RBG Buried at Arlington National Cemetery — “The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was buried at Arlington National Cemetery Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Supreme Court confirmed that she was laid to rest and said it was a private service. She was set to be buried alongside her husband, Martin David Ginsburg, who was buried there in 2010.” [WJLA]
DCA Work May Cause Traffic Delays — “Beginning on or about Thursday, October 1, portions of the Terminal B/C Ticketing (upper-level) roadway will close for work related to Project Journey. At least two vehicular lanes will remain open as the construction areas periodically change.” [Press Release]
Police Investigating Lyon Park Attack — “As the parties exited the business, the dispute continued and became physical. The suspect waved a knife at Victim One, who then fell to the ground. The suspect kicked her, at which point a second victim attempted to intervene, but was struck with the knife by the suspect. The suspect then fled in a vehicle.” [Arlington County]
Cristol Joining New Equity Program — “Arlington County Board Member Katie Cristol has been named one of 14 Southern elected leaders who will form the inaugural class of E Pluribus Unum (UNUM) fellows. The program is designed to equip Southern leaders with resources that advance racial and economic equity within their communities.” [Arlington County]
Ballston Hosting Local Restaurant Week — “You’re invited to sip and savor your way through Ballston. Join our neighborhood’s Sip & Savor Restaurant Week. From October 1st through the 4th, support your favorite restaurants and eat local!” [Ballston BID]
An Arlington man was arrested last night after police say he accidentally fired a bullet into the apartment below his.
The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on the 3800 block of Columbia Pike, a couple of blocks west of S. Glebe Road.
The suspect was “engaged in a dispute with a group of people,” police said. “When the suspect allegedly went inside to retrieve his firearm, it discharged and a bullet entered the residence below.”
Police were called when the downstair resident “observed a stray bullet come through the ceiling.” No one was hurt.
The 36-year-old suspect is facing a number of charges, including “possession of a firearm by a foreign national.”
More from an Arlington County Police Department crime report:
WEAPONS VIOLATION, 2020-09270168, 3800 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 27, police were dispatched to the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim was inside his residence when he heard noise and observed a stray bullet come through the ceiling. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspect was engaged in a dispute with a group of people behind a residential building. When the suspect allegedly went inside to retrieve his firearm, it discharged and a bullet entered the residence below. Officers located the suspect outside his residence and took him into custody without incident. No injuries were reported. Jose Gomez, 36, of Arlington, Va., was arrested and charged with Reckless Handling of a Firearm, Discharging a Firearm or Missile in/at an Occupied Building, and Possession of a Firearm by a Foreign Alien.
The work group has rolled out a community feedback form that allows Arlington residents to weigh in on topics like use of force, police training, body cameras, mental health, traffic enforcement and a potential civilian review board.
“The PPG is seeking insights and comments from community members to inform the their work plan moving forward,” said a county spokeswoman.
Police civilian review board – what type and approach?
The role of the police department in providing mental health services;
The role for the police department in traffic enforcement; and
The opportunity for alternative dispute resolution, including restorative justice & mediation.
The group started meeting last month and is set to wrap up its work by Dec. 30. It will present its recommendations to County Manager Mark Schwartz, who in turn will make recommendations for potential changes to the County Board.
A 25-year-old Arlington man is behind bars after police say he broke into a hotel room early this morning and assaulted a woman inside.
The incident happened around 2 a.m. on the 1600 block of Arlington Blvd, which is home to the Inn of Rosslyn motel.
Arlington County police say the man banged on the locked door of the hotel room before forcing his way in and grabbing the woman “around the upper torso.” She fled and called police. The suspect was later spotted by officers banging on another building door in Rosslyn and taken into custody, police said.
