arrest

Crime Report: Food Fight Edition

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, there were a couple of instances of food and food utensils being used as a weapon.

Last Thursday, in the Pentagon City area, a woman threw a piece of fruit at the clerk.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY, 08/04/11, 1500 block of S. Fern Street. On August 4 at 3 pm, a woman threw a piece of fruit at a convenience store clerk, striking him in the face. The suspect is an African American female, 5’4″ and 130 lbs. She was wearing a blue sweatshirt and khaki pants.

Last Tuesday, a restaurant manager in Rosslyn allegedly attacked an employee with a knife.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING-ARREST, 08/05/11, 1100 block Wilson Boulevard. On August 2 at 1 pm, a restaurant manager assaulted an employee with a knife. Youssef Elkhayir, 41, of Falls Church, was charged with Malicious Wounding and held without bond.

The rest of this week’s crime report, including two instances of teen girls being inappropriately touched, after the jump.

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Two Charged With False Robbery Report

By ARLnow.com

Police have arrested a business owner and his employee and charged them with making up a story about a robbery in order to collect insurance money.

On the morning of Friday, June 10, a woman called police and claimed that two African American men in their 20s had stolen a $20,000 bank deposit from her as she approached the Wachovia bank at S. George Mason Drive and Columbia Pike. According to the crime report at the time, she described one suspect as thin with dark clothing and the other as heavyset with a black shirt and khaki pants.

Numerous police officers responded to the call and searched the area for the suspects. In the end, police say, the story was nothing but a ruse to collect insurance money.

Tomas Benitez, 49, the owner of a small Columbia Pike business called Eagle Communications, was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Grand Larceny. Police say he instructed his employee, 44-year-old Patricia Lopez, to report the robbery so that he could make an insurance claim.

Lopez has been charged with Filing a False Police Report.

D.C. Man Charged With Liquid Attack at Ballston Bank

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:10 a.m.) An arrest has been made in the case of two female bank employees who were splashed in the face with a caustic liquid in Ballston two weeks ago.

On the afternoon of July 19, a man approached the employees outside the Capital One Bank in Ballston Common Mall and allegedly threw a liquid at them. Although the liquid was later determined to be “non-hazardous,” it reportedly caused the women to suffer a burning sensation and the inability to open their eyes. The man fled the scene and managed to elude police.

On July 29, however, police say the suspect was spotted near the bank again. Officers took the man, identified as 33-year-old Rodolfo Caguay of the District, into custody. He’s charged with Malicious Wounding by Caustic Substance.

Photo by Katie Pyzyk

Crime Report: Restaurant Rumbles Edition

By Katie Pyzyk

This week’s crime report features several incidents in restaurants.

ATTEMPT MALICIOUS WOUNDING-ARREST, 07/20/11, 900 block of N. Stafford Street. On July 20 at 7 am, two men walked out of a restaurant without paying for their bill. When confronted by the manager, one suspect brandished a knife and attempted to wound the manager. Police located that suspect. Dwight Wright Jr., 32, of Washington D.C., was charged with Attempted Malicious Wounding and Petit Larceny. He was held without bond.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY, 07/20/11, 2600 block of S. Jefferson Davis Highway. On July 20 at 2:10 pm, a man and women argued at a fast food restaurant. She threw a drink at him and brandished a small knife before leaving the area in a tan Nissan. The suspect is an African American woman in her 30’s, 5’5″, 180 lbs. She was wearing a white uniform shirt, blue uniform pants and a hat that displayed a badge.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY, 07/21/11, 5000 block of Columbia Pike. On July 21 at 10:45 pm, an unknown woman assaulted another female at a fast food restaurant. The suspect is described as a white female with brown hair and a large build wearing a blue shirt, light blue low cut pants and white and blue shoes.

Here’s a reminder that minors should be accounted for at all times.

EXPOSURE-ARREST, 07/20/11, 1200 block of N. Fillmore Street. On July 20 at 3 pm, a teenage male approached a woman he did not know and kissed her. When she pulled away, he exposed himself. A short time later, the same subject approached another woman and grabbed her shoulder. Police located the 13-year old suspect and he was released into his parents’ custody.

EXPOSURE, 07/20/11, 2700 block of Wilson Boulevard. On July 20 at 2:30 am, a woman was walking when an unknown male ran past her, exposing himself. The suspect is described as white male in his late teens with brown hair and dark rimmed glasses. He was wearing a dark colored t-shirt, jeans, and black Converse style shoes.

