Metro Briefs

DISTRICT

Roof collapses at condominium

The roof of a Southeast condominium building collapsed yesterday morning, forcing evacuations but causing no injuries, D.C. fire officials said.

The collapse at about 7 a.m. was caused by a contractor leaving about 10,000 pounds of waste and construction materials on the roof during a renovation, said Alan Etter, D.C. fire department spokesman.

The 16-unit East Gate Condominiums, in the 3000 block of Fifth Street, was fully occupied at that time.

The collapse split wooden ceiling joists, and officials were concerned about more collapsing.

The fire department stabilized the roof and returned the building to the contractor to “fix the roof the way it was supposed to be fixed,” Mr. Etter said.

Ex-Times executive held without bail

A federal judge yesterday ordered a former human resources director for The Washington Times to be held without bail while a grand jury investigates charges that he tried to entice a minor on the Internet.

U.S. Magistrate Deborah A. Robinson yesterday rejected a $50,000 bond request for Randall Casseday, 53, who has been confined in the D.C. Jail since his arrest Sept. 26.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stewart said that the case will be presented to a federal grand jury. A date for Mr. Casseday’s next hearing has not been set.

D.C. police arrested Mr. Casseday on Sept. 26 in the 1300 block of Brentwood Road Northeast, where they said he had arranged to meet a 13-year-old “girl.” He actually had exchanged Internet messages and photographs with a male police detective posing as a girl, police said.

The Times has terminated Mr. Casseday’s employment.

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