investigation

Police Investigate Reported ART Bus Hit and Run

By ARLnow.com

Police are investigating a possible hit and run involving an Arlington Transit bus.

A driver told police that an ART bus hit his driver’s side door near the intersection of S. Courthouse Road and 2nd Street, then continued on its way. No injuries were reported.

Police arrived to interview the driver and take photos of the car. A representative from Forsythe Transportation, which contracts with the county to run the ART bus fleet, also arrived and talked to police. Later, a passerby told ARLnow.com that a No. 42 ART bus was offloaded at S. Courthouse and 2nd Street as police inspected it.

Earlier this summer Forsythe fired a number of striking ART bus drivers and went on a hiring spree to quickly replace them. We’re awaiting comment from the county’s Department of Environmental Services, which is responsible for the county’s transit services.

Update at 10:45 a.m. — The ART web site reports that all buses going through S. Courthouse Road are “late due to… police activity.”

UPDATED: Bomb Squad Investigates Threat at Americans for Prosperity Office

By ARLnow.com

Update at 12:15 p.m. — The scene has been cleared and employees are being allowed back into the office.

Earlier: Arlington County’s bomb squad is investigating some sort of bomb threat inside an office building in Courthouse.

Initial reports suggest the threat was made to the conservative political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, at 2111 Wilson Boulevard. Bomb-sniffing dogs from the Arlington County Police Department and Virgina State Police are on the scene. Americans for Prosperity employees have been evacuated, but employees in other offices have been allowed to remain.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has been the source of some controversy recently. Among other incidents, the group was accused of sending error-filled ballots to Democrats in Wisconsin during a contentious election this month.

David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch, the original founders of AFP’s predecessor organization, have been major supporters of numerous conservative causes. The New Yorker has reported that Americans for Prosperity provides organizational and financial support to the Tea Party movement.

MoCo Serial Bank Robber’s Hit List Includes Arlington

By ARLnow.com

While Arlington police remain on the lookout for our own serial bank robbery suspect, police in Montgomery County, Md. are looking for a serial bank robber who has also hit banks in Arlington and Alexandria.

The suspect, seen here in a surveillance photo, has hit eight banks in Montgomery County, two banks in Alexandria and one bank in Arlington.

The Arlington robbery occurred on Dec. 14, at the BB&T Bank at 2947 S. Glebe Road. The suspect passed a note to a teller implying he had a gun, but no weapon was seen.

The suspect’s most recent reported robbery was on July 21, at a SunTrust Bank in Potomac, Md.

“Detectives are asking anyone with information about the bank robberies and/or the suspect to call the Montgomery County Police – Robbery Section at 240-773-5100,” police said in a press release. “Those who wish to remain anonymous should call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or at 240-773-TIPS (8477).  Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the person responsible for these bank robberies.  Anonymous tips can also be provided by typing ‘MCPD’ plus the tip on a cell phone or PDA and texting it to 274637 (CRIMES).”

More on Monday’s Courthouse Bank Robbery

By ARLnow.com

Police have released more information about yesterday afternoon’s armed robbery of the Wachovia Bank in Courthouse.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Robbery Unit is seeking the public’s help to identify a man who robbed an Arlington bank yesterday afternoon.

The suspect entered the Wachovia/Wells Fargo Bank in the 2000 block of Wilson Boulevard at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2011. He displayed handgun and demanded money. After receiving cash, the suspect fled on foot.

The suspect is described as an African American male in his late 20’s, 5’10” and 160 lbs. At the time of the robbery he wore a black hooded sweatshirt with silver writing on the front, black pants, and a mask over most of his face. The suspect was also carrying a dark colored bag.

Anyone who has information about this robbery or the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Arlington County Police Department Tip Line at 703 228-4242, or Detective Donald Fortunato at (703) 228-4197. Det. Fortunato can also be reached by emailat [email protected].

The crime was the third bank robbery in Arlington so far this month. The first two occurred at BB&T Bank branches in Clarendon and on Lee Highway. The suspect in those robberies was described by police as a white male in his 50s.

Police Investigate Weekend Incident at Whitlow’s

By ARLnow.com

Police are investigating an incident that happened at a popular Clarendon watering hole Friday night.

A man was knocked to the ground in a stairwell at Whitlow’s on Wilson (2854 Wilson Blvd) just before 9:00 p.m. A bar patron who saw the aftermath told ARLnow.com that the man was bleeding from his ear and from a fracture in the back of his head.

“This guy was in really bad shape,” said the tipster. “I am a former Marine and I’ve seen some nasty stuff, and this was pretty bad.”

The police report suggests that the man started arguing with a bouncer when he was told he couldn’t bring his drink outside. The bouncer then hit the man, knocking him over, according to the police report and a witness, who Tweeted a photo of the man lying on the ground. The man apparently suffered a head injury upon hitting the floor.

The injured man has not made a statement yet, police say, and at this point no charges have been filed. Police say the man is in the hospital with what appear to be non-life threatening injuries.

Photo by @joshbt

EXCLUSIVE: Authorities Investigate Flag Burnings

By ARLnow.com

Police and the Arlington Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a series of flag burnings in the Williamsburg and East Falls Church neighborhoods of North Arlington.

