DC Cop Charged in Homicide Case

Police detectives arrested a veteran D.C. police officer on murder charges Tuesday.

A judge signed a warrant for Officer Reggie Jones, 40, a gun recovery specialist and six-year member of the force, Tuesday afternoon. Authorities accuse him in the Dec. 1 shooting death of 40-year-old Arvell Alston. Jones wasn't the shooter but is consider just as responsible as a conspirator under D.C. law. Rashun Montea Parker, 27, also was arrested and charged in the case Friday.

"This crime is a betrayal of the community’s trust and is an insult to the fine men and women of this Department," Police Chief Cathy Lanier said.

The shooting appears to be the result of a robbery of a rival drug crew. Alston and his son allegedly were involved in the robbery, and the son, Arvel Crawford, allegedly shot his father accidentally during the gunfight that ensued, the Washington Examiner reported. Another victim was taken to an area hospital in stable condition, police said. That victim's identity's being withheld as a witness in the case.

Jones was on duty when he acted as a lookout in the robbery and drove some of the participants to the crime scene, according to court documents. He was present during the holdup's planning and parked a short distance from the shooting in a marked patrol car.

After the shooting, when a witness ran toward the police cruiser seeking help, Jones allegedly drove away.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting and found Alston in the street suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead about an hour later at an area hospital, police said.

"We will not allow this department to be judged by one bad apple," Lanier said. "Rather, we should be judged on how we handle that bad apple. In this case, that was with a swift arrest and certain justice to come."

Arvel Crawford was arrested Tuesday.

Jones was arraigned Wednesday. He is being held without bail pending a Jan. 5 preliminary hearing.

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