A pair of Herndon residents are facing charges after separate alcohol-related incidents in Loudoun County over the weekend.
Just before 3 a.m. Saturday, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the intersection of Waxpool Road and Loudoun County Parkway in Ashburn for a report of a disabled vehicle. When they arrived, they charged the driver — 32-year-old Alok K. Choubey — with DWI. Choubey was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a personal recognizance bond.
The next night, at about 2:16 a.m., a patrolling LCSO deputy found a 33-year-old Herndon man asleep in a common area at the One Loudoun shopping center. The man was charged with being drunk in public and taken to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, where he was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Meanwhile, the Fairfax County Police Department reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1600 block of Becontree Lane, property from residence
13300 block of Feldman Place, property from vehicle
11500 block of Hearthstone Court, laptop computer from vehicle
10300 block of Lawyers Road, property from residence
1600 block of Reston Parkway, merchandise from business
2300 block of Soapstone Drive, liquor from business
1000 block of Utterback Store Road, property from vehicle
11600 block of Vantage Hill Road, wallet from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
In addition, as we reported last week, FCPD is investigating the painting of a swastika on a wall in the 11600 block of Hunters Green Court.
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).
The Fairfax County Police Department was summoned to a Reston residence after a swastika was found painted nearby.
According to a report, the graffiti was discovered in the 11600 block of Hunters Green Court. A police spokesperson says the residents aren’t sure when it was painted, but that it happened sometime between July 1 and July 6.
“It was discovered on a wall behind the house,” the spokesperson said. “The homeowners couldn’t think of anyone who would put that there, and that’s the only one that was reported.”
Hunters Green Court is located off Soapstone Drive, near Sunrise Valley Drive. The 16th hole at Reston National Golf Course is nearby.
Anyone with information should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
A home was forcefully broken into last week near Herndon.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the incident took place in the 12800 block of Graypine Place sometime between 9 a.m. June 28 and 11 p.m. June 30. Police say someone forced entry into the home and stole jewelry, gold coins and power tools.
The Reston District Station of FCPD also reported the following larcenies over the holiday weekend:
LARCENIES:
11500 block of Buttonwood Court, property from residence
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, property from residence
1400 block of Church Hill Place, wheels and rims from vehicle
2400 block of Corn Crib Court, property from residence
600 block of Dranesville Road, electronic device from school
11600 block of Golf Course Square, property from vehicle
2100 block of Greenkeepers Court, property from vehicle
2100 block of Greenkeepers Court, jewelry from vehicle
12900 block of Highland Crossing Drive, cellphone from business
12900 block of Highland Crossing Drive, wallet from business
12900 block of Highland Crossing Drive, wallet from business
1900 block of Hunter Mill Road, property from residence
2500 block of John Milton Drive, liquor from business
2300 block of Nashua Court, credit card from residence
13100 block of Parcher Avenue, cellphone from business
1300 block of Pellow Circle, property from residence
2300 block of Soapstone Drive, cigarettes from business
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, liquor from business
11700 block of Stevenage Road, purse from vehicle
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business
12600 block of Thunder Chase Drive, license plates from vehicle
11500 block of Waterhaven Court, bicycle from residence
1800 block of Wiehle Avenue, cigarettes from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
Anyone with information about any of the incidents 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, thousands of dollars in jewelry was stolen from a home in the 800 block of Sycamore Court last month. Police say someone entered the home on June 14 and removed two cardboard boxes full of jewelry, valued at about $3,000. However, the victim — who didn’t report the incident until June 20 — declined any further investigation.
In addition, a Herndon man was charged in Loudoun County last week after a reported larceny at Dulles Town Center. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office reported on June 29 at about 10 a.m. to the Sears department store. The suspect in the larceny, 37-year-old Eric Campos of Herndon, was found in the area of Lakeland Drive and Route 7. Campos was arrested and charged with grand larceny and driving on a revoked license. He was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a personal recognizance bond.
Bullets struck occupied homes in the Chestnut Grove Condominiums earlier this week.
According to a Fairfax County Police Department report, the incident took place at about 10:45 p.m. Monday. Residents of a home in the 11200 block of Chestnut Grove Square, off Wiehle Avenue, heard gunshots. A male subject was seen walking past the building, a witness told police.
Police determined that one bullet flew through a window of the home. Further investigation revealed that a second home’s glass door was also struck by a bullet.
No one was injured, and police say they are continuing to search for the suspect.
Map courtesy Google Maps
Crime reports provided by Fairfax County Police Department in the month of June, 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 June reports included the following breakdown of criminal incidents in the area:
- 46 larcenies
- 3 burglary/unlawful entry investigations
- 3 indecent exposure/peeping reports
- 2 stolen vehicles
- 1 commercial robbery
- 1 scam report
Of course, the biggest crime story in the area in the month of June was the attack, abduction and murder of Nabra Hassanen on June 18. The suspect in her death, Darwin Martinez Torres, remains in custody at Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, awaiting a July 19 court date.
