Overall crime in Fairfax County decreased 1.6 percent between 2016 and 2017, according to data released by the Fairfax County Police Department this week.

In a statement, Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler Jr. said community engagement was critical to the reduction in crime.

“Community engagement, information sharing, accountability and public trust energize our partnerships that keep Fairfax County the safest jurisdiction of its size in the United States,” he said.

Crimes against persons rose three-point-eight percent in the county, compared to a four-point-six percent increase investigated by the Reston Police District Station. The county operates eight district stations.

Crimes against property, which include extortion, robbery, burglary and larcenies, decreased overall in every police district except McLean and Reston, where crimes against property increased from 2,292 to 2,429 incidents.

Overall in the county, crimes against society, which include offenses related to drugs, gambling, pornography and prostitution, rose by 9.6 percent. Reston saw a 4.2 percent decrease.

Two homicides — the murders of Scott Fricker and Buckley Kuhn-Fricker days before Christmas — occurred in Reston in 2017.

A complete breakdown of data in Reston for 2016 and 2017 is below.

The Fairfax County Police Department is seeking the public’s help to find a Herndon man wanted for two counts of abduction and the use of a firearm.

Police believe Osman Osman, 37, of Herndon, assaulted and temporarily abducted his wife and child on March 24 in Chantilly.

In a release, police said Osman is likely armed and dangerous. He is wanted for two counts of assault on a family member, a protective order violation and transporting a firearm while subject to a protective order.

FCPD said Osman is 5 feet and 11 inches tall, around 200 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.  

Anyone with information should call 703-246-5393. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 if the information received leads to an arrest.

FCPD also reported the following incidents this week:

LARCENIES:

2400 block of Centreville Road, cell phone from business

11000 block of Democracy Drive, property from business

9800 block of Georgetown Pike, cash from business

11600 block of Gilman Lane, mail from residence

11400 block of Great Meadow Drive, credit card from residence

1900 block of Sagewood Lane, property from residence

Library Street/Bluemont Way, cash from vehicle

11900 block of Market Street, property from business

13000 block of Monterey Estates Drive, property from residence

North Shore Drive/Jonathan Way, airbags from vehicles

11700 block of Stratford House Place, airbags from vehicles

11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, merchandise from business

12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business

1800 block of Town Center Parkway, property from residence

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

Just before midnight on Saturday (March 31), Joaquin Ventura, 45, of Reston, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and driving without a license.

During foot patrol, deputies from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ventura after determining he was driving a suspicious vehicle parked on the 22000 block of Enterprise Street in Sterling.

Ventura was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on an unsecured bond.

Anyone with information about any of the crimes reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

Reston residents looking to safely dispose of their prescription drugs can drop them off at the Reston police station (12000 Bowman Towne Drive) on April 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The medication drop off is a part of a wider effort by Fairfax County government called “Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout.”

Only pills and liquid medication are permitted for the drop off, officials will not accept needles or pressurized canisters.

Properly disposing of unused or expired prescription medication can prevent drug abuse and misuse, accidental poisoning and environmental pollution, Fairfax County officials said.

In 2016, 42,249 people died from opioid drug overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Refunds for Metro users — Roughly 17,000 customers will get refunds for trips that took 15 minutes longer than expected on the Orange and Silver lines. Now that’s a silver lining.  [Reston Patch]

Expect delays on all Metro lines — The Rush Hour Promise won’t be in effect today due to the wind storm sweeping the region. Metrorail is running every 12 minutes per line with reduced speeds above ground for safety. [Washington Metropolitan Area Authority]

Deadline for assessments extended — Reston Association members now have until March 8 to pay annual assessments. The deadline was pushed after a power outage yesterday. [Reston Association]

Focusing on body cameras — In the coming weeks, you’ll see more Fairfax County police with the special gear. The county breaks down what the program will look like. [Fairfax County Government]

Flickr pool photo via vantagehill

Car parts were stolen from more than a dozen vehicles within a half-mile radius in the Herndon area late last week, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

The police department told Reston Now it’s unclear if the incidents, which happened between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, are connected.

