Single Suspect Believed Behind Rash of D.C. Crimes

A single suspect is believed to be responsible for a rash of September crimes in the District, including a gas station holdup and a half-dozen robberies of cabdrivers, three of whom said the assailant stole their vehicles, according to police.

The suspect, whose photo was taken by a surveillance camera during one of the incidents, is believed to have robbed four cabdrivers of cash in the first few weeks of the month after he suggested to the victims that he had a weapon, police said. They said one of the drivers also was robbed of his taxi.

Later in the month, police said, the same man is believed to have stolen cash from a gas station at knifepoint and carjacked two taxis, displaying a gun to one of the drivers.

Each of the first four robberies occurred after the suspect hailed a cab, asked to be taken to an address, then "implied he had a weapon and demanded money," police said.

Those crimes took place Sept. 4 at 1:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of Evarts Street SE; Sept. 8 at 3:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Montana Avenue NE; Sept. 10 at midnight in the 2200 block of 13th Street NE; and Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. in the 1500 block of Channing Street NE, police said.

In the Channing Street robbery, police said, the suspect also took the driver's taxi.

The same man is believed to have brandished a knife at Lowest Price Gas in the 2800 block of 12th Street NE, fleeing with an undetermined amount of cash, police said. They said that robbery occurred Sept. 22 at 2:40 p.m.

Police said they think the suspect then carjacked taxis on Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. in the 1400 block of Hamlin Street NE and on Sept. 28 at midnight in the 1000 block of Douglas Street NE. In the second of those incidents, the man showed a gun, police said.

They described the suspect as 35 to 40 years old and about 5-foot-10 with a slim build and a goatee. Police offered a $1,000 reward for information leading his arrest and indictment and asked anyone with a tip to call 202-727-9099, 888-919-2746 or 866-411-8447, or send a text message to 50411.