4 Youths Escape DC Psychiatric Hospital After Attacking Staffer

[Anonymous]

Any update on this incident that took place July11? At least one of them was facing multiple carjacking charges, including armed. We live a block from the hospital. What I find odd is that the hospital always has police presence outside, and they were spotted the NEXT day at Wegmans (according to someone on CP Listserve) looking sort of aimless and obvious. Wegmans has a police officer. Was there not an APB by the?? If neighbors could spot them, surely the police could. So odd . And where are they now?

[Anonymous]

That hospital is an understaffed s-show

[Anonymous]

Share a news link

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Share a news link

YES. I don't know what story, because neighborhood, or hospital you are talking about. Is CP Cleveland Park? Is there a hospital there?

You are asking for info while providing none of your own. This website doesn't exist inside your own mind-- we don't all know everything you know.

[Anonymous]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/07/12/teens-escape-psychiatric-institute-of-washington/

I'll try to find one that isn't firewalled. The facts are as I stated - range from 14-16. At least one is facing charges for armed carjacking (not first carjacking, repeat offender). The Cleveland Park Listserve where this is also being discussed is a NW DC Listserve for "neighborhood events and information" - one of the largest in the US. A neighbor reports having seen the youth wandering Wegmans (which is a few feet from PIW) the NEXT day. Alarmingly, she says they were in the "knives section" at one point. Does not bode well. I am wondering why this is not receiving more reportage. Not the first escape from PIW. I am a supporter of police generally, but the police outside PIW are not 2nd precinct as far as I know. They are "detailed" there and sit out front all day doing nothing for the community (a car could race by and they wouldn't intervene). This seems like a fail in all parts including PIW and then where is the follow up?

[Anonymous]

Here you go - from CP Listserve moderator -

"Dear List Members,

There was an article in today's Washington Post, print edition, available online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/07/12/teens-escape-psychiatric-institute-of-washington/ reporting on the 4 teens described in the MPD Alert in Message #215676 -- all escapees from the Psychiatric Institute of Washington on Wisconsin Avenue NW.

Some important details from the article:

"According to a memo hospital officials sent to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services on Friday morning and reviewed by The Washington Post, five 'adolescent”' patients lured a hospital staffer into a patient’s room. They then assaulted the person and left, the memo alleged."

"D.C. police said the four teens remained missing as of Friday evening. "

"One of the youths, 16-year-old Andre Dawley, had been charged as an adult by federal prosecutors after he was arrested in February. Authorities allege he stole a vehicle and led police on a chase from Prince George’s County into the District before crashing in the 4000 block of South Capitol Street SW. Court documents say Dawley was trapped in the vehicle at the time of the crash and police found a handgun in his breast pocket. He was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a high-capacity feeding device.

At the time of his February arrest, Dawley was also wanted for armed carjacking and robbery for an incident in November."

"The other teens who police say escaped were a 14-year-old male, a 15-year-old male and a 16-year-old female. One person familiar with the matter said the 14-year-old had been charged with armed carjacking, while the other two were alleged to have committed nonviolent offenses."

Three of the four were spotted at a nearby Wegman's (see Message #215686 ). You can see photos of all 4 teens in Message #215676 .

CP Listserv Moderator"

[Anonymous]

I am wondering why this is not receiving more reportage.

I heard ot on the news about 8 times yesterday as well as the WaPo. Seems like it’s getting a lot of coverage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am wondering why this is not receiving more reportage.

I heard ot on the news about 8 times yesterday as well as the WaPo. Seems like it’s getting a lot of coverage.

Radio? I am surprised that the neighborhood learned of it the next day. Had we known sooner , likely someone would have tipped the police at Wegmans. Seems like the police didn't know tho, since there is an officer IN Wegmans. How long did it take PIW to notice this absence. It's one thing to have a hospital for the criminally insane on your block, another to have a remiss hospital for the criminally insane. Their security and police backup both seem to have failed here. If four teens can get away and stay away?

[Anonymous]

Should violent offenders undergoing psychiatric treatment be housed in a light-security office-type building right on a major avenue and steps from a preschool, an elementary school and a library - and a short distance from DC’s largest middle school and high school, as well as two large independent schools in the area? This is not the first time this has happened. Shouldn’t such people be moved to a facility that is behind a more secure perimeter where escapes will be mimimized?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Should violent offenders undergoing psychiatric treatment be housed in a light-security office-type building right on a major avenue and steps from a preschool, an elementary school and a library - and a short distance from DC’s largest middle school and high school, as well as two large independent schools in the area? This is not the first time this has happened. Shouldn’t such people be moved to a facility that is behind a more secure perimeter where escapes will be mimimized?

It's DCs ONLY "locked-option" facility and this escape is telling..so no, and yes. We need a proper mental hospital. They should have converted the DC General site to that, or another site that could have a secured portion and be somewhat removed from residences. Not a poorly run private facility in an office building on Wisconsin Ave. DC is insane, no pun intended.

[Anonymous]

Psychiatric? They’re just criminals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Psychiatric? They’re just criminals.

For some reason they were remanded there. Probably otherwise they would have just been released to their own recognizance.

[Anonymous]

What “knife section” is there in Wegmans other than plastic cutlery?..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What “knife section” is there in Wegmans other than plastic cutlery?..

Employees have knives in certain sections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What “knife section” is there in Wegmans other than plastic cutlery?..

IDK. They do sell glasses and other household items and if you go to the website they do appear to stock a small selection of kitchen knives , like the "kuhn Rikon colori chef knife". One of these kids has carried a gun to commit crimes; seems feasible they may think about arms.