D.C. Man Pleads Guilty To Auto Theft Charge In Takoma Park

TAKOMA PARK, MD — A Washington, D.C. man has entered into a guilty plea for stealing a car and theft from autos in Takoma Park in July, police announced.

Tajuan Lee, 23, of Northwest was sentenced to a year in jail, all but 25 days suspended. Charges are pending for a violation of probation, police said.

Lee admitted to stealing a car from the 300 block of Ethan Allen Ave. on July 12, 2017. The stolen vehicle was located unoccupied in D.C. during a joint investigation with the Takoma Park Police Department, FBI Task Force, Metropolitan Police Department and Howard County Police Department.

Detectives set up surveillance on the vehicle and observed Lee get into the car, police said. He drove the car around until he abandoned it. Detectives then took custody of the vehicle and discovered multiple items of property stolen in thefts from autos in Takoma Park.

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An arrest warrant was obtained and Lee was arrested on September 7, 2017 in D.C. Some of the stolen property recovered has since been returned to the owners, police said.

Lee was previously arrested in April 2016 for motor vehicle theft in Bethesda. Lee and another D.C. man were charged after they raced two luxury SUVs and crashed into the concrete median on Woodmont Avenue just before Wisconsin Avenue.

Police also charged Lee with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine) and carrying a concealed dangerous weapon (knife).

Photo via Takoma Park Police Department