Daily · Dreamtime

By Clarence Williams and Martin Weil
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, March 2, 2008; C05

A man's body was found Friday night in the D.C. Superior Court building in Northwest Washington, authorities said.

The man, who appeared to be in his late 40s, was found in a restroom stall in the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse, which houses most of the court's operations, according to authorities.

D.C. police said the discovery was made shortly after 9 p.m. by cleaning personnel, who summoned court security. Police and fire and rescue workers were called, but it appeared clear that the man was dead.

No cause of death was immediately released. Police said an autopsy was to be performed.

According to a police source, a needle or hypodermic syringe was found near the man's body in the restroom, which is on a lower level of the court, at 500 Indiana Ave.

Police said an initial investigation showed no sign of foul play.

It was unclear last night what the man was doing in the courthouse. However, another source familiar with the preliminary investigation said it indicated that the man might have at one time been a defendant in a criminal case, possibly involving drug possession.

According to that source, investigators were looking into the possibility that the man might have gone to court Friday for a drug test.

Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.