Local police arrested a wanted man who was trying to escape local law enforcement near the Chantilly Shopping Center on Thursday (July 25).

Larell Lansdowne, 35, of Reston, was charged with obstruction of justice and with outstanding warrants for larceny, failing to register as a sex offender, probation violation and trespassing.

Three other people who were with Landsdowne were arrested during the incident, which happened around 8 p.m. Eugene Mitchell, 54, of Leesburg was charged with providing false information to avoid arrested and was served an outstanding larceny warrant.

Nicole Hamm, 43, of Herndon was charged with possession of marijuana and Barbara Patton, 45, of West Virginia, was charged with possession of a Schedule I drug and possession of marijuana.

Photos via FCPD

Robbery at CVS Pharmacy on Centreville Road — Police believe two suspected jumped the pharmacy counter on Thursday at the CVS on 2525 Centreville Road and took property. The suspects were described as black men with hooded sweatshirts. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Makeup Class Tomorrow at Reston Regional Library — Learn new makeup techniques in this free class presented by a local make up artists. Some makeup tools and makeup will be provided. [Fairfax County Government]

Reminder: Real Estate Taxes Due — Real Estate first installment bills are due today and second installment bills are due December 5. Payment is accepted online. [Fairfax County Government]

Photo by Bako Glonto/Flickr

Several Reston communities will be holding special events to mark National Night Out, an annual campaign of solidarity against crime.

The nationwide, community-building campaign — which promotes policy-community relations and neighborhood camaraderie — is set for Tuesday August 6 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Activities include keeping the lights on all night outside to fun and games with local polie officers.

In particular, the Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition and Cornerstones are partnering up to host a kick off cook out at Hunters Woods Plaza from noon to 2 p.m.

The cook out is open to all and will take place on the plaza in front of the Reston Community Center.

More information about local events in the Reston area is expected to be released soon.

Neighborhoods interested in hosting an event are encouraged to register online.

Photo via FCPD

Update on Friday, July 26 at 8 a.m.: The road was reopened early Friday morning.

Commuters passing through Georgetown Pike at Seneca Road should plan to take a detour today (Thursday).

The Fairfax County Police Department indicated that the road is shutdown due to emergency repairs.

It is unclear how long the road will remain shutdown.

No other information was immediately available.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Georgetown Pk at Seneca Rd will be shutdown for emergency repairs. Please use an alternate route. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/bQzJU0e9Vw

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 25, 2019

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins is holding a community meeting to provide updates on a suspicious death investigation near Hunters Woods Plaza.

The meeting will be held on Monday, July 29 at 7 p.m. at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road).

Hudgins, police officers from the Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station and representatives from the Hunters woods Neighborhood Coalition will attend the meeting.

Attendees will receive an update on the investigation and discuss how to keep the Hunters Woods area safe.

Jose Lorenzo Guillen Mejia, 24, of Reston, was found dead on June 23 near a path between Hunters Woods Plaza and Breton Court.

Police are investigating the incident as a “suspicious death.” Gunshots were reported moments before police responded to the scene. The state’s Office of the Medical Examiner declined to release the cause and manner of death to Reston Now.

Photo via FCPD

The Fairfax County Police Department has reported no major crime incidents this week.

However, the FCPD’s Reston District Station reported the following minor incidents in recent days, including several thefts from cars in the area:

LARCENIES:

2100 block of Centreville Road, shirts from business

2500 block of Centreville Road, beer from business

1700 block of Business Center Drive, purse from location

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, electronic device from vehicle

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, electronic device from vehicle

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, tools from vehicle

2500 block of John Milton Drive, liquor from business

12000 block of Greywing Square, packages from residence

1500 block of Hiddenbrook Drive, wallet from vehicle

11900 block of Market Street, clothing from vehicle

2400 block of McNair Farms Drive, cash from vehicle

12600 block of Saylers Creek Lane, property from vehicle

12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, wallet from vehicle

STOLEN VEHICLES:

2400 block of Stryker Avenue, 2007 Lexus RX400

13300 block of Hunger Ford Place, 2004 Lincoln, Navigator

Local authorities are declining to releasing an autopsy report on  24-year-old man whose body was found near Hunters Woods Plaza in late June.

A spokesperson for the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said local police requested to withhold information about the cause and manner of death. Local police said the investigation was ongoing.

Jose Lorenzo Guillen Mejia of Reston was found around 1:45 a.m. on June 23 on a path between Hunters Woods Plaza and Breton Court. 

A spokesperson for the Fairfax County Police Department said the department did not have any releasable details about the incident, which is being investigated as a “suspicious” death.

