Sergeant Involved in Reston Shooting — “A Reston resident, who D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham identified as a veteran sergeant in his department, shot and killed an armed man standing in the doorway of his apartment late Friday night, according to Fairfax County police.” [The Washington Post]
Fairfax Connector Resumes Service to Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride Today– “Fairfax Connector will resume service to the bus loop at the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride as construction has been completed… Other construction activity continues at the Park and Ride to prepare for Silver Line Phase 2 Metrorail service, including the Kiss and Ride lot, which will be closed until Silver Line Phase 2 Metrorail service begins next year.” [Fairfax County Government]
Golf Course Island Pool Closed — Reston Association closed the pool due to a plumbing issue over the weekend. All pass holders with reservations have been contacted via email about the change. [Reston Association]
Prosecutors to Drop Stun Gun Charges — “Prosecutors in Fairfax County, Virginia, will seek to drop misdemeanor charges and instead secure an indictment against a police officer who used a stun gun on a man he mistakenly thought he recognized.” [WTOP]
Photo by Ray Copson
(Updated at 12:30 p.m.)
A Reston resident shot and killed a “suspected intruder” late Friday night, according to police.
Daniel Matheson, 29, of Reston was killed in the incident, which happened in an apartment community on the 12000 block of Starboard Drive.
The tenant found Matheson standing in his doorway with a firearm “pointing in his direction,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department. He shot the 29-year-old in the chest.
Matheson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Police do not believe the two men knew each other. Detectives continue to conduct interviews and process evidence. The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney will determine if charges will be placed.
Detectives responding to 12000 block of Starboard Dr in Reston where a man reported he shot an armed intruder breaking into his apartment. The reported intruder taken to hospital and pronounced dead. Scene is contained and no apparent ongoing threat to public safety. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/zjDjGtoqj7
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 11, 2020
A critical project to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow in Reston has received $15 million in funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority through its six-year program.
The Soapstone Connector would create a new one-mile roadway between Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road. A bridge would be built over the Dulles Corridor, providing an additional crossing that is critical to reducing congested areas along Wiehle Avenue.
“The adoption of the Six Year Program Update demonstrates an ongoing commitment to a multimodal approach that addresses Northern Virginians’ mobility needs and challenges, and supports the region’s economic vitality, while providing an economic stimulus to the region’s economy,” said Phyllis Randall, Chair of the Authority and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, stated, in a press release.
The total project, which is located west of the Wiehe-Reston East Metro Station and includes a new bridge over the Dulles Corridor, is expected to cost $214 million overall. County officials sought roughly $69 million from the authority, which partially funded the project.
Most of the design and environmental work for the project is expected to continue through fiscal year 2025. Construction would likely take place between fiscal years 2028 and 2030.
Although the authority reported an overall loss of $250 million during the pandemic, 21 of the 31 transportation projects submitted for funding consideration were awarded full or partial funding.
Photo via handout/Fairfax County Government
After receiving thousands of applications, Fairfax County officials want to add funds to its grant program to support more small businesses and nonprofits facing financial turmoil from the pandemic.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will consider spending $20 million to expand Fairfax RISE, according to the draft agenda for the meeting.
The county board originally made the grant program in May with $25 million from funds through the CARES Act. Businesses can receive the following amounts based on the number of employees:
- 1-10: $10,000
- 11-25: $15,000
- 26-49: $20,000
The county is especially trying to help women-owned, minority-owned and veteran-owned businesses stay in business during the pandemic.
Of the 6,280 applications the county received in June, 6,038 qualified for funding, meaning the county would need more than $60 million to support all of them, according to the county.
“As the Grant Program was oversubscribed, a random selection was used to determine the order of processing for all applicants,” according to county documents.
The county invited 2,183 applicants — 36% of the total qualified applicants — to submit documentation and start the certification process. The county documents say that some businesses that qualified during the first review phase may become disqualified in the second review phase if they don’t meet the documentation requirements or don’t respond.
Now, the county wants to expand the program to hopefully fund approximately 65%-80% of the applicants by adding $20 million from the county.
More County In-person Services Open — Fairfax County residents can now take advantage of several in-person services, including tax counters, building permits, zoning applications, and health clinics. Still, residents are encouraged to take advantage of online or phone services as much as possible. Appointments are strongly encouraged. [Fairfax County Government]
Reston Association Hires Lifeguards — The association is hiring lifeguards. A certification course is also required. Applicants must be at least 15 years old and have a current American Red Cross certification in lifeguarding, among other qualification. [Reston Association]
Stateside: Virginia Eliminates Backlog of Rape Kits — “Attorney General Mark Herring announced that the state’s $3.4 million project to eliminate its backlog of 2,665 untested kits has been completed. Virginia becomes the seventh state to clear its rape kit backlog, according to the Joyful Heart Foundation, a nonprofit that runs the End the Backlog campaign.” [ABC News]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The Fairfax County Planning Commission deferred a decision on a proposed telecommunications facility on the grounds of Herndon High School last night (Wednesday).
