hello to my little friend, U lock.

flamingcissy

I thought one wasn't supposed to bring a gun to a U lock fight...or is it U lock to a snowball fight? Snowball to a gun fight? I forget the rules.

guestymcspanky

It's "you don't bring a U-lock to a gun fight" and you're right. U-locks are for assailants who aren't carrying firearms.

I'm just here for the snark

Never a SEAL team around when you need one

Pope Lando

Don't dis the SEALs. You could be next.

Milton

CCTV?

Over the River

Excellent use of a false sense of security. Might just as well station TSA "Officers" at the entrances.

Pete_eats

If you see something, say something.

monkeyrotica

The solution here is to start arming cyclists with fake taser guns.

guestymcspanky

Or with handguns, like the old man in North Reading, PA yesterday:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012...

Over the River

To ensure this area remains safe for all, the bike trail will be monitored and patrolled by officers on a regular basis.

Define:regular

Pope Lando

Can mean every five hours. Or five months.

knackers

Once in a blue moon is regular. How's that?

Over the River

I've always said maybe one day, we'll address the systematic, historical injustices that lead disenfranchised young black folks in DC to believing they have no other out in life except to rob, assault and steal to get by.

JC

How do you know the suspects were black? Or hatless?

Christopher

You must be new here.

JC

I'm Top 50, buddy! Respect my authori-tay!

Over the River

It wasn't N.W. *

(And do a search on DCist for the other times this comment has been used.)

IMGoph

oh, c'mon Martin. "in Northeast"?

i know you know the neighborhood this happened in. if this was at the corner of Wisconsin and M, would you say "in Northwest"?

slim_pickens

Metropolitan Branch Trial

TRAIL

IMGoph

damn, i didn't even notice that!

slim_pickens

Guess it'll stay like that. Oh well. Not as bad as a confusing headline.

Dread_Pirate_Roberts

We all know that undesirables live in Northeast! [and do I detect a crack in the Blogger Buddy Boy Solidarity Network?!]

IMGoph

seriously, DPR, i respect you, we've talked in public, i know you're not the jackass you sometimes play on the internet, but lay off. i don't "defend" or "attack" anyone based on any kind of shadow 'network' you want to invent.

yeah, it's cute. you troll me, i respond. hahaha.

seriously, though, when i see shoddy reporting, i call it out. simple as that. if you want to read more into it, be my guest, but in all honesty, it makes you look like a 12 year old.

Dread_Pirate_Roberts

OK, in all honesty, you're sometimes way too cozy with the editors on this site, and are a wee bit quick to defend them and yourself. I love our sniping - you're definitely a worthy opponent - but you need to stop characterizing me calling you out as "whining" or childish. We disagree on a lot of things, and can have FUN doing so. So just roll with it and don't get your panties in a bunch.

IMGoph

hey, i'm friends with martin outside of the site. i guess i'll have to add that as a disclaimer to every comment i make. satisfactory for you?

look, if you want to debate things, fine. that works for me. but stuff like the "blogger buddy boy network" and made up crap like that i don't have time for. you call it fun, i call it pointless. to each their own, i suppose. i don't intend to engage if that's the level you want to engage at. does that make me stiff and someone who gets their panties in a bunch? sure, fine. so be it. that's me.

Over the River

Shit, if it is crime we know better than to think it was in N.W.*

* Unless it is an older woman "allegedly" killed by an officer in the Iraq military.

monkeyrotica

I just hope this violence stays in Eckington and doesn't spread to FloRhIde. Northeast used to be so quiet until CaBi came to town. I warned you toned athletic savages that this would happen: provide easy access to cycling and cycling-related crime would increase.