“These incidents are still under investigation so we are unable to confirm or deny if they are connected,” a spokesperson for the police department wrote in a statement.

Police reported eight separate incidents where parts were taken from vehicles on the 13100 block of Fox Hunt Lane. On the 2300 block of Rolling Fork Circle, car parts were taken from another eight vehicles. One incident occurred on the 1200 block of Rolling Fork Circle.

Other larcenies from vehicles over the same time period include:

2300 block of Cavesson Court, wallet from vehicle.

11500 block of Embers Court, wallet from vehicle.

12500 block of Fox View Way, laptop from vehicle.

2200 block of Halter Lane, personal items from a vehicle.

12600 block of Noble Victory Lane, wallet from vehicle.

No other information was immediately available.

(Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 3 p.m. to include new information).

A man allegedly assaulted a child, carjacked a pick-up truck and led police on a chase that culminated with a car crash that sent eight people to the hospital late Wednesday night. The suspect, a woman and five children remain in the hospital.

Brendan Stefon Vinson, 28, of Adelphi, faces multiple charges, including carjacking, speed to elude, two assaults on police officers and receiving stolen property. Police were called for back-up at the hospital as the suspect attempted to wrestle out of his handcuffs.

The incident began when the Fairfax County Police Department  responded to a report about a child being assaulted on the 6100 block of Early Autumn Drive at around 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. They learned a man randomly knocked on the door of a home and hit a young child who was at the door, police said. The suspect fled the area in a stolen car that police believe was taken from Hyattsville around 6 p.m.

A flurry of events continued as the suspect crashed into a pick-up truck at Stone Road and Lee Highway and carjacked the driver.  Police believe he then stole a trailer and attached it to the pick-up truck. When police began chasing the vehicle, the suspect ran a red light at the intersection of Centreville Road and Frying Pan Road. He then rammed into a mini van in the intersection, sending five children and a woman to the hospital. One child was ejected from the car and flown to the hospital. The child remains in critical condition.

The suspect attempted to escape by foot at the intersection. As police caught the man, he injured two police officers in an attempt to ward off police. Both victims who were assaulted by the suspect also sustained minor injuries.

Police said they are still investigating multiple scenes relating to this incident. Police officers injured in the incident are recovering and expected to return to work, police said.

Photos via FCPD

Selected police officers from the Reston District Station will begin wearing body cameras in March as part of the Fairfax County Police Department’s pilot program that was approved by the county’s Board of Supervisors last month.

The station was added to the program, which originally would have outfitted all patrol officers in the Mount Vernon and Mason district stations, because extra equipment is available, police said.

Researchers from American University who are studying the program determined it was more appropriate to outfit half of the patrol officers in each district in order to create a control group that would allow researchers to compare data between officers who do and do not have body cameras and work in the same area of the county.

“The Reston area was chosen because it differs from the two police districts already included in the program. The patrol areas within the Reston District include a number of high-rise buildings as well as stops along Metro’s Silver Line. Additionally, our Reston District Police Station is the newest building among our stations, and already has the physical infrastructure in place to accommodate the technical needs of the program,” the police department said in a statement.

The pilot program includes 230 cameras, which will be worn on the outside of the officer’s uniform or vest on a full-time basis. The addition of the Reston District Station is not projected to increase the cost of the three-month program, which will cost roughly $684,000 in fiscal year 2018. The department has the option of extending the program from three to six months.

In an Oct. 2015 report, the county’s Ad Hoc Police Review Commission recommended the program in order to increase community trust, improve evidence collection, decrease the number of complains against police officers and drive a “civilizing effect.”

“Statistics have clearly shown a decrease in use of force encounters, and in the resultant number of complaints by civilians against the local police departments once those departments employ [body cameras]. The reduction in complaints and the level of violence from both law enforcement officers and civilians with whom they interact daily perhaps serves as the greatest motivation for FCPD to begin using the cameras,” according to the report.

Cameras will record during any encounter of law enforcement and the pubic related to a call for service, a law enforcement action, subject stop, traffic stop, search or police service. Police officers are also expected to activate the devises in a private resident so long as officers have the legal authority to be in that location.

