News of crime and punishment across Fairfax County.
RELIGIOUS YOUTH LEADER ARRESTED ON SEXUAL-BATTERY CHARGES: Detectives from the Child Abuse Squad of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Major Crimes Bureau on Nov. 1 arrested a 75-year-old man for alleged sexual assaults that occurred at the Secular Institute Stabat Mater, 2001 Great Falls St. in McLean.
Detectives were notified Oct. 28 after a child disclosed to an adult that he had been sexually assaulted by a leader of the program. Detectives determined Antonio Perez-Alcala owned the McLean home where he operated the Secular Institute and that juveniles had attended private mentoring sessions, often in his bedroom.
The victim reportedly was sexually assaulted during the private sessions.
The detectives’ preliminary investigation has identified an additional victim, police said. Detectives executed a search warrant at the Secular Institute the evening of Nov. 1 and arrested Perez-Alcala. Authorities have charged him with nine counts of aggravated sexual battery and are holding him without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Since the mid-1990s, Perez-Alcala has held various positions throughout Northern Virginia where he had contact with young people. Detectives ask anyone who may have information about this case or believe Perez-Alcala had inappropriate contact with a child to call the Major Crimes Bureau at (703) 246-7800, option 3.
Perez-Alcala was affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Arlington from 1994 to 2008 in a non-ordained capacity, police said. Detectives are working with the diocese to determine if there were any additional victims.
ARMED MAN SOUGHT IN VIENNA-AREA COMMERCIAL ROBBERY: A man entered Tower Market & Deli, 9411 Lee Highway #U in the Vienna area on Oct. 29 at 3:33 p.m., displayed a firearm and took property, Fairfax County police said.
No injuries were reported.
MAN THREATENS VICTIM, STEALS PROPERTY IN ROBBERY: A man who was in the 7400 block of Lee Highway in the Falls Church area on Nov. 1 at 5:12 p.m. took a victim’s property by threatening force and left the area in a vehicle, Fairfax County police said.
No injuries were reported.
ITEMS STOLEN IN OAKTON COMMERCIAL BURGLARY: Someone forced entry into Associate Eye Care, 2960 Chain Bridge Road in Oakton, on Oct. 30 at 3:06 a.m. and took property, Fairfax County police said.
SLICE OF THE STRANGE: POLICE INVESTIGATE ODD INCIDENT ON TRAIL: A local resident informed Vienna police Nov. 3 about a suspicious event that had occurred between 8 and 8:44 p.m. on the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Trail near the 100 block of Maple Avenue, E.
A man repeatedly had offered the complainant a pizza and produced what appeared to be a firearm when the resident refused. The man then ran westbound on Maple Avenue, police said. Officers searched the area and found no one matching the description of the suspect the resident had described.
CONFLICTING STORIES EMERGE AFTER PROTESTERS, BUSINESS OWNER CLASH: Vienna police officers on Nov. 1 at 3:39 p.m. responded to the report of a possible assault between political protesters and a business owner in the 500 block of Maple Avenue, W.
The business owner told police he had gotten into a verbal altercation and allegedly was pushed by one of the protesters.
Other witnesses said that the rally was being held by a Virginia-based parents group and that the business owner reportedly had pushed his way into their group and begun verbally abusing them.
MAN BANNED FROM VIENNA STORE AFTER ALLEGED BELLIGERENCE: An employee at Wawa, 465 Maple Ave., W., told Vienna police on Oct. 30 at 11 p.m. that a man who continuously had been coming into the store and acting belligerently was back in the store.
The store manager told the man in the officer’s presence that he was banned from the premises and police advised him that he may be arrested if he returns to the store.
BICYCLIST CHARGED WITH BEING DRUNK IN PUBLIC: Vienna police officers on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. responded to assist in rescue efforts for an injured bicyclist in the 400 block of Tapawingo Road, S.E. Upon interacting with the bicyclist’s husband, police detected signs of impairment.
Rescue personnel transported the bicyclist to an area hospital for treatment of an injury described as non-life-threatening.
Police arrested her husband, a 31-year-old Falls Church man, and took him to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where authorities charged him with being with drunk in public.
EMPLOYEE FINDS FAKE ID CARDS IN VIENNA STORAGE BIN: An employee working in the 200 block of Cedar Lane, S.E., on Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. found various forms of false identification cards in a storage bin, Vienna police said.
FIRE DEPARTMENT GEARING UP FOR ‘TOYS FOR TOTS’: The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will be participating in the Annual National Capital Region Fire and EMS Departments’ 2021 “Toys for Tots” campaign, which aims to “bring holiday joy and deliver a message of hope to children,” officials said.
The department’s fire stations will accept donations through Sunday, Dec. 12.
In years past, the department’s firefighters and paramedics have welcomed residents who were donating toys at the fire stations. To minimize contact with firefighters and paramedics this year, the department will place collection boxes outside the front door of each station every morning.
Residents will be able to drop off toys until 8 p.m. each evening.
The department last year was able to provide the Marines with about 23,000 toys.
Children served by this campaign include toddlers and youths through age 17. The campaign will only accept new, unwrapped toys. Toys used as weapons or considered to be weapons (i.e., toy guns or knives of any kind) will not be accepted. Checks or money orders for donations must be made payable to Toys for Tots.