police

County Board OKs Federal Coronavirus Grant for Public Safety Agencies

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County is getting $136,727 from the U.S. Dept. of Justice to help pay for coronavirus-related public safety expenses.

The federal grant was approved unanimously by the County Board over the weekend.

Among the big ticket items to be funded by the grant are:

  • 3 electronic sign boards for the Arlington County Police Department ($30,210)
  • 435 hours of officer overtime for ACPD ($19,106)
  • 994 pairs of coveralls for Arlington County firefighters ($31,063)
  • 280 boxes of nitrile exam gloves for the Arlington Sheriff’s Office ($36,736)

“Funds awarded under the [Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding] Program must be utilized to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus,” says a county staff report. “Allowable projects and purchases include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment (including law enforcement and medical personal protective equipment), and supplies (such as gloves, masks, sanitizer).”

The expenses have already been incurred, the staff report notes, and will be reimbursed — with no local matching funds required.

Also funded by the grant are $19,605 worth of miscellaneous supplies for the police department.

Man Accused of Biting Police Officer in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

A North Carolina man accused of exposing himself to police officers earlier this month is now accused of biting an officer.

The latest incident happened Sunday afternoon in the Clarendon area. Arlington County Police say they were called after the 36-year-old knocked over store displays and stole items from local businesses.

The suspect then flung stolen merchandise at responding officers and bit one officer during a struggle, according to police.

More from an ACPD crime report:

ASSAULT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, 2020-07190142, 2800 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 2:56 p.m. on July 19, police were dispatched to the report of a disorderly subject at a business. Upon arrival, it was determined that the suspect was outside the entrance to a business in the 2700 block of Washington Boulevard, where he allegedly knocked over merchandise displays. The suspect then left that business and went into a second business in the 2800 block of Clarendon Boulevard where he went behind the counter and attempted to steal an employee’s cell phone before being confronted. He then left and entered a neighboring business, where he stole merchandise and fled on foot. Arriving officers located the suspect nearby, however, he refused to follow commands, threw stolen merchandise at an officer and continued walking away in traffic. Officers located the suspect in the 1200 block of N. Garfield Street and attempted to stop him, however he ignored lawful commands and bit an officer. Following a brief struggle, the suspect was taken into custody. The three businesses declined prosecution but requested the suspect be banned from their locations. The officer was not injured. David Morris, 36, of Fayetteville, N.C. was arrested and charged with Assault & Battery on Police and Obstruction of Justice. He was held on no bond.

Arrests Made in Columbia Pike Homicide

By ARLnow.com

Two Maryland men have been arrested and charged with murder, following a fatal triple shooting along Columbia Pike late last month.

“Christopher Rather, 27, of Oxen Hill, MD, and Franklin Lambright, 27, of Temple Hills, MD, have been charged with Murder and are being held in Prince George’s County, Maryland pending extradition back to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Arlington County Police said in a press release over the weekend.

“The suspects were apprehended with the assistance of the Prince George’s County Police Department and the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force,” the press release continues. “Additional charges are pending.”

One person was killed and two injured after shots were fired into a crowd early on a Sunday morning along the 3000 block of Columbia Pike. Police are not revealing the exact circumstances that led to the shooting, other than to say that it stemmed from a dispute of some kind.

“The investigation indicates there was a dispute between multiple parties prior to the shooting,” ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow. “As the parties separated, the suspects allegedly entered a vehicle and fired shots into the crowd before fleeing the scene.”

The man who died was found dead in a vehicle two blocks away. He was identified by police as 21-year-old Donovan Green, Jr., of Upper Marlboro, Md. Two other people suffered minor injuries and arrived at a local hospital on their own.

“This incident remains an active criminal investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact police at 703-228-4180 or [email protected],” Savage said. “Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).”

Green’s killing was the third homicide of 2020 in Arlington County.

County Unveils New Police Practices Review Board

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:30 a.m.) Arlington County is creating a new group of residents, officials and police officers to review law enforcement practices in Arlington.

The 15-member Police Practices Group will conduct a review to “ensure that the Arlington County Police Department is current with policing best practices and continue to build trust between our police and the community.”

The group, which will start meeting in August, will allow “all the people who are most concerned about [police practices in Arlington] to have an airing,” Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz said Friday morning. It will also “provide an opportunity for people to get all the perspectives, including hearing directly from the police… and bringing in some outside parties who can take a look at what we do and discuss best practices.”

Schwartz noted that the county has received a number of complaints about police conduct, as well as calls for police reform from groups like the local chapter of the NAACP. Prior to Thursday night’s announcement of the group’s formation, activists were questioning whether the county was stalling in their response.

