<sh>Apparent Suicide in Arlington County Jail
<bt>On Friday, Feb. 11, Arlington County Sheriff's deputies working the night shift in the Detention Facility observed and responded to an apparent inmate suicide. Deputies found a 32-year-old Hispanic male hanging in his cell. Nurses and deputies immediately began resuscitation efforts until Fire Department Rescue units arrived on the scene. The inmate was later pronounced dead by the medical examiner.
The inmate was committed to the Arlington County Detention Facility in August 2004, after being charged with assault and battery on a police officer and two counts of failure to appear. He was recently sentenced to five years. The inmate's name is being withheld pending family notification.
An autopsy was conducted by the Medical Examiner's Office Feb. 14, and the incident is being investigated by the Arlington County Police Department and the Arlington County Sheriff's Office.
Prior to today's incident, there has not been a suicide in the Arlington County Detention Facility since 1997.
<sh>Police Seek Information on Hit-and-Run
<bt>The Arlington County Police Department is seeking information regarding a critical hit-and-run pedestrian accident that occurred Saturday, Jan. 29 at about 7:25 p.m., when a 42-year-old woman was struck while crossing the 3200 block of Columbia Pike, just east of Glebe Road. The striking vehicle then continued west on Columbia Pike. The victim was transported to a local hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. As of Friday, Feb. 11, she remained in critical condition.
The vehicle is described by witnesses as a white, early-'90s Nissan Maxima or Toyota Camry with tinted windows, occupied by two white males. The front end of the vehicle probably was damaged but may have been repaired by now.
Anyone who was in the area at that date and time and may have seen something, or who has information about the striking vehicle is asked to please call Crime Solvers immediately at 866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Callers need not give their names or testify in court.
<sh>North Arlington Has New Bus Route
<bt>Arlington Transit (ART) is starting a new bus route in North Arlington, the ART 62 Court House Metro-Lorcom Lane-Ballston Metro. The route provides service every 30 minutes during weekday rush hours with two small, neighborhood-friendly, clean-burning compressed-natural-gas buses.
Part of the route along North Utah Street and North 15th Street is designated as a "flag stop zone." This means that instead of bus stops, the bus will stop safely anywhere along these two streets when a passenger flags down the bus.
The route travels from the Court House Metro Station north on North Veitch Street to west on Lee Highway. It continues briefly on Spout Run to west on Lorcom Lane to Old Lee Highway. It then travels east on Old Lee Highway to south on North Utah Street to 15th Street and finally south on North Stafford Street to the Ballston Metro Station. It then travels back via the same route to Court House Metro. There are approximately 30 bus stops along the route. All stops have inserts containing route map, schedule and fare information.
For more information call, 703-228-RIDE, or visit www.ArlingtonTransit.com.
<sh>Arlington County Offices Closed Feb. 21
<bt>Arlington County administrative offices, courts and nature centers will be closed Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday. The regular county office schedule will resume Tuesday, Feb. 22.