More from today’s ACPD crime report:
BURGLARY, 2020-09230019, 1600 block of Arlington Boulevard. At approximately 1:48 a.m. on September 23, police were dispatched to the report of a breaking and entering. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 1:40 a.m. the victim was awoken by noise from the suspect allegedly banging on the door to a secured hotel room. The suspect subsequently forced entry to the room, causing damage, and grabbed the woman around the upper torso. The victim was able to free herself from the suspect, who then fled on foot. Arriving officers established a perimeter, canvased the area, and a K9 track was conducted. At approximately 2:07 a.m., police were dispatched to the 1700 block of N. Quinn Street, where a male matching the suspect description was banging on the door to a building. Arriving officers located the suspect and took him into custody without incident. During the course of the investigation, it was determined the suspect had also caused damage to a shed located outside of the building on Quinn Street. Nomin-Erdene Begzjav, 25, of Arlington, Va., was arrested and charged with Burglary with Intent to Commit Assault, Assault & Battery, and Destruction of Property (x2). He was held on no bond.
The Arlington County Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a woman who has been missing since Aug. 17.
In a press release, below, the department says the woman’s family is concerned for her wellbeing.
The Arlington County Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance locating a missing woman. Karen Dunn, 58, last had contact with her family on August 17, 2020.
Ms. Dunn is described as a white female with blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’06” and 180 lbs. She recently moved to the area from Gregory, Arkansas. She is known to have frequented businesses in the Rosslyn and Crystal City areas.
Police and family are concerned for her health and welfare.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact Detective R. Ortiz at 703-228-7402 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided through the Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected] or anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
Rendering of the redeveloped Ft. Henry Gardens apartments (via AHC Inc.)
Ft. Henry Gardens apartments (via Google Maps)
Local affordable housing developer AHC Inc. is in the early stages of redeveloping the Fort Henry Gardens apartment complex in Green Valley.
Located on the 2400 block of S. Lowell Street, Fort Henry Gardens currently consists of “82 affordable garden apartments in a tree-lined community minutes from the bustling Shirlington neighborhood.” The complex “was built in the 1960s and is in need of an update,” according to AHC Communications Director Celia Slater.
In its place, AHC wants to build taller, more modern apartment buildings.
“We’re excited about redeveloping Fort Henry Gardens because it’s an aging property and this is an opportunity to provide new, energy efficient homes to hardworking families and individuals who need affordable, quality places to live in Arlington,” Slater said. “There is so much need for affordable living opportunities in Arlington… The redevelopment is also giving us the opportunity to provide homes to a wider variety of individuals, including more one bedroom apartments for seniors, which the community mentioned as a real need.”
“The proposed plan includes 26 three-bedroom apartments and 149 two-bedroom units for families and 120 one-bedroom apartments and 5 studios to serve individuals and couples,” Slater tells ARLnow. “Altogether, the new Fort Henry Gardens could add an additional 218+ new affordable apartments in response to the pressing need for more affordable living options in the county.”
Slater said the new apartment community will have a new fitness center, three open lawn areas surrounded by shade trees, and two preschool-age playgrounds “meant to complement the existing recreational field at Drew Elementary School.”
It will also have some features Slater said were requested by the community, including:
Designating the proposed 48-unit building on Lincoln St. to be a senior building after we learned from community members of this need and long-time desire.
Almost doubling the size of our on-site community center in response to the need expressed from our AHC Green Valley residents. We currently have a robust Resident Services program at Fort Henry in a fairly small community center. The new space will give our students more room for indoor learning activities and also provide an opportunity to explore additional ways to build community.
Committing a healthy portion of our site to outdoor gathering and recreational uses in response to this request from the Civic Association.
Designing for solar panels in response to the County’s desire for renewable energy.
AHC is hoping to begin construction in the spring of 2022 and welcome residents back in the spring of 2024. The initial site plan for the redevelopment was submitted to Arlington County in May, Slater said, and the County Board is expected to consider the project early next year.
The developer might face some community skepticism, however, due to complaints about its nearby Shelton apartment building on 24th Street S. In 2016, building residents spoke out publicly, demanding better living conditions. This year, an anonymous group of neighboring residents has been writing letters to AHC and Arlington County complaining about “ongoing noise, litter, and criminal issues” associated with the building.
