police

Police Investigate Bomb Threat at WJLA Building

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:10 p.m.) Police investigated a bomb threat at the WJLA (ABC 7) building (1100 Wilson Blvd) in Rosslyn this afternoon.

Initial reports suggest the threat was non-specific. Pedestrian traffic was still allowed in and out of the building as normal as police and building employees searched in and around the building. A police dog could be seen sniffing around news vans at the station’s parking lot.

Police are in the process of clearing the scene. No threats were found, according to Arlington police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal.

BREAKING NEWS — Bicyclist Dead After Collision With Car

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 9:25 p.m.) A bicyclist was struck and killed by a car near the intersection of Four Mile Run Drive and S. Walter Reed Drive this afternoon.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, according to Arlington County police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal. Police are still investigating the accident — which occurred around 3:00 p.m. — and will release the victim’s name when next of kin are notified.

According to police, the adult male cyclist was turning onto the Four Mile Run Drive access road from southbound Walter Reed Drive when he collided with a car heading in the opposite direction. The man was brought to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Arlington County transportation officials are in the process of planning safety improvements for the intersection, which handles bicycle traffic from the W&OD Trail.

See the police press release, after the jump.

Hat tip to @abend0c4

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Armed Robbery at Ballston Quiznos

By ARLnow.com

We’re just finding out about a brazen armed robbery in the middle of Ballston Wednesday evening.

A man held up the Quiznos in the National Science Foundation building (4201 Wilson Blvd) around 5:45 p.m., according to police and passersby. Police say the man entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded money. He then locked the employees in the back of the store, took their cell phones and fled.

No injuries were reported.

Police describe the suspect as “an African American male in his 30’s, 5’8”-5’10”, wearing a black baseball cap, black hooded sweatshirt, black ‘fanny pack’ and jeans.”

Crime Report: Day Laborer Robbed

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, we learn more about the suspect arrested after a series of foot chases Sunday night.

ABDUCTION-ARREST, 05/02/11, 4900 block of N. 19th Street. On May 1 at 11:15 pm, a 17 year-old female was attacked by a former acquaintance. The suspect grabbed the victim and pulled her to a wooded area where he attempted to sexually assault her. The victim managed to escape and call police. After an extensive search and several foot pursuits, police apprehended the suspect. Milton Masariego-Deleon, 22, of Arlington, was charged with Abduction with the Intent to Defile. He was held without bond.

On Tuesday night, three suspects lured a day laborer into their car, then assaulted him and stole his money and cell phone.

ROBBERY, 05/03/11, 600 block of S. Carlin Springs Road. On May 3 at 5:30 pm, a man entered a vehicle under the understanding that he was being hired for manual labor. An unknown female drove the car, and two unknown men were inside. The men then assaulted the subject and stole his cell phone and cash. The victim managed to flee the area. The suspects were all African American. The female was in her early 30’s, wore a purple top and had long hair. The first male suspect was in his late 20’s, 6’3″ with a skinny build. He was clean cut and wore a red and white short-sleeve shirt, black pants and black sunglasses. The second suspect was in his mid-30’s, 6’3″ with a chubby build. He had a goatee and wore a blue and red t-shirt and black pants.

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

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Pentagon Police Vigilant Day and Night

By ARLnow.com

As the country celebrates Osama bin Laden’s demise, Pentagon police officers are remaining ever-vigilant in their mission of protecting Department of Defense workers.

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency protects DoD workers at the Pentagon and at other leased and owned installations in the Washington area. An article published today by the American Forces Press Service details the work of the PFPA officers who work the night shift at the Pentagon.

The article discusses how officers monitor the various sensors and cameras around the 280-acre Pentagon reservation. Among the sensors present inside and outside the complex are sensors that monitor for potential chemical, biological and radiological threat.

The article also mentions that the PFPA monitors Federal Aviation Administration communications “so we can listen to aircraft that are coming our way.”

The ability to monitor incoming aircraft communications did not exist before the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the article says.

Police Arrest Suspect After Foot Pursuit Near Ballston

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:10 a.m.) A U.S. Park Police helicopter helped Arlington County police search for a suspect near Ballston tonight.

Police were investigating a possible attempted sexual assault just before midnight when a man took off running. After police lost track of him, the helicopter and a K-9 unit were called in to help search a neighborhood just west of Ballston Common Mall.

Around 12:50 a.m., police located the suspect, who took off running again. Officers were able to catch up with him and take him into custody outside the church at N. Carlin Springs Road and N. Thomas Street.

