police

Crime Report: iPhone Thief Punched, Robbed

By ARLnow.com
File photo

A teenager is facing charges after a robbery that led to what some might call a bit of karma.

Police say a 17-year-old boy took an iPhone from a store employee on the 3200 block of Columbia Pike, then was punched in the face and robbed of the phone by two men he was trying to sell it to.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ROBBERY, 06/25/13, 3200 block of S. Columbia Pike. At 7:50 pm on June 25, a juvenile subject grabbed an iPhone from a store employee and fled the scene on foot. Police located the subject a short distance away bleeding from the left eye after he was robbed of the phone he stole. The juvenile suspect was issued petitions for robbery and grand larceny with intent to distribute.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

(more…)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Hands at the Marine Corps War Memorial (Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman)

Gondola From Rosslyn to Georgetown? — The Georgetown Business Improvement District has floated the idea of running a gondola from Georgetown to Rosslyn in order to make it easier Metro riders to shop and dine in the D.C. neighborhood. Georgetown businesses are worried about competition from other, more trendy neighborhoods. [Washington Post]

Job Fair Today — Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) is holding a job fair for his Eighth District constituents this morning. The job fair is taking place from 9:00 a.m. to noon at T.C. Williams High School (3330 King Street) in Alexandria. [Rep. Jim Moran]

Award for Half-Cab Half-Cop Car — A combination police car / taxi cab, created by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) in partnership with Arlington County Police and Red Top Cab, has been honored with the Virginia Governor’s Transportation Safety Award for its role in deterring impaired driving. [WRAP]

High School Graduation Recap — The Sun Gazette has published recaps of each of the three Arlington public high school graduation ceremonies last week. According to the paper, Washington-Lee grads were “encouraged to reach for the stars, stay true to beliefs;” Yorktown grads were “urged to embrace challenges, take setbacks in strides;” and Wakefield grads were “urged to build on the past to create the future.”

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

UPDATED: Homeless Men Attacked Outside Library

By ARLnow.com

Police car lights(Updated at 4:00 p.m.) An arrest has been made in the case of two homeless men who were viciously attacked outside Arlington Central Library early this morning.

The attack took place just before 3:00 a.m., on the 1000 block of N. Quincy Street.

Police say the men, who are brothers, were sleeping on benches outside the library when another man approached and began arguing with them. The argument escalated and the suspect then brandished a machete and began slashing at the victims, police said.

Derrick Sutherland (photo via ACPD)The victims suffered “numerous large lacerations” all over their upper torso and face area, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. They were transported to George Washington University Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The victims have not been identified by name, but Sternbeck described them as 26-year-old brothers of no fixed address.

The suspect, 28-year-old Derrick Sutherland, remained at large this morning but was later arrested in the Ballston area. Sutherland is homeless and was known to carry a machete, Sternbeck said.

From an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department has taken a 28 year-old man into custody and charged him with two counts of aggravated malicious wounding stemming from a machete attack that occurred early this morning. Derrick Sutherland, 28, of no fixed address is currently being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.

Sutherland approached the two victims outside the Central Library at 2:50 a.m. and began arguing with them. The argument escalated and Sutherland brandished a machete, which he used to strike each victim numerous times. Both victims sustained significant non-life threatening injuries and were transported to GW Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Sutherland fled the scene immediately after the attack and remained at-large through the morning hours. However, through a collaborative effort between the Homicide/Robbery Unit and Patrol Division, officers were able to locate Sutherland in the area of Wilson Boulevard and N. Piedmont Street and take him into custody.

Man Arrested After Urinating on Blue Line Train

By ARLnow.com

Metro logoA man was pepper sprayed and arrested at the Arlington Cemetery Metro station after he allegedly urinated on a train, assaulted a Metro Transit Police officer and attempted to run onto the track.

Around 9:45 a.m., transit police responded to the Arlington Cemetery station for a report of a suspicious man seen urinating on a Blue Line train and walking between the cars. The train was held at the station as a transit police officer attempted to deal with the suspect.

From Metro spokesman Dan Stessel:

The officer directed the subject to exit the train. He refused to comply. She then asked the other passengers to clear the car for their safety, at which point the male moved past the officer, exited the train and ran toward the end of the platform, pushing other patrons as he attempted to enter the track area.

When confronted again on the platform, the subject attempted to push past the officer, and the officer used her department-issued [pepper] spray to gain control of the situation.  The adult male was arrested for Assault on Police Officer.  The railcar was isolated and passengers were moved to other cars of the train. Other charges may follow.

An Arlington paramedic unit responded to treat the suspect and the officer for pepper spray-related symptoms. Neither required transport to the hospital, Stessel said.

The 22-year-old suspect was arrested and processed at the Arlington County Detention Center.

