police

BREAKING: Suspect Shot and Killed, Officers Hurt on I-395 Off-Ramp

By ARLnow.com
1/11

Update at 4:20 p.m. — Virginia State Police have issued the following statement about the charge for which Boak was wanted: “The Virginia State Police entered the misdemeanor arrest warrant into the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) on behalf of the Virginia Department of Corrections Probation and Parole. The warrant issued to the Probation & Parole Officer on May 2, 2017, in Fairfax City General District Court was for a violation of Code of Virginia 18.2-251.4 – Drugs/Alcohol: Screening Tests/Substitute Sample.”

Update at 9:55 a.m. — The suspect has died, according to an ACPD press release. He was identified as 28-year-old Daniel George Boak of Centreville. Police say he pinned an officer against another vehicle with his truck before the shots were fired.

Earlier: A man has been shot by police and at least two Arlington County Police officers have been injured on the Glebe Road exit of I-395.

The shooting happened just after 4:30 p.m. The suspect was in a black pickup truck that was heading southbound on I-395 when police attempted a traffic stop after a “hit” from a police license plate reader, according to scanner traffic.

Initial reports suggest the suspect was in heavy traffic and refusing to pull over, when officers exited their vehicle and approached. An officer was then struck by the vehicle, at which point a second officer fired shots at the driver, according to ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

The suspect is reported to be in critical condition. Officers attempted life-saving measures on the suspect before medics arrived.

The police officer who was struck suffered a leg injury, according to the fire department Twitter account, and was transported via ambulance to Virginia Hospital Center. The officer’s injuries were described by Savage as “serious but non-life-threatening.”

The officer who fired the shots suffered “minor” injuries, Savage said. At least two additional officers were evaluated at the scene by paramedics, according to scanner traffic.

Traffic is very heavy but still moving on southbound I-395. The Glebe Road exit and at least one lane of northbound Glebe Road is blocked.

“This will be an ongoing investigation,” said Savage. “It’ll be active for a couple of hours, I can imagine.”

The fire department’s mobile command unit and ambulance bus were dispatched to the scene. Coolers of water were brought in due to the hot, mid-90 degree weather weather.

Police Investigating Student Attack on Teacher at Carlin Springs Elementary

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Police are investigating an incident, initially reported as a stabbing, at Carlin Springs Elementary School.

Initial reports suggested that a student brought a small, sharp object to school and tried to stab a teacher with it, but the teacher was not injured and did not require medical treatment.

The student was then detained by administrators and police were called.

“Just after 9:00 a.m. Arlington County Police responded to Carlin Springs Elementary School for the report of an assault on teacher,” police said in a subsequent statement. “The investigation determined that the student produced a small sewing tool and struck the teacher in the leg. No injuries were reported and there is no threat to students. Police remain on scene investigating and coordinating with the administration of Arlington Public Schools.”

Update at 11:55 a.m. — More from an email sent to parents by Arlington Public Schools this morning:

Dear Carlin Springs Families:

I wanted to update you about an incident that occurred at our school this morning. At approximately 9:15 a.m., a Carlin Springs student was removed from a classroom after attempting to injure a teacher with a small sewing tool the student brought to school. Only one other student was in the immediate vicinity and other staff immediately intervened to calm the situation. The teacher was not harmed and no other students were involved.

As a precaution for everyone, this student was removed from the classroom and away from other students. School Resource Officers from the Arlington Police were contacted and immediately responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing at this time, and no further information can be shared.

While we understand that many people would like to have additional details of this incident, it is considered a confidential student matter at this time and we cannot share more information.  But I want to assure everyone that students are safe and were not affected by the occurrence. All further action as a result of this incident will be taken in accordance with our policies.

Please be assured that all of us at Carlin Springs and Arlington Public Schools take these matters very seriously, and appropriate action will be taken to address the issue and ensure our students’ continued safety at all times.

Sincerely,

Corina Coronel, Principal
Carlin Springs Elementary School

BREAKING: Tree Down on Power Lines, Brush Fire Along Four Mile Run Drive

By ARLnow.com
1/5

Update at 2:30 p.m. — The fire has been extinguished and Four Mile Run Drive is expected to reopen shortly. The access road is expected to remain closed until the fallen tree is removed.

Update at 2:15 p.m. — Electricity has been shut off to the fallen power lines and firefighters are now working to extinguish the brush fire.

Earlier: A tree has fallen on power lines and sparked a growing brush fire along Four Mile Run Drive.

The incident was first reported by a passerby just after 1 p.m.

Initial reports suggest a large tree fell across the Four Mile Run Drive access road, striking a power line. That sparked a brush fire in the dry grass below, which as of 1:20 p.m. continues to burn.

The fire department cannot extinguish the wildfire around the power line until Dominion Power crews arrive and shut off the power, according to scanner traffic. As of 1:40 p.m. the flames were nearing vehicles parked along the access road.

