News | ALXnow - Part 694

Alexandria officials push back against ACPS ‘cover up’ story

Published March 18, 2022 at 4:50PM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After right-wing outlet National Review broke a story accusing Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) of covering up a sexual assault case, city leaders are hitting back and saying the story misses some critical details.

The story, which was widely shared on social media, said a 14-year-old suspect was arrested in December for aggravated sexual battery, rape and forcible sodomy in connection to an October incident at the Minnie Howard campus of Alexandria City High School. The article also includes quotes from parents who said they were left in the dark and there was no communication about the issue.

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published March 18, 2022 at 3:45PM

Busy week in Alexandria. The city’s budget process is moving forward, with a maximum tax rate set last week, and details emerging like how the budget will handle the long-awaited body camera program for the Alexandria Police Department. There was also some fun local oddities, like plans to re-sink a couple of the historic ships.

Police also made a pair of relatively high profile arrests: like a man arrested for a shooting in February and another arrested in Texas after allegedly striking Alexandria police officers with his car in an escape attempt last December.

Alexandria Police arrest D.C. man suspected of violent Uber carjacking

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2022 at 2:30PM | Updated March 18, 2022 at 6:36PM

Alexandria Police at night (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 20-year-old Washington D.C. man was arrested in Old Town earlier this month for carjacking an Uber driver and her customer.

Raphael G. Snead, Jr. was arrested at his grandmother’s house on March 3 by Alexandria Police in the 700 block of North Fayette Street. He was transferred on March 8 to Montgomery County, where he is currently being held without bond.

Senator Kaine and Congressman Beyer tour RiverRenew Tunnel Project in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2022 at 1:00PM | Updated March 19, 2022 at 3:28AM

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (in the center) and Rep. Don Beyer (on the right) tour the RiverRenew Tunnel Project, March 18, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) took a quick break from work in Washington today (March 18) for a tour of Alexandria Renew Enterprises’ RiverRenew Tunnel Project.

The $454.4 million project will replace Old Town’s combined sewer system to prevent 120 million gallons of combined sewage from flowing into the Potomac River every year. The project is partially funded through a $321 million loan from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and $50 million from the American Rescue Plan Act.

JUST IN: Suspect in Carlyle assault on law enforcement arrested in Texas

By Vernon Miles

Published March 18, 2022 at 11:10AM

Chukwunyere Onuoha and escape vehicle, image via Alexandria Police Department

Three months after he allegedly assaulted Alexandria police officers in the Carlyle neighborhood and fled the scene, Chukwunyere Onuoha has been apprehended in Texas and is awaiting extradition back to Alexandria.

According to a release from APD, on Dec. 27, police responded to a report of an individual in a domestic dispute in the 2400 block of Mandeville Lane, near the Hoffman Town Center. APD said they located Onuoha in the nearby 200 block of Swamp Fox Road.

Alexandria coworking space hosting fundraising night for Ukrainian refugees

By Vernon Miles

Published March 18, 2022 at 9:45AM | Updated March 18, 2022 at 12:54PM

The George Washington National Masonic Memorial bathed in the colors of the Ukranian Flag, Feb. 27, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria coworking space ALX Community is hosting a fundraising event next week to raise donations for nonprofits assisting Ukrainian refugees.

The fundraiser, “A Night for Ukraine,” is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, March 25 at Above ALX (277 South Washington Street). The $25 entrance ticket will go to Community Organized Relief Efforts (CORE), who will supply a family of four with a three-day hygiene kit, which includes soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes and other items, along with emergency thermal blankets, the group said.

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published March 18, 2022 at 5:00AM

Feeding the birds along the Alexandria waterfront in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandrian heads to Europe to help Ukraine — “Twitter connections helped facilitate a trip to eastern Poland to help Ukrainian refugees.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 70 and low of 48. Sunrise at 7:16 am and sunset at 7:19 pm. [Weather.gov]

Alexandria man arrested after woman shot in face in Landmark area

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated March 17, 2022 at 3:51PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 20-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after allegedly shooting a woman in the face in the stairwell of a Landmark area apartment building.

The incident occurred on February 9 at around 4:45 p.m. at the Brent Place apartments at 375 S. Reynolds Street. Terrell Talley, who lives in the building, was arrested March 3 and charged with malicious wounding.

Alexandria prepares to ‘resink’ historic ships

By Vernon Miles

Published March 17, 2022 at 2:45PM

Pieces of 18th-Century ships waiting to be scanned (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Almost exactly four years after archeologists recovered three 18th-century ships from under the Old Town Waterfront, Alexandria is planning on sending at least two of them back to Davy Jones’ Locker.

Three ships were discovered under the Robinson Landing construction site in March 2018. While the most intact of the trio was sent to Texas A&M for study and will get a new Torpedo Factory exhibit next month, the other two have sat in water tanks in the DASH bus barn. At a meeting of the Waterfront Commission, City Archaeologist Eleanor Breen said that sometime this year the city will start moving the ships out of their 12×24-foot tanks and out to Ben Brenman Pond (4800 Brenman Park Drive).

Numerous charges after Alexandria man backs car into police cruiser in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2022 at 2:15PM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

An 18-year-old Alexandria man was arrested on gun and drug charges after backing his car against a police cruiser and allegedly attempting to drive away.

The incident occurred in the unit block of Oronoco Street near the Alexandria waterfront on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Adoption fees have been covered for Oshkosh, says Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2022 at 1:00PM

Oshkosh, a two-year-old terrier mix up for adoption in Alexandria, is shy… At first. Adoption fees have already been paid for by a generous donor to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, which means that he is ready to go home to a new owner for free.

“Oshkosh is ready and raring to meet his new family,” AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter said. “Since Oshkosh can be a bit reserved, he’d prefer a quieter household with adults or older children who understand that sometimes dogs want to snuggle and, just like all of us, sometimes they like to have their personal space.”