crime

Crime Report: Gropings in Pentagon City and Along Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Two women were groped in separate incidents over the weekend.

On Friday evening, a woman was allegedly touched inappropriately in a store at the Pentagon City mall, leading to the arrest of a 24-year-old Alexandria man.

On Saturday afternoon, a man hugged a woman without her permission and also touched her breasts. That groping happened in an elevator of an apartment building near Columbia Pike.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

SEXUAL BATTERY, 2018-05250226, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 5:42 p.m. on May 25, security at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City requested the assistance of police. Upon arrival, it was determined that the female victim was inside a store when the male suspect brushed against her and touched her inappropriately. The suspect fled prior to police arrival, but was located returning to the store while units were still on scene. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspect was also wanted out of Fairfax County. Sterling Flowers, 24, of Alexandria, VA, was arrested and charged with Sexual Battery. He was held on no bond.

SEXUAL BATTERY (late), 2018-05260118, 1300 block of S. Scott Street. At approximately 12:30 p.m. on May 26, police were dispatched to the late report of a sexual assault. Upon arrival, it was determined that on May 15 at approximately 1:15 a.m., when the victim was entering an elevator in a residential building, the male suspect approached her and asked if he could hug her. Before the victim could respond, the suspect hugged the victim tightly and touched her breasts. The victim was able to push the suspect away and exit the elevator. The suspect is described as an olive skinned male, approximately 5’8″, with short, straight, dark black hair and an average build. The investigation is ongoing.

The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, including one that we’ve already reported, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Mob Attacks Victim Who Was Taking Out the Trash

By ARLnow.com

A Dominion Hills resident was attacked by a group of seven men while he was taking out the garbage.

The mob assault happened around 1 a.m. this past Sunday and resulted in the victim going to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The motive for the attack is unclear. A police spokeswoman said the department “doesn’t speculate on motive.”

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ASSAULT BY MOB (late), 2018-05200018, 6100 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 12:59 a.m. on May 20, police were dispatched to Virginia Hospital Center for the late report of an assault. Upon arrival, it was determined that earlier in the evening, the victim exited his residence to take the trash out and was approached by 7 unknown male suspects outside. The victim was assaulted, resulting in non-life threatening injuries that required medical treatment. There are no suspect descriptions. The investigation is ongoing.

The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, including one that we’ve already reported, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Three Men Try, Fail to Snatch Woman’s Purse Near Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

A group of three men tried to take a woman’s purse near Clarendon early last Thursday morning, but were unsuccessful and instead ended up running away.

Police say the group approached the woman, threw her to the ground and tried to take the purse, but she fought back and the suspects fled empty-handed.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY, 2018-05100029, N. Irving Street at Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 2:39 a.m. on May 10, police were dispatched to the report of an assault just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that the female victim was walking in the area when she was approached by three male suspects. The victim continued walking and was again approached by the three suspects. One suspect grabbed the victim around the neck and threw her to the ground, while the other two suspects attempted to steal her purse. The victim was able to fight back and the suspects fled the area prior to police arrival. Nothing was stolen from the victim and she did not require medical attention. Suspect One is described as a black male with a thin build and black hair, wearing a black shirt and dark jeans. Suspect Two is described as a heavyset black male, wearing dark clothing. Suspect Three is described as a dark-skinned Hispanic male with an average build, wearing dark clothing. The investigation is ongoing.

The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, including one that we’ve already reported, after the jump.

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Arlington’s Crime Rate Falls Again, Though Alcohol-Related Incidents Increase

By Alex Koma

Arlington’s crime rate fell for the sixth straight year in 2017, even as the county recorded some big jumps in alcohol-related misdemeanors, according to new police data.

The Arlington County Police Department released its annual report for the past year on Monday (May 14), showing that the county’s overall crime rate dropped by just over 7.7 percent in 2017.

