Four D.C. police officers have been indicted on charges stemming from a fight outside a downtown nightclub last year.
Kenneth McRavin, Thaddeus Modlin, Jr., Yolanda Lampkin and Keith Goins were charged in D.C. Superior Court following a grand jury investigation into a fight that took place in the wee hours of the morning June 10, 2011, outside the Lotus Lounge at 1420 K St. NW.
All the officers were assigned to the First District. McRavin, Modlin and Goins were off-duty at the time of the fight, police said.
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Authorities allege that McRavin and Modlin, along with several bouncers at the nightclub, kicked and beat a patron, Walter Blair, during a fight outside the nightclub. Blair’s attorney, Ronald Karp, says his client lost an eye in the melee and that officers began kicking him after he fell to the ground.
“His depth perception and peripheral vision is shot forever. The trauma was a real ordeal,” Karp said, adding that Blair is also suing the city and the Lotus Lounge.
Goins, court documents alleged, witnessed the fight outside the Lotus but didn’t make an arrest or file a police report.
All three officers were placed on administrative leave without pay after an investigation, police said.
A grand jury was convened to investigate the incident in March. Lampkin was called as a witness before that panel and lied under oath, telling the jury that McRavin had identified himself as a police officer, according to court documents.
The grand jury eventually indicted nine people in connection with the fight — charging five others in addition to the four officers.
McRavin and Modlin were charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, aggravated assault, mayhem, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury. McRavin was charged with an additional count of assault with significant bodily injury; authorities said he also assaulted another man in the fight.
Goins was charged with neglecting to make an arrest for an offense committed in the presence of an officer. Lampkin was charged with obstructing justice and perjury.
Police Chief Cathy Lanier called the charges a “harsh reminder” for law enforcement officials.
“There are no exceptions for those who violate the law. This reinforces our message that violence will not be tolerated no matter who you are,” she said.
