The Alexandria Police Department said in a release that a handgun was confiscated from a student at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy (530 S St Asaph Street) today.
According to the release:
Today at approximately 11:41 a.m., the Alexandria Police Department was notified by school officials at Lyles-Crouch School that a handgun was discovered in a student’s bookbag. APD officers responded to the school and took possession of the weapon.
Everyone remained safe and secure. The child’s parents were notified and were cooperative with police. At no time was there a threat. The investigation continues at this time.
In an email to staff and families, Principal Laura Burkart said the school is putting supports in place for students and staff to speak to counselors.
We understand that this information may be difficult to process for students, families and staff and we are committed to ensuring that everyone attending or visiting our schools feels safe and supported. To that end, our team at LCTA is working to put supports in place for our students and staff with the ACPS Department of Student Services and Equity and the Department of Human Resources.
News Release: APD officers confiscate handgun in Lyles-Crouch School. Everyone remained safe and secure and the child's parents were notified. pic.twitter.com/twsM1LOz24
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) March 1, 2024
The Alexandria Police Department (APD) arrested Robert Walker, a 34-year-old D.C. resident, for a carjacking just a few blocks away from APD headquarters and striking a police vehicle.
Police said in a release that Walker was arrested after allegedly carjacking a woman on the 4400 block of Wheeler Avenue at 8:39 p.m. on Wednesday.
“Officers observed the vehicle traveling eastbound on Duke Street where the suspect ran a traffic light at Duke and Quaker,” the release said. “Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop and the suspect refused to stop. A police pursuit was then initiated.”
APD said Walker traveled past Telegraph Road before crossing the median and traveling westbound on Duke Street.
“The suspect struck the cruiser of an APD officer at the intersection of Janney’s Lane and West Taylor Run Parkway before crashing into a wooded area at the dead end of East Taylor Run Parkway, where the driver fled on foot,” the release said.
Fairfax County K9s were called in to search but Walker surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. APD said the victim was medically evaluated at the scene but declined to be transported to a hospital.
Walker is charged with:
- Felony assault on a law enforcement officer
- Felony eluding
- Felony hit and run
- Carjacking
- Reckless driving
- Disregard traffic light – red
Arrest Made: APD Officers made an arrest and charged a man in the carjacking that occurred last night. See information in attached release. pic.twitter.com/EGdZAbwGHY
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) February 29, 2024
The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and Alexandria Police Department are investigating an in-custody death at the jail.
Ahntais Lucas, 39, from Fairfax County, was found unresponsive and alone in his cell experiencing a medical emergency. The release said the jail’s medical staff tried to treat Lucas but he was pronounced deceased at 4:42 a.m.
According to a release from the City of Alexandria:
The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and the Alexandria Police Department are investigating the in-custody death of a local inmate at the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center.
This morning, February 26, just before 4 a.m., a deputy found an inmate unresponsive in his cell alone and experiencing an apparent medical emergency. A deputy immediately called for assistance from the jail’s medical staff, and both began life-saving measures. Medics from the Alexandria Fire Department responded and continued treatment, but the patient was pronounced deceased at 4:42 a.m.
The deceased is Ahntais Lucas, 39, of Fairfax County. He had been in custody since August 20, 2023.
Because this is an in-custody death, the Alexandria Police Department is conducting the death investigation. The Sheriff’s Office will conduct a review of the incident to ensure all policies and procedures were followed.
Twenty three Alexandria middle schoolers and eight Alexandria City High School students were arrested in the first two quarters of this school year, according to a report that the School Board will receive Thursday.
There were also 213 incidents requiring a police response, including five weapons-related incidents, 43 students needing EMS assistance, 56 fights/assaults and three reports of sexual assault.
Weapons seized include three stun guns/tasers, a pellet gun and a knife.
There were 17 students arrested in the first two quarters of the 2022-2023 school year (last year), and 41 arrested in the final two quarters, totaling 58 arrests and resulting in a 26% increase in students arrested over the previous school year.
