Crime Report: Woman ‘Mugged’ in Sister Fight
A woman had to get surgical staples in the back of her head after her sister struck her with a coffee mug, according to this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report
The alleged incident happened early Saturday morning in Ballston.
MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 05/11/13, 800 block of N. Quincy Street. On May 11 at 4:20 am, an argument between sisters escalated causing one to strike the other in the back of the head with a coffee mug. The victim was transported to Virginia Hospital Center to receive surgical staples. The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival, but a warrant was obtained for Jennie Lee, 26, of Arlington, VA.
Also in the Ballston area over the weekend, a cab driver’s jaw was broken after he was assaulted by two young men.
MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 05/12/13, 4300 block of N. Carlin Springs Road. At 2:58 am on May 12, a cab driver was assaulted by two subjects after paying for the fare with a credit card. The victim sustained a broken jaw and was transported to Virginia Hospital Center. The suspects fled the scene on foot and were described as white males between 25-30 years of age.
The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Photos: Arlington Police Memorial Ceremony
Law enforcement personnel from Arlington, neighboring jurisdictions and locales as far away as London gathered outside the Arlington County courthouse this morning for the county’s annual observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Among those speaking at the ceremony were Police Chief Doug Scott, Sheriff Beth Arthur and County Board Chairman Walter Tejada. The ceremony honored the six Arlington officers who have been killed in the line of duty since 1935.
“Losing even one officer is too many,” said Chief Scott. Those who fell while in the service of Arlington County are:
- Special Police Officer Louis Shaw, killed on Dec. 6, 1935 when his vehicle was struck by a fuel tanker and burst into flames. A prisoner in the vehicle was also killed.
- Detective Russell Pettie, shot and killed on Jan. 20, 1954 while executing a search warrant.
- Officer Arthur Chorovich, fatally injured on Dec. 5, 1964 when his police motorcycle was struck by a vehicle.
- Officer Israel Gonzalez, shot and killed on Oct. 25, 1972 during a bank robbery in Crystal City.
- Officer George Pomraning, Jr., shot and killed on Sept. 2, 1973 while transporting a prisoner. The prisoner pulled a gun out of his boot while in the backseat of a police car and shot Pomraning several times.
- Officer John Buckley, shot and killed on April 15, 1977 during a bank robbery.
Also recognized were law enforcement officers who have died outside the line of duty over the past year.
The ceremony, part of National Police Week, included bagpipe music and the playing of Taps. The 1400 block of N. Courthouse Road was closed to traffic during the ceremony.
Man Jumps on Tracks at Airport Metro Station to Retrieve Farecard
A man jumped onto the tracks at the National Airport Metro station this morning, prompting a police response but no delays to Metro trains.
The incident happened just before 9:00 a.m. Police responded to the station for a report of suspicious activity — a man seen walking around on the track bed. Power was briefly taken down to the station’s “third rail” as a precaution. The man eventually climbed back up to the platform.
Police questioned the man and it turned out that that he had hopped down to the tracks to retrieve a farecard he accidentally dropped, according to WMATA spokesman Dan Stesssel. The man was not injured and there was no malicious intent. Power was restored and trains were not delayed.
Stessel said the man’s actions were “incredibly ill advised.” If you drop something on the tracks, he said, don’t take matters into your own hands — contact a station manager.
“If you drop something on the tracks, the station manager can help you,” said Stessel. “The station managers have special equipment that can be used to safely retrieve an item without leaving the platform. Entering the track bed puts you at risk of electrocution (you don’t even have to touch the third rail for power to transfer) or getting struck by a train.”
Flickr photo by John Pastor
Car Hits Parked Police Cruiser, Flips Over
(Updated at 9:20 a.m.) A car flipped on its roof near Shirlington on Sunday after colliding with a parked police car.
The incident happened on the 2800 block of S. Wakefield Street Sunday afternoon. According to police, an Acura TL heading eastbound on Wakefield Street struck two parked vehicles — a Ford Mustang and an Arlington police cruiser — before flipping over. It damaged a third vehicle after overturning.
The police car “sustained major damage” to its rear axle, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
The driver, identified as a 26-year-old Arlington man, was charged with reckless driving, driving with a revoked license and DUI. No injuries were reported.
Courtesy photo
One Arrested After Stabbing in Buckingham
A man suffered a serious but non-life threatening injury this morning when he was stabbed in the Buckingham neighborhood.
