Five minors bailed out of a stolen vehicle and ran on foot along DC-295 on Friday night after U.S. Park Police used a PIT maneuver to bring the car to a stop near Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. All five were apprehended following the pursuit, and officers say no injuries were reported.
According to FOX 5 DC, the juveniles fled when officers attempted to stop them in the stolen vehicle, per U.S. Park Police. During the encounter, the driver struck a police cruiser before fleeing the scene, and the five minors then exited the car and scattered on foot before all were caught. All five were taken for medical evaluation in keeping with standard procedures, and police reported no injuries, per U.S. Park Police.
Why Federal Officers, Not MPD, Ran the Chase
The pursuit unfolded on DC-295 (the Anacostia Freeway), a major federal commuter corridor near Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling that connects D.C. and Maryland, as Hoodline has reported in earlier coverage of the area. That distinction matters because local Metropolitan Police Department officers operate under General Order OPS-301.03, which generally restricts municipal officers from engaging in vehicle pursuits unless apprehending a fleeing violent felon and all other options have been exhausted. The incident was handled by U.S. Park Police rather than MPD officers.
A PIT maneuver was used to end the chase.
A Shifting Pursuit Policy Landscape
Park Police latitude to chase fleeing vehicles has expanded over the past year. Following an August 11, 2025, presidential executive order declaring a crime emergency in D.C., the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police announced a revised pursuit policy authorizing officers to chase fleeing traffic violators, according to JGL Law. On August 29, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025, as noted by U.S. Congressman Michael Cloud.
Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act into law in March 2024. The statute's classification and penalties for carjacking are not detailed here. The rules for prosecuting 16- and 17-year-olds accused of violent offenses are not detailed here.
Juveniles Remain a Focus in D.C. Vehicle Crime
Court data analyzed by DC Witness found that juveniles under 18 made up 22% of all perpetrators in 2025 carjacking prosecutions, while young adults aged 18 to 24 accounted for another 50% — meaning offenders under 25 represented nearly three-quarters of all prosecuted cases that year. The historical share of minors among D.C. carjacking arrestees is not detailed here.
Citywide, motor vehicle theft has fallen 51% year to date as of August 21. Longer-term annual totals are not detailed here.
Friday's incident echoes a string of similar Park Police pursuits this year. Hoodline previously reported on a Ward 7 chase that ended with a crash into a government vehicle and other Park Police pursuits. Whether Friday's five minors will face carjacking-related charges has not been detailed by U.S. Park Police.
