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.

UPDATED: Two arrested trying to swim to freedom after car chase, crash and foot chase

By ARLnow.com
Virginia State Police cruiser in Arlington (staff photo)

Two suspects led authorities on a three-hour-long pursuit by land and by water overnight.

The chase started around 1 a.m. in Crystal City, when a Virginia State Police trooper spotted a car with improper tags, which then fled from an attempted traffic stop. The chase made its way onto I-395 near the Pentagon, where the suspect’s car struck a police cruiser, according to Virginia State Police, after which the suspects fled on foot, chased by troopers.

The suspects ran toward Long Bridge Drive and eventually reached Roaches Run, where “the two subjects jumped into the water and began swimming” toward the GW Parkway, said VSP. A perimeter was established around the area and both the Fairfax County police and U.S. Park Police helicopters were called in to assist with the search for the suspects, who were by then trying to hide.

Arlington police and Park Police assisted on the ground during the incident.

Eventually, the suspects were spotted and, at 2:30 a.m., the Arlington County Fire Department’s water rescue team was dispatched to Roaches Run. The suspects were suffering from exposure to the cold water and were taken to a local hospital after being taken into custody by state troopers on an ACFD boat just before 4 a.m.

Update on 4/21/23 — Virginia State Police have released the following update on the investigation into Wednesday’s early morning chase, naming a male suspect who is now facing charges. A second, female vehicle occupant is so far not reported to be facing charges.

At approximately 12:59 a.m. Wednesday (April 19), a Virginia State Police Trooper alerted to a two-door Chrysler displaying improper registration (wrong license plates). When the trooper activated his emergency lights and sirens to attempt a traffic stop at 18th St. and S. Crystal Dr., the Chrysler refused to stop and sped away. A pursuit was initiated. The pursuit continued north on I-395 at which time state police attempted to contain the Chrysler as it was traveling on the right shoulder. The Chrysler struck one of the trooper’s vehicles, which caused both vehicles to spin around and collide a second time. The driver and passenger of the Chrysler then fled the scene on foot. With the assistance of Arlington County Police and Fairfax County Police resources, a search perimeter was established.

At approximately 1:55 a.m., troopers spotted the two subjects hiding near Roaches Run. As the troopers approached, the two subjects jumped into the water and began swimming across Roaches Run towards the GW Parkway. The U.S. Park Police responded to assist state police as the two subjects hid in the water to avoid detection and arrest.

Arlington County Fire and Rescue deployed its water rescue team and an adult male and a 23-year-old female were located and taken into custody without further incident. They were both transported to a nearby hospital for treatment due to their exposure to the cold water temperatures.

Bryant R. Mayo, 26, of Washington, DC, was charged with one felony count of eluding law enforcement and one felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash.

The incident remains under investigation.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Charcuterie and tulips, for the ‘gram. Near the Netherlands Carillon in the Roslyn area. (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Presidential Campaign Speech in Arlington — “Nikki Haley to make the first speech about abortion by any of the 2024 GOP presidential contenders,” on Tuesday, April 25 in Arlington. [Twitter]

Prosecutor Reiterates Abortion Position — From Arlington and Falls Church Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti: “Why? Why Arlington? There’s no point coming here @NikkiHaley. As long as I’m CA, Arlington will not prosecute people and their doctors for abortion care.” [Twitter]

Hope Minimum Wage Bill Passes — “A measure, patroned by Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), to end a 1940s-era measure allowing those employing workers with disabilities to pay less than the minimum wage, is headed into law. Both houses of the legislature on April 12 agreed to recommendations made by the Youngkin administration on the bill. Final votes were 96-0 in the House of Delegates and 40-0 in the state Senate.” [GazetteLeader]

Warner’s Local News Resolution — “U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and 12 colleagues in introducing a resolution that would designate April 2023 as ‘Preserving and Protecting Local News Month.’ The resolution officially recognizes the role of local news as an essential function for democracy in the United States.” [Press Release]

Knife Standoff Ends Peacefully — “The suspect was inside a residence when he allegedly became agitated, brandished a knife and made threatening statements. Arriving officers advised all other occupants to exit the residence. Officers then made contact with the suspect, gave him commands to drop the knife which he complied with and took him into custody without incident.” [ACPD]

It’s Wednesday — Sunny. Mild. High of 74 and low of 45. Sunrise at 6:26 am and sunset at 7:49 pm. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Apr 18, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 41969 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Apr 18, 2023.

