Ex-DC Cop Gets 15 Years for Role in 2009 Robbery

A former D.C. police officer was sentenced to 15 years in prison for acting as a lookout during a robbery that ended in the death of one of the suspects.

Reginald Jones was sentenced Friday in D.C. Superior Court after pleading guilty last year to charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery.

The 42-year-old Jones, who was on duty at the time of the December 2009 robbery attempt, used his police cruiser to clear out the area and to act as a lookout, prosecutors said. He drove away after the robbery went awry and ignored a woman who ran to his cruiser pleading for help, authorities said.

The victim fought back and was shot by Arvel Crawford during the crime, but he survived, authorities said. Crawford also shot his father and fellow conspirator Arvel Alston, who died.

Three other defendants pleaded guilty for their roles in the robbery.