Flash Flood Warning Issued
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning due to a line of thunderstorms approaching the area.
Forecasters say the storms could bring torrential rainfall of up to 1 to 2 inches.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… CITY OF FAIRFAX IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CITY OF FALLS CHURCH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… WESTERN ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CENTRAL FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…
* UNTIL 1115 PM EDT
* AT 805 PM EDT… NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM GREAT FALLS TO FAIRFAX… OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM THE AMERICA LEGION BRIDGE TO FAIRFAX… MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY THE HEAVY RAIN INCLUDE ANNANDALE… ARLINGTON… BALLSTON… FAIRFAX… FALLS CHURCH… GREAT FALLS… LAKE BARCROFT… LINCOLNIA… MCLEAN… MERRIFIELD… OAKTON… THE I66 AND I495 INTERCHANGE… TYSONS CORNER… VIENNA… WOLF TRAP… MANTUA AND PIMMIT HILLS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STREAMS AND DRAINAGES… NICHOLS RUN… DIFFICULT RUN… PIMMIT RUN… BULL RUN… ACCOTINK CREEK… ROCKY RUN… POPES HEAD CREEK… CASTLE CREEK… RABBIT BRANCH… SIDEBURN BRANCH… HOLMES RUN… TRIPPS RUN… BACKLICK RUN… INDIAN RUN… FOUR MILE RUN… LONG BRANCH… LITTLE PIMMIT RUN… BULLNECK RUN… ROCKY RUN… WOLFTRAP CREEK… ANGELICO BRANCH AND SOUTH RUN.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.
EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS… URBAN AREAS… HIGHWAYS… STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.
Lyon Park Resident Arrested for Firing Bullet
A Lyon Park resident has been arrested and accused of firing a bullet that whizzed by a man’s head.
Police say Laselle Booker, 57, was armed when he was arrested at his home on the 700 block of N. Edgewood Street. Booker is charged with attempted malicious wounding and reckless discharge of a firearm in public following a bizarre alleged incident that ended in the early morning hours of Friday, May 25.
According to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, Booker had earlier approached a man at a gas station in D.C. and wrote him a check for $500, claiming he was on a mission to help less fortunate people and had been told by God to write the check.
The man then drove Booker to his Lyon Park home, and Booker subsequently offered to let him stay in his guestroom, according to Sternbeck. The men had a four hour conversation at the house, which investigators say eventually escalated into an argument in the home’s front yard. Booker is alleged to have asked for the check back, writing a $50 check instead after the victim asked for money for a hotel.
The victim became “agitated” at that point, Sternbeck said, and eventually Booker took out a .40 caliber handgun and pulled the trigger several times, without actually firing the gun, investigators say. He then racked the gun’s slide and fired a round that whizzed by the victim’s head, according to Sternbeck. The victim fled the scene and called police.
Booker had the weapon in his possession when he was arrested just after 4:30 a.m., according to Sternbeck. As of this afternoon he remains in custody.
Crystal City Outdoor Movies Highlight Romance
Love will be in the air for Crystal City’s outdoor movie nights, which start next week. This year’s series will feature romantic comedies.
Starting next Monday, June 4, the movies will be shown in the courtyard at 1850 S. Bell Street. They’ll run every Monday through August 27, starting at sundown.
Attendees are encouraged to make the event a date night by bringing a blanket and picnic gear. Short chairs are allowed, but courtesy for other visitors trying to see the movie is requested. Organizers are asking that moviegoers leave their pets at home.
As with Rosslyn’s free outdoor movies, these will be shown rain or shine, unless weather becomes too severe. Should there be a cancellation, information will be posted online, but organizers hope for a continuation of the good weather they’ve generally enjoyed during the event’s six year history.
“We’ve had great weather karma,” said Crystal City Business Improvement District President Angela Fox. “Even one year when we started getting a deluge, we were able to cover the equipment and show the movie after.”
The schedule is as follows:
- Sex and the City — June 4
- The Wedding Singer — June 11
- Sweet Home Alabama — June 18
- Hitch — June 25
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding — July 2
- Sleepless in Seattle — July 9
- Bridget Jones’s Diary — July 16
- The Proposal — July 23
- You’ve Got Mail — July 30
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days — August 6
- Pretty Woman — August 13
- Love Actually — August 20
- When Harry Met Sally — August 27
Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.
