A driver involved in a fender bender is now facing charges of reckless driving, unlawful wounding and hit and run.
The crash happened on the 2400 block of S. Kenmore Street, in the Nauck neighborhood. Police say Maryland resident Brunilda Lopez struck the other driver involved with her car and then drove off.
From an Arlington County Police crime report:
UNLAWFUL WOUNDING, 160630029, 2400 block of S. Kenmore Street. At approximately 12:00 p.m. on June 30, two vehicles were involved in a minor accident. As the drivers were exchanging information the suspect returned to her vehicle. The victim attempted to prevent the suspect from leaving by standing in front of her vehicle and was struck. Medics arrived on scene and the victim refused transport to the hospital. Warrants have been issued for reckless driving, unlawful wounding, and hit and run for Brunilda Lopez, 50, of Montgomery MD.
Arlington County Police surrounded a home, shut down streets, called in a negotiator and had a brief standoff with a man in the Nauck neighborhood this morning.
The incident happened around 10 a.m., when police received a report of a man who threatened a family member with a gun, at a home near the intersection of S. Kenmore Street and 22nd Street, according to ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage. The man was said to be holed up in the home’s basement with gun and a machete.
The incident ended as quickly as it began, when the man came out of the home and was placed in handcuffs.
“He has been taken into custody without incident,” Savage said. “This is an active investigation and police remain in the area.”
Police Conduct Pedestrian Safety Detail — Arlington County Police conducted a pedestrian safety detail at the intersection of Washington Blvd and N. Utah Street, in Ballston, where a teen was struck by a car and seriously injured in April. In a tweet, a driver is shown receiving a ticket for failure to yield to a pedestrian. [Twitter]
Pure Barre Coming to Pentagon City? — Exercise studio Pure Barre is finalizing a lease on the ground floor of the new Bartlett apartment building in Pentagon City. That was revealed during an opening party for the Bartlett on the building’s rooftop (see photo, above) Wednesday night.
Photo Shows Big Changes in Pentagon City — As seen in an old black-and-white photo, 56 years ago Pentagon City was mostly empty fields on the outskirts of Crystal City and the Aurora Highlands neighborhood. Development has transformed it into a Metro-accessible hub for shopping, apartment living and offices. [Twitter]
Arlington Mom Gives Birth Live on Facebook — An Arlington mother gave birth to her son live via Facebook Live for the TLC show “A Baby Story Live.” [Patch]
Light Pole Snaps During Storm — Earlier this week, a light pole in the park along Lubber Run snapped during a storm. [Twitter]
A 20-year-old man is facing numerous charges after police say he knocked out a homeowner who threatened to call 911 because the man was assaulting a woman in front of his house.
The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Monday night, in the Arlington Forest neighborhood near the entrance to the Lubber Run Amphitheater.
From an Arlington County Police crime report:
BURGLARY W/ INTENT TO COMMIT ASSAULT, 160627052, 200 block of N. Columbus Street. At approximately 10:35 p.m. on June 27, a male homeowner witnessed a male subject assaulting a female victim in the street. The homeowner announces that he is going to call police, at which point the male subject forces entry into the home. Once inside the home, the male subject assaults the homeowner causing him to lose consciousness. Another resident of the home witnesses the assault, yells for him to leave, and the male subject threatens her and attempts to steal items before being led away by the initial female victim.
During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspect was involved with additional incidents. At approximately 10:25 p.m. on June 27, the same suspect attempted to gain entry into a residence in the 100 block of N. Columbus Street, through the back door and the garage. Both attempts were unsuccessful. A witness reported then seeing the suspect proceed to a neighbor’s yard in the 100 block of N. Columbus Street and attempt to open a vehicle door, but was unsuccessful.
Victor Omar Suarez, 20, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with burglary with intent to commit assault, malicious wounding, attempted grand larceny, and possession of marijuana. He is being held without bond.
