Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. Started by a Pentagon City resident who has spent the past several years working in local TV news, ARLnow.com seeks to distinguish itself with original, enterprising, up-to-the-minute local coverage.
Expect sunny skies and a high of around 46, accompanied by a northwest breeze of 5-7 mph. As night falls, the skies will remain mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to around 31 degrees. A calm wind will gradually pick up, becoming a northwest 6 mph wind after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Police say the man entered a woman’s apartment but left after she confronted him. Officers then located the suspect in the building and took him into custody, after which he kicked two of the officers, Arlington County police said.
Upon arrival, it was determined the female victim was inside her home when the male suspect allegedly made entry into the unit. The victim verbally confronted the suspect who subsequently exited the residence. Responding officers located the suspect in the residential building and took him into custody. During a search of his person incident to arrest, a knife was recovered. While in custody, the suspect was noncompliant and kicked two officers. [The suspect], 30, of No Fixed Address was arrested and charged with Assault on Police (x2), Unlawful Entry, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Obstruction of Justice. He was held without bond.
Police say a juvenile male suspect threatened the victim, tried to strike him with a screwdriver, and then stole his keys and wallet. The suspect then “tampered” with the vehicle, according to Arlington County police, before running off and getting arrested a few blocks away.
Police are classifying the incident as a carjacking and robbery. It is at least the 18th reported carjacking in Arlington so far this year — up from 14 last year — but the first since late October.
More, below, from an ACPD crime report.
CARJACKING, 2023-12160222, 1800 block of N. Quinn Street. At approximately 7:58 p.m. on December 16, police were dispatched to the report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was walking away from his parked vehicle when the juvenile male suspect approached, began making threatening statements and allegedly attempted strike the victim with a screwdriver. The suspect then stole the victim’s car keys and wallet and proceeded to enter the victim’s vehicle during which the victim called police. It was determined the suspect then tampered with the vehicle before leaving the scene on foot. Responding officers canvassed the area and located the suspect, who initially fled, and subsequently took him into custody at N. Quinn Street and Langston Boulevard. During a search of his person incident to arrest, the victim’s wallet and a screwdriver were recovered. The victim declined medical attention. Petitions for the juvenile male suspect were sought for Carjacking, Robbery and Attempted Malicious Wounding.
Late afternoon in Rosslyn (photo courtesy George Brazier)
Major Development Proposal — “[A proposed development site on S. Glebe Road is] currently home to the Hotel Pentagon and Comfort Inn Pentagon City, which together comprise 319 rooms across several buildings rising between two and seven stories. CC Rock Arlington Owner LLC, with corporate filings in Delaware but none in Virginia, submitted a major site plan amendment application to Arlington’s planning department on Thursday, proposing to redevelop the site with 521 new multifamily units across 639,000 square feet.” [Washington Business Journal]
Pride Flag Repeatedly Stolen — “An Arlington couple says someone keeps tearing down their Pride flag. ‘I want people to know this isn’t okay we’re here we’re gonna put our flag up regardless,’ said Jenna Burnett and Michelle Logan… ‘We looked at the Ring camera and it was just like a male and his two friends and he was wearing a cowboy hat.” [WUSA 9]
Nat’l NAACP Calls for Investigation — “Today, via written letter, the National General Counsel for the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization formally calls on the Department of Justice to conduct an independent pattern and practice investigation into the Arlington County Detention Facility.” [Press Release]
Confederate Memorial Removal on Hold — “A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order barring removal of a memorial to Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. A group called Defend Arlington, affiliated with a group called Save Southern Heritage Florida, filed a lawsuit Sunday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, seeking the restraining order. A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday.” [Associated Press]
Stormwater Change Approved — “The Arlington County Board has formally adopted a new, fairer way to fund the increasingly vital handling of stormwater, approving the County’s first-ever stormwater utility fee, to take effect Jan. 1, 2024. The new fee, based on each property’s non permeable or impervious area, replaces the previous sanitary district tax, which was based on property’s real estate assessments.” [Arlington County]
