A theft at a Pentagon City shopping center led to the suspects driving down a sidewalk, police say.
The alleged robbery happened Saturday evening on the block of S. Hayes Street that’s home to both the Pentagon Centre shopping center and the Pentagon City mall.
According to Arlington County police, a suspect seen removing security tags from merchandise left the store and started running when confronted by a security guard. He hopped in a car, with the assistance of a second suspect, and drove down the sidewalk, narrowly missing the security guard, before fleeing the area, police say.
ROBBERY, 2022-07230176, 1200 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 5:19 p.m. on July 23, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny that had just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined a loss prevention officer observed Suspect One allegedly remove security tags from merchandise before exiting the business with the stolen items. When the loss prevention officer confronted Suspect One, the suspect pushed him and ran outside to a parked vehicle. Suspect Two followed and provided the vehicle’s keys to Suspect One. Suspect One then fled in the vehicle, driving on the sidewalk and nearly striking the loss prevention officer in the process. Suspect Two fled the area on foot. A lookout for the suspects was broadcast and officers canvassed the area yielding negative results.
A donut shop, a child care center, a facial spa and Peruvian restaurant are coming to HQ2.
Amazon announced the latest small business additions to its forthcoming Pentagon City campus, which are expected to open next year with the completion of the first phase of HQ2 construction. (The second phase was approved earlier this year.)
The new additions include a pair of familiar and well-loved Arlington eateries: Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe in Ballston and Peruvian Brothers, which formerly had a location in Crystal City.
The other two, Celebree School and Glo30, are, respectively, an early childhood education center with a location in Tysons and a membership-based facial spa with locations in D.C. and Bethesda.
Celebree School of National Landing, Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe, Glo30, and Peruvian Brothers are the latest businesses signed on to open in Amazon’s second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
As development continues at Amazon’s second headquarters (HQ2) in Arlington, Virginia, we are looking for retail partners that will enrich this growing community of both our neighbors and employees.
Over the past eight months, we’ve announced several local small businesses that will open their doors next year at Metropolitan Park, the first phase of HQ2, including Conte’s Bike Shop, District Dogs, HUSTLE, RAKO Coffee, Social Burger, and South Block. As we continue to bring more small businesses to the area, we hope that HQ2 can be a destination for all the important areas of life, whether that be work, play, family time, or any of the moments in between.
We’re excited to announce the latest additions coming to Met Park in 2023.
The co-owner of Peruvian Brothers tells ARLnow that the new location at HQ2 will pick up where the former stand at the under-renovation Crystal City Water Park left off.
“We are sticking with our food truck vibe with a fast casual concept but will now include indoor and outdoor seating to eat on site,” said co-owner Giuseppe Lanzone. “Order your food, pick it up at the counter and take a seat with your family to eat our delicious food and enjoy live music surrounded by Peruvian art.”
“We will also debut a full bar dedicated to our Pisco Sour Slushies as well as some new Peruvian cocktails that we would drink back home in La Punta, Peru,” Lanzone added. “We look forward to welcoming back friendly faces from the neighborhood to our new location in National Landing.”
Arlington is seeing a spate of men exposing themselves.
The pasttwo Arlington County Police Department crime reports have included five separate indecent exposure incidents, four of which involve men masturbating in public and three of which resulted in arrests.
The incidents happened in the Pentagon City, Courthouse and Buckingham neighborhoods, as well as along Langston Blvd between the Yorktown and High View Park communities.
In the Buckingham incident, the given location of which is 2-3 blocks from Ballston, the suspect was following a female victim late at night when he allegedly started to touch himself inappropriately.
More from ACPD:
INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2022-07110110, 5200 block of Langston Boulevard. At approximately 11:10 a.m. on July 11, police were dispatched to the report of an indecent exposure. Officers met with the reporting party who stated she was walking into a building when she observed a male suspect on a bench with his genitals exposed and masturbating. The victim continued into the building and called police during which the suspect fled in an unknown direction. A lookout was broadcast and additional units canvassed the area for the suspect yielding negative results.
INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2022-07120017, 2200 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 1:32 a.m. on July 12, police were dispatched to the report of a trespassing. Upon arrival, officers located the suspect, who had been previously banned from the business, and took him into custody without incident. The investigation determined the suspect entered into the lobby of the building, sat in the common area and allegedly began masturbating. [The suspect], 34, of No Fixed Address, was arrested and charged with Drunk in Public, Trespassing, and Indecent Exposure.
INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2022-07090174, 1200 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 4:26 p.m. on July 9, police were dispatched to the report of an exposure. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect entered into the business and began looking at merchandise before allegedly placing his hands in his pants and touching himself inappropriately. Responding officers located the suspect and took him into custody without incident. [The suspect], 46, of Arlington Va., was arrested and charged with Public Masturbation.
INDECENT EXPOSURE (Late), 2022-07090002, N. George Mason Drive at N. Henderson Road. At approximately 12:02 a.m. on July 9, police were dispatched to the late report of an indecent exposure. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 11:25 p.m. on July 8, the female victim was walking in the area when she observed the unknown male suspect walking behind her. The suspect exposed himself and began masturbating before fleeing the area on foot.
INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2022-07090118, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 11:36 a.m. on July 9, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny from a business just occurred. While officers were enroute, dispatch advised that the suspect had entered into a second business and began exposing himself. Responding officers located the suspect and took him into custody without incident. The investigation determined that the suspect allegedly entered into the first business and concealed merchandise before fleeing on foot into the second business and exposing himself. During a search of the suspect incident to arrest, the stolen merchandise and suspected drug paraphernalia were recovered. [The suspect], 47, of No Fixed Address, was arrested and charged with Possession of Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, Indecent Exposure, Petit Larceny: Shoplifting. He was held on no bond.
Psycho Bunny is bounding its way to the Pentagon City mall, along with restaurants Soul Wingz, Maizal, and Rosa Mexicano.
The menswear store Psycho Bunny is looking to open inside of Fashion Centre at Pentagon City next month, on August 1, according to the mall’s website. It’s located on the first level, above the food court, and next to the Ritz-Carlton hotel.
“Over the years, the brand has developed a cult following for men who don’t have to sacrifice irreverence for style,” the Pentagon City’s website says. “Psycho Bunny is about contradictions; it is mischievous, yet refined; timeless, yet contemporary.”
Additionally, local brand Soul Wingz is planning to open early next month in the mall. It’s set to be located next to Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and near the entrance to the Metro.
Soul Wingz began as a D.C. area food truck in 2008, according to its website. The restaurant also appears to have a location near Howard University in D.C.
The website describes the cuisine as soul food, with a menu that includes wings, fried fish, smothered pork chops, and hush puppies.
Maizal, a Latin American street food stand, is also opening at the Pentagon City mall. The aim is to open in September, notes the mall’s website. This will be the restaurant’s second Arlington location, the other being at Ballston Quarter. There appear to be also locations coming to Reagan National Airport and to Reston, according to the restaurant’s website.
The fast-casual spot specializes in create-your-own bowls and arepas (stuffed corn cakes), and also offers burritos, empanadas, plantains and tacos.
Rosa Mexicano is planning to open in September as well, moving into the 5,500-square-foot space formerly occupied by Sugar Shack. That location has an outside entrance facing S. Hayes Street.
An electrical worker is fighting for his or her life after an incident this morning near Pentagon City.
Firefighters were called to The Representative condominium tower at 1101 S. Arlington Ridge Road around 9:30 a.m. for a report of an electrocution and a fire on the roof, according to scanner traffic. The fire was out by the time crews reached the scene but two injured workers were found and taken to the hospital.
On social media, the Arlington County Fire Department described what happened as a “small electrical fire.” The reported injuries, however, were serious, ACFD said — one worker had critical injuries while another had serious but non-life threatening injuries.
