Tuesday, Aug. 2 is National Night Out, the annual neighborhood-based crime and drug prevention event.
It’s an opportunity to show neighborhood spirit and strengthen partnerships with local police.
Fairfax County Police will be out in Reston neighborhoods, meeting citizens as part of the effort. They encourage residents to turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside together to get to know one another and talk about common concerns between 6 and 9 p.m.
Reston Community Center will have a kickoff event from noon to 2 p.m. on the plaza in front of the Hunter Woods location.
Over in Herndon, Herndon Police have lots of activities planned too. There are gatherings planned in about 15 neighborhoods, as well as at Haley Smith Park. See this list on Herndon Police’s Facebook page.
Fairfax County Police’s Reston District Station is hosting a community event on Saturday, where residents can get a peek at what goes on at their neighborhood police department.
The forum is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 at Reston Association headquarters (note: not at the Reston District Station), 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.
Participants will get an overview of the FCPD; learn about police policies and procedures; and gain better understanding of traffic stops and use of force.
Attendees can also get more information about the FCPD’s full, 10-week Citizens Police Academy.
The event is free. No RSVP is required.
Correction: A previous version of this story said the victim was on the W&OD Trail. That was incorrect.
A man was robbed and assaulted by three suspects on a trail near the 12100 block of Sunset Hills Road on Monday, Fairfax County Police said.
The man was walking near Sunset Hills and Town Center Parkway about 9:25 p.m. when he was approached by three men who allegedly began to assault him, police said.
The suspects took property and fled on bicycles. They were described as black. There was no further description provided.
The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
A similar robbery and assault took place near the same spot in May.
In that incident, a man said he was walking on the path about 9:30 p.m. when two men pushed him to the ground, took his property and fled.
The suspects in that case had a different description. That case remains open.
Fairfax County Police have arrested a man in connection with a robbery at the Soapstone 7-Eleven store last May.
Detectives from the Major Crimes Division said they received an anonymous tip through Fairfax County Crime Solvers identifying a possible suspect in the robbery that occurred on Friday, May 20.
With that information and other investigative leads, including security camera footage, detectives were able to identify the suspect as John McCaw Flynn, 45, of Vienna.
In the incident, the suspect entered the store about 6 a.m. on May 20, announced that he had a weapon, and then fled the store with merchandise.
On Monday June 13, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Flynn. On Tuesday, June 21, the Fairfax County Police Department’s Fugitive Squad located and arrested Flynn and he was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
There was an additional robbery at the same 7-Eleven on May 5, but Flynn is not believed to be a suspect.
Meanwhile, according to Fairfax County Police, Flynn was arrested following an incident at the same 7-Eleven nearly a decade ago.
In July of 2007, police said Flynn was charged with robbery after he stole a purse from a woman walking into the store.
He has also faced charges since then of DWI, public swearing, public intoxication and eluding police, county court records show.
Fairfax County Police said a woman was robbed of her purse at knifepoint on Saturday afternoon on South Lakes Drive in Reston.
Police said the woman was walking down South Lakes near Soapstone about 4:30 p.m. when a man attempted to grab her purse.
The suspect displayed a small knife and a struggle ensued, but the victim was not stabbed.
The suspect fled on foot and was described as Hispanic, about 25 years-old, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and 250 pounds, with a mustache and short hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jean shorts.
In other weekend crime news:
BURGLARY: 11700 block of Karbon Hill Court, Reston, Sunday, 12:50 a.m. A resident reported that she awakened to a man entering her home through a window. The suspect fled in an unknown direction and was described as white, 20 to 30 years old, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.
TRESPASSING: 11000 block of Caris Glenne Drive, Herndon, July 22, 9:30 p.m. A resident reported someone entered their residence and shut off their power. No property was taken.
LARCENIES:
Moorings Drive/Chatham Colony Court, license plate from vehicle
1400 block of Lake Fairfax Drive, phone from residence
11100 block of North Shore Drive, food from business
8700 block of Potomac Hills Street, purse from vehicle
Fairfax County Police report a series of property crimes in the Reston District in the last week. Here is what was reported to the police for the week ending July 22:
BURGLARY: 9300 block of Arnon Chapel Road, Great Falls. July 16, 11:51 a.m. A resident reported someone entered the residence and took property.