The incident happened just before 7:00 a.m.
Police say the victim had been drinking all night and was making noise outside of a garden-style apartment building on the 4200 block of 2nd Road N. An angry resident came out and confronted the man about the noise, and a verbal altercation ensued, according to Arlington County Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
During the argument, the resident pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the left torso, below the armpit, Sternbeck said.
The victim was transported to George Washington University Hospital and is expected to be okay. The suspect is in custody and is being interviewed by police.
Trial Date Set as Krusinski Appears in Court
(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Lt. Col. Jeff Krusinski, the Air Force sexual assault prevention chief who’s accused of sexual battery in Crystal City, will face trial in July.
With his attorney by his side, a stone-faced Krusinski was arraigned in Arlington General District Court this afternoon. Defense attorney Sheryl Shane argued for a later trial date, citing the need to track down and talk to witnesses, but the judge denied the request, instead setting a trial date of Thursday, July 18.
When Krusinski exited the courthouse after today’s hearing, he was mobbed by reporters and photographers from local and national news outlets. Despite a barrage of questions from microphone-toting TV reporters, he said nothing as he got into the back seat of a dark-colored BMW, which quickly drove off.
Krusinski was removed from his post as head of the Air Force’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program on Monday after ARLnow.com first reported that he had been arrested, accused of drunkenly grabbing the breasts and buttocks of a woman he didn’t know in a Crystal City parking lot.
The case became national headline news, leading to statements from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and President Obama, and contributing to a renewed debate about how to deal with the widespread problem of sexual assault in the military.
The charge of sexual battery that Krusinski faces carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine. Prosecutor Cari Steele, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, declined to say whether she will seek the maximum sentence in the case.
Crime Report: Forged Documents
A Falls Church woman has been arrested and charged with obtaining more than $28,000 in public assistance from Arlington County thanks to forged documents, according police.
From this week’s Arlington County crime report:
FORGERY OF PUBLIC RECORDS & FALSE STATEMENTS AND REPRESENTATIONS,05/01/13, 2100 block of N. Washington Boulevard. Between October 2010 and April 2013, a subject obtained approximately $28,121 of public assistance from Arlington County by forging documents and providing false statements in regards to residency, welfare status and medical diagnosis. April Dugard, 35, of Falls Church, VA was arrested and charged with Forgery of Public Records and Making False Statement and Representations. She was issued an unsecured bond.
“The individual was using forged physicians’ notes to certify a medical condition, and forged school forms,” said Arlington Department of Human Services (DHS) spokesman Kurt Larrick. “The forgeries were were pretty sophisticated.”
“We take fraud seriously, and have effective safeguards to prevent it,” Larrick continued. “When it does occur, we always take appropriate measures, which can include restitution and prosecution.”
Larrick was unable to elaborate on the accusations, explaining that DHS “can’t really say much about a case that is in the legal system.”
The rest of the crime report, after the jump. All suspects are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
ACPD Seeks Pool Locker Room Thieves
Arlington County police are asking for help identifying three suspects who allegedly stole credit cards and cell phones from from the locker rooms of two high school pools.
The suspects were caught on surveillance camera at a CVS in northwest Washington where police say they used their victims’ credit cards.
From an ACPD press release:
The Arlington County Police Department’s Burglary/Larceny Unit is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying three suspect that were involved in larcenies that took place in local aquatic center locker rooms.
On the morning of March 30, 2013, a victim was swimming at the Washington and Lee High School Aquatics Center and had his belongings stolen from his locker in the locker room. In this incident, the victim found that his lock had been cut, and also discovered that his iPhone 4 and credit cards were among the missing items. Later that same day, a victim was swimming at Yorktown High School Aquatics Center and had his wallet stolen from his locker room locker. The victim’s lock, Blackberry phone, cash, and credit cards were among the items stolen. Credit cards stolen from both aquatic centers were used at a CVS in NW, Washington, D.C. by the three suspects in the attached photographs.
Suspect one is described as a black female, wearing black pants, a blue jacket, and a baseball cap while using the credit cards. Suspect two is described as a black female, wearing dark pants, a red hooded sweatshirt, and had a short style haircut. Suspect three is described as a black male with glasses, wearing camouflage pants and a t-shirt with a unique graphic. These subjects have been seen together at the Wakefield High School Aquatics Center in recent weeks, but it is unknown if anything was stolen at that time.
