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Abandoned child at 8 S. Van Dorn Street (image via Alexandria Police Department/Twitter)

(Updated 2:15 p.m.) The Alexandria Police Department (APD) and the Child Welfare Services have launched a joint investigation into the abandonment of a child last night.

APD said the child was dropped off by an unknown person at 8 S. Van Dorn Street around 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday. APD said they are working with members of the child’s family as part of the investigation.

“At present, the abandoned child who was located last night on South Van Dorn Street is safe and doing well in the custody of Alexandria DCHS Child Welfare Services,” APD said in a release. “Detectives with the Alexandria Police Department and social workers of Alexandria DCHS Child Protective Services are currently meeting with members of the family who are assisting with the ongoing joint investigation.”

APD said information would be provided as it becomes public.

“If you have any information regarding this incident please call 703 745 4444,” APD said. “Tips will remain anonymous.”

According to police:

At approximately 9:45 p.m. last night, officers were dispatched to a call regarding witnesses who had observed a man drop off a young child in front of 8 South Van Dorn Street.

Upon arrival, officers located the little girl believed to be between one and two years old, dressed in warm clothing, and in apparent good health.

Nobody in the area reported knowing the child or who she may belong to. Detectives were called to the scene and Alexandria Child Protective Services (CPS) was notified.

APD said possible video of the vehicle used to abandon the child has been found and police are working to identify it and its owner.

According to the release:

City of Alexandria officials are reminding the public to report suspicions of child abuse or neglect. Residents may call the City of Alexandria Child Protective Services (CPS) at 703 746 5800 24 hours a day or the Virginia hotline at 1 800 552 7096. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. Callers have the option of remaining anonymous.

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Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Expect rain and fog with a high near 61 and southwest winds of 5 to 8 mph. Precipitation has an 80% chance with amounts ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. For Thursday night, rain is likely, along with possible thunderstorms after 4 am, but primarily cloudy and areas of fog will persist. Temperatures will drop to around 55 with south winds of 5 to 7 mph. A 70% chance of precipitation remains, with similar totals, but potentially higher amounts during thunderstorms.

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After multiple cases earlier this month of swatting — a false call about a serious threat that forces police to mobilize a major response — the Alexandria Police Department (APD) was forced to evacuate one school and put another on lockdown after a swatting call yesterday.

Yesterday around noon, a call of a weapons violation came in for Charles Barrett Elementary School (1115 Martha Custis Drive). The call also said a device had been planted in the school. Students had to relocate to a nearby recreation center while police swept through the building searching for any suspicious devices — none were found.

Meanwhile, Cora Kelly Elementary School for Math, Science and Technology was also put on lockdown status after a similar threat.

According to APD:

This afternoon (Jan. 24), the City of Alexandria Police Department received multiple calls threatening the safety of two Alexandria City Public Schools. The APD takes every threat to public safety seriously. The investigation today revealed no threat or danger.

At approximately 12:04 p.m., APD responded to Charles Barrett Elementary School (1115 Martha Cutis Drive) after receiving a call of someone going to the school with guns. Multiple officers, K9s, and Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) responded and began searching the school. School administrators made the decision to evacuate and move students to Cora Kelly School (3600 Commonwealth Avenue) to allow APD to conduct an extensive search. APD assisted and remained with students and faculty who were relocated to Cora Kelly School. APD completed the search of Charles Barrett and determined there was no threat.

While police were on scene, additional calls were received claiming more threats, the last calls indicating the threats were directed at Cora Kelly School where police were already positioned and were able to determine there was no threat.

Police remained on the scene for general dismissal. The APD continues to investigate with the support of federal authorities who have offered their assistance.

If you have any information regarding this incident please call 703-746-4444. Tips will remain anonymous.

These threats are believed to have been incidents of “swatting”.

Swatting is a term used to describe criminal activity by an individual or group who knowingly provides false information to police suggesting that a threat exists, causing a police or emergency services response.
Swatting is a criminal offense and can be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor up to a Class 6 felony with up to five years imprisonment.

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The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Jan 24, 2024.

  1. BREAKING: Charles Barrett Elementary evacuated and Cora Kelly on lockdown due to threats (11592 views)
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Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

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Kory Anding was sought by the Alexandria Police Department in connection to a malicious wounding incident on Dec. 23 in the 5400 block of N. Morgan Street (via APD)

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) announced that Kory Anding, a 28-year-old man who allegedly struck his roommate in the head with a machete, has been arrested.

The incident occurred in the 5400 block of North Morgan Street near Lincolnia on Dec. 23.

Police said last month that they were searching for Anding after the alleged assault left the victim with a serious but non-life-threatening wound.

In a release, APD said Anding was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 11, and is charged with aggravated malicious wounding of an adult male.

