wanted

Police Still Looking for Wrong-Way Driver Who Caused Head-On I-66 Crash

By Alex Koma

(Updated at 3:20 p.m.) Arlington police are still searching for a man who drove the wrong way on I-66 Sunday (July 8) and caused a major accident before fleeing the scene.

County police have charged 28-year-old Victor Ebai of Springfield with felony hit and run and eluding police in connection with the incident, which ended only after he crashed head-on into another car near Rosslyn on I-66.

Police subsequently revealed Monday (July 9) that officers pulled another man from Ebai’s vehicle after it caught on fire following the crash. The passenger was transported to George Washington University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage says police are not planning to charge the passenger with a crime. U.S. Secret Service spokesman Shawn Holtzclaw added that his agency isn’t pursuing charges against the man either. Neither would say if police believed the man was in the car voluntarily or against his will.

Holtzclaw also confirmed early reports that the victim in the head-on crash was a federal government worker who was heading to work in D.C. at the time of the crash. They’re withholding the victim’s identity, but did say they were taken to Virginia Hospital Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The Secret Service is involved in the investigation because the incident started when one of its agents noticed a red Chevrolet Sonic driving the wrong way early Sunday morning on I Street NW in D.C. The agent tried to pull the driver over, but he kept driving, continuing to drive against traffic in the eastbound lanes of I-66.

The two cars collided shortly afterward, prompting a large emergency response. Police believe Ebai managed to flee the area on foot, escaping despite a search for Ebai that involved the Fairfax County police helicopter.

Arlington County police are leading the investigation into the incident.

Photo via Google Maps

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Beast Coast 2016 parkour performance in Rosslyn (Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman)

County Board Debate Tonight — Democratic County Board candidates Libby Garvey and Erik Gutshall will debate tonight at 8 p.m. at the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s monthly meeting. The meeting is being held at Lubber Run Community Center. [ACDC]

Northside Social Expanding to Falls Church — Clarendon favorite Northside Social will be expanding to the City of Falls Church this fall. The new Northside Social will be located in the historic Blue and Gray American Legion Post building. [Falls Church News-Press]

Metro Track Work at Rosslyn — In a bit of unscheduled maintenance, Metro replaced track insulators around the Rosslyn Metro station yesterday. Metro has been experiencing problems with its aging track infrastructure, particularly fire-prone insulators and electrical equipment. [Twitter]

Attempted Rape Suspect May Be in Arlington — A man who’s wanted for the attempted rape of a child in Alexandria may be hiding in Arlington, authorities say. The man is being sought the the U.S. Marshals Service. [Alexandria News]

Free Guac and Chips at Cal Tor — California Tortilla, which has locations in Courthouse and Crystal City, is offering free chips and guacamole today. “Just say ‘It’s Guac O’Clock!’ to the cashier while ordering and all that hand-smashed goodness is yours!” the company says on its website. [California Tortilla]

Remembering Tom Richards — Who is Tom Richards and why was he such a pivotal figure in the history of Arlington’s parks and trails? A new article from Arlington County explains. Richards would have turned 90 this month; he collapsed and died on the Metro system in 2011. [Arlington County]

Moving Day for ARLnow.com — We are moving our offices up the Orange Line to Clarendon today. As a result, you may notice some delays in posting articles.

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Evening jog (Flickr pool photo by David Giambarresi)

Sweetgreen, Taylor Gourmet Coming to Crystal City — Venture capital-funded salad purveyor Sweetgreen plans to open a 1,700 square foot store in the former Corner Bakery space in Crystal City later this year. And that’s not the only trendy eatery coming to the neighborhood. Sandwich shop Taylor Gourmet is expected to open in a storefront next door. [Bisnow]

Sunglasses Store Closes on Pentagon Row — There’s still more than a month until Labor Day but sunglasses store Specs New York, which opened up three months ago on Pentagon Row, appears to be closing. [Twitter]

New Law Allows Cocktail Pitchers — A new Virginia law that took effect July 1 finally allows restaurants to serve pitchers of cocktails. Previously, it was against the law to serve any mixed drink other than sangria via pitcher. Pepita, which opened last week in Ballston, is taking advantage of the new law by selling margaritas in a skull-shaped pitcher for $40. [Washington Business Journal]

TV Station Profiles Arlington Fugitive — Rosslyn-based WJLA featured an Arlington fugitive as part of an “ABC 7 On Your Side” segment. Police say Jessie Kim, 25, assaulted the new owner of what had formerly been his family’s dry cleaning business. Kim is also accused of destroying the owner’s phone and other property before driving off in a silver BMW. [WJLA]

Bus Accident in Ballston — A minor collision between an ART bus and a Metrobus happened around 5:00 p.m. yesterday in front of the Ballston Metro station. No injuries were reported.

