Police have been busy responding to crime in Reston in the past week.
In recent days, we have reported on vehicle break-ins and gunshots on Vantage Hill Road and an attempted robbery in the Hunters Woods Village Center. Plus, as reported this morning, an arrest was made in the attempted sexual assault earlier this month in the Tall Oaks area.
In addition to all this, the Fairfax County Police Department says a pair of bicycles were stolen from a South Reston home earlier this month.
According to an FCPD press release, the thefts took place between Aug. 3 and Aug. 22 from a residence in the 12100 block of Stirrup Road. Police say “items inside a home were moved around and two bikes were reported missing from the garage.”
The FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
2400 block of Alsop Court, wallet from vehicle
2600 block of Bastian Lane, bicycle from residence
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, property from person
11500 block of Hemingway Drive, property from vehicle
2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, alcohol from business
11500 block of North Shore Drive, wallet from residence
1500 block of North Village Road, sunglasses from vehicle
13100 block of Parcher Avenue, merchandise from business
12600 block of Pinecrest Road, property from vehicle
11500 block of Red Leaf Court, property from vehicle
2000 block of Royal Fern Court, property from vehicle
11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, merchandise from business
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business
12600 block of Terrymill Drive, property from vehicle
1400 block of Waterfront Road, property 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).
Meanwhile, in the Town of Herndon, police say a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle last week on Herndon Parkway. According to Lt. Stephen Thompson, the incident occurred at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23 near the intersection with Ferndale Avenue.
“The driver remained on scene, and our accident reconstruction unit is still investigating,” Thompson said. “Right now, there are no charges.”
The pedestrian who was struck was taken to Reston Hospital Center’s emergency room with trauma to her head.
On Aug. 28, 2016, 76-year-old Hung Soon Seo was struck and killed while crossing North Shore Drive near Lake Anne Plaza.
One year later, police say they still are looking for information to help them find the person responsible.
“Currently, there are no new discoveries in this case,” said Pfc. Michael Crutchman, of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Media Relations Bureau, in response to a request from Reston Now. “If anyone does have any other information, we are always willing to listen.”
The incident took place at the intersection of North Shore Drive and Village Road at about 5:19 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. According to FCPD at the time, Seo was not in a crosswalk when she was struck by a driver who fled the scene. She was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she died later that evening.
A few days later, police said they believe it was someone in a yellow Ford Escape who struck Seo. They said they believe the vehicle may have had front-end damage on its driver’s side.
Anyone with information about the crime should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637). Information can also be provided online through Crime Solvers.
In an October article about pedestrian deaths in the DC Metro area, the Washington Post provided a profile of Seo. According to their report, she lived at Lake Anne Fellowship House and was a member of St. Paul Chung Catholic Church in Fairfax.
A 33-year-old Reston man has been charged in the attempted sexual assault incident that took place near Tall Oaks Village Center earlier this month.
The Fairfax County Police Department says Dominique Ashley Childs was arrested Monday in Manassas as a result of a tip received by detectives. He was charged with abduction with intent to defile in connection with the Aug. 14 incident, and he is being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Police say that at about 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 14, a man came out of a wooded area on North Shore Drive across from the entrance the village center, approached a 22-year-old woman from behind and pulled her off the sidewalk into the woods. There, he attempted to remove her clothes, but fled before any sexual assault took place.
A sketch of the suspect was released to the public later that week.
According to Fairfax County General District Court records, Childs will face a judge Oct. 10 for a preliminary hearing.
Residents in the 11600 block of Vantage Hill Road had a rude awakening Saturday morning.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, residents heard gunshots at about 6:20 a.m. in the neighborhood, which is off North Shore Drive near Lake Anne. One resident who contacted Reston Now about the incident said his truck was broken into. He said vape supplies were taken from the vehicle.
“[The perpetrator/s] let off 5 gun shots as they were making their getaway,” the resident wrote. “[FCPD] was out in full force with helicopters and dogs.”
