Arrest in Murder of Secret Service Agent on DC Street

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A suspect has been arrested in the murder of a U.S. Secret Service agent from Upper Marlboro who was gunned down a few hours after he appeared in court for a domestic abuse charge.

Arthur Baldwin, 30, who had been assigned to the White House branch of the agency, was killed Dec. 15, 2015. He was shot multiple times in the 4700 block of First Street SW in Washington, D.C., police said, and died soon after at a local hospital.

On Monday, Metropolitan Police arrested Charles Sims, 29, of Southeast, DC, in Baldwin’s death. Sims was charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Police have not said what the motive for the shooting was, but WTOP reports investigators said last winter that Baldwin may have been the victim of a robbery or robbery attempt.

Baldwin was placed on administrative leave in April 2015 after he was charged with attempted burglary and destruction of property in an incident tied to his former girlfriend. The Secret Service would not tell WTOP whether Baldwin was still on administrative leave or if he had returned to work at the time of his death. His security clearance was suspended at the time of his arrest.

D.C. police arrested Baldwin after he allegedly tried to break into his girlfriend’s house while armed with his service weapon. He appeared in court in the case the morning that he was slain.

The police report said that in April 2014, the woman called police to report Baldwin wouldn’t leave her alone. Officers found two windows were broken and the hinges to a door of the home were damaged. Baldwin returned to the home after police arrived admitted he kicked the door, but claimed not to have broken any windows.

He was set to face trial on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of property.

According to court records, Baldwin was married with three children.