Flickr pool photo by David Giambarresi

Police Seek ‘Armed and Dangerous’ Suspect

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:55 a.m. on 12/23/21) Arlington County Police are looking for a suspect who they describe as “armed and dangerous.”

Police say 43-year-old [name redacted] has been charged with Malicious Wounding in connection with an assault back in mid-December, but is currently at large. [Redacted] — described as a 5’10”, 230 lbs African American male — is known to frequent Arlington’s Buckingham neighborhood, police say, and should be considered armed and dangerous.

“Anyone who has information about the whereabouts of [redacted] is asked to call the Arlington County Police Department immediately at 703-558-2222, or Detective Michael Austin at 703-228-4183,” police said in a news release. “Det. Austin can also be reached by email at [email protected].”

According to investigators, [redacted] was one of several suspects who assaulted a man on the 4200 block of N. 2nd Road in Buckingham, just south of Ballston, early on the morning of Dec. 17, 2011. One suspect was arrested at the scene but [redacted] got away, according to police.

A police spokesman was unable to provide any additional details about [redacted’s] alleged involvement in the assault.

Police Seek Office Theft Suspect

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:40 a.m.) Two years ago, Kenneth Earl Tolliver’s face was showing up on local newscasts after he was accused of robbing a 99-year-old woman in her Silver Spring, Md. home. At the time he was also wanted for two other burglary cases involving older residents, as well as other crimes. Now, according to police, he’s a “person of interest” in a series of office thefts.

Tolliver is being sought for questioning by Arlington police after several office burglaries in Rosslyn and Crystal City. Cops say that someone matching Tolliver’s description poses as a maintenance worker or mold inspector, then enters unsecured or “under-secured” offices and takes cash from wallets, purses and petty cash boxes.

According to a letter sent to property managers:

In all cases the suspect has been described as a black male, approximately 5’10”, 160 lbs, 45-55 years of age, with a sunken or long face and has ALWAYS worn a construction or medical style dust mask partially covering his face. The suspect’s MO is that he usually brings with him a notepad or other prop and tells workers that he is inspecting the ceiling tiles for mold or other HVAC issues.

Preliminary investigation into this series has revealed that there are at least 10 additional incidents in the region including Prince William, Fairfax, Alexandria, Falls Church, Vienna and Leesburg. Please be alert and contact the police immediately should you encounter this individual.

Police are encouraging workers in secure offices to not hold doors open for strangers and to check with building management should they encounter an unexpected repair person.

At the moment, Tolliver is not wanted for any crime in Arlington. He is, however, wanted for grand larceny out of Prince William County, according to police.

Arlington Police Seek Rape Suspect

By ARLnow.com

Update at 2:20 p.m. on 1/24/11 — Suspect Ronald P. Berton turned himself in to police last night, confirms police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal.

Earlier: Arlington Police have named a suspect in a sexual assault case from September.

The incident occurred on Sept. 26 on the 2500 block of 20th Road North.

Police say Berton, 36, walked into an apartment through an unlocked front door and found a woman sleeping. He sexually assaulted the woman, stole items from the apartment and then fled the area, according to police.

Investigators have used DNA evidence to link Berton with a similar crime that occurred in 2008.

Police say a woman was sleeping when Berton entered her Colonial Village apartment on the morning of Sept. 10, 2008. According to investigators, Berton threatened the woman with a knife and then exposed himself to her. He left without taking anything or hurting the victim, police said.

A police press release at the time included a composite sketch that resembles a photo of Berton provided by police this afternoon.

Berton is described as 5’11” and 170 lbs. He’s wanted for rape and several other charges.

Anyone who spots Berton is asked to call police:

If you see Ronald Berton, you should immediately call 9-1-1. Anyone with additional information on Berton’s location is urged to call the Arlington County Police Department Tip Line at 703 228-4242, or Detective Michael Austin at (703) 228-4241. Det. Austin can also be reached by email at [email protected].