police

Police: Man Made Up Gang-Related Attack in Quincy Park

By ARLnow.com

Arlington police carA reported attempted stabbing in Quincy Park, near Arlington Central Library, didn’t actually happen, according to Arlington County Police.

The 19-year-old man who reported the crime has admitted that he made it up and has been charged with filing a false police report, said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

Police conducted a “significant investigation” into the crime because the purported victim claimed the suspect who tried to stab him said it was part of a gang initiation.

“Because it had gang affiliation, it was turned over to the Gang Unit,” Savage said. While re-interviewing the man and canvassing the area, detectives noted inconsistencies in the story.

“Things just started to not line up, they weren’t consistent with the original story,” said Savage. “He eventually admitted that the story was not true and he was looking for attention from his dad.”

According to Savage, the false police report charge was noted in today’s daily crime report to let the public know that the gang attack did not happen.

“We don’t encourage people to walk through parks at night, but we also want people to feel safe in their community,” she said.

FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT, 160211049, 1000 block of N. Quincy Street. At approximately 8:40 p.m. on February 11, officers responded to an attempted malicious wounding in the 1000 block of N. Quincy Street. After significant investigation by patrol officers and members of the Gang Unit, it was determined that the incident did not occur. Julian Leiter, 19, of Arlington VA was charged with filing a false police report.

Suspect Enters Closed Bank Through Hole in Wall, Leaves Empty-Handed

By ARLnow.com
1/2

Sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning, someone entered the United Bank in Arlington’s Williamsburg neighborhood through a hole in the wall, but nothing was stolen.

Police are investigating the break-in, in the Williamsburg Shopping Center. Investigators say the suspect was able to gain entry to a room behind the bank’s ATM, but not the main lobby of the bank. The hole was in a wall in a walkway between the bank and a barber shop, we’re told.

Some cuts were found on the ATM, but no money was stolen.

It was business as usual at the bank as of Wednesday afternoon. No holes were visible in the wall, which appeared to be recently plastered over.

From the Arlington County Police Department’s crime report:

BURGLARY, 160214018, 6400 block of N. Williamsburg Boulevard. Between 5:20 p.m. on February 13 and 9:15 a.m. on February 14, an unknown subject(s) forced entry through a hole in the wall of United Bank. No money was stolen and no damage was made other than cuts made to the ATM. There is no suspect(s) description.

Police: Drunk Woman Steals Car from Rosslyn Hotel, Calls Cops on Herself

By ARLnow.com

Rosslyn Hyatt (photo via Google Maps)(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) An Arlington woman spent part of Valentine’s Day in jail after police say she stole a car following a trip to a local taco restaurant.

Samantha, 22, told police she was intoxicated when she took an Uber to District Taco in Rosslyn Saturday night, intent on grabbing some food. Afterward, she walked down to the Hyatt hotel, on the 1300 block of Wilson Blvd, milled about a bit and then allegedly stole a car from the valet.

Samantha’s next recollection, according to police, is waking up in the back seat of the car around 1 a.m., in an unknown location in Arlington. She then drove home, went to sleep, and called police around 9 a.m. to come clean about what happened, said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

Samantha has been charged with grand theft auto and was held on a $2,000 bond, according to a crime report.

RECOVERED STOLEN AUTO, 160214016, 1300 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 9:54 p.m. on February 13, an allegedly intoxicated female subject stole a vehicle outside of a HYATT hotel and drove it home. The subject informed police the next morning that she was in possession of a vehicle that was not hers. Samantha [Redacted], 22, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with grand theft auto. She was held on a $2000 unsecured bond.

Updated at 4:30 p.m. — Jeff Overand, an attorney for the suspect, says that Samantha was “involuntarily intoxicated and had been the victim of a sexual assault.” Police were called to a local hospital and took a report of a sexual assault Sunday evening, after the suspect was released from jail, ACPD confirmed after an inquiry from ARLnow.com. “That case is ongoing,” said Savage, the police spokeswoman. In light of this information, ARLnow.com has decided to redact the suspect’s last name.

Photo via Google Maps

Attempted Stabbing In Quincy Park May Have Gang Link

By ARLnow.com

Arlington police carUpdate on 2/17/16 — Police say the attack did not happen and was made up by the purported victim. The man, 19, has been charged with filing a false police report.

Police are investigating a possible gang-related attempted stabbing in Quincy Park last night.

Police say a male victim in his late teens was cutting through the park — near Arlington Central Library and Washington-Lee High School — just after 8:30 p.m., when he was approached by an unknown male suspect, also in his teens.