FCPD said evidence was recovered from the scene of the crime, which the resident said included a baseball bat and shell casings. The resident also said one other vehicle on the road was struck.
Anyone with information about this crime should call FCPD at 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Photos provided to Reston Now by victim via Facebook
A Reston man was arrested Thursday evening after police say he initiated a robbery after asking for money — the second time in 2017 he has been charged in such an incident.
Akeem Wauran Gale, 40, was arrested Thursday at about 9 p.m. after allegedly attempting to rob a man in the parking lot of Hunters Woods Village Center. According to a report from the Fairfax County Police Department:
The victim was getting food at a nearby restaurant when a man walked up to him and asked for money. The victim refused to give him money and went into the restaurant where [the] man followed him and again asked for money until the victim left. Once in the parking lot, the suspect then grabbed the victim and tried to steal his jewelry. A Good Samaritan came to help the victim and was punched by the suspect, who then left the area. Officers located the suspect, 40-year-old Akeem Wauran Gale of Reston, and placed him under arrest, then took him to the Adult Detention Center.
In January, Gale was charged after a similar incident at the Sunoco in the 2100 block of Centreville Road in Herndon. In that case, which took place on the afternoon of Jan. 5, FCPD said:
A 44-year-old woman was pumping gas when a man approached her and demanded money. When she declined, he grabbed her in a bear hug. She continued to decline his demands and she was able to break free and run to a local store where she summoned police. Akeem Gale, 39, of Reston was arrested, charged with assault, and taken to the Adult Detention Center.
According to Fairfax County General District Court records, Gale is scheduled to appear before a judge on Sept. 13 to answer to an assault charge; on Oct. 11 to answer to obstruction and trespassing charges; and on Oct. 31 to answer to charges of petit larceny and violating terms of bond.
Free Concert Tonight at Lake Anne — The “Take A Break” concert series at Lake Anne Plaza will continue tonight with Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark bringing funk blues to the stage. [Lake Anne Plaza]
Police: Keep Your Vehicles Locked — Capt. Ron Manzo, chief of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station, says thefts from unlocked vehicles are among the most common crimes in the community. They can be avoided by simply locking the door, he said. [Reston Patch]
Chorales Discussed in Podcast — In the most recent edition of “Fairfax 50+” podcast series, host Jim Person talks with Jeanne Kelly about her work with Encore Chorale, the nation’s largest choral program for older adults. The group has 21 chorales in the DC Metro area, including in Reston. [Soundcloud]
Loving Everything Reston — In an opinion piece, Reston’s Karen and Jim Cleveland share why they love Reston and how they hope its new residents will become involved in the community. [Connection Newspapers]
Police are still seeking the suspect in last week’s attempted sexual assault on North Shore Drive near Tall Oaks Village Center.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the suspect is a Hispanic male in his late 20s or early 30s, with a stocky build, brown hair and a full beard. He was wearing a gray shirt with red lettering, a red ball cap (shown in a police sketch as a Washington Nationals cap) and shorts.
The suspect fled the scene in a gray or silver four-door Hyundai with a license plate that is believed to begin with a V, police say.
Police say that at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 14, the suspect came out of a wooded area near the Tall Oaks Village Center, approached a 22-year-old woman from behind and pulled her off the sidewalk into the woods before attempting to remove her clothes. He apparently fled before any sexual assault took place.
The FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1300 block of Dasher Lane, property from vehicle
13000 block of Elm Tree Drive, bag from vehicle
10800 block of Hunter Gate Way, flashlight from vehicle
2500 block of Monroe Street, property from residence
10800 block of Murray Downs Court, cash from vehicle
10800 block of Murray Downs Court, property from vehicle
11700 block of Olde English Drive, package from residence
12800 block of Pinecrest Road, purse and cash from vehicle
12800 block of Pinecrest Road, purse from vehicle
13100 block of Plotner Farm Road, GPS from vehicle
2300 block of Soapstone Drive, cigarettes from business
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, electronics from business
11600 block of Vantage Hill Road, laptop computer from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
2500 block of Centreville Road, 2002 Mercedes-Benz C240
2000 block of Gunnell Farms Drive, 2015 Jeep Wrangler
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).
