crime

Crime Report: Man Arrested for Impersonating Police After Maintenance Dispute

By ARLnow.com

For the second time this month, a man has been arrested after a dispute about letting maintenance workers inside his apartment.

The latest incident happened around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on the 900 block of S. Dinwiddie Street, near the Arlington Mill Community Center along Columbia Pike.

Police say a resident refused to let a worker performing emergency maintenance work into his apartment Tuesday morning, then confronted management that afternoon while wearing a ballistic vest and claiming to be a law enforcement officer, prompting a call to police.

“During the investigation, the suspect allegedly made statements falsely identifying himself as a federal law enforcement officer,” said an Arlington County Police Department crime report. “Gary Murray, Jr., 29, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with two counts of falsely identifying himself as law enforcement.”

An Arlington resident by the same name is identified as an armed security guard on LinkedIn.

More from this week’s ACPD crime report:

IMPERSONATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, 2017-03280173, 900 block of S. Dinwiddie Street. At approximately 8:06 a.m. on March 28, police were dispatched to the report of a maintenance worker attempting to conduct emergency work inside a residence and the resident refusing entry. The officers cleared the scene after the investigation determined no crime had occurred. At approximately 3:37 p.m., police were dispatched to the same location for the report of a dispute between a building maintenance worker and a resident wearing a firearm. Building management advised that after officers cleared the initial call for service, the resident confronted management while wearing a ballistic vest and alleged he was the sergeant of the responding officers. As officers were investigating the second call for service, they observed the suspect in a vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. During the investigation, the suspect allegedly made statements falsely identifying himself as a federal law enforcement officer. Gary Murray, Jr., 29, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with two counts of falsely identifying himself as law enforcement. He was held on $3,000.00 bond.

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

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DEVELOPING: Police Investigate Shots Fired Call on N. Adams Street

By Chris Teale
1/5

(Updated 4:55 p.m.) A man has been found dead inside a residence on N. Adams Street where police were investigating a shots fired called.

There is no threat to the public, according to Arlington County Police, and the investigation is ongoing.

Police said sheriff’s deputies were serving an eviction notice when they heard a single gunshot.

Officers responded to reports of gunshots being heard on the 2000 block of N. Adams Street, near the Lyon Village neighborhood, around noon Tuesday.

Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage said police were trying to determine whether shots were fired from inside the building.

A local resident reported seeing nearly a dozen police cars at the nearby intersection with Lee Highway.

According to scanner traffic, police were joined in the investigation by sheriff’s deputies, and were searching inside the apartment building as well as around its perimeter. Other officers were directing vehicles around the scene and pedestrians going in and out of the building lobby.

Crime Report: Man Busted for Throwing Stuff From Apartment Balcony in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Police car (file photo)A man has been arrested and accused of damaging two cars by throwing stuff off his apartment balcony in Pentagon City.

Police responded to the 1200 block of S. Eads Street around 6:20 a.m. this past Saturday morning after getting a call about items being thrown from a balcony.

Among the objects found damaged on the street were two fire extinguishers belonging to the apartment building and a clay statue, according to police.

Officers arrested a 26-year-old man and charged him with reckless endangerment and other crimes.

“The suspect advised he had been consuming alcohol prior to the incident and did not provide an explanation for his alleged actions,” said Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

More from an ACPD crime report:

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY(Significant), 2017-03180081, 1200 block of S. Eads Street. At approximately 6:20 a.m. on March 18, officers responded to the report of a subject throwing items from a balcony. Upon arrival, officers located several items in the roadway and on the sidewalk which appeared to have come from one of the residences. During the investigation, officers located two vehicles damaged by the items thrown. Gregory Matthew Pencosky, 26, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, petit larceny, and destruction of property. He was held on a $3000 secured bond.

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

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Crime Report: Arlington Residents Assaulting Cops

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsIn this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report, there are two incidents of Arlington residents charged with assault on a police officer.

One of the incidents happened early Friday morning in Ballston, while the other happened last Tuesday along Columbia Pike.