Crime Report: Cell Phone Buyers Robbed

By ARLnow.com

It sounds like a shady business transaction, so the end result is not entirely surprising. Last week, two people were robbed after showing up to a meeting they arranged to try to buy cell phones.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ARMED ROBBERY, 06/15/13, 1900 block of S. Columbia Pike. At 11:40 am on June 15, a victim arranged a meeting to purchase cell phones and was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by three subjects. Suspect 1, brandished the firearm and pistol whipped the victim, is described as a black male with a beard. He was wearing a white t-shirt with blue basketball shorts. Suspect 2 is described as a black male and was wearing dark clothing with a red beanie hat. Suspect 3 is described as a black male wearing dark clothing.

ARMED ROBBERY, 06/14/13, 2700 block of N. Key Boulevard. At 11:11 pm on June 13, a victim arranged a meeting to purchase cell phones and was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by two subjects. Suspect 1, brandished the firearm, is described as a black male in his 20’s, approximately 6’2″ tall with a slim build and long dreads. He was wearing a navy and white track suit. Suspect 2 is described as a black male in his mid 20’s, approximately 6’0″ tall and 180 lbs. He was wearing dark clothing and had a tattoo on the right side of his neck.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(more…)

N. Arlington Moms Alarmed by Leering Man in White Car

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County police logoAn email listserv for Arlington mothers is abuzz with multiple reports of a “creepy” man seen staring at children.

Emails sent to the MONA (Mothers of North Arlington) listserv describe an older man who has been spotted leering at young children while slowly driving by in a white sedan.

“I was walking with my two children in the Lyon Village area… when a man in an older, what I believe to be a late 90s, white sedan (Nissan Sentra I think) drove by very slowly at approximately 1-2 miles per hour,” said one email, sent last night. “As he drove by, the driver stared at us out of his open window. He was an older man (60s) with white hair and looking to be a bit overweight from what I could tell. He drove past us for a block and then did a U-turn and drove very slowly past us again staring at us in a very creepy way.”

At least three other sightings were reported recently.

“A 10 year-old boy and his 10 year-old friend were playing basketball in their driveway… when a man fitting the description of the man in the email drove down North Nottingham Street into Arlington and slowed way down and stared at us in a weird, creepy way,” said another email. “The man drove off. He was older, had whitish gray hair and a whitish gray beard. He was driving a white sedan.”

A third email describes a man fitting the description looking at children at a Falls Church park through binoculars. A fourth said the man was spotted on Key Boulevard in Lyon Village, driving a white car with a Florida license plate.

Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said police know who the man is, have spoken to him, and have notified other police departments about the situation. They have not, however, been able to link the man to any crime.

“Our detectives have reached out to neighboring jurisdictions to see if he has committed a crime in those areas,” Sternbeck said. He encouraged residents to immediately notify police of any suspicious activity.

“If someone’s acting suspicious, please contact police first,” Sternbeck said. “It’s good that they share this [via email] and have awareness of a potential person of interest, but failing to notify police of a suspicious person is an action we want to see corrected. Never assume your neighbor is going to call.”

Arlington to Contribute $7 Million to New Police Shooting Range

By ARLnow.com

Police Firearm Training Facility at Dulles (photo courtesy MWAA)The Arlington County Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to build a new firearms training facility for Arlington law enforcement officers.

The facility will be built on the grounds of Dulles International Airport as a joint venture with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Arlington County will contribute $7 million to the project. MWAA will contribute about $5 million and the land, valued at $6 million.

The new facility is necessary, county officials said, because the Dulles-area range where Arlington officers currently train does not have running water and permanent restrooms. It also has no covered firing points and minimal classroom space.

Other federal and local law enforcement ranges were considered but rejected. An Alexandria shooting range, historically used by Arlington officers, is now only available on an “emergency” basis, and a Loudoun County range is “antiquated,” according to a staff report. The yearly expense of using private ranges, meanwhile, was deemed to be too high.

Building the range in Arlington was considered but rejected due to the fact that it would have to be indoors and would not provide a full range of training options.

“The lack of a permanent home for Arlington’s public safety personnel has hampered training, and increased costs for the County,” county staff reported. “This Agreement guarantees that Arlington will have a secure and up-to-date facility for 25 years in order to meet training needs for Arlington County Police and Arlington County Sheriff uniformed personnel for firearms proficiency training, qualification, and tactical training needs.”

“The training facility will include two 25-lane, 50-yard open firing ranges, along with a 300-yard rifle deck,” the county said in a press release. “The joint facility also will offer a 7,200 square foot modular training building, several classrooms and a secure storage area.”

Plans for the facility were reported by ARLnow.com in April. The plans faced criticism from repeat Green Party candidate for local office Audrey Clement, who questioned the $7 million cost.

“The NRA has a state-of-the-art shooting range just off the I-66, Route 50 exit that offers training for law enforcement personnel,” Clement said. “If this range works for the NRA, and they are highly successful, why won’t it work for Arlington police?”

County officials called a partnership with the NRA “impractical” due to various factors. The joint venture with MWAA, officials said, will allow Arlington and Airports Authority officers to get the firearms training they need for modern law enforcement.

