Alexandria police and the FBI are investigating an incident at a bank in Old Town.
According to police, On Jan. 9, at approximately 5:15 p.m., a manager of a bank at 100 S. Fairfax Street, received a suspicious package and called police. The package contained a threatening letter and police contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and members of the Arlington County Bomb squad for assistance.
Police temporarily blocked traffic around the bank. The package was opened and the contents were examined by the Arlington County Fire Marshal. The package, which did not contain any explosive materials, was kept by the police for evidentiary purposes.
After the search was completed, police opened the roads and allowed traffic to flow as usual.
Although no robbery actually occurred and there were no injuries, police labeled this offense as an attempted robbery.
Alleged Thief Caught With High-Technology
A taxicab equipped with a Global Satellite System helped track down Shaka Amir Farrakhan, a 41-year-old resident of Tower Drive in Alexandria, after he allegedly robbed a store at 629 King Street.
According to city police, on Jan. 8, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a 28-year-old Falls Church woman and manager of the business, attempted to stop a man from leaving the store with stolen merchandise. The suspect had entered the business and grabbed two shoe boxes and began to walk out of the store when the manager approached and challenged him.
The suspect then pulled out a large knife and threatened the victim and another employee. When the women stepped out of his way, the suspect fled from the store and was seen entering a cab. Police were called and began to search for the cab that had left the area. The cab was equipped with a Global Satellite System (GPS). The police, working closely with the cab company’s dispatcher, were able to locate the cab in a nearby neighborhood.
The suspect was apprehended and the stolen property was recovered. Shaka Amir Farrakhan was brought to police headquarters and charged with robbery.
Cab Driver Assaulted
A 48-year-old cab driver was assaulted by two males on Jan. 11. According to city police, the suspects were picked up by the taxicab at approximately 12:20 a.m. in the 1600 block of Boyle Street, and taken to Buchanan Street.
Police said as they approached Buchanan Street, one of the suspects grabbed the cab driver around the neck, began to choke him and demanded money. The victim lost control of his vehicle, hit a curb and the car flipped over on its roof. When the car came to rest, the suspects managed to exit the cab and then ran away. The victim driver was not seriously injured as a result of this accident and attempted robbery.
The suspects were described as men in their 20s, one was approximately 5-feet, 8-inches tall,, light skin and wearing a black sweater and a brown knit hat. The other suspect was approximately 5-feet, 9-inches tall and was wearing a blue jean jacket and a knit hat.
Other Robberies Reported
*1900 blk. of King St. 01-06/ 1:15 p.m. The victim, a 19-year-old male city resident, had just exited a bus at the metro station when another passenger approached him and punched him in the face. During the assault and struggle the suspect demanded the victim’s wallet and attempted to steal it. Other people in the immediate area came to the aid of the victim and pulled the suspect off of the victim. The suspect then fled and a witness followed him. Police were alerted and the suspect was caught in a nearby hotel lobby. The suspect, identified as Anthony James Crews, a 28-year-old male and resident of 1114 N. Howard Street, was brought to police headquarters and arrested for malicious wounding.
*600 blk. of N. Washington St. 01-09/ 8:42 p.m. The victim, a 45-year-old female city resident, was approached by a man who pushed her to the ground and stole her purse. The suspect, described as a black male, 20-30 years old, approximately 6-feet tall, 160-180 pounds and wearing a black jacket and a black watch cap, then ran away with the victim’s purse.
*500 blk. of N. Armistead St. 01-12/ 6:30 p.m. The victim, a 60-year-old female city resident, was walking home when she was approached by a man. The suspect approached the victim from behind, grabbed her backpack and ran away. The suspect is described as a black male, 25-35 years old, and was wearing a black coat, and navy blue pants.