A woman fought back against a suspect after he touched her with his genitals as she was walking down the street.
The incident happened last night, just after 11:10 p.m., on the 1900 block of Wilson Blvd in the Courthouse area.
“As a female victim was walking on the north side of Wilson Boulevard, an unknown male subject approached a victim with his genitals exposed and placed them on her,” said an Arlington County Police Department crime report. “The victim fought back, creating distance and causing the suspect to flee.”
“The victim described the suspect as a short, dark-skinned male wearing a black hoodie,” said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “The suspect fled on foot eastbound on Wilson towards N. Rhodes Street. Officers canvassed the area with negative results. A K-9 track could not be conducted due to heavy rainfall.”
Arlington County Police are investigating an armed robbery Saturday morning in the Pentagon City area.
Police say a man with a gun got out of a car, robbed a woman of her belongings, and then got back into the car and drove off.
From an ACPD crime report:
ROBBERY, 160625017, 500 block of S. 15th Street. At approximately 6:45 a.m. on June 25, an unknown male subject, brandishing a firearm, exited the passenger side of a vehicle and approached a female victim. The suspect demanded her personal belongings and then fled in the nearby vehicle. The suspect is described as a black male in his twenties, approximately 5’5″ tall with a small frame, and was wearing black sportswear and a mask that covered his face.
A police officer and a paramedic were trying to assist a drunk woman early Sunday morning when the woman kicked the officer to the ground and kicked the medic in the face.
The incident happened just past 12:30 a.m. in Clarendon. The woman, a 21-year-old Fredericksburg resident, is now facing multiple charges.
From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:
ASSAULT ON POLICE, 160626002, 3100 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 12:37 a.m. on June 26, officers responded to assist medics with a heavily intoxicated female. Upon arrival, the suspect became combative towards officers and medics. She was able to get her legs free and kick an officer to the ground and a medic in the face. Clara Sigman, 21, of Fredericksburg VA, was arrested and charged with assault on police, assault on firefighter, and drunk in public.
On Friday afternoon another officer was assaulted, this time on the 2100 block of Washington Blvd, home of Arlington’s Dept. of Human Services.
A 35-year-old woman spit on an officer who responded to the scene for a report of another assault that had just occurred. From ACPD:
ASSAULT ON POLICE, 160624051, 2100 block of S. Washington Boulevard. At approximately 3:39 p.m. on June 24, police were dispatched to the report of an assault that had just occurred. When on scene officers instructed the female subject to comply, she spit on the officer’s face. Senait Taye, 35, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with assault on police and assault and battery.
A day after releasing a composite sketch in the hopes of catching a sexual assault suspect, Arlington County Police today said they got their man.
Anibal Castellanos, a 36-year-old Arlington resident, has been arrested and charged with burglary and attempted rape in connection to the June 19 attack.
From an ACPD press release:
The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit has made an arrest in the case of a sexual assault which occurred at a residence in the 3900 block of 4th Street N. in the early morning hours of June 19, 2016. Mr. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos, 36, of Arlington, Va. is charged with Nighttime Burglary while armed and Attempt Rape. Mr. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos is currently being held with no bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.
At approximately 2:00 a.m. on June 19th, an unknown male subject unlawfully entered a female victim’s apartment and sexually assaulted her while using the threat of a knife to hold her against her will. During the attack, the victim was able to escape and lock herself in a bathroom where she called for help. The male suspect fled the residence on foot and was observed by a neighbor leaving the scene.
Following interviews with the victim and witnesses, a composite sketch of the suspect was developed. A combination of evidence collected during the investigation and the accounts of several people from the neighborhood led to the identification of Mr. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos. Members of the Tactical Unit, First District Policing Team and Detectives of the Special Victims Unit apprehended Mr. Anibal Rodriguez Castellanos at his home in Arlington, Va.
