police

DEVELOPING — ‘Occupy NoVA’ Plans March on Thursday

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:20 p.m.) A newly-formed group called ‘Occupy NoVA‘ plans to march from Ballston’s Welburn Square to the Key Bridge on Thursday afternoon.

The march is timed to coincide with a march by Occupy D.C. from McPherson Square to the Key Bridge — which some fear may snarl afternoon rush hour traffic.

“A national day of action is taking place around the country in the Occupy movement,” Occupy NoVA said on its website. “We are going to be marching on this day in solidarity with Occupy DC, from Welburn Square to join in a Labor-Community-Occupy Day of Action and March on the Key Bridge in Rosslyn/Georgetown in protest of the deterioration of our public infrastructure and public services.”

Protesters are expected to gather in Welburn Square at 2:00 p.m., before starting their march around 3:30 p.m. The marching route — which would take demonstrators through the heart of Clarendon, Courthouse and Rosslyn — includes parts of Wilson Boulevard, Clarendon Boulevard and N. Lynn Street. It’s not clear if protesters will be marching on the sidewalk or in the street.

So far, Arlington County Police have not had any comment on their planned response to the protest. Last week an Occupy D.C. spokesman told ARLnow.com that the movement was aware of the Occupy NoVA group’s existence.

Occupy NoVA has not yet set up any encampments, but the group says on its website that it will discuss further plans at meetings on Thursday.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Bullet Hit White House — Two bullets have been discovered on the White House grounds after Friday night’s shooting incident. Oscar Ramiro Ortega is wanted in connection with the shooting. The 21-year-old was stopped by Arlington County Police on the morning of the shooting for suspicious behavior, but ultimately he was photographed and released. Ortega might have been squatting in a vacant home in North Arlington. [NBC Washington]

County Board to Vote on Massage Regulation — The Arlington County Board is expected to vote over the weekend on whether to effectively deregulate the massage industry in Arlington. The industry was first regulated in the mid-20th century due to the use of massage parlors as a front for prostitution.

Police to Teach Teachers About Bullying — An Arlington County Police Department School Resource Officer will be educating teachers and staff at Yorktown High School about bullying today. Cpl. Jim Tuomey has developed a presentation on bullying and cyber-bullying that he hopes to eventually give at other schools around the county. [Arlington County Police]

Guas’ Favorite Cheap Eats — For its November issue, Southern Living magazine asked Bayou Bakery (1515 N. Courthouse Road) owner and chef David Guas what some of his favorite “cheap eats” are in and around Arlington. Guas picked Lebanese Taverna (4400 Old Dominion Drive), Uncle Julios’s (4301 N. Fairfax Drive), Lost Dog Cafe (5876 N. Washington Blvd), and Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant (6249 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church). [Southern Living]

Flickr pool photo by Mennyj

Police Deliver Pizza, Plaques to Good Samaritans

By ARLnow.com

A trio of Good Samaritans were rewarded for their heroic deeds with a fresh pizza delivered by the Arlington County Police Department.

Police officers dropped off the pizza and some commemorative plaques on Friday night as a way to say ‘thank you’ to three men who helped stop a late night attack in Ashton Heights over the summer.

According to police, two of the men were sitting out on their porch, waiting for a pizza delivery around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, when they heard a woman scream. The woman, police say, was knocked to the ground by a 25-year-old man after repeatedly rebuffing his unwanted advances. Upon hearing the scream, the men chased down the suspect and held him until police arrived. The third man rushed to the victim to comfort her while awaiting police.

The suspect, Fidencio Gonzalez-Acetun, was arrested and charged with abduction. He’s currently awaiting trial.

During the course of their heroism, the men missed their pizza delivery. As a good-humored recognition of their small sacrifice, police delivered a hot, fresh pizza along with the plaques on Friday.

The men told NBC4 that the gesture “means a lot” to them.

Photo courtesy Arlington County Police Department

ACPD Releases Safety Tips for Joggers, Pedestrians

By ARLnow.com

With the late autumn days getting darker earlier, the Arlington County Police Department is reminding residents to stay vigilant when walking or jogging in the county.

While some have expressed concern over recent attacks on female joggers, the police department insists that “there has not been an increase in crimes against pedestrians.” Nonetheless, ACPD is advising joggers and pedestrians to follow the following safety tips.

  • Run with others if possible
  • Always be aware of your surroundings. Know what route you are traveling, especially if walking or running during the dark
  • Do not listen to music or talk on the phone while jogging, you cannot hear other people approach you.
  • Carry a cell phone with you. If you are assaulted, calling police immediately increases the chance the suspect will be apprehended.
  • Listen to your instincts. If a passerby makes you feel uncomfortable, walk or run to a well-lit area.

“If anyone has been the victim of an assault while walking or jogging, and has not reported it, please call the Police Department Non-Emergency line at (703) 558-2222,” the department said in a press release.

Shooting Suspect May Have Been Squatting in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

A man suspected in a shooting incident near the White House on Friday night might have been squatting in a vacant Arlington home.

Gunfire was heard around 9:30 Friday night on the 1600 block of Constitution Avenue NW, near the White House. According to news reports, a driver was later seen abandoning a car and fleeing across the Memorial Bridge into Arlington. An AK-47 rifle was recovered, according to the Secret Service.

The Highland Park/Overlee Knolls listserv is now abuzz with word that Oscar Ortega, who is wanted by U.S. Park Police for carrying a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident, may have been staying in their neighborhood.

According to an email sent to the listserv on Sunday: “I thought you all might like to know that the police informed my husband and one of our neighbors that they suspect that someone they are seeking in connection with a shooting incident near the White House was squatting in the house on the corner of N. 22nd and Madison that is currently empty and awaiting demolition.”

