police

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Man Punched Outside Ballston Subway — A man was punched in the face outside the Subway on Fairfax Drive in Ballston yesterday. The assault occurred just before lunchtime and those flocking to the restaurant for footlongs had to step over splatters of blood on the sidewalk. No word yet on what prompted the fight nor whether the suspect, who reportedly fled into the Metro station, was later apprehended. [Twitter]

Tonight: Committee of 100 County Board Debate — The Arlington Committee of 100 will be holding a County Board debate tonight at Marymount University. The program, moderated by ARLnow’s Scott Brodbeck, will start at 8 p.m. after a meet and greet and dinner. [Committee of 100]

History of the W&OD Railroad — Before it was a bike and pedestrian trail, the W&OD was a regional railroad that transported goods and people across Northern Virginia. How would the area and our transportation problems be different if it had stayed a transit corridor, asks a GGW contributor. [Greater Greater Washington]

Local Social Media Influencer Profiled — Clarendon resident and mother of two Angelica Talan “has made a career out of building a loyal following on social media.” She blogs at Clarendon Moms and Angelica in the City and also has done some modeling and acting. [Arlington Magazine]

Tree Group Wants More Trees — The Arlington Tree Action Group replied on Twitter to a posting of the photo above: “Beautiful sky! It would look even better with more trees! #ArlingtonVA #trees.” [Twitter]

Nearby: Alexandrians Worry About Takeout Window — A proposed takeout window for a new Mexican restaurant on King Street prompted a protracted debate among members of the Alexandria city council. Said one opponent on the council, who ultimately lost out on a 4-3 vote: “I think this is maybe one small step in the direction of what we don’t want Old Town to become.” [Washington Business Journal]

Photo courtesy Dennis Dimick

Police: Man Assaults Officer Following Crystal City Traffic Stop

By Alex Koma

A Maryland man is now facing a slew of charges after police say he tried to lock himself in his car, then threw an officer to the ground during a traffic stop.

Arlington County Police say that 32-year-old Michael Terrance McClanahan of Clinton, Maryland first attracted the attention of officers when he made an illegal U-turn while driving near the intersection of Crystal Drive and 20th Street S. around 2 a.m. Monday (Oct. 8).

Police pulled McClanahan over and discovered he was driving on a suspended license. When officers told him to leave his car, McClanahan “refused to exit the vehicle, attempted to lock himself inside and did not comply with the lawful commands of the officers,” police said.

Once officers were able to get him out of his car, they found he was carrying a concealed weapon and decided to arrest him. As they tried to take him in to custody, McClanahan managed to lock legs with one officer, “causing both to fall,” according to police.

He’s now charged with assault and battery on a police officer, carrying a concealed weapon, obstruction of justice and driving without a license, with a hearing set for Nov. 5 in Arlington General District Court.

McClanahan is currently being held without bond in the county jail.

Full details from a county crime report:

ASSAULT AND BATTERY ON POLICE, 2018-10080019, Crystal Drive at 20th Street S. At approximately 2:14 a.m. on October 8, officers on routine patrol observed a vehicle make an illegal U-turn and attempted a traffic stop. One of the officers had previously cited the driver for operating without a valid license and his license remained suspended at the time of this incident. During the investigation, the suspect allegedly refused to exit the vehicle, attempted to lock himself inside and did not comply with the lawful commands of the officers. Officers removed the suspect from the vehicle and placed him under arrest. A search incident to arrest located a concealed weapon on the suspect’s person. While being transported to booking, the suspect affected a leg lock on an officer causing both to fall. Michael McClanahan, 32, of Clinton, Md., was arrested and charged with Assault and Battery on Police, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Obstruction of Justice and No Operator’s License. He was held without bond.

Photo courtesy of Arlington County Police Department

Fugitive Led Police on High-Speed Chase on I-395 Before Arrest

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 8:50 p.m.) A man wanted for a series of credit card and vehicle thefts has finally been taken into custody after a high-speed chase that zoomed through Arlington.

