D.C. Charter School CEO Files Complaint After Immigration Arrest Near School

Incident raises concerns about police-community relations and trust in the Metropolitan Police Department

Feb. 4, 2026 at 10:55pm

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The head of a charter school in Washington, D.C. filed a complaint with the Office of Police Complaints after federal immigration authorities and D.C. police questioned two young men outside her school, in view of students. The incident led to a record number of complaints against the Metropolitan Police Department in 2025, with allegations of intimidation, property mishandling, and officer language and conduct. Months later, the educator and the officer involved met in a mediation session and found some common ground.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and the community in Washington, D.C., particularly around immigration enforcement and the impact on students and families. It also raises questions about the level of trust between the police and the public, and the need for better community outreach and relationship-building efforts.

The details

In September 2025, as students were being dismissed from the D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School in Fort Totten, a caravan of federal authorities and D.C. police arrived and questioned two men who were not connected to the school. Cellphone video shows the encounter, with one D.C. officer telling people gathering to 'get on the sidewalk' or be arrested. When a woman asked what the men were being arrested for, the officer replied, 'It's none of your business.' At one point, a D.C. officer made a comment that upset the school's CEO, Daniela Anello: 'If you have such a problem with us, don't call 911 next time.'

  • The incident occurred on September 25, 2025 as students were being dismissed from the D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School.
  • Complaints against the Metropolitan Police Department hit a record high in 2025, with a 17% increase in weekly complaints after the federal surge began in August.

The players

Daniela Anello

The CEO of the D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School, who filed a complaint with the Office of Police Complaints after the incident outside her school.

Pamela Smith

The former Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department, who Anello spoke to after the incident.

Marke Cross

The director of the Office of Police Complaints, an independent agency that investigates complaints against officers in the District.

Alicia Yass

A former deputy director of the Office of Police Complaints, who now works for the ACLU.

Jeffery Carroll

The interim Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department.

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What they’re saying

“Students cried, asking their parents if they too would be taken away.”

— Daniela Anello, CEO, D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School (nbcwashington.com)

“We expected there would be a lot more complaints about stops and searches and frisks and things like that.”

— Marke Cross, Director, Office of Police Complaints (nbcwashington.com)

What’s next

The Office of Police Complaints plans to make recommendations to the Metropolitan Police Department based on the record number of complaints received in 2025, including on the impact of the federal surge.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in building trust between law enforcement and the community in Washington, D.C., particularly around issues of immigration enforcement and its impact on students and families. It underscores the need for the Metropolitan Police Department to prioritize community outreach, transparency, and accountability in order to rebuild that trust.