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Former PG officer stashed handcuff key in jail cell

Mar 4, 2008 2:49 PM (310 days ago) by Freeman Klopott, The Examiner
This story ranks Not ranked
Related Topics: Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County (Map, News) - Corrections officers found a set of keys that can unlock any set of handcuffs on former Prince George's County officer Keith Washington as they were taking him from the county jail to a state prison to begin serving his manslaughter sentence, according to court records.

Last month, Washington was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and other crimes, for shooting two delivery men, killing one of them, in his Accokeek home in January, 2007. On Feb. 25 he left the courtroom in handcuffs, heading to county jail and then a state prison to await sentencing.

On Feb. 28, as corrections officers strip-searched Washington in preparation for his move to prison, he refused to let go of his shirt, according to a motion filed by Prince George's County States Attorney Glenn Ivey that argued Washington presented a flight risk and shouldn't be allowed out on bond until sentencing. The motion quotes a now sealed corrections department report on the incident.

The shirt was "pulled" from his grip and a handcuff key was found in the shirt's pocket. Washington told corrections officers he had found the key about two hours earlier and stashed it in his pocket.

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"[Washington's] actions further show his danger to the community as the possession of a handcuff key reflects a clear intention of escaping his current circumstances," the state argued in the motion.

Washington is also awaiting a separate trial for first-degree assault for pointing a handgun at a real estate appraiser who had accidentally knocked on Washington's door last spring.

"I was shocked to learn about Keith Washington having handcuff keys," Ivey said. "I thought this only happens on TV, apparently not."

The family of the man Washington killed, Brandon Clark and the surviving delivery man, Robert White, have filed a more than $400 million law suit against the county and Washington alleging detectives purposefully botched the investigation.

Calls to Washington's attorney, Michael Starr, were not immediately returned. The defense had filed a motion asking Washington be kept at home, which was denied by Circuit Court Judge Michael P. Whalen Tuesday.

fklopott@dcexaminer.com

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Comments from Examiner Readers

11:17 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 4, 2008 re: "Former corrections officer stashed handcuff key in jail cell"

wes said:
hey nosellout, they said he was a prince georges county police officer...its in the first paragraph...maybe you should take reading comprehension 101!

4 agree | 2 disagree
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7:55 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 4, 2008 re: "Former corrections officer stashed handcuff key in jail cell"

nosellout said:
Hey stupid examiner, keith washington was not a corrections officer. He was a pg police officer. Do editor work for this paper or what? this is a comic strip.

3 agree | 7 disagree
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5:53 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 4, 2008 re: "Former corrections officer stashed handcuff key in jail cell"

Examiner Reader said:
I think its awful tehir sending him to calvert county detention center! Did you know they get popcorn and juice and a movie on sundays.

5 agree | 1 disagree
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4:42 AM MST on Wed., Feb. 27, 2008 re: "Ex-Pr. George’s cop convicted; defense plans to appeal"

Examiner Reader said:
Im very upset that the case came down to how the jury felted on a personal level.The facts are facts and when you have men in your house whom one of them tested positive for cocaine and both of them with crimnal records and the one who was in his six year old daughters room is a convicted sex affender.this case turned into do I like this person oppose to if he committed this crime or not.everybody who has a negative comment think about if u walked into your young childs room and found a sex affender in there and where is the law that you cant have a gun on in your house when men who are two time your size are walking around in your house.This case made it very clear that they could very well be crimnals and they where on drugs in his house with his family.We all have the right to protect are family.use the facts of a case not how you feel about a person.

30 agree | 34 disagree
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8:23 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 26, 2008 re: "Ex-Pr. George’s cop convicted; defense plans to appeal"

Examiner Reader said:
Have we all forgotten that the guy tested positve for cocaine, and these guys also have a very bad track record of assults, burglary etc....

29 agree | 17 disagree
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1:48 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 26, 2008 re: "Ex-Pr. George’s cop convicted; defense plans to appeal"

JoeOvercoat said:
The jury compromised on the verdict? I expect they would not have been so conflicted if they had heard the story about the accused pulling a gun on a lost real estate appraiser. I wonder what else about this individual's crazy behavior over the years they were never allowed to consider. Now every single person that jumped up to defend this murdering scum, which includes a lot of PG officialdom, ought to step up an apoligize for trying to protect someone who deserved it so little, and for attempting to subvert the course of justice. P.S. to the Prosecutor - THANK YOU!!!!!!!

32 agree | 26 disagree
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11:54 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 26, 2008 re: "Ex-Pr. George’s cop convicted; defense plans to appeal"

Examiner Reader said:
What excuse will Washington's attorney use in the upcoming trial regarding Washington allegedly pointing a gun at a real estate appraiser when he mistakenly knocked on Washington’s door? Washington is not only a corrupt cop but he is also a psycho and should have never been given a license to carry a firearm. This man sickens me and so does everyone that has tried to protect him.

31 agree | 31 disagree
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11:35 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 26, 2008 re: "Ex-Pr. George’s cop convicted; defense plans to appeal"

Examiner Reader said:
I just pray that justice prevails in this case. Washington is a rogue police officer who murders, lies and probably beats his wife as well (and that is why she perjured herself by saying that the young men were beating Washington). Anyway, I hope that he gets what he deserves in prison and I hope that he is there for a very long time. Scoundrel cops are the lowest form of humanity.

38 agree | 17 disagree
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8:51 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 26, 2008 re: "Ex-Pr. George’s cop convicted; defense plans to appeal"

From DC said:
I'm not sure if anyone remembers the article that was written in the Post last last year about this ex-cop. He has an extensive list of eff-ups on his record that were all swepted under the rug. Yeah, his ranking is high, but records show that he has a well documented history of consistently loosing his cool. He deserves to fry.

31 agree | 26 disagree
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8:30 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 21, 2008 re: "Prince George's ex-cop shows jury how he shot deliverymen"

The Undertaker said:
So two delivery men attacked a guy with a gun on his side? Yeah right! And what kind of lunatic cop walks around his house with his gun?! God bless the ASA and the PG State's Attorney's Office, although they should have gone for Murder 1.

49 agree | 25 disagree
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