Residents should expect “a lot of smoke in the area,” according to a police officer on scene. Police have shut down traffic in both directions on the access road near S. Wakefield Street and are preparing to shut down the mainline Four Mile Run Drive.

Photo courtesy Alex Chamandy, John Chandler

ACPD to Begin Seat Belt Enforcement Campaign Next Week

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Police will again be stepping up enforcement of seat belt laws, starting next week.

ACPD’s enforcement campaign, part of the national Click It or Ticket program, will run through the Memorial Day holiday, from Monday, May 22 to Sunday, June 4.

More from a police press release:

The Arlington County Police Department is once again reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket. As part of the national seat belt enforcement campaign, law enforcement agencies around the country will be stepping up enforcement from May 22 to June 4, just ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes. As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer vacation season, we want to make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash, buckling up.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of the 22,441 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2015 were unrestrained. At night from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., that number soared to 57 percent of those killed. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.

In 2015, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,941 lives of occupants ages 5 and older according to the NHTSA. That’s why motorists are encouraged to buckle up every time on every ride.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

Video Shows Sex Assault Suspect Sneaking into Apartment Building

By ARLnow.com
Rosslyn sexual assault suspect (photo courtesy ACPD)

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) A new video released by the Arlington County Police Department shows the suspect in a violent sexual assault sneaking into another Rosslyn apartment building.

The video shows the man — described as a slim, 6-foot-tall black male in his early 20s — walking into the secured apartment building, on the 1900 block of Wilson Blvd, behind a resident who was walking her dog.

“The suspect is then stopped by the concierge who refused further access into the building,” said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “The suspect leaves the area on foot in the direction of the 1500 block of Key Boulevard,” where the May 7 attack took place shortly thereafter.

From a prior police press release:

If anyone has information on the identity of this individual or details surrounding this incident, please contact Detective P. Pena of the Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit at 703.228.4183 or at [email protected]. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).

Savage cautions residents of secured residential buildings against letting “common courtesy come before safety.”

“Don’t permit a stranger into a secure building or buzz them into a building,” she said. “Don’t hold a door open for someone who is not authorized to be in the building. Once you enter a secure building, ensure the door closes securely behind you. If you see suspicious behavior, report to police.”

UPDATED: Police Seek Man Missing From Pentagon City Mall

By Chris Teale

Update at 4:35 p.m. — The man has been found, according to scanner traffic.

Earlier: Arlington police are searching for a man who went missing from the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City earlier this afternoon.

Paul Lowe, 41, was last seen at the mall at around 2 p.m. According to police, he is described as a light skinned black male, approximately 6-foot-2 with a slim build, bald with a small goatee. He was last seen wearing a blue plaid shirt with blue jeans. Lowe is described as having the mental capacity of a 10-year-old.

According to scanner traffic, Lowe was ejected from the mall by security guards, but they did not realize he has mental health issues. A friend who was with him reportedly said that while he likely does not have the ability to navigate Metro by himself, he is capable of operating crosswalks.

Police are currently scouring the mall and the surrounding area, including the Pentagon City Metro station, Pentagon Centre and Pentagon Row. K-9 units are on scene to assist with the search.

Anyone with information on Lowe’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department immediately at 703-558-2222.

Police Investigating Credit Card Skimmers at Cherrydale Gas Stations

By ARLnow.com

It’s an ongoing problem: thieves using “skimmer” devices to steal credit and debit card information from unsuspecting customers of local businesses.

Arlington’s Cherrydale neighborhood appears to be the latest target of the skimmer scammers.

Reports a resident:

Maywood listserv lighting up with reports of multiple people getting their credit cards skimmed recently. Most people point to common thread of Liberty Gas station on Lee Highway (and a few other likely places in the area) as common thread. But that is not 100% clear.

In most cases, someone buys gas here. Later someone tries to purchase gas in California. Per Cherrydale listserv earlier, it looks like Arlington Police already found a “skimmer” machine earlier at Exxon across the street, but these are new reports from another potential location.

Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage confirmed at least a portion of the neighborhood scuttlebutt.

Here’s what she said via email to ARLnow.com:

Our Financial Crimes Unit received reports of possible credit card skimming at the Liberty Gas station. They responded to the area and during their investigation did not identify a point of compromise at this location. On March 9 at approximately 1:57 p.m., police responded to the Exxon gas station in the 4000 block of Old Dominion Drive for the report of a recovered credit card skimmer. That investigation is ongoing.

These type of cases are typically reported to police as credit card fraud and since we use credit cards for almost all purchases (online, in person, groceries, gas, etc.) the challenge is identifying the point of compromise. Turnaround time from point of compromise to first fraudulent use varies depending on how the suspects intend to use the stolen data. Police work closely with banking institutes who notify us when there is a trend with customers cards being compromised and they identify the location all the cards have in common.

