A prolific burglar somehow managed to break in to at least nine cars, sneak in to a locked garage, steal a bike and steal tools all on the same night, in the same area, without being caught.

LARCENY FROM AUTO (SERIES) 09/30/10, the 1800 blocks of N. Scott and N. Quinn Streets. Between 8 pm on September 29, and 7 am on September 30, an unknown subject broke into at least nine cars in the area. A bicycle was stolen as well, and a subject entered a locked garage and stole tools during the same time period. There are no known suspects.

That particular two-square block area is no stranger to the Crime Report. It has seen burglaries, attempted burglaries, a sexual battery, an abduction, more larcenies from auto and an unlawful entry, all within the past 10 months.

The rest of the crime report, including an inappropriately amorous cabbie and a pair of fighting cabbies, after the jump.

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From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ASSAULT AND BATTERY-ARREST 09/23/10, 2000 block of S. 27th Street. On September 23 at 6:30 pm, a man touched a teenage girl on her shoulder without her permission. The man fled the area when confronted by another adult. The suspect was located by police. A tazer was deployed because the suspect was uncooperative. Alton Dixon, 46, of no fixed address, was charged with Assault and Battery and Fail to Identify to Law Enforcement. He was held on a $1,000 bond.

Also on the crime report, a drunken brawl broke out inside Bailey’s Pub in Ballston early Wednesday morning.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING 09/29/10, 4200 block of Wilson Boulevard. On September 29 at 1:30 am, a group of intoxicated males was in a fight inside a bar. One male was hit in the face. Police received reports that another man had been cut on his back, but that could not be proven. The suspects are unknown.

The rest of the report, including an especially frightening attempted robbery near Ft. Myer, after the jump.

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Getting your car towed is not fun. But that doesn’t mean you have to take it out on the tow truck driver. From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ASSAULT AND BATTERY-ARREST 09/15/10, 600 block of S. Carlin Springs Road. On September 15 at 2:20 pm, a man assaulted a tow truck driver. Jose Merida, 44, of Arlington, was charged with Assault and Battery. He was held on a $4,000 bond.

The rest of the report, after the jump.

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On construction-clogged Columbia Pike, it can be pretty annoying when one person holds up a line of traffic thanks to their infernal desire to make a turn. But you eventually realize that it’s not their fault traffic is down to one lane and there’s no turn lane in which to maneuver. So you wait.

Some jerk may blow their horn out of frustration. But it takes a special breed of really big jerk to get out of one’s vehicle, walk up to said turning driver, and show her — you know, just FYI — that you own a handgun.

BRANDISHING 09/10/10, 2600 block of Columbia Pike. On September 10 at 4:50 pm, a female driver was waiting to turn into a driveway, when the passenger of the vehicle behind her exited his car and displayed a handgun. The suspect is described as a white Hispanic male in his 20’s, 5’9″ tall with a muscular build. He was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans.

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

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Police in Fairfax County tell the Washington Post that a man was murdered over the weekend because of his advocacy of speed humps. Police say that Stephen Carr and David Patton had argued before about Carr’s campaign to build a speed hump on the street in front of his Burke home. Then, on Sunday, investigators say an enraged Patton tied up Carr and Carr’s girlfriend, then shot him in the head.

Of course, such extreme acts of violence over neighborhood disagreements are rare. But in speed hump-filled Arlington, it’s easy to be left with the unsettling feeling that such an act of madness is not completely outside the realm of possibility.

Over the past few years, a civil war of sorts has been waged over the mounds of asphalt that force drivers to slow down lest they damage their vehicles. A 2006 article described one such situation in North Arlington as a “pitched battle” and “class warfare at its worst.” A 2008 article, also about Arlington, called speed humps “the ultimate suburban battleground,” pitting “neighbor against neighbor and, more often, resident against motorist.”

So we ask: What’s the angriest you or someone you know has gotten over speed humps? (Or other “traffic calming” measures.)


Occasionally, victims fight back and give the bad guys what was coming to ’em. Such was the case early Sunday morning when a man approached two women who were walking home in the Buckingham neighborhood.

Police say the man lifted one woman’s skirt and touched her inappropriately. Then, the woman punched him, and two men chased him off.

