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The GLLU, MPD’s Gay and Lesbian Liason Unit, serves the District’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. Last week in police activity related to the GLBT community:
* Ongoing: A repeat offender. Since 2005, the GLLU has waged an “ongoing investigation of domestic violence” between “an adult male victim and his former male domestic partner.” Over the years, the suspect has served time for “stalking, threats, violations of a Civil Protection Order and Contempt of Court.” For “many months,” the GLLU has been working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in investigating the suspect’s new victim, described only as “a third party in the Dupont Circle area.”
* Sept. 13: Verbal harassment between house mates. The victim has reported “homophobic remarks and epithets by one of the other male residents” of a private home. The GLLU classified the incident as “a hate/bias motivated incident,” described as “one that does not rise to the level of a criminal offense, but does involve behavior that demonstrates . . . hatred, bias or prejudice towards the victim’s actual or perceived status.”
* Sept. 23: Turning himself in. A man reported a domestic assault to the police; upon arrival, “officers determined the caller had assaulted his boyfriend.” The caller was placed under arrest.
* Sept. 24: Pay up. Officers responded to a “disorderly customer” at a Dupont bar; the patron, who the police determined to be “mentally ill,” had “failed to pay his bar tab.” The man’s family will pay the tab.
* Sept. 29: Unwelcome sleepover. A landlord contacted the GLLU for advice on a landlord/tenant dispute. The landlord’s gripe? The tenant was “allowing a male visitor to stay overnight on multiple occasions.”
Read the full GLLU blotter after the jump.
The GLLU has been involved in an ongoing investigation of domestic violence since 2005 between an adult male victim and his former male domestic partner. The suspect has been arrested multiple times and has served multiple sentences for charges ranging from stalking, threats, violations of a Civil Protection Order and Contempt of Court. Members of the GLLU are currently working with members of the United States Attorney’s Office, as the suspect is now engaged in harassing and threatening behavior towards a third party in the Dupont Circle area. These actions have been ongoing for many months.
On 9/13/08, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a male victim contacted the GLLU to report he was being harassed by another male resident living in a private home near 3rd and T Streets, N.W. According to the victim, the residents are sharing a private home together and are in a dispute with the home’s owner. The residents are disputing amongst themselves about the underling dispute with the owner. The victim has been the subject of homophobic remarks and epithets by one of the other male residents and feels unsafe residing in the same home with him. The GLLU is providing the victim with safety planning and has also documented the encounter as a hate/bias motivated incident. NOTE- A hate/bias motivated incident is one that does not rise to the level of a criminal offense, but does involve behavior that demonstrates the suspect(s)’ hatred, bias or prejudice towards the victim’s actual or perceived status. The Metropolitan Police Department documents all hate/bias related incidents coming to our attention, so as to determine deployment plans and provide intelligence to patrol and investigative members.
In the early morning hours of 9/23/08, members of the Third District were dispatched to a private home in the 700 block of Park Road, N.W. for a domestic disturbance between a male couple. Upon arrival, officers determined the caller had assaulted his boyfriend and he was placed under arrest. The victim suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment.
On 9/24/08, at approximately 10 p.m., officers responded to a restaurant / bar located in the 1600 block of 17th Street, N.W. for a disorderly customer. Upon arrival, officers determined the male was suffering from mental illness and had failed to pay his bar tab. The male was transported home in Chinatown and arrangements have been made by his family to pay the cost of the tab.
On 9/29/08, at approximately 1 p.m., a landlord contacted the GLLU to seek advice regarding a landlord-tenant issue at this property in Capital Hill. According to the landlord, his tenant was in violation of a written lease, by allowing a male visitor to stay overnight on multiple occasions. The owner was advised this was a civil matter and he must address the issue with the District of Columbia’s Landlord-Tenant Court.
On 9/29/08, at approximately 10:15 p.m., a juvenile male paged the on-call member of the GLLU to report he observed one of the suspects who robbed him three weeks prior. The victim made the observation on a Metro bus and exited the bus upon observing the suspect. The on-call member of the GLLU had members of the Sixth District respond to the Metro bus stop in the area of the 4600 block of Hillside Road, S.E. and attempt to locate the suspect. Despite an immediate response, they were unable to locate the suspect. The on-call GLLU member responded and transported the victim to his destination to ensure his safe arrival. NOTE- The GLLU encourages community members to contact 9-1-1 in situations like this requiring an immediate response. After contacting 9-1-1 and proceeding to a safe location, the victim should then contact the on-call GLLU member and request assistance. In most instances, 9-1-1 will allow for a faster police response, as patrol officers are often much closer than GLLU members.
On 9/30/08, at approximately 11 a.m., a male contacted the GLLU to assist with retrieving his personal belonging from the residence of a former friend in the 4400 block of C Street, S.E. (Sixth District). Members of the GLLU accompanied the caller to the location and attempted to retrieve the belonging, however were advised by the resident the belongings were not in his possession. The caller was advised to pursue civil action against the resident, as the matter was not criminal in nature. NOTE – The GLLU reminds community members to know their rights with regard to the District of Columbia’s laws protecting tenants and landlords. More information regarding landlord-tenant matters can be found at http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/superior/civil/landlord_tenant.jsp.