The Arlington County fire marshal’s office is investigating what happened alongside occupational safety authorities, ACFD said.
The road in front of the condo building was at least partially blocked earlier today as a result of the sizable emergency response.
#Final – Two patients transported to an area hospital. One patient with critical injuries, and one with serious but non-life threatening injuries. OSHA, @ArlingtonVaPD, and our Fire Marshal’s will remain on the scene to investigate.
— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) July 6, 2022
The Bethesda-based Japanese restaurant finally opened its doors last week at Westpost, next to Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream. Employees tell ARLnow that Kusshi is in the midst of its soft opening with a “grand opening” set for later this month.
The sushi and sake spot was first announced more than a year ago, filling the space once occupied by Namaste Everest. It was initially supposed to open late last year, then spring, before ultimately opening in late June.
Co-owner Tony Chow told ARLnow that the delays were associated with fairly typical stuff, including supply chain issues, materials, and permitting.
This is Kusshi’s second location. Ownership decided to open at 1201 S. Joyce Street due to the same developer — Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) — owning both Westpost and Bethesda’s Pike & Rose, where the restaurant opened its first location in 2018.
Its proximity to Amazon HQ2, only about a mile away, was also a major reason for moving into the shopping center, Chow told ARLnow earlier this year.
The menu is similar to the Bethesda location’s offerings, including sushi, sashimi, ramen, katsu, and sake. The restaurant also offers omakase, a formal meal left to the chef’s choice. There’s currently only indoor seating, but outdoor seating is part of the plan as well.
Westpost has had a myriad of openings recently, all part of a significant makeover over the past two years. In late 2020, the development’s name changed from Pentagon Row to Westpost. Since, buzzy restaurants like Lucky Danger, Cathal Armstrong’s Mattie and Eddie’s, and Nighthawk Pizza have all opened.
Thieves did not take the Independence Day holiday off, keeping Arlington police busy this past weekend.
It was a long weekend of vehicular mayhem across the county. In one of the earlier incidents, nearly three dozen vehicles — all Hondas and Acuras — had their airbags stolen overnight Saturday into Sunday in various neighborhoods, including the Rosslyn and Pentagon City areas.
From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:
LARCENY FROM AUTO (Series), 2022-07030018, 1300 block of Fort Myer Drive/1300 block of N. Ode Street/1200 block of S. Nash Street/1100-1300 block of S. Arlington Ridge Road/1600 block of 28th Street S./1100 block of Arlington Boulevard/1500 block of Arlington Boulevard/1600 block of S. Joyce Street/900 block of 15th Street S./Army Navy Drive at S. Lang Street/1300 block of Arlington Ridge Road. At approximately 1:15 a.m. on July 3, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of Fort Myer Drive for the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, it was determined the victim heard her vehicle’s alarm sounding and upon looking outside, observed a white van or SUV stopped next to her vehicle. The suspect vehicle then fled the scene. Upon investigating, the victim observed her vehicle’s window smashed but nothing was reported stolen. Officers canvassed the area and located three additional vehicles with broken windows and airbags stolen. During the course of the day, police received additional reports of larcenies from auto in the County. The investigation determined an additional 34 vehicles had their windows smashed and airbags stolen overnight. All vehicles were Honda and Acura models. There is no suspect(s) description. The investigation is ongoing.
On 5 p.m. on the Fourth of July, police chased a car driven by a suspect wanted for felonies in Maryland.
The pursuit started in the Pentagon City mall parking garage when the car allegedly ran into two police cruisers and through the parking gate. It was halted when the driver continued onto an I-395 ramp going the wrong way, but the vehicle was later found and the suspect — who remains at large — was identified and charged.