  1. ‘Real Housewives’ appears to be filming again in Arlington
  2. ACPD planning ‘high-visibility enforcement’ along several Arlington streets
  3. APS pauses overnight field trips to Outdoor Lab after ‘incident’ involving a student
  4. Morning Notes

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌤 Wednesday’s forecast

Sunny. Mild. High of 74 and low of 45. Sunrise at 6:26 am and sunset at 7:49 pm. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Haiku of the Day

Spring’s morning unveils
Blossoms act as sweet whisper
Nature and life dance.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Listing of the Day: 1834 N. Kirkwood Place

By ARLnow.com
1/5

Address: 1834 N. Kirkwood Place
Neighborhood: Lyon Village
Type: 5 BR, 4 (+1 half) BA single-family detached — 5,000 sq. ft.
Listed: $2,349,000

Noteworthy: Luxury 2018 Modern Farmhouse, sited on a level landscaped 10K SF lot.

Welcome to this elegantly designed 5 bed/4.5 bath Modern Farmhouse. Enter this custom residence noting the gleaming walnut-stained hardwoods, high ceilings and expansive entry.

The main level includes a generously-sized office, convenient half bath and private dining room. The expansive Chef’s Kitchen is highlighted by a grand island with breakfast bar seating, quartz countertops opening to the Great Room, boasting a cozy gas fireplace. Kitchen highlights include upgraded stainless steel appliances, a double wall oven, opulent white cabinetry, luxurious custom mill work, and a Butler’s Pantry that flows to the mudroom and garage.

French doors from the Great Room lead outside to your private fenced rear yard. The upper bedroom level showcases 4 bedrooms all with walk-in closets, and 3 baths, including a spacious Owners Suite with two walk-in closets and an en-suite luxury spa-inspired bathroom. The lower level includes a rec room, a full gym/exercise room and fifth bedroom with a full bath.

The absolutely perfect place to call home.

Listed by:
Melody Abella — TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
[email protected]
(703) 371-9219

ACPD planning ‘high-visibility enforcement’ along several Arlington streets

By ARLnow.com
Police officer talks with driver during high-visibility enforcement along Little Falls Road (via ACPD)

Arlington County police will be out in force tomorrow along two busy roads, conducting high visibility traffic enforcement.

The action is part of the region’s annual spring “Street Smart” campaign, which “focuses on educating drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists about traffic laws and how to safely share our roadways.” The campaign will run through Sunday, May 14.

“As the warmer months approach and the days grow longer, more people will be walking, biking and operating shared mobility devices throughout our community,” ACPD said in a press release today. “To ensure all travelers can reach their destinations in a safe and timely manner, area law enforcement will participate in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Spring Street Smart campaign.”

“Through a two-pronged approach of education and enforcement, the campaign aims to reduce the number of traffic related crashes and injuries on our roadways by identifying and changing unsafe behavior patterns among travelers,” the release continues.

A pair of “high-visibility enforcement activations” are planned Wednesday for the campaign.

Officers will be out enforcing traffic laws along Langston Blvd in Rosslyn, between N. Lynn Street and Fort Myer Drive, from 11 a.m. to noon, according to ACPD. That’s the same block on which a woman pushing a stroller was struck by a dump truck in 2018. The woman lost a leg but the truck driver ultimately only received a traffic citation.

Later, from 4-5 p.m., officers will post up on the 2900 block of S. Glebe Road, near the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center.

Another round of traffic enforcement is planned for Thursday, May 2: from 11 a.m. to noon along N. Pershing Drive at N. Thomas Street and from 4-5 p.m. on the 5200 block of Columbia Pike.

“As part of our department’s key initiative of Transportation Safety, officers will conduct traffic enforcement throughout the campaign with the goal of compliance, even when police are not present,” ACPD said.

‘Real Housewives’ appears to be filming again in Arlington

By ARLnow.com
1/2

Production is reportedly underway on the Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8, and some filming has been spotted in Arlington.

Cast member Ashley Darby told Northern Virginia Magazine earlier this year that she had “recently bought a new home in Arlington.” Previously, she had lived in a condo in the Courthouse area.

