An old, defenceless lady is beaten and robbed.
Monday, May 9, 2005
District police charged a man in Tuesday's beating of a Foggy Bottom T-shirt seller known as "Grandma," officials said.
James Aloysious Dorsey, 46, had been arrested at 5:30 p.m. Saturday outdoors at North Capitol Street and Quincy Place NW in connection with a domestic assault there against a female acquaintance. That assault is also believed to have occurred Tuesday.
While Dorsey was being questioned by 2nd District detectives in the domestic assault case, police obtained a D.C. Superior Court warrant for him in the assault and robbery of the 83-year-old street vendor, which occurred about 4:30 p.m. behind an apartment building between G and H streets at 24th Street NW.
The assault was recorded by a surveillance camera operated at a nearby loading dock, and police widely publicized the footage.
Dorsey, a drifter who has used six aliases during a criminal career dating to at least 1984, faces arraignment today, police said. They would not provide further details because the investigation is continuing.
"We got our man," said 2nd District Cmdr. Robert J. Contee, speaking outside D.C. police headquarters with Cmdr. Michael Anzallo, superintendent of detectives; Capt. William Manning; and Detective Brian Harris and Sgt. John Rucker of the 2nd District.
Contee said that the victim, whom he did not identify, was notified and that her family is happy.
She was released from George Washington University Hospital on Saturday to go to a rehabilitation center, a hospital spokeswoman said.
She had suffered a broken cheek and nose in the attack. Last week, the family released a statement thanking the public and expressing "awe" at its outpouring of encouragement, saying, "You are all helping us wish her a happy Mother's Day."
The case was marked by its brutality. Images released by police Wednesday showed a man approaching the woman from behind as she wheeled her cart of shirts, hats and umbrellas toward the apartment building near the Foggy Bottom Metro station, where she worked.
The pair exchanged words and the man suddenly punched the woman in the face, dragged her several feet, punched her again, robbed her, and kicked and punched her in the head six more times. Police said that the man took $300.
Police identified Dorsey and another man, Purnell Crockett, 53, as "persons of interest" and raised the reward for information to $22,000 after receiving an anonymous donation.
Police did not describe the men as suspects but said detectives, having received information from the public, wanted to question them.
Contee said police are unsure of the motive for the assault. He said police are still searching for Crockett on an unrelated charge.
"We still would like to talk to that individual," Contee said, adding, "We're not sure what the connection is" between the men.
Police expect to distribute the reward to several individuals who provided information about Dorsey and one who revealed his whereabouts for the arrest, said Sgt. Joe Gentile, a police spokesman.
Dorsey, described by police as 5 feet 7 inches tall and about 170 pounds, was being held yesterday at the 2nd District station pending transfer to the D.C. jail.
Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey commended "all those who worked so hard and so long" in the case as well as the public, which provided more than 100 tips, Gentile said yesterday.
In seeking the public's help last week, Ramsey said, "Anyone who would attack an 83-year-old woman, I think, that demonstrates they are a very dangerous individual."
Contee praised agents for working round-the-clock: "A lot of the guys have gone home to get a good night's sleep. A lot of the guys have gone home to wish their mothers a happy Mother's Day."
klunk!