Milestone Tower Limited Partnership hopes to build a 114-foot monopoly and other equipment for the facility, which would be blocked off by an eight-foot-tall, chain-link fence.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Ulfelder said the applicant submitted several revisions earlier this year, which the county’s staff recommended for approval in an addendum to their initial report.
“I would like to give a little more time for people to review the staff addendum and provide comments,” he said.
Ulfelder also noted the Fairfax County Public Schools met with residents who were concerned about the plan earlier this month.
Milestone reduced the height of the tallest monopole by 10 feet. The company also plans to install a sand filter for water quality treatment purposes.
Initially, Milestrone proposed purchasing off-site nutrient credits to make up for water quality control requirements. The facility would be located on the north side of the existing football field between two existing stadium light poles with heights of 70 and 85 feet.
The proposal has been deferred, but a date on the planning commission’s docket has not yet been announced.
Once approved by the commission, the proposal will head to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for a final vote.
Photo via Sprint
A pedestrian was struck by a car at the intersection of Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hills Road yesterday (Wednesday).
The individual walked away with minor injuries, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The pedestrian had the right of way, FCPD Sergeant Tara Gerhard told Reston Now.
But the incident prompted FCPD to encourage motorists and pedestrians to use roadways safely. The busy intersection where the incident occurred is known for pedestrian-related accidents.
FCPD urged pedestrians to maintain eye contact while crossing the road, use the crosswalk, and follow all signs associated with the crosswalk. Motorists should also ensure they are avoiding distractions while on the road.
“Responsibility has to be shared with motorists,” said Lieutenant John Lieb.
Safety reminders after a pedestrian sustained minor injuries in Reston crash today. #FCPD #FCPDMediaCar pic.twitter.com/7JqECbuVqV
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 8, 2020
Eastbound Baron Cameron Avenue and northbound Wiehle Avenue are closed due to a crash.
The Fairfax County Police Department urges motorists to avoid the area and use an alternate route.
No other information about the incident was immediately available.
Park Foundation Board Selects New Officers — The Fairfax County Park Foundation Board of Directors has elected new officers to lead its fundraising from through June 22. [Fairfax County Government]
Special Reston Association Meetings Set for July — RA’s Board of Directors will hold special meetings on July 13 and July 23. The first meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and the second meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Agendas for both online meetings have not been released yet. [Reston Association]
FCPS Extends Enrollment Deadline — “Fairfax County Public Schools has extended the deadline for parents to choose how they want their children to return to school this fall for the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. Responses are due no later than Wednesday, July 15.” [FCPS]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Construction on Station 25 in Reston has officially begun, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.
Steelwork began earlier this week on the $14.8 million project. Voters approved funding for the station via a bond referendum in 2015.
The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021. A temporary fire station has been set up at 1800 Cameron Glen Drive.
The old facility was demolished earlier this year to make way for a larger facility. The new station is double the size of the previous site and features two stories with administrative offices, a dayroom, kitchen, storage and bunk rooms.
Photos via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Reston officially has a new Tesla supercharging station.
Comstock, the developer of Reston Station, announced the opening of the station today (Wednesday).
The new station will be located next to the kiss and ride facility inside Reston Station (11389 Reston Station Boulevard).
“We recognize that the quality of Reston Station’s architecture and tenant mix require us to bring the best local, national and global brands to our project,” said Tim Steffan, EVP/Asset Management, Development and Leasing for Comstock. “Tesla’s pioneering sustainability initiatives and brand platform are a great complement to our long-term vision to deliver best in class amenities to our market.”
Here’s more from Comstock on the announcement:
Designed and built by Tesla and capable of charging a Tesla battery in minutes rather than hours, Tesla V3 Supercharger Station will accommodate the simultaneous charging of 8 Tesla vehicles, including Model S, Model X and Model 3. Tesla’s third generation Supercharger is substantially more powerful than any other charging technology currently available, ultimately reducing the amount of time customers spend charging by an average of 50%.
Photos via Comstock
Recent arrest data released by the Fairfax County Police Department show more evidence of disproportionate policing in the county.
The data indicate that Black individuals make up roughly 39 percent of all arrests last year. Black residents account for 9.7 percent of the total population.
FCPD officers arrested 34,330 people in 2019, 57 percent of which were white. White residents make up roughly 61 percent of the total population.
But more information recently provided on the residence of offenders sheds additional light on racial disparities.
Most arrests of Black individuals — nearly 55 percent — were of people outside Fairfax County. But even Black residents who live in the county were arrested at higher rates (29 percent) relative to their population makeup in the county. In Virginia, Black individuals account for nearly 20 percent of the population.
