arrest

Police Arrest Man For Masturbating Outside Daycare

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County police carA Connecticut man has been arrested by Arlington County police and charged with masturbating in his car outside of a daycare center near Columbia Pike.

The alleged incident took place at 5:00 p.m. this past Monday, on the 1000 block of S. Cleveland Street.

“A subject was seen masturbating in his car in front of a daycare as children were playing in the front yard,” according to the ACPD crime report. “Police arrived on scene and took the suspect into custody.”

The suspect — identified as 38-year-old Alberto Sanchez Jr of New Haven, Conn. — has been charged with “taking indecent liberties with children.” He was held without bond.

Man Convicted of Assault on Roommate Who Drew a Penis on His Face

By ARLnow.com

Watson (photo courtesy ACPD)An Arlington (Va.) man has been convicted of assault and battery in a strange case that received national and even international attention.

[Redacted] Watson, 32, was found guilty this week of beating up his roommate after the roommate drew a penis on his face while he slept. An Arlington County Circuit Court judge sentenced Watson to a $1,250 fine and restitution on the misdemeanor charge, but no additional jail time.

During trial, the jury was told that Watson and his two roommates were out drinking in Clarendon on a Friday night last March. When they returned to their Lyon Village home, Watson fell asleep on the couch with his shoes on, prompting the victim decided to prank him by drawing a penis on his face with a black dry erase marker, according to Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ben Inman, who prosecuted the case.

Watson awoke and “felt a tingling on his face,” leading him to use a mirror function on his phone. Upon seeing the cartoonish genitalia, Inman said, Watson went upstairs and began repeatedly punching the victim in the face. The victim testified that we awoke to Watson punching him, while Watson argued that a heated verbal argument preceded a physical fight between the two men. The third roommate corroborated the victim’s story, said Inman.

As a result of the assault, the victim suffered a broken nose, an eye that was swollen shut and other facial injuries, according to police and prosecutors.

The victim testified that pranks were a part of life in the home, and that it was a “house rule” that one would be drawn on should they pass out with their shoes on. Watson argued that he was aware of no such rule.

The victim also told the jury that he had tested the marker on his arm before using it, and that the black mark had come right off. Watson said he tried but could not remove the penis drawing from his face.

In recommending no jail time, the jury might have felt sorry for Watson and the negative attention, media and otherwise, he received as a result of the genitalia on his face.

“He was an object of ridicule in jail that weekend because he still had the penis drawn on his face,” Inman told ARLnow.com. Watson made bail early the following week.

Watson is scheduled to be back in Circuit Court in July as a result of the conviction. He was previously tried on felony charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer in 2012, but the imposition of sentence was suspended on the condition of good behavior. That suspension could be revoked, leading to possible jail time or other punishment.

ATF Busts Felon With AK-47 in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com
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An allegedly gun-toting convicted felon was arrested by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents after a brief car chase and crash in Pentagon City over the weekend.

The ATF says its agents were following D.C. resident Othaniel Gaither, a convicted felon, after he illegally bought two guns and ammunition in Northern Virginia on Sunday. When Gaither took a detour through Pentagon City en route back to D.C., the agents tried to pull him over in the area of 15th Street and S. Fern Street.

“At this point, Gaither attempted to evade arrest and rammed into one of the ATF vehicles,” ATF Washington Field Division spokesman Thomas A. Faison told ARLnow.com. “This evasion attempt proved unsuccessful.”

“[Gaither] admitted to being a convicted felon who was transporting the firearms and ammunition from Virginia to D.C.,” Faison said. “He also stated that an associate of his was shot several weeks ago in D.C. and the firearms and ammunition were for retaliation against the individuals responsible for the shooting incident.”

ATF agents recovered an AK-47 rifle, a .38 caliber machine pistol and a flare gun that was modified to fire 12-gauge shotgun shells, according to Faison. Ammunition was also found.

Gaither remains in custody on federal charges.

Photos courtesy @WestwoodKing

Crime Report: Man Crashes into Boulders, Assaults Cops

By ARLnow.com
Arlington police car outside police headquarters (file photo)

An 18-year-old Arlington resident was arrested early Tuesday morning after police say he drunkenly ran his car into two small “boulders” at Henry Clay Park, then assaulted two police officers as he was being taken him into custody.

The man faces a long list of charges, including DUI, possession of PCP and assault on a police officer. From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ASSAULT ON POLICE OFFICER, 140422003, 500 block of Garfield Street. On April 22 at 1:29am, police noticed a vehicle driving erratically and honking its horn. Police followed the vehicle and witnessed it strike two boulders at Henry Clay Park and coming to a stop. The suspect assaulted officers as they took him into custody. John Taylor Herrling, 18, of Arlington, VA was arrested for two counts of assault on a police officer, possession of PCP, DUI, eluding, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, and hit and run. His bond status will be determined once he is sober. 