Mediterranean Restaurant Coming to Shirlington
A new Mediterranean restaurant is in the works in Shirlington. Medi is going in at 4037 Campbell Avenue.
According to the Village at Shirlington website, Medi says it “offers the vibrant tastes of Mediterranean food, with uniquely blended flavors, healthy ingredients, and great value.”
It also says, “At Medi, we want you to Meet, Eat, Drink, and Indulge – That’s our motto!”
Although no menu is formally listed yet, the restaurant’s description includes references to grilled meats and vegetables, Mediterranean sauces and dips and imported beverages. It mentions sandwiches, salads and rice bowls as entree options.
A sign in the window says the restaurant is looking to hire “freakin’ awesome people.” Medi’s Facebook page shows June as the targeted time for opening.
Brick Thrown at Unlawful Filming Suspect’s Front Door
A brick was thrown at the front door of a man accused of unlawfully filming his ex-girlfriend as she slept, then sending the photo to her.
The incident was reported around 11:30 last night, May 28, in the Radnor – Fort Myer Heights neighborhood. According to the police report, a brick was thrown at — but did not break — the front door of an individual accused of burglary, stalking and unlawful filming on May 13. Police would not confirm the identity of the victim, but the charges referenced in the report match those lodged against a 27-year-old Arlington man, whose trial is scheduled for June 27.
The brick had a note with the words “sleep tight” attached to it, according to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
California Tortilla to Open Crystal City Location
Work is underway at the site of a new California Tortilla restaurant coming to Crystal City.
The eatery is going in on the 2400 block of Crystal Drive, right next to Buffalo Wild Wings. The Mexican restaurant will compete with a Chipotle right down the street, at 2231 Crystal Drive.
This will be the Bethesda chain’s third Arlington location, joining the ones in Courthouse (2057 Wilson Blvd) and Reagan National Airport.
A sign in the window says the company is currently hiring for this location. We’re told the restaurant is expected to open in the late summer or early fall.
Police Investigate Shooting Outside Crystal City Hotel
Arlington County police are investigating a shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in Crystal City.
The incident happened just after 3:00 a.m. According to police, four people were posing for photos behind a vehicle parked in front of a hotel on the 2700 block of Jefferson Davis Highway when an unknown suspect fired between 3 and 6 gunshots. The hotel desk staff heard the shots and called police.
Responding units found a male victim shot in both ankles. The man was treated by medics and taken to George Washington University Hospital, according to police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. Four bullet casings were found at the scene.
The victim and his three friends claimed that they had only heard the gunshots and had not seen the shooter. Sternbeck said there was “not much cooperation” from the group, and that the investigation is ongoing.
The incident is not believed to be connected to the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally, Sternbeck said. The Hyatt Regency Crystal City hotel at 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway is the rally’s official hotel.
County Spraygrounds Now Open
Just in time for the arrival of hot weather, the county’s spraygrounds have opened.
The three parks — Drew Playground (3514 22nd Street S.), Hayes Park (1516 N. Lincoln Street) and Lyon Village Park (1800 N. Highland Street) — opened over the weekend and will remain in service until Labor Day weekend. Hours of operation can be found online.
A fourth sprayground was originally supposed to have opened already at Virginia Highlands Park, but now isn’t expected to be ready until next year.
Morning Notes
Obama Speaks of Peace in Arlington Speech– In his Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, President Obama spoke of a “milestone” reached in the past year with the end of the Iraq war. “After a decade under a dark cloud of war, we can see the light of a new day on the horizon.” Mr. Obama also spoke of protecting veterans’ benefits. [Los Angeles Times, Associated Press]
Arlington Church Hosts Rolling Thunder Riders — The Arlington Assembly of God church, located just off Route 50 in the Arlington Forest neighborhood, hosted 300-400 Rolling Thunder riders over the weekend. The motorcyclists made camp outside the church or slept in the church itself. [Arlington Mercury]
Artisphere Gets First Artist-in-Residence — Local artist Beth Baldwin has been selected to be Artisphere’s (1101 Wilson Blvd) first artist-in-residence. Baldwin’s residency will stretch between now and November 11. Her 500 square foot studio will be located off of Artishpere’s main entrance lobby. “Baldwin will collaborate with Artisphere to create programming that involves her work and allows for visitors to learn more about her artistry, including ‘Plushie Design’ classes for all ages,” Artisphere said in a press release.
