police

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Pentagon Declares War on Scooters — “The Pentagon hates your little scooters, too. In fact, DoD would like you and your ride-sharing company to know that if you leave your rental scooters or shared-bicycles anywhere on Pentagon property, they will be impounded, right quick.” [Defense One]

ACPD Ticketing Bike Lane Blockers — Arlington County police have been ticketing delivery truck drivers who block protected bike lanes — including the new bike lanes on N. Quincy Street in Ballston — as part of an “enforcement and education” effort. [Twitter]

Ballston Farmers Market to Extend Season — “Arlington County Board members on Sept. 22 are expected to vote to permit the Ballston Farmers’ Market to operate through the end of November each year, an extension of one month from earlier years.” [InsideNova]

Stuck Window Washer Rescues Self — A large fire department response to a report of a window washer trapped outside the sixth floor of a high-rise building in Rosslyn turned out to be for naught; the worker was able to “self-extricate” before the technical rescue team arrived. [Twitter]

Reminder: Free ART Bus Rides Today — “In celebration of ART’s 20th Anniversary, we’re letting everyone ride ART for free on Thursday, September 20! It’s our way of saying thank you to our loyal customers for riding ART and also an invitation for those who have never been on ART to give it a try.” [Arlington Transit]

Photo courtesy Dennis Dimick

Crime Report: Airbags Stolen from Numerous Cars

By ARLnow.com

Windows were smashed and airbags stolen from around 10 cars in the Penrose neighborhood last week.

Police say the thefts occurred overnight. There is no description available of the suspect or suspects.

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

LARCENY FROM AUTO (series), 2018-09130067/09130079, 700 block of S. Courthouse Road/2800 block of 8th Street S. At approximately 6:20 a.m. on September 13, police responded to the report of a destruction of property to a vehicle. Upon arrival, it was determined that between 10:00 p.m. on September 12 and 6:00 a.m. on September 13, the windows of approximately ten vehicles were smashed and airbags stolen. There is no suspect(s) description. The investigation is ongoing.

Additional highlights from this week’s crime report, including some we’ve already reported, are below.

GRAND LARCENY (significant), 2018-09150139, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 12:11 p.m. on September 15, police responded to the report of a larceny. Upon arrival, it was determined that two suspects entered a business, selected multiple pieces of merchandise, concealed them on their persons and exited the store. A lookout was broadcast, and Suspect One was observed exiting the mall. The suspect ignored commands by officers to stop and a brief foot pursuit ensued before he was taken into custody without incident. Suspect Two was located by officers inside the Pentagon City Metro. He was stopped and taken into custody without incident. Anthony Adams, 27, of Clinton, Md., was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Commit Larceny, Grand Larceny: Shoplifting, Identity Theft and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. He was held on no bond. Kenneth Burley, 30, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Commit Larceny and Grand Larceny: Shoplifting. He was held on no bond.

ELUDING, 2018-09120075, 900 block of Army Navy Drive. At approximately 9:50 a.m. on September 12, an officer on routine patrol observed a vehicle with illegal window tint and attempted a traffic stop by activating their emergency equipment. A routine check indicated that the registered owner of the suspect vehicle was wanted for a felony probation violation. The suspect did not stop and fled the area at a high rate of speed. Shortly after, the Emergency Communications Center was notified of a hit and run accident that occurred when the suspect vehicle traveled northbound in the southbound HOV lanes of I-395 and struck one vehicle causing significant damage but no injuries were reported. United States Park Police officers located the disabled suspect vehicle in the 900 block of Ohio Drive SW, Washington D.C. and took two passengers into custody. The driver fled the scene on foot, a perimeter was established and following a search that was aided by United States Park Police Helicopter, the suspect was taken into custody. Dennis Chase, 26, of Washington D.C., was arrested and charged with felony eluding, felony hit and run, abduction and the outstanding warrant for felony probation violation was served. Damion Courtney, 31, was taken into custody on an outstanding United States Marshal Service warrant for parole violation.

Police Arrest Two Men for Shoplifting from Pentagon City Mall

By Alex Koma

Two men are now facing a series of charges after Arlington police say they shoplifted from a store in the Pentagon City mall and then led officers on a brief foot chase.

County police say the men walked into a store at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (1100 S. Hayes Street) “selected multiple pieces of merchandise, concealed them on their persons and exited the store.”