If anyone has information on the whereabouts of this individual, please contact Detective James Stone of the Arlington County Police Department’s Burglary/Larceny Unit at 703.228.4245 or at Jstone@arlingtonva.us. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).
Photos courtesy ACPD
Air Force Officer Accused of Sexual Battery
FIRST REPORTED BY ARLNOW.COM: The chief of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response branch of the U.S. Air Force was arrested and charged with sexual battery in Arlington over the weekend.
Lt. Col. Jeff Krusinski is accused of fondling a woman in a Crystal City parking lot early Sunday morning.
“A drunken male subject approached a female victim in a parking lot and grabbed her breasts and buttocks,” according to a Arlington County Police Department crime report. “The victim fought the suspect off as he attempted to touch her again and alerted police.”
“Jeffrey Krusinski, 41, of Arlington, VA, was arrested and charged with sexual battery,” police said. “He was held on a $5,000 unsecured bond.”
An Air Force spokeswoman confirmed Krusinski’s rank, job title and the fact that he works at the Pentagon to ARLnow.com, but had no further comment.
The victim did not know Krusinski, said Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. Police were unable to say how Krusinski sustained cuts on his face that appeared in his booking photo. He did not require medical treatment.
Update at 5:05 p.m. — Lt. Col. Krusinski has been removed from his position pending an investigation, NBC News reports.
UPDATED: Bank Robbery in Ballston
(Updated at 11:25 a.m.) Police are investigating a bank robbery at the BB&T Bank branch at Fairfax Drive and N. Taylor Street, about a block from the Ballston Metro station.
The robbery happened around 9:20 a.m. A 5’7″ black male suspect wearing a green trench coat and a Boston Red Sox hat entered the bank and passed a note to a teller demanding money, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
The suspect did not imply nor display a weapon during the robbery, and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, Sternbeck said. Five employees and two customers were inside the bank at the time.
Police set up a perimeter but could not locate the suspect. He remains at large. Police are seeking the public’s help in locating the suspect.
“Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of this individual is asked to contact Detective Rosa Ortiz with the Arlington County Police Department at 703.228.7402 or investigations@arlingtonva.us,” police said in a press release. “To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).”
Surveillance photos courtesy ACPD
Police: Would-Be Robber Destroys Store
Rebuffed when he tried to rob a convenience store on Columbia Pike, police say an Arlington man vented his frustration by proceeding to trash the store.
The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. yesterday (Thursday) night. Police say German Cruz-Coreas, 49, entered Miguel’s Q-Mart on the 5500 block of Columbia Pike and demanded money from a store employee.
“When the employee refused, the subject proceeded to light coffee filters on fire and announced that no one could leave the store,” according to the Arlington County Police crime report.
The man started throwing mangoes and avocados at store employees and a 16-month-old child, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. He tipped over the store’s shelves, destroyed merchandise, broke the store’s slushie machine, and partially melted a television with the flaming coffee filters, Sternbeck said.
“He literally destroyed the entire store,” said Sternbeck.
Store employees barricaded themselves in a room inside the store during the incident, but the store’s manager was eventually able to subdue the man and hold him to the ground until police arrived and placed him under arrest.
Cruz-Coreas was charged with arson, attempted robbery, four counts of abduction, felony destruction of property, and three counts of assault and battery. He is currently being held without bond.
The store employees suffered minor injuries, Sternbeck said, but the baby was unharmed.
Photo courtesy ACPD
Morning Notes
Politico May Leave Rosslyn — The offices of the Capitol Hill publication Politico will likely move from Rosslyn to some place closer to the Hill. The expected move was announced at a staff meeting, which also discussed the pending sale of TV station ABC 7, also located in Rosslyn. [DCRTV]
Crime Solvers Awards — A Sheriff’s Office narcotics K-9 officer and a second-generation Arlington Police detective were the winners of the 2013 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year awards. The awards were presented yesterday at a luncheon sponsored by Arlington County Crime Solvers. [Sun Gazette]
Police 50/50 Raffle — Arlington police officers are holding a 50/50 raffle to benefit and police sergeant and an officer’s wife who were recently diagnosed with cancer. The raffle drawing will be held on May 14. Tickets are available for $20 at Hard Times Cafe (3028 Wilson Blvd) and Crystal City Sports Pub (529 23rd Street S.) [PDF]
Miss Gay Arlington Pageant — The annual Miss Gay Arlington pageant will be held tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Crystal City (555 23rd Street S.). The pageant, which is sponsored by the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Aliance, will judge drag performers in four categories: self-expression, talent, evening gown and on-stage question. [Facebook]
Lyon Park Home & Garden Tour — The Lyon Park neighborhood will hold its annual home and garden tour on Sunday. The self-guided tour runs from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. [PDF]
Flickr pool photo by ddimick
Real Estate Bus Tour Puzzles Arlingtonians
A bus tour of commercial real estate in Northern Virginia alarmed Arlington residents and workers who didn’t know what to make of the large police escort winding its way through local neighborhoods.
