Gas Line Break on Herndon Parkway — Emergency gas line repair work between Van Buren Street and Palmer Drive will keep one westbound lane closed throughout the day. [Herndon Police Department]
Still No Stop-Arm Cameras on School Buses — County supervisors have directed staff to work with Fairfax County Public Schools leadership to determine the status of the camera-installation program, and obtain a detailed timeline regarding when the equipment would be installed. Video-monitoring cameras capture images of vehicles being illegally driven past school buses that have their flashing red lights and stop-arms activated. [Inside NoVa]
Herndon Working With Comstock on Downtown Development — A comprehensive agreement on the downtown development is the town’s top priority, its new town manager says, and they hope to get it done this year. [Herndon Patch]
County Police Demonstrate ‘Pit’ Maneuver — The maneuver involves an officer using the police car’s front fender to touch the rear bumper of a suspect’s car, causing the other car to turn before coming to a complete stop. [WJLA]
Crime reports provided by Fairfax County Police Department in the month of July, plotted in the interactive map above, show a wide variety of incidents through the Reston District Station. Use the icon in the top left corner of the map to toggle the types of crimes displayed.
In total, FCPD’s July reports included the following breakdown of criminal incidents in the area:
- 61 larcenies
- 5 burglaries or attempted burglaries
- 1 bias incident
- 1 case of shots fired
- 1 stolen vehicle
The 61 larcenies represent an increase from May and June (49 and 46, respectively).
Fairfax County Police in July also arrested the ex-treasurer of the South Lakes High School athletics booster club, charging him with embezzling at least $60,000 while he was in his role.
Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
The Reston District Station of FCPD covers Reston, Great Falls and portions of Herndon and Vienna.
Fairfax County’s police reports are not comprehensive lists of every police event in the stated time frame. Addresses shown indicate blocks and not specific locations, unless otherwise noted. This data was compiled using the reports released by police between July 1 and July 31, meaning some of the incidents occurred in late June.
A Reston resident was awakened early Monday morning by a surprise banging on her front door.
The Fairfax County Police Department reports that a resident in the 10900 block of Wilder Point Lane heard the noise at about 4 a.m. Monday. She went to the front door and while no one was there, the door was discovered to have been damaged.
FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, wallet from residence
2200 block of Centreville Road, money from business
10100 block of Cottesmore Court, bracelet from residence
3100 block of Fox Hunt Lane, bicycles from parking garage
2500 block of James Madison Circle, computer from vehicle
12000 block of Market Street, property from vehicle
1400 block of North Point Village Center, merchandise from business
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, merchandise from business
1600 block of Wainwright Drive, electronic from vehicle
1400 block of Waterview Cluster, purse from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
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).
In the Town of Herndon, police say a garage in the 300 block of Marjorie Lane was broken into July 23. According to the report, the thief entered through a secured door and stole a mountain bike valued at $240 along with $500 worth of additional property. The case is under investigation.
Lake Anne Plaza will host its first National Night Out block party Tuesday evening, one of several celebrations slated throughout the area.
The goal of National Night Out is to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while celebrating a sense of community. Its intent is to provide an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
At Lake Anne Plaza, beginning at 4 p.m., National Night Out events will include kids’ activities, dance crews, a DJ and live music, food specials, a moon bounce, hula demos and more.
https://www.facebook.com/LakeAnnePlaza/photos/a.354780794663.190159.200248314663/10155569792114664/?type=3&theater
For the third straight year, the Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition will sponsor a midday National Night Out event, beginning at noon. Several other National Night Out events will take place in Reston, including an evening program at the Southgate Community Center.
In Herndon, National Night Out will be observed from 4:30-8:30 p.m., and HPD will begin by visiting the Harbor House. From there, two motorcades will visit 14 more neighborhoods throughout the town.
“This annual event is one of the highlights of year for the police department and another great opportunity to further enhance the our partnership with the community,” HPD says.
The Fairfax County Police Department will visit as many activities around the county as possible.
National Night Out was first observed in 1984. Thousands of communities across the United States, Canada and worldwide military bases participate in National Night Out each year.
‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown’ — With heavy rains expected today and Saturday, the possibility of flash flooding exists. County officials are reminding residents that cars should not be driven through flooded roadways. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
Police Seek Suspect in Vienna Stabbing — Fairfax County Police have been searching since Thursday morning for the suspect in a stabbing that took place near the Vienna Metro station. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect is a male of unknown race, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a medium build, and a light- to medium-brown complexion. He was wearing a black, hooded shirt pulled over his head. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Deadline for Cardboard Boat Registration Nears — The first Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta is coming up Aug. 12, and the last day to get a boat registered for the event is Tuesday. [Reston Museum]
New Name Coming for J.E.B. Stuart High — By 2019, the Falls Church school named after a Confederate general will have its name changed. The Fairfax County School Board voted last night to make it happen. [NBC Washington]
Connolly: Trump’s Boy Scout Speech Shameful — In a letter to the national president of the Boy Scouts of America, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) says the BSA should denounce the speech President Trump gave recently at the National Scout Jamboree. Connolly says Trump’s politicized rhetoric “directly contradicted the spirit of Scouting and the tenets of Boy Scout Law.” [The Hill]
Synthetic Soccer Field Coming to Great Falls — The $1.3 million project at Great Falls Nike Park (1089 Utterback Store Road) includes the conversion of an existing grass field to a synthetic turf field, a trail, storm drainage facilities, landscaping, field lighting and related improvements. [Fairfax County Park Authority]
The Fairfax County Police Department says a home on Hunter Mill Road was the site of a prescription-drug theft.
According to the FCPD media release, the incident in the 1400 block of the road was reported Monday. A resident reported that she awoke from a nap and discovered someone had forced entry into her home.
Pills were the target of the thievery, which police say took place sometime after 6 p.m. Sunday, or on Monday morning.
Anyone with information should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
A South Reston resident told police that someone broke into her apartment last week.
According to FCPD, the incident took place in the 11700 block of Ledura Court, off Springwood Drive. The apartment’s occupant said the residence had been forcibly entered. Police said that while signs of force were found, no property was taken during the break-in.
Meanwhile, FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
2100 block of Astoria Circle, package from residence
11900 block of Bowman Towne Drive, electronic device from business
10300 block of Brittenford Drive, purse and backpack from vehicle
12900 block of Centre Park Circle, bicycle from residence
1600 block of Crowell Road, materials from construction site
2000 block of Golf Course Drive, wallet from vehicle
2300 block of Horseferry Court, cash from vehicle
1600 block of Reston Parkway, merchandise from business
1600 block of Reston Parkway, merchandise from business
1600 block of Reston Parkway, electronic device from business
2300 block of Soapstone Drive, beer from business
9200 block of White Chimney Lane, wallet from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Lake Anne Brew House Earns Best Brewery Spot — Determined by the results of the Virginia Craft Brewers Cup, Lake Anne Brew House is one of three breweries that have shared the title of Best Brewery from Virginia Craft Beer magazine. [Virginia Craft Beer]
Gillespie, Northam Confirmed for Debate — The two gubernatorial candidates will participate a debate in Tysons on Sept. 19, hosted by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Chuck Todd of NBC’s “Meet the Press” will moderate. [NOVA Chamber]
Former Clyde’s Chef Now in Charlottesville — Patrick Carroll, who formerly served as executive chef with Clyde’s of Reston, has been tapped as the new executive chef at Three Notch’d Brewing Company in Charlottesville. The craft brewer is investing nearly $3 million to expand its restaurant. [Gov. Terry McAuliffe]
Terry McAuliffe on ‘The Daily Show’ — The Virginia governor was on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” earlier this week, talking about how he challenged the Trump Administration’s voter fraud commission. He also weighed in on the GOP’s effort to repeal Obamacare. [The Daily Show]
Suspected Child Predator Nabbed — Jerberth Adallir Palma, 43, of Springfield, was arrested July 13 by Fairfax County Police and charged with numerous sex crimes against children. Detectives believe there might be other victims. [Fairfax County Police Department]
(This article was updated at 2:05 p.m. with comment from SLHS Principal Kim Retzer.)
Police say the former treasurer of the South Lakes High School athletics booster club pocketed tens of thousands of dollars from the club.
The Fairfax County Police Department says 58-year-old Robert Clinage took at least $60,000 from the club while volunteering as treasurer, a role he was in until last year.