Mejia’s body was found after FCPD investigated reports of multiple gunshots.

Photo by FCPD

Fairfax County to Seek Flood Recovery Funds — “At its July 16 meeting, the county’s Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency for Fairfax County as a result of the July 8 torrential rainstorm that caused substantial damage to both public and private property. The heavy rains caused several county closures, numerous road closures, damage to homes, businesses, roads and dams as well as multiple rescues from our fire and rescue personnel of motorists stranded in flooded roadways.” [Fairfax News]

Previous Charges for Sex Offender in Custody for Assault in Reston — Gregg MacDonald reports that the suspect arrested in connection with a June 11 sexual assault was originally convicted of a sex crime in Greenville, S.C. in 2006. He is listed as wanted in the Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. [Fairfax County Times]

Free Yoga on Reston Station Plaza Today — Beloved Yoga hosts a free yoga session for all at Reston Station Plaza today from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Yoga sessions continue throughout the summer. Attendees should bring water, a mat and a “zen-ready mind,” according to event organizers. [Reston Station]

Photo by vantagehill/Flickr

County staff are exploring ways to curb panhandling by prohibiting pedestrians from engaging with cars on medians or intersections. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed staff to create a draft ordinance that would limit curb to curb interactions between drivers and pedestrians on Tuesday (July 16).

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity and Braddock District Supervisor John Cook proposed the board matter in response to reports of increased panhandling in the last two years, including several areas in Reston.

In 2017, the Fairfax County Police Department received more than 2,100 calls related to panhandling, including issues related to safety, fear of suspicious people and traffic issues.

“It is unsafe and detracts from our neighborhoods,” Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, the proposal’s co-sponsor, said in a news release. “We have good programs in this county and many nonprofit groups who help the homeless, and that is a better way to help.”

Here’s more from the proposal by Herrity and Cook:

In the past two years, there has been a noticeable increase in panhandling on medians and intersections throughout the County. While there are some who panhandle because they need to, many more take advantage of the generosity of our residents through panhandling rings. Investigation into these rings has proven that many panhandlers in our County are coming from outside the County and even outside of the state, attracted by the wealth and generosity of our residents.

The Board has sought to help those panhandlers in need by committing a significant portion of the County budget to providing services for those residents who are down on their luck. The Board has encouraged residents to direct panhandlers to these County resources including shelters, food banks, health and job matching services, instead of giving small amounts of money. It is vitally important that we connect those in need with the right services and disincentivize panhandling.

Asking for money is a protected First Amendment right. In public areas, seeking money does not violate any laws.

FCPD encourages residents to report concerns about panhandlers who may have committed traffic offenses or be in involved in criminal activity to police.

The board will consider the proposal at the Public Safety Committee’s meeting on Sept. 17.

It’s unclear how the proposed policy will maintain protected speech.

To what extent do you think panhandling is a problem in Reston and Herndon? Let us know in the comments below.

File photo

A police cruiser hit a pedestrian early Sunday in Reston.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, a officer was driving through the intersection of Reston Parkway and Sunset Hills Road around 2 a.m. when the cruiser hit the 42-year-old woman as she was crossing.

The woman suffered non-life threatening injuries and was released from the hospital.

Police believe alcohol may have been a factor for the woman.

Speed and alcohol were not considered factors for the officer, police said.

Anyone with information about the crash should call FCPD’s crash reconstruction unit at 703-280-0543.

Photo via FCPD

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors largely expressed support for equipping police officers in the county with body-worn cameras, despite mixed results from a recent pilot program.

At a July 9 public safety meeting, most supervisors said body-worn cameras would improve police accountability and community-police relations — particularly among minorities. The meeting was held to review results of the county’s pilot program last year.

If approved by the county’s board, the program would disseminate 1,210 body-worn cameras throughout the county over five years. Police at the Reston District Station would be the first to receive the devices.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova said that failing to implement the program would put the county at a disadvantage, especially when residents can record encounters with police. Without body-worn cameras, Bulova said the police department lacks a critical record of interactions that could be questioned or doctored.

Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay, who also supports the program, said that while public confidence in the police department may be high currently, public sentiment could change within the next five years.

However, a 119-page report from American University researchers, found that while residents and police officers generally supported the program, its perceived benefits were largely minimal.

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said he was unconvinced the program was worth the cost. Early estimates indicate the program could cost $30 million over five years, including funding for storage capacity and legal staff required to review and log footage.

“To me, it’s a question of priorities,” Herrity said. He would rather see the county reinvest money into retention, training and community policing efforts.

