Arlington County Police say they arrested two men who tried to steal electronics from a local elementary school.
The incident happened just after 2 a.m., early Saturday morning, at Long Branch Elementary School on N. Fillmore Street in Lyon Park.
According to police, an officer patrolling the area noticed the men creeping around the school with flashlights and then going inside via an “unsecured” door. By the time the suspects left the school, with Apple iPad tablets in hand, more officers had arrived and they were taken into custody, said ACPD.
The men, both Arlington residents in their early 20s, were charged with burglary and grand larceny. From the ACPD crime report:
BURGLARY, 160521007, unit block of N. Fillmore Street. At approximately 2:10 a.m. on May 21, an officer working in the area observed suspicious persons. He observed the individuals shining flashlights towards the school and enter through an unsecured door. Officers confronted the individuals upon their exit from the school. The suspects fled but were ultimately apprehended and determined to be in possession of Apple Ipads. Dvonte Medious-Jackson, 21, of Arlington VA, was charged with burglary and grand larceny. James Minor, 22, of Arlington VA, was charged with burglary and grand larceny.
Kitchen Fire at Lebanese Taverna — Firefighters extinguished an early morning kitchen fire at Lebanese Taverna on Pentagon Row Saturday. [Twitter]
Arlington to Get Tourism Promotion Boost — A slight increase in Arlington’s hotel tax, approved by the County Board over the weekend, will allow the county to boost its tourism promotion budget by $1.25 million. The hotel tax increase was years in the making, as Arlington sought authorization from the state legislature, which stripped the county of the ability to levy the tax surcharge in 2011. [Arlington County]
Fire Station 8 Recommendation — The County Board’s Fire Station No. 8 task force is recommending that the current, aging station be torn down and a new, larger station be built in its place. The cost will be $5 million higher than the county’s estimate for what it originally wanted to do: move the station to county-owned land near Marymount University. That proposal met with resident resistance. [InsideNova]
New Temporary Home for County Buses, Vehicles — The County Board has approved a seven-year lease for a property near Shirlington, where it plans to temporarily store ART buses and county vehicles during separate construction projects. The land is near the CubeSmart self-storage facility. [Arlington County]
Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested — The “Ball Cap Bandit,” who allegedly robbed a bank near Fairlington while wearing a Brooklyn Nets hat, has been caught. According to the FBI, the suspect is 26-year-old Arlington resident Budder Khan. He’s being charged in three separate robberies. He wore Colorado Rockies and Oakland Raiders hats during his other two alleged robberies. [Washington Post]
Two Dozen APS Students Selected for Governor’s School — “This summer, 24 APS students will attend the Governor’s School for Academics, Mentorship, Visual and Performing Arts or the Foreign Language Academy. Both programs allow students to focus on a specific area of intellectual or artistic strengths and interests and to study in a way that best suits the gifted learner’s needs.” [Arlington Public Schools]
A dispute between two men in Clarendon early this morning led to one striking the other in the face with a beer bottle, according to Arlington County Police.
The incident happened around 1 a.m., on the 2800 block of Wilson Blvd. That’s the same block as Iota Club and Whitlow’s.
Police say the victim’s injuries were not serious. He was treated on the scene by paramedics. The man accused of wielding the bottle was charged with malicious wounding.
From the ACPD crime report:
MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 160513007, 2800 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on May 13, following a verbal altercation between two parties, a male victim was struck in the face with a beer bottle. The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and was evaluated by Medics on scene. Tarik Bellamine, 24, of Arlington Va, was charged with malicious wounding and is being held without bond.
A 21-year-old Arlington man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police say he held a knife to the neck of a woman following a fight.
The incident happened around 1 p.m. in the Arlington Mill neighborhood, near Columbia Pike.
The victim, who was either a friend or family member of the suspect, suffered a cut to her hand and was transported to Virginia Hospital Center for treatment.
