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Police: Man Throws Meat Cleaver in Maternity Ward

Published April 9, 2013 at 1:05PM | Updated December 23, 2021 at 2:00PM

(Updated at 2 p.m. on 12/23/21) An Arlington man has been arrested and charged with throwing a meat cleaver in the maternity ward of Virginia Hospital Center.

Police say the man, 34-year-old Kareem [Redacted], came to the hospital to deliver a message to a mother who had just given birth. The message: the baby’s father couldn’t make it because he was in jail.

[Redacted] was unable to perform his messenger duty, however, because the group of family members gathered in the mother’s hospital room wouldn’t let him in, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. A verbal altercation ensued. [Redacted] then allegedly pulled a meat cleaver from his waistband and started chopping at the door.

Eventually, Sternbeck said, [Redacted] was able to crack the door open and throw the meat cleaver into the room, in the direction of the room’s occupants. Nobody was struck by the knife, but [Redacted] was later detained by security, arrested by police, and charged with 5 counts of attempted malicious wounding.

There were five people in the room at the time, Sternbeck said. No word on whether the baby was in the room. From the daily crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 04/05/13, 1700 block of N. George Mason Drive. At 5:34 pm on April 5, a suspect pulled a meat cleaver from his waistband after a verbal altercation escalated inside Virginia Hospital Center. The suspect struck a room door several times with the knife before throwing the weapon inside the room in the direction of the occupants. Hospital security detained the suspect until arrival of police. Kareem [Redacted], 34, of Arlington, VA, was arrested and charged with 5 counts of attempted malicious wounding and carrying a concealed weapon. He was held without bond.

Controversial Ugandan Play Comes to Artisphere

By Katie Pyzyk

Published March 21, 2013 at 3:45PM

A play that sent shockwaves throughout Uganda with the utterance of the phrase “I’m gay” is making its way to Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd) this weekend.

A staged reading of “The River and the Mountain” will take place at Artisphere’s Dome Theatre this Saturday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. The dramatic comedy revolves around the life of a gay factory manager in Uganda who encounters violent reactions from family members and colleagues when he comes out at a party. The free event includes a talk back with playwright Beau Hopkins and U.S. producer/director Sarah Imes Borden.

The play made news in August 2012 when it became the first Ugandan play to have an openly gay character. Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda, as well as 36 other African nations, and punished with lengthy jail terms.

The producer of the play, David Cecil, was arrested last September for offending the Ministry of Ethics in Uganda. The charges were dropped in October due to lack of evidence that the play promoted homosexuality. Last month, however, Cecil was detained again and deported from Uganda. The next day, Uganda’s Parliament began debating a new draft of a national anti-homosexuality bill, often known around the world as the “Kill the Gays Bill.”

The original form of the bill sought the death penalty as punishment for those who are gay. Although Uganda’s Parliament has said that there’s a recommendation to drop the death penalty and instead require life imprisonment for gay individuals, the revised bill with the reported changes has not yet been made available to the public.

One of the original actors in the play when it was first staged in Uganda, Okuyo Joel Atiku Prince, was supposed to join in this weekend’s event at Artisphere, but his travel to the U.S. has been denied by the Ugandan government, according to Artisphere spokeswoman Annalisa Meyer.

Crime Report: Thief Comes Clean to Victim

By ARLnow.com

Published March 14, 2013 at 10:55AM | Updated January 21, 2015 at 3:22PM

A woman was recently arrested for breaking and entering, according to police, after she admitted to her victim that she broke into his home and stole his stuff.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

BURGLARY, 03/02/13, 4400 block of S. 31st Street. Between 3 pm on March 1 and 2 am on March 2, a subject entered a residence and stole various items. Several days later the suspect admitted to the victim that she had broken into his home and taken several of his belongings. The items that the suspect stole were found in the trunk of her vehicle. Kimberly Marie Vest, 28, of Woodbridge, VA was arrested and charged with breaking and entering. She is being held on a $2,500 unsecured bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Numerous Alcohol-Related Arrests on Saturday

By ARLnow.com

Published March 11, 2013 at 3:40PM

Thanks in part to pre-St. Patrick’s Day revelry, Arlington County Police had their hands full with alcohol-related offenses on Saturday.

