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Arlington Teen Arrested After Wild Police Chase

By Katie Pyzyk

Police received a call around 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday saying that the suspect, later identified as Victor Solano, was attempting to drive his Chrysler 300 into the yard of a garden style apartment near the 4600 block of 20th Road N., near the Lee Heights Shops.

In the process of trying to back out of the yard, he reportedly struck two vehicles and then drove away. One of the struck vehicles was occupied and the person inside called 911, according to Arlington County Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

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News

Arlington Woman Convicted of Sex Trafficking

By Katie Pyzyk
File photo

Ruth Antuanet Miller, 35, originally from Peru but now an Arlington resident, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion. She admitted to trafficking at least five victims.

Miller admitted in a statement filed in federal court that from May 2011 through July 2013, she was the leader of a criminal enterprise that prostituted women at hotels and motels around Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and in Fairfax County.

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News

Tire Slashing Spree in Hall’s Hill

By Katie Pyzyk

According to Arlington County Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, 36 vehicles had their tires slashed. Each vehicle had one or two tires slashed and no other damage has been found on the vehicles.

Police received slashed tire reports from residents on a number of blocks in the neighborhood, with large concentrations along the 1800 block of N. Culpeper Street, the 1900 block of N. Dinwiddie Street and along N. 19th Street. Some vehicles were parked in the street and others were in driveways. Police were at the scene for hours this morning to check out each new report as residents exited their houses and discovered the damage.

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News

Inside Arlington’s Emergency Communications Center

By Katie Pyzyk

A call comes in for a seemingly typical vehicle accident on a seemingly typical morning in Arlington. But for the rattled caller, the situation is anything but typical. Enter Lynne Putnam, Emergency Communications Tech III. Putnam has 30 years of experience as a 911 dispatcher, 27 of those spent in Arlington County. She attempts to soothe the caller while transferring the person, because it turns out the accident did not occur in Arlington’s jurisdiction.

“Stay on the line, ma’am, I’m sending you to Park Police.”

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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

GGW: Arlington Is Losing a Smart Growth Advocate — Chris Zimmerman’s announced departure from the Arlington County Board means the county is losing a true smart growth advocate, says Greater Greater Washington writer Canaan Merchant. “Whoever hopes to replace them will have big shoes to fill as Mr. Zimmerman’s influence will loom large in Arlington and greater Washington for years,” he writes. “Smart growth or public transportation advocates have their work cut out for them if they want to support a candidate in Arlington who is dedicated to those issues as much as Zimmerman has for the past 18 years.” [Greater Greater Washington]

New Building Tech Hinders Emergency Communication — The technology that’s helping to make new buildings stronger is playing havoc with police and fire department radios. Arlington County is trying to lead by example by requiring a special antenna system in all new county buildings. The system allows communication among first responders and dispatchers indoors in buildings where radios would otherwise not work. [WJLA]

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News

Two Arrested for Bicycle Theft at Va. Square Metro

By ARLnow.com
File photo

Police say 20-year-old D.C. resident John Wiley and an unnamed juvenile male were arrested around 9:40 p.m. after they stole a bike from the station. One of the suspects had a set of wire cutters in a backpack, police said. Together, the suspects were charged with Grand Larceny and Possession of Burglarious Tools.

Arlington County Police have been cracking down on bike thefts recently, after declaring over the summer that such thefts were at an all-time high. Last week, the police department announced that a 42-year-old repeat offender named Michael Cullen had received a whopping 12-year jail sentence for a series of bike thefts.

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Around Town

Arlington Police Department Joins Twitter

By Ethan Rothstein
File photo

@ArlingtonVaPD launched with its first tweet at 12:53 p.m., writing “The Arlington County Police Department is excited to launch the official dept twitter site!!! Follow us for the latest updates.”

In a press release, the police department said the Twitter account will “be a permanent tool for the department to share breaking news, stories, photos, crime tips and events.”

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News

Crime Report: Girl Raped in Buckingham

By ARLnow.com
File photo

A girl was raped in the Buckingham neighborhood last Thursday, according to this week’s Arlington County crime report.

A 35-year-old man was arrested for the crime and is known to the victim, cops say. Police are not releasing many details about the crime — like the victim’s age or the man’s relationship to the victim — saying such information would make it too easy to identify the victim.

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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Treasurer Makes Deal for iPark Refills — Arlington County Treasurer Frank O’Leary has struck deals to allow the county to refill iPark devices, while adding more devices to the cache that can be used to replace non-functioning units. The county paid $10,000 to the bankrupt manufacturer of the devices for the codes necessary to add value without additional authorization or payment to the company. The move comes about a month and a half after the company’s bankruptcy suddenly prevented the county from refilling the devices. [Sun Gazette]

Man Gets 10 Year Sentence for Custis Trail Robbery — A 23-year-old D.C. resident has received a 10 year sentence for a robbery on the Custis Trail that left a jogger with a head injury and lingering cognitive effects. The attacker and his 17-year-old brother, who’s expected to receive a 1.5 to 3 year sentence, were both arrested as they fled toward the Ballston Metro Station. The victim, a 55-year-old personal trainer, says he still suffers from headaches, nightmares and memory loss. [Washington Post]

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