guns

Crime Report: Shooting and Syracuse Edition

By ARLnow.com

This week’s Arlington County crime report features a Rosslyn Holiday Inn guest who’s accused of firing a gun at what he “thought” was an intruder in his room. As police dryly noted, “there was no intruder.”

RECKLESS HANDLING OF A FIREARM-ARREST 03/01/11, 1900 block of Ft. Myer Drive. On March 1 at 12:45 am, a man in a hotel though there was an intruder in his room and fired a round from a handgun. There was no intruder, and no hotel patrons were injured. Russell Wooten, 60, of Vienna, West Virginia, was charged with Reckless Handling of a Firearm and Released on a summons to appear in court.

Last weekend two men were arguing on Washington Boulevard, two blocks from the Clarendon Metro, when police say one hit the other in the face with a beer bottle. The perp was wearing an orange Syracuse basketball jersey, cops say. Also of note: the Syracuse men’s basketball team defeated Georgetown earlier in the day in a game played in D.C.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING 02/27/11, 3200 block of Washington Boulevard. On February 27 at midnight, two men argued. One struck the other in the face with a beer bottle. The suspect is described as white male in late 20’s, 5’8″ with an average build. He was wearing an orange Syracuse University basketball jersey.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: The Tables Have Turned Edition

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a man pulls a gun on his ex-boyfriend on Valentine’s Day, leading to a struggle. The victim manages to take away the suspect’s gun, and the suspect flees. Ironically, this scene played out only one block from police headquarters in Courthouse.

ABDUCTION 02/14/11, 2000 block of N. 15th Street. On February 14 at 6:50 pm, a man was walking to his car when his ex-boyfriend approached him displaying a firearm. The suspect attempted to force the victim into a car, and the two struggled. The victim was able to recover the weapon and call police. The suspect fled. Warrants are pending.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Arlington Tax Bill, Capitol Gun Ban on Life Support in Richmond

By ARLnow.com

Arlington’s top legislative priority is on life support in Virginia’s House of Delegates.

As expected, the renewal of a hotel tax surcharge that is responsible for generating Arlington’s nearly $1 million per year tourism promotion budget was all-but-killed in a House subcommittee this morning. The bill, introduced by Arlington’s Del. Bob Brink (D), was passed by indefinitely — meaning the House version dead unless a member who voted against it changes his or her mind.

An identical bill introduced by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple passed the Senate last week, however, meaning that the tax renewal will get another shot in House committee. It’s yet to be seen whether the outcome will be any different.

Other bills by Arlington lawmakers have met with mixed results.

A bill from Del. Patrick Hope (D) that would have banned guns in Virginia’s Capitol building and the General Assembly Building has been passed by indefinitely.

Another bill from Hope, which would have dramatically raised the state tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products, has also failed.

Two bills introduced by Del. Brink have managed to pass the Republican-controlled House, however. The bills “address the irregularities discovered during the signature gathering process” for last year’s failed effort to change Arlington’s form of government.

One bill, HB 1646, calls for the name and address of a petition signature gatherer to be present on both sides of the petition form. The other bill, HB 1670, says that “a notary shall not perform any notarial act… that presents a conflict between his personal interest and his official duty.”

One bill passed unanimously, the other passed with only one ‘no’ vote. They will now be taken up by the Democratic-controlled state Senate.

Moran Co-Sponsors Bill to Ban High-Capacity Ammo Magazines

By ARLnow.com

Rep. Jim Moran (D) was among the gun control advocates expected to join New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D) this afternoon at a news conference introducing a bill that would ban high-capacity ammunition magazines.

McCarthy and Moran are sponsoring the bill in the wake of the shooting in Tucson, Ariz. that left six people dead and 13 wounded, including Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The bill would ban ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Such magazines were banned from 1994 to 2004, when Congress let the Clinton-era assault weapon ban expire.

Moran’s office issued the following press release today.

U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat, will join Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY04) and advocates for reducing gun violence to discuss the formal introduction of – and a plan to advance – legislation to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines such as those used in tragic shootings in Tucson, AZ.

The bill will be formally introduced when the House of Representatives reconvenes later in the evening. The bill brings the nation to the same 10-round-maximum standard used in at least six states today, as well as nationwide for the decade when the previous federal assault weapons ban was in effect. It also closes a gaping loophole in the previous ban in which magazines manufactured before the law went into effect could still be traded by private sellers.

Patrick Hope to Introduce Bill Banning Guns in Virginia’s Capitol

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:15 p.m.) Del. Patrick Hope (D), who represents part of Arlington in the Virginia House of Delegates, announced that he will introduce legislation today that would ban firearms in Virginia’s Capitol building and the General Assembly Building.

Although Hope wrote the legislation several weeks ago, he is now citing the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tuscon, Arizona on Saturday as a reason why it should be passed.

“The tragedy this weekend in Tucson should cause all public officials to re-examine the safety and security of themselves, their staff, and visitors,” Hope said in a statement. “Every day we put our personal lives, the lives of our staff, and the lives of the general public at risk by allowing firearms in the GAB and the Capitol.”