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 June 1 and June 30, meaning some of the incidents occurred in late May.
Herndon Names New Town Manager — Bill Ashton had been serving as acting town manager since February, following the retirement of previous town manager Art Anselene. [Town of Herndon]
Suicide at County Detention Center — A 33-year-old man being held at the county Adult Detention Center on a malicious wounding charge hanged himself in his cell Sunday night. [Fairfax County]
Numbers to Remember Over the Summer — South Lakes High School provides a list of sources, some from the school system and some independent, that may be of assistance if family emergencies or other needs arise over the summer. [South Lakes High School]
File photo courtesy Surf Reston
Jazz Music Tonight at Lake Anne — The “Take A Break” concert series at Lake Anne Plaza will continue tonight with a performance by contemporary Brazilian jazz band Origem. [Lake Anne Plaza]
Metro Employees to Thank Riders Today — Nearly 700 Metro administrative employees will be at Metrorail stations during the afternoon commute today to “personally thank” customers for “their support and continued ridership” during SafeTrack. [WMATA]
Connolly Goes After Nikki Haley — The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations had to defend herself Wednesday when Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) targeted her actions at the U.N. [Washington Free Beacon]
Single Tracking to Cause Long Metro Waits — Starting Saturday until closing time Sunday, Silver Line Metro trains will operate just every 26 minutes. Fare hikes are also in effect, with $2.25 the minimum to ride the Metro. There will be no track work on the Fourth of July. [DCist]
MOM’s Organic Market to Celebrate 30th Anniversary Sunday — All MOM’s Organic Market locations will celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary with tastings and family activities. Locally, there is a store at 424 Elden St., Herndon. [PR Newswire]
Fairfax Police Inform About Snake Safety — With warm weather, snakes become more active around the area, so it’s beneficial to know which snakes are venomous and which are harmless. [Fairfax County Police Department]
File photo courtesy Carole Burnett
Following a Washington Post report that the man accused of killing 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen last week is involved with MS-13, county police say otherwise.
In a media alert Wednesday afternoon, the Fairfax County Police Department says there is no credible information to link 22-year-old Darwin Martinez Torres, a Salvadoran national living in Sterling, with any gang.
“Homicide detectives investigating the murder of 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen looked into whether the suspect, Darwin Martinez Torres, is a gang member or affiliated with gangs, but have found no credible information to support any connection. The case remains active and we will release additional information as we can. Martinez Torres remains at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.”
Using information received from a Loudoun County woman, the Washington Post reported Tuesday that Torres “had punched, choked and sexually assaulted [the woman] and was a member of the MS-13 street gang.” The newspaper also cited Loudoun County Child Protective Services documents that “were read to a Washington Post reporter.”
FCPD has worked to combat rumors throughout its investigation into the brutal killing last Sunday morning. It has also repeatedly shot down community insistence that the Muslim teen’s slaying was hate-motivated. Rather, they’ve said, Torres was experiencing extreme road rage when he drove onto the curb, exited his vehicle with a baseball bat and attacked.
Nabra’s violent death has struck a chord within the community at large. A crowd in the thousands came out for a vigil in her honor last week at Lake Anne Plaza.
A local woman nearly became a victim to a trending child abduction scam, police say.
The woman says she received a phone call last week stating that her daughter had been kidnapped and that she would need to wire money to Mexico for her release. Police confirmed that the child was indeed safe and that this was a hoax meant to extort money from the victim.
A phone call of this type has been one of many in the area, police confirmed last month. If you receive a phone call like this, do not wire any money. Rather, immediately notify the police and check to see if your child is OK.
“These scammers will try to keep you on the phone with them so you cannot call police or anyone else and keep your mind distracted and frazzled for fear of your child’s safety,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
FCPD also reported in the past week:
LARCENIES:
10300 block of Brittenford Drive, purse from vehicle
1700 block of Business Center Drive, cash from business
2200 block of Castle Rock Square, cellphone from residence
2500 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business
13000 block of Henson Court, wallet from business
9800 block of Mill Run Drive, bag from vehicle
11500 block of North Shore Drive, bicycle from school
10700 block of Park Ridge Boulevard, wallet from vehicle
12300 block of Pinecrest Road, laptop computer from vehicle
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, beer from business
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, wallet from business
STOLEN VEHICLE:
11300 block of French Horn Lane, 2007 Lexus ES350
Anyone with information about any of the incidents reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
In other crime news, a Herndon resident was detained early Saturday in Loudoun County after police say she was found drunk in public after an altercation in the One Loudoun plaza. Elizabeth A. Bellamy, 20, was arrested along with Bryan M. Moses, 25, of Maryland following the incident. Both were released on personal recognizance bonds.
