Janitor Remains In Jail
Darrell Beckham, a custodian at Randolph Elementary School who is accused of the sexual battery of an 11-year-old girl, will remain in jail pending his trial, now scheduled for later this month in Arlington County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court.
Beckham, who, according to school officials, has no prior criminal record, was arrested on April 23 and is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.
He was charged with assaulting a girl who was transferring busses at Randolph and had gone inside to use the telephone. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison a fine of up to $100,000.
Beckham’s trial was scheduled to begin on May 31 but prosecuting and defending attorneys jointly requested a continuance. The trial date was moved to June.
Beckham’s court-appointed defense attorney, Vanessa Hicks, said that a continuance being jointly requested by both attorneys is not uncommon in this type of case "If there is a reason." But she declined to comment on what the reason is in this case.
In the interim, Beckham has been placed on administrative leave with pay from his job at Randolph, according to an Arlington Public Schools spokesperson. The spokesperson said that the status of Beckham’s job would be determined by the outcome of his trial.
Several of Beckham’s family members, including his wife, mother and sister, attended the continuance hearing along with a Randolph parent who is friends with Beckham.
"I know he didn’t do it," said Sherry Beckham, Darrell Bekham’s wife, who also noted that her husband is active in Christian Outreach Fellowship, their family’s church in District Heights, Md. "I believe it’s a misunderstanding."
— David Schultz
Bank Robbery Suspect Throws Gun In River
U.S. Capitol Police officers captured a bank robbery suspect after he fled from Arlington police officers. The suspect fled after robbing a bank in the Penrose neighborhood in south Arlington.
A witness reported seeing a man shatter the glass on a secured door and go into the bank. An Arlington officer arrived on scene quickly and observed the suspect leave the bank and get into a white Lexus.
It was soon learned that the suspect had just committed an armed robbery inside the bank and left with an undisclosed amount of money.
The Arlington officer caught up to the suspect's vehicle in the HOV lanes of I-395 and initiated a pursuit that crossed into D.C.
As the suspect drove across the 14th Street Bridge into Washington, he threw what appeared to be a firearm and cash out of the window. It is believed that the firearm landed in the Potomac River.
The Arlington officer lost sight of the Lexus when it veered suddenly onto an off-ramp. Soon thereafter the suspect crashed the vehicle on the ramp.
Officers with the U.S. Capitol Police saw the man flee from the accident scene and caught him near the intersection of C Street and 2nd Street, SW.
The majority of the stolen money appears to have been recovered from the Lexus.
Detectives with Arlington's Robbery/Homicide Unit have obtained warrants charging the suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, with armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
He is currently in the custody of the FBI, which has taken the lead in the investigation.
In addition to the assistance from the Capitol Police, Arlington police officers received help from the U.S. Park Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police who used a boat and specially trained divers to search an area of the Potomac River for the firearm used in the robbery.
Anonymous Donor Gives $100,000
An anonymous donor from the Washington area recently challenged the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies to raise money with a matching funds grant.
The donor said that he or she will match each dollar that the organization raises up to $100,000.
This donation will enable the organization to expand its programs to ensure that families in every local community have access to child care.
In March, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies celebrated its 20th anniversary. The donor was inspired by its longevity, its aggressive approach to and early results from its 2006-2011 strategic plan, its leadership, and its commitment to make advances for our nation’s children.
"[This organization] is poised to promote public awareness of the importance of high-quality child care, and to expand support for a national model for better child care," said the donor in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to work with it to transform child care and early education in America."
Linda K. Smith, the Executive Director of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, said in the statement, "This donor’s dedication to our nation’s children is admirable, and [our organization] is grateful for this support."
The donation marks the organization’s first challenge grant.
To contribute toward this challenge, or to learn more about how you can support or become involved with the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, contact Judith Pielemeier at judith.pielemeier@naccrra.org or 703-341-4146.
Old Dominion Drive Closed
Beginning June 11, all lanes will be closed on Old Dominion Drive between North George Mason Drive and North Dickerson Street. The closures will be in effect at all times and will last until approximately Sept. 11. Traffic will be detoured along North George Mason Drive and Williamsburg Boulevard.
This road closure will allow for the installation of a new storm water culvert as part of the Pimmit Run Construction Project. To learn more about this project or to view a map of the detour, visit http://www.arlingtonva.us/des.dlp/oem.
Send Father's Day Photos
Every year at this time, the Connection puts out the call for photographs of fathers and their children, grandfathers and their children and grandchildren.
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 17, and once again the Connection will publish a gallery of Father’s Day photos, celebrating the fathers who make so many things possible in families, communities, schools and other institutions in local neighborhoods.
Send in photos as soon as possible, including information about whom is in the picture, the date the picture was taken, the ages of the children and sentence or two about what is happening and where the photograph was taken. Be sure to include your town name and neighborhood.
We will do our best to return photos that include a self-addressed-stamped envelope for that purpose, but please do not send us any photos that cannot be replaced.
Send photos to The Connection, Father’s Day Photo Contest, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102. Or e-mail them to photoArl@connectionnewspapers.com.