Crime Report: Lessons for Criminals Edition

This week’s Arlington County crime report includes several cases that may serve as important lessons for criminals. For instance, if you’re going to (allegedly) shoplift from The Gap, leave the 16 bags of cocaine at home.

POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE (COCAINE), 02/10/12, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At 3:15 pm on February 10, a subject entered The Gap clothing store and placed items in a bag and left the store without paying. Store security detained the suspect for shoplifting. Upon arrival of officers, a further search of the suspect was conducted and a sandwich bag with 16 smaller bags of cocaine were located. Andreus Womack, 19, of Washington, D.C. was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute and petit larceny.

Also, if you’re going to (allegedly) steal a car, do so before getting drunk.

GRAND LARCENY OF AUTO (RECOVERED), 02/14/12, 300 block of S. 23rd Street. At 2:50 am on February 14, officers spotted a stolen vehicle that was being driven erratically and activated the emergency lights. The driver attempted to speed away, but struck a concrete column and fled the scene on foot through a parking garage. Officers apprehended Joseph Bennett, 45, of no fixed address, and he was charged with grand larceny of an auto, driving under the influence, hit and run, refusal and driving on a suspended license.

Finally, if you’re going to (allegedly) try to stab a CVS employee with scissors, make sure you have a better getaway vehicle than Metro.

ATTEMPTED MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 02/12/12, 2100 block of N. 15th Street. On February 12 at approximately 5:30 pm, a suspect entered a store and tried to stab a store employee with a pair of scissors after being asked to leave. The suspect was located by officers in the Metro station, refused to obey police commands and continuously attempted to assault the arresting officers. A credit card and cell phone not belonging to the suspect were located during a search. Dana Brown, 28, of Landover, MD was charged with with assault and attempted malicious wounding.

As always, all suspects are innocent until proven guilty. The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump.

ROBBERY WITH A GUN, 02/13/12, 2400 block of S. Lowell Street. At 10 pm on February 13, two suspects robbed two victims during an iPhone sale that was initiated online through Craigslist. One of the suspects displayed a handgun in his waistband, while the other suspect took the victims’ wallets and cash. The victims fled the scene in their vehicle and reported the incident to police. The suspects are described as black males, approximately 25-30 years old and were wearing blue jeans and black jackets at the time of the robbery.

ARMED ROBBERY, 02/09/12, 5000 block of S. 10th Street. Just before midnight on February 9, three black males approached a man walking home from work and demanded money. One of the subjects brandished a knife, while another went through the victim’s pockets. The subjects fled the scene with a small amount of money and the victim’s cell phone. A perimeter was established by police and a K-9 track initiated, followed by assistance from a US Park Police helicopter. All three suspects were located. Alyas Kahsay, 18, of Arlington; Majdi Mohammad, 21, of Bedford, NH; and Christopher Jiron, 18, of Falls Church, VA were charged with armed robbery.

ROBBERY, 02/09/12, 900 block of S. Adams Street. Around 8:30 pm on February 9, an unknown subject grabbed a female victim’s purse out her hands and ran away from the scene. Several witnesses chased the subject but were unable to locate him. Various items of value were inside the purse when it was stolen. The suspect is described as a black male, 5’7″ tall, average build and was wearing all black clothing during the robbery.

BURGLARY, 02/14/12, 700 block of N. Glebe Road. At 2:30 am on February 14, police located a suspicious person looking into parked vehicles. The suspect fled on foot and was apprehended for questioning. It was discovered the subject was in possession of various stolen items, including a work shirt from the burglary location that led officers to the crime scene. Matthew Blair, 25, of Alexandria, VA, was charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools, felony destruction of property, assault on a police officer, petit larceny, misdemeanor destruction of property and attempted larceny from an auto.

ASSAULT, 02/14/12, 800 block of S. Walter Reed Drive. On February 14 at 3:19 pm, a fight occurred in the 800 block of S. Highland Street, involving a current student from the Career Center and a former student. The former student was in possession of a handgun, which was recovered by school security staff during the altercation. The former student, Jimmy Salazar-Alfaro, 24, of Arlington, was charged with assault.

BURGLARY, 02/10/12, 23100 block of N. Wilson Boulevard. Between 9 pm on February 9, and 7:15 am on February 10, an unknown subject(s) entered a business, forced entry into a locked office and stole various items. Stolen items included four laptops, an iPod and cashier’s checks. There is no suspect description.

UNLAWFUL ENTRY, 02/11/12, 5000 block of S. 8th Road. On February 11 at 5 am, a female resident awoke to a unknown suspect standing in her bedroom. When the victim started questioning the suspect, he fled down the stairs of the house and out the back door. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’8″ tall, 200 lbs, with short black hair.

STOLEN VEHICLES

02/09/12, VA 4T2, 2005 Toyota 4Runner, White, 2300 block of S. Queen Street