From the Arlington County Police crime report:
MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 160510024, 800 block of S. Greenbrier Street. At approximately 1:00 p.m. on May 10, following a verbal altercation between known subjects, a male subject grabbed the female victim by her hair and held a knife to her neck. The victim suffered a minor laceration to her hand and was transported to Virginia Hospital Center with non-life threatening injuries. Darbin Barrera Corado, 21, of Arlington VA, was charged with malicious wounding and is being held without bond.
A 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.
Arlington County Police have arrested a 27-year-old Arlington man in connection with an April 19 stabbing in the Nauck community.
Police say Ryan Coles was taken into custody on Saturday by ACPD’s tactical unit. He has been charged with malicious wounding and is being held without bond.
The stabbing took place at 1:45 p.m. on a weekday afternoon, following “a physical altercation between two individuals.” The victim was reported to have suffered severe injuries.
From an ACPD press release:
On April 19, 2016 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Arlington County Police responded to an assault with a weapon in the 3200 block of 24th Street S. The investigation revealed that following a physical altercation between two individuals, a male victim was stabbed. The victim was transported to George Washington University Hospital with severe injuries.
After reviewing evidence in this case, detectives from the Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit developed a suspect description. On April 23, officers from the Tactical Unit took the suspect into custody without incident. Ryan Coles, 27, of Arlington VA was arrested and charged with malicious wounding. He was held on no bond.
Anyone with information about this incident and/or who may have observed anything suspicious in the area is asked to contact Detective J. Trainer of the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4185 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
A delivery driver was arrested in the Ballston area Saturday morning and charged with assaulting police and a local residents.
The incident started around 6:45 a.m., when a resident on the 700 block of N. Tazewell Street started filming the driver and called police with a noise complaint, all as part of “an ongoing dispute [regarding] the time of deliveries.”
A verbal dispute between the resident and the driver ensued, leading the driver to punch the resident in the face, according to Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage.
When police arrived, the driver was confrontational and struck at least one officer, Savage said. From and ACPD crime report:
ASSAULT ON POLICE, 160423017, 700 block of N. Tazewell Street. At approximately 6:48 a.m. on April 23, officers were dispatched to a noise complaint regarding an ongoing dispute between the time of deliveries. The victim was recording the incident when they were struck in the face by the subject. The subject became combative when officers arrived on scene but subsequently was taken into custody. Roderick Watt, 41, of Wilkes Barre Pa, was charged with assault on police (2 counts), obstruction of justice, and assault and battery. He was held on a secured bond.
A second incident of an assault on police happened later that night, in the Nauck neighborhood, according to the crime report.
ASSAULT ON POLICE, 160423049, 2400 block of S. 24th Road. At approximately 10:42 p.m. on April 23, officers conducted a traffic stop in regards to a suspended license. During the stop, the passenger became combative, pushed an officer to the ground, and fled on foot. Officers were able to apprehend Justin Murray, 31, of Alexandria VA. He was charged with assault on police, obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana(second offense), and failure to identify to law enforcement. He is being held without bond.
Also Saturday night, according to police, two drunk men were arrested after they both grabbed the buttocks of a woman and then started fighting. The incident started as all three were leaving an establishment near the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Four Mile Run Drive.
The men were both charged with sexual battery and being drunk in public, according to the crime report.
SEXUAL BATTERY, 160423043, 4800 block of S. Columbia Pike. At approximately 9:40 p.m. on April 23, officers responded to the area for reports of two males fighting. When officers arrived on scene a female advised that her buttocks was grabbed by both suspects. . Carlos Rivas Martinez, 22, of Arlington VA, was charged with sexual battery and drunk in public. He was held on an unsecured bond. Lorenzo Rivas Martinez, 20, of Arlington VA, was charged with sexual battery and drunk in public. He was held on a secured bond.
