Fights broke out as police and mall security cleared a large group of teens out of Ballston Quarter on Friday night.
Officers were dispatched to the 4200 block of Wilson Blvd shortly after 9 p.m. Friday (Oct. 9) to help security get the group off the property, according to preliminary incident summaries the Arlington County Police Department provided to ARLnow.
As the crowd broke up on Wilson Blvd, officers saw a fight between teens, stepped in and detained three of the people involved.
Mall security estimated there were about 100 kids at the mall when police were called, and an officer on scene reported about that many still in the area a few minutes later, according to scanner traffic. Part of the group then headed for the Ballston Metro station, and dispatchers alerted Metro Transit Police.
The three teens were released to their parents. No one was arrested, and police said there was no property damage and no significant injuries. Officers stayed in the area for crowd control.
Almost exactly a year ago, police and medics were called to Ballston Quarter for a large crowd and a fight. In March 2025, a very large crowd and multiple fights at the Pentagon City mall prompted a massive police response.
From the preliminary incident summaries ACPD provided to ARLnow:
At approximately 9:08 p.m. on October 9, police were dispatched to the 4200 block of Wilson Boulevard to assist security with escorting a large group of juveniles off the property. As the crowd was dispersing on Wilson Boulevard, officers observed a fight occur between juveniles, intervened and detained three individuals involved. The involved juveniles were released to the custody of their parents. Officers remained in the area for crowd control. No property damage or significant injuries were reported and no arrests were made.
Separately, police were called to Crystal City around 11:25 p.m. Friday for a large, disorderly crowd that was refusing to leave a business on the 300 block of 23rd Street S., ACPD said.
Officers were sent to Lucky Strike, the bowling alley at 320 23rd Street S. formerly branded as Bowlero, after a security guard reported about 30 teens and young adults who wouldn’t leave, according to scanner traffic.
While officers were escorting people out, a 19-year-old D.C. woman refused several orders to leave and was arrested, police said. She was charged with trespassing and later released on her own recognizance.
Police were called back to the same block twice more overnight: for a reported assault just after midnight, and for disorderly conduct around 2:15 a.m., when a caller reported about a dozen people who looked like they were about to fight, according to scanner traffic. Both times, the groups broke up and no one was arrested, ACPD said.
The bowling alley logged nearly 70 police calls for service in its first 18 months, and the county recommended renewing its permits with closer monitoring in 2022 after residents above it complained of fights and drunk, loud patrons.
At approximately 11:26 p.m. on October 9, police were dispatched to the 300 block of 23rd Street S. for the report of disorderly conduct. Upon arrival, officers observed a large crowd of disorderly individuals inside the establishment who were refusing to leave. While attempting to escort the individuals outside, officers made contact with the female suspect, who would not exit after being told to do so several times, and she was subsequently taken into custody. [The suspect], 19, of Washington D.C. was arrested and charged with Trespassing. She was later released on her own recognizance.
At approximately 12:03 a.m. on October 10, police were dispatched to the report of an assault in the 300 block of 23rd Street S. Officers responded and determined the group had dispersed. No arrests were made.
At approximately 2:13 a.m. on October 10, police were dispatched to the report of disorderly conduct in the 300 block of 23rd Street S. Officers responded and the groups dispersed. No arrests were made.
In Clarendon, police said a woman shoved one officer and spat on another early Saturday morning.
An officer on the nightlife detail was flagged down around 12:35 a.m. Saturday for a reported assault in the 3200 block of Washington Blvd. Security staff told police the woman had been causing a disturbance and wouldn’t leave the bar when staff told her to. Scanner traffic indicated the incident happened outside O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub.
As officers tried to walk her out, she shoved one of them and then fought the arrest, police said. After she was put in a police car, she spat on a second officer, according to police. The 25-year-old Vienna woman was charged with two counts of assault on police, obstruction of justice and drunk in public.
Nightlife detail officers also checked out two other reported assaults in Clarendon over the weekend, one in the 3100 block of Wilson Blvd around 1:55 a.m. Saturday and another in the 3100 block of Clarendon Blvd around 2:10 a.m. Sunday. In both cases, officers determined it was a verbal argument and no one was arrested, ACPD said.
At approximately 12:34 a.m. on October 10, an officer working the nightlife detail was flagged down for the report of an assault in the 3200 block of Washington Boulevard. Upon arrival, security staff reported the female suspect was allegedly causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the establishment after being directed to do so by staff. Officers then attempted to escort the suspect out of the establishment, during which she shoved an officer. The suspect actively resisted arrest and after being detained and placed into a patrol vehicle, she spat on a second officer. [The suspect], 25, of Vienna, VA was arrested and charged with Assault on Police (x2), Obstruction of Justice and Drunk in Public.
At approximately 1:55 a.m. on October 10, police were dispatched to the report of an assault in the 3100 block of Wilson Boulevard. Nightlife detail personnel responded, determined a verbal dispute occurred and cleared the incident. No arrests were made.
At approximately 2:11 a.m. on October 11, police were dispatched to the report of an assault in the 3100 block of Clarendon Boulevard. Nightlife detail personnel responded, determined a verbal dispute occurred and cleared the incident. No arrests were made.
Clarendon Tonight!: Busy as closing approached with EMS needed at Bar Bao for an intoxicated person, a fight reported outside Liberty Tavern, and a fight reported at Big Tony's Pizza. In other words, situation normal. #clarendon #arlingtonva #police pic.twitter.com/vuAtRAAjHZ
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) October 11, 2026
