City Desk now provides weekly updates on crimes throughout the District.

I Have Some Good News, Some Bad News, And Some More Bad News: On Dec. 16, the Examiner broke news that the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department executed a major sting at a faux auto body shop in Langdon Park in Northeast over several months, seizing more than $1 million in drugs and more than 100 guns. But the day before, MPD arrested one of their own, Reginald Jones, 40, charging the six-year officer with felony murder in connection with the shooting this month of Arvell Alston. Then came more bad news over the weekend: Police Detective Mike Baylor lost it at on Dec. 19 at the now infamous 14th and U snowball fight. But you’ve read all about that.

A Snowball’s Chance of Getting Away With It: As MPD listserv chatter about the snowball fight-turned-bad-action-movie-scene rose to a pitch, Chief Cathy L. Lanier issued a statement today to make something clear: The officer involved was wrong. While some citizen listserv members have been defending his behavior, Lanier declared his behavior way out of line: “Let me be very clear in stating that I believe the actions of the officer were totally inappropriate!  In no way, should he have handled the situation in this manner.  We have taken swift action by placing him on non-contact status until all the facts are gathered and discipline is handed down.” (That means he’s sitting behind a desk.)

Sticks and Stones: Around 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 14, two homeless women were “drinking and became involved in an argument over a racial slur” at Seaward Square Municipal Park in the block of 400 Seward Square SE, according to police. One of the women then allegedly punched and kicked the other in the face before taking $8 from her pocket. The aggressor was arrested.

Crazed Chef?: A couple was walking the 1900 block of G Street NW at around 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 16, when, for no apparent reason, a man came at them with a knife. The attacker was successfully held off and police arrived to arrest him. No one was injured.

All Hands: As part of MPD’s All Hands On Deck initiative on Dec. 18, members of the Major Narcotics Investigations Branch chased down and arrestedAntonio Davall, 20, in the area of 16th and Levis Street NE. Davall was allegedly hoofing it while carrying a shotgun after having been involved in a nearby shootout.

Lady Crooks Strike Again: A purse-snatching crew thought to be responsible for a recent bag grab in the 2600 block of Tunlaw Road NW at 1 a.m. on Dec. 12 struck again two days later. This time, police say, the three females and one male pulled off the heist at 12:45 a.m. in the 5400 block of 42nd Street NW. They allegedly punched their victim in the face and then took her purse.

Source: MPD’s District listservs, public releases