Police in Herndon reported several major incidents in their weekly press report.
- On Thursday, officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress in the 500 block of Florida Avenue. The victim reported that an unknown suspect tried to gain access to the dwelling, doing approximately $1,000 worth of damage to a rear door. The FCPD helicopter and K-9 unit were used in an attempt to locate the suspect, to no avail.
- Also on Thursday, officers responded to a robbery on in the 1000 block of Elden Street. The victim reported that his backpack, containing identification and a cellphone valued around $500, was stolen by two suspects. The suspects were described as black males, with no further description.
- At about 1 a.m. Friday, officers observed a vehicle driving erratically in the 1000 block of Elden Street. The suspect attempted to evade police before getting crashing his vehicle behind a business in the block. The driver, 25-year-old Elmer Luis Matamoros Aguirre, of Herndon, was charged with felony eluding, driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to breath test and no operator’s license. He was transported to the Fairfax Adult Detention Center, where he was held without bond.
- Friday afternoon, as we previously reported, police responded to an apparent armed robbery of a check-cashing business in the 1100 block of Elden Street. Four suspects fled the scene on foot.
Enjoy the Eclipse! — Remember to keep your eyes safe as you check out the celestial display this afternoon. If you take any photos during the event, share them with us at [email protected] and we will consider publishing them this afternoon. [Fairfax County/YouTube]
New Labor Day Pool Hours — Lake Audubon, Lake Newport, North Shore and Ridge Heights pools will be open Labor Day weekend, until 7 p.m. each day. [Reston Association]
In-Custody Death at Adult Detention Center — A 46-year-old male inmate was found unresponsive at about 7:30 p.m. Friday, and he was pronounced dead about 45 minutes later at Fairfax Hospital. An investigation is underway. [Fairfax County Police Department]
School Board Candidates’ Forum This Week — A special election to fill the vacant At-Large seat on the Fairfax County School Board is Aug. 29. A candidate forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at McLean High School. [LWVFA]
Reston Station Building Lights Get Thumbs Up — Last week, we asked what you think about the new lighting on the 1900 Metro Plaza building. Nearly three-fifths of our readers said they like the color-changing display; while only about a quarter said they don’t. [Reston Now]
The Fairfax County Police Department has released a sketch of the man wanted in an apparent attempted sexual assault earlier this week in Reston.
According to FCPD, the suspect is a Hispanic male in his late 20s or early 30s, with a stocky build, brown hair and a full beard. He was wearing a gray shirt with red lettering, a red ball cap (shown in the sketch as a Washington Nationals cap) and shorts.
The suspect fled the scene in a gray or silver four-door Hyundai with a license plate that is believed to begin with a V, police say.
Police say that at about 2:30 p.m. Monday, the suspect came out of a wooded area near the Tall Oaks Village Center, approached a 22-year-old woman from behind and pulled her off the sidewalk into the woods before attempting to remove her clothes. He apparently fled before any sexual assault took place.
A wooded area off the south side of North Shore Drive, adjacent to the Tall Oaks pool and across from the entrance to the village center, was cordoned off for the investigation.
Police are encouraging anyone who knows anyone matching the description, has seen the individual in their neighborhood, or has any information regarding the situation to contact them at 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637), or use Crime Solvers.
“Remember, the information you have, regardless of how trivial you feel it may be, could be the critical link in solving the case,” police say.
The area where the incident took place has been canvassed, police say, and the investigation is ongoing.
Two people from Ashburn were arrested in Herndon last week after a robbery in the town.