When police saw one of the men leaving the mall, they say “ignored commands by officers to stop and a brief foot pursuit ensued before he was taken into custody without incident.” Officers later found the second man inside the Pentagon City Metro station, and arrested him.

Police identified the men as 27-year-old Anthony Adams of Clinton, Maryland and 30-year-old D.C. resident Kenneth Burley. Adams is charged with conspiracy to commit larceny, grand larceny: shoplifting, identity theft and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, while Burley is charged with conspiracy to commit larceny and grand larceny: shoplifting.

Both are being held without bond in the county’s detention center. Burley and Adams are both set for Oct. 23 hearing on those charges in Arlington General District Court.

Full details from a county crime report:

GRAND LARCENY (significant), 2018-09150139, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 12:11 p.m. on September 15, police responded to the report of a larceny. Upon arrival, it was determined that two suspects entered a business, selected multiple pieces of merchandise, concealed them on their persons and exited the store. A lookout was broadcast, and Suspect One was observed exiting the mall. The suspect ignored commands by officers to stop and a brief foot pursuit ensued before he was taken into custody without incident. Suspect Two was located by officers inside the Pentagon City Metro. He was stopped and taken into custody without incident. Anthony Adams, 27, of Clinton, Md., was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Commit Larceny, Grand Larceny: Shoplifting, Identity Theft and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. He was held on no bond. Kenneth Burley, 30, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Commit Larceny and Grand Larceny: Shoplifting. He was held on no bond.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Flash Flood Watch Issued for Arlington — Arlington, D.C. and points west are under a Flash Flood Watch today, starting at 10 a.m., as the remnants of Hurricane Florence drop heavy rain on the area. [Twitter]

New Food Distribution Site in Ballston — “The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) has joined with the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) to open a new food-distribution site at The Springs, an apartment complex in the Ballston area. The site will distribute food on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m., and will serve eligible residents from the apartment as well as neighboring APAH communities.” [InsideNova]

Rosslyn Fire Station Leveled — Rosslyn’s Fire Station 10 has been demolished as construction proceeds on a new fire station on the ground floor of a new development. [Twitter]

‘Coffee With a Cop’ Planned — “Wednesday, October 3 is National Coffee with a Cop Day and the Arlington County Police Department is hosting two events with our Community Outreach Teams to celebrate. Community members are invited to join police at this informal event to ask questions, voice concerns, get to know their neighbors, interact with the Community Outreach Teams and meet officers from other sections of the department.” [Arlington County]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Crime Report: Robbers Crash Truck Through Storefront, Abscond with ATM

By Alex Koma

Arlington police are still searching for a group of suspects who they believe crashed a pickup truck through the front door of a business, then absconded with an ATM.

County police say the robbery happened just after 3 a.m. last Friday (Sept. 7) at a business along the 1100 block of S. George Mason Drive, near the road’s intersection with Columbia Pike.

The block is home to both a Wells Fargo bank branch and a Liberty gas station.

According to a county crime report, employees saw a “large white pickup truck” back through the storefront. Anywhere from three to four people then jumped out and threw the machine into the truck’s bed, before speeding off.

Police are not sure just how much money was inside the ATM, and described the suspects as “dressed in all black and wearing black masks.”

Full details from a county crime report:

GRAND LARCENY (Significant), 2018-09070042, 1100 block of S. George Mason Drive. At approximately 3:32 a.m. on September 7, police responded to the report of a robbery just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that the employees of a business observed a large pick-up truck back through the storefront, causing damage. 3-4 suspects then exited the vehicle and forcibly stole an ATM machine with an undisclosed amount of cash, placed it in the truck and fled at a high rate of speed prior to police arrival. The suspects are described as being dressed in all black and wearing black masks. The vehicle is described as a large white pick-up truck. The investigation is ongoing.

And here are more highlights from crime reports from the past week:

UNLAWFUL ENTRY, 2018-09080258, 700 block of 22nd Street S. At approximately 11:50 p.m. on September 8, police responded to the report of an unknown male inside the victim’s residence. Upon arrival, it was determined that the female victim located the unknown male suspect asleep inside her residence and items inside tampered with. Nothing was reported missing. Matthew Agvent, 24, of Arlington, VA, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Entry.

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2018-09080027, 2700 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 1:46 a.m. on September 8, police responded to the report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, it was determined that the suspect entered a business at closing time and was denied service. The suspect then entered the bathroom, leaving the door ajar, where the victim observed him masturbating. After being asked to leave the business repeatedly, the suspect fled on foot prior to police arrival. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 5’11”, with an athletic build, defined jawline and round cheekbones, with stubbled facial hair, wearing a striped polo shirt with a white t-shirt under it, a brimmed hat, khaki pants, dark colored boxers and had a tattoo on his back. The investigation is ongoing.

