(Updated at 4:15 p.m. on 12/23/21) A wild fight outside Ballston’s A-Town Bar & Grill last night resulted in two suspects being tased by police, including one man who was brawling while wearing a Pikachu onesie.

The incident happened around 9 p.m. on the 1000 block of N. Randolph Street. According to police, it started when the man in the Pikachu costume, Steven [Redacted] tried to pick a fight with the bouncers at A-Town after being kicked out of the bar’s weekly “Sunday Funday” festivities.

[Redacted] “became aggressive with the door staff and Mr. Reid attempted to intervene,” according to what may be the longest item ever on an Arlington County Police Department daily crime report (below).

Police arrived and tried to break up the fight between [Redacted] and [Redacted], according to the crime report. The men allegedly stopped fighting with each other and started fighting with police. Both suspects were tased during the fracas and [Redacted] tried to flee, but both were eventually taken into custody and no one was seriously injured, police say.

More from the ACPD crime report:

ASSAULT & BATTERY ON POLICE, 2017-03120191, 1000 block of N. Randolph Street. At approximately 8:58 p.m. on March 12, police were dispatched to the report of a fight in progress.  The arriving officer located the subjects, later identified as Steven [Redacted] and Marcus [Redacted], and provided verbal commands to cease the fight. The subjects allegedly ignored the commands and the officer physically separated them. As the officer was attempting to detain [Redacted], [Redacted] advanced and struck the officer, pushing him to the ground. When Mr. Reid advanced towards the officer a second time, the officer deployed his taser. As officers were attempting to place handcuffs on Mr. Reid, he continued to forcefully resist while attempting to stand. An officer deployed their taser and the subject was taken into custody without further incident.

Additional officers responded to [Redacted] location who was attempting to flee the scene. Officers ordered the subject to stop and get on the ground. When he refused, officers went hands on in an attempt to detain the subject. [Redacted] struggled with the officer and was able to place him in a stranglehold. The officer was able to free himself, deploy his taser and the subject was taken into custody without further incident. Both subjects were evaluated by medics and did not sustain serious injuries. The investigation revealed that the initial incident began after [Redacted] was removed from a restaurant, became aggressive with the door staff and Mr. Reid attempted to intervene.

Marcus [Redacted], 31, of Arlington VA was arrested and charged with assault and battery on police, obstruction of justice and drunk in public. Steven [Redacted], 27, or Arlington VA was arrested and charged with assault and battery on police, strangulation, disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice and drunk in public. Both were held in the Arlington County Detention Facility on No Bond.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of the crime report interchanged the subjects names in the first paragraph. The report has been corrected at approximately 3:00 P.M. on March 13, 2017.


The Rosslyn parking garage in which a Washington Post reporter met a source dubbed “Deep Throat” to discuss the Watergate scandal looks like it may not be relegated to the history books quite yet.

The garage and the two office buildings atop it were set for a major redevelopment. Approved in 2014, the plan was to build a 24-story office tower and a 28-story, 274-unit apartment building on the site.

But the original County Board approval for the plan expires in June and property owner Monday Properties is asking for a three-year extension at the Arlington County Board meeting this Saturday.

Other than the extension, no other changes to the development’s site plan have been proposed. County Manager Mark Schwartz is recommending the Board approve the extension.


Cherry blossoms, Memorial Bridge and Rosslyn (Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman)

Permitting a Challenge for Older Properties — Arlington’s permitting office can be a source of frustration for homeowners trying to make changes or additions to their house, but it’s especially challenging for those who own older properties that no longer conform to the county zoning ordinance. [Arlington Magazine]

Free Tax Help in Arlington — Arlington County is again offering free tax assistance sessions through mid-April for lower income residents: individuals making up to $35,000/year or families making up to $54,000/year. [Arlington County]

Four Courts ‘Leprechaun’ Profiled — Dave Cahill, the general manager of Four Courts in Courthouse, is the official “leprechaun” of the Four Courts Four Miler, which took place on Sunday. Cahill recently spoke about how he started running and helped come up with the idea for the race. [Facebook]

Signature’s ‘Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing’ — Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actress Debra Monk is starring in the new production of “Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing” at Shirlington’s Signature Theatre. It’s the true story of Elva Miller, “a 59-year-old grandmother who became an overnight sensation with her operatic but off-turn renditions of pop hits.” The show runs through March 26. [NBC Washington]

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman


(Updated at 6:25 p.m.) Arlington and a large portion of the D.C. area is now under a Winter Storm Warning.