Photo courtesy @navidsm

Crime Report: Eluding Police, Temporarily

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a woman is accused of speeding around a police cruiser, with her hazard lights on, for no apparent reason. The officer tried to stop the vehicle but did not pursue it when the woman refused to pull over, per department policy, according to police. While doing a search of the area, however, police say the woman’s SUV was found parked in the middle of a busy street with music blaring. The woman was not in the car — she was allegedly found in a nearby office building.

(This item removed on 10/3/11, by request, due to outcome of trial.)

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Unwanted Intrusions Edition

By ARLnow.com

This week’s Arlington County crime report contains several items of note. On Thursday, a bullet was fired into a Pentagon City apartment. Nobody was injured and nobody knows who fired the bullet.

MISSILE INTO AN OCCUPIED DWELLING 04/18/11, 1300 block of S. Arlington Ridge Road. On April 14 at midnight, an unknown subject fired a bullet into an occupied apartment. No one was injured. There are no known suspects.

Also on Thursday, someone stole packages from two Yorktown-area doorsteps. The packages were found, but not their contents.

LARCENY (SERIES) 04/15/11, 4800 block of N. 30th Street and the 5500 block of N. 34th Street. On April 14 between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm, an unknown subject stole packages left by the postal service on two doorsteps. The theft was discovered when the packages were found in the street, minus the contents. There is no suspect description.

On Sunday a woman was grabbed and kissed against her will while jogging on the Custis Trail.

ABDUCTION-ARREST 04/17/11, 2000 block of N. Cleveland Street. On April 17 at 5:30 pm, a woman was running on a bike trail when a man grabbed her and kissed her. She broke free of his embrace and fled. The suspect was located by police. Tereso De Jesus Bonilla, 45, of Arlington, was charged with Abduction. He was held without bond.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Arlington County Crime Rate Drops

By ARLnow.com

Crime is down in Arlington, the police department announced last night.

According to department statistics, the crime rate — the number of reported crimes per resident — declined by 7.6 percent from 2009 to 2010. The raw number of reported crimes, meanwhile, fell 5.9 percent.

Robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larcenies and vehicle thefts all declined last year.  At 29 percent, vehicle thefts saw the greatest year-over-year decline.

The number of reported rapes in Arlington rose in 2010, however. There were 24 forcible rapes reported in 2010, compared to 15 in 2009 — a 60 percent increase. Detectives were able to close 87 percent of rape cases, the department said.

“I am pleased with the dedication of the officers and detectives in Arlington, and all that they have accomplished to make our county safer,” Police Chief Doug Scott said in a statement. “However, we continue to remind citizens to make smart decisions concerning their personal safety, because even one victim is one victim too many.”

Employee Who Lost Eye During DMV Brawl Speaks Out

By ARLnow.com

A hotel employee who lost an eye during a huge brawl at the DMV Music Awards in Crystal City last month is speaking out about his ordeal.

In a video produced by the Arlington County Police Department, the employee — “Antonio,” a bartender at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City — says he and his family are now in debt and struggling to get by on meager workman’s compensation payments. He has had two operations since the March 5 incident and expects to have at least one more to get a prosthetic eye. While in recovery, Antonio has been unable to bathe or care for himself, and relies on his wife and friends to accomplish everyday tasks.

“I used to work for three hotels… I don’t know” if I will ever work again, he said. “I cannot live this way.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the attack to contact Detective J. Donaggio at 703-228-4167 or [email protected]. Several photos of the woman who is alleged to have attacked Antonio are displayed at the end of the video.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Route 50 Interchange Project Nears — In March, we were told that the lane closure on westbound Route 50 would finally be lifted by around this time. That’s still yet to be seen, but some new closures are just around the corner. Dr. Gridlock reports that VDOT plans to start construction on a new Route 50/Courthouse Road/Fairfax Drive interchange next month, with nightly traffic disruptions. The $39 million project is expected to wrap up in Fall 2013. [Dr. Gridlock]

Arlington’s Fuel Bill Going Up — Arlington County could spend hundreds of thousands of additional dollars on gasoline this year, thanks to rising gas prices. The county’s vehicle fleet — which includes fuel-sipping Toyota Priuses — consumes about a million gallons of gas every year. [Washington Examiner]

Emergency Personnel Honored for Valor — The Arlington Chamber of Commerce held its 29th annual Valor Awards ceremony on Tuesday. The event honored police, sheriff, fire and EMS personnel whose selfless work has saved lives. Among those honored was Jason Hart and Mark Jaquays, who managed to save the life of a young man who was painting a house last summer when his ladder touched a power line. [Sun Gazette]

Real Estate Prices Up, Inventory Down –– The sale price of Arlington residential real estate surged last month. Condos and townhouses in particular were both up by double digit percentages. Also, real estate inventory was down significantly compared to 2010. [Arlington Real Estate News]

Flickr pool photo by Aaron Webb

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