ELUDING (Significant), 2022-07040145, 800 block of Army Navy Drive. At approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 4, officers conducting extra checks in a parking garage observed a parked, unoccupied vehicle registered to a suspect wanted for felony offenses out of Anne Arundel County, MD. Officers attempted to take the suspect into custody when he returned to the vehicle but he was non-compliant and refused to follow the commands of officers. The suspect then fled the scene at a high rate of speed, striking two cruisers and causing minor damage and breaking the arm of the gate to the garage. Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit and the suspect continued to driver erratically before exiting I-395 on a one-way ramp going the wrong direction at which time the vehicle pursuit was terminated. A perimeter was established and the area was searched by ACPD and Virginia State Police with the assistance of U.S. Park Police and Metropolitan Police Department helicopters. Alexandria Police Department subsequently located the unoccupied suspect vehicle near the intersection of Route 1 and Franklin Street. Warrants for Felony Eluding, Assault on Law Enforcement (x2), Felony Destruction of Property and Misdemeanor Destruction of Property were obtained for the suspect. The investigation is ongoing.
Then, early Tuesday morning, a pizza delivery driver was carjacked in the Arlington Mill neighborhood, just north of Columbia Pike, by two people with guns and ski masks. They were not found despite a helicopter search of the area.
CARJACKING, 2022-07050020, 800 block of S. Greenbrier Street. At approximately 3:12 a.m. on July 5, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim was delivering pizza when the two unknown suspects, who were wearing black ski masks, approached him. The suspects displayed firearms, threatened him and demanded he give them his personal belongings including the keys to his vehicle. The suspects then fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. A police helicopter searched the area for the suspect and stolen vehicle yielding negative results. The vehicle is described as a 2013 Black Hyundai Elantra with Virginia tags UFD1506. There are no descriptions of the suspects. The investigation is ongoing.
A shoplifting suspect led Arlington police on a foot chase in Pentagon City, then allegedly bit an officer before finally being taken into custody.
The incident happened Monday afternoon in the area of the Pentagon City mall, along the 1100 block of S. Hayes Street.
“At approximately 2:35 p.m. on June 27, police were dispatched to the report of a shoplifter in custody,” said an Arlington County Police Department crime report. “Upon arrival, it was determined that the suspect allegedly entered into the business, concealed merchandise, and left without paying when she was detained by loss prevention employees. During the course of the investigation, the suspect provided false identifying information to responding officers, however they were able to properly identify her.”
Then, shortly before 4 p.m., the suspect — a girl under the age of 18 — managed to escape police custody and run across the street with an officer in pursuit.
“While being secured inside the cruiser for transport, the suspect pushed past the officer and ran from the vehicle,” said the crime report. “A foot pursuit was initiated, during which the suspect disregarded the officer’s commands and while being detained, continued to resist arrest and bit the officer. The officer sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment. The suspect sustained minor injuries and declined the treatment of medics on scene.”
A tipster tells ARLnow that the suspect pushed past a resident entering the lobby of The Witmer apartment building, adjacent to the eastern entrance to the Pentagon City Metro station. It was in the lobby that the suspect allegedly battled with the officer, biting her and prompting a large police response after the request for backup.
“The suspect bit the officer and continued to struggle and resist arrest while she was being detained,” said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “A witness assisted the officer and upon the arrival of additional police units, the suspect was successfully taken into custody in the 700 block of 12th Street S.”
It took 3-4 minutes for backup to arrive, locate the officer and suspect in the apartment lobby, and take the suspect into custody. The suspect is now facing multiple charges, including malicious wounding for the bites that sent the officer to the hospital.
“Petitions for Petit Larceny: Shoplifting, Identity Theft, Forging Public Records, Escape from Custody, and Malicious Wounding of a Law Enforcement Officer were obtained for the juvenile suspect,” said the crime report. “The investigation is ongoing.”
A major project to make Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City more bike- and pedestrian-friendly is expected to kick off later this year.
The Arlington County Board approved a $10.6 million construction contract for the long-planned “Complete Streets” project at its meeting this past Saturday.
