crime | ALXnow - Part 10

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

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.

News

DC man pleads guilty to 2024 attempted rape, abduction in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 7, 2025 at 4:30PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse at 520 King Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 26-year-old Washington, D.C. man has pleaded guilty to felony charges related to the attempted abduction and rape of a woman in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.

Dykwon Perry Davis pleaded guilty in Alexandria Circuit Court on August 7, 2025, to abduction with the intent to defile and attempted rape for the incident, which occurred on February 3, 2024. He faces up to life in prison for the abduction charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the rape charge, according to a press release from Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter.

News

Bail granted for groomer accused of abusing dogs in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 4, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated August 4, 2025 at 1:28PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria man charged with felony animal abuse was granted bail on July 24 (Thursday), despite objections from the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Kevin Malik Sanders was granted a $10,000 bail on personal recognizance and goes to court for a three-day jury trial starting Feb. 2, 2026, according to the Alexandria Clerk of Court. The 29-year-old was arrested on July 21, 2025, after the death of a three-year-old Golden Retriever named Abigail at Your Dog’s Best Friends (2000 Richmond Highway) on July 12, 2024. He was charged with four Class 1 misdemeanors and one count of felony animal abuse. The Commonwealth’s Attorney released allegations of abuse in an effort to keep him behind bars (see below).

News

Alexandria man pleads guilty to defrauding pandemic relief programs of $1.5 million

By James Cullum

Published July 24, 2025 at 2:30PM

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

An Alexandria man pled guilty on Wednesday (July 23) to defrauding pandemic relief programs of nearly $1.5 million, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

Dr. Muhammad Adil Quraish, 35, is a former Air Force dentist, and a financial advisor. Quraish admitted to conspiring with at least four other people to submit false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and an Economic Injury Disaster loan, and using the funds to invest in cryptocurrency, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert of the Eastern District of Virginia.

News

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.

News

Alexandria man charged with felony animal abuse in boarding facility dog death

By James Cullum

Published July 22, 2025 at 1:00PM | Updated July 22, 2025 at 4:52PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria man is behind bars for allegedly abusing several dogs, leading to the death of one dog, at an award-winning boarding facility in Del Ray.

Kevin Malik Sanders, 29, was arrested on July 21, 2025, after the death of a two-year-old Golden Retriever named Abigail at Your Dog’s Best Friends (2000 Richmond Highway) on July 12, 2024. He was charged with four Class 1 misdemeanors and one count of felony animal abuse and is being held without bond.

News

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.

News

UPDATE: Alexandria-area man arrested after allegedly receiving multiple packages with drugs

By James Cullum

Published July 21, 2025 at 5:30PM | Updated July 22, 2025 at 5:08PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the suspect was an employee of the UPS store. The suspect was reported to police by a UPS employee and does not work at the facility. We apologize for the error.

A 33-year-old man, formerly a resident of Alexandria, is being held without bond for multiple narcotics possession charges. The man was allegedly getting his drugs mailed to a local UPS Store.

Around Town

Man robbed at knifepoint in Arlandria early Monday morning

By James Cullum

Published July 21, 2025 at 10:30AM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

No injuries were reported after a man was reportedly robbed at knifepoint in Arlandria early Monday morning (July 21).

The Alexandria Police Department was called at approximately 1 a.m. by a man who had been robbed in the 3800 block of Russell Road. The victim told police that he was robbed of his wallet by three men with knives.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 11, 2025 at 3:45PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.

This week’s top story is on an Inova Alexandria Hospital employee getting fired after allegedly stealing a patient’s credit cards from a room at the hospital and using them at a nearby store.

News

Inova Alexandria Hospital employee fired after patient’s credit cards stolen, used at Target

By James Cullum

Published July 8, 2025 at 4:30PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

An employee at Inova Alexandria Hospital has been fired, and the Alexandria Police Department is investigating after a patient’s credit cards were stolen from a room at the hospital and used at a nearby store.

A woman in hospital scrubs with an Inova lanyard around her neck was later identified by an Inova Alexandria Hospital staffer, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. The police have filed no charges, and although Inova did not disclose the employee’s job title, the hospital system confirmed that the employee is no longer employed at the hospital.