In the early hours of a chilly Wednesday, the 15th of December in 1982, a young Metropolitan Police Department officer’s life was tragically cut short in Suitland, Maryland. Robert K. Best, a 24-year-old male who had proudly served on the force for just one year, was working a plainclothes detail with his partner when they identified a stolen vehicle, setting in motion a fatal chain of events. The officers pursued the stolen car from Washington D.C.
into the neighboring Prince George's County, where the suspects’ vehicle ultimately crashed at the intersection of Branch Avenue and Curtis Drive.
Following the crash, two men leaped from the vehicle and fled in opposite directions. Officer Best gave chase to one of the suspects, pursuing him into an apartment complex located at 3200 Curtis Drive. As he rounded the corner of a building in the complex, the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Vincent Alexander Dark, confronted him. In a sudden and violent encounter, Dark put a gun to Officer Best's head and fired. The initial shot missed, but as the young officer fell, Dark shot him twice in the back. One of the bullets tragically found its way to his heart.
Responding officers arrived at the chaotic scene just moments later. As they converged on the area, Dark opened fire on them. The officers returned fire, and in the exchange, Vincent Alexander Dark was shot and killed. The second suspect, who had fled in a different direction, was apprehended by Officer Best’s partner. He was identified as 30-year-old Marvin C. Wilson and was taken into custody. Wilson was subsequently charged with theft, transportation of stolen property, and possession of stolen property in connection to the incident that led to the death of Officer Robert K. Best.
