Men Charged for Stealing Car — After a short police pursuit, two men in their 20s were charged with grand larceny in connection with the theft of a 2017 Honda Pilot that was reported stolen from a nearby jurisdiction. Both men are from Springfield. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Metro Seeks Feedback on Budget — Metro is seeking feedback on its upcoming budget. Three pubic hearings are slated for this month. Feedback is due by Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]
Test-to-stay Option Opens in Some Schools — The school system has launched test-to-stay programs at seven public schools, including at South Lakes High School. [WTOP]
Photo by Terry Baranski
Reston Teen Aims for Beijing Winter Olympics — Ilia Malinin, a Reston-based teen, is aiming to compete at the Winter Olympics this year. He is described as one of the best junior skaters in the world. [Washington City Paper]
7-Eleven on Parcher Avenue Robbed — A man robbed the 7-11 on Parcher Avenue on Dec. 11 shortly before 7 p.m. Police believe the robbery happened at gunpoint. No injuries were reported. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Feedback Sought on Search for New CEO — Reston Association recently hired Baker Tilly to conduct a nationwide search for a new CEO, a position that has been vacant for many months. The association also launched a survey to gauge feedback from members on what qualities they want on RA’s new leader. [RA]
A Reminder to Social Distance — County officials are reminding residents to adhere to social distancing as much as possible as the winter surge of COVID-19 cases continues. [Fairfax County Government]
Schools Seek Bus Drivers –– The Fairfax County Public Schools system is seeing bus drivers. A job fair is planned for Friday, Jan. 14 from 10 a..m. to 3 p.m. at the Lorton Transportation Center. [Fairfax Schools]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Brx American Bistro Robbed — The restaurant, which is located at 1025 Seneca Road in Great Falls, was robbed. The incident happened on Dec. 6 at around 9:30 a.m. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Boosters Now Available for Teens — Teens between the ages of 16 and 17 can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Appoints in the county can be made online through the state’s vaccine administration management system. [Fairfax County Government]
Search for Schools Superintendent Underway — The school system has recruited GR Recruiting to help hire a new superintendent. Community engagement opportunities are planned for this month, including a school board work session today to discuss the process and timeline moving forward. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Reston Man Arrested in Connection with Regional Robberies — Police have arrested a Reston man in connection with a series of robberies at convenience stores in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. Bresner Porres, 30, was arrested after a multi-jurisdictional effort and was charged with three counts of robbery at 7-Eleven stores in Sterling. [Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office]
Search Underway for Missing Herndon Woman — Local police are seeking the public’s help to find a woman who went missing on Nov. 9. Joey Sitek, 28, is 5’5” and roughly 120 pounds. Police believe there is an immediate concern for her well-being. [Herndon Police Department]
Tephra Hires New Associate Curator —Â The Tephra Institute of Contemporary art has hired a new associate curator and festival director. Hannah Barco had a similar position at the School of Art Institute of Chicago. [Tephra]
Photo by Majrorie Copson
Business Robbed in Reston — A man robbed the Exxon gas station on 11854 Sunrise Valley Drive on Nov. 1 one minute after midnight. No injuries were reported. [Fairfax County Police Department]
New Members for Lake Anne Board — Lake Anne property owners voted in a trio of new candidates who hope to turn around the beleaguered condominium association, which has been bogged down by politics and infighting. [Reston Patch]
Good News for Unemployment Rate — The county’s unemployment rate declined to 2.7 percent in September and appears to be approaching pre-COVID levels. [Sun Gazette]
Photo by Ray Copson
Attempted Robbery, Abduction in Reston — On Sept. 28, an attempted robbery was reported on the 22000 block of Colts Neck Road. Police believe a man grabbed the victim and demanded property. In a separate incident, police believe a man demanded property and car keys from an individual around 11:46 a.m. on the 11800 block of Breton Court. The man drove away in the victim’s car. The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. [FCPD]
A Look at the District 36 Race — Democrat Ken Plum is the incumbent candidate in 36th district for the Virginia House of Delegates. He faces Republican challengers Matthew Lang. [Reston Patch]
Metro to Add More Trains Today — Metro plans to have 39 trains in shrive today. Seven trains were added after major service cuts last month. Metro removed all of its 7000-series railcars from service as part of its investigation into the derailment of a Bue Line train on Oct. 12. [Popville]
Schools Seek Substitutes — The Fairfax County Public School system is seeking substitute teachers. Once a candidate’s application, orientation and background check is approved, hiring can begin within one week. [FCPS]
Increased Police Presence Still In Effect — Northern Virginia police departments continue to increase their presence at shopping malls and high-volume roads and transit areas in response to a purported threat from ISIS. The move was made out an abundance of caution, according to Fairfax County Police Department’s police chief Kevin Davis. [WTOP]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Body of Missing Man Found — The body of Ganesh Chandrabhata, 60, who was last seen in the area of River Bend Park in Great Falls, was found over the weekend along the shore of the Potomac River in Prince George’s County in Maryland. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Reston Garden Club Celebrates 50 Years — The club celebrated its anniversary with three gifts, including a bench next to The Lake House and $500 for native plants at the Walker Nature Center. [Reston Association]
Attempted Robbery in Reston — A man and a woman attempted to rob a man while was he walking his dog on Sept. 21 along the 1200 block of Exbury Street. No injuries were reported. [FCPD]
Stuff the Bus Returns — The county government and local nonprofit organizations are collecting nonperishable food donations for the annual drive. The next drive takes place on Saturday at various locations between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
A 41-year-old Herndon resident is facing an assault charge for a fight that ended in him reportedly stabbing another man.
