crime

Officer in Back of Car Surprises Thieves

By Katie Pyzyk

Arlington County police carThree suspected burglars got an unpleasant surprise overnight when they allegedly tried breaking into a string of vehicles in the Long Branch Creek neighborhood. The problem? One of the vehicles was an undercover police car with an officer inside.

Due to a number of recent complaints about thefts from cars, the Arlington County Police Department sent a plain clothes surveillance team to the neighborhood. Around 1:30 a.m., officers saw three subjects acting suspiciously in the 1800 block of S. 28th Street. Police say they saw the suspects trying to open car doors and entering unlocked vehicles to steal items.

The three men then reportedly attempted to enter an unlocked, unmarked police car and were startled by an undercover officer in the back seat. Tactical units immediately moved in and arrested 22-year-old Hilary Edmond of Arlington and 18-year-old Robert Holt of Alexandria. With the assistance of a K-9 unit, police later arrested 23-year-old Enrique Vanterpool of Alexandria, who was found hiding under some brush. Vanterpool sustained a dog bite to the arm from the K-9 and was treated at the scene by medics.

Police believe the three men may have been involved in more than a dozen recent thefts from cars. Charges against the suspects continue to be compiled in this active case as the men are tied to more of the reported thefts.

An ACPD spokesman notes that so far it does not appear the suspects forcibly entered any of the vehicles they allegedly stole from; all the car doors were unlocked.

“People have to be aware if they are going to keep valuables in their vehicles that they should lock their vehicles and keep valuables out of sight,” said Lt. Mike Watson. “But people really shouldn’t even keep valuables in their vehicles.”

File photo

Crime Report: Diamonds Snatched

By ARLnow.com

On the eve of the Fourth of July, police say a man snatched a ring and a number of loose diamonds from a clerk at the Helzberg Diamonds store in Pentagon City Mall.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ROBBERY, 07/03/13, 1400 block of S. Hayes St. At 7:45 pm on July 3 an unknown suspect grabbed a ring and loose diamonds from a clerk at the Helzberg Diamonds store. Suspect is described as a black male, 5’8, 170 lbs. wearing a long sleeved blue shirt and khaki pants.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

(more…)

Police Arrest Peeper, Seek Additional Victims

By Katie Pyzyk

Michael Tomlin Michael Tomlin

Police have arrested a man accused of several recent peeping incidents, and they’re asking other potential victims to come forward.

On Sunday afternoon, 48-year-old Michael Tomlin allegedly hid in a stall of a women’s restroom in a movie theater and was caught looking over the stall at a juvenile victim. Tomlin reportedly fled when the girl’s father confronted him. The father immediately contacted authorities with a description of the suspect, and the Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit found Tomlin yesterday in the 4300 block of N. Carlin Springs Road.

Tomlin has been arrested and charged with Trespassing and Peeping Tom. He is being held at the Arlington County Detention Facility on a $5,000 secured bond.

Tomlin has a history of criminal behavior and has served jail time for peeping tom incidents. He was released from jail in May, and has been tied to three peeping incidents since then, including one at Ballston Common Mall last month and the Clarendon Barnes and Noble in May. Police believe he may be responsible for other peeping incidents and they’re asking other victims to come forward.

Anyone who recognizes Tomlin from his recent booking photo (above left) or previous booking photo (above right) and may have information about him or additional crimes he may be involved with is asked to call Detective Jamey Trainer at 703-228-4185 or email [email protected]. Information can also be reported anonymously by contacting the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS.

Police Need Help Locating Charity Jar Burglar

By Katie Pyzyk

Police have released photos of a man accused of carrying out a burglary at a local food mart with the hope that the public can help them find the suspect.

Surveillance cameras caught the suspect breaking into the Dominion Hills Food Mart (6035 N. Wilson Blvd) around 1:15 a.m. on June 14. The suspect apparently used rocks to break the glass out of the front door to get inside the store. Once inside, he allegedly took merchandise including Newport cigarettes and cash from a collection jar intended for charity.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male with a stocky build and black curly hair. He was wearing a dark blue “Old Navy 94” hooded sweatshirt at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective James Stone of the Arlington County Police Department’s Burglary/Larceny Unit at 703-228-4245 or [email protected]. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).

Crime Report: iPhone Thief Punched, Robbed

By ARLnow.com
File photo

A teenager is facing charges after a robbery that led to what some might call a bit of karma.

Police say a 17-year-old boy took an iPhone from a store employee on the 3200 block of Columbia Pike, then was punched in the face and robbed of the phone by two men he was trying to sell it to.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ROBBERY, 06/25/13, 3200 block of S. Columbia Pike. At 7:50 pm on June 25, a juvenile subject grabbed an iPhone from a store employee and fled the scene on foot. Police located the subject a short distance away bleeding from the left eye after he was robbed of the phone he stole. The juvenile suspect was issued petitions for robbery and grand larceny with intent to distribute.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

(more…)

Crime Report: Cell Phone Buyers Robbed

By ARLnow.com

It sounds like a shady business transaction, so the end result is not entirely surprising. Last week, two people were robbed after showing up to a meeting they arranged to try to buy cell phones.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ARMED ROBBERY, 06/15/13, 1900 block of S. Columbia Pike. At 11:40 am on June 15, a victim arranged a meeting to purchase cell phones and was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by three subjects. Suspect 1, brandished the firearm and pistol whipped the victim, is described as a black male with a beard. He was wearing a white t-shirt with blue basketball shorts. Suspect 2 is described as a black male and was wearing dark clothing with a red beanie hat. Suspect 3 is described as a black male wearing dark clothing.