The day’s festivities included the Four Courts Four Miler race in Courthouse Saturday morning and the Shamrock Crawl bar crawl in Clarendon that afternoon and evening.

There were a total of 6 arrests for Drunk in Public on Saturday, including 5 incidents in the Clarendon area, according to ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. There were also 7 arrests for Driving Under the Influence on Saturday, he said. By contrast, a planned DUI checkpoint on Friday yielded no DUI arrests, according to Sternbeck.

There were also two significant fights reported on Saturday.

One incident happened just past 9:00 p.m., near the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Garfield Street in Clarendon. The incident started, police say, when the victim accidentally spilled a beer on a woman in a restaurant. An altercation ensued and staff at the restaurant had to separate the parties. At that point, altercation spilled outside the restaurant.

During the fight, police say, the victim’s head struck either a low wall or a curb, producing a significant head wound. The victim was found conscious but bleeding heavily, and was transported to George Washington University Hospital. Two Alexandria men were subsequently arrested and charged with Malicious Wounding by Mob.

From the ACPD daily crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING BY MOB, 03/09/13, 1400 block of N. Garfield Street. At 9:05 pm on March 9, an altercation inside a restaurant bar, continued into the street. A victim sustained a significant laceration to his forehead and was transported to GW hospital. DC Danh, 28, of Alexandria, VA and Donny Danh, 27, of Alexandria, VA, were arrested and charged with malicious wounding by mob. They were held without bond.

Early Saturday morning, in another alcohol-related incident, two people were arrested for assaulting a cab driver and an apartment concierge.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 03/09/13, 900 block of N. Randolph Street. At 4:13 am on March 9, two subjects exited a cab without paying and once confronted by the driver, physically assaulted him by punching and kicking him repeatedly. A residence concierge witnessed the attack and attempted to aid the victim, but was punched as well. Ramnik Aulakh, 30, of Arlington, VA, and Elizabeth Arias, 29, of Bowie, MD, were arrested and charged with malicious wounding, defrauding a taxi and drunk in public. They were held without bond.

Crime Report: Victim Beaten By Cane-Wielding Man

By ARLnow.com

Published March 7, 2013 at 2:05PM | Updated January 9, 2018 at 3:34PM

(Updated at 2:20 p.m.) A man was awoken last week when another man barged into his bedroom and attempted to beat him with a cane, according to the latest Arlington County crime report.

The alleged incident happened last Tuesday morning. The victim suffered injuries to his hands from the cane and was also punched in the head, according to police. He required stitches for his injuries, we’re told.

From the crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 02/26/13, 4000 block of N. 7th Street. At 9:05 am February 26, a subject forced entry into a room where a victim was sleeping. The subject swung a cane at the victim and then began to punch the victim several times in the face. The victim attempted to flee the room to safety, but the subject bit the victim on his upper left leg. The victim was eventually able to break free and had to flee the room through a window to get to safety. A roommate of the victim was able to call the police. Both the victim and the suspect were transported to Virginia Hospital Center for their injuries. Hubert Leon Willoughby, 52, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with malicious wounding. He is currently being held without bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Two Arrested for Brawl at Union Jack’s

By Katie Pyzyk

Published February 20, 2013 at 3:45PM

An incident that started with an exchange of words inside Union Jack’s (671 N. Glebe Road) and spilled outside sent a man to the hospital for a brain injury.

According to police, on Friday, Feb. 8, the two groups were involved in a verbal altercation inside the bar which escalated throughout the night. Both parties left and while one group of four was trying to walk away, the other group allegedly followed and started a physical altercation.

One of the victims was knocked down and had his head kicked, resulting in a subdural hematoma, or bleeding on the brain. He spent four days in the hospital and was released to the care of his mother, who lives out of state. At the time he was released, the victim had not yet regained hearing in one of his ears.

Another victim was knocked out when she was punched in the face. She has made a full recovery and police anticipate she’ll participate in any upcoming trial or legal proceedings against the suspects.