The suspect had a knife and told the victim that he was about to stab him as part of a gang initiation, according to Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage. The victim, however, used self defense to foil the suspect’s apparent gang rite of passage.

The victim grabbed the suspect’s wrist as he tried to stab the victim, Savage said. The victim then struck the suspect in the side of the face, possibly injuring him. At that point, three men in hoodies started running toward the victim, who ran across the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Quincy Street, at which point the suspects fled, according to Savage.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about the crime, or any potential gang-related activity in Arlington, to call ACPD’s gang unit at 703-228-GANG (4264). Gang activity may be reported anonymously.

The crime report item on the attempted stabbing, including the suspect descriptions, is below.

ATTEMPTED MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 160211049, 1000 block of N. Quincy Street. At approximately 8:40 p.m. on February 11, an unknown male subject approached a male victim and attempted to stab him. The victim was able to use self-defense in fighting off the suspect and then fled. The suspect was accompanied by three additional male subjects. The first suspect that brandished a knife is described as a white male in his teens, approximately 5’10” tall with a slim build. The three accompanying suspects are described as males wearing grey-hoodie style jackets.

Man Arrested After Alleged Robbery Attempt in Clarendon Tuesday Afternoon

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA 22-year-old D.C. man is in custody after police say he tried, unsuccessfully, to rob two women of their purses in broad daylight in Clarendon.

The alleged crime happened around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, on the 2900 block of Clarendon Blvd, near the Cheesecake Factory.

From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY, 160209041, 2900 block of N. Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 3:28 p.m. on February 9, a male subject blocked the path of two females and demanded their purses. The suspect implied he had a weapon in his jacket. The victims fled and the suspect was later apprehended down the road. Michael William Lewis, 22, of Washington DC, was arrested and charged with attempted robbery. He is being held without bond.

Kenmore Street Closed in Nauck Due to Flipped Convertible

By ARLnow.com
1/10

Part of S. Kenmore Street is temporarily closed to traffic due to a flipped vehicle.

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. near the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Initial reports suggest a driver in a blue Ford Mustang convertible lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a parked pickup truck.

The convertible flipped on its roof in the middle of the street. The man who was driving was reported to be bleeding from his forehead and was transported to a local hospital.

It’s unclear how exactly the crash happened. The parked pickup truck wound up perpendicular to the street, with its drive shaft partially detached and resting on the ground. The owners of the truck, apparently nearby residents, came out with a wheelbarrow to remove items from the pickup’s bed.

Arlington County Police are investigating the crash and documenting the scene before the car is towed away. Kenmore Street is closed between 19th and 22nd streets.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

"Bluemont Glacier" (Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick)

Authorities Still Investigating Oil Sheen on Potomac — In an effort to find the source of an oily sheen on the Potomac River near the Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary, the Coast Guard, state authorities and the Arlington County Dept. of Environmental Services will be conducting a “dye test.” Non-toxic dye may be seen in the river today. At least 23 birds were were sent to a wildlife rescue organization for cleaning as a result of contact with the oil. [U.S. Coast Guard, Facebook, WJLA]

Two Displaced By Fire Near Clarendon — A structure fire Friday night on the 1200 block of N. Kirkwood Road, near Clarendon, has left two residents displaced. No one was injured in the blaze. The residents are being assisted by the Red Cross. [Twitter, Twitter]

Nauck History Project Seeks Contributions — As part of Black History Month, Arlington County is encouraging residents of the Nauck neighborhood to donate images and stories to the Nauck/Green Valley Heritage Project. The project has an online archive dedicated to preserving the community’s rich history. [Arlington County]

Arlington Makes AARP ‘Healthy’ List — Arlington County is among the top “medium population cities” for those ages 50+ to stay active and healthy, according to new rankings. [AARP]

Clement: Support Governor’s I-66 Plan — Frequent local candidate for elected office Audrey Clement is encouraging Arlingtonians to support the McAuliffe administration’s plan for tolling I-66 inside the Beltway. That plan, which calls for widening I-66 only as a last resort, is preferable to the call from outside the Beltway lawmakers to widen I-66 as soon as possible, Clement says. [Campaign for a Greener Arlington]

Arlington Woman Has Purse With $10K Cash Stolen — Police are looking for a suspect seen stealing a purse with $10,000 cash inside from a Fairfax County Dunkin’ Donuts. The purse was accidentally left behind by an Arlington mother who had saved for years to pay her 18-year-old daughter’s tuition at Penn State. [NBC Washington]

Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick

ACPD’s Weekly Crime Reports to Cease, Mapped Crime Data Coming

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County police logoThe Arlington County Police Department will soon stop sending out weekly crime reports, but is working on a system for placing crime data in a mapped format.