More details on the suspect from this week’s Arlington County crime report:

SEXUAL BATTERY 09/05/10, 4200 block of N. Pershing Drive. On September 5 at 2 am, two women were walking on the sidewalk when an unknown man approached them. He lifted one woman’s skirt and touched her under the skirt. She punched him, and two men chased the suspect off. The suspect was a white Hispanic male in his early 30’s, 6′ and 180 lbs. He was wearing a blue and white plaid shirt with black jeans and black shoes.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Early this morning, police responded to the small shopping center at the corner of Columbia Pike and Glebe Road for a report of men throwing rocks through the front windows of several stores. One of the two stores targeted was Mom’s Pizza Restaurant. From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

MISSILE INTO AN OCCUPIED DWELLING (SERIES) 09/01/10, 3200 block of Columbia Pike. On September 1 at 1:45 am, two subjects threw rocks into two occupied businesses, and two unoccupied businesses. Guillermo Rodriguez, 29, of Washington D.C., was charged with Drunk in Public. He was held until sober. Harris Rivera, 30, of Washington D.C., was charged with two counts of Throwing a Missile into an Occupied Dwelling and three counts of Destruction of Property. He was held without bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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This week’s Arlington County Crime Report contains a five creepy incidents that all occurred in north Arlington. Four incidents happened at night, but one happened yesterday in Ballston during the day. In the first incident, at least the suspect had the good sense to apologize.

SEXUAL BATTERY 08/22/10, 700 block of N. Wayne Street. On August 22 at 2:15 am, an unknown man approached a woman from behind and put his hand up her skirt. The victim confronted the suspect and he apologized and left the area. The suspect is described as an African American male in his late 20’s, 5’7″, wearing a black tank top and dark basketball shorts.

ATTEMPT SEXUAL BATTERY 08/24/10, 4300 block of Fairfax Drive. On August 24 at 3:45 pm, a woman was walking in a parking garage when an unknown suspect reached under her skirt. The suspect fled when she yelled. He is described as an African American male in his late 20’s, 5’8″ wearing dark clothing.

PEEPING TOM 08/21/10, 1200 block of N. Quinn Street. On August 21 at 2:45 am, a woman heard a noise outside her bedroom window. When she looked outside, a man wearing light colored pants fled from the area.

PEEPING TOM 08/21/10, 1600 block of N. 21st Street. On August 21 at 12:50 am, a witness saw an unknown man looking in apartment windows. The suspect was a tall and thin white male in his 20’s wearing a dark t-shirt and shorts.

PEEPING TOM 08/22/10, 1600 block of N. 21st Street. On August 22 at 10:30 pm, a woman noticed an unknown person peering into her apartment. There is no suspect description.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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A missile flew into occupied dwelling in Arlington last Wednesday, according to this week’s Arlington County Crime Report. And by missile, police are referring to a ring of keys.

MISSILE INTO AN OCCUPIED DWELLING-ARREST 08/11/10, 5100 block of S. 8th Road. On August 11 at 10 pm, a woman threw a ring of keys through the living room window in an attempt to hit the male inside. Makeba Sturge, 23, of Arlington, was charged with Throwing a Missile Into an Occupied Dwelling, and given a $500 bond.

Elsewhere, we learn what the large police response to a house on North Manchester Street was all about last week.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 08/11/10, 200 block of N. Manchester Street. On August 11 at 4 pm, an officer responded for a parking complaint, and discovered that the owner of the car was wanted. The suspect assaulted the officer and attempted to flee. He was arrested at the scene. Jose Santos Vasquez, 35, of Arlington, was charged with Assault on a Police Officer and was served with the warrant for Working Without a License. He was held on a $3,500 bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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A late-night knock on the door led to a robbery and sexual assault in a south Arlington hotel room, according to information released by police today.

On Saturday night, investigators say a man knocked on the door of a hotel room at the Best Western (2480 South Glebe Road). When one of the two women who were inside the room at the time opened the door, the man forced his way in. He sexually assaulted one of the women then made off with electronics and money, according to a police statement.

Update on 8/19 — Fox 5 reports that the victims were a mother and daughter — in their 50s and 70s — visiting from Canada.

From the press release:

The suspect is described as an African American male approximately 40 years old, 5’8″ and 180 lbs. He appeared unshaven and was wearing a grey t-shirt with a design on it, tan cargo shorts, white shoes and a black baseball cap.

Anyone who has information about this robbery or the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Detective Donald Fortunato of the Arlington County Police Department at (703) 228-4197.  Det. Fortunato can also be reached by email at [email protected].

Witnesses can also call Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477).  Crime Solvers offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.  Callers to Crime Solvers do not have to give their names and do not need to testify in court.


Getting into fender bender is never fun. But it’s even less fun when the other driver pulls out a razor and tries to cut you with it. That’s what happened to one man on Tuesday, according to this week’s Arlington County Crime Report.

The victim’s clothing was torn but he was otherwise uninjured.

ATTEMPT MALICIOUS WOUNDING 08/10/10, 5600 block of N. Carlin Springs Road. On August 10 at 3 pm, a man reported to have been assaulted with a box cutter. The encounter occurred after a minor accident involving the victim and suspect. The suspect is described as a 35-year-old white Hispanic male, 5’8″ to 5’9″ and 200 lbs.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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