According to a weekly crime report released yesterday (Wednesday), the Herndon Police Department has taken out a warrant for aggravated assault against Dennis Cruz Antunez for the stabbing, which occurred on Aug. 26 in the 1000 block of Elden Street.
Police say the incident started as a “verbal altercation” between the suspect and the male victim, who was transported to Reston Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Herndon police also recently arrested a 21-year-old man for a 2019 rape.
“Oscar Martinez Alarcon, 21, of Herndon, was arrested for the forcible rape of a juvenile victim whom he met via social media,” the police report says. “He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was held without bond.”
According to police, the incident occurred on Feb. 12, 2019 in the 1200 block of Elden Street. Martinez Alarcon was arrested on Aug. 23.
The HPD did not return a request for comment from Reston Now on what led to the arrest and whether there might be any additional victims by publication time.
Other major incidents in the weekly crime report include three cases from Aug. 24: another verbal argument that escalated into a stabbing on Elden Street and two robberies in the 1200 block of Springtide Place.
Labeled as an aggravated assault, the stabbing occurred in the 1100 block of Elden Street. The victim was reportedly punched and stabbed. Police say they have identified the suspect, but the case remains under investigation.
In one of the robberies, the victim reported that he was assaulted and had his wallet stolen “by a subject that is known to him.” In the other, the victim was assaulted and had his wallet and “other personal property” stolen by two men.
According to the report, police have identified the subjects in both cases, which are still under investigation.
The Town of Herndon also saw 11 reportable traffic crashes during the week of Aug. 23-29, which are defined by Virginia State Police as incidents that result in injury or at least $1,500 in property damages.
Metro Reports Pandemic Ridership High for Fourth of July — “The transit agency said it saw a pandemic-record high ridership during the [Independence Day] holiday. As of 10 p.m. Sunday, about 174,000 trips were taken on the rail system, Metro tweeted Sunday night. That’s the highest single-day ridership since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.” [WTOP]
Man Arrested for Attempted Robbery in Reston — “Officers from the Reston District Station of the Fairfax County Police arrested a Centreville man Thursday [July 1] in connection with an attempted robbery in Reston…The victim returned to his car, which was parked near the intersection of Clubhouse Road and North Shore Drive around 4:53 a.m., when he found a man rummaging around inside it, police say.” [Patch]
Leidos Offers Employees a Year’s Pay to Get COVID-19 Vaccine — In an effort to counter slowing inoculation rates, the Reston-based information technology contractor has set aside $1 million to give 10 randomly selected employees a year’s worth of pay if they get the COVID-19 vaccine. Eight Leidos workers have died from the virus, including one D.C. area resident. [The Washington Post]
Virginia’s Death Row Officially Vacant — “With the death penalty formally abolished in Virginia as of this week, death row is now officially vacant, according to prison officials. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Lisa Kinney said the two remaining prisoners facing death sentences were moved off death row after the legislation was signed earlier this year.” [Virginia Mercury]
Three individuals stole cash from people in a car last night (June 15) at the 2200 block of Winterthur Court, approximately the same location as a fatal shooting in March.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, three people ranging in ages from 20 to 37 years old approached the victims’ car near the Hunters Woods area around 11:04 p.m. and demanded money. One person entered the car and took cash before all three people ran away.
Officers found the three individuals, all of them Reston residents, in an adjacent neighborhood with the assistance of a police helicopter, FCPD confirms to Reston Now. They were detained and charged with robbery.
The 2200 block of Winterthur Court is the same location as where Santos Antonio Trejo Lemus, 40, of Reston, was shot and killed in March while walking near his home. Police have yet to identify the man who shot Lemus beyond saying that the person was male.