“Both our residents and our staff have found their calls to police to be nonproductive this summer,” the letter said. “Our residents report that the police are not responding to their calls about noise and large gatherings.”
(ACPD confirmed to ARLnow that “the department is diverting some non-emergency incidents to the online reporting system,” while continuing to respond to “in-progress crimes and emergency calls for service where there is an immediate threat to life, health or property.” Overall police call volume to Green Valley for the period from Jan. 1-Aug. 31 was down 16%, according to department spokeswoman Ashley Savage.)
Robin Stombler and Portia Clark, who lead the Green Valley Civic Association, said they are in touch with the anonymous letter writer and are working to address the issues with the apartment building and with the police department. Stombler and Clark said they do not believe County Board involvement is needed to address issues with the Shelton at this time, but suggested that they want to see AHC make some changes.
“Suffice to say, AHC Inc. will need to reexamine how they conduct business in our community in order to garner our support,” they wrote.
Slater, meanwhile, said AHC “will continue to meet with the Green Valley Civic Association and other neighbors throughout” the Fort Henry Gardens redevelopment process.
Arlington County police are investigating an incident involving two teen girls and a man who tried to lure them into his car in a 7-Eleven parking lot.
The incident happened Saturday afternoon, outside the convenience store at 5747 Lee Highway.
“At approximately 2:46 p.m. on September 19, police were dispatched to the report of suspicious circumstances,” Arlington County Police said in a crime report today. “Upon arrival, it was determined that the female juvenile victims were exiting a business when the male subject pulled up next to them in his vehicle and attempted to engage them in conversation. They declined and began to run away.”
“The subject yelled to the victims again to come back to his car, at which point a witness came to the aid of the victims and contacted police,” the crime report continues. “The subject fled in the vehicle prior to police arrival.”
On Nextdoor, a Leeway Overlee resident who identified himself as a parent of one of the 13-year-old victims further described what happened, calling it an “attempted abduction.”
“Our daughter and one of her friends walked up to 7-Eleven next to Sloppy Mama’s BBQ yesterday, they walked past a small white car when the driver yelled out ‘I will buy you Slurpees if you get in,'” he wrote. “They ignored, bought their goods and left, again walking by the car, he opened the door and yelled at them to get in, they ignored and proceeded towards Lee/Lexington intersection, the man drove out of the lot to that intersection and again yelled once again.”
According to the poster, the witness who intervened was the manager of the nearby District Taco restaurant. The company’s founder and CEO confirmed to ARLnow today that the restaurant’s general manager was on her break and jumped into action upon seeing what was happening.
“Lashelle Mason was there at the right spot and time,” said Osiris Hoil. “Thank God.”
Hoil, who lives in the neighborhood and has three children, added that he’s being more cautious after the incident.
Also quick to intervene, according to the Nextdoor post, was Joe Neuman, founder of Sloppy Mama’s, who provided security camera footage to police.
“We immediately went to our cameras and helped Arlington PD as best we could,” Neuman confirmed. “We had the incident on our cameras but the car had [a] license plate cover on it so we were unable to get a plate.”
“The investigation is ongoing,” ACPD said in today’s crime report.
Garvey Stands By Streetcar Stance — “It cost her the goodwill of many in the county’s Democratic ranks, and four years ago nearly cost her her job, but Libby Garvey says she has no regrets. Garvey, now seeking a third full term on the Arlington County Board, used the Sept. 8 Arlington County Civic Federation candidate forum to remind voters of her full-throttle opposition to the Columbia Pike streetcar system – the biggest political controversy of recent years.” [InsideNova]
Local Man Facing Child Porn Charges — “An Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigation by state and local agencies has resulted in the arrest of an Arlington man. Detectives arrested Luis Hernandez Orozco, 25, and charged him with two counts of Possession of Child Pornography. He is being held in the Arlington County Detention Facility.” [Arlington County]
Arlington Somewhat Affordable for Renters — Arlington has ranked No. 18 on a new list of the “Cities Where Renters Can Afford to Live Alone,” which ranks locales based on average rent for a studio or one-bedroom apartment, relative to the median income in the area. [SmartAsset]
Drive-In Movie on Saturday — “The drive-in is back, and coming to a neighborhood near you. Gather the family and cruise down to Ballston to watch an exclusive screening of Night at the Museum at Ballston’s Drive-In Movie Night. Tickets include free sweet treats, but be sure to bring your own movie snacks.” [Ballston BID]
A man was shot and killed outside a nightclub in the Eden Center just after midnight this morning.