ARMED ROBBERY, 06/14/13, 2700 block of N. Key Boulevard. At 11:11 pm on June 13, a victim arranged a meeting to purchase cell phones and was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by two subjects. Suspect 1, brandished the firearm, is described as a black male in his 20’s, approximately 6’2″ tall with a slim build and long dreads. He was wearing a navy and white track suit. Suspect 2 is described as a black male in his mid 20’s, approximately 6’0″ tall and 180 lbs. He was wearing dark clothing and had a tattoo on the right side of his neck.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(more…)

Crime Report: Peeping Tom at Ballston Common Mall

By ARLnow.com

Police are on the lookout for a man seen peeking under a women’s bathroom stall at Ballston Common Mall.

The incident happened just before 6:00 p.m. on Monday. The crime and the suspect description is strikingly similar to that of another peeping tom incident at the Clarendon Barnes and Noble bookstore on May 24.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

PEEPING TOM, 06/10/13, 4200 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. At 5:50 pm on June 10, a male subject was caught looking at a female under the bathroom stall in the women’s restroom. The suspect fled the scene and is described as a white male in his early forties, approximately 5’7″ tall with a medium build. He had shaggy brown hair and was wearing a brown t-shirt and khaki pants.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

(more…)

Smash and Grab Robbery Arrest

By Katie Pyzyk

A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the March 19 smash and grab robbery at Pentagon City mall.

As seen in the above surveillance video released by the Arlington County Police Department, four suspects entered the Torneau store and broke the jewelry case with Rolex watches. The FBI has since taken over the case, and said the suspects got away with 22 watches worth more than $500,000 before fleeing to a getaway car with a fifth suspect.

Last week, Walter A. Douglas was arrested in connection with the robbery, claiming he “did knowingly and unlawfully, conspire, confederate, and agree to delay and affect commerce and the movement of articles and commodities in such commerce, by robbery.” According to the FBI affidavit, Douglas has a history of robbery, grand theft and grand larceny in the D.C. metro area. The document connects him to seven other high profile robberies in the region between December 3, 2012, and April 30, 2013, for which he has also been charged.

The affidavit states that an informant contacted the ACPD on April 10 and claimed Douglas was responsible for the Pentagon City robbery, and possibly for others. The informant reported hearing Douglas speaking with another man, the recently arrested Floyd Davis, about high end watches and rings.

Davis was reportedly arrested early last month, but the list of alleged crimes in his affidavit did not directly name the Pentagon City incident. Davis was, however, mentioned in the Douglas affidavit for having been in the immediate area and in contact with Douglas around the time of the Torneau robbery.

Evidence against the men includes cell phone records showing Douglas and Davis in frequent contact with each other on or around the days of the robberies. Cell phone records also place one or both men near the locations of several of the robberies at the times they occurred.

Additionally, the FBI matched cars spotted at a couple of the robberies with those Douglas apparently rented around the time of each incident. Records show he rented a grey Dodge Charger — like the one investigators saw in the Pentagon City surveillance video — four days before the robbery. The vehicle was returned the day of the robbery.

An FBI spokesperson would not comment on the possibility of other arrests in the case because the investigation is still active.

Crime Report: Man with Knives Threatens Coworker

By Katie Pyzyk

A man wielding two knives was arrested on Thursday for allegedly threatening to hurt a coworker in Shirlington.

The suspect then took off, according to this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ATTEMPTED MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 05/30/13, 2900 block of S. Quincy Street. At 8:36 pm on May 30, a subject threatened to harm a coworker with two knives. The subject fled the scene on foot and taken into custody outside his residence. Tevin Brown Phillips, 21, of Arlington, VA, was arrested and charged with attempted malicious wounding. He was held on a secured bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. (more…)

Crime Report: Masturbating Man Seen at Country Club

By ARLnow.com
File photo

A 16-year-old girl told police that she saw a man masturbating behind a window at an Arlington country club last week.

The alleged incident happened around 5:30 p.m. last Tuesday at the tennis courts of the Washington Golf and Country Club (3017 N. Glebe Road). According to a police spokesman, the man was spotted in an area of the club that was under construction.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report.

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 05/23/13, 3000 block of N. Glebe Road. At 5:30 pm on May 21, a 16 year-old female victim witnessed a subject masturbating behind a glass window overlooking a tennis court. The suspect is described as a white male with scraggly hair and was wearing a white hat.

The rest of the report, after the jump.

(more…)

Police Search for Clarendon Peeping Tom

By Katie Pyzyk

Arlington County Police Department badgePolice are looking for a man accused of peeping on a woman while she was in a restroom stall at the Barnes and Noble (2800 Clarendon Blvd) in Clarendon.

Around 7:50 p.m. on Friday (May 24), a woman was using the restroom at the store when she saw a man peek over her stall. She and her husband immediately reported the incident to the store manager. The man allegedly fled the store when he saw the manager calling police.

The suspect is described as a 5’10” white male in his 40s with shaggy brown hair. At the time of the incident he was wearing a red t-shirt with a grey button down shirt over it, and blue jeans. He was also carrying a large green bag.

Police are examining the store’s surveillance video from the time of the incident. Anyone who may have seen the suspect or who the may have more information about the incident is asked to call the Arlington County Police non-emergency number at 703-558-2222.

View More Stories