FCPD has offered a cash reward of $2,000 for tips and information related to the homicide.
The FCPD says it does not have any new information to release at the moment about the murder, and the department is still asking anyone who has information to call police or submit tips anonymously.
A reader who alerted Reston Now about last night’s police activity said that they were driving up Reston Parkway at around 11:20 p.m. when they saw parked police cars with their lights flashing at several intersections, including Glade Drive, South Lakes Drive, and Colts Neck Road.
They also noted that a helicopter was circling overhead in the Hunters Woods and Reston National Golf Course areas.
Police Seek Help in Search for Missing Lorton Woman — Fairfax County police are offering a $20,000 reward for information about the disappearance of 72-year-old Lorton resident Emily Lu, who was last seen at an Aldi in Woodbridge on June 3. Homicide detectives are now involved in the case, as police suspect foul play. [WTOP]
Woman Robbed at Herndon ATM — “Town of Herndon Police are investigating a robbery that took place recently at an ATM on Elden Street, according to the weekly crime report. Around 8:30 a.m., on June 5, a woman told police she was at an ATM in the 300 block of Elden Street when to people approached her and demanded money.” [Patch]
Attorney General Nominees Hold First General Election Debate — Incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring and Republican challenger Jason Miyares each presented the other’s vision as “radical wrong turns” for Virginia in a debate yesterday, the first since the Democratic primary wrapped up last week. Herring highlighted his support for police reform and stricter gun regulations, while Miyares criticized his opponent as having “a criminal first, victim last mind-set.” [The Washington Post]
Reston Community Center Recognizes Volunteers — “We love our RCC volunteers! Thank you for all that you do to build community. We enjoyed being with you June 12 for the Volunteer Appreciation celebration.” [RCC/Instagram]
Reston Hospital Gives Scholarships to Local Students — South Lakes High School students Virag Ellen Murphy and Emma Lynch are among 16 high school seniors in Fairfax and Loudoun counties to receive scholarships from Reston Hospital Center. The hospital’s medical staff awards $13,000 in scholarships every year to local high schools in support of students who plan to pursue a career in health care. [HCA Virginia]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Fairfax County Clears COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist — The Fairfax County Health Department’s vaccine waitlist is now at zero, according to its data dashboard. That means everyone who registered before the county entered Phase 2 on April 18 has now been invited to schedule an appointment. The department registered a total of 435,981 people. [FCHD]
Northam Raises Capacity Limits for School Performances — “Northam said the spectator cap for school performances, including musicals, is increasing to a maximum of 100 attendees for indoor venues — a substantial boost from the previous limit of 50. Outdoor venues will be allowed to welcome up to 500 people.” [WTOP]
Herndon Police Make Arrest in Two-Year-Old Robbery Attempt — A 20-year-old Herndon man has been charged with multiple counts of robbery, assault by mob, and gang participation, among other charges, for an incident that took place on June 18, 2019. According to police, two people had tried to grab a man’s cell phone while he was going for a walk but ran when the robbery attempt proved unsuccessful. [Herndon PD]
Herndon Contractor Buoyed by Space Rover Work — “By spring, coming off a successful mission to help NASA land the Perseverance on Mars and having acquired two big-name companies — a section of Northrup Grumman and Perspecta — Peraton will soon employ 24,000 people and bring in $7 billion in revenue.” [Inside NoVA]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Local police have made a second arrest in the shooting death of a Reston man in late November of last year.
Earlier this week, the Herndon Police Department arrested and charged Jameel Byrd, 20, of Herndon on charges of second-degree murder and robbery.
Byrd’s brother — Jason Byrd, 20, of Herndon — was arrested in November on charges on second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Police believe the brothers shot and killed Julian Rashad Martin, a 30-year-old resident, near the 1000 block of Queens Court.
The case remains under investigation.
Photo via Herndon Police Department
A man was robbed at gunpoint by three juveniles in Reston on Jan. 10, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Two juveniles were arrested and charged with robbery and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, police said. Information about the third juvenile involved in the incident was not available.
Police believe the man was waiting at 4 p.m. near the 1500 block of Cameron Crescent Drive when the juveniles robbed the man at gunpoint and ran away.
No other information about the incident was released.
Local police are turning to the public to identify a suspect in a robbery that happened earlier this month.
Shortly before 9 pm on Dec. 3, a man allegedly stole property from a woman who was walking in the 13500 block of Virginia Randolph Avenue.
The man is described as dark to medium skinned, between 25 and 35 years of age, medium build, and approximately 5’10” tall.Â
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Reston District Criminal Investigation Section at 7703-478-0208.
Photo via FCPD