Special Victim’s Unit detectives continue to collect evidence and ask anyone who knows this individual or details surrounding the June 19th incident, to please contact Detective P. Pena at 703.228.4183 or [email protected]. To report information anonymously, please contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).
Boulevard Manor neighborhood (Bluemont Junction Trail is to the immediate right of the neighborhood.)
Arlington County Police are trying to figure out who is responsible for a series of racist and homophobic graffiti along the Bluemont Junction Trail and around the Boulevard Manor neighborhood.
The graffiti was first spotted last night along the trail, with the N-word and the F-word spray-painted on the trail and other graffiti on rocks and on a trampoline at a nearby property, according to scanner traffic. It was reported that a group of teenagers was responsible for the graffiti, but police were unable to locate the group at the time.
This morning, more graffiti was found around the Boulevard Manor neighborhood, immediately west of the trail.
“At approximately 5:30 a.m., an unknown suspect(s) vandalized numerous items in the Boulevard Manor neighborhood of Arlington,” wrote Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “The vandalism included destruction of property and graffiti.”
“This series is similar to the vandalism on the Bluemont trail yesterday and detectives are investigating whether or not these are linked,” Savage told ARLnow.com. “The graffiti included various derogatory terms to include swastikas, N-word and homosexual slangs. This is an ongoing and active investigation and will include determining if this could be a hate crime.”
The vandalism was widespread around the neighborhood, including properties on the following streets, according to police.
6000 block of 4th Street N.
100 block N. Nottingham Street
Unit block of N. Montague Street (at Washington Blvd)
500 block of N. Montague Street
400 block N. Lombardy
200 block of N. Nottingham Street
500 block of N. Lombardy Street
Along the Bluemont trail, neighbors said the vandals damaged the trail and some neighborhood landmarks.
“I’ve lived here for 40-something years and when I saw the blue on the rocks down here, these rocks have been there forever,” said Debbie Cowell. “If I saw somebody doing it, I definitely would have said something.”
“I have no idea who did it, my guess is kids,” said William Pearson. “A couple years ago this wouldn’t have happened. I think because of the influx of families, my guess it that it’s teenagers being teenagers.”
Additional reporting and photos by Adrian Cruz and Jackie Friedman.
Arlington County Police have released a composite sketch of a man who broke into a woman’s apartment and sexually assaulted her.
The crime happened early Sunday morning near Ballston and was first reported earlier this week.
Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect. They have released a composite sketch (left), in the hopes that it may lead to more tips.
From an ACPD press release:
The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect involved in the sexual assault of a female victim which occurred at a residence in the 3900 block of 4th Street N. in the early morning hours of June 19, 2016.
At approximately 2:00 a.m., an unknown male subject unlawfully entered a female victim’s apartment and sexually assaulted her while using the threat of a weapon to hold her against her will. During the attack, the 28 year old female victim was able to lock herself in the bathroom and yell for help. The male suspect fled the scene on foot.
The suspect is described as a white Hispanic male, 25-35 years old with dark hair and a fair complexion. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with dark pants. Following interviews with the victim and witnesses, a composite sketch of the suspect was developed.
Arlington County Police detectives are actively investigating this incident. Responding officers attempted a canine track in the area with negative results and officers canvassed the area speaking with possible witnesses. Officers will continue conducting extra checks in the area.
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).
In the wake of the tragic events in Orlando, police are holding an active shooter training exercise in one of the most consistently crowded places in Arlington.
The training exercise will be held at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City on Sunday from 7 p.m. to midnight.
“The purpose of the exercise is to test the response of Arlington County’s public safety agencies and mall staff in a simulated emergency situation,” ACPD said in a press release.
Training activities will be confined to the interior of the mall and there will be a large number of public safety vehicles in the area surrounding it. They will not use lights or sirens during the exercise.
As a result of the training, pedestrian access to the mall will be restricted after 6 p.m. and parking at the mall will be limited
A driver involved in a fender bender is now facing charges of reckless driving, unlawful wounding and hit and run.