County Announces ‘Energy Lending Library’ — Today, on Earth Day, Arlington County is formally announcing what it says is the nation’s first “energy lending library.” Via Arlington Public Library, residents will be able to borrow thermal imaging cameras, energy meters and books that will help residents identify areas of energy waste in their homes. [Arlington County]
Woman Arrested After Foot Chase in Pentagon City — A shoplifting suspect was taken into custody in Pentagon City after leading police on a foot chase yesterday, just before 6 p.m. Police were still searching for the woman’s shoplifting accomplice. [Twitter]
New Lubber Run Community Center Planned — Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz has proposed a new, $45 million Lubber Run Community Center. The four-story structure would also include a parking garage, so that the existing surface lot can be converted to parkland. [InsideNova]
Arlington Hires Full-Time Ombudsman — Arlington County has a new ombudsman. Former Dept. of Human Services assistant director Robert Sharpe has been named to the county’s newly-created position of Director of Constituent Services. Sharpe’s job will be “troubleshooting issues on behalf of his fellow Arlington residents while working directly with departments, County leadership and the County Board.” [Arlington County]
Free ‘Pop Up Yoga’ Session on the Pike — On Sunday, from 11 a.m. to noon, a free “pop up” yoga class will be held at Penrose Square (2503 Columbia Pike). “Lisa Marie, local artist and certified yoga instructor, will lead the participants through postures, intentions and breath” that are specifically inspired by the pair of sculptures in the park. [With Love DC]
Medics on Motorcycles? — The citizen task force coming up with recommendations for Arlington’s Fire Station 8 has struck upon a novel idea: using motorcycle-based paramedics to get to patients faster in traffic than would a big, lumbering ambulance. Not every member of the task force, however, thought that was a good idea, citing potential issues with staffing. [InsideNova]
A man who accidentally left a friend’s two-year-old child in the back seat of his car, resulting in the little girl’s death, is now facing charges, police say.
Daiquan Fields, a 32-year-old Annandale resident, has been charged with felony child neglect and involuntary manslaughter. He will face prosecution in Arlington.
Police say Fields was to drop the child off somewhere Wednesday morning, but forgot and left her in the back seat of his car all day. When he went to pick up the mother in front of the Pentagon City mall around 3:30 that afternoon, he spotted the child, unresponsive.
Fields called 911 and the girl was transported to Virginia Hospital Center, where she was declared dead, according to police. From an Arlington County Police Department press release:
The initial investigation revealed a two-year-old girl had reportedly been accidentally left in the back seat of a car by a caretaker. Our initial investigation has determined that a male acquaintance of the child’s mother was supposed to drop three children off at two locations on the morning of April 20. It appears he dropped off two older children, ages 10 and 15, and then returned to the home in Fairfax County, not realizing that the two-year-old remained in the back seat of the car. Sometime later, the acquaintance got back in the car to pick up the children’s mother. When he arrived at her location in the 1100 block of S. Hayes Street, he looked in the back seat area of the car and saw the child. When he discovered that she was unresponsive, he immediately called 911.
Upon review, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner could not determine where the death actually occurred. After consultation between Fairfax County Commonwealths Attorney’s Office and the Arlington County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, it was determined the prosecution would be handled by Arlington County.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective N. Brooks of the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4169 [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
The incident started just before 10:30 p.m., on the 3600 block of Columbia Pike near the Burger King, as “a dispute between several subjects and a business owner over the sale of a vehicle.”
As police responded to the dispute, they received a report that one of the suspects was making a shooting gesture at the business owner with his hand. Moments later came word that actual shots were being fired.
“One subject brandished a firearm and shot multiple rounds towards the victim who was sitting in [his] vehicle,” police said in a press release.
Following the shooting, the subjects fled the area in what was reported to be a gray Dodge Charger.
“Officers observed the subject’s vehicle and initiated a short pursuit on northbound I-395,” said the press release. The chase was called off after officers lost sight of the vehicle prior to the 14th Street Bridge. A U.S. Park Police helicopter attempted to assist with the search but the vehicle was not found.
Following up on unspecified information, a SWAT team arrested two of the suspects on the 2400 block of S. Lowell Street, in the Nauck neighborhood, early this morning. The third suspect, it turned out, was the man who was struck by gunfire in front of the Burger King. He has also been charged in the shooting.