BURGLARY: 13600 block of Legacy Circle, Herndon, July 18 between 10 a.m. and 7:25 p.m. Someone forced entry into a home and stole portable electronics and other property from inside.
ROBBERY: 13100 Parcher Avenue, Herndon, July 18 around 7:19 p.m. Police were dispatched to the 7-Eleven at 13190 Parcher Avenue for a report of a robbery. A 20-year-old man was approached by a group of teenaged boys in the parking. The suspects allegedly punched and kicked the victim repeatedly, grabbed his backpack and fled. The suspects were described as Hispanic, wearing dark-colored clothing.
UNLAWFUL ENTRY / VEHICLE TRESPASSING: 11900 block of Grey Squirrel Lane, Reston, July 11, 9 p.m. A resident reported someone entered their garage and rummaged through their vehicles. Nothing was taken.
LARCENIES:
- 11200 block of Harbor Court, kayak from residence
- 2200 block of Huston Place, package from residence
- 200 block of Seneca Road, property from residence
- 1900 block of Solaridge Court, wallet from residence
- 2400 block of Centreville Road, items from business
- 11900 block of Escalante Court, cash from vehicle
- 12000 block of Greywing Square, golf cart from residence
- 2300 block of Soapstone Drive, beer from business
- 12300 block of Brown Fox Way, wallet from vehicle
- 2400 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business
- 11200 block of Roger Bacon Drive, bicycle from residence
- 11500 block of Glade Drive, phone from residence
- 12900 block of Highland Crossing Drive, wallet from residence
- 2300 block of Soapstone Drive, snack from business
Fairfax County Police arrested an alleged regional heroin dealer at the Exxon on Wiehle Avenue near Isaac Newton Square in Reston on Wednesday.
Clarence “Nephew” Dickerson, 39, of Washington, DC, was stopped by police at the service station — located next to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Station 25. In his car, police found heroin, crack cocaine, scales, packaging material and “other items commonly used in the distribution of illegal narcotics,” police said.
Based on evidence from an informant, police said they had been observing Dickerson for some time.
“The Organized Crime Narcotics Division (OCN) has been conducting a long term investigation into the distribution of heroin in Fairfax County,” FCPD said in a statement. “Based on evidence obtained during the investigation a suspect was identified as ‘Nephew’ who was allegedly selling heroin in several areas of Fairfax County. ”
“As the investigation progressed, ‘Nephew’ was identified as Clarence Dickerson, a 39-year-old, black male, of 57th Street SE, Washington D.C. A confidential informant was developed and purchases of heroin were made in various areas throughout the county.”
Police then obtained arrest warrants for Dickerson, charging him with five counts of distribution of heroin.
The FCPD helicopter was used as part of the surveillance during the investigation, police said. This led to the discovery of a consistent pattern in Dickerson’s distribution habits. A buyer was identified in the Town of Vienna, as well as at a business on Richmond Highway. Read More
Update, 1:45 p.m. Thursday: Police have identified the crash victim as David Reese Allison IV, 24, of Great Falls.
Detectives from the Crash Reconstruction Unit determined that the vehicle that struck the tree was a 2001 Volvo S40. The Volvo was traveling south on River Bend Road when it partially crossed the double-yellow line. At the same time, a vehicle was traveling north in the same area of River Bend Road and the Volvo apparently swerved to avoid hitting it. The Volvo went off the roadway and struck the tree.
Alcohol may be a contributing factor.
Original story, 10:30 a.m. Thursday:
Fairfax County Police are looking for witnesses to a fatal crash that occurred Wednesday on River Bend Road in Great Falls.
Police from the FCPD’s Reston District Station after a car that crashed into a tree in the 300 block of River Bend shortly after 3 p.m. When officers, along with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department personnel, arrived the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.
One adult male had apparently been ejected and was found under the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives from the Crash Reconstruction Unit were summoned to investigate the crash.
Police have not yet released the victim’s name.
Anyone with information or who might have witnessed this crash is asked to contact Crime Solvers electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)** or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
The Fairfax County Police have released a new report detailing use of force incidents — and the potential racial disparities in those incidents — in the county last year.
The report shows there were 539 use of force incidents investigated county supervisors in 2015. Of those, 57 proceeded to administrative investigations. In one of the cases, a use of force violation was found, and a reprimand was issued, the report shows.
