Bowser, MPD react to Trump’s pardon of DC police officers convicted in man’s death
Bowser, MPD react to Trump’s pardon of convicted DC officers
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department react to President Donald Trump’s pardon of two former D.C. police officers convicted in the death of a 20-year-old man during a police chase in October 2020.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has granted clemency to two former D.C. police officers convicted in the death of a 20-year-old man during a police chase in October 2020.
President Trump pardons 2 DC police officers
Trump announced on Wednesday that former Metropolitan Police Department officers Andrew Zabavsky and Terence Sutton received full and unconditional pardons. Sutton was convicted of second-degree murder, while both he and Zabavsky were found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction.
The officers were convicted in December 2022 for their roles in the crash that killed Karon Hylton-Brown during a pursuit.
READ MORE: President Trump pardons 2 DC police officers convicted in death of 20-year-old Black man
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reacts to the pardon
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a statement to FOX 5 that said in part:
"President Trump pardoned two MPD officers involved in a fatal police pursuit. While MPD has long believed that the unfortunate loss of life caused by this police pursuit was best addressed in MPD's administrative processes not a criminal one, we nonetheless accepted the jury verdicts.
We continue to focus on training and discipline to hold our officers accountable to department policy and district law related to pursuits, while keeping our community safe from violent offenders."
DC Police react to pardon
The Metropolitan Police Department also released the following statement after the decision was made on Wednesday:
"The Metropolitan Police Department acknowledges President Donald Trump’s executive action in this matter. The men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department work tirelessly to prevent crime and ensure the safety of those that live in, work in, and visit the District of Columbia. Every day, our members perform inherently dangerous work that requires professional judgment and split-second decision-making.
The prosecutions of Officer Terence Sutton and Lieutenant Andrew Zabavsky were literally unprecedented. Never before, in any other jurisdiction in the country, has a police officer been charged with second-degree murder for pursuing a suspect. These members could never have imagined that engaging in a core function of their job would be prosecuted as a crime. The Department recognizes the risks involved in vehicle pursuits, which are reflected in our pursuit policy. But violations of that policy should be addressed through training and discipline - not through criminal prosecution.
The Department thanks President Trump and Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin for supporting our officers."
READ MORE: 2 DC police officers sentenced in death of Karon Hylton-Brown
What we know:
The deadly incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2020, when then-Lieutenant Andrew Zabavsky and Officer Terence Sutton say they spotted Karon Hylton-Brown riding an electric moped without a helmet on the sidewalk in the Brightwood Park area of Northwest D.C.
The officers attempted a traffic stop, but prosecutors say a pursuit ensued, continuing for more than 10 blocks at "unreasonable speeds" and even going the wrong way on a one-way street.
In the final moments of the chase, Sutton, who was driving, followed Hylton-Brown into a narrow alley off the 700 block of Kennedy Street, NW, according to prosecutors.
What's next:
Prosecutors then say Sutton turned off his car’s emergency lights and siren and accelerated behind the moped. When they exited the alley onto Kennedy Street, Hylton-Brown was struck by an oncoming car. He suffered serious head trauma and died on Oct. 25, 2020.
Civil lawsuits are still pending against the two former officers.
READ MORE: Former DC police officers to be sentenced Thursday for Karon Hylton-Brown's death
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press and FOX 5 reports.