PEEPING, 2018-09080030, 2300 block of 11th Street N. At approximately 2:29 a.m. on September 8, police responded to the report of a peeping. Upon arrival, it was determined that the female victim was inside her residence when she observed the male suspect in the bushes outside the window allegedly looking inside. The suspect fled prior to police arrival. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 25-40 years old, 5’5″-5’10”. The investigation is ongoing.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY, 2018-09090133, 1400 block of N. Rhodes Street. At approximately 5:24 p.m. on September 9, police responded to the report of an attempted burglary. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim was inside his residence when he heard someone attempting to gain access. The victim then made contact with the suspect and escorted him off of the property.  The suspect fled the scene walking north on Rhodes Street prior to police arrival. The suspect is described as a dark skinned male in his 30’s, approximately 5’6″-5’8″, wearing a black skull cap, black and white pants, a dark gray short sleeved t-shirt, black boots, carrying a black backpack and wearing a light colored towel or t-shirt around his neck. The investigation is ongoing.

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2018-09050097, Washington Boulevard at N. Kirkwood Road. At approximately 12:20 p.m. on September 5, police were dispatched to the report of an indecent exposure just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that the female victim was walking in the area when she observed the male suspect with his pants pulled down, exposing himself and masturbating. The suspect is described as a white male, wearing light-washed blue denim shorts or pants, and black shoes. Arriving officers canvased the area with negative results. The investigation is ongoing.

File photo

JUST IN: Three Arrested in D.C. After Driving the Wrong Way Down I-395 While Fleeing Police

By ARLnow.com

Three people have been arrested and will likely face charges in Arlington after a desperate attempt to flee a traffic stop on I-395.

The incident started just before 10 a.m., when an Arlington police officer tried to pull over a vehicle heading northbound on I-395 in the Pentagon City area. The driver of the vehicle then sped off heading the wrong way on southbound I-395, according to ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

“The vehicle did not stop and fled the area at a high rate of speed,” she told ARLnow.com. “The vehicle traveled NB in the SB HOV lanes, struck a vehicle, and the three occupants of the suspect vehicle fled the scene on foot.”

A search ensued, as U.S. Park Police set up a perimeter and combed the area around East Potomac Golf Course for the suspects, according to scanner traffic. All three were eventually caught.

“With assistance by the United States Park Police and Virginia State Police, all three suspects were located and taken into custody,” Savage said. “Charges are pending at this time.”

There were no reports of injuries in the crash, according to Savage.

Man Shot by Arlington Police Claims Officers Opened Fire as He Tried to Surrender

By Alex Koma

An Arlington man shot by police claims officers aren’t telling the whole story about the incident that led up to the shooting — and he expects video evidence will help him prove his case in court.

County police shot Steven Best several times on May 3 on a street just off Columbia Pike, claiming he tried to flee a traffic stop and nearly hit officers with his van in the process.

But, in a series of court filings, Best’s attorneys allege that he was trying to surrender when police opened fire on him. They claim he was confused and trying to protect himself as he drove away from the scene, rather than attempting to harm any of the officers involved.

Best’s lawyers did not respond to requests for comments on those claims, but court documents show they’ve repeatedly sought access to video footage from nearby businesses, arguing that it will provide Best with crucial “exculpatory evidence.”

“He’ll be innocent of these charges when everything comes out,” Heather Rose, Best’s sister, told ARLnow. Best and the rest of his family otherwise declined to comment on the case, but they’ve frequently proclaimed his innocence in an online fundraiser to pay for Best’s legal and medical expenses.

County police spokeswoman Ashley Savage said she “can’t speak” to Best’s claims of innocence, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos declined to discuss them as well.

In the police department’s account of the shooting, officers tried to pull over Best near the intersection of 12th Street S. and S. Edgewood Street, as they were searching for the passenger in Best’s car: 40-year-old Jessica Lary of Annandale, who was wanted on a warrant for violating her parole.

Police say officers approached the vehicle on foot, but that Best “ignored their verbal commands and struck police vehicles in an attempt to flee the scene.” Two officers then opened fire on Best as he drove down 12th Street S., striking a parked car in the process.