From ACPD:

ASSAULT & BATTERY ON POLICE, 2017-03030034, 4000 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 3:01 AM on March 3, police responded to the report of a dispute. As officers were conducting the investigation, a male subject became aggressive and pushed an officer several times before being detained. A warrant was secured for Assault and Battery on Police for Robert Holloway, 46, of Arlington VA.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY ON POLICE, 2017-02280024, 5500 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 2:50 a.m. on February 28, officers responded to the report of a fight in progress. As officers were investigating the incident, a subject on scene became argumentative and aggressive towards an individual being interviewed by police. As officers were attempting to escort the subject away from the scene, he allegedly began to physically resist the officers, swung his arm and struck an officer in the face. Dorj Jargalsaikhan, 47, of Arlington VA was arrested and charged with Assault and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer. He was held on no bond.

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

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Arlington Man Gets 25 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault Near Ballston

By Chris Teale

Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos (photo courtesy ACPD)

A local man will spend 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman after breaking into her apartment last year.

Arlington resident Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos was today sentenced to 30 years, with five years suspended, for a charge of burglary while armed and 10 years for a charge of attempted rape. The sentences will run concurrently.

Police said Castellanos, 37, broke into an apartment on the 3900 block of 4th Street N. and sexually assaulted a 28-year-old woman who lived there on June 19 last year.

A composite sketch helped lead police to Castenallos one day after it was released to the public.

More from ACPD:

An Arlington man was sentenced on Friday, March 3, 2017 in the Arlington County Circuit Court for his role in a 2016 sexual assault. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos, 37, was sentenced to thirty years, with five years suspended, for the charge of burglary while armed and ten years for the charge of attempted rape. These sentences will run concurrently. After his release, Castellanos will be listed on the sex offender registry and will be deported upon serving his sentence.

Theophani K. Stamos, Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney and M. Jay Farr, Arlington County’s Chief of Police made the announcement following the court appearance.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on June 19, 2016, a male subject unlawfully entered a female victim’s residence in the 3900 block of 4th Street N. and sexually assaulted her. The subject used the threat of a weapon to hold her against her will. During the attack, the 28-year-old female victim was able to lock herself in the bathroom and yell for help. The male subject fled the scene on foot and was observed by a neighbor leaving the scene.

Following interviews with the victim and witnesses, a composite sketch of the suspect was developed. A combination of evidence collected during the investigation and the accounts of several people from the neighborhood led to the identification of Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos.

“The victim’s searing courtroom testimony today was heartbreaking and the sentence handed down today by Judge Newman was entirely appropriate.  My hope is that today’s outcome will bring a small measure of peace and closure to the victim.  She deserves that.” Theo Stamos, Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Arlington County Deputy Chief Daniel J. Murray, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division said, “The steadfast investigative work completed by our detectives, the strong partnership with the Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the ultimate sentence imposed by the court sends a powerful message that we will use all available resources in our pursuit to keep our community protected from sexual predators.”

Detective P. Pena was the lead detective and the case was prosecuted by Commonwealth Attorney Lisa Tingle.

Crime Report: Police Investigate Suspicious ‘Insurance’ Incident

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA homeowner near Ballston was unexpectedly visited by four random, middle-aged people who claimed to be representatives of an insurance company.

Police are now investigating the incident, which happened Monday around noon on the 4500 block of N. Carlin Springs Road, as a case of unlawful entry and possibly more.

Additional information from an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

UNLAWFUL ENTRY, 2017-02270125, 4500 block of N. Carlin Springs Road. At approximately 12:06 p.m. on February 27, officers responded to the report of a breaking and entering. Upon arrival, it was determined that four unknown individuals entered a residence while the homeowner was inside and claimed to be an insurance company. The individuals observed each room and then left the residence. No items appeared to be missing. The first suspect is described as a white female in her late forties, with short blonde hair, and was heavy set. The second suspect is described as a black male in his late forties with a thin build. The third suspect is described as a white male in his late forties, with black/grey hair, and was heavy set. The fourth suspect is described as a white female in her late forties, with light brown hair, and an average build. The investigation is ongoing.

