sexual battery

ACPD Seeks Help in Finding Sexual Assault Suspect

By Heather Mongilio

Alleged rape suspect (Courtesy of ACPD)The Arlington County Police Department is seeking a man suspected of sexually assaulting a 25-year-year old woman in Courthouse.

The suspect allegedly forced the woman into bushes near the corner of 15th Street N. and N. Scott Street early Saturday morning. The woman was able to kick the man in the groin and fight him off after he grabbed at her pants, police say.

A sketch artist worked with the victim to produce a sketch of the suspect. He is described as a Hispanic man weighing between 150 to 175 pounds and is between 5’6 and 5’8 feet tall. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and jeans and has an athletic build.

Anyone with information can call Detective Robert Icolari at 703-228-4240 or email him at [email protected]. Anyone with information who wishes to remain anonymous can call 866-411-TIPS (8477) to leave a tip with Arlington County Crime Solvers.

Woman Sexually Assaulted in Courthouse

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA woman was sexually assaulted in the Courthouse area early Saturday morning.

Arlington County Police say a 25-year-old woman was walking home from a Friday night out in Clarendon when a man began trying to talk with her. When she walked past him, the man started following her, and she tried walking faster to get away.

At the intersection of 15th Street N. and N. Scott Street, the woman was grabbed from behind and pulled into some nearby bushes. The attacker grabbed the woman’s groin area and tried tugging on her clothing, according to police, but the woman fought him off by punching, kicking and screaming.

After being kicked in the groin, the man walked away towards Clarendon Blvd. The woman lost her phone in the struggle and flagged down a passerby to call police. Officers attempted to track the attacker down, but he escaped and remains at large.

“The suspect is described as a white Hispanic male, 20-30 years of age, 5’6″-5’8″, 150-175 lbs, wearing a white tank top and dark pants,” according to a police report.

Police Seek Victims of Home Inspector Accused of Sexual Battery

By ARLnow.com

Olaseni Cole(Updated at 7:45 a.m.) The Arlington County Police Department Special Victims Unit is seeking additional victims of a county home inspector who has been accused of inappropriately touching a woman during an inspection of her home.

Olaseni Cole, 54, was charged with sexual battery after allegedly groping a woman on the morning of Tuesday, April 14, according to Arlington County police.

The incident happened on the 3900 block of 8th Street S., in the Alcova Heights neighborhood. Cole, an Upper Marlboro, Md. resident and an Arlington County employee, was inspecting the woman’s house.

Cole was arrested and is being held at the Arlington County Detention Facility in Courthouse. Police are asking anyone else who might have been a victim to come forward.

“Anyone who has had past inappropriate encounters with this suspect is asked to call Detective N. Brooks at 703.228.4169 or email [email protected],” the press release continued. “To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).”

Olesani started working for the county in March 2014, according to Arlington Human Resources Director Marcy Foster.

Teen Groped While Walking Home from School

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County police carPolice are looking for a man who grabbed the behind of a teen who was walking home from school Monday afternoon.

The incident happened around 4:15 p.m. on the 4100 block of Four Mile Run Drive. Police say a 17-year-old girl was walking home from Wakefield High School when a man ran up to her and grabbed her buttocks.

“The suspect fled on foot and is described as a Hispanic male in his twenties, approximately 5’11” tall and 140 lbs,” according to a crime report item. “He was wearing a blue beanie, long sleeve gray t-shirt with blue sleeves and jeans.”

Arlington County Police are encouraging students to be aware of their surroundings while walking home. The victim in this case was wearing headphones at the time of the assault.

“If you’re going to be wearing headphones, take one of the earbuds out,” suggested a police spokesman.

Michael Gardner Charged With Molestation of Family Member

By ARLnow.com

Michael Gardner (photo courtesy Arlington County Sheriff's Office)Michael Gardner, the Falls Church resident whose 2012 sexual battery conviction was overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court earlier this year, has been indicted in another molestation case.

Gardner was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery of a child after an Arlington Circuit Court grand jury returned two indictments on Monday. He’s being held without bond at the Arlington County jail.

The indictment charges Gardner with the molestation of a female family member who was under 13 years of age at the time. The two alleged offenses took place in 2009.

“The allegations came to light only after Gardner was released from prison after his conviction was overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court,” Falls Church authorities said in a press release this morning. “The victim in the most recent case related the incident to an individual who, by law, is a mandated reporter of child abuse allegations.”

Gardner’s next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6. He is also facing a new trial in the previous molestation case. That trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 2, 2015.

Gardner was originally convicted in May 2012 of molesting two girls during a sleepover birthday party for his daughter in 2011. Gardner is a former chairman of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee and his wife, Robin Gardner, was formerly mayor of Falls Church.

Gardner’s attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.

