crime

A Look Inside the Arlington County Jail

By ARLnow.com

You may not realize it, but there’s a building in Courthouse that’s home to about 600 prisoners of Arlington’s criminal justice system. The Arlington County Detention Facility is the first urban high-rise jail in Virginia and “one of the most technically advanced direct supervision facilities in the county,” according to the county Sheriff’s Office, which is responsible for running the lock-up.

The current facility, built in 1994, is unimposing inside and out. Forget your tour of Alcatraz, this facility looks more like an office building than a prison to the average passerby. Inside, groups of prisoners are held in residential units that combine the functionality of a jail cell, prison yard and dining hall.

But make no mistake: behind the non-threatening interior — which somewhat resembles a public high school with a whole lot of doors — this is a facility built for security. Since it was built, not a single prisoner has escaped.

“Secure” is also a feeling you get while walking through the jail. The Hollywood image of mean-looking, hardened criminals who leer at guards and outsiders and are constantly looking for a fresh fish to shank (apologies for mixing movie metaphors) does not seem to apply here.

In fact, people were pretty friendly. One inmate, when told that his cell was going to be photographed, darted in and cleaned things up a bit, just to be polite. Another struck up a conversation about his artwork and a recent play he wrote.

Fights, jail administrators say, are extremely rare. Six months ago, a deputy was jumped by two inmates in the mental health ward. The scuffle ended when two “workforce inmates” pulled the culprits off of him. (The workforce inmates — who prepare food, pick up garbage around the County in orange jumpsuits, etc. — are generally seen as the best-behaved of the bunch.)

The biggest challenge for the housing unit guards who work most closely with the inmates isn’t fights, riots, contraband or escape attempts. Instead, like a teacher at a middle school, one guard said the challenge is “dealing with all the personalities.”

Here’s a glimpse of the Arlington County Detention Facility by the numbers:

  • 1,900 — Meal trays served, per day. Meals are prepared by inmates through a program run by food service giant Aramark. Excess meals are donated to local charities.
  • 515 — Current jail population (it’s down a bit from the normal average, we’re told, because crime is down)
  • 260 — Total jail staff (including civilians)
  • 205 — Sworn sheriff’s deputies
  • 165 — Sheriff’s deputies who work in the jail
  • $158 — Cost of housing one inmate per day. This is considered higher than most jails generally, but lower than some other urban facilities.
  • 136 — Number of security cameras
  • 80 — Number of female inmates
  • 65 — Number of inmates per housing unit
  • 33% — Approximate percentage of inmates who are on psychotropic medications
  • 32 — Average inmate stay, in days (most are either released to transferred to a state penitentiary following sentencing)
  • 23 — Number of hours per day that the higher-security “special” inmates spend in their cells
  • 12 — Length of housing unit guard shift, in hours. Guards work a six month rotation. Except for the higher-security areas, there is only one guard per housing unit at any given time.
  • 5 — Number of inmates on a house arrest program managed by the Sheriff’s Office.
  • 2 — Number of 20-minute visits prisoners are allowed per week
  • 0 — Number of guns and nightsticks guards are allowed to carry in the housing units.

More photos, after the jump.

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Arlington PD Not Planning on Changing Immigration Policy After Cuccinelli Opinion

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington County Police Department does not plan on changing its hands-off immigration policies after Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli ruled that law enforcement can ask about the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest.

Cuccinelli’s legal opinion also allows police to arrest individuals suspected of committing criminal violations of immigration laws (such as illegally crossing the border).

Currently, ACPD will not ask about citizenship status unless such information is relevant to solving a crime. The department does not arrest undocumented immigrants for federal immigration violations, and only reports undocumented immigrants to U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they’re:

  • Involved in terrorist, subversive or street gang activities
  • Arrested for a violent felony
  • Convicted of a non-violent felony
  • Helping others enter the U.S. through fraud

“The police department does not plan to change policies at this point,” said police spokesperson Det. Crystal Nosal. “Citizens living or traveling through Arlington should not be worried that our actions will be changing.”

Nosal said the department wants witnesses and victims of crime to feel safe coming to the police, “regardless of immigration status.”

Arlington police will, however, continue to enforce all warrants from federal agencies, including immigration-related warrants.

