News

ACFD Battling House Fire in Bluemont

By ARLnow.com
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Arlington and Fairfax County firefighters are battling a house fire in the Bluemont neighborhood.

The blaze was reported just after 7 p.m., near the intersection of 6th Street and N. Kensington Street, in the attic of a home on 6th Street.

Firefighters are reporting that they have the flames under control. They’re also looking into the possibility that the fire started as the result of a lightning strike.

Photos courtesy Steve Thurston

Charges Dropped Against Woman Who Said She Was Drugged Before Stealing Car

By ARLnow.com

Rosslyn Hyatt (photo via Google Maps)Prosecutors have dropped charges against a woman who told police she was drugged and sexually assaulted before stealing a car in Rosslyn in February.

The 22-year-old suspect, whose first name is Samantha, was arrested on Valentine’s Day morning after calling police to report that she was “in possession of a vehicle that was not hers.”

From our previous article on the alleged crime:

Samantha, 22, told police she was intoxicated when she took an Uber to District Taco in Rosslyn Saturday night, intent on grabbing some food. Afterward, she walked down to the Hyatt hotel, on the 1300 block of Wilson Blvd, milled about a bit and then allegedly stole a car from the valet.

Samantha’s next recollection, according to police, is waking up in the back seat of the car around 1 a.m., in an unknown location in Arlington. She then drove home, went to sleep, and called police around 9 a.m. to come clean about what happened, said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

After Samantha’s arrest was included in a crime report and in the ARLnow article, her attorney contacted us to say that she was “involuntarily intoxicated and had been the victim of a sexual assault.”

Police were called to a local hospital and took a report of a sexual assault Sunday evening, after the suspect was released from jail, ACPD confirmed after an inquiry from ARLnow.com. “That case is ongoing,” said Savage, the police spokeswoman.

Court records show that Samantha had a preliminary hearing in April and that the charges had been dropped “nolle prosequi.”

Savage said that no arrests have been made in the alleged sexual assault and that police do not have a description of the suspect. Jeff Overand, Samantha’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.

Police: Peeping Tom Dashes After Flashes

By ARLnow.com
File photo

A peeping tom in Rosslyn apparently took a photo of a woman through her window and then ran off.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. Saturday at the River Place condos in Rosslyn. From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

PEEPING TOM, 160430004, 1000 block of N. Arlington Boulevard. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on April 30, a female victim noticed a flash come through her window and a male subject fleeing from the area. The suspect is described as a male, wearing a dark jacket, dark pants, and a baseball hat.

Another peeping tom was reported early Sunday morning not too far away, in the Courthouse area.

PEEPING TOM, 160501006, 1200 block of N. Troy Street. At approximately 1:10 a.m. on May 1, a woman observed a male suspect looking into a neighbors window. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’4″ – 5’8″  tall and weighed 150 lbs. He was wearing dark clothing, a dark hat, and had a book bag.

Police are investigating both incidents. So far no arrests have been announced.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Under-construction parking garage rises above the busy Costco parking lot

Oracle Acquiring Opower — Updated at 9:55 a.m. — Technology giant Oracle is acquiring Arlington-based Opower in a $548 million cash deal. Opower recently went through a round of layoffs. [Reuters, Oracle]

Clarendon Z-Burger to Get New Name — The Z-Burger location in Clarendon will be rebranded soon as part of a legal settlement between the founder and the former partners in the business. [Washington Business Journal]

Arlington Unemployment Remains Lowest in Va. — Arlington’s unemployment rate ticked up by a tenth of a percent in March, but remained the lowest in Virginia. The county’s unemployment rate is currently 2.7 percent, with just under 4,000 residents looking for work while 142,000 are employed. [InsideNova]

Foggy Morning Commute — Arlington and much of the region was under a Dense Fog Advisory this morning. [Weather Channel]

Arlington Chamber of Commerce to Hold County Board Candidate Forum

By ARLnow.com

Erik Gutshall and Libby Garvey debate at an Arlington Young Democrats eventThe two candidates for the Democratic Arlington County Board nomination will face off in a candidates forum on Monday, May 16.

The forum is being organized by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. It will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Hyatt in Rosslyn (1325 Wilson Blvd). ARLnow.com, a Chamber member, is the event’s media sponsor.

During the forum, incumbent Libby Garvey and challenger Erik Gutshall will be asked a variety of questions, with a special focus on local business.