The Fairfax NAACP says the latest data provide further evidence of disproportionate policing of Blacks in Fairfax County.
“We have significant concerns regarding how the data are being collected and released to the public. But what we know for now is that after “use of force” and other policies have been revised and training has purportedly been improved, the data FCPD has released consistently reveal significant problems with disproportionate policing of people of color. Not only is this unacceptable, but it further demonstrates the urgency of the Fairfax County NAACP’s demand that all relevant data concerning FCPD officers’ interactions with citizens – which was promised in 2015 and is long overdue – must be released,” said Luke Levasseur, the chapter’s criminal justice chair.
Most arrests (66 percent) of white people were of county residents. Traffic stop data, on the other hand, show minimal disparities.
The police department released its data following calls for police reform and nationwide protests over the deaths of Black men and women at the hands of law enforcement. FCPD says it is offering more information in an effort to maintain its commitment of transparency. The department held a community town hall about policing issues with Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.
Nearly 70 percent of all traffic citations were given to white people, while 18 percent were given to Black individuals. A detailed breakdown of traffic stop data is available online.
Last month, FCPD released additional data on use of force incidents. Black residents were involved in 46 percent of all use-of-force incidents, even though they make up less than 10 percent of the county’s total population.
Researchers at University of Texas at San Antonio are studying the department’s culture after a study released in 2017 found that roughly 40 percent of all use-of-force incidents involve a Black individual.
Levasseur says the county needs to do more to improve its policing.
“Fairfax County residents deserve policing that does not disproportionality harm Black people, and we believe that the only way that can be achieved is complete transparency with respect to how the county’s different communities are being policed.”
For months, the Town of Herndon and Comstock have remained silent on why the long-anticipated redevelopment of downtown Herndon has been delayed.
Both parties have declined to offer any comment on pending paperwork to close on the sale of the 4.7-acre parcel of town-owned land to Comstock. What’s known is that “further agreement” to protect “town financial interests” is needed to begin preparing construction at 770 Elden Street.
Comstock says it is making progress. The company plans to go through the bidding process this summer, according to a spokesperson for the Reston-based company. A spokesperson for the Town of Herndon said the town had nothing to add.
A promotional website and banner offer a tease for what’s to come on the site, which will include 273 apartments, 17,00 square feet of retail, and arts center, and a 787-space parking garage. The $85 million project is a joint venture between the town and Comstock.
The site itself is ready for construction to begin.
In May, the former car dealership buildings on the site were demolished to prepare for development. Earlier this year, contractors also removed asbestos and other environmental for through a state grant awarded to the Town of Herndon.
Now, the Town and Comstock must work out pending legal issues. Comstock will then apply for building permits and complete its “internal processes” for construction.
Officials originally estimated groundbreaking would begin in late 2019.
Photo via Comstock
Fairfax NAACP Asks Governor to Stop Funding School Police — “Fairfax County NAACP and State Del. Kaye Kory (D) sent a letter to Gov. Ralph Northam Tuesday asking him to reallocate state funding away from supporting police officers in schools and putting it toward more school counselors. Kory, who represents the 38th District in Fairfax County, and Sean Perryman, president of Fairfax County NAACP, signed a letter along with over a dozen other organizations asking Northam to defund the School Resource Officer program in the upcoming special session.” [Reston Patch]
Woman Shot Multiple Times with BB Gun — Town of Herndon police say that a female victim was shot multiple times on July 5 with what appeared to be a BB gun. The suspect is known to the victim, who was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. [Herndon Police Department]
Reston Hospital Receive Patient Safety Award — “Reston Hospital Center is a recipient of the Healthgrades 2020 Patient Safety Excellence Award™. This distinction places Reston Hospital Center among the top 5 percent of all short-term acute care hospitals reporting patient safety data as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems.” [The Connection]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
As the state relaxes public health guidelines, Fairfax County public libraries will soon be open to the public.
Beginning Monday, July 13, patrons can take advantage of express services that focus on “grab-and-go style” activities. Patrons can browse shelves, use computers and pickup holds.
But even as the state enters into phase three of Gov. Ralph Northam’s reopening plan, restrictions will be in place. All daily visits will be limited to 30 minutes.
During the first week of express services, library staff will explain the new model and make sure capacity limits are maintained. Disposable masks will also be offered to library patrons.
Here’s more on other modifications:
- Each branch will have a capacity limit to allow social distancing to take place
- Virtual programs will continue
- Meeting rooms will be unavailable
- Furniture will be removed from the public floor
- No donated materials will be accepted
- No print daily newspapers or in-house laptops will be offered
- No in-person programming will take place
- Plexiglass shields will be installed at customer service desks
- Every other PC will be disabled
Curbside services will continue for patrons who are not yet comfortable using library facilities. The service is offered daily except Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Express services will be open on Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
