Official Shot Movers in Self-Defense, Police Say
Family Disputes Account in Pr. George's Case; Two Wounded Men Were Unarmed

By Eric Rich and Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, January 26, 2007

The movers arrived at Keith Washington's home in Accokeek on Wednesday night for what was to be a simple swap: one Marlo Furniture bedroom set for another.

An argument began between Washington and the two men and escalated quickly, authorities said. It ended when Washington, who is a police officer and a top homeland security official in Prince George's County, drew a 9mm Beretta and opened fire on the unarmed movers, they said.

Police said that they believe the officer, a 16-year veteran, acted in self-defense and that the two wounded men probably will be charged with assault, based on statements from Washington and a family member whom they did not identify. A police spokeswoman, Cpl. Debbi Carlson, said the officer suffered serious injuries -- she declined to describe them -- and required treatment at a hospital.

The movers -- Robert White, 36, of the District and Brandon D. Clark, 22, of Oxon Hill -- remained in critical condition yesterday, and Carlson said police had not heard their accounts.

Clark's live-in girlfriend, Leelee Best, echoing the sentiment of his family members, questioned the police claim that the movers were the aggressors, saying police "need to charge [Washington] for shooting them."

"It's stupid, honestly," Best said of the argument. "All he had to do was just tell them to leave. There are other ways you can handle it than shooting somebody."

Washington, 45, a former driver for County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), has long been a controversial figure. He was sued in 2000 by a man who claimed to have been arrested and strip-searched for protesting Washington's rough treatment of a motorist; a civil verdict against Washington for that incident was overturned on appeal. Washington also was later temporarily suspended for alleged aggressive behavior during meetings of a homeowners association board on which he served.

Because of that history, Johnson was accused of cronyism and poor judgment when he named Washington in 2004 to be deputy director of homeland security. Johnson brushed off the criticism, saying that he hired Washington in part because he is "mentally tough."

Washington, who was released from the hospital, did not respond to messages seeking comment, and no one answered the door at his home. An attorney who has represented him before did not respond to a phone call seeking comment.

Yesterday afternoon, Best said a Marlo delivery contractor for whom Clark worked knocked on the door of their home at close to midnight Wednesday. "I knew something was wrong," she said, speaking at Prince George's Hospital Center.

Best said the contractor told her that Clark called him from Washington's house Wednesday evening to say that Washington was angry over a bedroom set that was being exchanged.

Michael J. Winkelman, an attorney representing the families of White and Clark, said a Marlo representative and an associate he believes was the contractor visited with the family at the hospital yesterday. The associate told the family that the movers had sought guidance from a supervisor about how to handle the clash with Washington.

"They called from the house and said he was upset, very upset," Winkelman said. He said the movers were told to "give the officer what he wanted."

Marlo officials declined interview requests yesterday. The company issued a brief statement pledging to cooperate with the investigation and adding that its priority is "the welfare of those who have been injured."

In a news release, police said both deliverymen were struck in the upper body. A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing, said that White was shot in the chest, groin and knee and that Clark was shot in the abdomen. The Washington Post erroneously reported in some editions yesterday that one man had been fatally shot, based on inaccurate information from a government source.

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said two investigations of the incident will proceed on separate tracks: One team of police detectives will investigate the use of force by Washington, and a second set of detectives will look into what crimes, if any, occurred during the encounter.

Winkelman said he was not surprised to learn that police expected to charge the unarmed men shot by an officer. "It's the custom of the Prince George's County police to do so," he said.

Clark's girlfriend and father said their anxiety was compounded yesterday by the hospital's refusal to update them on Clark's condition -- or even, for most of the day, to confirm that he was a patient there. Winkelman said hospital officials told the family that "an ongoing police investigation overrides hospital authority."

Attempts to reach members of White's family were unsuccessful. Winkelman said late yesterday that he also could not immediately reach members of the family.

Clark's family described him as a gentle giant, easygoing and slow to anger. He stands 6 feet 4 inches and weighs more than 260 pounds, according to a younger brother, Nathaniel B. Saunders.

"He gets along with everybody," Saunders said. He said Clark graduated from DuVal High School, where he played on the football team.

Washington was a detective when Johnson, then the state's attorney, tapped him to become part of his security detail. He enthusiastically endorsed Johnson's 2002 bid for county executive, contributing to and working for the campaign.

Washington rose fast after Johnson's election. In 2003, Johnson named Washington to his transition team. In August 2004, he appointed Washington deputy director of homeland security.

The appointment came eight months after Washington was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into whether he hit a member of the Simmons Acres Homeowners Association during a meeting. The complaint was later dropped without legal or administrative action.

In 2000, a federal civil jury awarded $260,000 to the plaintiff in the civil rights suit against Washington and county correctional officers. The man, David Paul Maslousky, said he was arrested and strip-searched after he protested Washington's treatment of a man who had been involved in a minor traffic accident. The case was appealed, and Washington prevailed.

Last year, Johnson contributed to Washington's unsuccessful bid for the seat of County Council member Marilynn Bland (D-Clinton).

James Keary, Johnson's spokesman, said the county executive would not comment on the case. "It's a police matter, and it's under investigation," Keary said.

Staff writers Hamil R. Harris, Rosalind S. Helderman and Avis Thomas-Lester and staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.