police | ALXnow - Part 102

Muay Thai Champ Gets Racist Threats at Jones Point Park

Published July 7, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated July 7, 2020 at 2:42PM

Amine Ballafrikh was wrapping up one of his daily workout videos at Jones Point Park on Thursday, July 2, when an unidentified man went on a racist rant and threatened to shoot the two-time North American Lightweight Muay Thai champ.

Ballafrikh, who is also the number three Muay Thai lightwight in the world, fought his way out of Moroccan slums to be a U.S. citizen. He trains every day at Jones Point Park, and was filming a video at the end of a workout and speaking in Arabic when a man nearby began a racist and threatening tirade.

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Man Charged With Multiple Misconduct Counts at Old Town Gas Station

By James Cullum

Published July 6, 2020 at 5:20PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police arrested a 25-year-old Black man in May on multiple charges, including driving under the influence, assault on police, obstruction of justice with force, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

Police also found a silver-colored Taurus Hy-lite revolver fully loaded in the center console, in addition to several open bottles of beer and six round of ammunition hidden in a wine bottle in the front passenger door, according to the affidavit.

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Alexandria Weekend Discussion

By James Cullum

Published July 2, 2020 at 5:15PM

The July 4 holiday weekend is here, and it’s hard to believe that 2020 is more than halfway over. Not only has the year flown by, but so has the last week.

Alexandria joined the rest of Virginia in entering into the third phase of its reopening, the oldest resident in the city turned 109, a police officer was charged with assault and battery for a January arrest

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Alexandria Police Officer Charged With Assault and Battery for Unjustified Use of Force

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2020 at 4:00PM

Alexandria Police Officer Jonathan Griffin has been charged with assault and battery for an unjustified use of force against a handcuffed resident in January, according to the city.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter said that 32-year-old, who was dismissed from the department after the incident, was charged with one count of assault and battery. The charge is a Class 1 misdemeanor and the maximum penalty is a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

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Police Looking for Missing Fairfax County Man in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated June 30, 2020 at 5:47PM

(Updated at 5:45 p.m.) The city reported in an email that the missing man has been found safe and unharmed and has returned home.

A search for a 65-year-old man missing since June 29 has stretched into Alexandria. The city says that Muhammad Khan may have been in the area of Van Dorn Street and Edsall Road in the city’s West End on June 30.

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Alexandria Law Enforcement Officials Welcome a Closer Look to Eradicate Systemic Racism

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2020 at 11:50AM | Updated June 30, 2020 at 3:05PM

Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown joins protestors outside the city's police headquarters on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Representatives of Alexandria’s law enforcement community, in a Monday night Zoom meeting, said they welcomed a closer look in order to eradicate systemic racism in their respective departments.

Police Chief Michael Brown and Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Shelbert Williams discussed the work that their departments have done over the years and in the wake of the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police. Mayor Justin Wilson also chimed into the conversation, which was moderated by city’s racial and social equity officer Jaqueline Tucker.

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Alexandria Police Department Dismisses Officer for Unjustified Use of Force

By Vernon Miles

Published June 26, 2020 at 4:05PM

An Alexandria police officer has been dismissed and is facing criminal review after allegedly using unjustified force against an unarmed man.

“A white male officer reported using weaponless force against a white male subject’s leg, in order to take him to the ground,” the City of Alexandria said in a press release. “The subsequent investigation determined that the use of force was unjustified because no force was necessary.”

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Alexandria Police Say Cruiser Spray Painted With BLM Messaging

By James Cullum

Published June 26, 2020 at 3:15PM

Police car lights (file photo)

An Alexandria Police cruiser was reportedly spray-painted with Black Lives Matter messaging in the West End on the late evening of June 23 or early morning of June 24.

No suspects have been found, according to police spokesman Lt. Courtney Ballantine.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 25, 2020 at 9:00AM

Gade Wins Primary, Faces Warner in November Election — “Gade handily defeated Thomas A. Speciale II and Alissa A. Baldwin in Tuesday’s Republican primary with about two-thirds of the votes cast statewide. In the City of Alexandria, Gade received about 63 percent of approximately 2,100 votes cast.” [Alexandria Living]

The Birchmere Reopening in July — “The Birchmere on Mount Vernon Avenue announced that the Billy Price Charm City Rhythm Band will perform July 10… During the public health emergency, there will be a $25 food and beverage minimum and a $5 fee the venue is calling a ‘Covid fee.'” [WTOP]

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 24, 2020 at 9:00AM

City Releases Annual Homeless Data — “The 2020 Annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count revealed 207 persons experiencing homelessness (i.e., unsheltered and in temporary shelter made available by homeless services providers) in the City of Alexandria.” [City of Alexandria]

Alexandria Police Release 2019 Traffic Stop Data — “The vast majority of traffic stops — 80 percent — occur on weekdays, with Tuesday and Wednesday being the most common days.” [Alexandria Living]

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Alexandria Weekend Discussion

By James Cullum

Published June 12, 2020 at 5:15PM

A Black Lives Matter demonstration at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Old Town, June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria had quite a week, and it’s time to look back as it comes to a close.

In addition to moving into the second phase of its economic recovery, there were a number of important events of interest, including the city council’s passage of an ordinance prohibiting firearms on city property, approved the creation of a police review board, continued expressions of support for the black community in the wake of the George Floyd Murder, and a renewed effort to rename T.C. Williams High School.