crime | ALXnow

Alexandria dog daycare owner sued for $585K two years after dog’s death

Published July 31, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated August 1, 2026 at 3:20AM

Your Dog's Best Friends at 2000 Richmond Highway (via Google Maps)

The owner of a dog that died after being abused at an award-winning dog daycare in Del Ray has sued the business owner for $585,000.

Earlier this month, Andrew Cheslock filed a civil suit against Paul Haire, the owner of Your Dog’s Best Friends (2000 Richmond Highway). It’s been two years since Cheslock’s 14-month-old golden retriever Abigail died after being strangled by Kevin Malik Sanders, a former groomer who pleaded guilty to one count of felony animal cruelty and four misdemeanor counts of animal abuse. Cheslock’s suit was filed soon after Sanders surrendered to authorities to serve a two-year prison sentence.

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Alexandria man charged with animal cruelty after allegedly throwing woman’s dog

By James Cullum

Published July 31, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated July 31, 2026 at 2:02PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria man was arrested earlier this month for cruelty to animals after allegedly picking up and throwing a woman’s companion dog and injuring it in Oakville Triangle.

On Thursday, July 2, the dog’s owner reported that around 10:15 p.m., the suspect allegedly picked up her companion animal “twice without due cause or lawful permission to do so,” according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. The incident occurred near the suspect’s apartment building in the 400 block of Swann Avenue, in the city’s Oakville Triangle neighborhood near Potomac Yard.

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Alexandria police ask dog walkers to watch out for crimes and other emergencies

By James Cullum

Published July 30, 2026 at 2:45PM

Lila at the Del Ray Dog Fest 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department is asking dog walkers to join a citywide watch program where walkers keep an eye out for crimes and to call 911 if they see a situation needing an emergency response.

APD is launching the Dog Walker Watch program as the city is experiencing a summer uptick in violent crime. APD says that the dog walkers will help strengthen public safety and “serve as extra eyes and ears while walking their dogs, reporting suspicious activity through 911, 703-746-4444, or 311, as appropriate,” according to an email registry with the city.

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Two men sentenced to combined 56 years in prison for rape and robbery at Alexandria hotel

By James Cullum

Published July 29, 2026 at 9:15AM

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

An Alexandria man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, and a Falls Church man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after their convictions for rape and robbery at a hotel in the city’s West End in 2022.

Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Heidi E. Meinzer, on July 9, sentenced 37-year-old Ja’Real Wilkins, of Alexandria, to 40 years of active incarceration on two felony counts of rape and one felony count of forcible sodomy. Less than a week later, on July 14, Judge Kathleen Uston sentenced Wilkins’ partner in crime, 27-year-old Tysheem Boykins of Falls Church to 16 years of active incarceration on one felony count of forcible sodomy and one felony count of robbery by threat.

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Man found guilty of reckless driving in 5-vehicle crash that killed woman in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 28, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria courthouse in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 68-year-old Fredericksburg man was found guilty today (Tuesday) of reckless driving for causing a five-vehicle crash that killed a 69-year-old Massachusetts woman on Interstate 495 in Alexandria on Nov. 5, 2024.

In a two-day bench trial, Circuit Court Judge Katie Uston found Lee Allen MacKall guilty of reckless driving, and sentenced him to a year in prison, all suspended on the condition of his uniform good behavior. MacKall tearfully apologized to the family and friends of the victim, Lauren Johnson-Lavender, who died at the scene.

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JUST IN: Trespassing at vacant home leads to police presence in Old Town

By Emily Leayman

Published July 28, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

There was an increased police presence in Old Town midday Tuesday in response to a trespassing incident.

Around 12:36 p.m., the Alexandria Police Department said it was responding to an “ongoing situation” in the 1700 block of Cameron Street. An APD spokesperson said officers responded when an unauthorized person entered a vacant home.

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Alexandria man faces public intoxication charge after alleged knife assault

By James Cullum

Published July 28, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 65-year-old Alexandria man was released on a summons after another man was reportedly stabbed in the West End late Sunday night (July 26), the Alexandria Police Department says.

The incident was reported around 11:45 p.m. in the unit block of S. Reynolds Street. The suspect was arrested nearby and charged with resisting arrest, public intoxication and drinking alcohol in public, according to APD. The victim was found by police to be suffering “from an apparent knife wound” and was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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Alexandria police chief addresses summer uptick in crime

By James Cullum

Published July 23, 2026 at 3:45PM

A man was stabbed in the 1200 block of Braddock Place, July 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s uptick in violent crimes this summer has caught the attention of the police chief.

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire said the city has seen a significant spike in felonious assaults, including a stabbing on July 22 in the city’s West End and an unrelated stabbing near the Braddock Road Metro Station on July 21. A man was also arrested after allegedly brandishing a knife and assaulting a man in Old Town on July 20.

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Alexandria man allegedly strangles former roommate unconscious over utility bill dispute

By James Cullum

Published July 23, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria man is facing felony charges after being arrested earlier this month for allegedly strangling a former roommate in a parking lot of an apartment complex in the city’s West End.

The victim reported to police that on Monday, July 6, he met the suspect, Amir Jlassi, in a parking lot in the 5000 block of Seminary Road to talk about $750 for a utility bill that Jlassi and other roommates owed him. The victim said he recorded the incident on his phone, and that Jlassi then strangled, punched and spit on him, causing him to briefly lose consciousness. He also said that Jlassi stole his phone, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

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UPDATED: APD arrests suspect after woman stabbed in Alexandria’s West End early Wednesday

By James Cullum

Published July 22, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated July 22, 2026 at 4:07PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A woman was stabbed in an apartment in Alexandria’s West End early Wednesday morning (July 22).

The Alexandria Police Department responded around 2:26 a.m. to a domestic-related stabbing at the Newport Village Apartments in the 4800 block of W. Braddock Road. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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UPDATED: Arrest made after man stabbed near Braddock Road Metro station Tuesday night

By James Cullum

Published July 22, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated July 22, 2026 at 12:31PM

A man was stabbed in the 1200 block of Braddock Place, July 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A man was arrested after a stabbing near the Braddock Road Metro station on Tuesday night (July 21).

The victim was stabbed in the neck near benches in the plaza area of the 1200 block of Braddock Place. He was later transported to the hospital, according to Alexandria Police and Fire Department dispatches.