Fifty-two percent (282 of the incidents) involved persons police identified as white; 222 subjects identified as black (41 percent); 18 identified as Hispanic (4 percent); and 17 identified as Asian (3 percent).
How that compares to Fairfax County’s population: Only 8 percent of Fairfax County’s 1.1 million residents are black; 16 percent Hispanic; and 63 percent are to be white.
The officers involved in the incidents were largely white men, the report shows (740 of the 985 officers involved). The department’s racial breakdown: 83 percent of officers are white; 7 percent are black; and 5 percent are Hispanic.
The report shows 98 percent of the time, civilians in the use of force complaints were unarmed. The most common type of use of force used by police was physical contact, followed by stun gun and pointed gun, the report states. A gun was discharged by an officer just once in 2015.
Meanwhile, on the Board of Supervisors’ Public Safety Committee will review recommendations on Tuesday for increased civilian oversight of the police department issued by a commission formed after the 2013 police shooting of an unarmed man in Springfield.
The Fairfax County Police report no major crime incidents in the Reston District in the last week.
There were, however, many incidents of larcenies. Here is what was reported to police for the week ending July 15:
- 1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, purse from vehicle
- 2400 block of Masons Ferry Drive, bicycle from school
- 13000 block of Park Crescent Circle, jewelry from residence
- 2400 block of Rolling Plains Drive, bicycle from residence
- 1200 block of Admiral Zumwalt Lane, items from vehicle
- 1600 block of Washington Plaza, property from residence
- 11800 block of Spectrum Center, beer from business
- 2200 block of Centreville Road, laptop computer from business
- 11800 block of Baron Cameron Avenue, beer from business
- 13200 block of Poener, cash from residence
- 1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, jewelry from residence
A little more than a week after the release of Pokemon Go — the smartphone app that has people chasing virtual cartoon animals all over the place — Fairfax County Police are warning how to stay out of trouble while playing.
Earlier this week, officers from the FCPD’s Franconia District arrested two men and three teens who entered Keene Mill Elementary School after hours while chasing Pokémon Go characters.
Said FCPD: “Police ask the public to please be mindful of your locations when playing the game. The game leads players to common meeting places like churches, memorials and parks. However, not all locations and areas in the game are open to the public and not all property owners welcome Pokémon Go players on the property. Remember, be respectful and adhere to all rules and regulations.”
There have been reports from other jurisdictions of people being lured by robbers while playing or falling into traffic while engrossed in the game.
That’s led Fairfax County to offer a list of safety tips for players:
1. Stay Alert
Be mindful of pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers who may be playing the game. If you are playing, you should not be on your phone while driving and use common sense when walking. Be aware of your surroundings; recently in the D.C. region, people playing the game have been robbed.
2. Supervise Kids
- You should become familiar with the game before allowing your children to download the app. Pokémon Go is a multiplayer game where users may run into other players in the real world as they search similar areas. Take steps to keep your kids safe:
- You and your kids should discuss who they can interact with when they go out into public to use the app.
- Kids should never play the game alone but in a supervised group.
- Know when and where your kids are playing.
3. Don’t Trespass
The game has a “lure module” that leads the players to various locations to win points and catch Pokémon characters. These locations are called Pokestops. Pokestops have been found at public places such as libraries and parks.
But stops are also on private property, empty lots or even cemeteries. Players may not realize they are trespassing in restricted areas and may draw attention of law enforcement and residents. Please, don’t trespass. You can catch Pokémon without going into or onto property.
4. Do Not Enter Fire Stations
Please do not enter fire stations, including open apparatus bays. Our firefighters and medics respond to emergency calls 24 hours a day. At any given time, they may be called to an emergency and a distracted pedestrian causes a dangerous situation for responders and trucks leaving the station.
5. Play in Our Parks!
We are thrilled that so many folks are coming to county parks to play. During your visit, take time to learn a little about the natural and cultural resources surrounding you using our trails map.
- Playing the game requires you to frequently look at your phone, so we ask you to take these precautions:
- Be sure to keep looking around to see where you are. We don’t want you walking into a tree or a yellow jackets nest or bumping into other people.
- Pay attention to the time; our parks close at dusk. (Staff will chase out the Pokémon then, too.)
- Please stay on the park trails even if the Pokémon don’t.
