News of crime and punishment across Arlington.

•• On Aug. 5 at 5:08 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of Columbia Pike for a report of an assault with injury, Arlington police said.

Responding officers located the victim outside a residential building suffering from injuries considered serious but non-life-threatening, and she was transported to a local hospital for treatment, police said. Investigation revealed that the suspect and victim, who knew each other, left a nightlife establishment and drove to the 800 block of South Scott Street, where they became engaged in a verbal dispute, during which time the suspect allegedly took the victim’s phone and broke it, then threw the victim to the ground and physically assaulted her, police said.

The two individuals then re-entered the suspect’s vehicle and drove to the 2300 block of Columbia Pike. While inside the building’s parking garage, a second verbal dispute occurred, during which time the suspect struck the victim in the face, police said.

The suspect and victim then exited the vehicle and were waiting for the building’s elevator when they were observed by another person, who noted the victim’s injuries and contacted police.

The suspect – 34-year-old William Hahn of Arlington – is an Arlington police officer who was off-duty at the time, police said. He was arrested and charged with malicious wounding and destruction of property, and was held without bond.

•• On Aug. 1 at 2:10 p.m., four men entered a business in the 1100 block of South Hayes Street and, during conversation with a female employee, one of the individuals raised his shirt to reveal a firearm in his waistband. The suspect and three other individuals then fled on foot, Arlington police said.

The suspect is described as a black male, in his mid-20s, with short black hair.

•• On Aug. 5 at 10 p.m., an individual was waiting at a bus stop at South Greenbrier Street and Columbia Pike when three juveniles approached. One of the suspects demanded cash from the victim, who refused, Arlington police said.

The suspect and other individuals then fled on foot.

The suspect is described as an Hispanic male with a thin build, with a black pony tale.

•• On Aug. 7 at 5:03 a.m., an man entered a store in the 2000 block of Clarendon Boulevard and began selecting alcohol beverages, Arlington police said.

An employee informed the customer that alcohol sales could not be completed prior to 6 a.m., but the customer ignored the comments, police said.

Another employee attempted to intervene, at which time the suspect pushed him and exited the store with the unpaid merchandise. A short time later, police said, the suspect returned and threw one of the stolen items at the employee before leaving again and fleeing in a white van.

The suspect is described as a black male, 30 to 35 years old, 6 feet tall.

•• On Aug. 9 at 10:32 p.m., officers in the 1400 block of North Courthouse Road were flagged down by a security guard, reporting a robbery that had just occurred, Arlington police said.

According to the security guard, an individual was inside the lobby of an office building in the 2100 block of Clarendon Boulevard when the guard told him the building was closed. A verbal dispute ensued, during which the suspect allegedly pushed the security guard to the ground and stole her flashlight before fleeing on foot.

The security guard observed the suspect nearby and notified police, who took him into custody without incident, police said.

The suspect – 38-year-old Emanuel Joia of no fixed address – was arrested and charged with robbery.

•• On Aug. 7 at 5:03 p.m., a woman exited her residence in the 1800 block of North Scott Street to walk her dog, when an individual entered the home through an unsecured door, Arlington police said.

When the victim returned home, she found the door was locked and observed an individual inside, police said.

The victim told the suspect to leave, and he complied, police said. Nothing was reported stolen.

The suspect – 26-year-old Habtamu Awechew of no fixed address – was arrested and charged with burglary with the intent to commit larceny. He was held without bond.

•• On Aug. 6 at 6:26 p.m., contractors performing maintenance on a vacant home in the 2100 block of South Glebe Road observed damage to the front door and located food and personal items inside the home.

Responding officers conducted a check but did not locate anyone inside, police said.

ARLINGTON MAN CHARGED IN FATAL STABBING, BURNING OF FALLS CHURCH WOMAN:

•• Fairfax County police have arrested a 47-year-old Arlington man in the Aug. 10 fatal stabbing and burning of a Falls Church woman.

County police at 3:05 p.m. that day responded to a reported domestic dispute at an apartment in the 2900 block of Willston Place in the Seven Corners area. A neighbor had called police after hearing a man and woman arguing in an adjacent apartment.

Officers observed smoke emanating from the apartment when they arrived. Inside the apartment, they found the victim, 40-year-old Silvia Vaca Abacay of Falls Church, on fire and suffering from multiple stab wounds to the upper body.

First-responders extinguished the fire and attempted to provide life-saving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine the exact cause and manner of her death.

Detectives, with the assistance of professional support staff, conducted an investigative analysis of the apartment and identified a person of interest, Richard Montano, 47, of Arlington. Surveillance footage of Montano entering the home prior to the murder was found and distributed to officers and the community, police said.

Detectives believe Montano forced entry into the apartment, assaulted Abacay and set her on fire. He then fled the apartment and eventually returned to his residence in Arlington, police said.

Detectives from the department’s Special Investigation Unit and Fugitive Track and Apprehension Squad, along with the Arlington County Police Department, located Montano near his home and arrested him without incident. Authorities took him to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged him with second-degree murder, burglary with intent to commit murder and burning of an occupied dwelling. He is being held without bond.

Abacay’s death is Fairfax County’s 14th homicide this year. Year to date, there were 15 homicides in 2021.

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