That includes drops in the number of several types of more serious crimes, like robberies and car thefts, though the county did see a roughly 4 percent increase in aggravated assaults. Arlington police also investigated four murders last year, after recording just one in 2016, but the department has managed to close all of those cases.

Police recorded some of the largest increases in crimes related to alcohol, with a nearly 73 percent jump in liquor law violations and a more than 17 percent jump in various “drunkenness” charges. In all, the county’s 129 liquor law violations included 62 underage drinking charges and 28 charges for drinking alcohol in public, according to the report. Police also recorded confiscating 703 fake IDs last year.

The department noted that some of those increases could be attributed to officers spending more time policing downtown Clarendon, in particular, as part of its “Arlington Restaurant Initiative” to step up the police presence in the area.

County police recorded a significant increase in “officer contacts” in designated “nightlife areas,” with a 56 percent jump in the number of interactions they recorded around neighborhoods with large concentrations of bars and restaurants. However, with the department’s plans to shift its resources to cope with a staffing squeeze, Police Chief M. Jay Farr recently warned that police may not be able to station as many officers in Clarendon moving forward.

Like many other communities across the country, Arlington recorded a large uptick in the number of opioid overdoses last year. In all, police responded to 74 overdoses in 2017, with 19 of those proving to be fatal. In 2016, the county saw 45 total overdoses involving drugs like heroin and fentanyl, and 12 were fatal.

Finally, county police recorded a 7 percent drop in traffic accidents last year. However, the department did register an especially large bump in accidents involving bicycles — from 32 in 2016 to 80 in 2017 — but they believe an increased focus on bike safety last spring helped contribute to the larger number there.

Similarly, Farr believes police will also have less time to devote to traffic enforcement under the department’s restructuring plan, which took effect on Sunday (May 13).

Charts via Arlington County Police Department

Crime Report: Police Searching for Three Men in Connection with Alleged Mob Assault

By Alex Koma

Arlington County Police are looking for three men who they believe teamed up to assault a man near a Clarendon dog park early Sunday morning.

Police say a man was walking along N. Herndon Street at its intersection with 13th Street N. early Sunday morning (May 6) near the James Hunter Dog Park, when “three slim, light-skinned South Asian” men accosted him because they believed he was attempting to break into their car, according to a crime report.

One of the three men “grabbed an object the victim was carrying and threw it at him, causing a laceration,” police say. Spokeswoman Ashley Savage told ARLnow that the police department’s homicide/robbery unit is investigating the incident as a “malicious wounding by mob,” and is still searching for the suspects.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2018-05060043, N. Herndon Street at 13th Street N. At approximately 2:13 a.m. on May 6, police were dispatched to the report of an unknown situation. Upon arrival, it was determined that the male victim was walking in the area attempting to locate his vehicle, when three unknown male suspects approached the victim and accused him of attempting to break into their vehicle, which the victim was standing near. The victim walked away from the vehicle and the suspects continued yelling profanities at him. One suspect then grabbed an object the victim was carrying and threw it at him, causing a laceration. The three suspects then fled the scene in a vehicle prior to police arrival. The suspects are described as three slim, light-skinned South Asian, possibly Indian males, all in their mid 20’s with black hair. One suspect was wearing a black tank top. The vehicle is described as a dark gray or black Toyota Prius, possibly with Maryland license plates. Arriving officers canvassed the area with negative results. The investigation is ongoing.

The incident was one of three “malicious woundings” reported on May 6.

More on those incidents, and other highlights from the ACPD weekly crime report — including some that we’ve already reported — after the jump.

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Crime Report: Store Employees Threatened with Bottle, Robbed

By ARLnow.com

A man threatened employees in a Pentagon City store on Wednesday before taking off with cash.

Police were called to the store in the 1500 block of S. Fern Street just before 8:30 p.m. for a report of a disorderly person inside. Upon arriving, they learned that the suspect became angry after a verbal dispute, then threatened employees with a bottle and demanded money.