Meanwhile, Supervisor Kathy Smith (Sully) is hosting an all-day (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) Pokequest at the Sully Government Center (4900 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly) on Wednesday, July 20. See below for details.
Residents of homes near South Lakes High School have been asking this week: what’s that noise?
It seems the loudspeakers at SLHS have been blaring in the middle of the night, causing some concern — and irritation — in the neighborhood.
“It sounded like a didgeridoo,” one neighbor wrote to Reston Now. Neighbors have said the PA system was blaring as late as 3 a.m. earlier this week.
A SLHS official says the school is looking into a possible break-in at the football stadium press box. The administrator said there were two incidents this week, the most recent one being Wednesday night. She did not provide more details.
Meanwhile, Fairfax County Police said they have not been notified of any potential crime at the school.
Fairfax County Police said there has been a second incident of a bullet being shot into a home in unincorporated Herndon.
Earlier this week, a shot was fired into the bedroom of a 9-year-old girl as she slept in her home in the 2100 block of Monaghan Drive in Herndon. The bullet was found in her mattress, police said.
On Friday at around 10:48 p.m., gunfire apparently was aimed at the same home. A man called police and said he was in his living room when he heard several gunshots.
Officers who processed the scene found that a bullet had penetrated into the residence. Police also found numerous bullet holes located on the exterior of the dwelling but had not entered into the home. There were no injuries, police said.
About 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, officers were still on scene and conducting their investigation when they heard several more gunshots coming from a nearby street. Additional officers and resources responded to check the area.
Officers are continuing their investigation, conducting a canvas, and increasing their presence in the area. There is no suspect information at this time and the investigation is ongoing, police said.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Crime Solvers electronically by visitingwww.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)** or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Fairfax County Police are searching for the person who fired a bullet through a 9-year-old girl’s bedroom window in Herndon last night.
The incident happened on the 2100 block of Monaghan Drive in Herndon last night around 10:30 p.m., according to authorities.
Police said the girl was lying in her bed when she heard a “loud noise” outside. When she went to the window to look out, she “felt something on her arm; possibly glass fragments,” police said.
The girl told her parents, who found a hole in the window and called the police. Officers later found a bullet lodged in the child’s mattress.
It’s unclear where the gunshot may have originated. Police are still looking for possible suspects.
Read the full release from Fairfax County Police below:
Officers responded to the report of a bullet that had been fired through the window of a home in the 2100 block of Monaghan Drive in Herndon on Tuesday, July 5, at around 10:30 p.m. According to the caller, his 9-year-old daughter was in her bedroom, lying on her bed when she heard a loud noise outside. She went to the window to look out and suddenly felt something on her arm; possibly glass fragments. The child then informed her parents who investigated and found a hole in the window where the little girl had been standing. Officers processed the scene and found a bullet lodged in the child’s mattress. A canvass of the neighborhood was conducted and the area was searched. There is no suspect information at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Crime Solvers electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)** or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Cash, computers and a car are among the items stolen in Reston in the last week.
Here is what the officers from the Fairfax County Police’s Reston District Station say was stolen in the last week of June:
LARCENIES
- 13300 block of Apgar Place, 2003 Nissan Sentra
- 1700 block of Fountain Drive, cash from business
- 11800 block of Coopers Court, bag from vehicle
- 12700 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, computers from residence
- 12300 block of Town Center Drive, property from business
- 1800 block of Clovermeadow Drive, checks from residence
- 2300 block of Colts Neck Road, bicycle from residence
- 2500 block of Polly Jefferson Way, property from residence
- 13300 block of Aiken Place, license plate from vehicle
- 11900 block of Killingsworth Avenue, purse from business
- 1600 block of Park Crest Circle, wallet from vehicle
- 1600 block of Reston Parkway, property from business
- 1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, items from vehicle
- 11800 block of Coopers Court, items from vehicle
- 1800 block of Golf View Court, documents from vehicle
- 10600 block of Runaway Lane, property from residence
- 11800 block of Spectrum Center, merchandise from business
- 12800 block of Tournament Drive, passenger did not pay fare
- 12000 block of Town Square, wallet from business
- 2100 block of Centreville Road, cash from business
- 2400 block of Quick Street, property from residence
STOLEN VEHICLES:
1600 block of Valencia Way, 2010 Ford Escape