Over the weekend, Darby and at least one other person were seen being filmed outside of a recently-built home, a tipster tells ARLnow.

“At 11:30 a.m., the street was filled with camera crews filming people entering” the house, the tipster said. “Guests were seen signing waivers and receiving microphone packs.”

The home was purchased off-market in October by an LLC whose address corresponds with that of Monument Realty, the real estate firm founded by Darby’s husband Michael, according to Arlington County property records. The couple is separated.

The home is about a half mile from the former Oz restaurant in Clarendon, which Ashley and Michael owned until it closed in 2019. The restaurant had been a Real Housewives filming location and a significant plot point in the show.

It’s unclear how much more ‘Real Housewives’ filming will be done in Arlington for the show’s upcoming season. Ashley, though, told the magazine that she plans to stay in Arlington for the foreseeable future.

Darby loves Arlington and has no plans to leave anytime soon, she says. “I really appreciate the diversity of Arlington,” she says. “I grew up in Maryland. But I really do feel like there is an element of Arlington that encompasses so much more. I love how close I am to DC. I love that there are so many different cultures, like I go to Eden Center all the time, so I just appreciate how diverse it is.” […]

“I love the restaurants, and I’m a big fan of Clarendon,” she says, mentioning that she used to go to The Clarendon Ballroom. “My kids love the parks, too. I think that the way the parks are maintained, and the investment that goes into the parks, is just amazing. There are so many things to do. There’s always a festival or a carnival, and there’s so much community involvement.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Protected bike lanes being painted along S. Eads Street near Amazon HQ2 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Car Stolen Near Barcroft Park — From Alan Henney: “4200 blk South Four Mile Run Rd in Arlington. Two teens just stole a silver 1990 Honda Accord with Virginia tags. It was left idling. One of them had a bike which they abandoned.” [Twitter]

Sexual Battery Victim Speaks — “A victim who wants to remain anonymous is speaking to 7News recalling the harrowing events of that night she was attacked in her bed. ‘I was like sound asleep and I wake up and I think there is someone crawling into my bed,’ she said. ‘Because it was so late at night, early in the morning, my brain thought it was a dream or something.’ The woman said her apartment complex recently changed the lock system to the apartment doors. She forgot to manually lock the door on the night of April 11.” [WJLA]

Pair of Assaults on Police — “At approximately 2:20 a.m. on April 14… Officers attempted to take the driver into custody for suspected driving under the influence. The suspect actively resisted arrest, struggled with officers and struck an officer in the face with their elbow… At approximately 8:06 p.m. on April 15… the suspect pushed the officer and attempted to flee the scene on foot.” [ACPD]

APS Employees of the Year — “Arlington Public Schools has announced its 2023 employees of the year, with the honorees to be saluted at a reception in May. Deitra Brady-Pulliam, a third-grade teacher from Hoffman-Boston Elementary School, was named Teacher of the Year… Thomas Jefferson Middle School’s Keisha Boggan was named Principal of the Year.” [GazetteLeader]

Square Footage Rate Drops — “Leading the per-square-foot pack, as it usually does, was the District of Columbia, where homes sold during the January-February-March period garnered an average $510 for each and every square foot. But that was down 5.6 percent from $540 from the same period a year before. Arlington, which traditionally comes in second, saw an even larger drop, down 6.3 percent from $490 to $459.” [GazetteLeader]

WBJ Amazon Reporter Leaving — “Since I started my job as a reporter covering Amazon, workforce development and higher education, the beat’s grown to include transportation and data centers, and there’s been endless adventure in each… Now, I’m taking off for a new adventure.” [Washington Business Journal]

Shootings in Alexandria — Police in Alexandria are investigating several shootings, including one that shut down Metro trains for a time near the Braddock Road station and another at the Bradlee Shopping Center near Arlington’s Fairlington neighborhood. [ALXnow, ALXnow]

It’s Tuesday — Scattered clouds and breezy. High of 67 and low of 50. Sunrise at 6:28 am and sunset at 7:48 pm. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Apr 17, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Monday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 12343 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Apr 17, 2023.

