POLICE ARREST TWO IN STRING OF ROBBERIES
Last Wednesday night, members of the Arlington Police Department's Tactical Unit arrested two men in connection with a string of armed street robberies in the Rosslyn-Courthouse area.
Police arrested 18-year-old Demetrius Robinson, of the 5800 block of Arapahoe Drive in Oxon Hill, Md., and a 17-year-old Maryland boy near the intersection of North 19th and North Lynn streets after a short foot pursuit. Both men face multiple armed robbery charges.
Detectives are investigating the suspects' connection to four robberies on the evening of Oct. 22. At approximately 6:10 p.m., two men approached a 42-year-old man in the 1800 block of North Rhodes Street. One of the men asked the victim for the time. When the victim glanced at his watch, the two men surrounded him and one told the other to shoot the victim if he moved. The men took the victim's wallet, keys and cell phone before fleeing the scene. The victim ran to a nearby residence and called police.
At approximately 6:20 p.m., two men approached a 49-year-old man in the 1400 block of North Quinn Street. One of the men asked the victim for the time. As the victim looked at his watch, one of the men displayed a handgun, demanded money and threatened to kill him if he didn't comply. The men took the victim's wallet, keys and cash and left the scene walking south on Quinn. The victim went to a nearby residence and called police.
At approximately 6:40 p.m., a 51-year-old man was entering a building on the 1500 block of North 12th Street when two men came up behind him. One man told the victim not to look at him while the other man pointed a handgun at the victim. The men went through the victim's pockets and took his wallet, keys, cell phone and cash. The men then fled the scene heading east on North 12th. The victim entered the building and called police.
At approximately 6:49 p.m., a 54-year-old woman noticed two men watching her as she walked to her car near the intersection of North 12th and North Nash streets. As the victim approached her car, one of the men ran toward her and grabbed her purse. As the man pulled on the purse, he knocked the victim to the ground. Both men then fled the scene heading north on Nash. The victim flagged down a passing police officer and reported the crime.
Detectives are investigating the suspects' connection to other robberies in Arlington, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
COUNTY SURPLUS TOPS $14.9 MILLION
Revenues in fiscal 2003 exceeded estimates, resulting in a $14.9 million surplus, according to a memo from County Manager Ron Carlee dated Octover 7 and presented to the Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee last week.
Under a revenue-sharing agreement, $7.2 million of the surplus automatically goes to Arlington Public Schools.
Carlee is recommending board members reserve $5.8 million of the county surplus for one-time expenses such as Pay-As-You-Go capital in the fiscal 2005 budget.
Budget surplus resulted, in part, from tax revenue exceeding estimates. Because of a sharp rise in assessments, real estate tax revenue exceeded estimates by $2.7 million.
Board members cut the real estate tax rate just 1.5 cents last year, less than surrounding jurisdictions and less than the FAAC recommendation. Several board members explained the relatively small rate cut by saying their top priority was ensuring sufficient funding for government programs.
Opponents say an eight-figure surplus demonstrates overtaxation and shows the county had more than enough money to fund services.
The surplus is already figuring into the county board race as well. Sarah Summerville (I) has criticized board chair Paul Ferguson’s record on taxation and advocates using surplus revenue to fund tax cuts.
Because surpluses are difficult to predict, it would be dangerous to count on them for tax relief, Ferguson says.
EMERGENCY STILL?
Technically, Arlington was still in a state of emergency as of press time. On Saturday, Oct. 18, County Board members ratified the declaration that placed the county under a state of emergency during Hurricane Isabel.
County Manager made the original declaration, which must be ratified by the elected governing body to qualify the jurisdiction for federal relief funds. To make sure there were no mistakes in following federal guidelines, Carlee and the board decided Saturday not to close the state of emergency. The decision was strictly a procedural consideration — residents no longer need to take cover from Hurricane Isabel.