Of those arrested so far this year, 20 of them were Black students, making up 55%.
There were 95 incidents reported at the Alexandria City High School campuses, 70 incidents at the city’s two middle schools (Francis C Hammond and George Washington Middle Schools), 35 incidents at elementary schools and 13 incidents at K-8 schools.
There were also 118 police calls for service — 56 at the high school campuses, 46 at the middle schools, four at K-8 schools and 12 at elementary schools.
Incidents in the first semester of this school year include:
- 57 incidents characterized as “other” (including two students discussing weapons, four cases of disorderly conduct, two reports of public intoxication, one fraudulent 911 call)
- 56 fights/assaults
- 43 injuries that required medical assistance
- Five confiscated weapons
- Nine controlled substances
- Nine threats (verbal/cyber/social media)
- Six missing student reports
- Four reports of suspicious activity
- Three alarms pulled
- Three reports of sexual misconduct
- Six thefts
- Seven reports of possessing prohibited materials
The Alexandria Police Department (APD) is investigating a sexual assault that occurred last night (Tuesday) in Del Ray.
Police said a woman was walking after midnight around Mount Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues when she was attacked and assaulted by a stranger.
Scanner traffic indicated she was walking home from Pork Barrel BBQ when she was assaulted in an alley. The woman said she was hit from behind and strangled, attacked by a white man on the heavier side. She said when she bit the man, he ran off.
APD said the woman is being treated at a hospital.
APD said the incident is unrelated to an attempted assault at Main Line Blvd earlier this month.
According to the release:
If anyone in this neighborhood has security cameras that may have footage for review or if anyone saw someone or something suspicious, please contact Detective Kristina Loerch at 703-746-6785. Tips can remain anonymous.
Interim Chief Raul Pedroso said, “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our community. The search for the sexual assault suspect is a top priority. We have implemented increased patrols in the area and are ensuring our detectives have all the resources needed for their investigation.
Image via Google Maps
Alexandria’s annual George Washington Birthday Parade brought the usual pomp and circumstance befitting the country’s first president.
This year’s parade marshals were the recipients of the prestigious Living Legends of Alexandria award. The theme of this year’s parade was “George Washington: Alexandria’s Living Legend.”
A number of political candidates marched (or rode) in the parade, including mayoral candidates Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and Alyia Gaskins, as well as Sheriff Sean Casey and Clerk of Court Greg Parks. City Manager Jim Parajon also marched, as did his counterpart in the school system, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt. Former Mayor Allison Silberberg also marched in the parade with the “Coalition to Stop the Potomac Yard Arena.”
Alexandria’s next parade is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town on Saturday, March 2.
Four people are in stable condition after being injured in an electrical incident at a construction site in the West End on Monday, according to the Alexandria Police Department (APD).
APD said that at around 11 a.m. they responded to 6336 Stevenson Avenue for a “reported industrial incident involving four males who were working at the construction site.”
“Three victims were transported for medical treatment, two with life-threatening injuries and one with non-life-threatening injuries,” APD said in a news release. “A fourth victim was treated and released on-site. All are currently stable.”
Police at the scene told a dispatcher that the injured workers were erecting scaffolding that hit power lines, resulting in the high-voltage exposures.
APD said that the power was shut off for the entire block to investigate the incident. No official cause has been disclosed.
APD officers are on scene in the 6300 block of Stevenson Ave. conducting an investigation at a construction site where three people have been electrocuted. The adult victims are being transported to a hospital, two with life threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/gLmfoR7Ic0
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) February 19, 2024
Update: There were a total of four victims who sustained injury. The fourth was treated on-site and released. All are stable. Please see attached. pic.twitter.com/64drVx7EwP
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) February 19, 2024
There’s a new leader at the top of the Alexandria Police Department (APD).
On Friday, Feb. 9, Assistant Chief Raul Pedroso was sworn into office.