Police are still asking any witnesses to come forward. The full press release, from ACPD:
On April 20, 2016 at approximately 10:30 p.m., Arlington County Police responded to a report of a dispute in the 3600 block of Columbia Pike. Arriving officers located one male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. He was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The initial investigation revealed there was a dispute between several subjects and a business owner over the sale of a vehicle. One subject brandished a firearm and shot multiple rounds towards the victim who was sitting in their vehicle. Following the shooting, the subjects fled the area. Officers observed the subject’s vehicle and initiated a short pursuit on Northbound I-395. The pursuit was terminated in Washington D.C. United States Park Police assisted the investigation with the use of their helicopter.
Detectives from the Department’s Homicide/Robbery and Tactical Units developed suspect descriptions. Members of the SWAT Team took two suspects into custody from a residence in the 2400 block of S. Lowell Street. Martin Walker, 25, of Largo MD, was arrested and charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Attempted Malicious Shooting, Display of a Firearm during a Shooting, and Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle. Joseph Thompson, 26, of Manassas VA, was arrested and charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Shooting by Mob.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that the initial male victim suffering from a gunshot wound had been an aggressor in the dispute. Gregory Porter Jr., 20, of Triangle VA, has been arrested and charged with Shooting by Mob. He is being held on no bond.
Anyone with information about this incident and/or who may have observed anything suspicious in the area is asked to contact Detective S. Roeseler of the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4182 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
One person was arrested and another is being sought by police as two disturbing incidents near Arlington high schools Tuesday evening.
The first occurred around 4:15 p.m., within a block of Wakefield High School. Police say a 28-year-old Arlington man was arrested after a 15-year-old girl witnessed him masturbating in his car.
From an Arlington County Police crime report:
INDECENT EXPOSURE, 160419045, 1900 block of S. George Mason Drive. At approximately 4:15 p.m. on April 19, while a female victim was walking she witnessed a male subject masturbating in his vehicle. Fredy Lisandro Guzman, 28, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure. He is being held on a secured bond.
A block away from Yorktown High School, around 7 p.m., police say a man in a pickup truck tried to lure some children into his vehicle.
At this time, police do not believe this incident is connected with a similar one that occurred earlier in the month in the Arlington Mill neighborhood.
ENTICEMENT, 160419051, 5200 block of 30th Street. At approximately 7:00 p.m. on April 19, an unknown male in a vehicle attempted to entice several children into his vehicle. The vehicle is described as an older model, navy blue pick-up truck with several dents and scratches. IT was reported that the truck had a ladder on top of it and numerous tools in the bed. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 40-50’s. He was wearing a blue tattered tank top.
Update at 4:35 p.m. — ACPD issued the following press release about the incident Wednesday afternoon.
The Arlington County Police Department would like to make the public aware of an enticement incident of three children on April 19, 2016.
The Arlington County Police Department is currently investigating an attempted enticement of three children, ages 8-11, while they were outside playing hide and seek yesterday evening. The incident occurred in the 5200 block of N. 30th Street around 7:00 p.m., when a male suspect driving an older model navy blue pickup truck approached the children and attempted to lure them into his vehicle. The children were all able to run away and seek immediate assistance.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 40-50 years old, with medium length hair and was wearing a blue tattered tank top.
If anyone has information on the identity of the suspect, please contact the Arlington County Police Department at 703.558.2222 or Detective Saundra Lafley at 703.228.4052.Det. Lafley can also be reached by email at [email protected]. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).
Later Tuesday night, along Columbia Pike, a woman was startled to find a man watching her in the bathroom stall next to hers.
PEEPING TOM, 160419021, 900 block of S. Highland Street. At approximately 11:38 p.m. on April 19, a female victim observed a male subject watching her in the restroom stall next to hers. The suspect fled the scene on foot. The suspect is described as a black male in his 30’s, approximately 5’10-6’0″ tall and weighed 170-200 lbs. He was wearing a white button up shirt, striped tie, tan pants, and dark shoes.
Arlington County Police say they arrested two men who tried to steal electronics from a local elementary school.