A police spokeswoman tells ARLnow.com that the department will continue producing its daily crime reports. The weekly crime reports were just compilations of the daily reports and deemed redundant.

In the meantime, the police department is planning to start publishing a crime map on its website later this year.

Separately, ACPD recently had a shakeup in its press office. Dustin Sternbeck, who had served as department spokesman since early 2012, in January joined D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department as its top spokesman.

Sternbeck has been making changes to MPD’s public information office, putting a friendlier and more open face on the department, in part through the use of pop culture references and emojis on social media.

ACPD to Increase Staffing for DUI Patrols on Super Bowl Sunday

By ARLnow.com

Police car (file photo)The Arlington County Police Department plans to tackle drunk driving on Super Bowl Sunday with extra cops patrolling for DUI drivers.

Police hope to intercept intoxicated drivers before they injure themselves or others. Typically, alcohol-related crashes spike on the day of the Super Bowl.

So far no DUI checkpoints are in the game plan, said a police spokeswoman, but ACPD is encouraging those who are drinking during the big game to hand off their keys to a responsible, designated driver.

The department issued the following pre-game press release yesterday:

The Super Bowl is America’s most watched national sporting event. On Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, there will be lots of game day socializing that may include drinking. That’s why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Arlington County Police Department are urging football fans to choose sides now: drinking OR driving. If you plan on drinking on Super Bowl Sunday, designate a sober driver to get you home safely.

NHTSA’s Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign encourages people to make plans ahead of time that will prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. Driving impaired could result in injury or death for you or others on the road.

According to data from NHTSA, in 2012 there were 10,322 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in the United States–31 percent of all crash fatalities in the nation. A driver is considered alcohol-impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, the legal limit in all states. This February 7, don’t become a tragic SuperBowl stat.

For those who plan to drink, leave your keys at home. Designate a sober driver, whether it’s a friend, relative, taxi, or public transportation. For those who plan to drive, refrain from any alcohol. Instead, enjoy the game with food and non-alcoholic drinks. Being a sober, designated driver is a key role on Super Bowl Sunday. You might just save a life.

For more Super Bowl weekend safety information, visit http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/SuperBowl.

Police: Middle-Aged Man With Pony Tail, Redskins Cap Exposed Himself Near Ballston Metro

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA middle-aged man with “long white hair in a ponytail” exposed himself to a woman near the Ballston Metro station around 8:40 p.m. on Friday.

Police say the man was urinating in public on the 4200 block of N. Fairfax Drive when he exposed himself to a woman who was walking by.

From a police crime report:

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 160129020, 4200 block of N. Fairfax Drive. At approximately 8:40 p.m. on January 29, an unknown male subject was seen urinating in public and then exposed his genitals to a female victim. The subject is described as a white male in his 50’s-60’s, with long white hair in a ponytail. He was wearing a Washington Redskins baseball cap, blue quilted vest, white undershirt, and blue jeans.

Crime Report: Crime Takes a Snow Day in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsThere’s not much of note on this week’s Arlington County crime report, as the blizzard seems to have had a chilling effect on local criminals.

There were, however, three separate robberies of two 7-Eleven stores reported. Two of the robberies occurred at the tail end of the blizzard.

ROBBERY, 160120044, 3600 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 9:07 p.m. on January 20, two unknown male subjects robbed a 7-11 of an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects then fled on foot. The first suspect is described as a black male in his twenties with a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants, and black sneakers. The second suspect is described as a black male in his twenties with a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants, and black sneakers.

ROBBERY, 160124002, 3600 block of S. Columbia Pike. At approximately 12:20 a.m. on January 24, two unknown male subjects robbed a 7-11 of an undisclosed amount of cash. The first suspect is described as a black male, wearing a black jacket with the hood up, white strings hanging from the neck, black gloves, and black pants. The second suspect is described as a black male, wearing a black jacket with a hood, black gloves, and black pants.

ROBBERY, 160124008, 4500 block of N. Lee Highway. At approximately 4:55 a.m. on January 24, a male subject assaulted a 7-11 employee and stole several cigarettes. Mariano Lagdameo, 42, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with robbery, obstruction of justice, possession of schedule I/II substance, and drunk in public.

The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump.

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