Arlington Chamber of Commerce logo“This business-themed candidate forum will feature a moderated discussion of topics important to the Arlington business community, and will provide each candidate with the opportunity to engage with local business leaders and address the key issues for the business community,” the Chamber said. “This event will also offer attendees the chance to gain an inside look into the candidates’ views on business in Arlington County.”

(Perennial independent candidate Audrey Clement, who has qualified for the ballot again this year, has also been invited to participate.)

In a debate earlier this month, Gutshall lamented that Arlington County’s economic development efforts are “geared towards the types of businesses that are going to fill office buildings,” more so than helping small businesses. Garvey said the county is “aware that small businesses are having issues” and is holding a small business summit next week.

Meanwhile, the county’s high office vacancy rate — some 8 million square feet of office space is vacant in Arlington — remains a significant issue.

This candidate forum is open to the general public. Registration is $10. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee is planning its own candidate debate from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4. The debate will be held at GMU’s Founders Hall (3351 Fairfax Drive).

Pizza Delivery Driver’s Car Stolen Mid-Delivery

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA pizza delivery driver’s car was stolen while he was making a delivery in Courthouse yesterday afternoon.

Working with the Metropolitan Police Department, Arlington County Police say there were able to locate the vehicle in D.C. and take the suspect into custody.

From an ACPD crime report:

GRAND THEFT AUTO, 160428031, 1400 block of N. Uhle Street. At approximately 1:10 p.m. on April 28, a pizza delivery vehicle was stolen while the driver was on a delivery. Officers were able to locate the vehicle in Washington D.C. With the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department, the suspect was taken into custody without incident. Warrants were obtained for grand larceny auto for James Lee Thomas III, 38, of Washington D.C.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Historic marker in Fairlington

Cooley Joins DJO Football Staff — Former Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley has joined the Bishop O’Connell High School football staff as the offensive line and tight ends coach. Cooley, who currently co-hosts the afternoon drive radio show on ESPN 980, is shifting to a morning slot at the station, thus allowing him to coach. [Arlington Catholic Herald]

Arlington Tech Light on Female Students — Only 21 percent of incoming freshmen at the new Arlington Tech high school program are female. That number is “not high enough,” an administrator told community members. [InsideNova]

North Arlington Road Closure — N. Sycamore Street is scheduled to be closed from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today between Little Falls Road and 27th Street due to water service installation work. [Arlington County]

Architect Chosen for Gondola Study — Portland, Oregon-based ZGF Architects has been selected to conduct the feasibility study for a gondola system between Rosslyn and Georgetown. ZGF, which also has offices in D.C., worked on the preliminary concept for the Portland Aerial Tram, which opened in 2006. [Georgetowner, Urban Turf]

Real Estate Firm Raises $100,000 for Free Clinic — McLean-based Stewart Commercial Realty has helped to raise more than $100,000 for Arlington Free Clinic’s dental program. The program provides dental care to low-income, uninsured Arlington residents. The company held a fundraiser for the program in Courthouse last weekend. [Facebook]

Police Investigating Bank Robbery in Fairlington Area

By ARLnow.com
1/2

A man robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at the corner of N. Quaker Street and Fern Street, just across from Arlington’s Fairlington neighborhood, this morning.

The man passed a note to a teller shortly before noon, Alexandria Police said in a press release (below). He was wearing a gray coat, dark pants and a “Brooklyn Nets” hat.

Other bank customers can be seen lined up behind the man in one of the surveillance photos released by police.

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating the robbery of a Wells Fargo Bank located at 1711 Fern Street. On Thursday, April 28, at 11:40 a.m., a man entered the bank and passed the teller a note. He demanded money, the teller complied and the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. There were no injuries.

The suspect is described as a male with a medium complexion, approximately 5’6″ tall with a thin build. He was wearing a baseball cap, glasses and a gray coat. Investigators believe this is the same suspect from the bank robbery on April 18, 2016.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of this bank robbery.

Police ask that anyone with information about this incident call Detective Christine Deibes at 703.746.6819.

Update at 5:50 p.m. — The same bank robber struck in Alexandria 10 days ago, says the FBI.

FBI bank robbery wanted poster

Hot Topics on the Pike: Will Columbia Pike Be an ‘Affordable Clarendon’ By 2040?

