(Screenshot/Twitter)

Police arrested a man suspected of going around illegally opening up fire hydrants across D.C. Fox News’ Evan Lambert was the first to report on the arrest of 34-year-old Neema Kordestani.

Kordestani was arrested Monday night after police spotted him in the 500 block of 1st Street NE carrying a large wrench, according to the police report. He also matched the description of a suspect seen opening hydrants around Northeast, including one at 6th and H Streets NE that flooded a Whole Foods on Monday morning. Kordestani was arrested for possession of implements of a crime, violation of water regulations, and obstructing a public road, according to the report.

Court records show that a man named Neema Kordestani in D.C. has a record of arrests for misdemeanor crimes, including possession of a controlled substance, simple assault, and unlawful entry.

Residents have reported numerous incidents of a person illegally opening up fire hydrants in Northeast neighborhoods since Saturday, according to DC Water. Over the weekend, hydrants at 1330 W Street NE, 1899 9th Street NE, and 9th and V Street NE were all opened up, DC Water spokesperson Vince Morris told DCist on Monday.

“It’s pretty bizarre,” Morris said. “We have no idea what this individual’s motivation is. It appears that they’ve turned multiple fire hydrants on with no regard for the safety of pedestrians or vehicles.”

A status from August 1 on a Facebook account that shares a name with Kordestani appears to encourage people to open their front yard hoses on full blast.

Screenshot via Facebook.

In early August, around when the Kordestani Facebook account posted that status, Petworth residents started complaining on the Next Door app that someone was going onto their properties and turning on the water spigot full blast, reported Petworth News. Someone snapped a photo of a man also opening up a fire hydrant in the Petworth neighborhood.

It’s still unknown whether the incidents in Petworth are related to the more recent ones in Northeast.

Filed Under: fire hydrants, hydromaniac,