crime

Video: Arlington’s Magistrate Office

By ARLnow.com

A new video produced by Arlington County explains how the local Office of the Magistrate works.

Magistrates are independent judicial officers who determine whether probable cause exists for criminal complaints by law enforcement officers and members of the public.

“Magistrate duties include issuing various types of processes such as arrest warrants, summonses, bonds, search warrants, and medical detention orders,” according to the county’s website. “Magistrates also conduct bail hearings in instances in which an individual is arrested on a warrant charging him or her with a criminal offense. Magistrates provide services 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Arlington magistrate’s office is located at 2020 15th Street N., on the ground floor of the county jail.

The young woman seen being arrested and locked up in the video, for the record, was an intern in the police department’s media relations and public affairs office, not an actual criminal.

Crime Report: Forged Documents

By ARLnow.com

A Falls Church woman has been arrested and charged with obtaining more than $28,000 in public assistance from Arlington County thanks to forged documents, according police.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

FORGERY OF PUBLIC RECORDS & FALSE STATEMENTS AND REPRESENTATIONS,05/01/13, 2100 block of N. Washington Boulevard. Between October 2010 and April 2013, a subject obtained approximately $28,121 of public assistance from Arlington County by forging documents and providing false statements in regards to residency, welfare status and medical diagnosis. April Dugard, 35, of Falls Church, VA was arrested and charged with Forgery of Public Records and Making False Statement and Representations. She was issued an unsecured bond.

“The individual was using forged physicians’ notes to certify a medical condition, and forged school forms,” said Arlington Department of Human Services (DHS) spokesman Kurt Larrick. “The forgeries were were pretty sophisticated.”

“We take fraud seriously, and have effective safeguards to prevent it,” Larrick continued. “When it does occur, we always take appropriate measures, which can include restitution and prosecution.”

Larrick was unable to elaborate on the accusations, explaining that DHS “can’t really say much about a case that is in the legal system.”

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

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

A tree in Barcroft by ddimick

Politico May Leave Rosslyn — The offices of the Capitol Hill publication Politico will likely move from Rosslyn to some place closer to the Hill. The expected move was announced at a staff meeting, which also discussed the pending sale of TV station ABC 7, also located in Rosslyn. [DCRTV]

Crime Solvers Awards — A Sheriff’s Office narcotics K-9 officer and a second-generation Arlington Police detective were the winners of the 2013 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year awards. The awards were presented yesterday at a luncheon sponsored by Arlington County Crime Solvers. [Sun Gazette]

Police 50/50 Raffle — Arlington police officers are holding a 50/50 raffle to benefit and police sergeant and an officer’s wife who were recently diagnosed with cancer. The raffle drawing will be held on May 14. Tickets are available for $20 at Hard Times Cafe (3028 Wilson Blvd) and Crystal City Sports Pub (529 23rd Street S.) [PDF]

Miss Gay Arlington Pageant — The annual Miss Gay Arlington pageant will be held tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Crystal City (555 23rd Street S.). The pageant, which is sponsored by the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Aliance, will judge drag performers in four categories: self-expression, talent, evening gown and on-stage question. [Facebook]

Lyon Park Home & Garden Tour — The Lyon Park neighborhood will hold its annual home and garden tour on Sunday. The self-guided tour runs from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. [PDF]

Flickr pool photo by ddimick

Crime Report: Indecent Exposure at Library

By ARLnow.com

Police are looking for a man who exposed himself to a woman at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) last weekend.

The incident took place on Saturday afternoon, on the second floor of the library. From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

EXPOSURE, 04/27/13, 1000 block of N. Quincy Street. At 2:30 pm on April 27, a suspect exposed himself to female victim in a second floor aisle at the Central library. The suspect fled the scene when the victim alerted front desk staff. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 40-55 years old, 6″ tall and 210 lbs. He was wearing a blue hat, blue long sleeve shirt and blue sweatpants at the time of the incident.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Cops: Man Chokes Ex-GF, Steals Chihuahua

By ARLnow.com

A Chihuahua (photo by Paul Komarek)A Hyattsville, Md. man has been arrested after police say he choked his ex-girlfriend and stole her dog.

The victim was walking the dog on the 2400 block of 11th Street N., in Courthouse, when her ex-boyfriend approached her and began an argument, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The man then allegedly choked the victim and ran off with her Chihuahua. He was arrested when he tried to give the dog back.

“He came back to the scene to return the dog and was greeted by Arlington County police,” Sternbeck said.

Jonathan Jimenez, 24, was arrested and charged with strangulation, attempted malicious wounding, grand larceny, and domestic assault and battery. He was held without bond.

File photo via Paul Komarek/Wikipedia

Morning Notes

By Katie Pyzyk

"Anna and David" sculpture in Rosslyn

Arlington Homeless Population Increases — Despite a decline of 2.4 percent across most of the region, Arlington’s homeless population rose by six percent between 2012 and 2013. The figures were gathered during the annual homeless census on January 30. The county’s new homeless count stands at 479 people, up from 451 the previous year. [Sun Gazette]

Streetcar Cost/Benefit Test — An article criticizing Libby Garvey’s op-ed in the Washington Post contends streetcars do indeed pass the cost/benefit test, contrary to Garvey’s thoughts. The author favors a streetcar to buses based on points such as the streetcar having a greater passenger capacity, faster rate of travel and bringing more development to the area. [Greater Greater Washington]

Raise the Roof Service Project — The Arlington Teen Network Board has teamed up with Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church for a service project called “Raise the Roof.” Tomorrow (April 27), volunteers will begin repairing the Borromeo Housing, Inc. group house, which is a transitional home for teen moms and their children. Volunteers are collecting money to continue with the next phase of the service project, which involves a facelift of the interior and exterior of the home. Those interested in contributing can do so through the project website.