Also in this week’s crime report, a man is accused of trying to rape a woman he met on an online dating site.

ATTEMPTED RAPE, 140420017, 1700 block of N. Troy Street. On April 20 at 6:50am, a victim reported being sexually assaulted by a subject she met through an online dating site. Following police investigation, Joseph Lamae Coles, 24, of Washington, D.C. was charged with attempted rape, abduction with the intent to defile, choking, and malicious wounding. He was held without bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump. All named suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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Police: Man Throws Water Bottle at Mister Days Patrons, Hits Cop With SUV

By ARLnow.com

Evan Rowland (photo courtesy ACPD)Update on 11/25/14 — The suspect pleaded guilty to a lesser, misdemeanor charge of failure to stop at an accident scene.

An Alexandria man has been arrested and charged with hitting an Arlington police officer with his SUV after tossing a water bottle at a group of people outside Mister Days in Clarendon.

The alleged incident happened around 2:00 a.m. this past Saturday.

“Officers witnessed a SUV stop in front of Mr. Days bar and throw a water bottle out of the vehicle at other patrons,” said an Arlington County Police Department crime report. “The vehicle took off at a high rate of speed, struck a median and was driving recklessly before stopping at a traffic light.”

Foot patrol officers chased down the SUV and, standing on either side of the vehicle, ordered the driver to get out, according to ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The driver “acknowledged their presence and chose to ignore their commands,” said Sternbeck, then “accelerated forward and knocked over the officer with the side of his vehicle” in an attempt to flee.

The officer was knocked to the ground and rolled several times, but only suffered minor injuries. Police caught up with the accused driver, 27-year-old Evan Rowland, in Alexandria. He was arrested and charged with Malicious Bodily Injury to a Law Enforcement Officer.

Photo courtesy ACPD

Police: Man Leads High Speed Chase Down Columbia Pike With Six Kids in Car

By ARLnow.com

Police car (file photo)An armed robbery suspect is facing numerous criminal charges in Arlington after allegedly leading police on a high speed chase down Columbia Pike while a total of ten people, including six young children, were in his car.

The incident started just past 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Arlington police were notified of an armed robbery that took place near Kenmore Middle School, just over the border in Fairfax County. Two men robbed a pair of sisters at gunpoint in a parking lot on the 3100 block of S. Manchester Street in the Falls Church area, according to Fairfax County Police. The suspects allegedly robbed the 17- and 24-year-old of cash and possessions, then took off on foot.

Shortly thereafter, Fairfax officers located a suspect vehicle near Bailey’s Crossroads and tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop, leading them on a chase, according to FCPD.

After a be-on-the-lookout broadcast, an Arlington officer spotted the suspect’s vehicle being chased eastbound on Columbia Pike and joined the pursuit, according to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. During the chase down the Pike the suspect drove at high rate of speed, ran red lights and swerved into the oncoming lanes to get around slower traffic, Sternbeck said.

The suspect crashed into a sedan at S. Glebe Road, then reversed into an unmarked Fairfax cruiser, before continuing to drive down the Pike, according to Arlington and Fairfax police.

The suspect eventually crossed the 14th Street Bridge into D.C., at which time Arlington called off its chase but the Fairfax units continued to pursue. The chase ended when the suspect’s car crashed into a barrier wall at C Street and Washington Avenue, according to FCPD.

Six children, all ages 6 and younger, were inside the suspect’s four-door Ford Focus during the chase, Arlington and Fairfax police said. The children were turned over to Child Protective Services in D.C. Four adults were inside the car at the time, police said.

The alleged driver, 25-year-old Marcus Woodland of D.C., is being held in the District pending extradition to Arlington. Woodland faces 11 charges in Arlington including 2 counts of attempted malicious wounding on law enforcement, felony eluding, felony hit and run, six counts of child endangerment, and reckless driving.

A second suspect, 31-year-old Christopher Woodland, also of D.C., is facing robbery charges in Fairfax County. Two other adults — 19-year-old Abena Okrah of Annandale and 25-year-old Beverly Starr of D.C. — are being charged with receiving stolen property. Fairfax County is seeking extradition of all four suspects.

Witnesses said a police helicopter was involved in the chase, but that couldn’t be immediately confirmed.

“Many police cars and a helicopter just went flying eastbound on Columbia pike @ Walter Reed dr,” @OwenHassig tweeted shortly after 10:30 p.m.

File photo

Virginia Hospital Center Employee Charged With Rape

By ARLnow.com

Roy Anthony Jones (photo courtesy ACPD)An employee at Virginia Hospital Center has been charged in the alleged rape of a patient.

