Dog Attack in Brookland

Reported on the Brookland listserv: an unprovoked dog attack.

On Thursday morning I was attacked by a dog on a leash at 9th & Kearney around 8:00 am.

The dog was on a leash and the owner, and the dog, saw me coming from at least 15 yards away, as evidenced by the woman saying "good morning" to me, and my responding "good morning" back.

I was not injured, but the dog lunged at me, missing my hand but vigorously latching on to, shaking and ripping my bag.

Be careful if you are walking around a 40 or 50 lbs white with black and brown spotted dog in the morning, especially if you are elderly or have a small child, because its owner can not control it and it will attack you unprovoked.

Suspicious Activity in Brookland

This just in from Brookland, as reported on the Brookland listserv...


We are on Upshur Street in Michigan Park near the Woodridge and Brookland borders. I recall a few recent notes of break-ins in the community and seem to recall someone mentioning the individuals were casing homes posing as lawn service. This morning a man came up to our door and rang the bell. My husband answered (we are both home during the day) and the man asked if we would like to have our leaves raked. My husband actually said "yes." The man left however, without raking. In hindsight, my husband says the man was not really dressed for raking.

I hate to be so suspicious; maybe this person just didn't feel like raking our leaves after all, maybe something came up, or maybe he plans to come back. But I'm left with the uneasy feeling that he was casing houses. We reported it to the police, and I wanted to send out the alert to all of you as well to be extra careful and be on the lookout. I'm feeling bad about being suspicious, but wanted to share because it seems pretty obvious that something is off.

Another Attempted Carjacking in Brookland

On Friday we reported on an attempted carjacking in Brookland. We just learned that there was another attempted carjacking at gunpoint in Brookland on Thursday, November 4th. What's especially scary is that attempted carjacking took place in front of the victim's home. Here is that report:

I am writing to relate my neighbor's harrowing experience at around 6:00 on Thursday so that others in the vicinity can be careful. She lives on Jackson near 15th, and came home from work this evening to see two young men looking to be around 16 years of age at her property line. One approached her car and initially asked for directions, but then pulled a gun and ordered her out of the car. She reached for her phone and they both ran. Police arrived on the scene in minutes and she was unharmed, though quite shaken.

Possible Gunshots in Brookland Sunday Night

Photo by Brian Bennett

There were reports of possible gunshots in the Brookland neighborhood Sunday night, via the Brookland listserv. We'll post updated information when we have it.

Just heard what sounded like 8-12 gunshots at about 9:28pm. Hard to tell exact location, as I was hearing it through a window on the alley, but possibly around the Taft Playground area. Sounded like 2-3 initial reports, followed by 5-10 more in quick succession, and all sounded like they were coming from the same weapon, if it was indeed gunshots.

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I heard it as well, although I wasn't sure if they were really gunshots. I also heard a car driving away pretty fast afterwards. It sounded like the alley between Newton and Otis or the Taft playground area. No sounds of sirens yet.

Bicyclists Assaulted on Metro Branch Trail in Brookland

If you're biking on the Metro Branch Trail, be on the lookout for teens who suddenly rise up from a bench and push over bicyclists. These teenagers don't steal bikes: All they appear to want to do is knock over cyclists. Here is how one biker, Heather, describes her unfortunate encounter with these teenagers (from her account on the Brookland listserv).

I was riding my bike home from work on the Metro Branch Trail about 3:45 pm this afternoon (Saturday) when a female member of a group of 6 young teenagers stood up from a bench and pushed me off my bike as I rode by. I slammed into the fence along the trail. She then proceeded to sit back down on the bench as I struggled with my bike. They did not attempt to take anything from me. This happened a few hundred feet from the entrance onto the trail at 8th and Edgewood, right by DC Prep. I rode my bike (which was all bent out of alignment) to the trail head and called police. The police responded quickly and were very helpful, but the kids were gone.

I am bruised and shaken, but basically okay.

Since this has happened I have learned that this is not an isolated event and others have been harassed as they have been biking on the trail.

City Council Member Harry Thomas has been in touch with commander of MPD-5D to ensure that there's adequate safety on the trail.

8 AM Parade in Brookland on Saturday. Say What?

DCist reports that there was a parade today in the Brookland neighborhood at 8am. The parade apparently was a "football parade." When you're woken up at 8am on a Saturday by a parade, there's not much else to do other than tweet about it, and here's how one early morning riser reported the parade: "Awoken by sirens and screaming and yelling. Was a football parade at 8am." Another surprised Brookland resident tweeted, "Can't believe there was a parade going through #Brookland at 8am this morning."

We're not entirely sure what a football parade is, but we are very sure that nobody should have a neighborhood parade at 8am on a weekend. Ever.

Our Heart Goes Out to This Street Scammer...Not

Keep an eye out for this scam, which is ongoing in Brookland, and which was reported on a neighborhood listserv. You can bet that this scam will be coming to a CVS near you, too. Fakery can appear anywhere, anytime.

A few nights ago some I was coming out of the CVS on 12th here in Brookland when I was approached by a 30/40 yr old male. He was on the phone, obviously agitated in an apparent conversation with a third party. They were talking about his 14 yr old daughter who was in the hospital in Richmond after having been raped in school. The whole story seemed plausible and compelling and I gave him some money.

Yesterday, one of my friends was approached by the same man, with the same story. Beware: It's a hustle.