“The project will rebuild Army Navy Drive within the existing right-of-way as a multimodal complete street featuring enhanced bicycle, transit, and pedestrian facilities and street trees,” said a Board report. “The goal of the project is to create a safer, multimodal system of connections between commercial, residential and retail services of the Pentagon City and Crystal City.”
Currently, Army Navy Drive is a 5-6 lane vehicle thoroughfare mostly serving those driving to the Pentagon, the Pentagon City mall, and nearby apartments, offices and hotels. The project seeks a more balanced mix of transportation modes while giving the corridor a more pedestrian-oriented feel.
“The reconstruction will provide a physically separated two-way protected bicycle lane facility along the south side of Army Navy Drive, in addition to shorter and safer pedestrian crossings, and will accommodate future dedicated transit lanes,” says the project website. “Vehicle travel lanes will be reduced in number where appropriate and will be narrowed to dimensions appropriate for a slower urban context.”
Plans show at least two vehicle lanes in each direction, though some intersections may be configured with two turn lanes and only one through lane.
The project’s impending kickoff comes amid the continued construction of Amazon’s HQ2, the northern edge of which — including the iconic “Helix” building that’s part of HQ2’s recently-approved second phase — will border Army Navy Drive. It will also help facilitate the planned expansion of the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway and will serve a burgeoning residential population in the neighborhood, including a potentially expanded RiverHouse apartment complex.
More from the Board report:
This project will provide a key missing link in the County’s bicycle network by providing an east-west protected bicycle facility that will link up with the Mount Vernon Trail via the existing bike facilities along Long Bridge Drive and the proposed connection to be constructed by the adjacent Boundary Channel Drive/I-395 Interchange project. Furthermore, the project will link to the future two-way bicycle lane facility planned for South Clark Street between 12th Street South and 15th Street South, in addition to the future South Eads Street protected bike lanes.
This project will also complete the extended Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway by adding one dedicated transit lane in each direction along Army Navy Drive between South Joyce Street and South Hayes Street. Finally, the Army Navy Drive Complete Street project supports multimodal connectivity goals of major planned and approved commercial and residential development in Pentagon City, including the Amazon HQ2, Met Park, and River House projects.
New Renderings of Days Inn Development — “The plans to replace the Days Inn on Arlington Boulevard with 251 multi-family units and around 3,000 square feet of retail are coming into focus. New plans filed with Arlington County last week provide the first renderings for The Arva, the eight-story project designed by STUDIOS Architecture.” [UrbanTurf]
Yorktown Girls Lax Wins State Tourney — “After qualifying for the state tournament for the first time in 2019 and enjoying success by going 1-1 and losing in the semifinals, the Yorktown Patriots were hungry for much more in that competition. This spring, the girls lacrosse team indeed got considerably more, by winning the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state tourney with a 3-0 record and capping its best season in program history.” [Sun Gazette]
Woman Assaults Officers in Pentagon City — “1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 9:00 p.m. on June 11, police were dispatched to the report of a disorderly subject. Upon arrival, officers met with security who advised the female suspect had been smoking inside the building and they wanted her banned from the property. Officers located the suspect and asked her to leave the premises. During the incident, the suspect became combative and struck an officer in the face. The suspect continued to attempt to strike the officers, and with the assistance of an additional responding officer, she was taken into custody.” [ACPD]
Buses Causing Damage in Ballston — “Another Arlington light pole bites the dust, this time in Ballston. Police are on the scene. A tour bus that was here earlier, possibly the striking vehicle, has since left… More bus mayhem in Ballston: a tour bus ran over and damaged some of the landscaping in front of the Westin hotel, per a reader who sent this photo.” [Twitter]
