A Baltimore man was recently charged with federal firearms violations as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative aimed at reducing violent crime in the nation's capital. Dion Zellars, age 35, faces one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, a charge stemming from an incident in Southeast Washington where he allegedly attempted to flee from police, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.
On March 20, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department's Crime Suppression Team were patrolling the 4200 block of Southern Avenue, SE when they spotted Zellars acting suspiciously. The DOJ reported that upon noticing the officers, Zellars tried to hide behind a parked SUV, and when approached, he fled on foot. A subsequent chase ensued where he was observed throwing a Glock handgun into a backyard before his apprehension.
U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., along with ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood and MPD Chief Pamela Smith, announced the indictment. This case fell under the heightened focus on gun violence in D.C. as part of the initiative to prioritize federal firearms violations and pursue tougher penalties for those convicted. The federal charge could lead to more severe consequences beyond local jurisdictional penalties for similar offenses, according to the same press release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lawrence Barclay is handling the prosecution. Although Zellars has been indicted, he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
