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Police Lookout: Va. TV Shooting Suspect Was Heading for D.C.

By ARLnow.com

Vester Flanagan aka Bryce Williams (photo via Twitter)Update at 2:35 p.m. — Flanagan was pronounced dead at Inova Fairfax Hospital at 1:30 p.m., authorities said. Following the shooting this morning, he sent a suicide note to ABC News.

Update at 12:35 p.m. — Virginia State Police has issued the following statement:

“Shortly before 11:30 a.m., Virginia State Police spotted the suspect vehicle headed eastbound on Interstate 66. With emergency lights activated the Virginia State Police trooper initiated a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle refused to stop and sped away from the trooper. Minutes later, the suspect vehicle ran off the road and crashed. The troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound. He is being transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

The male driver is believed to be the same male subject who shot three people this morning in Franklin County during a television news interview.”

Update at 11:50 a.m. — WDBJ reports that Flanagan has shot himself on I-66 in Fauquier County (see below).

Earlier: The suspect in the murder of two television journalists near Roanoke this morning may be heading for the D.C. area.

A lookout for the suspect, Vester Lee Flanagan II, was broadcast to Arlington County Police earlier this morning. The lookout said the suspect was armed and dangerous and believed to be heading to the D.C. area.

An ARLnow.com reporter also overheard officers talking about the suspect and the possibility he may be heading to the area at a public event this morning.

According to various news reports, Flanagan is the suspect in the shooting death of WDBJ7 photographer Adam Ward and reporter Alison Parker during a live television broadcast this morning.

Flanagan is reported to be a former WDBJ7 reporter who went by the name Bryce Williams. Just after 11 a.m., a Twitter account associated with Flanagan posted accusations of workplace mistreatment along with two horrific first-person videos of the shooting.

Flanagan is described as a black male, 6’3″ tall and weighing 250 lbs. He was last seen driving a gray, 2009 Ford Mustang according to the police lookout, but some reports suggest he might have since switched vehicles.

Police: Man Groped and Kissed Woman After Asking for Directions

By ARLnow.com

Police car (file photo)Arlington County Police are investigating a sexual assault that was reported on Columbia Pike last night.

Police say a man walked up to a 31-year-old woman on Columbia Pike near S. Courthouse Road at 9:35 p.m. and asked for directions. The suspect then allegedly groped and kissed the woman before running off.

“When the victim looked down at her phone the male subject touched her inappropriately and kissed her on the cheek,” according to a police report. “The suspect is described as a Middle Eastern male in his twenties, approximately 5’4″ tall with a thin build. He was wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans at the time of the incident.”

Police do not believe this incident is related to a series of a half dozen sexual assaults that have been reported within the past month.

Man Gropes Woman in Lubber Run Park, Sixth Such Attack in a Month

By ARLnow.com

Arlington police carA woman was groped by a man in Lubber Run Park Friday night, the sixth such attack in Arlington in a month.

Police are still not willing to say that the attacks are the work of the same sexual assault suspect, but did say “there’s potential” that it’s a serial attacker.

The latest incident happened just after 8 p.m. on Friday, as a woman was walking down a path with her young child in Lubber Run Park, near N. George Mason Drive and Barrett Elementary School.

The 27-year-old woman saw an apparently intoxicated man approach her as she tried to get back to the busy road. As he neared, she bent down to shield her three-year-old child, and the suspect groped her, according to Arlington County Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

“The victim was able to scream causing the suspect to flee,” according to a crime report. “The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his twenties, approximately 5’7″ tall with a medium build. He was wearing a solid grey t-shirt, black shorts, and black tennis shoes at the time of the incident.”

Sternbeck said there’s an “ongoing investigation” into this incident and attacks on July 25, July 31, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, and Aug. 13.

“From the suspect description provided there is a possibility it could be the same guy, but we’re not willing to suggest that quite yet,” said Sternbeck. “We have not identified or arrested the suspect or suspects involved in the attacks.”

ACPD is advising residents to trust your instincts, be aware of your surroundings, travel in groups if possible and to contact police immediately if you are a victim of a crime.

Man Jailed for Stabbing Brother in Courthouse

By ARLnow.com

Arlington police carA man is in jail after police say he repeatedly stabbed his own brother in a Courthouse apartment.

The incident happened around 3:45 p.m. Thursday, on the 2200 block of Fairfax Drive.

According to police, the man entered his brother’s bedroom while he was sleeping, locked the door and then pressed the knife against him while making threatening remarks. The brother then tried to defend himself and was stabbed three times, said Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The victim was rushed to George Washington University Hospital and is expected to survive.

The suspect remained in the apartment and was taken into custody by police.

“Pablo Rivera Pena, 21, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with malicious wounding and abduction,” according to the crime report. “He was held without bond.”

So far there’s no word on a motive.

Man Charged With Masturbating Outside Daycare

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA man was arrested Tuesday morning after he was allegedly caught masturbating outside of a daycare business.

The incident happened around 7 a.m. on the 1900 block of N. Uhle Street, which is about five blocks from the Courthouse Metro station.

“At approximately 7:00 a.m. a male subject was seen masturbating in front of a daycare,” according to this week’s Arlington County crime report. “Felipe Jones Degado, 45, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with public masturbation. He is being held without bond.”