According to the Herndon Police Department, the incident took place in the 500 block of Florida Avenue on Aug. 7. The victim, who was unharmed, had his wallet, ID and about $40 in cash stolen by two suspects.
HPD officers arrested 19-year-old Taliek Nazia Foster and 20-year-old Raaheim Allah Foster and charged them with the crime. Both were charged with assault and robbery, while the 20-year-old was also charged with three counts of credit card fraud. Both were taken to Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Elsewhere, a 55-year-old Herndon man was charged with driving under the influence after an incident in Sterling last week. According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, 55-year-old Nazlie R. Dean was charged after deputies observed his vehicle going off the road in the area of Old Ox Road and Mercurie Circle. Dean was later released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a personal recognizance bond.
Meanwhile, the Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
10300 block of Brittenford Drive, merchandise from business
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cellphone from business
11900 block of Democracy Drive, liquor from business
13300 block of Hungerford Place, property from vehicle
2300 block of Old Trail Drive, property from person
11900 block of Saint Johnsbury Court, cash from vehicle
11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, property from business
1700 block of Wainwright Drive, bag and battery from vehicle
12900 block of Wood Crescent Circle, bicycle from residence
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
Police say there have been no updates yet in the search for a suspect who pulled a woman into a wooded area near Tall Oaks Village Center on Monday afternoon and attempted to remove her clothing.
“No suspect has been located,” Officer Don Gotthardt, of FCPD’s Media Relations Bureau, told Reston Now on Tuesday morning. “I have reached out to our detectives asking for any updates [and] we will post those on our news blog and Twitter.”
The suspect has been described as a Hispanic male in his late 20s or early 30s, with brown hair and a full beard. He was wearing a gray shirt with red lettering, a red ball cap and shorts. He fled the scene in a gray or silver Hyundai with a license plate that is believed to begin with a V, police say.
Finally, as we previously reported, three men were reportedly assaulted by a “group of men” on South Lakes Drive last Wednesday. The suspects in that crime are black men in their 20s, all between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-10.
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).
Police are investigating an apparent attempted sexual assault near Tall Oaks Village Center.
Police say that at about 2:30 p.m., a man came out of the wooded area, approached a 22-year-old woman from behind and pulled her off the sidewalk into the woods before attempting to remove her clothes. He apparently fled before any sexual assault took place.
A wooded area off the south side of North Shore Drive, adjacent to the Tall Oaks pool and across from the entrance to the village center, has been cordoned off for the investigation.
According to Pfc. Michael Crutchman of FCPD’s Media Relations Bureau, the suspect is a Hispanic male in his late 20s or early 30s, with brown hair and a full beard. He was wearing a gray shirt with red lettering, a red ball cap and shorts.
The suspect fled the scene in a gray or silver Hyundai with a license plate that is believed to begin with a V, police say.
Anyone with information about this crime should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Budget Work Session Tonight — The Reston Association Board of Directors will have its second budget work session tonight, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at RA headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive). The topic of tonight’s session will be the 2018 and 2019 operating budgets. The meeting will be broadcast live on RA’s YouTube channel. [Reston Association]
Herndon High School Parking Update — Construction at Herndon High School will severely limit the number of available parking spaces this school year. A parking pass “lottery” is currently underway. [Herndon High School]
FCPD Offers Condolences After Chopper Crash — The Fairfax County Police Department helicopter had just brought Gov. Terry McAuliffe to Charlottesville on Saturday when a Virginia State Police helicopter crashed nearby, killing two officers. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Center for Innovative Technology Up for Sale — The 26-acre campus adjacent to the Dulles Toll Road and the Silver Line’s future Innovation Center station is on the market as of today. It is currently home to nearly 20 companies, many of whom have leases set to expire in 2019. [Washington Business Journal]
Free Disaster-Response Training Available — The next available Community Emergency Response Team class is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Aug. 30 at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy. There are two sessions each week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, that run until Sept. 27. The class is 28 hours in length, plus the final practical exercise. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
Reston residents are concerned they may have been the victim of credit card-skimming devices and are sharing information about the threat via the NextDoor community.