Crime Report: “Don’t Save the Space, Save Yourself” Edition

By ARLnow.com

In Lyon Park last week, police say a man purposely backed into a parking space, hitting a person who was assumedly trying to save the space for someone else.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY-ARREST 07/21/10, 900 block of N. Wayne Street. On July 21 at 10 pm, a man purposely reversed his vehicle into someone standing in a parking space. William Reintzel Jr., 39, of Arlington, was charged with Assault and Battery and held on a $2,000 bond.

Also last week, a purse-snatching happened in the middle of Courthouse while people were heading home from work.

ROBBERY 07/22/10, 2100 block of Wilson Boulevard. On July 22 at 6 pm, an unknown man approached a woman walking and forcibly pulled her purse from her shoulder. The suspect then fled on foot. He is described as a black male, 20 to 30 years old, 5’10” and 185 lbs. The suspect was wearing a navy blue t-shirt and jeans.

The rest of the latest Arlington County crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Mass Vandalism Edition

By ARLnow.com

As today’s Arlington County crime report notes, a vandal caused some major damage last week when he or she spray painted “numerous” vehicles parked along North Ivy, Lincoln, and 6th Streets in Ashton Heights.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY (SERIES) 07/15/10, 3200 block of N. 6th Street and the 500 blocks of N. Ivy and Lincoln Streets. Between late evening on July 14, and 6:30 am on July 15, numerous vehicles on several streets were spray painted with white paint. There are no known suspects.

The full crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Moved Items Edition

By ARLnow.com

All in all it was a relatively quiet week for the Arlington Police Department. As if to illustrate the point, here’s one particularly small town-ish item that made it onto the weekly crime report.

BURGLARY 07/13/10, 1800 block of N. Culpeper Street. Between midnight on July 1, and 8 am on July 13, an unknown person entered a closed porch and moved items. There are no known suspects.

We’re sure detectives are hot on the case of the moved items. The full Arlington County crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Assault on Police Edition

By ARLnow.com

It’s not easy being a police officer in Arlington. The truly interesting or exciting calls are few and far between. More often than not, you’re stuck responding to petty neighborhood disputes and false burglar alarms. And, once in a while, some a-hole suspected of firing off illegal fireworks from his apartment slams a door on your hand on the Fourth of July.

The Arlington County Crime Report lists five cases of assault on police that occurred during the past two weeks. We’re told the officer who had the door slammed on his hand did not suffer any permanent injuries.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 07/05/10, 1000 block of S. Walter Reed Drive. On July 4 at 11 pm, police responded to an apartment to assist county fire marshals. A subject assaulted an officer by slamming a door on the officer’s hand. David Chandler, 29, of Arlington, was charged with Assault on Law Enforcement. He was held on a $5,000 bond.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 06/24/10, 1500 block of Wilson Boulevard. On June 24 at 8:30 pm, an officer located a suspect in a larceny. The suspect assaulted the officer while being taken into custody. Dillard Burgess, 50, of no fixed address, was charged with Assault on Law Enforcement, Assault and Battery and Grand Larceny. He was held without bond.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 06/28/10, 3900 block of Campbell Avenue. On June 28 at 8 pm, a female subject was arrested for being drunk in public. During the detention, she kicked the officer several times. Diana Firth, 39, of Arlington, was charged with Assault on a Police Officer and Drunk in Public. She was held until sober.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 07/01/10, 3700 block of Columbia Pike. On July 1 at 12:00 am, while being detained for public intoxication, a suspect bit an officer. Domingo Chicas-Amaya, 26, of Alexandria, was charged with Assault on a Police Officer and Drunk in Public. He was held on a $3,500 bond.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 07/05/10, 2100 block of S. Monroe Street. On July 5 at 3:30 am, a man assaulted an officer investigating a call about disorderly behavior. Talifferro Gatling, 37, of Waldorf, MD, was charged with Assault on Law Enforcement, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. He was held without bond.

The full crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: False Statement Edition

By ARLnow.com

A quick public service announcement: If you’re going to file a false police report, you might want to first make sure you left the pot at home.

FALSE POLICE REPORT-ARREST 06/16/10, 1800 block of Wilson Boulevard. On June 16 at 10:45 am, a woman called police to report that she was robbed of currency. Investigation revealed that the woman actually gave the money to an acquaintance. Regena Sayles, 42, of Suitland, MD, was charged with Filing a False Police Report and Possession of Marijuana. She was held on a $3,000 bond.

