WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against four officers with the Metro Transit Police Department arising out of the death of a 43-year-old District resident from a drug overdose that occurred on November 16, 2025.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, security camera footage, body-worn-camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, autopsy and toxicology reports, and reports from the Metropolitan Police Department. The MPD’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
According to the evidence, on Nov. 16, 2025, police officers detained Demetrius Alston for fare evasion at the Anacostia Metro Station. As the officers prepared a ticket, the officers contacted their dispatcher and were advised of an outstanding arrest warrant for Mr. Alston.
Mr. Alston fled from the police and ran out of the station. Metro Transit police officers caught Mr. Alston a few minutes later. As they took Mr. Alson into custody and placed him in a police vehicle, Mr. Alston began having trouble breathing. He eventually lost consciousness, and the officers summoned an ambulance. Mr. Alston’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he died at the scene. An autopsy revealed that Mr. Alston had died from a drug overdose.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated the civilian’s rights.
Investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — District of Columbia — U.S. Department of Justice press release.