Alexandria Police Department | ALXnow

Four D.C. women linked to organized retail theft ring that hit Old Town Lululemon

Published August 11, 2025 at 6:30PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Four women arrested and charged with shoplifting in Maryland have been linked to the theft of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from a Lululemon store in Old Town.

On Feb. 19, the Gaithersburg Police Department arrested Precious Spivey, 18, Mone Herndon, 27, Shawn Stewart, 27, and Tanaysia Stewart, 18, all of Washington, D.C., for stealing more than $10,000 in merchandise from Bath & Body Works in Germantown and a LensCrafters and Lululemon store in Gaithersburg. The department said the group was engaged in an “organized retail theft ring.”

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Missing 76-year-old Alexandria woman found safe after hours-long search

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 9, 2025 at 10:10PM | Updated August 10, 2025 at 7:35AM

Alexandria Police Department issued this Critical Missing Female alert on Saturday, August 9, 2025. (Credit: Alexandria Police Department)

A 76-year-old Alexandria woman who went missing Saturday afternoon has been found safe, police said.

Bernise Simpkin was located at 11:18 p.m. Saturday, according to the Alexandria Police Department. She had been missing for nearly nine hours after last being seen around 2:45 p.m. in the North Old Town area.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 8, 2025 at 3:30PM

Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita will open at 529 E Howell Ave in Alexandria (via Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita Mexicana on Facebook)

We made it to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s a look at this week’s top stories.

Our most-read post is on a proposal to open a 24-hour Mexican restaurant in the city’s Del Ray neighborhood. The effort is facing some pushback from neighbors wary of potential crime and safety issues. In July, Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita officially announced in a special use permit application that it wants to open at 529 E. Howell Avenue, the former home to Bark Social. It would be the fourth restaurant for the local chain, and while the restaurant won’t serve alcohol, outside patio hours would be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, according to the application. The inside area is proposed to be open 24 hours a day.

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Maryland man sues Alexandria police officer, former chief over K-9 attack

By James Cullum

Published August 8, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated August 9, 2025 at 1:22AM

The Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A Maryland man who says an Alexandria K-9 officer injured him during his 2023 arrest has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against that officer’s handler and former Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes.

William Kyle III claims to be the victim of excessive force by police after he was pulled over on July 15, 2023, near a northbound entrance to Interstate 495. Kyle alleges the actions of Alexandria Police Department officer Matthew Wilson and K-9 officer Ares resulted in what he describes as a “severe and permanent” injury to his right shoulder. It was inflicted after Kyle was handcuffed and in police custody, according to the civil complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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Alexandria police captain retires after breaking barriers in 23½-year career

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 8, 2025 at 12:30PM

Captain Monica Lisle (via Alexandria Police Department)

Captain Monica Lisle retired from the Alexandria Police Department this week after 23½ years of service, marking the end of a groundbreaking career that saw her become the first woman to lead the department’s Criminal Investigations Section.

The retirement comes just one day after ALXnow reported that Captain Courtney Ballantine retired from APD last month after 25 years to join Georgetown University Police as deputy chief.

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APD Captain Courtney Ballantine retires after 25 years, joins Georgetown University police

By James Cullum

Published August 6, 2025 at 5:00PM

Alexandria Police Captain Courtney Ballantine at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 20, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A familiar face has left Alexandria. After 25 years with the Alexandria Police Department, Captain Courtney Ballantine retired last month and just started his new job as deputy chief of the Georgetown University Police Department.

“I love Alexandria, but it was time to start my next chapter,” Ballantine told ALXnow. “It was an amazing journey.”

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NOW: Northbound lane of Richmond Highway at Monroe Street Bridge is shut down after collision

By James Cullum

Published August 4, 2025 at 1:24PM

A crash at around 1 p.m. has shut down the northbound right lane of Richmond Highway at the Monroe Street Bridge, Aug. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department has temporarily shut down the northbound right lane of Richmond Highway at the Monroe Avenue Bridge after a crash between a vehicle and a tractor-trailer.

No emergency crews were on-scene and the vehicles are pulled over on the side of the road. The crash was reported at around 12:30 p.m., and the roadway was still partially shut down as of 1 p.m.

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Three sentenced to prison for series of armed robberies targeting Alexandria, Northern Virginia electronics stores

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 24, 2025 at 9:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Three people have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a series of violent armed robberies that targeted electronics stores across Northern Virginia last summer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Javon Rustin Louis Paige, 38, received the longest sentence of 16 years in prison after being sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Vincent Henry Kirkland Jr., 31, who also goes by Daniel Eugene Robinson, was sentenced July 15 to 14 years in prison. Brianna Mamie Oceolia Archie, 27, received 5 years and 10 months in prison after her June 17 sentencing.

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JUST IN: Alexandria Assistant Police Chief Raul Pedroso hired as Chief of Fairfax City Police Department

By James Cullum

Published July 23, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated July 26, 2025 at 1:49AM

Alexandria's Interim Police Chief Raul Pedroso at the city's 275th birthday celebration along the waterfront in Old Town, July 13, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Fairfax has hired Alexandria Assistant Police Chief Raul Pedroso to be its next chief of police, ALXnow has confirmed.

The Fairfax City Council hired Pedroso in a recent meeting, and his start date is Monday, Aug. 11.

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Woman charged after allegedly using pricey Old Town Airbnb for prostitution

By James Cullum

Published July 22, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated July 26, 2025 at 1:55AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A Manassas woman has been charged after allegedly using an expensive Airbnb in Old Town for prostitution.

The 35-year-old woman was identified after police searched the phone of a man who died in his car in the 500 block of N. West Street on Saturday, July 5. She was charged with keeping a bawdy place after police found text messages on the man’s phone and launched an investigation, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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Alexandria man arrested for burglarizing Arlandria home

By James Cullum

Published July 22, 2025 at 11:30AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria man has been arrested for allegedly burglarizing a home in the city’s Arlandria neighborhood.

The 23-year-old suspect was arrested May 28 for burglary and released June 5 on an unsecured bond. He was rearrested on June 12 for violating his pretrial bail and released by court order on June 20, according to the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.