The rest of the report is after the jump.

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Crime Report: Four Charged With Cell Phone Robbery

By ARLnow.com

How many people does it take to steal a cell phone and some cash in Ballston? Four, according to this week’s Arlington County crime report.

ROBBERY-ARREST, 06/23/11, 1100 block of N. Stafford Street. On June 22 at 11 pm, four men confronted and assaulted a man walking down the street. They stole his phone and some currency. Police located the suspects. Taha Bencherki, 20, of Washington D.C., Garland Mines, 25, of no fixed address, D’Lonte Fuller, 21, of Arlington, and Lamont Russ, 21 of Arlington, we all charged with Robbery. They were held without bond.

As always, suspects mentioned in the police department’s crime report are innocent until proven guilty. The rest of this week’s report, after the jump.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Sign Vigilante Arrested — “Arlington anti-sign vigilante” Robert Lauderdale is facing a felony grand larceny charge for allegedly stealing 240 apartment leasing signs from the Crescent Apartments near I-66. Lauderdale says he removes the signs to reduce clutter along his street and unilaterally enforce Arlington’s sign regulations. He was arrested, taken to jail and booked earlier this month after police showed up at his apartment in the wee hours of the morning. [Falls Church News-Press]

Virginia Is ‘Top State for Business’ — Virginia is once again “America’s Top State For Business,” according to CNBC. “Virginia is a perennial favorite with its strategic location, friendly business climate and diverse economy,” the channel said. The Commonwealth also captured the title in 2007 and 2009. [CNBC]

‘Flash Mob’ At Arlington Central Library — It lacked the spontaneity of a true “flash mob,” but the Bowen McCauley Dance company’s performance of “Mamma Mia” at Arlington Central Library over the weekend was, at least, cool to watch. [YouTube]

FBI Investigating Arlington Nat’l Cemetery Problems — The FBI is investigating possible criminal wrongdoing connected to the mishandling of remains and records at Arlington National Cemetery. The agency is looking into possible contracting fraud and falsification of records, among other potential crimes. [Washington Post]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

School’s Out for Summer — Today is the last day of school for elementary students in Arlington. High school students had their last day on Wednesday and middle school students had their last day on Thursday. [YouTube]

Man Charged With Pentagon Shootings — Alexandria resident Yonathan Melaku, 22, has been charged with destruction of property and firearm violations in five separate shootings at Northern Virginia military installations last year. Melaku was arrested in Arlington National Cemetery last Friday, authorities say, with a backpack containing a ammonium nitrate, a key component in certain explosives, and a notebook containing referencing Al Qaeda and jihad. Sources tell Fox News that Melaku was “self-radicalized through the internet,” but there’s “no indication he was planning to harm individuals.” [FBI, Fox News]

‘Rabbit’ Coming to Clarendon in July — The new salad-and-cupcakes store ‘Rabbit,’ from the father-son pair behind Tangysweet and Red Velvet Cupcakery, is expected to open in late July. Rabbit’s location in Clarendon is “the perfect place,” says co-owner Aaron Gordon. The 50-seat restaurant will also serve wine, beer and sandwiches. [Washington Post]

Arrests Are a Relief For Friends of Carl Diener

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) Carl Diener was a fitness nut — a big, strong man who, having retired from the federal government, decided to apply his love of exercise by working part-time at two local fitness facilities.

When employees at one of those facilities — the YMCA Arlington Tennis & Squash Center at 3400 N. 13th Street — first heard yesterday that two men had finally been arrested for Carl’s 2009 murder, at least one woman burst into tears.

“We’ve all been sort of waiting around and hoping [police] find who did it,” said Audrey Giberman, who works at the Tennis Center and who formed a close bond with Carl through the years. “He’s always been on our mind. It was a horrible, horrible tragedy.”

Giberman recounted vivid memories of the morning when Carl, a Lyon Village resident, did not show up to work as usual.

“The morning he didn’t show up, Sport and Health (Diener’s other fitness center employer) called me and said… ‘Carl’s not here.’ My front desk started calling all the hospitals. A Sport and Health member actually went to Carl’s apartment,” Giberman remembered. “When it was officially announced by police… it was very hard. Actually some of the staff went for counseling, it was such a shock.”

Now, Giberman and others are hoping that the arrests will help shed light on those lingering, unanswered questions surrounding the murder.