James Cullum contributed to this story

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Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Expect showers and patchy fog with a high near 57 and an east wind of 7 to 10 mph. Precipitation chance is 100%, with amounts ranging between half and three-quarters of an inch. Wednesday night, showers are likely mainly before 1am, along with patchy fog, mostly cloudy skies, and a low around 48. Light and variable wind will become northwest at 6 mph after midnight. Precipitation chance is 70%, with new amounts between a quarter and half an inch possible.

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A parking meter in Old Town Alexandria on King Street

The Alexandria Police Department has hired a contractor to help crack down on parking enforcement in Old Town.

The contractor, Reimagine Parking, will target enforcement primarily along King Street, the city said in a release.

The additional enforcement is scheduled to start today (Wednesday) and will run from 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Monday-Friday.

According to the release:

A third-party vendor has been hired to supplement the City’s existing parking enforcement officers. The contractors are authorized to issue citations only and will not handle issues of towing, vehicle relocation, or booting. Personnel will be visible and uniformly dressed, including reflective vests noting they are contractors for the City of Alexandria. The contractors, Reimagine Parking, will also display company-issued identification and a company-branded shirt.

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The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Dec 26, 2023.

  1. Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster BBQ in Old Town rebranding (6470 views)
  2. Notes: Seminary Road homes with ‘affordable homeownership program’ starting construction in May (3797 views)
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📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
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An Alexandria Police cruiser (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department arrested four teens for a robbery and assault at the Bradlee Shopping Center (3646 King Street) last month.

The victim, also a teenager, was bleeding from the face after being punched near the McDonald’s around 8:40 a.m., according to scanner traffic. The victim told police the suspect took his shoes and wallet. The victim was transported to the hospital.

“Two juvenile city residents were charged with assault and two other juvenile city residents were charged with robbery and assault,” police said in a release.

Police confirmed to ALXnow that the suspects were “in their late teens.”

The Bradlee Shopping Center McDonald’s has been a hot spot for crime, with multiple assaults and the murder of Alexandria City High School student Luis Mejia Hernandez in 2022.

Alexandria City Public Schools leadership said earlier this year they would crack down on truancy and students skipping school at the Bradlee Shopping Center, while the Alexandria Police Department said it would be increasing its presence at the shopping center after school hours.

The incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Michael Whelan via phone at 703 746 6228, email at [email protected], or call the non-emergency number at 703 746 4444.

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Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Expect rain mainly after 2pm, with a high near 51 and a south wind at 5 to 9 mph. The precipitation chance is 80%, with new amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. On Friday night, there’s a 50% chance of rain, mostly before 10pm, accompanied by patchy fog after 5am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 46 and a south wind at 5 to 9 mph.

🚨 You need to know

Police searching along Four Mile Run for a wanted suspect (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department’s (APD) six license plate readers have been instrumental in everything from recovering stolen property to catching a fugitive, and now the department wants to expand the program, the Alexandria Times reported.

The Alexandria Times said APD’s plate readers have helped recover 22 stolen vehicles, been a part of 37 issued arrests or warrants, located two missing persons and recovered $350,000 in stolen property.

The plate readers have been in use at APD for more than a decade, but now APD is hoping to roll out 12 more readers as soon as they can be purchased and installed — part of a broader effort to combat an uptick in auto thefts.

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The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Nov 30, 2023.

  1. Man robbed by gang in broad daylight on Yoakum Parkway in Alexandria’s West End (4322 views)
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The Alexandria Police Department just announced three major new hires.

APD announced Monday that it will welcome new Assistant Police Chiefs Raul Pedroso and Tina Laguna, as well as Communications Manager Tracy Walker.

“We are expanding APD leadership at a necessary time when our community is looking to us for more information sharing and innovative approaches to crime reduction,” Hayes said. “We look forward to the incoming expertise they will bring to further bolster our collective commitment to public safety in Alexandria.”

The assistant chief positions have been vacant since Police Chief Don Hayes was formally promoted in April 2022. The new hirings restructure the department to have three assistant police chiefs, as opposed to the two assistant chiefs (one of whom was a civilian) under previous APD Chief Michael L. Brown.

Pedroso will be the department’s assistant chief and commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. In that role, he will lead APD criminal investigations, crime scene investigations and Special Investigations. Pedroso was previously a major in the Coral Gables Police Department in Florida. He attended the FBI National Academy and has a master’s of science degree in criminal justice from Florida International University and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Florida, according to his LinkedIn page.

Laguna will take charge of the APD Administrative and Technology Bureau, as well as “areas related to accreditation, training and recruitment, along with fleet, facility, and records management,” according to APD. She is currently the assistant chief overseeing investigative services at the Manassas City Police Department, and is the first Black woman to achieve the rank. She has a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in Criminology, Law, and Society from George Mason University, according to MCPD.

Walker was the public affairs director for the Richmond Police Department since 2021. She has been in marketing and public affairs for decades and has a bachelor of the arts degree from the University of Texas San Antonio, according to her LinkedIn page.

