The Metropolitan Police Department responded to a mob of 60 young people who were jumping on cars and vandalizing the area near the Watergate complex Monday, according to its public information office.
City police received a call at 7:12 p.m. reporting that about 60 teenagers were jumping on cars between 25th St. and Virginia Ave. Officers also deployed to the 800 block of New Hampshire Ave. after hearing of destruction of property there at 7:21 p.m.
No arrests were made, MPD spokesman Paul Metcalf said. A nearby resident, Trey O’Callaghan, said he saw officers question two young men, who had been handcuffed, about an hour after the group passed by.
Witnesses said at least a dozen law enforcement vehicles blocked off the streets surrounding near the Watergate. Police vehicles sped down Virginia Avenue toward the Watergate, where witnesses said they had seen a boisterous crowd of dozens of young people.
Brandon Morris, who lives at 24th and H streets, said he watched police officers order two men to get on the ground around 8:30 p.m. He had also seen the large group shouting as they marched toward the Watergate.
“The shouting seemed angry, then celebratory, almost like a sporting event,” he said.
Hey @DCPoliceDept – what was huge crowd of teens near Foggy Bottom Metro 7pm tonight? Saw MPD respond. Rumor is robbery flash mob.
— Foggy Bottom DC (@FoggyBottomDC) April 22, 2014
@FoggyBottomDC @DCPoliceDept Don't know but saw them running into the street , jumping on cars, kicking them, and throwing trash at cars.
— Erin Martin (@mar_erin) April 22, 2014
University spokeswoman Maralee Csellar said the University Police Department has no records of vandalism to GW facilities or the Foggy Bottom Metro station.
Dan Stessel, the Transit police spokesman, said the office did not receive reports of criminal activity in Foggy Bottom.
In recent months, there have been reports across the country about “robbery flash mobs,” where groups use social media to organize large, disruptive events. Last month, about a dozen teenagers robbed a True Religion clothing store on M Street, stealing thousands of dollars worth of jeans in several minutes.
– Zaid Shoorbajee contributed to this report.