The devices are from Axon, a law enforcement technology giant formerly known as Taser International.

Fairfax County Planning Commission to Decide On Proposal for Assisted Living Facility — The body will review a proposal by Kensington Senior Development LLC to bring a 70-unit assisted living facility to 11501 Sunrise Valley Drive. The proposal drew opposition from nearby residents at a public hearing last week. The commission will vote on the project at its 8:15 p.m. meeting today in the Fairfax County Government Center board auditorium. An online stream is on the county’s website. [Fairfax County Planning Commission]

FCPD: Keep Your Faith-based Organization Safe — The Fairfax County Police Department is hosting two worship watch seminars in the coming weeks. During seminars, officers share crime prevention tips and training specific to protecting congregants’ place of worship. The first seminar is on Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield. The second is on Jan. 3 at the county’s new Public Safety Headquarters in Fairfax from 6 to 9 p.m. Registration is required. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Hook Road Working Groups Meet This Week — The group will meet tomorrow from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. to discuss the Hook Road Recreation Area project at Reston Association headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive). [Reston Association]

On Friday at around 8:18 a.m., the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report about an ongoing larceny at a store on the 46200 block of Potomac Run Plaza.

Cristian Hernandez-Mejia, a 32-year-old resident of Herndon, was charged with grand larceny after police caught him as he attempted to flee by foot to a nearby hotel. He is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on no bond.

On Wednesday, Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station also reported a burglary on the 12900 block of Park Crescent Circle. Someone entered the residence at around 8:30 a.m. and stole electronics, according to the report.

Meanwhile, in Fairfax County, FCPD’s Reston District Station reported the following crimes in the past week:

LARCENIES:

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, wallet from vehicle

1500 block of Church Hill Place, documents from residence

11800 block of Freedom Drive, cell phone from building

9800 block of Georgetown Pike, liquor from business

1700 block of Port Plaza, parts from vehicle

11800 block of Sunset Hills Road, wallet from vehicle

12700 block of Thunder Chase Drive, purse from vehicle

1600 block of Reston Parkway, property from business

900 block of Walker Road, property from construction site

11900 block of Winterthur Lane, purse from business

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported.

As we reported earlier in the day, Fairfax County Police are investigating the stabbing of a male juvenile on Friday in the Hunters Woods Plaza. The victim is recovering from the non-life threatening injury.

Anyone with information about any of the crimes reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

Herndon Police Department’s weekly press report has not yet been released. This story will be updated. 

File photo

Fairfax County police arrested a 40-year-old resident of Sterling on Thursday night after a car chase.

An officer attempted to stop the man’s vehicle for driving in a reckless manner around 9:45 p.m., according to police. When the driver did not stop, police pursued the car.

Several miles later, the driver stopped and police arrested and charged him with driving while intoxicated, driving on a revoked license, misdemeanor speed to elude and reckless driving, police said.

The incident took place near the Fairfax County Parkway and Stringfellow Court.

The department’s Reston District Police Station also reported the following incidents in its daily crime report:

LARCENIES

2300 block of Antiqua Court, tools from vehicle

2100 block of Astoria Circle, gun from vehicle

11300 block of Baron Cameron Avenue, purse from vehicle

12900 block of Centre Park Circle, suitcase from residence

11300 block of Fairway Court, license plate from vehicle

2300 block of Glade Bank Way, bag from residence

12900 block of Highland Crossing Drive, liquor from business

12200 block of Laurel Glade Court, packages from residence

13100 block of Marcey Creek Road, jewelry from residence

11900 block of Market Street, merchandise from business

11900 block of Market Street, cash from business

2300 block of Soapstone Drive, merchandise from business

11500 block of Pine Cone Court, wallet from business

2600 block of William Short Circle, license plates from vehicle

STOLEN VEHICLES

None reported.

Anyone with information about any of the crimes reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

Herndon’s Police Department reported one major crime on Friday.

Fairfax County police plan to reschedule a sobriety checkpoint soon. A checkpoint planned for late Friday was cancelled due to freezing temperatures and a high wind chill. The checkpoint was scheduled to run from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

FCPD regularly holds checkpoints in various parts of the county in order to monitor for intoxicated drivers. The 56-mile Reston District covers Reston, Great Falls, and parts of Vienna, Oak Hill and Herndon.