Police Seek Tips in Two Theft Incidents — The Arlington County Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in finding suspects involved in two separate theft incidents. The first incident involved shoplifting at South Moon Under (2700 Clarendon Blvd) on March 1. Suspect descriptions are available online, along with contact information for reporting tips. The second case involves tracking down persons of interest in the theft of a victim’s wallet. The victim’s credit cards have since been used around the area. Suspect information and contact information for reporting tips for that crime can also be found on the police department website.

Crime Report: Laptop Thefts

By ARLnow.com

A thief or thieves stole laptop computers in three separate burglaries this week, according to this week’s Arlington County crime report.

BURGLARY, 04/11/13, 4600 block of S. 34th Street. Between 7:30 pm and 8 pm on April 11, a victim went on a walk in his neighborhood. When he returned home, it was discovered that a laptop had been stolen from the kitchen. There were no signs of forced entry and there is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 04/13/13, 700 block of S. Ode Street. Between 3 and 8:30 pm on April 13, an unknown subject(s) entered a residence and stole a 13″ Macbook Pro. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 04/16/13, 3000 block of N. Harrison Street. Between 7:45 am and 6:15 pm on April 16, an unknown suspect(s) entered a residence and stole a Dell laptop and US passport. There is no suspect(s) description.

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

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Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Rape, Abduction of Daughter

By Katie Pyzyk

Rodolfo Hernandez-Suazo(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) An Arlington man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the January 2012 abduction and rape of his adult daughter.

Circuit Court Judge Louise M. DiMatteo imposed the jury’s sentencing for 54-year-old Rodolfo Hernandez-Suazo — which included 50 years for rape, 25 years for abduction with intent to defile and 5 years for incest — but ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

Hernandez-Suazo lured his then 22-year-old daughter to a south Arlington hotel room last year, claiming he was going to complete some maintenance work there. Once both were at the hotel, Hernandez-Suazo forced sex on his daughter.

Prosecutors say Hernandez-Suazo then told the daughter to take a shower, but she did not end up doing so. As a result, after she reported the crime to police several hours later,  investigators from the Arlington County Police Department Special Victims Unit were able to retrieve DNA evidence from her.

Hernandez-Suazo had been estranged from his daughter since leaving El Salvador about 20 years ago. They were reunited in 2009, when the daughter came to the United States to live with her mother, but she broke off contact after Hernandez-Suazo touched her inappropriately. He then re-initiated contact last year, leading to the incident in the hotel room.

“The victim held the understandable but misguided belief that she and the defendant could at last have a normal father-daughter relationship. Unfortunately he turned out to be a predator, not a parent,” said Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Lisa Tingle. “Her courage in coming forward should give others similar strength knowing that our community treats these offenses with the utmost seriousness.”

Crime Report: Failed Police Impersonation

By ARLnow.com

A man who was pulled over by police in Clarendon on Saturday night allegedly thought it would help his case if it was known that he was a police officer.

The only problem? He wasn’t a police officer at all, according to this week’s Arlington County crime report.

The 38-year-old Sterling man turned out to be a medical assistant, the crime report says. He was charged with impersonating a police officer.

IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER, 04/06/13, 1000 block of N. Irving Street. At 10:38 pm on April 6, a subject claimed he was a police officer and displayed a badge during a traffic stop. Further questioning revealed he was a medical assistant in a doctor’s office. Hussein Al-Rehaief, 38, of Sterling, VA, was charged with impersonating a police officer and failure to obey a highway sign. He was released on a summons.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Domestic Dispute

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a man is wanted on felony charges after allegedly beating his wife. The incident took place in the Forest Glen neighborhood of south Arlington.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 04/01/13, 5600 block of S. 7th Street. At 9:30 am on April 1, a man struck his wife several times during a domestic dispute. The victim was transported to Virginia Hospital Center for non-life-threatening injuries that she sustained during the altercation. A warrant has been issued for the suspect on charges of felony malicious bodily injury and felony violation of a protective order.

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

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Crime Report: Mustachioed Man Pistol-Whips Ball Thrower

By ARLnow.com

Sig Sauer handgun (photo via Sig Sauer)Police are looking for a man who allegedly pistol-whipped a ball-throwing bar-goer near Clarendon.

The incident took place around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23. Police say a group of friends were returning from a bar and throwing a ball around, when the ball struck a black Range Rover that was driving by.

The owner of the SUV — described as a skinny man with a moustache and a foreign accent — got out of the vehicle and allegedly pistol-whipped the victim. The suspect then fled the scene and the victim was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 03/23/13, 3300 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. At 3:33 am on March 23, three friends walking home from the bar were throwing a ball between them when it struck a moving vehicle. The driver of the black Range Rover stopped and brandished a handgun. The subject exited his vehicle and struck the victim in the right cheek with the firearm. The subject fled the scene and the victim was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5’10” tall with a thin build and a mustache. He had dark hair and spoke with a foreign accent.

Also in this week’s crime report, a woman is accused of stabbing her husband twice with a kitchen knife. The alleged incident took place in an apartment three blocks from the Courthouse Metro station.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 03/20/13, 2100 block of N. 18th Street. At 6:15 pm on March 20, a subject and her husband got into a physical altercation. The subject stabbed the victim twice with a kitchen knife. The victim was stabbed once in the left side of his chest and once in his left arm. The victim was transported to George Washington Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Shavonne Duncan, 46, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with malicious wounding. She is currently being held without bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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