By Tim Regan
1/2

(Updated at 2:46 p.m.) What happened to the Columbia Pike Streetcar project? What can be done about crowded local schools? How can we incorporate affordable housing and public amenities into future development?

These were just a few questions answered during last night’s ARLnow Presents: Hot Topics on the Pike discussion at the Celtic House Irish Pub (2500 Columbia Pike).

The first half of the night was filled by a discussion among our opinion columnists — Mark Kelly (The Right Note), Peter Rousselot (Peter’s Take) and Larry Roberts (Progressive Voice) — on countywide issues.

The first question of that discussion, asked by host Amanda Fischer, was whether the columnists felt like the streetcar project’s cancellation was the right decision and what the county’s biggest transit priorities should be in 2016.

“I believe the cancellation of the streetcar was the right decision,” Rousselot said. “[The] most important one coming for Arlington is the Columbia Pike corridor and premium bus service.”

“On the regional level, this was going to be connected to other projects,” Roberts said. “[If you go to the] Pearl District in Portland, you will see everything that could have been in Columbia Pike.”

Kelly said the project, overall, had a “common sense problem,” and added that he was “pleased” when the project got the ax.

He added that he thought the county’s number one transit priority should be exerting its influence “to get to real reforms for Metro.”

(more…)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Potomac River calm (Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf)

Residents Supportive of Cemetery Expansion Plan — The military held a meeting yesterday to reveal preliminary plans to expand Arlington National Cemetery and realign Columbia Pike. Local residents were generally supportive of the plan and the need to expand the cemetery. [Washington Post]

Arlington Woman Turns 100 — The Sunrise senior living community in Arlington has celebrated the 100th birthday of a resident, Kathleen Hanawalt. Hanawalt celebrated the event with her daughter-in-law and two grandsons. Hanawalt’s husband died in 1969. [InsideNova]

Endorsements for Gutshall, Talento — Arlington County Board challenger Erik Gutshall has picked up a trio of endorsements from state lawmakers. State Sen. Adam Ebbin, Del. Alfonso Lopez and Del. Rip Sullivan have endorsed Gutshall in his primary challenge against County Board Chair Libby Garvey. Meanwhile, School Board candidate Tannia Talento has received the endorsement of School Board member Reid Goldstein. [Blue Virginia, InsideNova]

Sexual Assault Awareness Event at the Pentagon — All branches of the military were represented at a recent event to raise awareness of and combat sexual assault in the military. “Walk-a-Lap for a Survivor” was held in the Pentagon courtyard on April 20. Also participating in the event were members of Arlington-based Doorways for Women and Families. [Pentagram]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Crime Report: Man Arrested For Masturbating Near Two People, Then Chasing Them

By Tim Regan

Police car (file photo)(Updated on 12/23/21 at 11:15 a.m.) Police arrested a man who allegedly masturbated near two people, then chased them down S. Walter Reed Drive early this morning.

A man and a woman spotted [name redacted], 24, masturbating on the 900 block of S. Walter Reed Drive around 3:55 a.m. this morning, authorities said. The man approached the victims, had a “brief conversation,” then began to chase them, according to police. The man and woman eventually outran [redacted], and officers arrested him a short time later.

From an ACPD crime report:

MASTURBATING IN PUBLIC, 160427006, 900 block of S. Walter Reed Drive. At approximately 3:55 a.m. on April 27, a male and female victim witnessed a male subject masturbating in public. The subject approached the victims and they had a brief conversation. The subject then began to chase the victims until they eventually lost sight of him. Officers conducted a search around the area and located the subject. [redacted], 24, of Arlington VA, was charged with masturbating in public and was held on a secured bond.

Police are also on the lookout for a man who grabbed a woman’s buttocks late last night:

SEXUAL BATTERY, 160426061, 800 block of N. Pollard Street. At approximately 10:45 p.m. on April 26, a female victim advised that her buttocks was grabbed by an unknown male subject as he passed her on the street. The suspect is described as a black male in his 20-30’s, approximately 6’0″ tall and weighed 180 lbs. He was wearing a white t-shirt and tan pants at the time of the incident.

Additionally, authorities are searching for a burglar who forced his way into a locked storage area:

LATE BURGLARY, 160426019, 1000 block of N. Fillmore Street. At approximately 10:00 p.m. on April 19, an unknown male subject forced entry into a locked storage area and stole numerous items. The suspect is described as a white male, 30-50 years old. He was wearing a light colored shirt and long pants.

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