Also, there there were two robberies recently in the Town of Herndon.
On June 15, police say an unknown suspect approached a woman in the 600 block of Center Street and demanded her phone. When she refused, police say she was pushed and the perpetrator snatched the phone, valued at $600, from her hand before riding away on a bicycle. The suspect is described as a juvenile Hispanic male. He was last seen wearing a dark flat-brimmed ball cap, dark T-shirt and dark pants. The case is still under investigation.
The next day, there was an armed robbery at a business in the shopping center in the 1100 block of Elden Street. Four suspects entered the business with handguns and wearing masks. Some were also wearing black pants. They took an undisclosed amount of money and they also took the store’s video surveillance system. All of the suspects spoke Spanish, police say. The case is also still under investigation.
As the community continues to recover after last week’s brutal killing of a Reston teenager, one activist says the psychological impact on surviving youth will live on.
“For many of us in Northern Virginia, it’s really during Ramadan where we carve out special places to feel like home,” said Aya Saed, a Harvard Law School student and organizer for the Deeply Rooted Retreat for Black Muslim Youth. “For the crime to have happened in this moment is really quite traumatic to young people who are just starting to creating safe spaces for themselves and forever.”
Saed and other prominent members of the area’s Muslim community appeared on “The Kojo Nnamdi Show” today on WAMU to reflect on the slaying of Nabra Hassanen and discuss its implications on a future generation of Muslim children.
Nabra, 17, was attacked and abducted in the early morning hours June 18 while walking back from McDonald’s after an overnight service at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society. She was beaten to death and her body was found in a Loudoun County pond. Fairfax County police say that her killing followed an extreme case of road rage.
“Any time this type of incident happens, it runs deep,” said Joshua Salaam, ADAMS Center chaplain, of the community atmosphere following Nabra’s death. “Any individual can point back to five [or] six incidents in the last year where the victim was a Muslim.”
Carmel Delshad, a news producer for WAMU, said young Muslims are fearful in a time when violence against them appears to be increasing.
“I think mosques are doing what they can to ensure extra security measures in place,” she said. “People are looking over their shoulder [and] they’re taking self-defense classes just to be prepared.”
Saed said that kids Nabra’s age, both locally and elsewhere in the country, have been rocked by what happened to her that morning.
“It’s worth talking about the kinds of psychological impact this is having,” she said. “For many young Muslims, this is the only reality that they know in the United States.”
The possibility that 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen was sexually assaulted during the events leading to her death is being investigated, police say.
Edwin Roessler, Fairfax County Police Department chief, told media prior to the start of a vigil in Nabra’s honor Wednesday that test results are being awaited before any official statement can be made.
“At this point in time right now, it’s an active investigation,” Roessler said. “We’re pursuing that possibility [that a sexual assault happened], but we have to wait for forensic examination results and the report of autopsy from the medical examiner to confirm whether or not that took place.”
The assaults Nabra suffered prior to her death were “one continuous event” that began in Fairfax County and ended in Loudoun County, Roessler said. He reiterated once again, emphatically, that no evidence has emerged that points to the killing as being a hate crime.
“Right now, that is a myth on social media,” Roessler said. “There is no evidence at this point in the investigation, at all, that this was hate-motivated.”
Roessler said if anyone has information that would point toward the crime being bias-motivated, he wants to hear it. But he shot down several questions from media regarding rumors about the suspect’s motives.
Imam Mohamed Magid of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society expressed his confidence in the work of the Fairfax County Police Department, and he thanked them for all they have done already to help put the pieces together.
“We are so glad that they were able to find [the suspect] and get him into custody very quick,” Magid said. “The community has trust in [the police] in this investigation. They told us they will not leave any stone unturned in this investigation, and we appreciate that.”
The suspect, a 22-year-old Salvadoran national named Darwin Martinez Torres, remains in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. He has a court date set for July 19.
Folk Music Tonight at Lake Anne — The “Take A Break” concert series at Lake Anne Plaza will continue tonight with a performance by contemporary folk artists Sweater Set. [Lake Anne Plaza]
Car Hits Pole in Reston — A Wednesday evening crash on Lawyers Road at Soapstone Drive took out power and closed the road. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Fireworks Safety Urged — Fireworks can turn a holiday into a tragedy within seconds when illegal and dangerous fireworks are being used. Fire officials have released a video to promote fireworks safety this July Fourth. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/YouTube]
Shared-Use Path Planned — A meeting June 29 will discuss a proposed path from the future Innovation Station Metro station kiss-and-ride on the north side of the Dulles Toll Road. [Fairfax County Department of Transportation]
Photo via @butler_law on Twitter
Homicide detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department will continue to lead the investigation into the death of 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen of Reston.