Last month, a Reston resident contacted Reston Now about the conversation that was taking place regarding the threat.
“My issue followed our credit cards being shut down once again from our bank,” Rick Robinson said. “They said we were a victim of ‘skimming,’ so I thought I might able to crowdsource the locations responsible or at least get feedback from the community.”
The thread Robinson started on NextDoor, a private neighborhood networking site, had numerous responses from other Restonians. Among the places they claimed they had been “skimmed” were local grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs and restaurants. Some claimed they were defrauded of thousands of dollars.
A credit-card skimmer is a small device installed over an existing terminal. The device captures and stores all details from the card’s magnetic strip as it is swiped for an otherwise legitimate transaction. The information can then be used to create a cloned card, or to make online purchases.
Robinson said his bank could not tell him where his card was “skimmed” — something he said has happened three times. Pfc. Michael Crutchman of the Fairfax County Police Department told Reston Now there have been “multiple reports” of alleged skimming activity on area residents’ cards. However, he could not provide any verified locations of the activity in Reston.
The officer provided the following safety tips to help avoid card-skimming devices when using a credit card at a terminal:
- Pull on the place where you insert the card, ensure that it properly affixed to the terminal. If it is loose, or comes off, notify staff of the place where the card is being used, or call for police assistance.
- Check the key/PIN pad area and look for small/pinhole cameras
- Try to use credit cards instead of debit cards, because they are protected and insured
In June, FCPD said they had found 21 card-skimming devices in 15 locations around the county. At that time, they also said there are Bluetooth-enabled skimmers, which have no external warning signs. Police say for this reason, older gas station pumps should be avoided, as they are easier for scammers to infiltrate.
Image of Bluetooth credit card skimmer via Fairfax County Police Department
Residents are being asked to steer clear of Terraset Elementary School on Friday, and they should not be alarmed if they see a large number of emergency responders there.
The fire and police departments will be at the school making sure they are prepared in the event of a nightmarish scenario.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue will be conducting an active-shooter training exercise at the school (11411 Ridge Heights Road). According to a press release, this is “primarily a fire and rescue training exercise, and they will be supported by the Fairfax County Police Department, the Town of Vienna Police Department and CIA officers.”
More than 30 fire and police vehicles are expected to be around the school and at nearby Langston Hughes Middle School for the exercise. Mannequins will be used for fire and rescue personnel to evacuate to local hospitals.
The activity at the school is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. While the school will remain open for those who need to conduct business there, residents are asked to stay away because of the many moving vehicles that will be in the area of the campus.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management offers information about what to do in an active-shooter scenario, as does Fairfax County.
A Herndon man faces charges after police in Loudoun County say he was involved in a hit-and-run crash last week.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 45000 block of Bentgrass Terrace in Sterling at about 2:20 a.m. last Monday for the reported incident. The suspect in the crash, identified as 26-year-old Jose Bonilla, was later found driving on Cascades Parkway.
Bonilla was charged with obstruction of justice and public intoxication before being taken to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
Meanwhile, the Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cash from residence
1600 block of Cedar Hollow Way, jewelry from person
2300 block of Corporate Park Drive, computer from residence
11900 block of Freedom Drive, bicycle from residence
2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, merchandise from business
1800 block of Jonathan Way, bicycles from residence
11600 block of Lake Newport Road, bag from vehicle
2100 block of Mager Drive, license plate from vehicle
13200 block of Parcher Avenue, wallet from person
11000 block of Ring Road, purse from vehicle
11800 block of Spectrum Center, merchandise from business
2100 block of South Bay Lane, wallet from vehicle
2200 block of Springwood Drive, purse from vehicle
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
1800 block of Wiehle Avenue, 2014 Hyundai Elantra
Anyone with information about any of these crimes reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