Falls Church police say the shooting happened outside Diva Lounge, which is located at 6763 Wilson Blvd, in the rear of the shopping center near Planet Fitness.
“At approximately 12:05 a.m. police responded to a 911 call about a shooting at the Diva Lounge,” police said. “Police and medic units responded to the scene, where they discovered a male victim deceased from a gunshot wound.”
“Witnesses to the incident report the suspect shot the victim then fled the scene on foot,” the police statement continues. “The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 30s, with dark hair, who was wearing black shorts and a blue polo shirt. There is no camera or video footage of the suspect available at this time.”
Police say they are actively investigating the case but believe there is “no continuing threat to the community.”
“If you witnessed or have any information regarding this incident, please call Detective Darian Chuquillangui at (703) 248-5165,” police said.
Just over ten years ago, the same nightclub space — it was then V3 Lounge — was the scene of a large, early morning brawl.
Police are looking for a man they say ran up to a woman on a local trail and touched her inappropriately.
The incident happened around 10 a.m. Saturday, on the Custis Trail near Lee Highway and the Spout Run Parkway.
Police searched the trail and the surrounding area for the suspect, but he was able to get away. He’s now being sought on a potential charge of sexual battery.
More from an Arlington County Police Department crime report, below.
SEXUAL BATTERY, 2020-09080051, 3100 block of Lee Highway. At approximately 9:58 a.m. on September 8, police were dispatched to the report of an assault just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 9:50 a.m., the victim was walking on the trail when she observed the suspect walking towards her from a distance. She subsequently turned around and began walking away from the suspect, who increased his pace, closing the distance between them. The suspect caught up to the victim, grabbed her hip, and touched her inappropriately. The victim yelled, prompting the suspect to flee on foot prior to police arrival. The victim was not injured. The suspect is described as a Black male, 35-40 years old, with an afro, wearing a long sleeve red flannel shirt with a white shirt underneath, shorts, and a blue surgical mask. The investigation is ongoing.
An 18-year-old Arlington man was arrested Tuesday morning after a brief foot chase through Virginia Square.
Police say they were initially called after a man allegedly spit on an employee inside a business on the 3500 block of Wilson Blvd. That block includes a 7-Eleven store, but the Arlington County Police Department typically does not name the business in which a crime occurs.
After officers spotted the suspect near N. Oakland Street and tried to place him in handcuffs, he took off on foot, according to ACPD. He was ultimately taken into custody at gunpoint in front of the Brookdale Arlington assisted living facility at 3821 Wilson Blvd, according to photos and scanner traffic at the time.
The man — who was wanted in Montgomery County, Maryland — is now facing numerous charges. More from an ACPD crime report:
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE (Significant), 2020-09080057, 3500 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 10:45 a.m. on September 8, police were dispatched to the report of a disorderly subject who had allegedly spit on an employee of a business. Arriving officers located a subject matching the description in the area of N. Oakland Street and 7th Street N. and made contact with him. The suspect provided officers with a false name, and, while attempting to identify him using law enforcement resources, he was determined to be wanted out of Montgomery County. As officers attempted to place him in handcuffs, he fled on foot. Following a brief foot pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody. Andre Hicks, 18, of Arlington, Va., was arrested and charged with Obstruction of Justice, Identity Theft, Assault & Battery, and Fugitive from Justice.