Police say Lary and Best abandoned the vehicle near the intersection of 13th Street S. and S. Irving Street, where they were subsequently arrested. Savage added that neither Best nor Lary displayed any weapons during the incident. Three police officers were taken to a nearby hospital “for evaluation” afterward.

In Best’s version of events, several “unmarked police vehicles abruptly boxed in” his van and “unidentified officers drew their weapons immediately and began firing.”

His attorneys claim that Best “raised his hands to surrender,” leading to one of his fingers being “shot off.” The lawyers allege he was then shot “five additional times while sitting in his van.”

“Mr. Best attempted to drive away for the safety of himself and his passenger,” the lawyers wrote.

The attorneys made these arguments as part of an attempt to earn Best’s release on bond in mid-May. They acknowledged his past run-ins with law enforcement — Arlington court records show Best pleaded guilty to a series of drug charges from 1999 through 2008 — but argued he’d been working to turn his life around.

A judge ultimately agreed to his release, and to discontinue his electronic monitoring.

Best’s case will now head to a grand jury, which will determine whether his prosecution will move forward. Police originally charged Best with two counts of the attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer, but he’s now only facing one — Stamos says prosecutors decided to move forward with the pursuit of a single charge against Best “after a review by my office.”

The case was originally set to go to a grand jury in August, but Stamos now hopes to “present the case to the grand jury later this month.” A grand jury is currently set to convene on Sept. 24.

In the meantime, court documents show that both Best’s lawyers and prosecutors are pursuing surveillance video from businesses in the area.

Best’s attorneys most recently won a subpoena for video from the Day’s Inn hotel at 3030 Columbia Pike, arguing that the video recordings of the hotel’s exterior parking lots “contains exculpatory evidence” for Best. The lots are located near the intersection of 11th Street S. and S. Highland Street, roughly a block from where police say the incident took place.

Photo via GoFundMe

Crime Report: Man Awakes to Would-Be Burglar Inside Northwest Arlington Home

By Alex Koma

Arlington police are still investigating after a man awoke to find a would-be burglar inside his Northwest Arlington home last week.

Police say the incident happened around 11 p.m. last Wednesday (Aug. 29), when the resident of a home along the 3400 block of N. Dickerson Street was startled awake by noise inside the house.

The man turned on several lights and found items tampered with, when he then saw a man dash out of the house.

Officers arrived soon afterward with a police dog in tow to try and track down the man, but they were unsuccessful.

Full details on the incident from a county crime report:

BURGLARY, 2018-08290263, 3400 block of N. Dickerson Street. At approximately 11:14 p.m. on August 29, police responded to the report of a breaking and entering just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim awoke to noise inside his residence. When the victim went to investigate, he located multiple lights turned on, items tampered with and then encountered an unknown male suspect inside the residence. Following the encounter, the suspect fled on foot prior to police arrival. Arriving officers canvased the area and a K9 track was initiated with negative results. No items were reported missing. The suspect is described as a short, Hispanic male with an accent, wearing a ski mask and dark clothing. The investigation is ongoing.

And here are more highlights from crime reports for the past week, including some we’ve already reported:

BURGLARY (late), 2018-09030127, 2400 block of S. Walter Reed Drive. At approximately 4:34 p.m. on September 3, police were dispatched to the late report of breaking and entering. Upon arrival, it was determined that between July 17 and August 30, an unknown suspect(s) gained entry to the victim’s residence and stole items of value. There is no suspect(s) description. The investigation is ongoing

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2018-08290258, 1800 block of N. Oak Street. At approximately 11:10 p.m. on August 29, police responded to the report of an indecent exposure. Upon arrival, it was determined that an unknown male suspect entered a business and engaged a female employee in conversation. The suspect then began touching himself inappropriately and exposed himself, before fleeing prior to police arrival. The suspect is described as a dark-skinned black male in his early 30’s, with dreadlocks, wearing a white tank top, black shorts and carrying a black backpack. The investigation is ongoing.

