Two former Washington, D.C., police officers were convicted this week in the fatal pursuit of a 20-year-old man in 2020.
Former Metropolitan Police Department officers Terence Sutton, 38, and Andrew Zabavsky, 54, were convicted of causing the death of Karon Hylton-Brown on Oct. 23, 2020, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
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A U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia jury found that Sutton had caused Hylton-Brown’s death after driving a police vehicle with “conscious disregard for an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury” to the victim.
The pursuit began around 10 p.m. after the officers saw Hylton-Brown driving a moped on a sidewalk in northwest Washington. The chase continued into an alley after about 10 blocks. The indictment said that, at times, officers accelerated to “more than double the residential speed limit,” according to CNN.
Hylton-Brown was struck by a civilian vehicle upon exiting the alley, and he suffered severe head trauma. He died two days later.
Prosecutors argued that Sutton and Zabavsky conspired to hide the circumstances of the crash that caused Hylton-Brown’s death from MPD.
Sutton was found guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct, and obstruction of justice. He could serve a maximum of 65 years in prison. Zabavsky was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice, and he could serve a 25-year maximum sentence.
“Since the beginning of this process, MPD has supported the independent and thorough review process conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office,” MPD Chief Robert Contee said in a statement to CNN. “We have confidence in our judicial system, and we trust that the jury examined all the facts, deliberated carefully, and arrived at their decision fairly.”
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According to Contee, Sutton and Zabavsky have been on indefinite suspension without pay throughout the proceedings.
A sentencing date for the officers has not been set.
