A routine parking ticket on a busy D.C. block turned into a criminal case when, police say, a Maryland man pulled a gun on a parking enforcement officer and then took off. The March 10 encounter on the 700 block of 8th Street Southeast ended without injuries, and the suspect was arrested the next day.
Authorities say the man drove away after the confrontation, but he did not stay off the radar for long. Detectives circulated a lookout, and officers moved in the following day to make an arrest.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, which detailed the case in a March 20 press release, the clash started around 1:27 p.m. when the suspect, upset over a citation, "attempted to initiate a fight" with a Department of Public Works employee. Investigators say he then went to his vehicle, grabbed a firearm, followed the worker while issuing threats, and tried to block the victim’s path before leaving the area.
How police say it unfolded
As reported by WMAR-2 News Baltimore, the suspect has been identified as 36-year-old David Joshua Willoughby of Capitol Heights. The outlet notes there were no reported injuries in the encounter, and that members of the U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Marshals Service helped track down and detain Willoughby on March 11.
Arrest and charges
MPD says Willoughby was charged with Felony Threats While Armed (Gun) and provided a case number for the investigation. The department publicly thanked its federal partners for assisting in the arrest and said detectives are continuing to work the case. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors might add more charges as the case moves forward.
Parking enforcement in D.C.
Parking enforcement officers are city employees tasked with writing tickets for meter violations, loading zones, and bike lanes, a job that routinely puts them in tense situations with unhappy drivers. According to the District Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. has expanded its enforcement staff in recent years as part of broader efforts to manage parking and keep bike lanes clear.
Legal implications
A charge of threatening someone while armed is a felony-level allegation that carries serious consequences if the defendant is convicted. Willoughby will be booked and arraigned, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue further charges as detectives continue gathering evidence.
MPD listed the case number as 26031475 and asks anyone with information to contact police at (202) 727-9099 or text tips to 50411. The department reiterated that no injuries were reported in the March 10 incident.
