Official Has History Of Altercations, Sources Say

Keith A. Washington is a 16-year Prince George's police veteran. (By Linda Davidson -- The Washington Post)

In the 10 days since Prince George's County homeland security official Keith A. Washington shot two unarmed deliverymen at his Accokeek home, some critics have told of run-ins with him dating back 15 years. They describe a man who loses his temper easily and has ended up in physical and verbal altercations.

Washington's supporters, including relatives and some county officials, have been reluctant to talk in the midst of an investigation, other than to say that Washington acted in self-defense.

The case took a turn yesterday when one of the men, Brandon D. Clark, 22, died at Prince George's Hospital Center. Clark, of Oxon Hill, and Robert White, 36, were delivering a Marlo Furniture bedroom set to Washington when they were shot during an altercation. White, of the District, remained in critical condition.

Washington, a deputy director of homeland security and a 16-year member of the county's police force, did not respond to messages left on his cellphone. He has been on paid administrative leave since the incident Jan. 24.

Washington has come under investigation at least three times by the Prince George's police department for assault complaints or "unbecoming conduct" and has been sued at least twice, including once by a D.C. police officer who said that Washington assaulted him and had him falsely arrested, according to interviews and court records.

"Keith has a bad temper," said Michon Charles, the mother of Washington's teenage daughter, Hali. "He gets hot under the collar very quickly."

Charles, who dated Washington briefly, recalled the day 13 years ago when Washington stormed into the property management office where she worked in San Antonio and yelled at her with her co-workers in earshot.

"He had a fit," Charles said, when they began discussing child support.

Charles asked a fellow employee to call the police, and the employee, Frances Broussard Peterson, said she told Washington, "You can't act like that in here."

Washington, 45, is a close friend, occasional dinner partner and fraternity brother of County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), who named him to the homeland security position in 2004. Johnson said at the time that Washington would "lead this county in the right direction, ensuring that the office of Homeland Security provides the protection and required services that the county needs and desires." He said in an interview last summer that he hired Washington because he was "mentally tough."

Washington once served as Johnson's driver. He also worked on and contributed to Johnson's campaign in 2002. He was one of few county police officers to support Johnson, who, as state's attorney, had focused on combating police abuses. Washington ran unsuccessfully last year for County Council.

Washington, who was born in Houston, joined the Army at 18 so he could earn money to pay for college, he said in an interview last year. According to his résumé, he is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and has extensive training in counterterrorism.