Police say Roy Anthony Jones, a 30-year-old D.C. resident, raped a 37-year-old female patient in the early morning hours of January 13, 2014, while he was working as a CT Scan Technician.

“The victim was at the hospital as a patient when the incident occurred and reported the crime to police following the attack,” Arlington County Police said in a press release today. “Virginia Hospital Center staff cooperated with detectives throughout the investigation.”

Jones was denied bond and is being held at the Arlington County Detention Facility.

Photo courtesy ACPD

Crime Report: Attempted Rape in Buckingham

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsArlington police have arrested a man and charged him with attempting to rape a woman in Buckingham last Friday afternoon.

Police say Hector Lopez Aguilar, 33, forced his way into an apartment on the 4200 block of N. Pershing Drive and tried to rape a 54-year-old woman.

He allegedly fled the scene when the woman fought back.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ATTEMPTED RAPE, 140328034, 4200 block of N. Pershing Drive. At 2:00 pm on March 28, an unknown subject forced his way into an apartment, assaulted a 54 year-old female victim and attempted to rape her. The suspect fled when the victim fought back.  Police located the subject the following day at a nearby apartment. Hector Lopez Aguilar, 33, of Arlington, VA, was arrested and charged with attempted rape and abduction with the intent to defile. He is being held without bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump. All named suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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Man Arrested After Pepper Spraying GMU Law Prof

By ARLnow.com

George Mason University's Arlington campus (photo via Google Maps)A George Mason University law professor was pepper sprayed in his classroom today after a man tried to place him under a citizen’s arrest, according to Arlington County police.

The incident happened at GMU’s Arlington campus, near Virginia Square, around 3:00 p.m. Police say the man entered the classroom and attempted to place the professor under a citizen’s arrest. The professor tried to get the man — described as a white male in his 20s or 30s — to leave, at which time the man pepper sprayed him and a scuffle ensued, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The professor did not know the man, Sternbeck said.

An off-duty police officer heard the commotion and tried to intervene. The suspect fled but was arrested outside the school by Arlington County police officers, according to Stenbeck. He’s now being questioned by police. Several charges are pending.

Paramedics evaluated the professor and about a dozen students who were in the classroom at the time and suffered residual effects from the pepper spray. There were no reports of anyone being taken to the hospital.

Photo via Google Maps

Drew Elementary Principal Resigns After DUI Arrest

By ARLnow.com

Former Drew Elementary principal Jacqueline Smith (photo via APS)Drew Model Elementary School principal Jacqueline Smith resigned earlier this month, just days after being arrested for driving under the influence.

Smith, a 53-year-old Arlington resident, was arrested on the 1100 block of S. Rolfe Street, in the Arlington View neighborhood, around 3:30 a.m. on Friday, March 7. Smith was observed by an officer stopping at a green light, weaving in and out of lanes and almost striking a parked car, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The officer pulled Smith over and she subsequently failed a field sobriety test, Sternbeck said. Smith was arrested and taken to the Arlington County Detention Center. Four days after the arrest, Drew Elementary parents were notified that Smith was “retiring.”

“We wanted to let you know that Jackie Smith, Principal of Drew, has informed us that she plans to retire from her position with the Arlington Public Schools for personal reasons,” wrote Arlington Public Schools superintendent Patrick Murphy. “She will be on leave the remainder of this week, and will retire effective March 17. We wish her the best in the future.”

“I have been grateful for my 21 years in Arlington as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal,” Smith said in the letter. “The support I have received through the years from Dr. Murphy, APS administrators, the School Board, and the many dedicated teachers and educational leaders throughout the county has been greatly appreciated. I want to express my best wishes to the Drew Model School staff, students, and community, and I hope for their continued success as they work to provide excellent learning opportunities for our children.”

Asked by ARLnow.com if Smith had been fired, APS spokeswoman Linda Erdos said “that statement is not accurate.” Theresa Bratt, who retired from APS last year, is now serving as interim principal at the school.

Smith’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 19. Court documents indicate that, if convicted, this would be her first DUI.

Photo via APS

Police: Drunk Woman Shows Up Naked to Visit Husband in Jail

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:20 p.m. on 12/23/21) A 26-year-old Reston woman was arrested Saturday night after allegedly showing up naked at the Arlington Magistrate’s Office.

Police say Maura [Redacted] arrived at the magistrate’s office around 11:00 p.m. seeking to visit her husband, who had been arrested in Clarendon earlier that day. She was drunk, completely naked and refused to get dressed or leave in a cab, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

Sternbeck was unable to say whether [Redacted] arrived at the office wearing clothes and subsequently removed them, or whether she arrived there naked.

[Redacted] was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and drunk in public. She was held in jail until sober, police said.

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