A “monster nor’easter” could bring a half foot of snow or more to the area from Monday night into Tuesday. Other coastal northeastern cities are also in the storm’s path.

From the National Weather Service:

… WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM MONDAY TO 2 PM EDT TUESDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM MONDAY TO 2 PM EDT TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW… POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SLEET AT TIMES MONDAY NIGHT. * ACCUMULATIONS… SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 6 TO 10 INCHES. * TIMING… SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA MONDAY EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. * IMPACTS… THE HEAVY SNOW WILL CREATE DIFFICULT TRAVEL CONDITIONS AND MAY PRODUCE SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES. * WINDS… NORTHEAST 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH. * TEMPERATURES… IN THE LOWER 30S. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. &&

More via Twitter:


Cherry blossoms

The first full work week in March started out chilly, turned warm and pleasant, before ending with a burst of snow and falling temperatures.

If that sounds exciting, it’s nothing compared to what may be coming next week — we’ll be closely following the potential Nor’easter snowstorm that’s on tap for Monday night and Tuesday.

Of this week’s top five most-read articles, three were crime stories and two were about restaurants. Three had a Columbia Pike connection.

  1. ACPD, State Police, Feds Conduct Raid at Columbia Pike Apartment
  2. Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Columbia Pike Shooting
  3. Mysterious Pio Pio Still Closed for Maintenance
  4. Arlington Bar Named No. 1 Destination for St. Patrick’s Day
  5. Arlington Woman Charged With Felony Welfare Fraud (NBC4 updated this story late Friday with details obtained from court documents)

Feel free to discuss the impending wintry weather, the top stories of the week or any other topic of local interest, in the comments.


The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant on Columbia Pike is the No. 1 place in the U.S. to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, at least according to online review site Yelp.

The pub, at 2500 Columbia Pike, has a stellar 4.6 star rating on Yelp, leading to its selection at the top of the “50 Best Bars in the U.S. To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day” list.

“Yelp determined the list by first identifying bars frequently reviewed with the word ‘Irish,’ and then ranking the establishments by ratings and the number of reviews,” said Travel + Leisure, which published the list.


Looking for somewhere new to live? There are plenty of homes and condos to browse in Arlington this weekend.

Check out our real estate section for a full listing of open houses this weekend. Here are a few highlights:

1600 N. Oak Street
1 Bed/1 Bath Condo
Agent: Zabrine Watson
Listed: $399,990
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

 

2330 14th Street N.
1 Bed/1 Bath Condo
Agent: Gene Mechling
Listed: $409,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2220 S. Quincy Street
3 Bed/2.5 Bath Townhome
Agent: Cynthia Schneider
Listed: $494,950
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

2632 Kenmore Court
3 Bed/3.5 Bath Townhome
Agent: Peggy Parker
Listed: $719,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

224 N. Nelson Street
3 Bed/2 Bath Single-Family Detached
Agent: Kathryn Loughney
Listed: $799,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

1610 N. Queen Street
2 Beds/2 Bath Condo
Agent: Keri Shull
Listed: $979,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

2356 S. Pierce Street
4 Bed/3 Bath Single-Family Detached
Agent: Virginia Smith
Listed: $1,050,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

3223 1st St N3223 1st Street N.
6 Bed/5.5 Bath Single-Family Detached
Agent: Ron Cathell
Listed: $1,834,888
Open: Saturday and Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

Interested in getting your open house listed? Email us.


What’s it like racing around an expansive Crystal City parking garage on a bike?

