crime | ARLnow.com

‘Soft interview room’ for victims of crime to be installed at Arlington courthouse

Published March 20, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated March 23, 2026 at 4:35PM

An example of a Project Beloved "soft interview" room (via Project Beloved/Facebook)

Victims of crime in Arlington will soon have a more soothing and intentionally designed space to speak with an attorney about their experiences.

A planned “soft interview room” from the Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is intended to create a greater sense of ease and safety during victim interviews. With pleasant art, a couch, blankets and a soothing color palette, the room — created in partnership with the nonprofit Project Beloved — will finish installation next week on the fifth floor of the courthouse.

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Man sentenced for stealing NCIS vehicle and other cars from Reagan National

By Dan Egitto

Published January 7, 2026 at 10:00AM

The tower at Reagan National Airport on a sunny day (staff photo)

A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday) for stealing multiple vehicles from Reagan National Airport, including one belonging to a federal law enforcement agency.

Tyrese McKinnon, 25, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for conspiring to steal five vehicles from Reagan National, and another vehicle from Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport.

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Arlington set to record overall crime decrease in 2025

By Dan Egitto

Published December 10, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated December 11, 2025 at 12:25AM

Police at a crime scene in 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Crime is on track to drop in Arlington this year, reversing a trend of increasing criminal incidents over the past several years.

Total reported offenses are down about 4% compared to this time in 2024, according to preliminary numbers in the Arlington County Police Department’s crime data hub.

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Crime Solvers celebrates K9 teams at Arlington sheriff’s office and police department

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 13, 2025 at 2:30PM

Police Chief Andy Penn with 2025 Crime Solvers honorees (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Some public-safety heroes walk on two legs while others walk on four, Sheriff Jose Quiroz noted as Arlington County Crime Solvers saluted the 13 K9 teams serving with local agencies.

Each of the dogs and their handlers at the Arlington County Police Department and Arlington County Sheriff’s Office have received specialized training to meet a range of challenges in an urban environment. As such, they are collectively deserving of the “Officer of the Year” award, Crime Solvers president Andres Tobar said.

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Man accused of smashing windows at two Clarendon businesses this weekend

By Katie Taranto

Published September 29, 2025 at 1:45PM

Aftermath of Clarendon vandalism at Oasis (courtesy of Tammie Disayawathana)

An Arlington man was arrested early Sunday morning following a vandalism spree in Clarendon.

The 21-year-old suspect, Christian Amaya Ochoa, is accused of damaging flower pots and shattering the windows and glass door of Oasis: The Listening Bar, which opened in July at 2940 Clarendon Blvd. He also reportedly shattered the windows at the skin care studio Glowbar, which had announced plans to open next door this fall.

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Metrobus riders worry more about crime than those using rail, survey finds

By Scott McCaffrey

Published September 15, 2025 at 1:45PM

Police at Court House Metro station (file photo)

Crime is declining on the Metro system, but riders’ perceptions of safety depend on which mode of transportation they use.

Riders on Metrobus reported more safety concerns than those on Metrorail. Overall, however, rider satisfaction rates are either flat or improving, according to data reported at the Sept. 11 meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Area Transit Authority’s safety and operations committee.

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Men plead guilty to conspiring in theft of 15 catalytic converters in Arlington

By Jared Serre

Published August 14, 2025 at 11:45AM

A pile of 17 catalytic converters recovered in Anne Arundel County (via U.S. Attorney's Office)

Two men have admitted to conspiring to steal dozens of catalytic converters across the D.C. area, including at least 15 in Arlington alone.

Erick Alfaro Guevara, 46, pleaded guilty yesterday (Wednesday) to one count of conspiracy to engage in interstate transportation and sale of stolen goods, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

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Green Valley leaders have spent decades lobbying county for better public safety

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 31, 2025 at 3:45PM

Joan Cooper welcomes President George H.W. Bush at 1992 Green Valley anti-drug rally (via Charlie Clark Center for Local History)

Arlington’s Green Valley community has a long and, in many ways, distinguished past.

Coming into being before the Civil War, it served as a home to freed Black residents and carried on as a refuge for the African-American community in a county and commonwealth that, until the 1960s, adhered to a rigid system of segregation in housing and other facets of daily life.

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Falls Church police accreditation effort moves forward, but will take time

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 25, 2025 at 2:15PM

Falls Church police officer at event (via City of Falls Church)

It most likely will be 2028 before the Falls Church Police Department learns if it has achieved national accreditation.

But Police Chief Shahram Fard has a prediction.

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ACPD investigating another series of car break-ins near local country club

By ARLnow.com

Published July 1, 2025 at 8:30AM

The 3000 block of N. Glebe Road, including Washington Golf and Country Club (via Google Maps)

Arlington County police are investigating another series of car break-ins in the area of Washington Golf and Country Club.

It happened this past Friday morning, on the 3000 block of N. Glebe Road.

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More crime concerns in Green Valley drive calls for county support

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 17, 2025 at 2:45PM

Scene of shooting in Green Valley in December 2023 (courtesy Matthew Young)

Green Valley leaders are once again asking for more county support in addressing issues with crime in the neighborhood.

Yordanos Woldai, first vice president and public-safety chair of the Green Valley Civic Association, called for more police and government efforts to address alleged drug dealing, gambling, noise, loitering and even shootings.

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Man accused of exposing himself near children had numerous recent arrests

By ARLnow.com

Published June 17, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated June 17, 2025 at 2:16PM

Arlington police car (file photo)

A 35-year-old man accused of exposing himself and masturbating near children has a lengthy list of recent arrests.

Police say Sami Kasawat committed the lewd act around 3 p.m. last Tuesday in the area of Oakland Park in Virginia Square. He fled the scene but was arrested the next day in Courthouse.