Spokespersons for Arlington County Police and U.S. Park Police said they were unaware of any investigation in the area. But two residents who spoke to ARLnow.com confirmed that there were at least four police cars parked near the house on Sunday morning.

Oscar Ramiro Ortega is described by police as a 21-year-old Hispanic male with brown eyes, black hair and a medium build. He’s 5’11” and 160 lbs, with tatoos on his right hand, upper back, chest and on the left side of his neck. Police say Ortega has ties to the state of Idaho.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call U.S. Park Police at 202-610-7500 or 202-610-8737.

Photo courtesy U.S. Park Police

Animal Control on the Lookout for a Friendly Deer

By ARLnow.com

Animal control officers are on the lookout for a deer that’s getting a bit too friendly with people.

According to police radio traffic, the young female deer was walking right up to Glebe Elementary School students today before school — a behavior much more reminiscent of a lost puppy than a wild deer. In days past, kids had been spotted feeding the deer in a local park.

Arlington animal control officers are reportedly aware of the deer and are trying to capture it.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Crime Report: Adding Injury to Injury Edition

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a driver is accused of hitting a man with her car in Shirlington, then getting out of the car and assaulting the victim and his wife. The driver’s passenger was also charged.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY-ARREST, 11/06/11, 4000 block of S. Campbell Avenue. On November 6 at 6:30 pm, a car struck a pedestrian, and then the driver and passenger assaulted the victim and his wife. [Redacted], 32, of Arlington, was charged with Assault and Battery and released on a summons. [Redacted], 33, of Arlington, was charged with Assault and Battery and held on a $2,500 bond. [Names redacted after proof of dismissal and expungement was reviewed.]

The rest of this week’s shorter-than-usual crime report, after the jump.

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Cops, Delegate Shave for Childhood Cancer Research

By ARLnow.com

Del. Patrick Hope (D) joined Arlington County Police Chief Doug Scott and about 20 ACPD officers at Pentagon City mall over the weekend for the third-annual Be Brave and Shave fundraiser for childhood cancer research.

Hope, who was scheduled to speak at the Sunday afternoon event, surprised the audience when he revealed that he was going to have his meticulously-maintained coif shaved off to help raise money and awareness.

Be Brave and Shave is the signature event of Heroes Against Childhood Cancer, which raises money for cancer research at Children’s National Medical Center. Since its founding in 2009, Be Brave and Shave events have raised some $1.5 million for the cancer programs at Children’s, making it possible for the hospital to hire its first professor of oncology. The organization is hoping to raise enough money to hire another pediatric cancer researcher in the near future.

“The medical team at Children’s is performing miracles everyday in the lives of children facing this dreaded disease,” Hope said in a statement. “We need to aggressively pursue innovative research and therapies and cure childhood cancers once and for all. I’m so honored to associate myself with Children’s and hope in some small way I can help raise awareness.”

Hope wasn’t the only notable local who went above and beyond the call of duty at the fundraiser, held this year in the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City food court. Chief Scott got his rank-and-file officers fired up when he announced that he would not only shave his head, but he’d also shave his mustache for the first time in 25 years. The mustache alone brought in $400 in donations, according to Det. Matt Owens.

“The response from our department is quite gratifying,” Scott said later, in a statement. “While about 20 officers had their hair shaved or cut off, many more participated in fundraising and donations. I think it is wonderful to be part of an organization that feels so strongly about giving back to the children in our community.”

Learn more about donating to Heroes Against Childhood Cancer here.

Courtesy photos. See more photos from the event on Flickr.

Police Looking For Footbridge Flasher

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Police are looking for a man who exposed himself to a teenage boy on a bike path near I-66 and the W&OD trail over the weekend.

The crime happened around dusk on Sunday. The boy’s stepmother sent the following warning out to other local moms on an email listserv following the incident.

Could you let the group know that there was a flasher on the bike/foot bridge over 66. He exposed himself to my 15 year old step-son who was coming from the Westover side. My step son turned and ran back towards Westover. It happened around 5:45 pm. The guy did not chase him, but did lunge toward him. We reported it to the police who checked the park and bridge, but he was gone. Here is a description: white male, 40’s, blond hair with some gray, 6 ft, 200lbs wearing a trench coat. No shoes. Smoking a cigarette.

An item from yesterday’s daily police report provides a bit more detail.

EXPOSURE, 11/06/11, 1500 block of N. Potomac Street. On November 6 at 5:30 pm, a teenage male was riding his skateboard on a footbridge when an unknown male exposed himself to the juvenile. The suspect is described as a white male, 6’, and 220 lbs. with medium length blond and gray hair. The suspect was wearing a trench coat and did not have shoes on.

Road Closed After Bicyclist Struck by Car

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:35 p.m.) North Quincy Street was shut down this afternoon between Washington Boulevard and 11th Street — a block from Arlington Central Library and Washington-Lee High School — after a bicyclist was struck by a car.

Initial reports suggest the cyclist was alert and conscious, but suffered a head injury. She was transported to a local hospital.

The road was shut down for about half an hour while police investigated the incident.

The striking vehicle’s windshield was partially shattered as a result of the collision, and a box of mints — presumably from the victim’s pocket — could be seen resting on one of the windshield wipers. It’s unclear whether the driver of the striking vehicle will face any charges.

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Crime Report: Indecent Exposure in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a man exposed himself to a female jogger along a bike path in Rosslyn. The incident took place around 10:00 p.m. last Wednesday.

EXPOSURE, 10/26/11, 1400 block of Lee Highway. On October 26, at 10 pm, a woman was jogging on a bike trail near the Key Bridge. She witnessed a man hiding behind a sign shining a flashlight on his genitalia as she ran past. The suspect is a Hispanic or African American male with a light complexion. He was wearing a suit, and covered his face with pantyhose or a stocking.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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