Capitol Police Arrest Alleged Serial Armed Carjackers
WASHINGTON — Two men arrested by U.S. Capitol Police officers Tuesday night are now facing felony charges for their alleged involvement in a series of armed carjackings throughout the D.C. metro area.
According to the Capitol Police, one of its patrol officers spotted a stolen Mercedes C Class driving eastbound near the U.S. Capitol on Independence Avenue SE, just before 5 p.m. Tuesday night.
When officers attempted to stop the stolen Mercedes, the driver sped away. The car then blew through several stop signs and red lights, and it even went the wrong way down a one-way street and clipped a car before it crashed into parked cars near 12th Street and Independence SE.
Officers arriving at the scene spotted a gun near the driver and stopped the driver from reaching for it.
The officers recovered a 9 mm “ghost gun,” which had a high-capacity feeding device that is capable of holding 31 rounds.
The driver, 19-year-old Mekhi L. Staton of Maryland, and the passenger, 18-year-old George C. Turrentine of Washington, D.C., were arrested.
According to law enforcement reports, both were believed to be armed and dangerous and wanted for several open cases.
Staton is facing the following charges: unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a law enforcement officer/reckless driving, carrying a pistol without a license (outside home or business), possession of unregistered ammunition, possession of unregistered firearm/unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, receiving stolen property of $1,000 or more.
Turrentine is facing a charge for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle — passenger.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
