Washington D.C. police officer arrested and charged with felony murder (video)

Arvell Alston victim: Photo credit MPD

A Washington D.C. police officer has been arrested and charged with felony murder. The officer, 40-year-oldl Reginald Jones was taken into custody Tuesday evening as he reported for duty. Police Chief Cathy Lanier spoke to the public during a press conference and emphasized the severity of Jones’ actions.

  “Next to the line-of-duty death of a police officer, nothing impacts a police officer more than to know that one of our fellow officers has betrayed that trust when we put our lives on the line every day," she said.

According to reports, Officer Reginald Jones was not the one who shot and killed 40-year-old Arvell Stewart Alston on December 1, 2009, but it is believed that he stood as a lookout while involved with a potential armed carjacking. The victim’s son, Arvell Crawford has been arrested and it is believed that he accidentally fired the shots that killed his father. Rashun Montea Parker, 27, has also been arrested. All three suspects will be charged with felony murder.

The investigation is ongoing and the full extent of Officer Jones’ involvement is not yet known. Reports state that shortly before 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 a shooting was reported near the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim, Arvell Stewart Alston lying in the street and bleeding from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m. It is alleged that gun fire erupted as the result of rival drug crew activity. The Washington Post reports that Jones was in his car at the time of the shooting and fled the scene when shots were fired.

“Officer Jones and his actions are a disgrace to the uniform proudly worn by the men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department who put their lives on the line every day. This crime is a betrayal of the community’s trust and is an insult to the fine men and women of this Department,” said Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier. “
 

Washington D.C. police officer arrested and charged with felony murder (video)