Photo courtesy Arlington County Sheriff’s Office

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Yorktown vs. H-B Woodlawn ultimate frisbee (Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf)

Arlington Probation Officer Charged — A 40-year-old Arlington County probation officer has been charged with the aggravated sexual battery of a 10-year-old girl in Woodbridge. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the crime. [NBC Washington]

No Democrats to Run Against Van Doren — Nancy Van Doren is the lone Democrat to file to run for the Arlington School Board seat being vacated by Noah Simon. She’s expected to be confirmed as the Democratic endorsee on Aug. 6. [InsideNova]

Verizon Outage Reported — A widespread Verizon FiOS and wireless data outage was reported in the D.C. area Sunday night through Monday morning. [CBS Local]

Public Hearings for Water Plans — Arlington County will hold public hearings in September regarding an updated Water Distribution System Master Plan and an updated Stormwater Master Plan.

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Bystanders Stop Sexual Assault Near Courthouse Metro

By ARLnow.com
File photo

(Updated on 12/23/21 at 11:30 a.m.) A group of four men in their 20s intervened to stop a sexual assault outside of the Courthouse Metro station early Saturday morning, according to police.

The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. It started, police say, when a man followed a 31-year-old woman off the Metro and, after exiting the station, threw her into a bush near the corner of N. Veitch Street and Wilson Blvd.

The man tried to sexually assault the woman, but her screams for help were heard by a group of four men who ran to her aid, fought off the attacker and called police, according Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The suspect was arrested as he tried to flee eastbound on Clarendon Blvd, Sternbeck said. [Name redacted], 27-years-old of no fixed address, is charged with sexual battery.

Crime Report: Peepers, Creepers

By ARLnow.com
File photo

Police are investigating a string of creepy crimes in North Arlington.

Early Monday morning, a suspect was seen peeping into a bedroom window in Cherrydale.

PEEPING TOM, 140203028, 2100 block of N. Taylor Street. On February 3 at 2:15pm, a victim reported that around 1am that previous night, while he was sleeping, his girlfriend awoke and saw an unknown subject’s shadow looking into the bedroom window. The victim then yelled and the suspect fled. There is no suspect description.

Later Monday morning, a man in the North Highland neighborhood allegedly ran up and touched a woman’s behind while pleasuring himself.

SEXUAL BATTERY, 140203015, 1600 block of N. 21st Street. On February 3 at 9:56am, a suspect touched a victim’s buttocks as she walked past him and then she turned to see the suspect masturbating. The victim fled the scene. The suspect is described as an approximately 5’9″ white or Hispanic male in his thirties. At the time of the incident the suspect was wearing red plaid pajama pants and a multi-colored headband. The investigation is ongoing.

Monday evening, a woman in Lyon Park reported that someone had moved a lawn chair in her backyard and used it to peep into her bedroom.

PEEPING TOM, 140203047, 700 block of N. Cleveland Street. On February 3 at 7:02pm, a victim reported that between 1/30/14 and 2/3/14, an unknown subject had moved a lawn chair from her backyard to the side of her house, below a bedroom window. It appears that the suspect stood on the chair to see into the bedroom. There is no suspect description. 

The rest of this week’s Arlington County crime report, after the jump. All named suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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Crime Report: Inappropriate Touching

By ARLnow.com

A man was accused of “inappropriately” touching a “young child” this past weekend.

The 58-year-old suspect was charged with sexual battery. Police say the incident happened in the Douglas Park neighborhood on Saturday. From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

SEXUAL BATTERY, 140104043, 4200 block of S. 13th Street. Between 9:30 am and 1 pm on January 4, a subject allegedly touched a minor inappropriately. Aurelio Guzman Vargas, 58, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual battery. He was held without bond.

The rest of the crime report, including several previously-reported items, after the jump. All named suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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Crime Report: Man Flees After Grabbing Woman’s Buttocks

By Katie Pyzyk

Police are looking for a man accused of reaching up the skirt and grabbing the buttocks of a woman walking on S. Hayes Street in the Aurora Highlands neighborhood, near Crystal City, on Monday evening.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

SEXUAL BATTERY, 07/22/13, 2000 block of S. Hayes Street. At 6:25 pm on July 22, a female victim was walking on the sidewalk when a suspect approached her from behind and reached up her skirt, grabbing her buttocks. The suspect fled the scene on foot. He is described as a white Hispanic male in his 20’s, approximately 5’8″ tall and 170 lbs. He was wearing a red bandana, baby blue shirt and khaki shorts at the time of the incident.

Police say a bystander witnessed the incident and attempted to chase the suspect for several blocks, but the suspect got away. The witness stayed at the scene to speak with police. Neither the witness nor the victim sustained any physical injuries.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Crime Report: Man Arrested for Showing Child Porn to 4-Year-Old

By ARLnow.com

Paul Noland (photo courtesy ACPD)A young Arlington man has been arrested and charged with sexual battery after allegedly luring a 4-year-old boy into a pickup truck.

Police say 19-year-old Paul Noland, who lives with his parents in Alcova Heights, lured the boy into this pickup truck around 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, on the 3600 block of 8th Street S. Noland is accused of showing the boy — who lives in the neighborhood — child pornography on his iPad, then touching him inappropriately.

The boy’s parents were outside doing yard work at the time of the incident, police said. From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

SEXUAL BATTERY, 05/21/13, 3600 block of S. 8th Street. At 8:00 pm on May 21, a child reported he was sexually assaulted and shown child pornography by a male neighbor.  Paul Jaquet Noland, 19, of Arlington, VA, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual battery. He is being held without bond.

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

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