Cobbler Moving to Alexandria to Expand — “After twenty years in Pentagon Row, family-owned leatherworking shop Best Foot Forward is moving to the Bradlee Shopping Center in Alexandria early next month… ‘My dad started it as a one-man business. Now we’re looking to expand and Bradlee would be twice as big.'” [ALXnow]
Va. Realtors Worried About Market — “Members of the Virginia Realtors trade group report declining sales conditions and more concern about the future, owing to higher interest rates, more inventory and perhaps the sense among some residents that it’s time to batten down the hatches rather than take on the responsibility of a new home.” [Sun Gazette]
Arlington Bear Now in Fairfax County? — “A bear was sighted in the Belle Haven area on Thursday (June 9), and one Nextdoor user snapped some photos of it crossing George Washington Memorial Parkway near Belle View Boulevard… The Fairfax County Police Department says its Animal Protection Police and wildlife management specialist were alerted to bear sightings in the area over the weekend. The department has also received recent reports of a young bear moving through McLean.” [FFXnow]
Missing Middle Modifications in Portland — “The Portland City Council unanimously approved a long list of seemingly technical zoning tweaks that ease the city’s rules on construction of… housing types like townhomes, fourplexes, and cottage clusters… The program got hearty praise at the time as the nation’s most ambitious low-density zoning reform. It’s spawned an infant industry of developers building smaller, more affordable ‘missing middle’ housing. Nevertheless, the results thus far have been fairly modest, producing only about 100 additional units since the program went into effect in August 2021.” [Reason]
It’s Tuesday — Rain and storms, potentially severe, in the morning. Clearing in the afternoon. High of 82 and low of 73. Sunrise at 5:44 am and sunset at 8:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
Rent Keeps Going Up — “Arlington’s median apartment-rental rate remains highest in the metropolitan area and has fully rebounded from dropoffs during the early part of COVID, according to new data. With a median rental rate of $1,999 for a one-bedroom unit and $2,391 for two bedrooms in May, Arlington’s average rental… is now up just under 13 percent year-over-year.” [Sun Gazette]
Arlington Making Much Multifamily — From a spokesperson, about a new set of national rankings: “Multi-family units authorized in Arlington increased by 1,095.8% — a total addition of 2,838 units — between 2020 and 2021. Out of all midsize cities, Arlington experienced the 5th largest increase in multi-family home construction.” [Construction Coverage]
Group Decries Missing Middle ‘D-Day’ — From WAMU’s Ally Schweitzer: “With Arlington expected to enact zoning reforms allowing denser housing in more nabes, the group [Arlingtonians for Our Sustainable Future] is ramping up its rhetoric in opposition. The group’s latest blast calls the expected vote day ‘D-Day.’ They’ve said the county is ‘declaring war’ on single-family nabes.” [Twitter]
Parking Removed for Transitway Extension — From the National Landing BID: “Parking lanes along Crystal Drive and 12th Street South will be closed to make way for the Transitway Extension Project beginning Wednesday, June 15, 2022.” [Twitter]
Pedestrian Struck in Bluemont — From Dave Statter last night: “Report of a pedestrian struck at Wilson Blvd & George Mason Dr. Appears to be a bicyclist. There was also bicyclist struck last week a block away. @ArlingtonVaFD & @ArlingtonVaPD handling.” [Twitter]
Amazon Buys HQ2 Phase 2 Site — “Amazon.com Inc. has acquired the roughly 11 vacant acres in Pentagon City that will soon be developed as PenPlace, the massive second phase of HQ2. The $198 million deal with JBG Smith, as expected, follows Arlington County’s late April approval of PenPlace, a nearly 3.3 million-square-foot project slated to include three traditional office buildings, a spiral Helix tower, three retail pavilions, a central park and an underground parking garage.” [Washington Business Journal]
Environmental Finding on HQ2 Site — “Crude oil particles have been found in the soil at Amazon.com Inc.’s PenPlace, the site of the second phase of its second headquarters buildout in Arlington County, per a public notice published Monday in The Washington Post… The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality conducted a risk assessment for the particles, finding that the amount poses ‘no material risk to current or future site occupants,’ according to the notice.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Tuesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day with some rain possible. High of 76 and low of 63. Sunrise at 5:45 am and sunset at 8:33 pm. [Weather.gov]