The annual tour is organized by NAIOP, a commercial real estate development association. This year the NAIOP Northern Virginia Bus Tour made stops in Arlington, Alexandria, and parts of Fairfax County including Tysons Corner.
“Considered to be one of the premier commercial real estate Bus Tours in the United States, NAIOP Northern Virginia’s 2013 Tour… is a full day of information and news about our market,” said NAIOP’s website.
The tour involves multiple buses full of real estate professionals and local officials, and a sizable police motorcycle escort. Since it’s not very well publicized outside of the real estate community, locals didn’t seem to know what to make of it when it rolled by in Ballston, Clarendon, Rosslyn, Crystal City and elsewhere.
“Something weird is going on in Rosslyn,” said one reader, in a voicemail left for ARLnow.com. “There are cops everywhere.”
“A dozen or so ACPD motocycles, with sirens blaring, just escorted a number of buses, maybe 4 or 5, through Ballston,” said an email. “Any idea who was in the buses?”
“11 tour buses led by 30 cops on motorcycles riding through Clarendon… um what?” said a reader via Twitter.
“@ArlingtonVA PD has practically shut down Crystal Dr for the NAACP (sic) 2013 Bus Tour,” said another tweet.
The tour was scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.
Photos via @RosslynVA and @josephgruber
Morning Notes
WJLA and NewsChannel 8 for Sale — Rosslyn-based TV station WJLA (ABC 7) has been offered for sale by Allbritton Communications. The company is seeking to sell WJLA and its companion cable channel NewsChannel 8 in order to continue investing in new media, like its Politico website and newspaper. Disney, owner of the ABC television network, is thought to be a likely buyer. [WBJ, Washington Post, Politico]
Brink, Lopez Announce Reelection Bids — Dels. Bob Brink and Alfonso Lopez announced their bids for reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates at last night’s Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting. As part of his speech, Lopez made fun of a Republican effort in the state legislature to study the creation of a Virginia-based currency. Lopez joked that he wanted his face on the Virginia $5 bill and Brink’s on the $10 bill, so that “in Virginia it would cost a Brink and a Lopez to buy a pizza.” [Blue Virginia]
‘Over the Edge’ Fundraiser in Crystal City — Today, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., people will be rappelling 15 stories down the Hilton Crystal City at 2399 Jefferson Davis Highway as part of a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. Among those scheduled to go “over the edge” today is Washington Nationals mascot Screech. The fundraiser will also run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. tomorrow (Friday). [Event Calendar, Special Olympics Virginia]
County Sells $206 Million in Bonds — Arlington County sold $206 million in bonds on Tuesday. The bonds were sold at a low 2.5 percent interest rate. The refunding of older bonds under the low rate will save the county about $5 million. [Arlington County]
Police Looking for Wallet Thief — Arlington police are looking for a man who allegedly stole a victim’s wallet in the Clarendon area last month. [ACPD]
Flickr pool photo by Wolfkann
Crime Report: Indecent Exposure at Library
Police are looking for a man who exposed himself to a woman at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) last weekend.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon, on the second floor of the library. From this week’s Arlington County crime report:
EXPOSURE, 04/27/13, 1000 block of N. Quincy Street. At 2:30 pm on April 27, a suspect exposed himself to female victim in a second floor aisle at the Central library. The suspect fled the scene when the victim alerted front desk staff. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 40-55 years old, 6” tall and 210 lbs. He was wearing a blue hat, blue long sleeve shirt and blue sweatpants at the time of the incident.
The rest of the crime report, after the jump.
