Skip to main content

Crime Report: Peeping in Bathroom Stalls Edition

By WTOP Staff

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a 70-year-old man, identified as a registered sex offender from California, is accused of “peeping into bathroom stalls” in the Ballston area.

PEEPING TOM-ARREST, 12/02/11, 4200 block of Wilson Boulevard. On December 2 at 1 pm, a man was witnessed peeping into bathroom stalls. Clyde Medeiros, 70, of Napa, CA, was charged with Peeping and for Violation of a Registered Sex Offender. He was held without bond.

Also this week, a driver was assaulted when he tried to confront a pedestrian who kicked his car in Clarendon.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY, 12/05/11, 1100 block of N. Hudson Street. On December 5 at 9:50 pm, a pedestrian kicked a passing vehicle. When the driver exited the car, the pedestrian assaulted him. The suspect is described as man with a medium complexion, 6’ tall, wearing a black jacket, jeans, and carrying a black book bag with a white antler design on it.

An additional item of note: two young women are accused of robbing a man after being invited back to his hotel on Columbia Pike.

ROBBERY-ARREST, 12/02/11, 3000 block of Columbia Pike. On December 2 at 10:20 pm, a man invited three women back to his hotel. One of the women stole his wallet and when confronted, assaulted him. Two of the suspects were located by police. Sarah Jordan, 24, and Savannah Grant, 21, both of Arlington, were charged with Robbery. They were held without bond.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty. The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump.

COMMERCIAL BURGLARY, 12/03/11, 3100 block of Columbia Pike. Between 5:30 pm on December 2, and 1:20 am on December 3, an unknown group of suspects stole televisions and liquor from a restaurant. There is no suspect description.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 12/01/11, 4200 block of N. Pershing Drive. On December 1 at 1:30 pm, a man threw a glass jar at a restaurant cashier and then assaulted him. Charles Jones, Jr., 48, of no fixed address, was charged with Malicious Wounding and Petit Larceny. He was held without bond.

ROBBERY-ARREST, 12/05/11, 3700 block of Columbia Pike. On December 5 at 12:30 am, a man was robbed by three young men brandishing a handgun. One suspect was apprehended. Ahmed Mahmoud, 18, of Arlington, was charged with Robbery and held without bond.

ROBBERY, 12/05/11, 1300 block of S. Lynn Street. On December 5 at 11 pm, a woman was walking when two unknown men ran up behind her and stole her purse while assaulting her. The suspects are described as young African American men, and one suspect was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt.

BANK ROBBERY, 11/29/11, 900 block of N. Stuart Street. On November 29 at noon, an unknown man entered a bank. He displayed a handgun and demanded money. He fled after receiving cash. The suspect is described as a white male, 5’7” to 5’9” with a thin build. He wore a gray hooded sweatshirt pulled up over his head, a baseball hat and a black vest.

BURGLARY, 12/02/11, 4300 block of N. Pershing Drive. On December 2 between 2:40 am an 4 am, a man attempted to enter an apartment twice through a window. The suspect is believed to be a former tenant.

BURGLARY, 12/06/11, 4200 block of Campbell Avenue. Between 5 pm on December 5, and 9 am on December 6, an unknown person broke into an unoccupied apartment through the front door. There are no known suspects.

BURGLARY, 12/05/11, 1800 block of N. Danville Street. On December 5 between 8:45 am and 5:40 pm, an unknown subject broke into a house and stole electronics. There is no suspect description.

BURGLARY, 12/06/11, 1800 block of S. Grant Street. On December 6 between 8 am and 8 pm, an unknown subject broke into a house and stole various items. There are no known suspects.

BURGLARY, 12/06/11, 1700 block of S. Lynn Street. On December 6 between 8:45 am and 10 pm, an unknown person broke into a residence and stole various items. There is no suspect description.

COMMERCIAL BURGLARY (SERIES), 12/01/11, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. Between 9 pm on November 30, and 9 am on December 1, an unknown subject broke into two stores in a mall. Money was taken from each store. There are no known suspects.

ATTEMPT BURGLARY, 12/05/11, 700 block of N. Nelson Street. On December 5 at 7:20 pm, a resident heard someone attempt to enter his apartment through window. The suspect ran off and there is no description.

ATTEMPT BURGLARY, 12/05/11, 3100 block of N. 18th Street. On December 5 between 5 pm and 6:30 pm, an unknown person attempted to enter a house by breaking a window. Entry was not gained. There are no known suspects.

ATTEMPT BURGLARY, 12/06/11, 2800 block of N. Van Buren Street. Between 4 pm on December 5, and 8:40 am on December 6, an unknown person attempted to enter a house through a basement window. There are no known suspects.

LARCENY FROM AUTO (SERIES), 12/07/11, 1400 block of S. Barton Street. On December 7 between midnight and 4 am, an unknown person broke into at least two cars on the same block. There is no suspect description.

STOLEN VEHICLES

11/30/11, VA ID44749, 2008 Ford Explorer, white, 3200 block of Washington Boulevard
12/06/11, MD 2AM0594, 2012 Chrysler 200, black, 1300 block of Jefferson Davis Highway


Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote