Author: ARLnow.com

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.

ACPD to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint Friday

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington County Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint at an as-yet undisclosed location in the county.

The checkpoint is being conducted with the support of a federal anti-drunk driving campaign.

The last announced DUI checkpoint in Arlington happened this past September.

More from an ACPD press release:

On Friday, June 23, 2017, the Arlington County Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint. This enforcement effort is in support of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) National campaign to combat drunk driving by combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.

Officers will stop all vehicles passing through the checkpoint and ask to see the licenses of drivers. Any driver suspected of operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be directed to a safe area off the roadway for further observation and possible testing for intoxication.

The maximum penalty in Virginia for the first conviction for driving under the influence is 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine and a 12-month suspension of driving privileges.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

ACPD Releases New Video of Sex Assault Suspect — Arlington County Police have released new video of the man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in her Rosslyn condo last month. Police are still seeking more information about the suspect. [Twitter, YouTube]

Big Brother Contestant Is From Arlington — One of the contestants on the upcoming season of CBS’ Big Brother is Matthew Clines, a 33-year-old renovation consultant from Arlington. The show premieres on Wednesday, June 28. [CBS, Hollywood Reporter]

Nam-Viet Closing in D.C. — The Cleveland Park outpost of Arlington’s Nam-Viet restaurant is closing, citing “competition to remain significant and relevant in this fast-paced D.C. restaurant market.” There have been a number of restaurant closings in the neighborhood as of late. [PoPville]

New Cafe in Takoma Park Draws Arlington Talent — A new coffee, beer, wine and cocktail spot called Takoma Beverage Co. has opened in Takoma Park, Md. The cafe features a bevy of Arlington restaurant vets, including alums of Northside Social and the former Sehkraft Brewing in Clarendon. Helping to fund the venture is Mothersauce Partners, the restaurant investment firm and consultancy founded by Nick Freshman of Spider Kelly’s. [Eater]

Flickr pool photo by Bekah Richards

Large Power Outage in Clarendon Area

By ARLnow.com
1/9

Update at 7:50 p.m. — The number of outages in Arlington is down to 200, according to Dominion.

Earlier: More than 5,500 Dominion customers are without power in Arlington following this afternoon’s storms, mostly in and around the Clarendon area.

The Clarendon outage extends from Wilson Blvd down to N. Bedford Street in Lyon Park, near Route 50. Numerous businesses in the area are without power and the busy intersection of Washington Blvd and 10th Street N.

As of 4:50 p.m. Dominion was reporting 5,542 outages in Arlington, with some smaller outages scattered throughout the county. There have also been reports of trees and utility wires down in the roadway in various locations, and at least one tree that fell and damaged a house.

The Arlington County Police Department is reminding drivers to treat dark traffic signals as a four-way stop.

Power outage map (top) via Dominion. Weather radar via weather.com.

Police: Drunk Man Arrested for Tossing Wine Bottles Out of Whole Foods Window

By ARLnow.com
1/3

A customer of Amazon.com acquisition target Whole Foods had a special delivery for cars parked outside its Clarendon location Friday morning: wine bottles and loose change.

Police were called to the Whole Foods at 2700 Wilson Blvd around 7 a.m. Friday for a report of someone throwing objects out of a second floor window. When the arrived they allegedly found a 21-year-old Arlington man who was drunk and tossing wine bottles and change at a car below.

More from an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

MISSILE INTO OCCUPIED VEHICLE, 2017-06160070, 2700 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 7:09 a.m. on June 16, officers responded to the report of an individual throwing objects. Upon arrival, it was determined a male subject was throwing objects at an occupied vehicle from an upstairs window. No one was injured. Marvin Sosa Velasquez, 21, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with missile into occupied vehicle and drunk in public. He is being held without bond.

Roosevelt Island Closed Due to Storm, Tree Concerns

By ARLnow.com
1/4

Roosevelt Island near Rosslyn is closed today due to tree damage from insects and today’s impending storms.

The National Park Service made the announcement this morning.

The park service says numerous trees have been severely weakened by the invasive emerald ash borer and will be removed in the coming weeks. More from NPS:

Theodore Roosevelt Island is closed for safety in advance of expected thunderstorms, some severe with high winds, this afternoon though this evening. The island will remain closed until tree crews can assess and address damage or new hazards.

A recent tree survey on Theodore Roosevelt Island found extensive damage to trees along the island’s trails from the invasive and deadly emerald ash borer. These diseased and dead ash trees are at an increased risk of falling, especially during storms.

Theodore Roosevelt Island is one of many parks in the Greater Washington Area hit hard by emerald ash borer. The island has many ash trees throughout its 88 acres that have been infected with the exotic beetle. The pest is highly destructive, killing ash trees within two to three years once infected. Dead ash trees rapidly become dry, brittle and hazardous. There is no known cure; once a tree is infected, it will die.

In the coming weeks, crews are expected to begin the removal of the affected trees. More information will be provided in the coming days.

One Arrested After Group Robs Store at Pentagon City Mall

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:40 a.m.) One man has been arrested and three more are being sought by police after a group of four robbed a store at the Pentagon City mall.

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Police say the suspects stole items, and one threatened an employee with a knife, before they all fled in a waiting car.

The crime occurred at the Zara store in the mall.

More from today’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ROBBERY, 2017-06160141, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 11:27 a.m. on June 16, officers responded to the report of a larceny in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined four male suspects had stolen merchandise and fled the scene in a nearby vehicle. One suspect brandished a knife and threatened employees. Following further investigation, one suspect, Kendall Charlie Mobley-Reid, 20, of Washington D.C, was arrested and charged with robbery. The investigation into the identity of the three remaining suspects is ongoing. The first suspect is described as a black male in his mid-twenties, approximately 6’1″-6’2″ tall with a skinny build. He was wearing dark shorts, a white tank top, and red sneakers. The second suspect is described as a black male in his late teens-early twenties, approximately 5’2″-5’4″ tall. He was wearing a white tank top, jeans, and red sneakers. The third suspect is described as a black male in his mid-twenties, approximately 5’8″ tall with an average build. He was wearing black pants, a “mustard colored” jacket, and gold sneakers.