Jurisdictional issues have arisen since the crime, which took place just before 4 a.m. Sunday. Police say Nabra was assaulted and abducted near the intersection of Dranesville Road and Woodson Drive, which is just east of the Fairfax/Loudoun county line. Police say she was then taken to Loudoun County, where she was assaulted again and her body was thrown into a pond.
According to police accounts, Nabra and a group of friends had been at a Ramadan service at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society and were on their way back after going to breakfast at the McDonald’s in the Town Center at Sterling plaza. Both of those places are just west of the Fairfax/Loudoun line.
“The Fairfax County Police Department has partnered closely with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office with the common goal of justice for Nabra as well as for her family, friends and community,” FCPD said in a news release. “Our department will continue to work alongside the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney as this case moves forward.”
Police have charged 22-year-old Darwin Martinez Torres, a Salvadoran national, with murder in the case. They say Torres became enraged with the group of teens and exited his car wielding a baseball bat, striking Nabra. An autopsy revealed her cause of death as blunt force trauma.
Nabra was finishing her sophomore year at South Lakes High School.
Police say they are not investigating Nabra’s death as a hate crime; however, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond Morrogh has said he will continue to weigh the possibility before deciding how to proceed with the case. Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman says he supports the decision to keep the case in Fairfax County and “will lend any assistance if requested.”
Volunteers Needed for Kids’ Triathlon — Help is needed for many different aspects of the annual Reston Kids’ Triathlon, scheduled for the morning of Sunday, Aug. 6. [Sign Up Genius]
Great Falls Woman Dies in Crash — Mai-Huong Nguyen, a 73-year-old woman from Great Falls, died Tuesday after her car ran off the road and struck a utility pole on Riverbend Road. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Reston Businesses Named to ‘Top Workplace’ Lists — The Washington Post has released its annual “Top Workplace” lists, and numerous businesses with ties to Reston are on them. [Washington Post]
Dulles Corridor Committee Meets Soon — The Dulles Corridor Advisory Committee will meet Friday, June 30 at 9:30 a.m. at the Center for Innovative Technology (2214 Rock Hill Road, Herndon). The public is invited. [Dulles Toll Road]
Local Man Wins Bay Swim — Andrew Gyenis, a 22-year-old from Herndon, scored the best time in the recent 26th Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Swim. He crossed the bay in 1 hour, 29 minutes. [Bay Weekly]
Photo via @maddy_davison on Twitter
A Herndon man is one of three suspects arrested early Saturday morning after a Loudoun County sheriff’s deputy responded to a larceny in progress in Sterling.
The incident took place at a store in the 24000 block of Dulles Landing Drive, where security reported at about midnight that three suspects had stolen several electronics items and forced entry into the jewelry case. An LCSO deputy confronted the suspects, at which time police say one of the men lifted his shirt and revealed a handgun. The deputy took the man to the ground and the weapon was secured.
The suspects were identified as Anthony A. Moaf, 20, of Herndon; Jalen P. McMahan, 22, of Centreville; and Angel L. Gaskins, 24, of Centreville. Moaf was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer, carrying a concealed weapon, grand larceny, destruction of property, public intoxication and conspiracy to commit a grand larceny. McMahan was charged with grand larceny, conspiracy to commit a grand larceny, possession with intent (Schedule IV), possession of a controlled substance (Schedule IV) and manufacturing possessing/distributing narcotics. Both men are being held at Loudoun County Adult Detention Center with bond.
Gaskins was charged with grand Larceny, conspiracy to commit a grand larceny and public intoxication. He was released on a secured bond.
In other crime news, a woman in the 13300 block of Coppermine Road in Herndon reported an indecent exposure between 4:30-5 a.m. Saturday. She said a black man was standing on a fence near her residence when he exposed himself and touched himself inappropriately. Officers did not find the suspect, who was described as being about 5 feet 9 inches, between 140 and 160 pounds.
FCPD also reported in the past week:
LARCENIES:
2100 block of Astoria Circle, gun from residence
2400 block of Centreville Road, cell phone from business
2200 block of Ferdinand Porsche Drive, property from business
13100 block of Fox Hunt Lane, license plates from vehicle
12000 block of Glade Drive, merchandise from business
1500 block of Moorings Drive, bicycles from residence
1900 block of Reston Metro Plaza, merchandise from business
11800 block of Saint Trinians Court, medication from vehicle
2100 block of San Moritz Circle, Four-wheeler from residence
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, groceries from business
2300 block of Soapstone Drive, food from business
2000 block of Sunset Hills Road, golf cart from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
Anyone with information about any of the incidents reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