Pedroso and Laguna will formally join the department on Oct. 23 and Walker started on Monday, according to APD.

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Hundreds solemnly gathered outside Police Headquarters this morning to dedicate the Alexandria Police Department Suicide Memorial.

The names of officers Jason Kline, who died in 2004, and his best friend, Steven Pagach IV, who died in 2011, are etched in the memorial.

The memorial is reportedly the second in the United States to honor police officers who have died by suicide, after the Boston Police Officer Suicide Memorial Wall. It is next to the APD memorial for officers who died in the line of duty.

APD Lieutenant Tara May came up with the idea after graduating from the National FBI Academy last year.

“Jason and Steven’s loss was devastating to the department,” May said. “My fear is, you know, do we have more of Jason and Steven’s we don’t know about walking around the hallways. I’m hoping that this will remind people that there is hope, and there’s help when it’s needed.”

Police Chief Don Hayes is also a pastor and gave the invocation.

“We pray that this memorial will always be a reminder and a remembrance to those who are now wearing this uniform that care,” Hayes said. “And that we don’t want to see anybody else’s name on this memorial.”

Retired Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, an APD veteran, is the chair of the chairman of the board of Ivy Hill Cemetery, which donated the granite slabs used in the memorial.

“It recognizes these two men for their sacrifices in a respectful and dignified way,” Lawhorne said. “This dancing slate of granite will forever whisper the names of Jason and Steve, that they are not forgotten.”

Retired Police Chief David Baker donated the funds for the inscription on the memorial.

“We miss their enormous presence in our lives,” Baker said of Kline and Pagach. “We miss their contributions and commitment to public safety and we salute their excellence in bravery in service to others. Make no mistake, they are and will always be our brothers and blue.”

Above the officers’ names, the memorial states: “In darkness, there is light. In honor and memory of the officers we have lost to suicide. Thank you for your dedication and service.”

Retired Deputy Chief Hassan Aden said that APD must confront the stigma of mental health in policing.

“Policing is a profession that demands unwavering dedication, sacrifice and resilience,” Aden said. “Every day officers put on their uniforms, not knowing what challenges they will face what dangers they will encounter, or how deeply those experiences will impact their lives. The weight of the badge is not just physical, it’s emotional, and mental.”

May said the department has work to do to address mental health challenges of its officers.

“In our collective bargaining negotiations, we asked for an improvement in the department’s mental health programs,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

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The Alexandria Police Department said they made an arrest in a car theft in Old Town earlier this week and were able to recover the vehicle.

According to the police, the incident occurred on Wednesday when the victim left their car running when they went into a business on the 800 block of Saint Asaph Street.

According to the release:

The Alexandria Police Department made an arrest in a stolen auto incident. On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, the victim left his car running while he ran into a business in the 800 block of Saint Asaph Street, and when he came out his vehicle was gone.

Police were able to track down the sedan in real-time using the owner’s GPS tracking software to the 300 block of Braddock Road. On arrival, officers discovered the suspect sitting in the car. APD officers were able to recover the vehicle and arrested… a 27-year-old City of Alexandria resident and he was charged with grand larceny auto.

The suspect was taken to the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center and is currently being held without bond.

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Yesterday afternoon, Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes and his staff walked through an Old Town neighborhood that was a crime scene on Monday.

“I’m here to reassure people that this will happen, but that this is still a safe neighborhood,” Hayes told ALXnow. “I just walk around in the neighborhoods knock on doors, talk to people. Sometimes it can last three or four hours.”

Alexandria’s gun-related crime surged 100% in 2022. Police recently unveiled a plan to install gunshot detection systems throughout the city, although the action needs City Council approval and is planned for next year’s budget. For now, the Alexandria Police Department’s short-term answer to rising crime is to increase police patrols and getting officers in neighborhoods with community cookouts.

There were multiple incidents of gunfire over the weekend, with three incidents on Monday alone. In the area Hayes visited on Monday, three juveniles were arrested after an estimated 40 shots were fired. The shots were fired in an alleyway in the 1200 block of Madison Street, a block away from the Braddock Road Metro station, and no one was injured. Earlier Monday, at 2 a.m., a 7-Eleven clerk was shot in the leg in a robbery. Later in the day, shots were fired at the Bradlee Shopping Center.

“I don’t walk around here at night anymore,” said a resident who lives near to where the shots were fired Monday. “I find myself on my guard all the time, and I’m on high-alert all the time. I read the news and I keep aware of my surroundings.”

City Manager Jim Parajon stopped by to hear what Hayes had to say.

“It’s tough,” Parajon said. “I mean, we’re seeing a rise in gun violence across the country.”

Hayes also plans to keep walking through communities affected by crime every week to talk with residents.

APD will also host 10 upcoming community cookouts, which are sponsored by a number of nonprofits and city agencies. The following cookouts will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m:

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