Alton Thodos, who escaped from a Fairfax County motel two weeks ago while surrounded by police, drove a reportedly stolen SUV northbound on the HOV lanes of I-395 this morning, pursued by Fairfax County police. Arlington County officers and the Fairfax County police helicopter assisted pursuing officers as the chase continued northbound toward the 14th Street Bridge.

Before the chase crossed the bridge, an Arlington officer attempted but to use a “spike strip” to flatten the tires of the SUV, but Thodos managed to maneuver around it, according to scanner traffic. (The image above shows the chase just before it crossed the river.)

Officers lost sight of the SUV after crossing into the District, but the search continued and the pursuit later continued in D.C. and Maryland. Thodos, 32, was later arrested after a crash in District Heights, Md.

More via Twitter:

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Local Investment Firm CEO Arrested — Todd Hitt, the founder of Falls Church-based Kiddar Capital, was arrested by the FBI and charged with securities fraud last week. Hitt was developing a new company headquarters in Falls Church. He made headlines as a young housing developer in the 1990s for clashing with Arlington neighbors while building what residents dubbed “McMansions.” [Tysons Reporter]

More White Nationalist Posters Spotted — A reader says he saw more white nationalists posters around Clarendon over the weekend. The reader, who wished to remain anonymous, says he removed the posters after photographing them. [Twitter]

New 1100 Wilson Blvd Rooftop — “Monday Properties hosted a VIP event for real estate brokers Wednesday evening to showcase the 6,200-square-foot indoor-outdoor space atop the 31-story building, part of the two-building The Towers. It is being unveiled as landlords in Rosslyn and across Greater Washington seek to up their communal spaces to appeal to tenants who increasingly want more than just office space to attract and hang onto employees.” [Washington Business Journal]

Bamboo Removal This Week — “Arlington County contractors will be removing bamboo in Benjamin Banneker Park during the week of Oct. 8. Depending on weather conditions, treatment is expected to conclude by Friday, Oct. 12.” [Twitter]

Maryjane Arrested for Car Theft, Weed — “Police caught a woman named Maryjane in Ballston who they say stole a car in Fairfax County — and they also hit her with a marijuana charge.” [Patch]

Windfall for Ballston Company — “Arlington-based AvalonBay Communities Inc. expects to clear north of $450 million from the sale of a majority stake in five Manhattan apartment communities.” [Washington Business Journal]

2000th Morning Notes Post — This is Morning Notes post No. 2000. ARLnow.com launched in January 2010.

Police Investigating Armed Robbery at Courthouse Store

By ARLnow.com

A store in Courthouse was the scene of an armed robbery early Thursday morning.

According to a police report, a man walked into a business on the 2000 block of Clarendon Blvd around 1 a.m. and flashed a gun at a store clerk. He then ran off “with an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise.”

The only business on that block open at 1 a.m. is a 7-Eleven store.

More from Arlington County Police:

ROBBERY, 2018-10040006, 2000 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 1:05 a.m. on October 4, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that an unknown suspect entered a business, approached the front counter and requested to purchase merchandise. As the employee retrieved merchandise from behind the counter and presented it to the suspect, the suspect lifted his shirt, displaying a firearm, and demanded the employee give him cash. The suspect then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise. The victim was not injured. The suspect is described as a black male with a medium skin tone, approximately 6’0″-6’3″, with a medium build, wearing a red shirt on top of his head, a black rag covering his hair, a black short-sleeved t-shirt, black pants, and basketball shoes. The investigation is ongoing.

Crime Report: Robber Steals Security Guard’s Gun

By ARLnow.com

Police are investigating an unusual robbery that happened early Sunday morning along Columbia Pike.

The robbery happened outside of a business near the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Four Mile Run Drive. Police say a man walked up behind an armed security guard and stole his gun while pushing him to the ground. He then assaulted a second victim before running off “with an undisclosed amount of cash.”