Among specific, actionable items for the group to discuss are the establishment of a police civilian review board, the role of the police department in traffic enforcement, and whether police officers should respond to certain calls for mental health services and civil disputes.

Schwartz said the review will not examine mutual aid agreements with other regional police departments, like the agreement that infamously led Arlington officers in riot gear to be deployed to the White House, as a regional review is already underway. Additionally, the group will not discuss the role of School Resource Officers — uniformed ACPD officers stationed in schools — as Arlington Public Schools is already reviewing that practice, according to Schwartz.

As for the nationwide calls to “defund the police,” Schwartz said budget decision are likely to follow recommendations group the group — for instance, are as many sworn officers needed if some duties, like response to mental health emergencies, are removed. There could also be discussions about raising officer pay to better help recruit qualified officers, he added.

The creation of the group comes after local and nationwide protests over the killing of unarmed civilians — particularly Black people — at the hands of law enforcement. It also comes as Police Chief M. Jay Farr prepares to retire by the end of the year.

More from a county press release:

Following recent events involving policing and racial justice across the United States, the County Board has asked the County Manager to lead a review of police policies and practices. This review will ensure that the Arlington County Police Department is current with policing best practices and continue to build trust between our police and the community.

The first step will be an external review and assessment of current policies and practices in six key areas:

  • Review of use of Force: De-escalation tactics; lethal and non-lethal force; and, foot and vehicle pursuits.
  • Training and Supervision: Police Academy training; and training for implicit bias and crisis intervention.
  • Cameras: Both body-worn and vehicle dash cameras; and policies regarding use of this equipment.
  • Recruitment and Retention: Screening for bias; psychological evaluation; mental health programs; process for officer evaluation; promotion and leadership development programs; and compensation, including pay and benefits.
  • Internal Affairs: Statistics; structures and procedures; effectiveness through an anonymous climate survey; grievance processes; and use of force investigations.
  • Data/Statistics: Reviewing data collected for arrests and stops over the past 3 years and ensuring its consistency.

This external assessment will begin on July 20, 2020 and be led by two parties with expertise in departmental assessments, police practices, policy review, criminal justice reform and conflict analysis: Marcia K. Thompson, Vice President at Hilliard Heintze, an attorney and law enforcement practitioner with more than 20 years working in the criminal justice field; and Dr. Julie Shedd, Associate Dean at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University Carter School (see biographies below).

The themes of this assessment will be shared with the 15-member Police Practices Group (PPG) early in the fall and will support the work of the group moving forward. The PPG will begin meeting in August and will also discuss the following four important policy areas:

  • 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 PPG will use the themes identified during the assessment to inform discussion and work to offer options on the four policy areas and report to the County Manager by December 21, 2020. The PPG will hold public engagement sessions to gather community input on these issues. The results will be provided to the County Manager as he hires a new Police Chief after a national search. (Note: Chief Jay Farr will be retiring before the end of this year). The information will also form the basis of potential recommendations for improvements to the County Board.

County Board Chair Libby Garvey noted that “this group will start us on a journey to tackle the important issues we face as a community regarding public safety for all of our residents. We have a fine police department in Arlington, however, it can and should be better. Arlington Police welcome the review and look forward to being a part of this important effort. These times call for a new look at how our community addresses public safety and policing.”

“I want to thank each of those who have agreed to participate in this important work,” County Manager Mark Schwartz stated. “This group will hopefully strengthen the bonds of trust between officers and residents of the County and explore the difficult issues facing law enforcement today. Our Police Department has a longstanding history of working with the community to provide professional services and a mission to treat all individuals with respect but also recognizes the need for improvements. Arlington is not immune to the challenges seen elsewhere, and I know that we will be better for the work of this group.”

The PPG’s first meeting is scheduled for August 3, 2020.

(more…)

Video: Teen Struck by Speeding Driver in Ashton Heights

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 7:15 p.m.) A teenage boy was struck by a speeding driver this morning on a residential street in Ashton Heights, near Virginia Square.

The hit-and-run happened just before 11:45 a.m. on the 600 block of N. Kenmore Street and was caught on a neighbor’s home surveillance video system. Miraculously, the teen escaped with only minor injuries.

The video, provided to ARLnow by the victim’s mother in the hopes of helping to identify the driver, starts with the sound of squealing tires. A four-door Chevy sedan can then be seen speeding down the street, followed by the 17-year-old victim tumbling down the roadway after being struck.

The teen was crossing the street when he was struck, according to his mother. The driver did not stop and fled the scene.