Two people from the attacking group were arrested. Kevin Gutierrez, 21, was charged with malicious wounding and two counts of assault and battery. He spent four days in jail and has been released on bond. Ebony Hunter, 22, was charged with one count of assault and battery. She was released after being booked.

Police were able to catch up with the suspects quickly due to several witnesses reporting the fight. However, there are varying reports of exactly how many people took part in brawl, and some of the details reported by those involved are fuzzy.

“Everybody’s recollection of the night was a little bit impaired due to the amount of alcohol that was consumed,” said Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

Morning Notes

By Katie Pyzyk

Published February 20, 2013 at 8:55AM | Updated February 20, 2013 at 9:47AM

More Car Window Shooting Arrests — Fairfax County Police arrested two suspects accused of shooting out car windows with BB guns. Both suspects — 19-year-old Alexander Chase and 18-year-old Herbert Reyes-Cartagena — are from Arlington. Chase was arrested last month by the Arlington County Police Department and charged with similar crimes. The suspects are accused of more than 30 window shooting incidents in Fairfax County, and Chase is accused of involvement in 250 cases throughout Northern Virginia. [Washington Post]

Summer Camp Registration Begins — Registration began this morning for the summer camps offered through Arlington’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Registration can be done via mail, online or by faxing an application to 703-228-4765. Registration by phone or walk-in will begin on February 27.

Lee Highway Art Celebration — The Cherrydale and Maywood neighborhoods held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday to celebrate new art on a median at the intersection of Lee Highway and N. Monroe Street (photo above). Local mural artist Jarrett Ferrier submitted the winning proposal for the Lee Highway Art Project. His design consists of panels depicting scenes from around the neighborhoods, such as the Cherrydale Fire Department, Cherrydale Branch Library and a railroad line that used to run along Lee Highway.

Agape Bears Closes in Ballston Mall — Agape Bears, a shop in Ballston Common Mall featuring handmade teddy bears, closed over the weekend after more than 15 years in business. Owners Elizabeth and Bill Taylor are well known not just for the store, but also for donating bears to police and fire stations, as well to victims of disasters. The Taylors plan to still sell the specialty bears online. [WTOP]

Six Arrested After Road Rage Incident in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Published February 19, 2013 at 10:55AM

Five adults and one juvenile were arrested after a road rage incident in Pentagon City on Sunday.

The incident started at around 4:00 p.m. near Costco. Police say two cars were turning left on 15th Street S. from S. Fern Street when, for some unknown reason, tempers flared and horns started beeping. The two vehicles, a 2008 Chevrolet Impala and a 2004 Mercedes-Benz S450, made the turn and pulled to the side of the 500 block of 15th Street S.

A 16-year-old juvenile and an adult got out of the Impala and started arguing with a man who got out of the Mercedes, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. The juvenile punched the Mercedes driver in the face, then both parties returned to the Impala, he said.

Before the they could drive off, the Mercedes driver pulled a wooden 2×4 post from the ground and smashed the back window of the Impala, Sternbeck said. At that time all five occupants of the Impala jumped out of the car and allegedly assailed the Mercedes driver.

They punched the man, dragged him to the sidewalk, struck him with the 2×4 multiple times, smashed the front windshield of his car, and then dragged him into some bushes, according to Sternbeck. The victim reportedly suffered severe cuts to his hands, requiring stitches; a fractured right elbow; bruising to his upper body, including his arms and face; and large welt on top of his head.

During the fracas, a neighbor came out and tried to break up the fight. The neighbor’s efforts were rebuffed and he or she maintained a safe distance from the fight due to fear, Sternbeck said.

The four adults in the Impala — Lavell Jeffries, Bernard Payton, Larry Johnson and Jeremiah Greer, all from D.C. and between the ages of 18 and 19 — were charged with malicious wounding by mob and held on a $2,000 bond. The juvenile was charged with malicious wounding by mob and destruction of property, and was released into the custody of his mother.

The driver of the Mercedes, 34-year-old Maurice Cox of Arlington, was charged with DUI and destruction of property.