Others, however, said the American University report does not fully capture the views of minorities, especially Hispanics and African Americans who may have different encounters and different concerns with law enforcement.

Addressing the concerns of people of color is especially critical, said Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins.

Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said that some of the data points in the report were too general and did not capture specific demographic segments.

“It is misleading to speak in generalities,” Foust said.

Photo via Fairfax County Police Department

A 19-year-old Reston resident was arrested on July 6 at around 8:30 p.m. for assaulting police.

Local police found Mario Rodriguez unconscious near a bus stop. When medical staff tried to help him, Rodriguez assaulted an officer during the arrest.

He was charged with two counts of assault on law enforcement, possession of marijuana and drunk in public.

Rodriguez is being held without bond.

FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following incidents in recent days:

LARCENIES:

2100 block of Astoria Circle cash from residence

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cell phone from location

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, package from residence

1800 block of Fountain Drive, backpack from business

2000 block of Durand Drive, laptop computer from vehicle

12900 block of Highland Crossing Drive, tip jar from business

1400 block of Lake Fairfax Drive, cash and property from business

11900 block of Market Street, wallet from location

1400 block of West Ox Road, cell phone from location

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None

In other news, three golf carts were taken from Hidden Creek Country Club on July 1 just a few minutes after midnight. The carts were found on a nearby street a short while later.

In a separate incident, police also charged Brian Baker, 47, for assault and disorderly conduct on July 2. Police believe Baker threatened staff at Reston Hospital Center.

On July 6, a burglary was reported at Frying Pan Farm Park. Police responded to an alarm and found that the building had been broken into. Nothing was taken.

Photo via FCPD

The results of an analysis on the county’s pilot body-worn camera program are officially in. Researchers at American University found that the six-month pilot project could have limited results in enhancing policy-community relations increasing police legitimacy and accountability.

In a 119-page report that uses survey data from residents and police officers, researchers found that people had “modest expectations” about the necessity and benefit of body-worn cameras.

Less than half of survey respondents and interviewees noted that the devices would reduce complaints against officers, improve legitimacy or increase police accountability. Police officers also noted that it was unlikely that the devices would change their behavior or how community members responded to the police department.

“If the decision is not to deploy them, the high regard for the department will lead nearly everyone to conclude that it was the right decision for all,” the report states.

Researchers did not find any statistically significant changes in officer behavior and performance once the devices were deployed. They also found that respondents were unconvinced that the cameras would lessen the use of force by police.

The pilot program went into effect in March last year after Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler and a police commission suggested the idea. Last year, 191 cameras were deployed at the Mason, Mount Vernon and Reston District Station, yielding more than 12,000 hours of video.

The police department found that judges, clerks of the courts and staff from the office of the public defendant generally supported the program.

If the program is implemented, the county would deploy 1,210 body-worn cameras to all operational police officers over five years. The Reston, Mason and Mt. Vernon district stations would be the first to get the cameras.

The program could cost nearly $30 million over a five-year contract period. The county would have to hire staff to manage the technical aspects of the equipment, improve station infrastructure and ensure public records laws were being followed.

Additionally, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney would need nearly $3.1 million for 23 positions to help review the footage, roughly $773,000 to help the court system use the videos generated by the cameras in the court-rooms, and $150,000 to boost storage capacity to capture video evidence.

The county still has to mull several issues:

• The impact of the devices on prosecutors, public defenders and the court system is entirely unclear
• The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office cannot accommodate planned growth
• Whether or not cameras should be given to School Resources Officers
• Training requirements for the defense bar
• The possibility that future contract costs could increase

The report will be presented to the county’s Public Safety Committee today (July 9).

Photo via FCPD

Flash Flood Warning in Effect — A flash flood warning is in effect for the area until 11:15 a.m. today. Drivers are encouraged to avoid flooded roads or roads with standing water. [Fairfax Alerts]

Lane and Ramp Closures This Week — Several roads, including Herndon Parkway, Edmund Halley Drive, and Sunrise Valley Drive will be closed for several hours this week due to construction on phase two of the Silver Line. All lane and ramp closures depend on the weather. [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]

The End of Small Change Consignment at Lake Anne Plaza — Susann Gerstein, owner of Small Change Consignment at Lake Anne Plaza, closed her business, which opened in late 1981. [The Connection]

Man Arrested for Threatening Reston Hospital Center Staff — Brian Baker, 47, was arrested on July 2 fro assault and disorderly conduct. Police said he threatened hospital staff and spat on a police officer. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr