Police urge e-mails against suspect

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Encouraged by police, residents of a Washington neighborhood have started an e-mail campaign to keep a teenage robbery suspect in custody.

The teenager has been arrested three times for a string of 21 robberies in Columbia Heights in which he allegedly knocked down people to steal their money, iPods and cell phones, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

The suspect, whose most recent arrest was Friday, allegedly committed more crimes soon after being released following earlier arrests, said Edward Delgado, a city police inspector who sent an e-mail bulletin to residents of Columbia Heights pleading for them to inundate City Attorney Peter Nickles with calls and e-mails demanding the teen remain in custody, the Post reported.

"I am concerned that if this person is released again he may commit more robberies or, worse, harm one of you," Delgado said in his e-mail to residents. "I find this lack of accountability by the juvenile justice system to be a travesty and a disservice to the community."

In two previous releases, the suspect was found mentally incompetent to stand trial, the Post reported, noting it was unclear whether there was any alternative to release, such as a secure care placement.

The suspect remained in custody late Friday after Nickles reported getting more messages than he cared to count, the Post reported.

"I haven't touched them," he said. "I told my secretary to put them in a pile."