The suspect reportedly stole cash from the register and other items before taking off. Police were unable to find him.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ROBBERY, 2018-05010255, 1500 block of S. Fern Street. At approximately 8:23 p.m. on May 1, police were dispatched to the report of a disorderly subject inside a business. Upon arrival, it was determined that following a verbal dispute, the suspect became irate, threatened the employees with a bottle and demanded money. The suspect then went behind the counter and stole cash from the cash register and other items of value. The suspect fled prior to police arrival. A lookout was broadcast and arriving officers canvased the area with negative results. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 25 years old, approximately 5’4″ and 145 lbs, with a thin build and short black dread locks, wearing a black, red and white baseball hat, a white hooded sweatshirt with dark writing on it, and acid washed light blue jeans.

More highlights from this week’s crime report, including some that we’ve already reported, after the jump.

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Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Repeat Indecent Exposure Offender

By Bridget Reed Morawski

(Updated at 8:05 p.m.) The Arlington County Police Department is asking for tips from the public to identify a man they say has repeatedly exposed himself in the Radnor-Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood, near Courthouse and Clarendon.

The suspect is reported to have approached several victims while exposing himself.

Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 20s or 30s, standing at 5’8″ to 5’10” tall with a medium build. The suspect, during several incidents, reportedly wore “dark clothing with a hat or hood pulled tight around his face.”

Police have linked five separate indecent exposure incidents on four different days to the same suspect “based on witness interviews and evidence collected.”

The incidents, according to police, occurred at the follow dates, times and locations:

  • January 26, 2018, 10:35 p.m., N. Rolfe Street at 16th Street N.
  • February 9, 2018, 9:48 p.m., 1800 block of 16th Street N.
  • February 13, 2018, 11:00 p.m., 2700 block of Clarendon Boulevard
  • March 3, 2018, 11:58 p.m., 16th Street N. at N. Rhodes Street
  • March 3, 2018, 11:35 p.m., 1900 block of Clarendon Boulevard

The incidents all occurred within approximately a mile of one another, more or less along Clarendon Boulevard. Other indecent exposure incidents have been reported nearby in recent weeks, but were not included in the ACPD press release. However, a police spokesperson tells ARLnow that detectives’ preliminary investigation leads them to believe these two most recent incidents will also end up being included in the same case based on the location and suspect description.

More from the press release:

The Arlington County Police Department is sharing these crime prevention tips to help keep you safe as you travel in the area. Remain alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Whenever possible, walk with another person and stay in well-lit, high traffic areas. Limit your use of devices that may distract you or impede your vision or hearing. If you see something suspicious or are the victim of a crime, contact the Emergency Communications Center as soon as possible by calling 703-558-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.

If anyone has information on the identity of this individual or details surrounding these incidents, please contact Detective J. Echenique of the Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit at [email protected]. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).

Crime Report: Indecent Exposure Edition

By ARLnow.com

Police responded to two indecent exposure calls in relatively the same area this past week.

The first incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. last Friday in the Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood near the 1900 block of Clarendon Blvd. A woman walking in the area saw a man masturbating in a park.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

INDECENT EXPOSURE (late), 201804200279, 1900 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 10:53 p.m. on April 20, police were dispatched to the late report of an indecent exposure. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 9:35 p.m., the female victim was walking in the area when she witnessed an unknown male suspect allegedly masturbating in a park. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5’7″ tall and 160 lbs., with dark hair sticking out of a dark colored beanie, wearing a black windbreaker and dark pants. The investigation is ongoing.

The second incident happened nearby at Wilson Blvd. and N. Troy Street in the Colonial Village neighborhood around 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday. A man reportedly approached a woman and exposed himself before fleeing.

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2018-04240236, Wilson Boulevard at N. Troy Street. At approximately 10:47 p.m. on April 24, police were dispatched to the report of a possible exposure. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 10:20 p.m. the female victim was walking in the area when an unknown male suspect approached her while exposing himself. The suspect fled prior to police arrival. Arriving officers canvased the area with negative results. The suspect is described as a light skinned Hispanic male, approximately 5’6″ to 5’8″ tall, with a skinny build, wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled over his head and blue jeans. The investigation is ongoing.

