Two More ‘Big Balls’ Attackers Arrested

Pirro emphasized that Cotton-Powell had multiple criminal violations before the Coristine assault. Pirro railed against the district’s superior court for granting Cotton-Powell probation when he was sentenced for felony attempted robbery.

“So, after a felony of attempted robbery, conviction, after a violation of probation, after a second crime; after a second conviction, after no compliance with [the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency]: the judges say, ‘Do better,’ and they let him go. And guess what? Within 10 days, he’s at it again with Ethan Levine and Edward Coristine,” Pirro said, referring to Cotton-Powell.

MPD Chief Pamela Smith attended the press conference and echoed Pirro’s rhetoric, expressing frustration with how often the same individuals are arrested with reoffenses in the district.

“This behavior is indicative of what we see time and time again, a small group of suspects committed a series of violent crime offenses in a very short period of time. These arrests send a very strong message to our community: If you commit violent acts in our community, you will be found, you will be held accountable, and you will face justice,” Smith said.

Smith called the fact that MPD often rearrests those who have been released by the courts “frustrating for my police officers every single day” and “offensive.”

Chief Inspector Don Snider of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force provided an update from the U.S. Marshals Service on how many arrests had been made since the start of Trump’s declared crime emergency in the district.

“Over the past 75 days, the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force has arrested over 4,700 offenders, seizing over 460 illicit firearms during these arrests. Violent crime is down across the city,” Snider said.