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

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Police Nab Suspected Ballston Bank Robber

By Tim Regan

(Updated on 12/23/21 at 11:20 p.m.) Arlington County Police have arrested a man suspected of robbing a bank in Ballston last month.

Someone dressed in a winter coat and sunglasses walked into the Navy Federal Credit Union at 875 N. Randolph Street on Feb. 10 and passed a note to a teller before running off with an “undisclosed amount of cash,” police said.

ACPD — wit the help of the FBI, the Alexandria Police Department, Falls Church City Police Department, Fairfax City Police Department, Fairfax County Police Department and the Prince William County Police Department — arrested 32-year-old [name redacted] in connection with the robbery yesterday around 5 p.m.

Authorities believe [redacted] may have also robbed a Navy Federal in Potomac Yard and then dumped some of the loot on S. Glebe Road in Arlington the same week. Alexandria police have not yet charged [redacted] with a crime, however.

From an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department has arrested and charged a suspect for his involvement in a bank robbery at the Navy Federal Credit Union located at 875 N. Randolph Street. [Redacted], 32, of No Fixed Address was arrested at approximately 5:02 p.m. on February 28, 2017 as he returned to a residence in the 700 block of S. Monroe Street.

[redacted] has been charged with bank robbery and is being held on no bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.

On Friday, February 10, 2017, at approximately 11:40 a.m., a male subject entered the Navy Federal Credit Union located at 875 N. Randolph Street in Arlington, Virginia and passed the teller a note, demanding money. The suspect fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect did not imply or display a weapon.

The suspect was apprehended with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alexandria Police Department, Falls Church City Police Department, Fairfax City Police Department, Fairfax County Police Department and the Prince William County Police Department.

Crime Report: Car Break-Ins in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsAt least four cars were broken into and rummaged through in Rosslyn between Sunday night and Monday morning.

Police say “numerous items of value” were stolen from the cars, which were parked on the 1800 block of N. Quinn Street.

More from this week’s Arlington County crime report:

LARCENY FROM AUTO (series), 2017-0220059, 1800 block of N. Quinn Street. Between 9:00 p.m. on February 19 and 6:45 a.m. on February 20, an unknown subject(s) entered at least four vehicles in a one block radius and stole numerous items of value. There is no suspect(s) description.

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

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Crime Report: Man Assaults Rideshare Driver in Clarendon Over Pickup Location

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA man punched a rideshre driver in Clarendon this past Saturday night after an argument about where he was being picked up.

Police say the incident happened around 7:40 p.m. on the 2700 block of Clarendon Blvd, near the Whole Foods store.

“The victim was a rideshare driver and, following a verbal altercation over the phone regarding the pickup location of the fare, the suspect assaulted the driver,” said Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

More from this week’s ACPD crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2017-02110254, 2700 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 7:40 p.m. on February 11, officers responded to the report of a fight in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined that a male victim rolled down the window of his vehicle to speak to the male suspect, when the suspect began assaulting the victim through the driver side window. The suspect then fled the scene on foot. Medics arrived on scene and treated the victim. Warrants have been obtained for malicious wounding. The investigation is ongoing.

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

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Man Gets 58 Years in Prison for Lyon Park Sexual Assault

By Tim Regan

Justin Wingate Poe (photo courtesy ACPD)A Woodbridge man arrested for the sexual assault of a woman in Lyon Park was today sentenced to 58 years in prison for that and two other crimes.

Justin Wingate Poe, 35, was nabbed last May on suspicions that he broke into a home on the 700 block of N. Edgewood Street and sexually assaulted a sleeping woman.

The sexual assault was linked to two attempted abductions in Arlington that occurred in 2007. A renewed investigation into those cold cases was what led to Wingate Poe’s arrest, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

“Upon receiving the link between the 2007 and 2016 cases, Arlington County Police Department detectives began an intensive investigation including the review of cold case files, crime scene evidence and laboratory results,” ACPD said in a release. “The review resulted in additional information that led detectives to identify Justin Wingate Poe as a suspect. Wingate Poe was arrested and charged in June 2016.”

