President Donald Trump has granted a “full and unconditional pardon” to Washington, DC, police lieutenant Andrew Zabavsky and officer Terence Sutton, who were convicted in the 2020 death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown.
In October 2020, Sutton and Zabavsky pursued Hylton-Brown, who was driving a moped without a helmet, at high speeds. The chase ended when Hylton-Brown was struck and killed by an unrelated motorist. Investigations revealed that after the incident, the officers turned off their body cameras, tampered with the scene, and misled their superiors.
Sutton was convicted of second-degree murder, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice, receiving a 66-month sentence. Zabavsky was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction and sentenced to 48 months. The DC Police Union, along with the officers’ lawyers, had lobbied for a pardon from the Trump administration.
Zabavsky’s attorney, Christopher Zampogna, expressed gratitude for the pardon, while Sutton, who was overwhelmed, thanked Trump and expressed a desire to return to the police force. Sutton’s lawyer, Kellen Dwyer, stated they were confident the conviction would have been overturned but were pleased Trump ended the prosecution.
Trump, who had mentioned the pardons previously, defended the decision, stating the officers were jailed for trying to arrest a criminal. Although Trump did not specifically name Sutton or Zabavsky, he had previously posted a link to an op-ed advocating for their pardon.
Hylton-Brown’s death, which occurred just months after George Floyd’s murder, sparked protests in the capital. His mother, Karen Hylton, reacted with shock upon hearing of the potential pardons, urging Trump not to grant them.
While some police officials argued the charges were excessive, particularly the murder charge, prosecutors upheld the convictions. US Attorney Matthew Graves emphasized that crimes like this erode public trust, while FBI officials underscored the importance of holding officers accountable.