A man in serious condition at Reston Hospital was identified this morning after Fairfax County Police issued an announcement asking for the public’s help to identify the patient Saturday afternoon.

Family members have been contacted, according to a statement by the police department.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue found the unconscious man on Saturday at 12:42 p.m. on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. He had no identification. He was taken to Reston Hospital Center.

SEEKING INFO UPDATE: Patient at Reston Hospital has been identified. Thank you all for the retweets! https://t.co/hDoi6fsqpV pic.twitter.com/ZCxmlpBT7U

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) November 13, 2017

Police issued the following description on Saturday:

The man, a white man in his 30s, weighing around 180 to 200 pounds, was wearing a gray sweatshirt, black running pants, a black skull cap, and white and blue Asics running shoes. He had an iPod and a smartwatch with him.

Drive carefully tomorrow as Fairfax County Police will be holding a sobriety checkpoint in the Reston District on Friday.

According to police spokeswoman, the checkpoint will take place from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Police did not give advance notice of the exact checkpoint location.

FCPD regularly holds checkpoints in various parts of the county in order to monitor for intoxicated drivers.

Officers from the Reston District Station will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint this Friday. Don't drink and drive! pic.twitter.com/xkkzm5FSRJ

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) November 7, 2017

The 56-mile Reston District covers Reston, Great Falls, and parts of Vienna, Oak Hill and Herndon.

Herndon Police have found Donald Higgins, a 65-year-old Reston resident who went missing on Monday. Higgins, who suffers from dementia, was found after an extended search, according to the police department. He was last seen at 10:30 p.m on Sunday. when he left his home on Tyler Street in Herndon.

Earlier today, a Fairfax County Police Department helicopter cleared the area after searching for Higgins Tuesday morning near the Loudoun County line, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department.

LOCATED: Donald HIGGINS is home safely. Thank you to everyone who helped with the search and helped spread the word. #herndonpd pic.twitter.com/ZK7bG9SIN3

— Herndon Police (@HerndonPolice) November 7, 2017

Reston District police were unable to track down a man who was reported exposing himself to passers-by on Sunday night.

According to the police report, Fairfax County police were called around 9:30 p.m. to report a man who was allegedly exposing himself to others in a stairwell in the 13200 block of Overcup Court off of Sunrise Valley Drive. Officers responded to the area but were unable to locate the suspect. A description of the man has not been released.

In a separate incident, a Reston man was arrested Sunday evening after Loudoun County sheriff’s deputies witnessed him make an illegal U-turn and strike another vehicle at Route 7 and Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn, according to the report. The man, identified as Alistair H. Temple, 30, was arrested for driving under the influence and refusing a breath test.

Another Reston man was arrested late Saturday night after Loudoun deputies reported he attempted to break into a home in Aldie while he was intoxicated. Deputies received the call just after midnight from residents of the home, located in the 25000 block of Green Mountain Terrace. When deputies arrived on the scene they located the man, identified as 43-year-old Lucio H. Cabrera-Sanchez, and arrested him for public intoxication and unlawful entry.

In other crime news from the FCPD’s Reston District Station over the past week:

LARCENIES:

1500 block of Browns Chapel Road, property from business

2400 block of Centreville Road, beer from business

11500 block of Drop Forge Lane, bicycle from residence

11500 block of Leesburg Pike, cell phone from business

11900 block of Market Street, bracelets from business

9800 block of Mill Run Drive, cell phone from residence

11600 block of Plaza America Drive, cell phone from business

2000 block of Post Road, jewelry from residence

12300 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, wire from residence

2200 block of Sanibel Drive, cash from vehicle

2200 block of Sanibel Drive, wallet from residence

12000 block of Town Square, beer from business

13200 block of Woodland Park Road, merchandise from business

STOLEN VEHICLES:

13300 block of Coppermine Road, 1999 Honda Civic

Editor’s note: A list of incidents recorded by the Herndon Police Department was not immediately available by early Tuesday afternoon. This post may be updated.