The GLLU, MPD’s Gay and Lesbian Liason Unit, serves the District’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. Read the last two weeks in police activity related to the GLBT community below.
First, GLLU's report of the David Kerstetter case, in full:
On Thursday, Nov. 6, at approximately 10:20 am, uniformed officers from the department’s Third District responded to a residence located in the 1300 block of 13th Street, NW to assist the building manager with a possible open door at that location. Upon arriving and initiating their investigation, the officers were suddenly confronted by an adult male inside of the premises reportedly wielding a knife. Reportedly, a struggle ensued as the officers repeatedly ordered the man to drop the weapon. It was at that time that the police in the face of apparent imminent danger fired upon the subject, striking him. The suspect, Mr. Kerstetter, was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:48 pm. There were no reported physical injuries to the two officers involved in this incident. The identities of the officers, both males, are being withheld at this time to allow for the proper notification of their families. A knife was recovered at the scene of the incident. Both members have been placed on routine administrative leave with pay as the circumstances surrounding this case remains under investigation by members assigned to the Force Investigation Team from the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau.
Read the rest of the GLLU blotter, after the jump.
On 11/6/08, at approximately 10 p.m., a male walked into the Third Police District to report an ongoing dispute with his boyfriend of three years. The male, who advised he was breaking up with his boyfriend, advised there had been previous violence, but refused to provide sufficient details to document a criminal allegation. He indicated he needed assistance with a property dispute, so was advised to obtain a Temporary Protection Order (TPO), from the District of Columbia Superior Court. The GLLU’s Victim Advocate also contacted him to offer resources and provide safety planning.
On 11/7/08, at approximately midnight, members of the Third District were dispatched to a bar located in the area of Florida Avenue and 18th Street, NW for an assault. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim suffering from a minor cut to his lip. An investigation revealed the victim was engaged in a political conversation with the suspect, when the conversation became heated. At some point, the suspect became enraged and punched the victim, causing the injuries, then threw a glass at the victim. The suspect fled prior to the officer’s arrival.
On 11/8/08, at approximately 1:30 a.m., members of the First District were dispatched to the area of 6th and K Streets, NW for a complaint of Transgender individuals prostituting in the area. Officers responded to the scene and observed six to ten Transgender individuals walking in the area, but did not observe any evidence of prostitution. When the officers arrived on the scene, all of the Transgender individuals departed from the area. The officers returned 10 minutes later and discovered the same individuals back in the area standing on the corners, walking back-and-forth along the sidewalk and crossing back-and-forth across the street. No police action was taken, however the information was passed along to the GLLU, as the area has come under recent scrutiny by community members and local politicians, who regard the prevalence of prostitution in the area as a risk to public safety. The GLLU has been working with local outreach organizations such as Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS), Transgender Health Empowerment (THE), Different Avenues and the Mayor’s Office for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs to address the complaints, while providing adequate resources to individuals forced in to commercial street sex work due to marginalization.
On 11/9/08, at approximately 2 a.m., members of the Sixth District responded to the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE for an unconscious female. Upon arrival, the individual who was Transgender (male to female), awoke and refused medical attention. There were no signs of injury and the individual appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. She refused to identify herself and refused offers to transport her to a safe location.
On 11/10/08, a female contacted the GLLU to report a series of harassing phone calls to her home, beginning 10/4/08 and continuing until the reporting date. According to the victim, she was involved in the organization of a large national dinner for the GLBT community in Washington, D.C. Since the dinner, she has been called countless times by an unidentified male, who uses homophobic language and other profanity and then hangs up the phone.
On November 14, 2008, at approximately 2 a.m., members of the Second District were dispatched to the area of Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness Street, NW for the call for a sick person. Upon arrival, officers located a 19 year-old male, who was expressing suicidal thoughts. The male volunteered to be transported to a local hospital for examination and treatment.
On November 14, 2008, at approximately 3:30 a.m., members of the Third District responded to an assault complaint in the area of 14th Street and Columbia Road, N.W. Upon arrival, the victim advised officers he was walking wearing his IPOD earphones, when he was approached from behind by a group of young black males. Without provocation, one of the males slapped the victim on the back of the head. The victim was not injured. The suspect is described as a black male, between 15-17 years old, 5'5"-5'7" tall, wearing a black coat, pants and shirt.
