Crime Report: July 28, 2025 – Arlington County

Community Safety and Sustainable Development Report: Arlington County

Analysis of Criminal Incidents in the Context of Global Goals

This report analyzes criminal incidents recorded between July 24 and July 27, 2025, evaluating their impact on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The data underscores the critical link between public safety, justice, and the creation of sustainable, inclusive communities.

Incidents Impacting SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Violent crimes directly undermine efforts to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The following incidents represent significant threats to personal security and public peace (Target 16.1).

• Attempted Malicious Wounding: On July 27, an altercation involving a knife occurred on Washington Boulevard. The rapid response and subsequent arrest of the suspect highlight the function of law enforcement institutions in maintaining order. However, the incident itself, resulting in injury, detracts from the community’s sense of safety. The suspect, Uveimar Sandoval, 27, was charged accordingly.
• Brandishing: On July 26, an assault on Columbia Pike escalated when suspects brandished a weapon described as a machete. This act of intimidation and violence is a direct affront to public peace. The investigation remains ongoing, emphasizing the need for continued institutional efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.
• Attempted Robbery: An incident on Army Navy Drive on July 26 involved threats of violence against an employee. The arrest of Tyrice Bradley, 44, demonstrates the justice system in action but also points to underlying issues that contribute to such crimes, impacting both community safety (SDG 11) and economic stability (SDG 8).
• Assault and Battery: Multiple instances of assault and battery were reported across the county, each representing a violation of personal security and a challenge to achieving peaceful communities.

Challenges to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable requires addressing crimes that degrade the urban environment and threaten residents’ security. The following incidents affect the community’s ability to thrive.

• Burglary and Unlawful Entry:
  1. A late-reported burglary on Columbia Pike involved forced entry into a vacant apartment, eroding the sense of security within residential buildings.
  2. An incident of unlawful entry on 15th Street S. involved three individuals of “No Fixed Address” occupying a vacant apartment. This highlights a critical intersection between housing insecurity (related to SDG 1: No Poverty) and public safety. The arrests of Andrew Diggers, 38, Rodrigele Kelsey-Abolo, 28, and James Achille, 41, address the immediate infraction but also point to broader societal challenges.
• Indecent Exposure: An incident on Fairfax Drive on July 24 involved public indecency, negatively impacting the public’s right to safe and accessible public spaces (Target 11.7). The suspect, Robert Blair, 76, of “No Fixed Address,” was issued summonses, again linking the incident to issues of social vulnerability.
• Destruction of Property and Larceny: Numerous reports of property destruction, larceny, and shoplifting throughout the county contribute to a perception of disorder and insecurity, detracting from the overall quality of life and sustainability of the community.

Incidents Reflecting Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities (SDG 1, SDG 8, SDG 10)

A significant number of reported crimes are linked to economic desperation and inequality, challenging SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Many suspects were identified as having “No Fixed Address,” indicating a correlation between homelessness, poverty, and criminal activity.

• Theft and Fraud: The high volume of reports for shoplifting, larceny, and fraud suggests underlying economic pressures. These crimes not only impact individuals but also disrupt local businesses, hindering economic growth and stability.
• Extortion: A reported case of extortion points to predatory criminal activities that exploit vulnerable individuals, further exacerbating inequality and undermining economic well-being.

Summary of Additional Reported Offenses

The following is a consolidated list of other reported incidents, which collectively impact community well-being (SDG 3), economic stability (SDG 8), and public safety (SDG 11, SDG 16).

Minor Offenses and Online Reports

• Property Crimes: Shoplifting, Larceny, Larceny from Auto, Destruction of Property, Recovered Stolen Vehicle, Stolen Vehicle.
• Crimes Against Persons: Assault and Battery, Harassment.
• Financial Crimes: Fraud, Identity Theft.
• Other: Suspicious Circumstances.

