Arlington PD Not Planning on Changing Immigration Policy After Cuccinelli Opinion
The Arlington County Police Department does not plan on changing its hands-off immigration policies after Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli ruled that law enforcement can ask about the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest.
Cuccinelli’s legal opinion also allows police to arrest individuals suspected of committing criminal violations of immigration laws (such as illegally crossing the border).
Currently, ACPD will not ask about citizenship status unless such information is relevant to solving a crime. The department does not arrest undocumented immigrants for federal immigration violations, and only reports undocumented immigrants to U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they’re:
- Involved in terrorist, subversive or street gang activities
- Arrested for a violent felony
- Convicted of a non-violent felony
- Helping others enter the U.S. through fraud
“The police department does not plan to change policies at this point,” said police spokesperson Det. Crystal Nosal. “Citizens living or traveling through Arlington should not be worried that our actions will be changing.”
Nosal said the department wants witnesses and victims of crime to feel safe coming to the police, “regardless of immigration status.”
Arlington police will, however, continue to enforce all warrants from federal agencies, including immigration-related warrants.
Weird Accident on Clarendon Boulevard
You might have seen our Tweet about about a car accident in Courthouse Friday night, but we’re bringing it up again because it was so unusual.
Around 11:00 p.m. Friday, Clarendon Blvd was shut down between North Wayne Street and North Adams Street, near Velocity Five Restaurant, due to an accident involving a Honda and a parked Audi.
A witness says the Honda was traveling in the direction of the Courthouse Metro station at a high rate of speed, when its front driver’s side tire somehow clipped the Audi’s rear passenger side tire.
The contact apparently caused both wheels to come off the axle. The Honda came to rest a few yards away from the Audi, with much of the driver’s side front quarter panel ripped off, the wheel dislodged and the front end angled into the asphalt. The rear wheel on the Audi, meanwhile, was at a 45 degree angle.
What Kind of a Restaurant Would You Like to See in Rosslyn?
Considering that it’s one of the area’s biggest commercial centers, Rosslyn is a bit lacking when it comes to places to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. And that’s not to mention the dearth of fun places to hang out at night (with the possible exceptions of Continental and the handful of restaurants with outdoor seating up Wilson Blvd).
But here’s the good news. We have the ear of a real estate firm that’s looking to attract a new eatery to the area. Something moderately-sized — bigger than a lunch counter but smaller than a Cheesecake Factory.
So you tell us: in your wildest restaurant dreams, what would you like to see come to Rosslyn?
Pet Adoption Van Goes AWOL With Dogs, Cats Inside
It was a tense eight hours for the Arlington-based Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation on Saturday. A van filled with two dozen dogs and four cats was supposed to be en route from the organization’s ranch in Fauquier County, Va. to an adoption event in Seven Corners, but contact with the driver was lost and the van never showed up.
The foundation reported the van stolen and posted a plea for information about its whereabouts on their Facebook page. After eight hours, the van and its driver, a foundation employee who had been on the job for eight months, were finally located at the Vienna, Va. branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
“All the dogs and cats were fine,” foundation vice president Paul Blumberg said. “I think the humans were more distraught than the dogs.”
The van’s air conditioning had been on the entire time, preventing a potentially dangerous situation in the summer heat.
It’s still not clear what exactly happened. The employee said she got lost and her cell phone died, NBC4 reported.
Blumberg said he did not have a chance to talk with the employee, but she seemed upset. Since the animals were fine, and since officers did not suspect that the woman was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, police let her go home.
In the organization’s nine years in existence, nothing like this has ever happened, Blumberg said. He said the foundation’s board will discuss the incident and “see if there are any changes that need to be made.”
One such change may be putting a GPS tracking system in each of the organization’s vehicles, Blumberg said.
Despite the incident, the foundation was able to find homes for 49 dogs and cats this weekend.
Clarendon Grill Closes for Renovations
Without much warning, the iconic Clarendon Grill closed its doors on Sunday. The Grill is undergoing a renovation process that is expected to last into September.
Popular local cover band Gonzo’s Nose was the last band to play at the “old” Clarendon Grill. A restaurant rep says the new Grill will still host bands and have a dancefloor — but refused to divulge any additional details.
Clarendon Grill will remain under the same management, the rep said. It’s unclear whether it will retain its name.
A tipster tells us part of the plan includes extending the main bar and adding a secondary bar in another section of the restaurant.
A message posted yesterday on the Grill’s Facebook page reads: “Thank you all for 15 incredible years. Stay tuned for what’s next……….”
Flickr pool photo by Afagen
Morning Notes
Circulator Bus Service Comes to Arlington — On Sept. 1, DDOT will begin operating a new Circulator bus route between Georgetown and Arlington. More from the Washington Examiner.
Planetarium Fundraiser Draws a Crowd — More than 400 people attended the “Night at the Planetarium” fundraiser at the David M. Brown planetarium Saturday night, organizers said. The event raised about $4,500 to help save the planetarium from closure.
Arlington Native Scores TV Show – Arlington native Zack Cregger has joined the cast of “Friends with Benefits,” a new NBC comedy series set to air in 2011. Cregger previously had a starring movie role in the 2009 comedy Miss March.
County Issues Bonds on the Cheap – Arlington County issued more than $73 million in bonds last week, at a record-low 2.70 percent interest rate. The bonds will partially finance Metro projects, neighborhood conservation projects, improvements to the Water Pollution Control Plant, and construction at Yorktown High School. The low rate is partially thanks to the county’s Triple-A rating, as well as low rates in the market.
Photo: Start of last week’s Crystal City Twilighter 5K. Courtesy of Crystal City BID.
