(Photo by John Sonderman)

(Photo by John Sonderman)

Two police officers are under investigation for a questionable search of the backyard of the family home of Jeffrey Price, the man killed in May when he collided with a police cruiser. The search, which happened just a few days after Price’s death, was captured on video by the Price family and was first reported on and shared by WUSA9.

Price’s family is currently suing the District because they believe the officers were engaged in an illegal chase of Price’s dirt bike and cut him off, causing the crash that killed him.

Shortly after Price’s death, two police officers were caught on cellphone video searching the Price family’s backyard. The video was taken by Jay Brown, Price’s uncle, according to WUSA9.

“You got a search warrant? No one gave you permission to go back there,” Brown yells from behind the camera.

“They can go into the yard,” says a uniformed police officer.

Price’s mother can also be heard in the video telling officers that if they don’t have a search warrant, she does not want them on her property. Police told WUSA9 that officers thought a suspect may have dropped a gun in the area, but that was apparently not communicated to the family. The local news station reports that the two officers have been taken off the Gun Recovery Unit, but are still on patrol.

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham confirmed to the D.C. Council at an oversight roundtable on Thursday that the officers were under investigation, and should have communicated with the family. Councilmember Vincent Gray appeared to be aghast at the actions of the officers, and he made no secret of it.

Several other councilmembers also expressed frustration with Newsham and other testifying officers at the roundtable Thursday, particularly regarding the lack of data on the success rate of stop and frisk policies in confiscating illegal guns, and the controversial June incident in Deanwood when several police officers searched a group of young men standing in front of a barber shop and demanded IDs for what residents say was no reason.

Councilmember Robert White gave a particularly impassioned plea on the dais: “Even now, when I see those blue lights flash behind me, 100 percent of the time, I know I might die. And that is an important perspective for you to understand.”

There will be another oversight roundtable Thursday night in Deanwood, with just councilmembers and residents present—the community and the ACLU of D.C. have asked police not to attend because some residents may not feel comfortable sharing their experiences if officers are present.

Newsham said his initial plan was to attend the second part of the roundtable, which begins at 5 p.m. at the Deanwood Recreation Center, but will instead respect their request not to go.

Filed Under: dc police, jeffrey price, mpd, newsham,