A total of 27 decorative flags were burned overnight on a quiet couple of blocks between Quantico Street and Sycamore Street, near Bishop O’Connell High School and Tuckahoe Elementary, according to fire department spokesman Lt. Gregg Karl. Neighbors say the plastic flags were recently placed in yards by the Boy Scouts, an annual Flag Day tradition.

Investigators believe whoever burned the flags did so just before 5:30 a.m. The fires caused the plastic flags to melt onto plants, yards and walkways. No word on a motive, but one neighbor on 27th Street theorized that the vandal or vandals were trying to send a message.

“There are some people who object to the flags for political reasons,” she said. “There are ways to protest if you don’t believe in something, but destructive protests like this do not accomplish goals. It does not accomplish anything.”

The resident acknowledged, however, that the flag burnings could also be a random act of “pure vandalism,” adding that said she could not remember anything like this happening in the 11 years she has lived in the neighborhood.

“It’s dangerous,” she said. “It could have caused a real fire.”

Anyone with information about the burnings is asked to call Deputy Fire Marshal Paul Frank at 703-228-4644. More photos, after the jump.

Hat tip to Colleen Creighton

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ACFD Rescues One from House Fire

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 9:45 a.m.) Firefighters rescued a woman from a house fire on N. Carlin Springs Road this morning.

First arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and flames at the front and back of the house on the 5100 block of N. Carlin Springs, said Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Lt. Gregg Karl. One victim had managed to escape the blaze, but another was still trapped inside on the second floor.

“[Firefighters] made an aggressive interior attack and search,” Karl said. “They located the victim and removed the victim via ground ladder from a second floor window.”

The two victims were transported to Virginia Hospital Center. The woman who had been rescued was then flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma for treatment of smoke inhalation, Karl said.

The flames broke out around 1:45 a.m. Northbound and southbound Carlin Springs Road was closed near the scene for much of the morning, as the Fire Marshal’s office investigated the cause of the blaze.

Employee Who Lost Eye During DMV Brawl Speaks Out

By ARLnow.com

A hotel employee who lost an eye during a huge brawl at the DMV Music Awards in Crystal City last month is speaking out about his ordeal.

In a video produced by the Arlington County Police Department, the employee — “Antonio,” a bartender at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City — says he and his family are now in debt and struggling to get by on meager workman’s compensation payments. He has had two operations since the March 5 incident and expects to have at least one more to get a prosthetic eye. While in recovery, Antonio has been unable to bathe or care for himself, and relies on his wife and friends to accomplish everyday tasks.

“I used to work for three hotels… I don’t know” if I will ever work again, he said. “I cannot live this way.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the attack to contact Detective J. Donaggio at 703-228-4167 or [email protected]. Several photos of the woman who is alleged to have attacked Antonio are displayed at the end of the video.

Arlington Teen Charged in Quincy Street Crash

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Police have charged an Arlington teenager with reckless driving after a crash yesterday morning near Washington-Lee High School.

Police say 18-year-old Joseph DiFilippo struck a woman and her dog with his pickup truck while they were walking northbound on N. Quincy Street. The woman, 29 28, remains in critical condition. The dog, a golden retriever, died at the scene.

DiFilippo has charged with reckless driving, failure to maintain proper control of a vehicle, driving without a license and violation of a learner’s permit. Police say the charges may be amended if the victim’s condition worsens. DiFilippo remained on the scene after the accident and cooperated with investigators, police say.

Arlington Police are asking anyone with information about the accident to call the department at 703-558-2222 or Detective Paul Marseilles at 703-228-4237.

The full police press release, after the jump.

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Woman Injured, Dog Killed by Truck Near W-L High School

By ARLnow.com

Update at 9:15 p.m. on 4/27/11 — The victim has succumbed to her injuries.

Update at 2:15 p.m. on 4/12/11 — The driver has been charged with reckless driving.

A young woman who was walking her dog was struck by a pickup truck this morning on the Quincy Street bridge over I-66, near Washington-Lee High School.

The accident happened in the northbound lanes around 7:30 a.m. The dog — a golden retriever — was killed and the woman — who was in her 20s — was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, according to Arlington Police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal.

“The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene of the accident and cooperated with police,” police said in a statement this afternoon. Nosal said the driver of the truck was reported to be 19 18 years old. Police are still investigating the accident and it’s not clear whether charges will be filed against him.

A witness who drove past the scene after the accident said the driver of the truck looked “solemn” and said the dog was covered by a white sheet.

Three-Car Wreck Shuts Down North Arlington Roads

By ARLnow.com

Several Yorktown-area streets have reopened since a lunchtime wreck sent one person to the hospital.

An Audi flipped on its roof and two other cars suffered severe front-end damage in the crash at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Rock Spring Road. One person was taken to the hospital and reportedly evaluated for possible head injuries. Amazingly, everybody else was apparently able to walk away from the wreck.

It’s unclear how the collision happened. The speed limit on Old Dominion Drive is 35 miles per hour and there is a stop light at the intersection. Police took photos of the scene as part of an accident investigation.

Old Dominion and Rock Spring were both shut down for just over an hour.

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