The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, after the jump.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Roosevelt Island, Gravelly Point to Get Bikeshare — The County Board approved a deal with the National Park Service to allow Capital Bikeshare stations on Theodore Roosevelt Island and at Gravelly Point. Although the stations are on NPS land, the county will install and maintain them. [Arlington County]

Arlington, Falls Church Men Arrested in Drug Bust — Williamsburg police arrested 10 people at the College of William & Mary — including one student from Arlington, two from Falls Church and a professor — during a large drug bust during which they confiscated LSD, cocaine, mushrooms, opioids, amphetamines, steroids, hashish, marijuana and $14,000 in cash. Police launched a months-long investigation when they heard that increased drug use was causing unreported sexual assaults. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

Tree Canopy Dispute Grows — Environmental activists have intensified their cries about the county providing misleading information on the size of Arlington’s tree canopy. Activists confronted County Board members at their Saturday meeting, armed with claims of “alternative facts” and a “war on science.”  [Inside NoVa]

Outstanding Park Volunteers Honored — The County Board gave awards to Joanne Hutton, John Foti and Friends of Aurora Highlands Park for their efforts to support county parks and natural resources. The honorees have led service projects, helped to expand field use and promoted public open spaces. [Arlington County]

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Crime Report: Pepper Spraying, Knife Brandishing in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:05 p.m.) Two people were pepper sprayed and had a knife pulled on them in Rosslyn Saturday night.

The suspect was someone the pair knew and the incident happened after an argument, police said.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING BY CAUSTIC AGENT (late), 2018-04140296, 1500 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 11:20 p.m. on April 14, police were dispatched to the late report of a malicious wounding. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 10:20 p.m., following a dispute between known individuals, the suspect sprayed the two victims with a caustic agent. The suspect subsequently brandished a knife before fleeing the area. Neither victim required medical treatment. Warrants for Malicious/Unlawful Wounding by Caustic Agent and Attempted Malicious/Unlawful Wounding were obtained for the suspect.

Early Monday morning, two men broke into Nova Armory in Lyon Park. Nothing was stolen from the gun store, police said.

BURGLARY, 2018-04160016, 2300 block of N. Pershing Drive. At approximately 1:53 a.m. on April 16, police were dispatched to the report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined that two unknown suspects forced entry to a business, causing damage. Nothing was reported missing from the business. The suspects fled prior to police arrival. Suspect One is described as a black male, approximately 5’10”-6’0″and 150-175 lbs., wearing a skullcap, gray pants and a dark jacket. Suspect Two is described as a black male, approximately 5’7″-5’9″ and 150-175 lbs., wearing a jersey. The investigation is ongoing.

The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, including some that we’ve already reported, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Stolen Vehicle Recovered in Nauck

By ARLnow.com

A vehicle that was stolen in Arlington was recovered after it was driven past a police cruiser with automatic license plate readers.

The car was stopped in the Nauck neighborhood around 1 a.m. this past Thursday and two of its occupants were arrested “without incident.”

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

RECOVERED STOLEN VEHICLE, 2018-04050007, 2200 block of S. Garfield Street. At approximately 1:05 a.m. on April 5, an officer on routine patrol was alerted to a License Plate Reader hit on a vehicle that had previously been reported stolen out of Arlington County. The officer initiated a traffic stop and two occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody without incident. Kevin Tate, 47, of Capitol Heights, MD, was arrested and charged with Buying/Receiving Stolen Goods, Giving False Identity to Law Enforcement Officer While Detained, and Driving with Suspended or Revoked License. He was held on no bond. Yvonne Elliott, 54 of Alexandria, VA, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance. She was held on a secure bond.

The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, including some that we’ve already reported, after the jump.

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