Heavy Rains, Storms in Forecast for This Afternoon

By ARLnow.com
File photo

Heavy rains and severe storms may make for a challenging evening commute today (Monday).

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch, warning of 1-2 inches of rain or more this evening. (See below.)

NWS and local authorities are also cautioning that some storms today may be severe.

The Flash Flood Watch:

… FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A * FLASH FLOOD WATCH… * FROM 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING * A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS FRONT SOME OF WHICH COULD PRODUCE INTENSE RAINFALL RATES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING. * FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS, STREAMS AND ROADWAYS WILL BE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED. &&

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Board Approves Construction Contracts — The Arlington County Board approved three construction projects at its meeting this past Saturday, including contracts to improve safety at the intersection of Arlington Blvd and Park Drive, to improve safety along the W&OD and Custis trails, and to repair three bridges in Rosslyn. [Arlington County]

Feds to Help Fund Arlington Art Truck — Arlington County’s arts truck has received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The truck, which received $70,000 in funding from the county last year, “aims to both expand community access to art and to diversify public engagement.” [InsideNova]

Arlington Treasurer Wins State Award — Arlington County Treasurer Carla de la Pava received the 2017 President’s Award from the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia at its annual conference in Virginia Beach. It’s the first such recognition for an Arlington County treasurer. One measure of a treasurer’s job effectiveness is the tax delinquency rate; last year Arlington’s rate was 0.24 percent, an all-time local low and the lowest in Virginia. [Arlington County]

Flickr pool photo by Erinn Shirley

BREAKING: Police Investigating Murder in Nauck

By ARLnow.com
File photo

Update at 11:45 p.m. — The suspect has been arrested, police have announced.

Earlier: A D.C. man was shot to death Friday night in Arlington’s Nauck neighborhood.

Police say 35-year-old Adonis Wright was found suffering from a gunshot wound on the 2400 block of S. Lowell Street around 11:20 p.m. Officers arriving on scene tried to save Wright’s life but he succumbed to his injuries at George Washington University Hospital.

ACPD is now looking for the suspect, 23-year-old Daejon Jones of Woodbridge, who they say shot Wright during a dispute. Jones fled the scene after the shooting and police are asking for the public’s help in locating him.

“This shooting is an isolated incident and there is no indication of any continued threat to the community,” police said in a press release, below. “Jones is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call 911 immediately and not approach the suspect.”

This is the third reported homicide in Arlington so far this year.

The Arlington County Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Daejon Tyrie Jones, 23, of Woodbridge, Virginia. Jones is wanted for Murder for his role in a homicide in the Nauck neighborhood. Jones is described as a black male, approximately 5’9″ tall and weighing 190 pounds.

At approximately 11:20 p.m. on June 16, 2017, police responded to the 2400 block of S. Lowell Street for the report of a shooting. Arriving officers located one male victim suffering from a gunshot wound and began performing lifesaving measures. Arlington County Fire Department medics transported Adonis Wright, 35, of Washington, D.C. to George Washington University Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The initial investigation revealed that this shooting resulted from a dispute that took place between known individuals. The suspect, Daejon Tyrie Jones, fled the scene prior to police arrival. This shooting is an isolated incident and there is no indication of any continued threat to the community.

Jones is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call 911 immediately and not approach the suspect. If you have additional information regarding this investigation, contact Detective S. Bertollini of the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4243 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Photo courtesy ACPD

Podcast: Arlington County Board Member Christian Dorsey

By ARLnow.com

Christian Dorsey joined the County Board in 2016 and now also represents Arlington on the WMATA Board.

On this week’s 26 Square Miles podcast, we talked to Dorsey about whether SafeTrack and new train cars are improving Metro. We also discussed schools, parks, land use, development, the Shirlington Dog park controversy, issues with the Arlington Way, gentrification, affordable housing, and a proposed pedestrian walk from Crystal City to Reagan National Airport.

Listen below or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Barrett Elementary Student Struck By Car In Front of School

By ARLnow.com
1/3

(Updated 6/17/17) A Barrett Elementary School student was struck and injured by a driver in front of the school, just after dismissal Friday.

The crash happened shortly after 3 p.m. along N. George Mason Drive. The student was assisted by crossing guards and parents after being struck by the vehicle, before medics arrived.

The student’s injuries are being described as non-life-threatening, but the student was transported to the trauma center at Inova Fairfax Hospital and police investigators briefly photographed the scene.

Part of N. George Mason Drive was blocked during the emergency response.

On Saturday, a police spokeswoman said no charges would be filed as a result of the crash.

“The investigation determined that the juvenile entered the intersection of N. George Mason Drive at N. Henderson Road against the traffic signal and was struck by a vehicle,” said Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “The driver of the vehicle remained on scene. The juvenile was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No charges are pending.”

Barrett principal Dan Redding sent the following email to parents about the crash.

I am writing to provide information regarding a student pedestrian accident that occurred at dismissal time today, June 16, 2017. A Barrett student was struck by a vehicle at 4th Street and Henderson Street, and Police and EMS responded immediately. The injuries are not life-threatening, and the student has been transported to the hospital for treatment. Police are investigating the accident.

This is an opportunity to remind families to review safety procedures with their children, and to practice them when they walk, bike or ride the bus to school. As always, we are grateful for our amazing crossing guards and for the Barrett families who stopped to provide assistance.

Map via Google Maps

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