A man from D.C. has found himself on the wrong side of the law once more, following an incident near a local recreation center. According to a report by the U.S. Attorney's Office, a grand jury has returned an indictment against 33-year-old Ricky Corey Watkins, Jr., for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and in a school zone. Watkins' previous convictions don't legally allow him to even touch a gun, much less carry a loaded one.
The scene unfolded on March 19 when Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived at the Harrison Recreation Center on V. Street, Northwest, after calls about someone tearing up the baseball field on a dirt bike. Watkins, found to be the biker, tried to quickly make a break for it whilst handcuffed but dropped a 9mm Glock in the process—loaded, chambered, and ready to shoot with a laser sight no less. Watkins didn't make it very far, however, as law enforcement personnel were able to apprehend him again shortly afterwards, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood, and MPD Chief Pamela Smith all made statements concerning the indictment. The case is currently being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson and is under investigation by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Watkins' prior criminal history includes felony convictions, thereby banning him from owning or even simply to hold firearms or ammunition. If he's found guilty of the charges brought against him, it's likely Watkins will be spending a significant amount of time behind bars.
