police

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

ACPD Helping Out in Puerto Rico — Arlington County Police officers are on the ground in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, directing traffic at critical intersections in areas without power. The officers were sent there as part of a national disaster mutual aid agreement. Local residents, meanwhile, have been expressing their appreciation for ACPD’s presence. [Twitter, Twitter, Twitter]

Blind Triplets Utilizing New Tech — The blind triplets who recently made history by all becoming Eagle Scouts are also among the early users of new Aira glasses. The technology, launched in April, uses camera-equipped glasses to allow a remote agent to narrate what they see in real time, thus providing additional autonomy for the wearer. [Washington Post]

School Board Members Ditch Ties — At Tuesday’s Arlington School Board meeting, the two male members of the Board “committed sartorial faux pas,” in the words of the Sun Gazette, by not wearing ties. [InsideNova]

Flickr pool photo by Chris Guyton

DEVELOPING: Police Searching for Robbery Suspect Near Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Police are searching for a strong-arm robbery suspect who fled from officers in Rosslyn this morning.

The incident started just after 9 a.m. near the intersection of N. Lynn Street and Lee Highway.

According to scanner traffic, the suspect is a panhandler who robbed another homeless man in October. He was spotted in Rosslyn this morning and led police on a brief foot chase. The suspect reportedly dodged a Taser and then outran police as he he fled into the woods along I-66.

The suspect is described as a white male with a shaved head, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Police are setting up a perimeter and bringing in a K-9 unit and the U.S. Park Police helicopter to search for the suspect.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Local Entrepreneur Scores on Shark Tank — “Sharmi Albrechtsen, founder and CEO of Arlington-based tech toy company SmartGurlz, landed an investment from FUBU founder Daymond John on Sunday’s “Shark Tank” episode: $200,000 for 25 percent of the business.” [Washington Business Journal]

New Year’s Meeting Nixed Again — For the second year in a row, what was once the traditional New Year’s Day organizational meeting of the Arlington County Board will not be held on Jan. 1. The meeting is instead expected to be held on Jan. 2, according to a draft 2018 County Board calendar. [InsideNova]

ACPD Holding Toy Drive — The Arlington County Police Department is holding its third annual Fill the Cruiser Holiday Toy Drive for children in need in Arlington. Officers will be collecting toys on the evenings of Tuesday, Nov. 28 and Tuesday, Dec. 5 in various locations around the county. [Arlington County]

Flickr pool photo by Bekah Richards

Police Investigate Armed Robbery at Cherrydale Gas Station

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:20 a.m.) Arlington County Police are investigating an armed robbery that happened Saturday morning at the Shell station in Cherrydale.

Police say a man with a gun demanded cash from the store clerk and fled on foot.

More from an ACPD crime report:

ROBBERY, 2017-11110100, 3300 block of Lee Highway. At approximately 7:13 a.m. on November 11, police were dispatched to the report of a robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined that a male suspect entered a business, brandished a firearm and demanded that an employee give him money. The suspect stole cash, forced the employee outside of the business and fled on foot before departing the area in a vehicle. The suspect is described as a thin, black male, approximately 6’0, wearing dark colored clothing. The vehicle is described as a light tan or cream colored late-model sedan. The investigation is ongoing.

Also from today’s crime reports, ACPD says officers had to use a police dog to peacefully resolve a home break-in.

According to the crime report, a man broke into a home on the 300 block of N. Glebe Road and went to sleep in a bedroom. He refused police commands to leave the home, prompting “the deployment of a police K-9.”

UNLAWFUL ENTRY, 2017-11090246, 300 block of N. Glebe Road. At approximately 5:47 p.m. on November 9, police were dispatched to the report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim arrived at his residence and observed that an unknown male suspect had gained entry to the residence and was sleeping in a bedroom. Arriving officers established a perimeter and made verbal commands but the suspect refused to comply and would not exit the residence. Following the deployment of a police K9, the suspect was taken into custody. Earl Chaptman, 64, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Entry.

Photo via Google Maps

UPDATE: Missing Woman Found in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Police have located a woman who went missing in Arlington this past Thursday and was considered “critically endangered.”

Arlington County Police say Katherine Hawald, 28, was found safely this morning by officers in the Virginia Square-Ballston neighborhood.

Police have not released any other details about the circumstances surrounding Hawald’s disappearance or how she was found.

Police Searching for Missing Woman

By ARLnow.com
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Arlington County police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing local resident.

Police say Katherine Hawald went missing Thursday afternoon and hasn’t been seen since. She is considered “critically missing” because of a health condition.

Hawald’s brother told ARLnow.com that she is a Yorktown High School and Virginia Tech grad, and a “beloved sister, daughter, and friend.”

She “simply vanished while visiting Lee-Heights shopping center on the early afternoon of November 9,” said Michael Hawald. “No social media or a cell phone, no car, and $100.00 cash.”

More information via an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a critically missing adult. Katherine Hawald, 28, was last seen leaving a residence in the 4100 block of 27th Street N. at approximately 2:00 p.m. on November 9.

Ms. Hawald is described as a white female, 5’2″ tall, weighing 128 pounds, has brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark hoodie and blue jeans. She is without her medication and may be in need of medical treatment.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ms. Hawald is asked to contact the Emergency Communication Center at 703.558.2222. Tips may also be provided to Detective R. Ortiz at 703-228-7402 or [email protected] or anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Mooning Cyclist Evades Police Search

By ARLnow.com

A cyclist was seen riding down the street in Courthouse yesterday, mooning every driver and pedestrian in his path.