On November 14, 2008, at approximately 4 p.m., members of the Sixth District responded to an apartment in the 4200 block of Benning Road, SE for a domestic dispute. Upon arrival, officers learned the two residents were boyfriends of six months and the two were engaged in a heated argument that one of the men feared might turn violent. With no evidence of criminal activity, the officers provided the men with available resources and the GLLU's Victim Advocate contact them to assist with safety planning.
On November 14, 2008, at approximately 5 p.m., members of the First District responded to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, which is located in the 900 block of Street, NW. Once on the scene, officers located the victim, a Transgender female, who advised she had been assaulted by a male inside the library's stairwell and robbed. The victim suffered minor injuries, but refused medical attention. The suspect is known.
On November 15, 2008, at approximately midnight, a Latino male walked into the Third District Sub-Station to report he was being threatened by his landlord. According to the victim, his boyfriend and he were engaged in a landlord-tenant dispute with the owner of the property. The owner left a voicemail message on the victim’s voicemail, in which she expressed homophobic beliefs and intimated the victim might fall victim to violence.
On November 15, 2008, at approximately 2:45 a.m., members of the First District were dispatched to the area of 6th and K Streets, N.W. for the call for Transgender individuals engaging in prostitution. Upon arrival, officers observed approximately 8 individuals, all of whom appear to be members of the Transgender community, walking back-and-forth along the side walk and across the street. The individuals were advised to disperse from the area, however several additional calls were received after officers departed the scene. Officers returned at 3:15 a.m. and observed many of the same individuals engaged in the same activity.
On November 16, 2008, at approximately 3 a.m., members of the Third District were summoned to an apartment in the 900 block of M Street, NW by the boyfriend of an individual suffering from erratic behavior. Upon arrival, officers located the 26 year old male and his boyfriend. The 26 year old was exhibiting signs of an acute psychological episode and agreed to be transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
On November 16, 2008, at 11:30 a.m., a Transgender victim walked into the Seventh District station to report she was the victim of a violent attack on October 31, 2008, at about 8:30 a.m., in the area of the 4600 block of Livingston Road, SE. According to the victim, while congregating in the park area with friends, the suspect approached her and punched her without provocation, causing serious injuries to her jaw. The victim responded to a local hospital and did not immediately report the assault to the police. The suspect is described as a black male, medium complexion, weighing between 250-280 lbs. and between 5’6”-5’7”. He has a mustache and beard and may be in his early 30’s. His keeps his hair in a short style and may go by the nickname of “Fats or “Sulliver.”
On November 16, 2008, at approximately 11:30 p.m., members of the Second District were dispatched to an apartment in the 1700 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW for a burglary in progress. According to the caller, two men had broken into his apartment and were hiding in his bathroom. Officers responded immediately and upon arrival found the caller, a 64 year old male. A search of the apartment revealed no intruders and no sign of forced entry. Furthermore, after consultation with the caller’s personal doctor, it was determined the caller was suffering from mental illness and needed immediately psychiatric attention. The caller was transported to the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program for evaluation and subsequent treatment.
On November 17, 2008, at approximately 7 p.m., a female caller contacted the GLLU via the on-call pager to request assistance with a homeless person who had refused to leave the front of her home in the 1700 block of Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Officer responded and transported the individual to the Hypothermia Shelter.
On November 17, 2008, at approximately 3:30 a.m., members of the First District were dispatched to the area of the 500 block of K Street, NW for the complaint of Transgender individuals engaged in prostitution. Officers responded and found a group of eight to ten individuals, who all appeared to be members of the Transgender community walking back-and-forth on the sidewalk and crossing back-and-forth across the street. The individuals departed upon observing the marked police cars, however returned to the area within 10 minutes. Several additional calls were received with no arrests made.
On November 18, 2008, at approximately 3 a.m., Third District officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW for a white male running in the street bleeding and naked. Upon arrival, officers located the 45 year old victim, who was suffering from injuries to his head and face. He was also under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. He refused medical treatment. The victim provided conflicting accounts, however officers were able to determine the victim patronized a local bar located in the west end of Dupont Circle beginning at about 4:30 p.m. on November 17, 2008. At some point later that evening, the victim departed the bar with an unknown black male and took a taxi to the victim's apartment, located in the 2000 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. Once at his apartment with the unknown black male, the victim engaged in consensual sexual activity with the suspect and also engaged in the use of an illegal drug with the suspect. At some point, the victim was attacked and ran from the apartment to seek assistance. There is no further description of the suspect.