Hope said criticism of his bill is misguided.

“There’s nothing offensive or unconstitutional about asking individuals not to bring firearms into the GAB or the Capitol,” he said. “You can’t walk through an airport with a gun, you can’t enter the US Capitol or Federal Courthouses with a gun. Why should the Virginia Capitol and the GAB be any different?”

In 2006, a lawmaker accidentally fired his gun in the General Assembly Building. The bullet struck a bulletproof vest that was hanging in a closet and no one was hurt, save a small cut on the lawmaker’s hand.

Anyone with a concealed weapon permit is allowed to carry a gun in the Capitol and General Assembly Buildings.

Crime Report: Armed Threats

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a female escort is robbed by a man with a gun, and a man who threatened to get his gun is Tasered by police.

ROBBERY 12/08/10, 1200 block of N. Glebe Road. On December 8 at 12:15 pm, a man brandished a handgun and robbed a female escort in a hotel room. The suspect is described as an African American male, 5’9′ with a medium build. He was wearing a white shirt, black pants and black shoes.

ASSAULT ON POLICE-ARREST 12/14/10, 1200 block of S. Nash Street. On December 14 at 11:30 pm, a police officer towed a vehicle. The vehicle owner threatened to get a firearm from his residence, left the scene, and returned. When he did not comply with police commands, a tazer was deployed. John Pistolas, 47, of Arlington, was charged with Assault on Law Enforcement. He was held on a $1,000 bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Grand Theft Auto Edition

By ARLnow.com

This week’s Arlington County crime report has an item that sounds like it could have happened in the video game Grand Theft Auto. Police say two men in a stolen car led them on a chase and then crashed.

GRAND LARCENY AUTO-ARREST 10/25/10, 4500 block of Fairfax Drive. On October 25 at 11:30 pm, two men were seen in a stolen vehicle. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled and crashed. Both suspects were apprehended. Gustavo Lopez, 18, of Annandale, was charged with Eluding, Possession of Burglarious Tools, and Grand Larceny of an Automobile. Jesse Rodriguez, 21, of Arlington, was charged with Eluding and Grand Larceny of an Automobile. They were both held without bond.

Elsewhere, a dispute over a parking spot escalated to the point where police say one man drew a weapon.

BRANDISHING-ARREST 10/21/10, 5200 block of Lee Highway. On October 21 at 8:30 am, a man brandished a handgun at another man after an argument regarding parking. James Garvie, Sr., 72, of Arlington, was charged with brandishing a Weapon. He was released on a summons to appear in court.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Brandishing in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

The following item from this week’s Arlington County crime report might make you think twice before honking the horn, even if the other guy is clearly in the wrong. This happened less than a block from the Ballston Metro station.

BRANDISHING 10/16/10, 4200 block of Fairfax Drive. On October 16 at 6:30 pm, a man honked his vehicle horn at three males crossing against a traffic light. One of the subjects lifted his shirt and displayed a handgun. The suspect is described as an African American man in his 20’s wearing a red jacket and a skullcap.

The rest of the crime report, including a brandishing in south Arlington, after the jump.

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Falls Church School Locked Down After Man With Gun Spotted

By ARLnow.com

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Falls Church was locked down around 9:30 this morning after a jogger told police she saw a man with an assault weapon in the area.

The man was wearing camouflage, a utility belt and a helmet, the woman said.  Falls Church police officers searched the school and the neighborhood but did not find anyone matching the description. The scene has since been cleared, according to city spokesperson Hyun June.

About 124 summer school students, teachers and staff, along with a daycare program, were inside the school at the time.

Update at 12:15 p.m. — Police believe the man, who still hasn’t been located, was carrying an airsoft gun or a paintball gun. He’s described as a white male in his twenties.

Police Identify Standoff Suspect

By ARLnow.com

Police have identified the suspect in this morning’s standoff in Douglas Park as 58-year-old Thomas Amshey.

Amshey is being held without bond at the Arlington County Detention Center. He has been charged with assault, brandishing a firearm and obstruction of justice.

Amshey surrendered to police at 11:20 this morning, following a 16-hour standoff that involved dozens of police officers and culminated with SWAT team members launching tear grenade cannisters into Amshey’s home.

See the police press release on the incident, after the jump.

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Man With Gun Walks Into Crystal City Hotel Lobby

By ARLnow.com

A man dressed in all black and armed with a silver handgun entered the lobby of the Crystal Gateway Marriott (1700 Jefferson Davis Highway) just after 2:00 last night. Hotel employees fled as the man jumped a front counter in an apparent robbery attempt.

After a short time the suspect left the building and headed south on Eads Street. No one was hurt.

When police arrived, however, they believed the man may have still been in the hotel. In a tense scene, officers surrounded the front of the building with shotguns and handguns drawn.

After security tape revealed that the man had exited the building earlier, officers split up to look for the him in the surrounding area. He was not found.

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