police | ALXnow

Alexandria Police Making Preparations for Inauguration Week

Published January 13, 2021 at 10:30AM | Updated January 13, 2021 at 11:38AM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police are making preparations in case the unrest from the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden spills into the city.

Last night, Police Chief Michael L. Brown updated City Council on plans to keep Alexandria safe during inauguration week. Brown said that the siege on the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a tragic event where five people lost their lives, and that he has participated in conversations with his regional counterparts and the assistant director of the Washington field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published January 12, 2021 at 9:00AM | Updated January 12, 2021 at 9:37AM

Governor Recommends Staying Away From D.C. on Inauguration Day — “This afternoon, I spoke with @MayorBowser and @GovLarryHogan as we prepare for the upcoming inauguration. Virginia currently has 2,000 @VaNationalGuard members in Washington, D.C. to help protect the U.S. Capitol and keep the peace–and we will be there as long as we are needed.” [Twitter]

Beyer Calls for House Minority Leader McCarthy to Resign over Capitol Siege — “After terrorists shed blood in our Capitol, Kevin McCarthy went to the House Floor and led the renewed attack on our democracy. He echoed Trump’s incendiary lies and dehumanizing attacks on political opponents, and now claims to oppose ‘division?’ No. Kevin McCarthy must resign.” [Beyer.house.gov]

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Alexandria Police Ask ATF to Help Stem 49% Surge in Gunfire Incidents

By James Cullum

Published January 11, 2021 at 2:30PM

Alexandria Police are working with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on investigating the steep uptick in gunfire incidents that have wounded city residents and terrorized communities.

There was a 49% increase in shots fired calls for service in 2020 over 2019. Over the weekend, APD released figures showing 57 incidents in 2020 versus the 37 incidents the previous year.

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Police Investigating Carjacking and Shooting

By Vernon Miles

Published January 11, 2021 at 11:30AM | Updated January 11, 2021 at 4:11PM

1100 Quaker Hill Drive (image via Google Maps)

(Updated 4 p.m.) Police are investigating a pair of violent crimes that occurred this [Monday] morning.

The first was a felonious assault around 6 a.m. on the 1100 block of Quaker Hill Drive, right behind the Alexandria Commons shopping center near Taylor Run.

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Another Shots Fired Call Last Night as Police Prepare City Council Report on Shootings

By Vernon Miles

Published January 8, 2021 at 3:30PM

Police are investigating another shots fired call at 5700 Eliot Court — barely a block away from a shooting last week — even as the police department prepares for a presentation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Police said on social media that the police responded to a shots fired call at Eliot Court in the West End at around 11 p.m. last night (Thursday). Senior Public Information Officer Amanda Paga told ALXnow that multiple shell casings were found at the scene but there was no property damage.

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Alexandria Police Make Arrests in ‘OfferUp’ Car Theft Investigation

By James Cullum

Published January 7, 2021 at 1:30PM

An Alexandria police cruiser (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Two men have been arrested after allegedly trying to resell stolen cars and nearly running over an Alexandria Police officer.

Michael Daugherty, an 18-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., and a 20-year-old man from Prince George’s County, Maryland, were arrested on Dec. 7 after allegedly fleeing the Yasini Auto Gallery near the King Street-Old Town Metro station in a stolen white Toyota RAV4.

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BREAKING: Pedestrian Struck in West End Pileup

By James Cullum

Published January 5, 2021 at 3:40PM | Updated January 5, 2021 at 4:16PM

Scene of an accident in a Safeway parking lot on S. Van Dorn St. in Alexandria (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of the Safeway at 299 S. Van Dorn Street and is in serious condition, according to Alexandria Police.

The incident was reported at 2:54 p.m. by police via Twitter, and involved multiple cars.

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Reminder: Holding a Cellphone While Driving Now Illegal

By Vernon Miles

Published January 5, 2021 at 10:30AM

The Alexandria Police Department has put out a reminder — and a quick explainer — that a new law that went into effect this year makes holding a cellphone while driving illegal.

“One resolution we hope everyone makes is to go hands-free while driving a vehicle,” the police department said. “Virginia had over 23,000 distracted driver crashes in 2019, resulting in 120 deaths. January 1 signifies the first day that the new hands-free law goes into effect statewide. The new law prohibits anyone from driving a motor vehicle while holding a cell phone or other handheld personal communications device, even if the driver isn’t looking at or using the device.:

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Police: Confirmed Shots Fired In the West End

By Vernon Miles

Published January 4, 2021 at 5:10PM

Police are currently investigating a “shots fired” incident in the West End, a few blocks from John Adams Elementary School.

Senior Public Information Officer Amanda Paga told ALXnow that the incident occurred on the 5700 block of Dunster Court. Paga said police confirmed that evidence of shots fired was recovered at the scene, but there were no reported injuries. Police are currently investigating.

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Shots Fired in Old Town North on Monday Night

By James Cullum

Published December 30, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated December 30, 2020 at 3:43PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

No injuries have been reported after another shooting in Old Town North, this time on Monday night (Dec. 28) near the intersection of North Henry and Montgomery Streets.

“There were multiple shell casings recovered,” Alexandria Police spokesperson Amanda Paga told ALXnow. “A building was hit, but no injuries were reported. It is an ongoing investigation at this time.”

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Police: Car Stolen at Gunpoint Outside Duke Street Giant

By Vernon Miles

Published December 28, 2020 at 1:30PM

A person had their vehicle and phone stolen in a morning carjacking on Sunday outside Giant on Duke Street.

According to Amanda Paga, Public Information Officer for the Alexandria Police Department, the carjacking took place on Sunday around 7 a.m. on the 3000 block of Duke Street, where Giant is located.