More from the ACPD press release:

Justin Wingate Poe, 35, of Woodbridge, VA was sentenced on Friday, February 10, 2017 in the Arlington County Circuit Court to fifty-eight years in prison for his role in multiple attacks in Arlington County. Judge DiMatteo imposed a sentence of fifty years for the charge of rape and twenty years, with all but fifteen years suspended, for the charge of burglary related to a 2016 sexual assault. These sentences will run concurrently. Additionally, Wingate Poe was charged with two counts of attempted abduction for incidents occurring in 2007. On each charge, Wingate Poe was sentenced to five years with one year suspended.

Theophani K. Stamos, Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney and M. Jay Farr, Arlington County’s Chief of Police made the announcement following the court appearance.

At approximately 4:56 a.m. on May 15, 2016 a female victim awoke in her residence in the 700 block of N. Edgewood Street to an unknown male sexually assaulting her. Following the attack, the male suspect fled the scene and the victim was able to contact 911. DNA evidence recovered from this assault was submitted to the state lab for analysis. The DNA results linked this case with an unsolved 2007 attempted abduction.

At approximately 2:27 a.m. on May 28, 2007 a female victim was walking in the 1100 block of N. Vernon Street when an unknown male suspect confronted her from behind and attempted to cover her face with a plastic bag. The victim screamed and the suspect fled the area on foot. An additional attack occurred on June 7, 2007 at approximately 1:20 a.m. when a female victim inside her residence in the 2600 block of Lee Highway heard a knock on her door. When she opened the door, an unknown male subject attempted to place a plastic bag over the victim’s head. The victim screamed and the suspect fled the scene on foot.

Upon receiving the link between the 2007 and 2016 cases, Arlington County Police Department detectives began an intensive investigation including the review of cold case files, crime scene evidence and laboratory results. The review resulted in additional information that led detectives to identify Justin Wingate Poe as a suspect. Wingate Poe was arrested and charged in June 2016.

Following today’s sentencing, Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney Theophani K. Stamos said, “Judge DiMatteo sent a powerful message today that our community will be protected from sexual predators. While nothing can restore the victims’ sense of safety and security, our community is safer today because of the significant sentences imposed by the court.”

Arlington County Deputy Chief Daniel J. Murray, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division said, “The residents of Arlington County are significantly safer now that a predator has been removed from our streets. These horrible offenses and attacks on our community will be relentlessly pursued by our detectives.”

UPDATED: Police Investigate Bank Robbery in Ballston

By ARLnow.com
1/7

(Updated at 3:49 p.m.) Arlington County Police are on the lookout for a man suspected of robbing a bank in Ballston.

A man entered the Navy Federal Credit Union, on the 800 block of N. Randolph Street, and passed a note to a teller around 11:40 a.m., police said. He then ran off with an “undisclosed amount of money.”

Arlington County police set up a perimeter to try to search for the man but thus far no arrests have been reported. During the search nearby Washington-Lee High School was placed in “secure the school” mode as a precaution, according to scanner traffic.

The suspected robber is described as a white male who was wearing a brown jacket, a brown and cream colored winter hat and sunglasses.

This is not the first robbery at the Navy Federal in Ballston. The bank was the scene of an armed robbery in 2012. Separately, another man in a winter coat and sunglasses robbed a Navy Federal in Potomac Yard and then dumped some of the loot on S. Glebe Road in Arlington on Monday.

Despite the similar suspect descriptions, a police spokeswoman said it’s too early to determine whether the robberies are linked.

More from an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a bank robbery suspect captured on surveillance footage.

On Friday, February 10, 2017, at approximately 11:40 a.m., a male subject entered the Navy Federal Credit Union located at 875 N. Randolph Street in Arlington, Virginia and passed the teller a note, demanding money. The suspect fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.  The suspect did not imply or display a weapon.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5’8″ tall. He was wearing a brown north face jacket, a brown and cream colored winter hat and sunglasses at the time of the incident.

The Arlington County Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding this incident contact Detective R. Munizza at 703.228.4171 or [email protected]. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).

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