During the incident one of the victims “recovered the firearm stolen from the first victim,” according to police.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ROBBERY, 2018-09300031, 4800 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 2:24 a.m. on September 30, police were dispatched to the report of a possible robbery by force. Upon arrival, it was determined that the first victim was patrolling a business as an armed security guard when the suspect approached him from behind, pushed him to the ground and stole his firearm. The victim ran after him and encountered two additional victims, who had been walking in the area when they were approached by the suspect, who demanded money and valuables. When one victim claimed to have no possessions of value, the suspect struck the victim and became engaged in a physical altercation with the second victim. During the incident, the victims recovered the firearm stolen from the first victim. The suspect then fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.  The suspect is described as a tall, black male wearing black puffy jacket and jeans. One victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

Later Sunday, police responded to a report of a home invasion robbery in the North Highlands neighborhood near Rosslyn.

Just before 5 p.m., according to a crime report, residents encountered an armed man inside their home. The suspect allegedly stole cash and fled, but was later arrested by police while walking east on the Custis Trail.

BURGLARY WITH INTENT TO ROB, 2018-09300173, 2100 block of N. Troy Street. At approximately 4:49 p.m. on September 30, police were dispatched to the report of a home invasion. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victims were inside their residence when they heard a loud noise and went to investigate. The victims then encountered an unknown suspect brandishing a firearm. The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of cash and personal property before fleeing the scene on foot. Arriving officers established a perimeter and a lookout for the suspect was broadcast based on the description provided by the victims. Officers located a suspect matching the description walking east on the Custis Trail and took him into custody without incident. Angelo Shepherd, 30, of Washington D.C. was arrested and charged with Burglary with Intent to Rob, Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Ammunition by a Felon and Assault. He is being held on no bond.

This past Friday evening, meanwhile, police were called to the 3000 block of Clarendon Blvd in Clarendon for a report of a drunk man mooning passersby.

More from ACPD:

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2018-09280217, 3000 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 5:25 p.m. on September 28, police were dispatched to the report of a drunk in public. Upon arrival, officers located the suspect and determined he was intoxicated and had exposed his buttocks to multiple people passing by. William Klugel, 62, of No Fixed Address, was arrested and charged with Indecent Exposure and Drunk in Public.

The rest of the past week’s crime report highlights, including some that we’ve already reported, is below.

(more…)

Theft Investigation Briefly Interrupts Service at Ballston Metro

By ARLnow.com

A theft near the Ballston Metro station this afternoon led to Metro trains briefly being halted on the Orange and Silver lines.

The suspect reportedly fled into the station and possibly ran down the Metro tunnel from Ballston to Virginia Square. Metro Transit Police is checking the area but it is unclear whether the suspect has been located.

The victim did not wish to prosecute, according to an Arlington County Police spokeswoman.

Trains were halted for at least a few minutes due to police activity.

Flickr pool photo by Dave Bentley

BREAKING: Body Found Near Base of Antenna Tower Along Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com
1/4

(Updated at 1:30 p.m.) A woman has been found deceased at the base of the antenna tower at 5301 22nd Street N., according to initial reports.

Arlington County police and firefighters are on the scene. A 911 caller reportedly saw the woman fall from the tower.

The tower, along Lee Highway, is used primarily by telecommunications companies for mobile phone antenna arrays.

Via Twitter, Arlington County Police confirmed that officers are conducting a death investigation, noting that it “appears to be an isolated incident with no known threat to the community.”

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of self-harm, call 911 or the Department of Human Services’ emergency services line at 703-228-5160. You can also call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Photo via Google Maps

Man Pleads Guilty to Using Dark Web to Download Child Pornography

By Alex Koma

An Arlington man has pleaded guilty to federal sex crime charges, admitting to downloading child pornography through a website on the “dark web.”

Ammar Atef Alahdali, a 22-year-old Saudi Arabian national living in Arlington, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography in federal court yesterday (Tuesday), according to a release from the Department of Justice.

Federal prosecutors say Alahdali used cryptocurrency to register on a dark web site, which could only be accessed via special software masking his IP address, back in April 2017.

They believe he then downloaded “more than 20 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including at least one video depicting sadistic sexual conduct” from the website over the subsequent months.

According to documents filed in federal court, federal agents searched Alahdali’s home in July, where they discovered evidence of child pornography on his laptop. He also admitted to downloading the pornography in an interview with federal agents.

Alahdali is currently being held in the Alexandria Detention Center and is set to be sentenced on Jan. 18.

File photo

Police: Man Picks Up Four Passengers, Assaults One After Attempted Abduction

By Alex Koma

A Maryland man is now behind bars after he allegedly picked up four passengers in D.C., refused to let one out of his car and then assaulted that person while he or she tried to escape.

County police say 34-year-old Rick Ramey of Bryans Road, Maryland wasn’t working as a rideshare or taxi driver when he managed to convince four people to get into his car around 3 a.m. Friday night (Sept. 28).

Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage says it’s unclear how Ramey met his passengers, or if he was posing as a rideshare driver, but she said “they appear unknown to each other prior to the incident.”

Ramey drove three of his passengers to their intended destination, but refused to let the final one out at their home, police say. From there, the pair started arguing, and the confrontation “escalated and become physical.”

“The victim and suspect exited the vehicle and the suspect struck the victim in the head, causing a laceration,” police said.

Ramey is now facing charges of both abduction and malicious wounding, with a hearing in Arlington General District Court set for Dec. 3. He’s currently being held in the county jail without bond.

Savage says the whole incident underscores the need for people to “take advantage of safeguards in place to keep them safe and never accept rides from drivers who are not operating in an official for-hire capacity.”

“For rideshares, this includes checking that the license plate, driver photo, and driver name all match what’s listed in the app,” she said. “For taxicabs, this includes checking that the driver’s hack license and identity of which company they are affiliated with are prominently displayed.”

Full details on the incident from a county crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2018-09280030, 1200 block of S. Arlington Ridge Road. At approximately 2:58 a.m. on September 28, police were dispatched to the report of a fight in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined that the suspect, who was not working as a rideshare or taxi driver, picked up the victim and three friends in Washington, D.C. After stopping to drop off the victim’s friends, the suspect continued, but refused to stop at the victim’s address or let the victim exit the vehicle. A verbal altercation ensued, which escalated and became physical. The victim and suspect exited the vehicle and the suspect struck the victim in the head, causing a laceration. Rick Ramey, 34, of Bryans Road, Md., was arrested and charged with Abduction and Malicious Wounding. He was held on no bond.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Judge Dismisses Dewey Horse Punch Case — A man who was accused of punching a police horse in Dewey Beach is now trying to clear his name after the case was dismissed. Surveillance video reportedly exonerated the man, who might not actually be from Arlington as originally reported. [Cape Gazette]

Rosslyn Transportation Meeting Tonight — “Join Arlington County and the Rosslyn BID to provide feedback at this public meeting that will focus on the Core of Rosslyn Transportation Study. This study will examine the feasibility and potential impacts of permanent changes to the street network in the core of Rosslyn, with the goals of improving safety and accessibility for all users, including those walking, biking, using transit and driving.” [Rosslyn]

Another Commute Alternative: Running — As Metro continues on a downward ridership spiral, some are finding running to be an attractive commuting alternative, providing exercise and fresh air while eliminating costs and unpredictable delays. [Runners World]

Angels of the Battlefield Gala Tonight — The Armed Services YMCA will present its annual Angels of the Battlefield awards tonight during a gala at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City. Among the 2018 recipients of the prestigious awards are Senior Airman Linda Wilson, who helped save lives during the Las Vegas mass shooting last year. [ASYMCA, Air Force Times]

New Film Fest Coming to Clarendon — “Georgetown’s Halcyon and Arlington’s Clarendon Ballroom will be the venues for a new film festival – Flicks4Change — that links the entertainment world with charitable activism. The film festival first started in Los Angeles, expanded to Australia and now comes to the DC area.” [Georgetown Dish]

Nearby: Pete’s Apizza Closes in Md. — Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza has closed its Silver Spring location. The D.C. and Clarendon locations remain open. [Bethesda Beat]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

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