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Crime Report: Indecent Exposures

By WTOP Staff

There were two incidents of men engaged in lewd activities in public last week, according to the latest Arlington County crime report.

On Thursday, Aug. 2, a man was seen masturbating between two cars in the Clarendon/Courthouse area.

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 08/02/12, 1100 block of N. Barton Street. At 11:08 pm on August 2, an unknown subject was seen masturbating between two parked cars by a female as she walked past him on the sidewalk. Police were unable to locate the subject, described as a Hispanic male, in his mid 20’s, wearing a white shirt.

On Sunday, Aug. 5, another man was seen masturbating in public, this time in an apartment building hallway.

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 08/05/12, 5100 block of S. 10th Street. At 6:14 pm on August 5, a female victim witnessed a unknown male subject masturbating in her apartment building hallway. The male subject fled from the building on foot and was located by police a short time later. Rodimiro Valenzuela Garcia, 38, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and drunk in public. He was held on a $1,500 secure bond.

Also last week, police say an Arlington man attempted — but failed — to stab another man with a butcher knife. He was arrested outside the Ballston Metro station.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 08/03/12, 4200 block of N. Fairfax Drive. At midnight on August 3, a subject repeatedly attempted to stab a man with a butcher knife as he exited a store. The victim did not sustain any injuries. The subject was located by police on a bench outside the Ballston Metro Station with the knife under his shirt. Mario Lewis, 53, of Arlington, VA, was arrested and charged with attempted malicious wounding. He is being held without bond.

The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump.

DOUBLE HOMICIDE, 08/07/12, 1900 block of N. Culpeper Street. On August 7 at 10:11 am, a building maintenance worker discovered the dead bodies of two victims in an apartment. There is no suspect(s) description. The police investigation is ongoing.

COMMERCIAL BURGLARY (SERIES), 08/01/12, 2300 block of Wilson Boulevard. Between 10:30 pm and 7:45 am, unknown subject(s) broke into several businesses and stole various items. Cash and electronics were included in items reported stolen. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 08/07/12, 800 block of S. Arlington Mill Drive. Between 11:30 pm on August 6 and 7 am on August 7, an unknown subject(s) gained entry to a apartment building storage room by breaking a window and stole three mountain bikes. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 08/07/12, 2500 block of N. Lee Highway. Between 8:30 pm on august 6 and 9:20 am on August 7, an unknown subject(s) entered a business through a rear window and stole a laptop and safe containing checks and vehicle titles. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 08/06/12, 5200 block of Little Falls Road. Between 1:30 and 4:50 pm on August 6, an unknown subject(s) broke open a front door of a residence and burglarized the home. Items reported missing were cash, jewelry and gold coins. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 08/06/12, 1300 block of N. Irving Street. Between 10:35 am and 12:15 pm on August 6, an unknown subject(s) entered a residence through an unlocked rear door and stole various items. Reported missing were four laptops, a checkbook, iPod and a social security card. There is no suspect(s) description.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY (SERIES), 08/04/12, 1900 block of N. Lynn Street. Between 10 pm on August 3 and 1:30 am on August 4, seven vehicles were broken into while parked in a garage. Various items were reported stolen. There is no suspect(s) description.

STOLEN VEHICLES

08/07/12, VA D84982, 2006 Yamaha R6 Motorcycle, Blue, 500 block of S. Glebe Road
08/02/12, VA XBC9722, 1998 Acura Integra, Silver, 5100 block of S. 8th Street
08/03/12, VA XCM 9020, 2012 Volvo XC90, Black, 2900 block of N. Franklin Road
08/05/12, VA 374212TL, 2007 Currahee Trailer, Black, 1100 block of S. Quinn Street


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
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