“We are fortunate to have this chance to partner with MWAA in building this much-needed training facility for our law enforcement departments,” said County Board Chair Walter Tejada, in a statement. “This facility will help ensure that our police and sheriff’s deputies, for years to come, will get the training they need to continue to protect and serve our community.”

The new Dulles range is expected to take about a year to build.

Teen Charged in Skateboarding Accident Death

By Katie Pyzyk

Fatal skateboarding accident in Arlington Heights(Updated at 2:30 p.m.) Police have charged a teen involved in a skateboarding accident leading to the death of 18-year-old Washington-Lee High School student John Malvar earlier this month.

Police did not release the name of the 17-year-old Washington-Lee High School student, but said he was charged with reckless driving. Police say he was driving a truck while Malvar rode his skateboard and held on to the driver’s side window frame.

The accident happened on the 300 block of S. Highland Street. Malvar died from injuries he sustained after he lost his balance and fell, hitting his head on the pavement.

Today the 17-year-old appeared before a judge in Arlington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, where the charges were formally brought against him. He was released into the custody of a parent and will go to trial on August 8.

Shot Fired During Armed Robbery in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA gunshot was fired during an armed robbery in Crystal City early this morning.

The robbery happened on the 2400 block of S. Eads Street around 12:30 a.m. Police say two Arlington men, ages 32 and 33, were walking to their car from a nearby restaurant when a man crossed the street and engaged them in conversation. The man then pulled out a gun and demanded cash.

The victims emptied their pockets and then ran away. For an unknown reason, the suspect then fired a single gunshot, striking the side of the CVS Pharmacy building. No one was hurt.

A K-9 unit and the U.S. Park Police Eagle 1 helicopter responded to help in the ensuing search for the suspect. The suspect was not found, but the shirt he was wearing at the time of the robbery and the victims’ phones and keys were recovered a short distance away.

In all, the suspect made off with about $20 to $30, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The suspect is described as a 45-50 year-old black male, approximately 5’4″ and 140 lbs. He was wearing a black and red horizontal-striped shirt and brown shorts.

Crime Report: Peeping Tom at Ballston Common Mall

By ARLnow.com

Police are on the lookout for a man seen peeking under a women’s bathroom stall at Ballston Common Mall.

The incident happened just before 6:00 p.m. on Monday. The crime and the suspect description is strikingly similar to that of another peeping tom incident at the Clarendon Barnes and Noble bookstore on May 24.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

PEEPING TOM, 06/10/13, 4200 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. At 5:50 pm on June 10, a male subject was caught looking at a female under the bathroom stall in the women’s restroom. The suspect fled the scene and is described as a white male in his early forties, approximately 5’7″ tall with a medium build. He had shaggy brown hair and was wearing a brown t-shirt and khaki pants.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

(more…)

UPDATED: Two Attempted Bank Robberies in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Police outside the Giant supermarket on S. Glebe Road(Updated at 2:15 p.m.) Arlington County Police are investigating two separate attempted bank robberies inside supermarket this morning.

A man entered the SunTrust bank at 3713 Lee Highway around 11:10 a.m. and passed a note to a teller demanding money. A weapon was implied but not seen, and the man reportedly fled before receiving any cash.

The bank is located within a Safeway supermarket in the Cherrydale neighborhood.

The suspect is described as a black male wearing a red Nationals hat, a navy blue raincoat, jeans and New Balance sneakers. The man was between 5′ 9″ and 5′ 10″, in his late 40s or early 50s, with a black and gray beard.

June 10, 2013 bank robbery suspect (photo via Arlington County Police)Some 20 minutes later, police were called for another attempted bank robbery at the PNC Bank at 2901 S. Glebe Road, inside a Giant supermarket.

The suspect passed a note demanding money and implying a weapon, but appeared nervous and again fled before receiving cash. The suspect description is similar to that of the first attempted robbery, according to Arlington County Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

From a police press release:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit, along with the FBI’s Washington Field Office, is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a bank robbery suspect captured in surveillance footage at separate locations.

The initial robbery attempt occurred at 11:08 a.m. on June 10, 2013 in the 3700 block of Lee Highway at the Suntrust Bank inside of Safeway. Twenty minutes later, the suspect attempted to rob the PNC Bank located inside the Giant Food Store in the 2900 block of S. Glebe Road. On both occasions, the subject entered the bank and approached a teller with a handwritten note demanding money and implying he had a weapon. The suspect fled the scene on foot each time without receiving money.

He is described as black male in his late forties or early fifties with a medium build. He was wearing a striped polo shirt underneath a dark-colored jacket, with blue jeans and a Washington Nationals baseball hat.

Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of this individual is asked to contact Detective Gary Skeens at 703.228.4166 or Detective Richard Conigliaro at 703.228.4193 with the Arlington County Police Department or [email protected]. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).

View More Stories