These numerous offenses, though varied, create a cumulative negative effect on the community’s progress toward sustainability. They strain institutional resources, create economic losses, and foster an environment of insecurity, demonstrating the broad and interconnected challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at a local level.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article is a police crime report, which is fundamentally about justice and public safety. It details various forms of violence (assault, malicious wounding), property crimes (theft, burglary), and the response of law enforcement (arrests, charges). This directly relates to promoting peaceful societies and ensuring access to justice through effective institutions like the police department.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The report highlights issues of safety and security within the urban environment of Arlington County. Incidents of violence, theft, and harassment in public spaces and residential buildings impact the goal of making cities safe, inclusive, and resilient. Furthermore, the mention of suspects with “No Fixed Address” and unlawful entry into vacant apartments points to challenges in providing safe and adequate housing for all residents.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article repeatedly identifies suspects as having “No Fixed Address,” a direct indicator of homelessness, which is the most extreme form of poverty. The crimes committed by these individuals, such as unlawful entry to find shelter and petit larceny, can be seen as linked to a lack of economic resources and basic services, which is a core concern of SDG 1.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The report includes a case of “Indecent Exposure.” This act is a form of sexual harassment and violence that disproportionately affects women and girls, undermining their safety and freedom in public spaces. This connects to the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

     The article explicitly lists numerous incidents of violence, such as “Attempted Malicious Wounding,” “Brandishing,” and multiple counts of “Assault and Battery.” These reports document the occurrence of physical violence within the community, which this target aims to reduce.

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and local levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

     The entire report is an embodiment of this target in action. It shows the police department (“a strong institution”) enforcing laws by responding to incidents, detaining suspects, and laying charges (“Uveimar Sandoval…was arrested and charged,” “Tyrice Bradley…was arrested and charged”). The note that “All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law” directly references the principles of the rule of law and access to justice.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.

     The report identifies multiple suspects as having “No Fixed Address.” The case of “Unlawful Entry” where three individuals with no fixed address were found living in a vacant apartment directly highlights a failure to provide adequate and safe housing for vulnerable members of the community.

   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.

     Crimes reported in public areas, such as the “Attempted Malicious Wounding” on “Washington Boulevard at N. Garfield Street” and the “Indecent Exposure” on “Fairfax Drive at N. Stafford Street,” demonstrate a lack of safety in public spaces, which this target seeks to address.

3. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

     The recurring detail of suspects having “No Fixed Address” points to a population living in extreme poverty (homelessness). The report provides anecdotal evidence of this specific dimension of poverty within Arlington County.

4. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including…sexual…harassment.

     The “Indecent Exposure” incident is a documented case of public sexual harassment. This type of crime creates an environment of fear and intimidation, particularly for women and girls, and is a specific form of violence that this target aims to eliminate.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Indicator 16.1.3: Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence in the previous 12 months.

     The article provides raw data for this indicator. The specific counts of “Assault and Battery,” “Attempted Malicious Wounding,” and “Brandishing” are direct measures of physical violence that can be aggregated over time to track progress.

   • Indicator 16.3.2: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population.

     While not providing a direct proportion, the report’s process of arresting and charging individuals (“taken into custody,” “arrested and charged”) who are then “presumed innocent until proven guilty” is the first step in the process that leads to a population of unsentenced detainees. The number of arrests is an input for this metric.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing.

     The article provides a qualitative indicator of inadequate housing. The status of “No Fixed Address” for multiple suspects and the report of individuals unlawfully living in a “vacant apartment” are direct evidence of homelessness and inadequate housing conditions, which can be tracked as specific incidents.

   • Indicator 11.7.2: Proportion of persons victimized by physical or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months.

     The report provides data points for the numerator of this indicator. It lists specific incidents of physical harassment (“Assault and Battery”) and sexual harassment (“Indecent Exposure”) and notes the “place of occurrence” for each, such as “Washington Boulevard at N. Garfield Street.”

3. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Proxy for Indicator 1.2.1: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line.

     The article does not provide income data, but it offers a strong proxy indicator for extreme poverty. The count of individuals identified as having “No Fixed Address” serves as a direct, albeit incomplete, measure of the homeless population, a subset of those living in poverty.

4. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Data for Indicator 5.2.2: Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months.

     The report of “Indecent Exposure” in a public space is a specific data point of sexual harassment/violence perpetrated by a stranger. Collecting and analyzing such reports is essential for measuring this indicator.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: arlingtonva.us