ROBBERY, 2018-08290016, 220 20th Street S. At approximately 1:10 a.m. on August 29, police were dispatched to the report of a robbery just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim was inside his residence with four known subjects, whom he had invited over, when he became suspicious of their behavior. The victim then observed the suspects stealing his personal belongings. The victim chased them out of his residence and became engaged in a struggle in which one suspect assaulted him. The suspects then fled with the victim’s belongings, prior to police arrival. The victim was uninjured. Suspect One is described as a black male, 20-22 years old, 6’0″, heavy set, with short black hair, wearing a gray shirt with dark gray horizontal stripes, dark colored shorts and black shoes. Suspect Two is described as a black male, 20-22 years old, 6’0″, thin build, with short black hair, wearing a blue t-shirt, dark shorts and sneakers. Suspect Three is described as a black male, 20-22 years old, 6’0″, average build, bald or closely cropped hair, wearing a black t-shirt, black shorts and black sneakers. Suspect Four is described as a black male, 20-22 years old, 6’0″, average build, wearing a light colored hat, red t-shirt, white shorts, light colored sneakers and a watch. The investigation is ongoing.

Police: Man Exposed Himself to Woman at Rosslyn Business

By Alex Koma

Arlington police are searching for a man who allegedly exposed himself to an employee at a Rosslyn business last week.

County police believe the man struck up a conversation with a woman working in a shop along the 1800 block of N. Oak Street last Wednesday (Aug. 29), then “began touching himself inappropriately and exposed himself.” The area is home to businesses including a cafe, a Subway and a hair salon.

Police say the man fled the store before officers could make it to the scene.

They describe him as a “dark-skinned black male in his early 30s, with dreadlocks, wearing a white tank top, black shorts and carrying a black backpack,” and are still investigating the incident.

Full details from a county crime report:

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2018-08290258, 1800 block of N. Oak Street. At approximately 11:10 p.m. on August 29, police responded to the report of an indecent exposure. Upon arrival, it was determined that an unknown male suspect entered a business and engaged a female employee in conversation. The suspect then began touching himself inappropriately and exposed himself, before fleeing prior to police arrival. The suspect is described as a dark-skinned black male in his early 30’s, with dreadlocks, wearing a white tank top, black shorts and carrying a black backpack. The investigation is ongoing.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

HQ2 Odds Ever in Our Favor — Business Insider says it has “long seen the evidence pointing to the DC area” as the eventual destination for Amazon’s second headquarters. Online betting odds, meanwhile, favor Northern Virginia, and ARLnow.com hears that Crystal City is the far and away the most likely Northern Virginia locale for HQ2. [Business Insider]

High School Football Season Underway — “For the second straight season, but this year at a different venue, the Wakefield Warriors opened their high-school football campaign with a victory over the Washington-Lee Generals.” Yorktown, meanwhile, gave up a lead and lost to Wilson 37-29. [InsideNova]

McCain and Vietnam Vets Calls Nam Viet Home — A group of Vietnam War veterans, including the late Sen. John McCain, who was laid to rest over the weekend, regularly met up at Nam Viet restaurant in Clarendon. [Cronkite News]

First Day of School Reminder — Today is the first day of school for Arlington Public Schools and the school system is reminding residents that passing a school bus with its stop arm out is a traffic infraction punishable by a $250 fine. Police, meanwhile, are participating in a back-to-school safety campaign that includes extra enforcement of such traffic laws. [Twitter, Arlington County]

School Board: Don’t Go Over Building Budget — “Should Arlington Public Schools hold firm, no matter what, to budgets on upcoming construction projects? Or allow a little maneuvering room, if the opportunity arises, in an effort to get more bang for their buck? That question played out again Aug. 30, as School Board members split 3-2 in directing an advisory body to not even think about returning with a plan that exceeds the $37 million budget for turning the Arlington Education Center’s administrative offices into classroom space.” [InsideNova]

Police Prepare for Plane Pull — “The public is invited to cheer on the Arlington Police and Sheriff Team during the Plane Pull at Dulles Airport on Saturday, September 15, 2018.” [Arlington County]

New MU Prez Focuses on Real-World Experience — Irma Becerra, Marymount University’s new president and the first person of color in that role, plans “to further connect the Arlington university with its surrounding business community, making internships an equal pillar of her vision as enrollment, graduation and retention rates.” [Washington Business Journal]

Empanada Thief Caught on Camera — Arlington squirrels, apparently, are now blatantly stealing and eating empanadas in broad daylight. [Twitter]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

BREAKING: Body Found in Four Mile Run

By ARLnow.com

A body has been found in rain-swollen Four Mile Run near where it runs into the Potomac River.

First responders from Arlington, Alexandria and D.C. all responded to a report of a person in the water along the 3600 block of Potomac Avenue. The incident is currently being described as a recovery operation and investigation.

“ACPD is responding to investigate,” Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage told ARLnow.com early Sunday afternoon. “No details to report at this time.”

Photo courtesy Tatton Oliver

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