According to their report:
After [Clinage stepped away] from his position as treasurer, other members noticed a large amount of money missing from the booster’s bank account. The boosters conducted an internal audit of their account which initially discovered the shortcoming. A subsequent criminal investigation began in December 2016, and charges were filed in June of this year.
As booster clubs are independent of school districts, Clinage was not an employee of the school. Kim Retzer, South Lakes High School principal, responded in an email sent to the entire SLHS community.
As many of you have seen, a former South Lakes Booster Club member was arrested recently for embezzlement of Athletic Booster funds. This is an on-going investigation so there is little I can comment on. What I can share is that I am grateful for the current Booster board members who have faced this situation head on and are fully cooperating with authorities.
Once the new board took over in the fall of 2016, they engaged a CPA to assist with the review of historical transactions and provide ongoing professional assistance. They have fully reviewed and revised the by-laws including implementing term limits and new criteria for board members. They also added an additional financial position to the board to increase safeguards for handling funds. Protocols around handling financial transactions have been further defined with additional safeguards put in place.
The Activities Office and I will continue to work closely with the Booster Club as they work through this situation. I am confident in the current board of highly dedicated parents who are focused on doing what is necessary to revitalize the Booster Club and provide support to our school.
Clinage turned himself in last week, according to FCPD, and was taken to the county’s Adult Detention Center. We have a request out to FCPD for further information, which will be provided once it becomes available.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers or by texting “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Sterling Chipotle Reopens After Outbreak — Chipotle’s stock plummeted Wednesday after news spread of a suspected norovirus outbreak at the chain’s location on Tripleseven Road in Sterling. The restaurant reopened after “multiple teams performed complete sanitizations of all surfaces.” [Eater]
West African Music Tonight at Lake Anne — The “Take A Break” concert series at Lake Anne Plaza will continue tonight with a performance by Cheick Hamala Diabate. [Lake Anne Plaza]
Rowing Machine Competition — Orangetheory Reston will host a rowing machine competition Friday evening at Reston Town Center. [Orangetheory Reston/Twitter]
Man Found Dead in Centreville Pond — Pedro Ramirez Matom, 28, of Centreville, was found earlier this week face up and fully clothed in a pond in the 5800 block of Trinity Parkway. [Fairfax County Police Department]
A Loudoun County jury this week told a Maryland man that his penchant for stealing wheels would cost him a lifetime in prison.
Jason Brooks, 37, who police have connected to multiple tire and rim thefts in the area, was sentenced Tuesday to more than 137 years behind bars. His arrest in 2016 followed two previous felony charges for grand larceny in Loudoun County with intent to sell stolen property.
Brooks’ sentence includes being found guilty of six counts of grand larceny, six counts of larceny with intent to sell, three counts of destruction of property and three counts of tampering with an automobile. Police in Fairfax County have said that Brooks has also been connected to seven different tire and rim thefts here between March and July 2016, two of which occurred in Herndon.
According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Brooks’ apartment and a storage unit rented in his name contained bags of lug nuts, lug nut keys and business cards for “Jay’s Deals on Wheels.”
Following the guilty verdicts, according to an official statement, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Pohlner asked the jury to hand down a sentence that told Brooks “Jay’s Deals on Wheels is hereby shutdown.”
Brooks will face his final sentence from Loudoun County in October, and he still faces his additional charges in Fairfax County and two other jurisdictions.
Hot, Hot, Hot! — Last week was sweltering, and the rest of this week may actually be worse. Weather models predict the possibility of triple-digit temperatures and heat indices as high as 110 through this weekend. [Capital Weather Gang]
Pink Fire Trucks Paying a Visit — The Pink Heals organization will visit the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax) on Friday. Pink Heals partners with the public safety, medical professionals, local businesses and community leaders to bring more support for local citizens by keeping fundraising activities local. [Fairfax Fire and Rescue]
Laughs Take Over at Lake Anne — A recent comedy night at Lake Anne Plaza’s Café Montmarte was deemed a great success. Another is being planned for September. [Reston Connection]
FCPD Officer Put on Leave After Crash — Officer Pshko Siteki did not have his emergency equipment on and was going 68 mph in a 40 mph zone prior to the February crash in Falls Church, which left a private citizen with extensive injuries from which he is still recovering. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Portion of Potomac May Shut Down for Trump — Boaters who enjoy paddling their canoes and kayaks in the Potomac River are facing a new hazard on the water: the closure of a 1.6-mile stretch of the river whenever President Trump visits his golf course in Sterling. [Washingtonian]
Photo courtesy Fairfax Fire and Rescue
Items were taken from a home in the Hattontown area during a break-in last week.
