police | ALXnow

City Council Wants Independent Investigative Authority, Sends Back Police Review Board Proposal

Published September 9, 2020 at 2:30PM | Updated September 10, 2020 at 5:20PM

Alexandria police (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday night unanimously sent a proposal establishing a community police review board back to the drawing board.

In Tuesday night’s legislative meeting, Councilman Mo Seifeldein said that city staff did not include his desire to give the review board independent investigative authority to look into police misconduct and issue subpoenas. Seifeldein said he was clear with his request to City Manager Mark Jinks when Council unanimously directed the creation of the review board proposal in June.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 9, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer: We Must Protect the U.S. Postal Service — “I have been in touch with local postal officials, who express their commitment to ensuring the timely delivery and return of all ballots. This could be an issue in many parts of the country, however, and I will be working with my colleagues to exercise constant vigilance and ensure that elections are fair and safe. My Northern Virginia colleague, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, serves as the chair of the Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations, and with his tireless leadership the House will do all it can to fix these problems and restore operations and service at USPS.” [Gazette]

Three City Parks Scheduled for Improvements — “Projects at or near Powhatan, Hooffs Run, and Brenman Parks to occur over next two months.” [Zebra]

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Councilman Seifeldein: Police Review Board Proposal ‘Dead in the Water’

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated September 8, 2020 at 11:50AM

City Councilman Mo Seifeldein says that the community police review board proposal going before City Council tonight (Tuesday, September 8) is “dead in the water.”

The proposal from Council was approved unanimously in June, and does not give the review board the ability to independently investigate police misconduct and issue subpoenas if necessary. The request to include the authority was made by the NAACP, Tenants and Workers, and other local groups, Seifeldein said.

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ALXnow’s Top Stories this Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 4, 2020 at 4:45PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s the end of another work week in Alexandria!

There was a lot of crime this week, as police responded to multiple shots fired incidents in the Parker Gray area on September 2. There was also another carjacking in the West End — the latest in a recent uptick that prompted Mayor Justin Wilson to ask the public for help in reducing the number of vehicle-related thefts.

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Arrest Made After Shots Fired in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 4, 2020 at 3:30PM

A 27-year-old Alexandria man has been charged with illegally shooting a handgun in the Parker Gray neighborhood of Old Town, Alexandria.

The incident in the 1200 block of Madison Street was one of two shootings that occurred in the area on September 2, and police are not releasing the identity of the suspect on the grounds that it will impede their ongoing investigation. Police responded to calls for service of multiple shots fired at around 5:40 p.m.

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Driver Suffers Life Threatening Injuries in Del Ray Car Crash

By James Cullum

Published September 4, 2020 at 2:20PM | Updated September 11, 2020 at 4:22PM

(Updated at 4 p.m. on September 11) The driver experienced a medical emergency and was sent home the following morning after the crash without any injuries, according to police.

The driver of a red Toyota SUV suffered life threatening injuries in after crashing into parked cars on Mount Vernon Avenue between E. Windsor and E. Howell Avenues in Del Ray.

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No Injuries in West End Carjacking at Gunpoint

By James Cullum

Published September 4, 2020 at 10:30AM

Alexandria Police are investigating another violent carjacking yesterday in the West End of city, this time in the 3400 block of Berkeley Street near Northern Virginia Community College.

The incident occurred at around 6 p.m. in a residential area across the street from the Alexandria Gateway shopping complex. The unknown suspect approached the victim with a gun and took their car. No one was injured in the incident.

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Police: Sex Offender Arrested for Multiple Acts of Lewd Behavior

By James Cullum

Published August 31, 2020 at 1:30PM | Updated August 31, 2020 at 1:51PM

Alexandria police (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A 30-year-old Alexandria man has been arrested on two counts of public indecency and is being held without bond in the city jail.

Harry Ross, who is a convicted sex offender, was arrested at around 4 p.m. on August 22 for allegedly exposing himself and masturbating in public in the area of Quaker Hill Court, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 31, 2020 at 9:00AM

Judith Jones, Founder of At Home in Alexandria, Dies — “Jones was one of the three founders of At Home in Alexandria, a nonprofit that supports older adults. A former Alexandria resident, Jones was beloved by her family and friends and well-respected by her colleagues and students. A scientist and businesswoman, she served as a mentor to many.” [Alex Times]

Beyer Says Trump Incites Violence — “The country wants justice. The people want peace, reform, progress. They reject violence. Trump wants division. He celebrates brutality. He incites violence. Above all, Trump does not want to talk about his failure to keep Americans safe amid a pandemic that has killed 182,000.” [Twitter]

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Alexandria Woman Uninjured in Tuesday Carjacking at Gunpoint in Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published August 28, 2020 at 1:30PM

Alexandria Police are investigating another violent carjacking in the city.

The victim is an adult female and was approached early on Tuesday morning at The Reserve of Potomac Yard apartment complex by an unidentified man with a gun in the 3700 block of Richmond Highway.

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Man Injured in Violent West End Carjacking Last Month

By James Cullum

Published August 25, 2020 at 1:30PM | Updated August 25, 2020 at 3:09PM

Police car lights (file photo)

With vehicle thefts on the rise, Alexandria Police are investigating a violent carjacking in the West End that injured two men and led to a car chase and crash in Fairfax County.

The incident occurred on July 25 around 5 p.m. Two men parked their cars at their homes in the 300 block of South Whiting Street. The two cars, a black 2014 Toyota Camry and a black 2012 Chevrolet Impala were parked at S. Whiting Street (facing Stevenson Avenue) and their owners were unloading them. The engines were left running with the keys inside and were unlocked, according to police.