A Washington D.C. deputy mayor, who headed Metropolis Corridor’s public security efforts, resigned on Wednesday after he was accused of assault in Northern Virginia — an allegation which additionally raised questions on his residency.
Christopher Geldart, now the previous deputy mayor for public security and justice, was charged with allegedly assaulting a private coach after they argued in a Gold’s Fitness center parking zone in Arlington.
A police report listed Geldart’s deal with as a house in Virginia, sparking hypothesis into his residency. D.C. public officers should stay throughout the metropolis.
Mayor Muriel Bowser accepted his resignation on Wednesday.
“I’m saddened to say that I’ve accepted the resignation of deputy mayor Chris Geldart,” Bowser instructed reporters on Wednesday noting, “I’m pleased with the work that we now have accomplished collectively over the past eight years.”
She stated Geldart served the town because the district director of homeland safety, director of the division of public works and most lately the deputy mayor for public security.
“A lot of you’ll bear in mind the nice work that Chris did for us within the 2016 blizzard. He’s additionally performed a major function in our covid response,” she stated.
She stated that she and Geldart had a face-to-face dialog and the choice to simply accept his resignation was mutual.
“We each agree that the main focus needs to be on the massive points affecting D.C.,” the mayor stated.
She didn’t say particularly what prompted her to simply accept his resignation.
Geldart was allegedly leaving Gold’s Fitness center within the 3900 block of Wilson Boulevard in Arlington at about 12:25 p.m. on Oct. 1 when “the door of the suspect’s parked car struck the car the sufferer was coming into,” based on an Arlington County police assertion.
“The dispute escalated throughout which the suspect allegedly grabbed the sufferer by the throat,” police stated.
Investigators ultimately recognized the suspect as Geldart, calling him a 53-year-old resident of Falls Church. He was charged with assault and battery.
“He was notified by phone of the warrant, turned himself in and was launched on a summons,” based on the police assertion.
In Wednesday’s press convention, Bowser stated that she believed the altercation was “over one thing minor” comparable to a “doable door ding.”
However the response to the problem was “severe,” based on Bowser.
The mayor stated she believes Geldart’s household lives in Northern Virginia whereas he resides in Washington.
“We already know that his household lived in one other place and he claims to have established residency within the district,” she stated.
“I feel that the problem surrounding and all the questions being raised are distracting from his job and my job.”
Geldart declined touch upon the alleged assault or the state of his residency, however stated the resignation was vital.
“I now not needed to be a distraction to the vitally vital work of the general public security businesses of the district authorities,” he stated to NBC Washington.
Metropolis administrator Kevin Donahue will act as interim deputy mayor.
David Okay. Li contributed.
