Arlington Police Investigate Molotov Cocktail Incident at Ballston Mall

October 18, 2012 Diana Sun

No injuries
Mall evacuated
Subject at large
ARLINGTON, Va. --- Arlington County Police are investigating an incident today involving a “molotov cocktail” at Ballston Common Mall. At 12:10 p.m., a call came into Arlington’s Emergency Communications Center, reporting that a lit bottle had been thrown into the Food Court from the top level of the mall.

The initial investigation revealed that a black male with curly hair and wearing a gray jacket stood on the top level of the mall and dropped the bottle into the Food Court. The 40-ounce bottle was filled with an unknown substance, with a fuse attached. The bottle shattered, but there was no explosion or fire. There were no reported injuries. The suspect fled the scene on foot and remains at large at this time.

Three additional bottles of similarity were found on the second level of the mall.

Arlington County Police evacuated the mall and established a perimeter when they arrived on scene. The investigation is ongoing.

Police are asking anyone with any knowledge of this incident to call the non-emergency line at 703.558.2222.

Categories: Police, News Releases,





Crime Prevention Tips – Reporting Suspicious Activity


There is no definitive way to define what actions constitute “suspicious behavior.” The only way to make this determination is to consider all of the information available to you at the time factoring in the specific actions observed. If you observe behavior that you feel is suspicious in nature please take the initiative to contact the police. Often people describe that they were unsure if calling the police would be appropriate and they went back and forth regarding calling. My thought has always been that if you are having an internal debate regarding calling the police, just pick up the phone and make the call. Our Emergency Communications Section will prioritize the call based on the number of active calls for service at the time and an officer will respond as soon as possible. If the actions witnessed are legitimate, the interaction will be brief and all involved persons will be on their way.



Below is a list of some examples of activities which may be suspicious:



· A stranger near your home or an un-familiar vehicle parked in your neighborhood.

· Anyone looking into vehicles or tampering with a vehicle.

· Someone knocking on your door at night that is unfamiliar to you.

· Loud or unfamiliar sounds.

· Any other activity that is not normal for your neighborhood.

Potential suspicious behaviors in public places:



· Suspicious or unusual interest in a building, school, park, etc.

· A person appearing to conduct surveillance on a person or location

· A person using binoculars or night vision devices

· A person taking photos or video taping people, buildings, or other structures

· A person appearing to be drawing diagrams or making notes about a particular location

· Individuals departing quickly when seen or approached.

· Individuals who are over-dressed for the weather.

· A strong odor coming from a vehicle or building.

· Fluids leaking from a vehicle other than in the engine area.

· An overloaded vehicle.

All of the above behaviors could certainly be legitimate actions, so when determining if the circumstances are suspicious please consider all of the information available at the time.

When you contact the police you will likely be asked to provide a description of the person(s) or vehicle in question. Below is a list of questions that you will likely be asked:



Person:

· Sex

· Race

· Height

· Weight

· Build

· Hair (color/length)

· Complexion

· Scars, Marks, Tattoos

· Clothing

Vehicle:

· License Plate Number

· Approximate year of vehicle

· Make

· Model

· Color

· Body Type (2 Door, 4 Door, Van, SUV)

· Number of passengers

· Direction of travel if vehicle has departed

· Identifying marks or visible damage to the vehicle.

Many people do not call the police because they are unsure if what they have observed is worth reporting. When in doubt, please call the police and we will make the final determination. You may be the only caller and crimes are often deterred or solved by questioning individuals who act suspiciously.



To report suspicious activity, please call 703-558-2222.

For emergencies, call 911






_____________________________

Captain Andy Penn

Second District Commander

Arlington County Police Department

1425 N. Courthouse Road

Arlington, Virginia 22201

Office: 703-228-4327

Email: cpenn@arlingtonva.us