D.C. police searching for man ramming car into taxis
Metropolitan Police are looking for a man who has been ramming his car into taxicabs and threatening the drivers. In less than a month, there have been seven attacks on cab drivers and their vehicles, mostly during the early morning hours between midnight and 4:30 a.m.
The first attack happened Jan. 27, on California Street and Phelps Street Northwest when a cab driver who was inspecting damage to his cab was struck by a vehicle. Early Friday, in the 1800 block of New Hampshire Avenue Northwest, a man drove his vehicle into the rear of a cab and then attempted to run over the victim before fleeing.
Detectives believe the man is targeting cabs from Maryland. He was driving a white Ford Crown Victoria described as having the numbers “2057” or “2042” in dark letters on the rear and possibly the name “ROPER” on the side. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 202-727-9099. – Scott McCabe
Armed woman arrested after entering police HQ
A woman was arrested after she walked into the Metropolitan Police headquarters Thursday afternoon, pointed a gun at one of the armed security guards, demanded his weapon, then pulled the trigger on her handgun, according to court documents.
When the gun failed to fire, the security guard grabbed the woman, Cynthia Marlene Nixon, and wrestled her to the ground. Police found 36 rounds of ammunition and two plastic bags of marijuana. Nixon told detectives that she wanted to rob a police officer of his weapon, court documents state. – Scott McCabe
Man charged with running illegal dentistry practice
A 53-year-old Falls Church-area man has been charged with operating an illegal dentistry practice out of his home. Oscar Ruano-Gonzalez was arrested Tuesday evening at his home in the 5700 block of Poplar Lane when police found a dentistry office in his basement. Gonzalez, who did not have a license, was performing dental work on an adult and had several others waiting, according to a Fairfax County police report. Gonzalez was charged with one count of performing an invasive procedure without a license and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. – Jeanette Der Bedrosian
Men arrested in killing
Harrison Jay Bryant, 20 of Williamsburg, Va., and Calvin Currica, 22, of Clarksburg, Md., were arrested late Wednesday, and Randall Francis, 21, of no fixed address, was arrested Friday for killing Gerald Lacayo, 22, on Feb. 16 in Wheaton and being involved in two carjackings and one attempted carjacking in the last two weeks, Montgomery County police said.
Lacayo was found stabbed to death on the floor of a basement laundry room in his 13500 block of Georgia Avenue apartment building.
Investigators determined the three carjackings were connected and separately determined the two were involved with the homicide. -Freeman Klopott
Police searching for teen burglary suspect
Prince William County Police investigating a string of two Manassas-area burglaries and two attempted burglaries Friday are searching for a teenager they believe ran from officers after a getaway vehicle crashed during a pursuit.
Kevin Eugene Whittington, 19, of Manassas, is wanted for warrants on five charges, including the thefts of two video game systems from one house and a laptop computer from another house.
The 5-foot-7, 160-pound teen also has an outstanding warrant related to marijuana possession with intent to distribute, according to a police report. – Dan Genz