The Fairfax County Police Department says the crime took place in the 2300 block of Dakota Lakes Drive last Tuesday. A home was broken into between 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., according to the report, and items were stolen. Detectives are investigating the case.
Meanwhile, FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
2400 block of Black Cap Lane, property from residence
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cell phone from school
2200 block of Cartwright Place, license plate from vehicle
2100 block of Centreville Road, bicycle from business
2800 block of Classic Court, laptop computer from vehicle
13100 block of Fox Hunt Lane, bicycle from residence
2400 block of Fox Mill Road, bag from vehicle
9900 block of Georgetown Pike, beer from business
2200 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, credit card from business
12000 block of Insha Court, debit card from vehicle
11400 block of Isaac Newton Square, bag from business
11700 block of Ledura Court, property from vehicle
900 block of Riva Ridge Drive, tools from residence
11400 block of South Lakes Drive, bicycle from school
2200 block of Stone Wheel Drive, clothing from business
11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, cellphone from residence
11400 block of Waterview Cluster, tires from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
2300 block of Birch Run Circle, 2004 Mercury
Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Toll Road Ramp Detour Starts This Weekend — The ramp from the eastbound Dulles Toll Road to the Fairfax County Parkway will be diverted through the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride parking lot. The detour is expected to remain in place through 2017 to allow Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project crews to perform utility and road work on the ramp. [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]
Wombat Hoax Spreads on Twitter — A Twitter account posing as Roer’s Zoofari has been claiming this week that a wombat escaped from the zoo. A lot of people fell for the gag. [Reston Patch]
Trip to Pro Tennis Match Slated — Reston Association will have a group outing Tuesday night to see Martina Hingis and the Washington Kastles face the New York Empire. [Reston Association]
Sobriety Checkpoint Saturday Night — Police departments from Fairfax and Loudoun counties will be working together at a sobriety checkpoint Saturday night from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the Centreville/Chantilly area. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Phones get jammed during emergency situations.
It’s scary and frustrating for people trying to get in touch with loved ones — but for first responders trying to communicate with each other, it’s downright dangerous.
Tuesday, Virginia became the first state to try to amend that situation by joining the FirstNet communications network. Being developed by AT&T, it is a secured broadband network that provides fast and reliable interoperability for first responders.
“You cannot ask men and women to put on that uniform, to put their lives on the line, and not give them the tools they need to keep themselves safe,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe during a ceremony Tuesday at FirstNet headquarters on Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston. “Today, we’re giving all those first responders the tools they need to be safe.”
McAuliffe was joined at the ceremony by fire and police chiefs from across Fairfax County, as well as by representatives of FirstNet and AT&T. T.J. Kennedy, president of FirstNet, said the network’s capacity will be built out over the next few months to allow non-AT&T users to join FirstNet as well.
According to the FirstNet website:
The FirstNet network grew out of and addresses a 9/11 Commission recommendation calling for interoperable communications for all U.S. first responders. With the FirstNet network, first responders will have access to fast, highly secure and reliable communications whenever they need them. This will help first responders stay safe while they help others during both day-to-day operations and disaster response and recovery, and when securing large events.
Richard Bowers, chief of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, said he is proud that Virginia is the first state to be “first in, all in, to opt in” to the network.
“In the past, first responders were not able to communicate over the commercial wireless networks during significant incidents as the networks became congested and overwhelmed,” Bowers said. “As a responder to 9/11, along with many of my other colleagues that are here today… we had that very problem.”
First responders in the FirstNet network will have special SIM cards in their cellphones that will allow them to stay connected on their own dedicated system. Bowers said the network represents one of the most important transformational changes in public safety communications in decades.
“FirstNet will enhance services and save lives of our citizens and first responders,” he said. “What a key point in all of today’s information that’s being shared.”
McAuliffe, who is chair of the National Governors Association, said he is hopeful many other states will soon join the network as well.
“I do hope that my fellow governors take heed,” he said. “Leaving here today, if something were to happen, I now in my conscience know that we have done everything we possibly can to keep our first responders safe.”
