The following is based on selected Arlington Police Department logs from May 12 through May 18. Excerpts from the Arlington Police Department log:
Tuesday, May 12
4:30 p.m. Fire Investigation. The Symmes Circle manager reported an outdoor fire to Arlington Police after a resident reported a trash can on fire on the property. When the officer arrived on scene, he witnessed the trash can fully engulfed in flames. He attempted to extinguish the flames with the department-issued fire extinguisher, but they reignited after being temporarily suppressed. A second engine arrived to assist in successfully extinguishing the fire with a hose line. No other property or nearby vehicle was damaged as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
7:53 p.m. Larceny. Officers responded to the report of a man in a wheelchair stealing a reporting party’s wallet on Mass. Avenue. When officers arrived on the scene, the reporting party stated he believed the suspect had thrown his wallet somewhere. Officers searched the area and found the wallet, but $200 in cash was missing. The reporting party had interacted with the suspect 30 minutes prior, when the suspect had asked him for cash. He bought him a drink instead, but he believes that was when the suspect took his wallet, as he discovered it missing afterward. The reporting party informed the officers he saw the suspect on the bus. Officers were well aware of this man, so once they made contact with him, he returned the cash. The suspect will be charged with larceny.
Wednesday, May 13
12:43 p.m. Leaving Scene of Property Damage. The owner of a damaged motor vehicle was inside her residence when she heard a faint crash coming from outside. When she went to check outside, she saw that an unknown individual had fallen off his electric scooter on Marathon Street. According to her, the individual gathered their belongings and quickly left the scene. When she went to check on her vehicle, which was facing southbound on Marathon Street, she saw that her car’s mirror had been hit. She will be working with the insurance company to handle the incident.
Friday, May 15
7:06 a.m. Crash. Officers investigated a two-vehicle crash on Lake Street near Hardy Elementary School. The operator of a motor vehicle was traveling northbound on Lake Street when he came to the intersection of Lake Street and Brooke Avenue. He reported that he had the green light and proceeded to the intersection when a second vehicle crashed into his vehicle. The operator of the second vehicle stated she was traveling east on Brooks Avenue and proceeded through the intersection because she believed she had the green light. Officers observed that the second vehicle sustained front-end damage while the first vehicle sustained heavy passenger-side damage. The operator of the second vehicle received a citation for failure to stop.
Sunday, May 17
3:47 p.m. Crash. The operator of a motor vehicle was traveling westbound on Mass. Avenue when she approached Everett Street. She stated that a second motor vehicle attempted to go through a stop sign and turn left onto Mass. Avenue. She attempted to stop, but she could not avoid a crash. The operator of the second motor vehicle stated he assumed the roads were clear for him to turn onto Mass. Avenue. He crashed into the first vehicle, sustaining heavy driver-side damage. The first vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage. The operator of the second vehicle received a citation.
Monday, May 18
2:40 p.m. Larceny. A reporting party stated he received an email from someone he believed to be an employer after applying to a job online. He was hired the same day and provided his W-2 afterward. The employer stated he would receive a check in order to buy equipment for the job. Once he received the check, he deposited it into his account, and it was successfully cleared. The employer continued to ask him to send more money through Zelle for additional equipment. Once that check came through, his bank account was wiped of $3,900.
This installment of the police log, published on May 21, 2026, is based on information from Arlington Police Department daily logs.