Kind of like a videogame, as a video (above) from this week’s edition of Crystal City’s Wednesday Night Spins demonstrates.

The events are taking place on Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m., on the G3 and G4 level of the parking garage at 201 12th Street S., through the end of March. The races are free for spectators and around $15 for participants.


Arlington County police logoAn Arlington woman has been charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $100,000 in public assistance.

Police say the fraud happened between 2010 and 2016.

The suspect, Helen Agbapuruonwu, was charged with felony welfare fraud and document forgery. Her husband is listed on LinkedIn and elsewhere as an associate at the D.C. office of a large international law firm.

From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

FELONY WELFARE FRAUD, 2016-10040029, 2100 block of Washington Boulevard. Between April 1, 2010 and August 1, 2016 the subject allegedly fraudulently obtained public assistance in excess of $100,000 under false pretenses. Helen Agbapuruonwu, 38, of Arlington VA was arrested and charged with felony welfare fraud and document forgery.


Pilots in the cockpit at DCA (Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman)

Metro Station Manager Arrested — A Metro station manager at the Pentagon has been arrested and charged with assaulting a fellow employee. The fight happened Wednesday afternoon inside the station manager’s kiosk, police say. [Washington Post]

Yorktown Grad’s Music Video Goes Viral — Budding hip-hop artist Hovey Benjamin has tallied nearly 1.5 million YouTube views of his new, NSFW music video. Benjamin lived in Arlington and attended Yorktown High School and Virginia Commonwealth University before moving to Los Angeles and signing a record deal. [Real House Life of Arlington, Uproxx]

New Condo and Townhouse Sales CenterSponsored — Learn about all of the newest and most well-appointed properties in Arlington and DC without the hassle of finding all the information for yourself. Stop by the Sales Center this Sunday from 2-4 p.m. to learn about amenities, features, floor plans, fees, available units, and everything else you could ever want to know about all the condo buildings in the area. Located at 1600 Wilson Blvd. [Keri Shull Team]

Dozens of Arlington Runners Competing in Boston — Seventy-six Arlington runners will be shipping up to Boston next month for the Boston Marathon, one of the sport’s most prestigious races. The field includes local running superstar Michael Wardian, who is also competing in this weekend’s Rock ‘n’ Roll D.C. Marathon. [InsideNova]

CERT Training Still Open — A few spaces are still available in Arlington’s Community Emergency Response Team spring training class. The eight-session, 26-hour course begins next week. [Arlington CERT]

Library Exhibit on Baltic WW2 Refugees — Arlington Public Library is hosting an exhibit through April 17 on Baltic refugees from World War II. “‘No Home To Go To’ is the story of people living in refugee camps and finding a home in a new land, as told through their memories, documents, photographs, and memorabilia,” according to the library website. [Arlington Public Library]

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman


Reeves farmhouse (photo courtesy Peter Roof)A group that wants to use the Reevesland farmhouse as an educational center is making one last push to convince Arlington County not to sell it.

Members of the Reevesland Learning Center say Arlington should be seeking to add to, not subtract from, its parks and facilities. They’ve been fighting for several years to have the farmhouse, at 400 N. Manchester Street in the Boulevard Manor neighborhood, converted to a community space where children could learn about healthy eating and the history of the Reeves farm.

In 2015, Arlington County split the 2.5 acre Reevesland property, incorporating much of the open space into Bluemont Park while the house and the land around it was to be sold to a private buyer. On Feb. 28, Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz recommended the sale of the farmhouse move forward, asking for County Board direction at the board’s March meeting.

“Our efforts to work with the Reeves Farm Conservation Society, Inc. and Reevesland Learning Center have not resulted in a viable community proposal for the farmhouse,” Schwartz said in a statement.

In a letter sent Wednesday, members of the Reevesland Learning Center disputed the county’s assertion that renovating the farmhouse for public use would be too costly and challenging.

The full letter, after the jump.

Photo courtesy Peter Roof

(more…)


View More Stories