The boy — a Washington-Liberty High School student — suffered lacerations and road rash and “is in a lot of pain,” but was not seriously injured, we’re told. He was unable to spot the license plate number.

An Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman echoed the mother’s account of what happened and said the crash is under investigation.

“The driver of the striking vehicle failed to stop at the scene of the crash and fled traveling south on Kenmore Street,” said Ashley Savage. “The pedestrian was transported to Virginia Hospital Center with non-life threatening injuries. The striking vehicle is described as a white sedan. The investigation is ongoing.”

The incident comes a day after a woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street in Pentagon City.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the Arlington County non-emergency line at 703-558-2222 or can provide an anonymous tip to the police department by calling 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Arlington Woman Arrested After Double Stabbing Near Hospital

By ARLnow.com

A 23-year-old Arlington woman is behind bars after a double stabbing early this morning, a block from Virginia Hospital Center.

The stabbing happened around 3:15 a.m. on the 1900 block of N. Edison Street, in the High View Park neighborhood. According to police, a woman approached two victims outside their house, took out a knife, and stabbed both.

The suspect fled on foot, but was later spotted and arrested in the Ballston area.

Both victims suffered non-life threatening injuries. The suspect has been charged with two felony counts of Malicious Wounding and is being held without bond.

Police say the victims knew the suspect, but there’s no word on a motive.

More from the Arlington County Police Department:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2020-07160019, 1900 block of N. Edison Street. At approximately 3:14 a.m. on July 16, police were dispatched to the report of a stabbing just occurred. Arriving officers located two victims outside of a residence and immediately began to render aid. Both victims were transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The investigation determined that the victims were returning to their residence when the known suspect approached them from behind and began pulling on one victim’s backpack. As they turned around, the suspect allegedly produced a knife and stabbed both victims before fleeing on foot with the backpack prior to police arrival. Officers canvased the area and located the suspect in the area of Washington Boulevard and N. Stafford Street, where she was taken into custody without incident. Zulma Franco Lopez, 23, of Arlington, Va., was arrested and charged with Malicious Wounding (x2) and held on no bond.

Two Vehicles Overturn in Crashes Within Minutes of Each Other

By ARLnow.com
1/9

(Updated at 3 p.m.) Arlington had an unusual occurrence this morning: two drivers in two separate parts of the county struck parked cars, flipping their vehicles over, within 5-10 minutes of each other.

The first incident happened on N. Danville Street, in the Lyon Village neighborhood near Clarendon. The driver of a white Toyota sideswiped a parked SUV, flipping the sedan on its side.

By the time ARLnow arrived on the scene, a crowd of neighbors had gathered and a tow crew had already placed the car back on all four wheels. No injuries were reported.

Minutes later, police and firefighters were called to the 200 block of S. Barton Street, in the Penrose neighborhood, for another overturned vehicle.

This time, a young male driver of a black Jeep sideswiped a parked vehicle, flipping the Jeep on its roof.

The driver was able to get out but was in a daze, a neighbor said. He was transported to a local hospital after initially refusing medical treatment, we’re told.

Police closed both sections of road while the wrecks were cleaned up. Officers could be heard remarking at the uncanny timing of the two crashes.

JUST IN: Woman Killed in Pentagon City Pedestrian Crash

By ARLnow.com

A woman was killed while crossing a street in Pentagon City yesterday.

The crash happened around 2:15 p.m. The victim was struck by a vehicle while crossing mid-block on S. Fern Street between Army Navy Drive and 12th Street S., leaving her lying in the middle of the street.

The driver stayed on scene, according to Arlington County police. So far, no charges have been announced.

The woman was pronounced dead on the scene, ACPD said in a press release this morning. Fern Street was closed for several hours while detectives investigated the crash. Police are now asking anyone with additional information to come forward.

More from the press release:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Critical Accident Team (CAT) continues to investigate a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on Wednesday, July 15 in the Aurora Highlands neighborhood.

At approximately 2:15 p.m., police responded to the 1100 block of S. Fern Street for the report of a crash with injuries involving a pedestrian. The preliminary investigation indicates the pedestrian attempted to cross mid-block when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The pedestrian, an adult female, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the striking vehicle remained on scene.

