A D.C. police officer accused of smoking marijuana in a public park and fleeing from officers Tuesday morning is already out of jail.

Officer Henry Smallwood declined to talk to ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter Jennifer Donelan as he left D.C. Superior Court Wednesday. He had spent the night in jail after U.S. Park Police say they caught him smoking pot with another man in Rock Creek Park. Police also say Smallwood put residents at risk when he led officers on a car chase.

In court on Wednesday, the officer pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana and to fleeing and eluding police. His police powers have been suspended, and he remains on administrative leave.

Residents of the Sixth District, where Smallwood patrols, reacted to the court's decision Wednesday. "He's a police officer; he's should go to jail like the rest of them," said Ralph Love, owner of Benning Road Barbershop.

"If he's doing drugs...how can he set an example for the young kids?" asked Dietra Pinn, a neighborhood resident.

Court records revealed that when police searched a backpack found next to Smallwood at the scene, they found a "marijuana cigarette" and Smallwood's D.C. police badge, which detectives say he tried to grab away, but missed, before running out of the woods.

The incident began about 10 a.m. Tuesday when U.S. Park Police officers were called to the Grove 24 picnic area of Rock Creek Park for the report of two suspicious men. Officers spotted two men smoking and smelled marijuana, officials said. The officers approached the men and began to search and question them. The officers found marijuana, officials said.

While they were questioning the men, Smallwood jumped in his car and took off, according to investigators.

Park Police chased Smallwood from the park to the intersection of 14th Street and Rock Creek Ford Road NW.  A woman told ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter Jennifer Donelan that an elderly neighbor had to grab her 3-year-old daughter, so she wouldn't be hit during the pursuit.

"I think the lady did because she was over in the grass with her and I am like, 'What is going on?' That's how it fast it happened," the woman said.

Smallwood was captured after he bailed out of the vehicle and ran into a wooded area, authorities said.

"It's stupid and basically he got what he deserves. I hate to say it like that, but it's true. It doesn't make any sense," said Robert, a neighborhood resident who would only give his first name.

"Whenever we have a member that's involved in misconduct it's very disturbing to us. It makes all of our members look bad," said MPD Assistant Chief Peter Newsham.

The other suspect, Carl Creighton, was arrested at the park without incident.