File photo

Garage Burglary Suspects Arrested

By ARLnow.com

Published February 14, 2013 at 2:45PM | Updated February 14, 2013 at 3:21PM

Four people were arrested last night after they allegedly tried to steal items from cars in an apartment parking garage.

Three males, including a 17-year-old juvenile, entered an apartment building in the Columbia Heights West neighborhood by following a resident through the front door, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. As they entered they put on masks and gloves and went down to the garage, Sternbeck said.

A resident called police around 11:25 p.m. after observing suspicious individuals looking into cars. Police arrived at the building, on the 800 block of S. Greenbrier Street, and arrested the three suspects inside the garage, Sternbeck said.

A woman, who police say was the getaway driver, was later arrested in a van outside the apartment. She apparently didn’t notice the commotion inside the garage because she was talking on her cell phone when the arrests were made, Sternbeck said.

The two adult men — Charles Messiah of Annandale and Kareem Taylor, both 19 — were charged burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. One was also charged with resisting arrest.

The female suspect, 19-year-old Ciarra Rice of Lorton, was charged conspiracy to commit burglary.

Sternbeck recommended that residents be mindful of individuals trying to gain access to apartment buildings and secured parking garages. He also commended the resident who alerted police to this incident.

Photos courtesy ACPD

Police: Man Rams Garage Door in Theft Attempt

By ARLnow.com

Published February 8, 2013 at 10:30AM

A Reston man’s plan to steal a car from a repair shop was foiled by the shop’s garage door, according to Arlington County Police.

Police say Kyle David Stefanye, 20, was attempting to steal a car from a repair shop — likely the Don Pool Mercedes-Benz repair shop — on the 6900 block of Lee Highway in East Falls Church. He allegedly managed to turn the car on, but his escape plan hit a snag: he tried, unsuccessfully, to ram the garage door, according to police.

Police later arrived and arrested Stefanye inside the shop. From the crime report:

BURGLARY, 02/07/13, 6900 block of N. Lee Highway. At 1:42 am on February 7, police responded to a report of a burglary in progress. The subject was inside the garage of a repair shop and was attempting to steal a car. After turning the car on, the subject attempted to drive through the bay door by ramming it. When police entered the building, they were able to take the suspect into custody. Kyle David Stefanye, 20, of Reston, VA was arrested and charged with burglary and attempted grand larceny of an auto. He is currently being held without bond.

BREAKING: Police Arrest Three for Murder of 87-Year-Old Arlington Man

By ARLnow.com

Published January 29, 2013 at 12:58PM | Updated January 29, 2013 at 2:13PM

(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) Arlington County police have arrested three suspects in the murder of an 87-year-old Arlington man.

On Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, police found Mack L. Wood, 87, dead in his home on the 3700 block of N. Wakefield Street, in the Old Glebe neighborhood. Three days later, police announced that Wood’s death was “suspicious.”

Today, the Arlington County Police Department announced that three people have been arrested in connection with Wood’s death, which is now suspected to be a homicide.

Among those arrested was Mack’s 47-year-old son. Police records show he was arrested in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the Tampa area, yesterday, Jan. 28.

From an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit has charged three suspects in connection with the suspicious death of an Arlington County resident. The investigation began when the incident was reported as an accidental death on the morning of October 13, 2012. The victim was identified as Mack L. Wood, 87, of Arlington, VA. His body was discovered inside his residence in the 3700 block of N. Wakefield Street by a family member.

After a thorough review of evidence, forensic examination, consultation with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and an extensive investigation, three suspects were identified and apprehended without incident. The son of the victim, Mack Leon Wood, Jr., 47, was located by the United States Marshals Service in the Tampa, FL area and has been arrested and charged with first degree murder. Jean Caleb Pierre, 32, and Sapien Edmonds, 29, both of Henrico, VA have also been charged with first degree murder. All three suspects are currently being held without bond.

Wood’s death was the fifth reported homicide in Arlington County in 2012, after homicides in Shirlington, Hall’s Hill and on Columbia Pike.