  1. Car runs into house, another overturns in Sunday crash
  2. Good Company Doughnuts to fill a hole at Amazon’s HQ2 early this summer
  3. Office vacancy rates are in a ‘transition’ phase, analyst says
  4. ‘Fire Weather Watch’ issued for Arlington

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌤 Tuesday’s forecast

Scattered clouds. Mild. High of 67 and low of 50. Sunrise at 6:28 am and sunset at 7:48 pm. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Haiku of the Day

AI model running wild
Technology gone awry, please
Unplug and start again

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Arlington man arrested shots fired at car near Barcroft Park

By ARLnow.com
Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)

An arrest has been made after a vehicle was damaged by gunfire along S. Four Mile Run Drive this past Thursday night.

Police say a 20-year-old Arlington man was arrested Friday night in the Aurora Highlands neighborhood. He’s now facing numerous charges in connection to the incident, which happened in the area of Barcroft Park and started as a dispute among four acquaintances, according to police.

Shots were fired at two people in the car as they drove off, but no one was wounded, said Arlington County police.

More, below, from a press release.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is announcing the arrest of a suspect following an investigation into shots fired in the Douglas Park neighborhood on April 13, 2023. Esnayder Perla Alvarenga, 20, of Arlington, VA has been charged with Attempted Malicious Wounding (x2), Malicious Shooting at a Vehicle, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Reckless Handling of a Firearm, and Brandishing a Firearm. He is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.

At approximately 11:26 p.m. on April 13, police were dispatched to the 4200 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, it was determined the two victims and two suspects, who are acquaintances, were in a parking garage when they became involved in a verbal dispute. The dispute escalated, during which Suspect One brandished a firearm while Suspect Two physically assaulted one of the victims. The victims then entered their vehicle and, as they drove away, Suspect One allegedly discharged the firearm, striking the vehicle and causing property damage. No injuries were reported.

During the course of the investigation, officers identified Suspect One and obtained warrants for his arrest. He was taken into custody without incident on the evening of April 14 in the 2700 block of S. Fern Street. During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered a loaded firearm on the suspect.

The investigation into the identity of Suspect Two is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or [email protected] or anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

NEW: Police release photos of suspect in sexual assault case

By ARLnow.com
Break-in and sexual assault suspect (photos courtesy ACPD, photo composition by ARLnow)

Arlington County police have released photos of a man suspected of trying to break into apartments in a building where a woman was sexually assaulted.

Police stopped short of calling the man a suspect in the April 2 sexual assault in Virginia Square and the April 12 sexual battery in Courthouse. In both instances, a suspect broke into a woman’s apartment and then fled on foot.

“The investigation into the captured individual’s possible involvement in the residential burglary with sexual battery is ongoing and detectives continue to follow-up on investigative leads in the April 2 and April 12 incidents,” police said in a press release.

The accompanying photos are blurry but show a man described as “a Black male with an average build and a dark beard.”

The press release is below.

The Arlington County Police Department is releasing two images of a suspect who was captured on video attempting to gain entry into residences on April 2 in the 3900 block of Fairfax Drive. The suspect is described as a Black male with an average build and a dark beard.

The investigation into the captured individual’s possible involvement in the residential burglary with sexual battery is ongoing and detectives continue to follow-up on investigative leads in the April 2 and April 12 incidents. Anyone with information regarding ether of these investigations is asked to contact Detective C. Oesterling (703-228-4241 or [email protected]) of the Special Victims Unit. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

UPDATED: Red Flag Warning issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com
1/4

Updated at 9:40 a.m. — The earlier watch has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning. From the National Weather Service:

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR VIRGINIA, SOUTHERN MARYLAND, AND EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE…

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity, which is in effect from noon today to 8 PM EDT this evening.

* WINDS…West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 18 percent.

* IMPACTS…Critical fire weather conditions are expected through this evening. All outdoor burning is discouraged, as fires could rapidly spread and become uncontrollable.

* FUEL MOISTURE…Dropping to around 7 or 8 percent.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Earlier: Arlington County, along with much of the D.C. area, will be under a Fire Weather Watch tomorrow.

Small brush fires are not uncommon in Arlington, though at no point in recent history has one threatened a home, as happened in D.C. last month.

Forecasters say Tuesday’s weather will be windy with low humidity — ideal for the spread of brush fires.

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