Fight Caught on Camera — From Dave Statter: “If you saw the police response around N. Glebe & Pershing just after 2:30 p.m. yesterday, this was the fight that brought the 911 calls. @ArlingtonVaPD handled.” [Twitter]
Local Democratic Figure Dies — “Arlington Democrats mourn the loss of Cragg Hines, a legendary journalist, Democratic activist, donor, and community leader. Cragg wasn’t just a chronicler of history, he was a part of history.” [Twitter]
Bench to Honor Community Activist — “The Dominion Hills Civic Association has placed a memorial bench at Dominion Hills Park in honor of Brian Hannigan, who died in May 2022. More than 50 friends, neighbors and community leaders braved rainstorms on Dec. 17 to attend the ceremony.” [Gazette Leader]
Trail Work Planned — From BikeArlington: “HEADS UP for asphalt trail work starting TOMORROW – Tuesday, 12/19 through Wednesday 12/20 on Four Mile Run/Glencarlyn Park Trail (S. Arlington Mill Drive & 9th Street S.)” [Twitter]
It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 40 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 15 to 23 mph, gusting up to 32 mph. In the evening, the sky will remain clear with temperatures dropping to around 27 degrees, while the northwest wind decreases to 7 to 11 mph. [Weather.gov]
Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
☀️ Tuesday’s forecast
Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 40 degrees, accompanied by a breezy northwest wind at 15-23 mph and gusts up to 32 mph. The night will be clear, featuring a low around 27 degrees and a northwest wind at 7-11 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” – Oscar Wilde
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Police on scene of robbery at the Clarendon Metro station (staff photo)
Police on scene of robbery at the Clarendon Metro station (staff photo)
Police on scene of robbery at the Clarendon Metro station (staff photo)
Two men could be seen in handcuffs near the Clarendon Metro station this afternoon, after a reported robbery that left one person injured.
Initial reports suggest the robbery happened inside the Metro station just before 1 p.m. Police converged on the scene amid 911 calls about a pair of suspects in ski masks running through Clarendon following the robbery.
Medics were also dispatched to the station to treat the victim, who was injured inside the station.
A half hour after the robbery, both Arlington County police and Metro Transit Police were still on scene, questioning two handcuffed men on either side of Wilson Blvd.
ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage declined to provide additional details, instead referring ARLnow to Metro Transit Police.
Snatch and grab on the metro, stolen phone, appeared they caught the guy in the running store where he was hiding
Police officer conducts traffic stop during ACPD’s November 2023 Street Smart campaign in Courthouse (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Expect more cops on Arlington roads through New Year’s Day.
As part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign — tagline this year: “Drink and drive and you’ll see more than holiday lights” — Arlington County police have increased patrols through Jan. 1.
“Motorists nationwide can expect to see increased messaging about the dangers of driving under the influence, coupled with increased saturation patrols to identify and apprehend impaired drivers,” ACPD said in a press release.
The holidays are typically a dangerous time on the roads, due to a rise in alcohol-related crashes.
The extra patrols started this past Friday. The full press release is below.
The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to remind motorists to keep the busy holiday season merry and bright by never getting behind the wheel after drinking. If your holiday festivities include alcohol, plan a sober ride home before the celebration begins – whether it’s by using a ridesharing service, taxi, public transportation, or designated sober driver.
The annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign aims to drastically reduce drunk driving on our nation’s roadways through a two-pronged approach of education and enforcement. From December 15, 2023 – January 1, 2024, motorists nationwide can expect to see increased messaging about the dangers of driving under the influence, coupled with increased saturation patrols to identify and apprehend impaired drivers.
Tragically, December can be a dangerous time for travelers. According to NHTSA, during the 2017-2021 December months, there were more than 4,500 people killed nationwide in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. In December 2021 alone, 1,013 people died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. More parties and festivities celebrating the season can lead to more people making the dangerous decision to get behind the wheel after drinking. That is why ACPD is working with NHTSA to remind drivers of this important safety message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
Celebrate the Season Responsibly
The Arlington County Police Department encourages you to follow these tips to keep the holidays safe and joyous:
Before you have even one drink, plan a way to get home safely. If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make this decision, you might not make the safest choice.
The Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s 2023 Holiday SoberRide program is offering free rides home, in partnership with Lyft, from Friday, December 15, 2023, until Monday, January 1, 2024, nightly between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
If you see a suspected impaired driver on the roadway, report to your local law enforcement. To report a suspected impaired driver in Arlington County, call the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
For more information about the 2023 Holiday Season Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit the NHTSA website.
Gun caught by TSA officers on Dec. 15, 2023 at National Airport (photo courtesy TSA)
Gun caught by TSA officers on Dec. 15, 2023 at National Airport (photo courtesy TSA)
Gun caught by TSA officers on Dec. 15, 2023 at National Airport (photo courtesy TSA)
The banner year for gun confiscations at Reagan National Airport is continuing.
TSA agents stopped not one, not two, but three guns from being brought onto planes in carry-on baggage this past Friday. The three separate incidents — involving men from Rockville, Md.; Georgia; and Stafford, Va. — are not related, the TSA said.
So far this year officers have confiscated 37 guns at DCA, up from 29 last year and 14 in 2019.
More, below, from a TSA press release.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport prevented three travelers from carrying their handguns onto their flights today (Friday, Dec. 15). The incidents were not related.
It marked gun numbers 35, 36 and 37 that TSA officers at the airport have detected at the checkpoints so far this year, which is the most guns caught at the airport in a single year and the most caught in a single day. It also follows a national trend in seeing a spike in the number of travelers who are bringing guns to airport checkpoints across the country. The previous high number of firearms stopped at the airport in a single year was 30, which took place in 2021.
Early this morning, TSA officers stopped a Rockville, Md., man who was in possession of a 9mm handgun that was loaded with 16 bullets and was packed alongside a gun magazine that was loaded with 17 additional bullets.
Two hours late, TSA officers stopped a man from Georgia who was in possession of a 9mm handgun. The firearm was not loaded, but it was packed along with 15 accessible bullets.
Then this evening, a third man, this one from Stafford, Va., was stopped with a 9mm handgun loaded with 15 bullets.
The guns were caught as the men entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted the TSA to take a closer look inside the carry-on bags. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the guns and cited the individuals on weapons charges.
Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and now each traveler faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.
“Today, one of our busiest days of the holiday season, we unfortunately had three passengers bring their firearms to our TSA security checkpoints. Our officers remain engaged and alert and caught these weapons before they could be brought to the aircraft,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “I am disappointed to continue seeing an increasing number of travelers bring their firearms to checkpoints. It’s careless to do so and there is no excuse. Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times. These travelers now face a Federal civil penalty that could cost them thousands of dollars.
“The holiday travel season is upon us and this is no time to be toting a gun to our checkpoints, yet this morning it happened twice. That delays everyone and is an accident waiting to happen in a busy, crowded terminal,” Busch added.
Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
The drenching Nor’easter storm that passed overnight is bringing gusty winds up to 50 mph in its wake.
Those winds combined with the soggy ground are expected to cause significant power outages, as trees topple and branches fall. As of 9:30 a.m., about 250 Dominion customers are reported to be without power in parts of Arlington — a number that will almost certainly go up over the course of the day.
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory, below, in effect through 2 p.m.
…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 2 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON…
* WHAT…Northwest winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 to 50 mph expected.
* WHERE…Portions of central, north central, northeast, northern, southern and western Maryland, The District of Columbia, northern, northwest and western Virginia and eastern and panhandle West Virginia.
* WHEN…From 8 AM this morning to 2 PM EST this afternoon.
* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Another impact from the winds: trash bins getting blown over on garbage collection day. Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services is reminding residents to secure their carts.
