Crime updates from APD
Alexandria Police Department charged suspect Ricky Dehate, 48, with second-degree murder on September 13. The crime in question took place on September 11 when police found a victim with injuries from a fight on North Van Dorn Street. Dehate was originally charged with felonious assault, but after the victim died two days later, he was charged with second-degree murder.
APD arrested a prison escapee on September 15 thanks to the use of license plate reader technology. The prisoner, Dustin Bone, 38, escaped Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center in Oneida, Wisconsin, on September 11, where he was serving a seven-year sentence for armed robbery. Police used LPR to locate the stolen vehicle Bone was using.
“The arrest is a great example of how we use the newest technology tools in our continued effort to keep the community safe,” Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes said in an APD release. Bone is being held in the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center in Alexandria.
APD is investigating a September 1 robbery and abduction at Wilkes and South Washington Streets. If anyone has information or evidence related to the crime, visit alexandriapdva.evidence.com. APD strongly encourages those with evidence to report.
A shooting took place Saturday in the 300 block of South Reynolds Street where a person suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police are still investigating the crime. An armed robbery took place on the 4600 block of Duke Street on Friday. No injuries were reported and APD is still investigating.
A commercial robbery took place on the 5700 block of Edsall Road on Tuesday. No injuries were reported, and APD is still investigating the crime.
Early voting begins Friday
Early voting will begin this week for the November 7 General Election. Virginia state delegate and senator positions will be on the ballot. Sample ballots are available online at alexandria.gov/Elections, in addition to information on registration, absentee voting and polling place addresses. The deadline for early voting is November 4. Applications for a mail-in ballot must be received by October 27 by the Office of Voter Registration and Elections.
Alexandria Police reports missing person
The Alexandria Police Department is looking for Jamie Serrano, who was last seen in the 5700 block of Harwich Court Sunday driving a light blue Toyota Rav4. Serrano is a 35-year-old Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes, is about 5 feet and 7 inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing blue jeans, a black jacket, a black hat and a ski mask. Serrano could be in danger because of mental health concerns. Anyone with information on Serrano can call 9-1-1 or APD’s non-emergency phone at 703-746-4444.
School zone speed cameras debut
Speed cameras were installed across the city on Monday to enforce the new 15 mph maximum speed in school zones. Francis Hammond Middle, John Adams Elementary, Ferdinand T. Day Elementary and George Washington Middle Schools are the zones currently being monitored. These locations were chosen by the city based on data considering crash histories, traffic volumes, vehicle speeds and student demographics. Warnings have been in place since August 21 and the cameras are only active when flashing. Citations will be sent via U.S. mail and cost $100.
Alexandria board vacancies
Alexandria’s City Council needs new members to fill vacancies on Alexandria’s boards, commissions and committees. Those interested must complete a Personal Data Record electronically on Alexandria’s website by 5 p.m. on September 29. City Council will vote on filling the vacancies at the October 10 legislative meeting.
Judge denied APD members petition
Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Katie Uston denied a petition that would have promoted Alexandria Police Department’s Monica Lisle from captain to assistant police chief. Lisle sued after City Manager Jim Parajon refused a three-member city grievance panel’s order to promote her. Uston ruled Parajon is responsible for hiring and promoting in Alexandria, and the grievance panel overstepped its boundaries. Lisle’s lawyer, Will Thetford, said his client is looking into appeal options.
Burn Building needs replacing
The Department of General Services and Alexandria’s Fire Department are hosting a meeting to propose how to replace Alexandria’s Burn Building on September 27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lee Center Community Room. The Burn Building is 40 years old and the AFD says it’s too run-down for firefighter training. A new planned firefighter training building will be tailored for local response and will have benefits such as diverse spatial configurations and three dedicated burn rooms for contained live-fire exercises. Construction on the new firefighting training facility is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2024 and run until the fall of 2025, if approved by City Council in October.
