Two police officers convicted in the death of a man riding a moped in Washington, DC, received pardons from President Donald Trump, the White House announced on Wednesday.
Former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Lt. Andrew Zabavsky, 56, who was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice, was sentenced in September for the 2020 death of Karon Hylton-Brown. Another former MPD officer, Terence Sutton Jr., 40, was also convicted and sentenced in the case.
The White House said in a statement that Trump granted full and unconditional pardons to Zabavski and Sutton.
The D.C. police union said Tuesday it was working with the Trump administration to secure pardons for Zabavski and Sutton. That same day, Trump said he had approved pardons for both men.
TRUMP PARDONE FOR ALMOST THE WHOLE OF JANUARY. 6 ACCUSED ON INAUGURATION DAY
President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Tuesday in Washington. On Wednesday, Trump pardoned two former Washington, DC police officers convicted in the death of a man killed during a deadly pursuit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“I just approved it,” Trump said at a news conference. “They arrested two police officers to put them in jail for going after a criminal.”
In a statement Tuesday, the union said both men were wrongfully convicted and maliciously prosecuted.
“These officers — men of integrity and dedication — were targeted by corrupt prosecutors who rigged the legal system against them,” the union said.
Sutton was convicted and sentenced to 66 months in prison for the death of Hylton-Brown, while Zabavsky was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
Karon Hylton-Brown, 20, died during a police chase while riding a moped, authorities said. Two former Washington, DC police officers were found guilty of their roles in his death. President Donald Trump pardoned them. (WTTG)
Hylton-Brown was riding a moped without a helmet on the sidewalk on Oct. 23, 2020, when Sutton tried to pull him over in an unmarked car, authorities said. A chase ensued, reaching speeds more than twice the speed limit on residential streets Ministry of Justice he said.
Hylton-Brown was eventually hit by a vehicle in an alley during the chase. He suffered a severe head injury and died two days later. The pursuit appears to have breached Metropolitan Police policy prohibiting pursuits.
High-speed chases due to minor traffic violations are prohibited.
Columbia County police maintain a near-constant presence at the intersection of 5th St NW and Kennedy St NW, where police launched a pursuit that led to the death of Karon Hylton, 20. He was killed in a car crash while riding a rented moped in Washington, DC on the 23rd. October 2020 (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Prosecutors alleged that both officers conspired to conceal the events leading up to Hylton’s death, such as failing to tell superior officers the severity of his injuries.
Prosecutors also argued that the officers deactivated their body cameras minutes after the crash and did not take statements from witnesses.