Rain and umbrellas and holiday lights in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Teen Arrested for Green Valley Shooting — “The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is announcing an arrest in the shooting that occurred on December 9, 2023, at S. Kemper Road and S. Oxford Street.” [ACPD]
Creepy Gingerbread Man Mystery — “Imagine sitting down for dinner with your family, and you get a Ring notification. You check the camera, but it’s not a delivery person or a neighbor, it’s a gingerbread man. That is exactly what happened to one Arlington family who lives along N George Mason Drive on Wednesday.” [WUSA 9]
Forestry Plan Approved — “During their regular meeting on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, the Arlington County Board unanimously voted to adopt the Forestry and Natural Resources Plan (FNRP), which provides guidance for the conservation and integrated management of Arlington’s natural resources and ecosystems across public and private property.” [Arlington County]
Confederate Memorial to Be Removed — “The U.S. Army intends to remove a Confederate memorial from Arlington National Cemetery next week as part of its ongoing work to rid Defense Department property of divisive rebel imagery, defying dozens of congressional Republicans who have vociferously protested the move.” [Washington Post]
New Board Members Sworn In — “Maureen Coffey (left) and Susan Cunningham (right) were sworn in as incoming Arlington County Board members on Friday, December 15, 2023. They were elected in the 2023 November County Board General Election and will officially begin their terms on January 1, 2024. They will fill the seats of Board Chair Christian Dorsey and Interim Board Member Tannia Talento after their terms conclude at the end of this year.” [Arlington County]
YHS Hockey Undefeated, So Far — “The Yorktown High School club ice hockey team improved to 4-0 with a 5-2 victory Gainesville. Yorktown continues atop the Patrick Division standings in the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League with that 4-0 record.” [Gazette Leader]
Alexandria Housing Pricier Than Arlington — “Arlington found itself supplanted in November by Alexandria, which raced ahead to post the highest per-square-foot home-sales price across Northern Virginia. Arlington saw a year-over-year increase of 2.2 percent to $465, according to figures reported Dec. 11 by Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service, and analyzed by the GazetteLeader. But Alexandria did better, gaining 7 percent year-over-year for an average per-square-foot cost of $472.” [Gazette Leader]
‘Wreaths Across America’ Recap — “On Saturday, millions of Americans remembered the nation’s fallen, honoring the men and women who have served by placing fresh greens on millions of graves as part of National Wreaths Across America Day 2023. Volunteers laid wreaths on gravesites at 4,225 participating locations across the country, saying the names of the service members aloud. At Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., more than 30,000 volunteers placed approximately 260,000 wreaths at every gravesite and niche column.” [Stars and Stripes]
It’s Monday — Expect showers mainly before 1pm with cloudy skies clearing gradually later and a high near 52. It will be windy, featuring northwest winds of 17-26 mph and gusts up to 44 mph. The precipitation chance is 70%, with amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. Tonight, there’s a slight chance of showers after 1am, with partly cloudy skies and a low of 33. West winds will blow at 10-15 mph, gusting up to 21 mph, and a 20% chance of precipitation. [Weather.gov]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by coworking provider Industrious. ARLnow has been based in an Industrious office for several years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked with paper. Industrious has several Metro-accessible Arlington locations to choose from.
Storms bring heavy rain, wind and flooding at night (file photo)
Tonight’s storm is starting to cause flooding.
The earlier Flood Watch has been upgraded to a Flood Warning as the rain continues to fall.
More from the National Weather Service:
…FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST MONDAY…
* WHAT…Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.
* WHERE…Portions of DC, including the following , District of Columbia, central Maryland, including the following county, Montgomery, and northern Virginia, including the following counties, Arlington, City of Alexandria, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church and Fairfax.
* WHEN…Until 400 AM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS…Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– At 949 PM EST, Gauge reports indicated that water is rising to near flood threshold. Flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen.
– Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area.
– Some locations that will experience flooding include…
Arlington… Alexandria… Bethesda… Reston… Annandale… Fairfax… Vienna… Falls Church… Mantua… Pimmit Hills… Mclean… American Legion Bridge… Rosslyn… Potomac… North Bethesda… Oakton… Lincolnia… Tysons Corner… Takoma Park… Wolf Trap…
– Please visit www.weather.gov/safety/flood for flood safety and preparedness information