Crime Report: ACPD Seeking Witnesses for Aug. 1 Assault and Robbery

By Heather Mongilio

Arlington police carThe Arlington County Police Department is seeking witnesses that can provide more information about an “assault by mob” and robbery that happened on Saturday, Aug. 1 in Clarendon.

A 22-year-old man was attacked between 2-2:30 a.m. at the corner of Wilson Blvd and N. Filmore Street. He was hit on the back of the head and lost consciousness, police say.

The man was transported to Virginia Hospital Center for treatment of injuries. His driver’s license, military ID and cash were stolen.

At least one witness came to the man’s aid, but he left the scene, according to a police report.

Anyone with information about the attack can contact Detective R. Munizza at [email protected] or 703-228-4171. Information can also be reported anonymously by calling the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

This week’s Arlington County crime report, after the jump.

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Three Arrested, One Tased After ACPD Spots Carjacked Vehicle in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com
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Three men were arrested last night after Arlington County Police spotted a stolen car in the Pentagon City area.

An officer located the vehicle, which had been stolen in a “strong arm carjacking” in Maryland, on 12th Street S., near Penatgon City mall. A few minutes earlier, around 7:30 p.m., a police license reader had spotted the car on nearby Route 1.

The three men inside the car tried to flee when police approached, according to ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. All three were captured, but an officer used a Taser to subdue one suspect when he tried to resist arrest, Sternbeck said.

Per department policy, the man who was tased was brought to Virginia Hospital Center for evaluation.

In addition to facing possible charges in Arlington, the men were wanted for “a number of charges” in Maryland, said Sternbeck.

ACPD to Drivers: Don’t Stop in a Bike Lane

By ARLnow.com

Blocked bike lane in Courthouse (photo via arlingtonbikelaneblockers.tumblr.com)

The Arlington County Police Department is reminding drivers not to stop in bike lanes.

The department tweeted a cheeky “bike safety tip” flyer (below) with a simple flow chart this afternoon. The chart asks: can I stop in a bike lane? If you are riding a bike, the answer is yes — if you are not, the answer is no.

The flyer encourages those who see a bike lane hazard to call the Arlington public safety non-emergency line at 703-558-2222.

Photo (top) via arlingtonbikelaneblockers.tumblr.com

Police Investigating Another Nighttime Attack of a Woman in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

800 block of S. Frederick Street (photo via Google Maps)Arlington County Police are investigating yet another attack of a woman who was walking alone at night.

The incident happened on the 800 block of S. Frederick Street around 10:30 last night (Thursday) and is the fifth such attack in the past month.

“An unknown male subject carrying a stick grabbed a female victim’s wrist and attempted to drag her into the woods,” according to a crime report. “The suspect fled with the victim’s cellphone after she screamed for help.”

“The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his twenties, approximately 5’5″ tall, with a slim build and short hair,” the report continues. “He was wearing black pants and a black shirt at the time of the incident.”

The nature of the attack, the description of the suspect and the fact that he was scared off by the victim fighting back are all at least somewhat similar to four other such attacks that have happened since July 25.

On July 25, a man sexually assaulted a woman while walking home near Courthouse. On July 31 a woman running on the W&OD Trail was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. On Aug. 1 a woman in Buckingham was also grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. And this past Saturday, Aug. 8, a woman was approached from behind by a man who put a pillow case over her head and pushed her to the ground.

Police are “not willing to say… just yet” whether any of the attacks are related, but Special Victims Unit detectives were planning to talk to the victim today to gather additional details.

A police spokesman said ACPD has been stepping up its efforts to catch the alleged predator or predators who have been perpetrating these recent attacks, but the department can use tips from the public.

“We’re going to continue to put resources on the streets, in a plain clothes capacity along with additional patrol officers,” said Dustin Sternbeck. “We are looking for the public’s assistance with this as well.”

Photo via Google Maps

Man Arrested After Foot Chase Through Crystal City

By ARLnow.com
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A man was arrested after leading Arlington County police on a foot chase in Crystal City yesterday.

The incident happened around 4:15 p.m.

Police had pulled over a suspected stolen vehicle on Route 1, near the CEA building, when the driver took off running. Police gave chase and, after a pursuit that included a sprint through a hotel, officers were able to take the man into custody near the PBS building at 2100 Crystal Drive.

Stephan Townes, 26, of Alexandria was charged with grand larceny auto and driving on a suspended license, according to ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. He also was wanted on warrants for credit card fraud and identity theft in Arlington.

Popsicles Eaten, Pokemon Cards Played With in Donaldson Run Burglary

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County police carArlington County Police responded to an unusual burglary call yesterday in the Donaldson Run neighborhood.

A homeowner returned to his or her residence on the 2700 block of N. Beechwood Street after a few days away, only to find that something wasn’t quite right — someone had been inside the house and had helped themselves to some sweet treats.

“Between 12:00 p.m. on August 9 and 9:00 p.m. on August 12, an unknown suspect(s) entered a residence through a doggie door and ate the homeowner’s popsicles and whipped cream,” according to a crime report. “The suspect(s) proceeded to play with Pokémon cards that were found in the residence.”

“After they enjoyed some popsicles, they played a bit with some Pokemon cards and left,” ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said of the suspect or suspects, whose identity and motive remains a mystery.

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