The rest of this week’s Arlington County Crime Report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Young Women Assaulting Cops Edition

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County Crime Report, we find two cases of young women assaulting police officers.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 06/02/10, 1000 block of S. Hayes Street. On June 2 at 8:30 pm, a woman was caught shoplifting at a mall. She then spit on a security guard and assaulted a police officer. Shanta Watson, 18, of Washington D.C., was charged with Assault on Law Enforcement, Assault and Battery, Identity Theft and Petit Larceny. She was held on a $7,500 bond.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 06/05/10, 3100 block of Wilson Boulevard. On June 5 at 12:40 am, an officer was arresting a suspect when the suspect’s girlfriend assaulted the officer. The female assaulted a second officer as well. Stephanie Vogeley, 21, of Arlington, was charged with two counts of Assault on Law Enforcement and Drunk in Public. She was held on a $5,000 bond.

The rest of the report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Rude Behavior Edition

By ARLnow.com

It’s generally considered good manners to hold the door open for strangers. We’re pretty sure, however, that Miss Manners would not approve of pummeling someone who fails to partake in such common courtesy.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY-ARREST 05/26/10, 1200 block of S. Eads Street. On May 26 at 9:30 pm, one woman assaulted another after the victim did not hold the door open. Atiba Ayala, 19, of Washington D.C., was charged with Assault and Battery. She was held on a $1,500 bond.

Elsewhere, some jerk(s) slashed the tires on at least 20 cars this week.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY (SERIES) 05/29/10, Lyon Park Neighborhood. Between 11 pm on May 28, and 7 am on May 29, an unknown subject vandalized at least 12 cars in the neighborhood. There is no suspect description.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY (SERIES) 05/31/10, 1800 block of N. Roosevelt Street. Between 11 pm on May 30, and 7 am on May 31, an unknown subject vandalized at least eight cars in the neighborhood. There is no suspect description.

The full Arlington County Crime Report after the jump, including more cell phone robberies.

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Crime Report: Cell Phone Thefts on the Rise?

By ARLnow.com

It may not be a sustained trend, but there were at least three instances of people having their cell phones forcibly taken from them this week. That follows an incident last week in which a woman who was talking on a cell phone was pushed to the ground and robbed of her phone.

ROBBERY 05/25/10, 1800 block of N. Moore Street. On May 25 at 9:45 pm, an unknown woman and man approached a man waiting at a bus stop. The male suspect asked the victim if he had a cell phone. When the victim pulled it out, the suspects stole it and fled on foot. Both suspect were African American and in their early 20’s. The male suspect was 5’6″ and wearing a black jacket, black jeans and a black head covering. The female was 5’5″ with a heavy build, and was wearing blue jean, a blue jacket and carried a purse.

ROBBERY 05/26/10, 4300 block of N. 4th Street. On May 26 at 12:30 am, a man was talking on his cell phone outside an apartment building when a group of men approached him. They surrounded him and stole money and his cell phone. The six suspects were African American males.

ROBBERY 05/26/10, 200 block of N. Piedmont Street. On May 26 at midnight, a man was carrying a case of water and was approached by a group of six unknown subjects in their early 20’s. Two men assaulted him and stole money and a cell phone from his pocket. The suspects then fled. The first suspect is described as an African American male, 5’6″ with a large stomach wearing only pants. The second suspect is a female with a dark complexion, 5’5″, with dark spiky hair, partially dyed green. The third suspect is described as a “short and fat” African American female wearing dark clothing. The fourth suspect was a “tall and skinny” African American female wearing a white t-shirt. The other suspect descriptions are unknown.

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

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Crime Report: Guy Punches Bus, Exposes Himself

By ARLnow.com

From this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY/EXPOSURE-ARREST 05/13/10, 3800 block of Wilson Boulevard. On May 13 at 6 pm, a man attempted to flag over a transit bus. When the bus did not stop, the suspect punched a window on the bus, breaking it. The suspect then exposed himself to the driver. Brian Lavoie, Jr, 28, of Arlington, was charged with Destruction of Property, Indecent Exposure and Drunk in Public. He was held on a $3,500 bond.

If your only goal is to get a bus to stop, then punching out one of its windows and exposing yourself to the driver is actually probably a good strategy. We’re guessing the bus stopped at that point.

However, if your strategy is to get the bus to stop and not go to jail, then it’s probably a bad idea. Plus, last time we checked bus windows are pretty thick, which could be painful if you punch one with enough force to break it.

The rest of the report, including the arrest of some guys accused of doing creepy things, after the jump.

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