The identity of the pedestrian is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Anyone who may have witnessed this crash or has additional information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective S. Whalin at [email protected] or 703-228-4159. Information may also be reported anonymously to Arlington County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Va. Adopts New Workplace Safety Rules — “Today, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board acted to protect the Commonwealth’s workers by adopting emergency temporary standards, which set forth enforceable, common-sense requirements that employers must follow to protect their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic… Key requirements, such as those for physical distancing, workplace sanitization, and information sharing, will apply to all workers.” [Commonwealth of Virginia, Legal Aid Justice Center, Twitter]

Witness Helps Apprehend Robbery Suspect — “Two employees followed the suspect outside and attempted to take back the items, at which point a physical altercation ensued. The suspect assaulted the employees and threw the items at them. During this time, a witness heard commotion outside the business and went to investigate, but was struck by the suspect as he fled on foot. Arriving officers, with the assistance of the witness, located the suspect nearby and took him into custody without incident.” [Arlington County]

ACPD No Longer Working With Ring — “Amazon.com Inc.’s doorbell camera subsidiary Ring Inc. has partnered with more than 1,000 law enforcement agencies across the country, but it appears it won’t be making a similar arrangement with the HQ2-area police force. Despite quite a bit of interest last year, the Arlington County Police Department said it is no longer ‘actively seeking a partnership with Ring,’ which would have provided its officers access to a special police portal of the company’s Neighbors app.” [Washington Business Journal]

Amazon Delaying Return to Offices — “Amazon said it is allowing employees who can work from home to do so until Jan. 8., once again extending the timeline on a return to work for many of its employees.” [CNBC]

Hope Gets Primary Challenger — Political operative Matt Rogers has announced that he will be challenging Del. Patrick Hope (D-Va.) in next year’s Democratic primary. [Twitter, Blue Virginia]

Local Stage Star Offers Singing Telegrams — “Her title role in ‘Porgy and Bess’ was postponed at the Kennedy Center this summer. Instead, Alyson Cambridge of Arlington, Virginia, is participating in Sing for Hope grams… The idea is to give personalized singing grams from Broadway and opera stars.” [WTOP]

ACFD Battles Falls Church House Fire — Arlington County firefighters were joined by firefighters from Fairfax County in battling a house fire on Robinson Place in the City of Falls Church yesterday. [Tysons Reporter]

Road Closed After Pedestrian Struck in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) Police have shut down a block of S. Fern Street in Pentagon City after a pedestrian was struck.

Arriving first responders found the individual lying in the roadway and bleeding, after being struck by a vehicle. Initial reports suggest that the person’s injuries may be serious.

S. Fern Street is currently blocked between 12th Street S. and Army Navy Drive as a result of the emergency response. The closure may be extended by a police investigation.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Hotel-to-Apartment Project on Hold — “A proposal to convert the Arlington Courts Suites extended-stay hotel in the Courthouse area to apartments is on hold, at least for now. The project had been slated for County Board consideration on July 18, but has been deferred until at least October at the request of the applicant, citing ‘economic concerns about the project due to the COVID-19 emergency.'” [InsideNova]

Controversy Sparks Idea for Fundraiser — A local man has raised more than $140,000 “after starting a GoFundMe page to buy Goya Foods products and donate them to local food pantries after critics called for a boycott over pro-Trump comments from Goya’s CEO. ‘People are seeing in the news a double standard for one political view,’ 27-year-old Casey Harper of Arlington, Va., told FOX Business.” [Fox Business, GoFundMe]

Jury Questionnaire Going Out Soon — “The Arlington Circuit Court, which includes the City of Falls Church, will soon begin its annual juror qualification process.  Juror questionnaires will be mailed in early August to randomly selected residents of Arlington County and Falls Church City.  These questionnaires are used to qualify residents for jury duty which begins Jan. 1, 2021, and ends Dec. 31, 2021.” [Arlington County]

Job Losses Possible at DCA — Among the 36,000 United Airlines workers who may be furloughed starting in October, according to WARN Act notices, are 116 employees at Reagan National Airport. [Virginia Employment Commission]

Swearing In for New County Board Member — “Takis P. Karantonis, elected to the Arlington County Board in a special election on July 7, 2020, will be sworn in at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 in a virtual ceremony. Clerk of the Circuit Court of Arlington Paul Ferguson will officiate.” [Arlington County]

Red Hook Lobster Pound Shuts Down — Long-time local food truck operator and concessionaire Red Hook Lobster Pound is selling its trucks and assets as the pandemic forces it out of business. This presumably means that there will be no Red Hook lobster restaurant near Clarendon, either. [Washingtonian]

ACPD Investigating Airbag Theft Along Lee Highway — “At approximately 7:30 a.m. on July 12, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny. Upon arrival, it was determined that between 7:00 p.m. on July 11 and 7:30 a.m. on July 12, an unknown suspect(s) smashed the windows of approximately three vehicles and stole the airbags. There are no suspect(s) descriptions. The investigation is ongoing.” [Arlington County]

Photo courtesy Mike Cantwell

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