Police were called around 3:45 p.m. for “a report of a male traveling by bicycle with his buttocks exposed in the area of N. Veitch Street at Wilson Boulevard,” according to Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

An ARLnow.com contractor witnessed the odd sight and said the man rode his bike into the nearby Key Elementary parking lot. Police, however, were unable to locate him.

“A lookout was broadcast and a search of the area by officers was negative,” Savage said.

Arlington Police Officers Deploy to Puerto Rico to Aid Hurricane Relief

By Chris Teale

Twelve officers from the Arlington County Police Department will be deployed to Puerto Rico to help the island recover from Hurricane Maria.

The officers will deploy in three staggered teams from tomorrow (Friday, November 10) until December 18. The teams will spend 16 days each in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico requested assistance through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is the national emergency management mutual aid system that facilitates state-to-state disaster assistance.

“I am proud that our officers are willing to dedicate their time to provide the citizens of Puerto Rico with an added sense of security in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria,” Police Chief Jay Farr said in a statement. “Our officers take an oath to serve and protect and their willingness to deploy shows their commitment and dedication, not just to the Arlington County community, but to citizens everywhere.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

ACPD Urges Caution on Roads As Days Get Shorter — “The days are getting shorter and there’s increased pedestrian and bicyclist traffic after dark,” the Arlington County Police Department said in a public service tweet last night. “Slow down, remain alert and proceed with care and caution.” [Twitter, Twitter]

History: Fort Myer During World War I — A Library of Congress collection includes 100-year-old photographs showing what life was like on Fort Myer during World War I. The photos show a visit from President Woodrow Wilson and the famous “Three Sisters” radio towers. [Pentagram]

Redskins Visit Fort Myer, Play Video Games — Former Washington Redskins players Santana Moss and Fred Smoot visited Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and engaged in a Madden 18 video game tournament with some of the men and women in uniform. [WUSA 9]

Notable Tree Nomination Deadline Approaching — November 15 is the application deadline for submitting a tree for consideration as a 2018 Arlington County “notable tree.” [Arlington County]

Crime Report: Fleeing to the Pentagon Is a Bad Idea for Robbery Suspect

By ARLnow.com

A robbery suspect took an ill-fated getaway route onto the grounds of the Pentagon last Thursday afternoon, according to this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report.

The 26-year-old Maryland man had allegedly stolen items from a store in the Pentagon City mall and pushed away two security guards during his getaway. He then ran outside and tried to hail a taxicab but ended up continuing to flee on foot, according to the police report.

After jumping a fence into a Pentagon parking lot, he was taken into custody by Pentagon Force Protection Agency officers and handed over to ACPD. More from the crime report:

ROBBERY, 2017-11020174, 1000 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 2:57 p.m. on November 2, officers responded to the report of a larceny in progress. Upon arrival it was determined that a subject exited a business with merchandise concealed. A loss prevention officer attempted to stop the suspect, but was pushed away. The suspect dropped the bag of merchandise and fled, pushing away a second loss prevention officer attempting to stop him. While fleeing the mall, the suspect forced exit, causing damage to the door. The suspect unsuccessfully tried to flee in a stopped taxi and then headed on foot in the direction of the Pentagon. Officers canvased the area and were alerted by Officers with the Pentagon Force Protection Agency of a suspect, matching the description, who had jumped a fence into the parking lot. Trayvon Chappell, 26, of Suitland, MD, was arrested and charged with Robbery, Larceny with Intent to Sell, Possession of Burglarous Tools, and Destruction of Property.

Also in this week’s crime report was another incident in Pentagon City, which occurred last night (Tuesday) around 5:30 p.m. According to scanner traffic, a theft suspect near the Unleashed pet store on Pentagon Row became combative and tried to out-muscle a pair of officers. The officers struggled with the suspect before deploying a Taser to subdue him.

More from ACPD:

ASSAULT ON POLICE, 2017-11070236, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 5:32 p.m. on November 7, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny that just occurred. The arriving officer met with security guards who identified the suspect in the area of S. Hayes Street. As the officer attempted to stop the suspect to conduct the investigation, the suspect became combative, pushed the officers and resisted arrest. When the suspect failed to comply with officer’s commands, a Taser was deployed and the suspect was taken into custody. Denarmbi Marshall, 32, of Washington D.C. was arrested and charged with petit larceny, obstruction of justice and assault on police (x2). He was held on no bond.

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

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Woman Charged With Peeing on Cop’s Foot

By ARLnow.com

An Arlington woman is facing multiple charges after police say she spit and peed on officers while in the hospital.

The incident started around 3:15 p.m. Monday, when police were called to a business on the 3400 block of Washington Blvd in Virginia Square — the block includes a barbecue restaurant, a grocery store and a convenience store — for a “report of a person drunk in public.”

The woman, identified as 42-year-old Elena Bolonina, was so drunk that medics transported her to the hospital, according to an Arlington County Police Department crime report. That is where the real trouble reportedly started.

“While at Virginia Hospital Center, the suspect allegedly became combative kicking and spitting on officers,” said the crime report. “The subject then urinated on an officer’s foot while being transported to booking.”

Bolonina was arrested and charged with “Assault and Battery on Law Enforcement, Identity Theft, Urinating in Public, Obstruction of Justice and Public Drunkenness.”

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