High-Speed Pursuit Leads To Guilty Verdict For Oxon Hill Man

WASHINGTON, DC -- An Oxon Hill man has been found guilty by a jury on charges stemming from a violent domestic dispute that resulted in a high-speed police chase last Labor Day weekend.

Anthony Smith, 29, was found guilty on May 24 of seven counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of destruction of property, and one count each of unauthorized use of a motor during a crime of violence, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. He was also found guilty of felony threats, carrying a dangerous weapon, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a collision, and fleeing police.

Smith will be sentenced July 27.

"According to the government’s evidence, Smith and the victim were involved in a romantic relationship that ended in August 2017," the DOJ statement reads. "They have a child in common. Between Aug. 30, 2017 and Sept. 1, 2017, Smith’s conduct led the victim to obtain a temporary protection order against him. Despite that order, on Sept. 1, 2017, Smith came to the victim’s home, kicked in the door, took her car keys, and stole her car, a Dodge Avenger.

"Two days later, on the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, the victim, desperate to get back her car, agreed to meet Smith at a restaurant in the 1600 block of North Capitol Street NW," the statement continues. "When she got there, Smith refused to give her car back. He started to take off with the car, and the victim jumped into the back seat because she did not want to lose it again. While in the car, Smith tried to stab victim with a knife, while telling her, 'Our daughter isn’t going to have a mother anymore.' She was able to break the knife and hop out of the moving car at New Jersey Avenue and K Street NW. There, she used a bystander’s phone to call 911."

D.C. police officers were able to locate Smith about an hour later at 5th Street and Rhode Island Avenue NE.

"When they tried to conduct a traffic stop, Smith took off," the statement reads. "An MPD watch commander authorized a pursuit that continued for approximately 3.4 miles. During the chase, Smith caused four collisions, including striking a police officer who was involved in the pursuit. Smith was arrested at about 3:15 p.m. at 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW after he attempted an illegal turn into oncoming traffic and collided with a car carrying a woman and her two children."

Smith has been in custody ever since.

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)