There are some things citizens can do to protect themselves:

  • You will not know if a gas pump has a skimmers. In most cases, the skimmers are being placed inside the machine.
  • Pay inside at the gas station rather than at the pump.
  • Always pay using credit rather than debit – it’s easier to dispute the charges and isn’t linked directly to your bank account.
  • If you haven’t switched to a chip reader on your credit card, do so.
  • Regularly check your bank statements and if you notice fraudulent activity, notify the bank so they can begin an investigation.
  • If you find you were the victim of fraud, file a police report.

Photo via Google Maps

Crime Report: Knife-Swinging Man Arrested on the Pike

By ARLnow.com

A 25-year-old Arlington man is facing charges after police say he injured another man while swinging a knife at some companions.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. Saturday on the 3800 block of Columbia Pike, just down the street from the Burger King.

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

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2017-05060025, 3800 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 12:58 a.m. on May 6, officers responded to the report of an assault in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined that following a verbal argument between known individuals, a physical altercation ensued. During the altercation, the male suspect allegedly brandished a knife and began swinging it around at the victims. One male victim suffered non-life threatening injuries. Ismael Rodriguez Jr., 25, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, and two counts of attempted malicious wounding. He is being held without bond.

The rest of the weekly crime report, including some that we’ve already covered, after the jump.

(more…)

Police Investigating Another Series of Car Break-ins

By ARLnow.com

Police are investigating yet another series of vehicle break-ins that occurred overnight.

The break-ins were reported in various locations, but were centered around the Arlington Heights and Lyon Park neighborhoods and Route 50.

Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage said nearly two dozen cars were broken into, with items stolen from many.

More via Savage:

Arlington County Police are investigating a series of larcenies from auto overnight originating in the unit block of S. Highland Street. Approximately 20 mostly unlocked vehicles were entered, rummaged through and various items of value were reported stolen. Police remain in the area investigating. Citizens are reminded to remove valuables, lock vehicle doors and keep windows up whenever their vehicle is not in use. If you see something suspicious in your neighborhood, report to the emergency communication center at 703-558-2222.

Peace Officers Ceremony Adds Seventh ACPD Officer to Memorial Wall

By Chris Teale
1/9

(Updated at 10:15 a.m.) Arlington’s Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony this morning added a new name to its memorial for police officers killed in the line of duty: the county’s seventh and its first since 1977.

Corporal Harvey Snook, an Army veteran, died in January 2016 from cancer he contracted from responding to the Pentagon after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Snook spent a week at the Pentagon after a plane crashed into its western side at 9:37 a.m. that day, collecting evidence and the remains of some of the 189 people killed.

Snook’s plaque was unveiled at the memorial outside Arlington police headquarters in Courthouse, with more than 200 people present, including law enforcement officials from around the county and the region, U.S. Park Police and representatives from the Metropolitan Police in London.

His plaque was the first to be added to the memorial since it was dedicated in 2005.

Arlington Police Chief Jay Farr paid tribute to Snook’s lively personality, which persisted even after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, and said his response at the Pentagon on 9/11 “encompassed who he was.”

“Harvey was the kind of guy who brought joy to this job,” Farr said. “He brought joy to it every day.”

The ceremony included bagpipers playing “Amazing Grace,” readings from police and county officials, and a flyover by the Fairfax County Police helicopter. During the ceremony, a dispatcher from the county’s Emergency Communications Center read a tribute to Snook over a police radio channel and announced that Snook — identified by his ACPD unit number, 884 — had ended his tour of duty.

“In valor, there is hope,” the dispatcher said.

Chief Deputy Paul Larson To Retire From County Sheriff’s Office

By Chris Teale

The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office announced last week that Chief Deputy Paul Larson will retire from the department on June 2.

Larson joined the Sheriff’s Office in September 2008. He was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office and supervised its Administration, Corrections and Judicial Services Divisions.

Before joining the Sheriff’s Office, Larson worked for the Arlington County Police Department from 1988-2008. With the police, he commanded the department’s Criminal Investigations Section, the Third Patrol District, the Special Operations Section and the Internal Affairs Section.

“Chief Deputy Larson has had a tremendous impact on the office during his tenure and I appreciate his commitment and dedication,” said Sheriff Beth Arthur in a statement. “He has been an impactful member of Arlington County public safety and the county during his 28+ years of service.”

Retired Major Dave Kidwell will succeed Larson as the next Chief Deputy. Kidwell spent more than 25 years in the Sheriff’s Office, and retired in September 2015 as Director of Corrections.

“His experience, character and loyalty to the Sheriff’s Office will make this transition as seamless as possible,” Sheriff’s Office representatives said in a statement. “He has the values, dedication and passion to continue the strong traditions of the office and understands the challenges that the law enforcement profession faces in the future.”

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