Today APD’s Assistant Chief Raul Pedroso took the oath to serve our city as Interim Chief of Police. He is a proven leader who champions community engagement and operational excellence, values core to our department. Please join us in welcoming Chief Pedroso to his new role. pic.twitter.com/d4q6ofxTu4
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) February 9, 2024
Pedroso replaces Police Chief Don Hayes, who stepped down to take a job as chief of the law enforcement unit at the Federal Reserve Board.
Hayes had been police chief since 2022 and was acting chief for one year after former chief Michael Brown left.
Pedroso joined the department last fall as assistant chief and commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, coming to the department from the Coral Gables Police Department in Florida.
“During his 30-year tenure there, he held various commands and strived to foster cohesive working relationships where everyone would collaborate and develop problem-solving initiatives,” a release said. “He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy with a master’s degree in criminal justice.”
Pedroso will serve as interim police chief until a replacement is hired in a national search.
An Alexandria man is out on bond after allegedly assaulting a male neighbor and brandishing a handgun in the Braddock neighborhood of Alexandria.
The incident allegedly occurred at around 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 outside the suspect’s home in the 1200 block of Wythe Street. Perry Ellis Barmore, 33, was arrested after allegedly punching the victim in the face during a dispute and brandishing a handgun.
The victim was treated at the scene and was not seriously injured, according to the police scanner.
The area had multiple shots fired incidents in the past.
Barmore was arrested and charged with assault and battery and pointing/holding/brandishing a firearm, which are both Class 1 misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in prison and/or a $2,500 fine. He was released that same day on a $1,500 unsecured bond and goes to court on April 19.
Alexandria experienced a nearly 30% increase in Part 1 crime in 2023, and Mayor Justin Wilson says new initiatives will help stem the flow.
Part 1 crimes, or crimes against people, include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft. There were 4,410 total Part I incidents in 2023, an increase of 31% over the 3,361 incidents reported in 2022, according to the Alexandria Police Department Crime Dashboard.
Aggravated assaults are up 50%, with 258 incidents reported in 2023. Aggravated assaults jumped nearly 30%, robberies are up 31%, larcenies are up 30% and auto thefts rose 53%.
In his monthly newsletter, Wilson said that the increase in violent crime, in particular, is unacceptable.
“While the year ended with positive trendlines in several areas, the overall increase for 2023, and particularly the increase in violent crime, is unacceptable,” Wilson wrote. “Protecting the safety of our community is the most important obligation of local government. If our residents are not safe, nothing else matters.”
Last year, APD put mobile camera units in high crime areas after a number of shooting incidents in the city’s Braddock neighborhood. APD also told city council that it would combat the crime surge by increasing foot patrols.
Wilson’s comments follow the recent announcement that Police Chief Don Hayes is retiring this month and that the city will be conducting a search for his replacement.
Not all the Part 1 numbers increased, as there were four homicides in 2023, versus six homicides in 2022, and four rape incidents in 2023, down from eight rape incidents in 2022.
According to Wilson:
The underlying causes of the increases in violence (not just in Alexandria, but around the region and our nation) are so varied, that there is no single answer to this issue. However, the City is approaching this uptick in violence using multiple approaches:
- Restoring Police Staffing/Reducing Attrition
- Expanding “upstream” investments (family supports, mental/behavioral health, housing, re-entry programs, etc) proven to reduce violence
- Expanding community policing
- Continue advocacy for new laws in Washington and Richmond to slow the flow of dangerous firearms into our community
In recent budget decisions, we have included new funding for investigatory capacity focused on those responsible for homicides, felony sex offenses and crimes driven by weapons. We have continued to see mental health and behavioral health incidents driving emergency response. The City’s ACORP program, a co-response program pairing a sworn police officer with a mental health practitioner, has seen considerable success. The City Council chose to build on the success of this effort by expanding ACORP by adding two new ACORP pairs, for a total of 3.
The City has hired two of the largest classes of new police officers entering the Academy. As those officers conclude their training, we will make large progress on some of the staffing challenges the Police Department has experienced for the past few years.