“You hear all these things, and you just want to know why,” she said. “You just want closure.”

Police have identified the two suspects arrested for Carl’s murder as Roger K. Clark III (top), 20, of Severn, Maryland, and Javon Martin (bottom), 24, of Washington D.C. Both men are now being held in the Arlington County Detention Center. So far, authorities have not revealed a motive in the case.

BREAKING NEWS — Arrests Made in 2009 Murder

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 4:00 p.m.) Police have made two arrests in the 2009 murder of Carl Diener.

Diener, a 57-year-old Lyon Village resident, was found lying dead on a Clarendon street early on the morning of Dec. 29, 2009. Late last year, friends and family held a vigil to mark the one year anniversary of Diener’s death, and to draw public attention to the police department’s continued effort to find clues about the case. With today’s announcement, those efforts seem to have paid off.

The two men arrested are both in their early 20s. One was arrested in Montgomery County, Md. and the other was arrested in the District, according to police.

Patti Diener Lough, Carl’s sister, says she hopes the arrests will help her family and the community feel safer.

“I’m just thrilled,” she told ARLnow.com. “The Arlington County Police obviously didn’t consider this a cold case. I don’t believe that they would be making an arrest if they didn’t have information that was going to stick.”

“I am just glad that we’re going to have some more information” about the case, Diener Lough added. “It doesn’t change anything. Nothing can bring Carl back, of course. But it will allow the family and the Arlington community to process this and feel better and safer.”

Diener Lough said the arrests support what she has believed all along — that the murder a “crime of opportunity” by multiple assailants who did not know Carl.

Here’s the press release from the Arlington County Police Department.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit announces several arrests related to the homicide that occurred on December 29, 2009. At 2:50 a.m. that morning, medic units and police responded to a call regarding an injured man lying on the street in the 3200 block of N. 13th Street. They located Carl Diener, 57, an Arlington resident, deceased.

Detectives have conducted an extensive investigation over the past year and a half and obtained warrants charging Roger K. Clark III, 20, of Severn, Maryland, and Javon Martin, 24, of Washington D.C. with Murder. Roger Clark III, was arrested on June 6, 2011, and Javon Martin was arrested on June 8, 2011. They are pending extradition to Virginia.

“I am extremely pleased with our detectives’ investigation,” stated Arlington County Police Chief M. Douglas Scott, “It illustrates that there are no “cold cases” in Arlington; we continue to investigate crimes long after they occur.”

Diener’s death was a shock to the Clarendon community. His family, friends, and concerned business owners took up a collection of $25,000 for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his death. They also held several vigils and benefits in his memory.

The Arlington County Police Department would like to thank the men and women of the Washington Field Office of The Federal Bureau of Investigation, The United States Marshals Service, the Montgomery County Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department for their assistance in locating these fugitives.

Anyone who has additional information about this case is asked contact Detective Rosa Ortiz at (703) 228-7402. Det. Ortiz can also be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]. Witnesses can also call the Arlington Police Tip-Line at (703) 228-4242.

Crime Report: Young and Preyed Upon

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a young woman was allegedly attacked by a man near Shirlington.

ABDUCTION-ARREST, 05/31/11, 2600 block of S. Arlington Mill Dr. On May 31 at 11 pm, a man grabbed a young woman walking and pulled her to the ground. The suspect covered her mouth with his hand, but she fought back and was able to run from the area. Police located the suspect. Marvin Mejia, 40, of no fixed address, was charged with Abduction and Assault and battery. He was held without bond.

In another incident, a teen girl was walking home when a man exposed himself to her.

EXPOSURE, 06/02/11, 1400 block of N. Jackson Street. On June 2 at 3:15, a 16 year-old girl was walking home when an unknown man sitting on the steps to a residence called out to her. When she turned to look at him, he exposed himself. The girl walked on and called her father to meet her.

The rest of the crime report, including a police chase and a bank robbery on which we’ve already reported, after the jump.

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Woman Arrested After HOV Violation

By ARLnow.com

A woman was arrested last week after being pulled over in Shirlington for an alleged HOV violation on I-395.

Police say 28-year-old Juanita Maxwell ignored orders to stay in her vehicle, then refused to comply with other police commands. According to the police report, she called 911 and then fought officers as they attempted to place her under arrest.

Maxwell was charged with resisting arrest and false summoning of law enforcement. She also received summons for an HOV violation and a window tint violation. She was released on a $1,250 bond.

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