News of crime and punishment across Fairfax County.
WRONG-WAY CRASH ON BELTWAY IN TYSONS KILLS 2: Virginia State Police are investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on May 17 in Tysons that killed both drivers and critically injured a passenger.
The crash occurred at 10:15 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 495 near Exit 46 for Chain Bridge Road.
A 2021 Mazda 3 was traveling south in the northbound lanes of I-495 when it struck head-on a 2015 Buick Encore. The crash’s impact caused the Buick to catch fire, state police said.
The Mazda’s driver, Kaan Karabekir, 28, of Bethesda, died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. The Buick’s driver of the Buick, Patrick Mullins, 32, of Catlett, Va., was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He also died at the scene.
Rescue personnel transported an adult female passenger in the Buick to Inova Fairfax Hospital and then on to Washington Hospital Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries and burns sustained in the crash.
The crash remains under investigation, police said.
VIENNA POLICE ARREST SCHOOL-BUS DRIVER, ASSISTANT ON FELONY CHARGES: Vienna police on March 18 responded to a verbal altercation at a school-bus stop between a Fairfax County Public Schools bus driver and a child’s parent.
The parent’s child had been injured on the bus while riding home from school, Vienna police said. Rescue personnel from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department transported the child to an area hospital for treatment at the family’s request. Authorities later determined that the 3-year-old special-needs child had suffered a severe head injury.
The Vienna Police Department, Fairfax County Child Protective Services and Fairfax County Public Schools launched independent follow-up investigations. With the cooperation of the school system, Vienna police concluded the bus driver and attendant had failed to provide proper care to the child.
In consultation commonwealth’s attorney, Vienna police detectives obtained warrants charging the bus driver – Rqia Tabite, 36, of Falls Church – and attendant – Teresa Wessells, 70, of Falls Church – with one count each of abuse and neglect of a child, a class 4 felony.
Vienna police obtained the warrants May 19 and the next day Fairfax County police took both suspects into custody and brought them before a magistrate. Authorities released both on unsecured bonds.
The child is not being identified at this time, but is at home with his family and receiving necessary treatment, Vienna police said.
VIENNA POLICE INVESTIGATING STRING OF CAR VANDALISMS: First, it was a rash of catalytic-converter thefts that kept Vienna police hopping earlier this year. Now vandals have been damaging vehicles’ windows.
Vienna police on May 17 received four reports of vandalism on vehicles parked on two streets:
• At 2:18 a.m., a man living in the 300 block of Windover Ave., N.W., reported someone had smashed the windshield of his vehicle.
• At 2:19 a.m., a woman living on the 300 block of Windover Ave., N.W., told police someone had smashed the rear window of her vehicle.
• At 2:45 a.m., a woman living in the 300 block of Holmes Drive, N.W., told police someone had smashed the windshield of her vehicle.
• At 2:45 a.m., a man living in the 300 block of Holmes Drive, N.W., reported that someone had smashed the windshield of his vehicle.
MAN DISPLAYS KNIFE DURING ATTEMPTED ROBBERY IN TYSONS: A man approached a victim in a parking lot in the 1900 block of Kidwell Drive in Tysons on May 12 at 8:20 a.m. and displayed a knife, Fairfax County police said.
The victim ran away, no property was taken and no injuries were reported, police sad.
VIENNA POLICE ARREST WOMAN FOR DRUNK DRIVING, RESISTING ARREST: Vienna police on May 13 at 8:54 p.m. dispatched officers to the area of Maple Avenue, E., and Branch Road, S.E., to investigate a report of a reckless driver.
Police located the vehicle and observed the driver commit several traffic offenses. An officer initiated a traffic stop and upon interacting with the driver detected signs of impairment. After the driver failed to complete a series of field-sobriety tests, the officer tried to place her under arrest when the driver began to resist, police said.
Police transported the 33-year-old Gaithersburg woman to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where she provided a sample of her blood for analysis. Authorities charged the woman with driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest and held her on a $2,000 unsecured bond.
DISORDERLY MAN BANNED FROM VIENNA SCHOOL PROPERTY: An administrator at Cedar Lane School told Vienna police on May 16 at 9:24 a.m. that a man had come into the school’s office on May 12, inquired about how to submit an employment application with them and become disorderly with one of the employees.
The following day, the man was observed walking around the school’s property, police said.
On May 16, the man returned to the school again. Officers located the man as he was walking on Cedar Lane and, at the request of the school’s administration, banned him from the school property.
Police advised the man he would be charged with trespassing if he returned.
WOMAN REPORTS DAUGHTER SAFE AFTER ATTEMPTED EXTORTION CALL: An employee at Cunningham Park Elementary School told Vienna police that on, May 16 between noon and 5:49 p.m., she had received suspicious phone calls at work from a man who stated he was with her daughter and was going to kidnap her unless she paid him.
The employee immediately called her daughter and found that she was safe and the call was a hoax, police said.
VIENNA POLICE SERVE MAN WARRANT FOR VIOLATING PROTECTIVE ORDER: A woman living in the 200 block of Yeonas Drive, S.W., told Vienna police on May 6 at 11:32 p.m. that she had been assaulted by her roommate in violation of a protective order.
The roommate contended that it was the resident who assaulted him.
Police advised both parties of the warrant process should they wish to pursue charges. The woman obtained a misdemeanor warrant for her roommate, which charged him with violating a protective order.
Vienna police on May 12 served the warrant on the 35-year-old man and released him on his signature.
SEX OFFENDER CHARGED AFTER LOITERING TOO CLOSE TO CHILD-CARE PROGRAM: An employee at Vienna Baptist Church, 541 Marshall Road, S.W., told Vienna police on May 18 at 1:53 p.m. that a suspicious man was sitting in front of the church, near the playground and preschool.
She further stated the same man had been seen there at the same time for the past several days.
Officers located the man and, upon their interaction with him, found that he was a registered sex offender. Police arrested the 71-year-old Vienna man and took him to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where authorities charged him with being a sex offender loitering within 100 feet of a child-care program.
EMPLOYEE SURPRISES BURGLAR IN TYSONS; NOTHING TAKEN: A man forced entry into Arabica Tobacco, 8453 Tyco Road, Suite F, in Tysons on May 18 at 10:39 p.m. and was confronted by an employee, Fairfax County police said.
The man ran away and nothing was taken, police said.
FURNITURE STOLEN FROM BALCONY AT VIENNA SALON: Someone on May 5 at 10:13 a.m. stole a furniture set from the balcony at Leyli’s Style, 111 Church Street, N.W., Suite 204, Vienna police said.
PLANTS STOLEN FROM SALE AT FREEMAN STORE: Between May 9 at 1 p.m. and May 12 at noon, someone stole plants from the plant sale at the Freeman Store & Museum 131 Church St., N.E., Vienna police said.
MAN’S WALLET STOLEN FROM UNLOCKED CAR AT VIENNA DOG PARK: A local resident told Vienna police that on May 13 between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. while he was at the Vienna Dog Park, 700 Courthouse Road, S.W., someone stole his wallet from his unlocked vehicle and made unauthorized charges to his credit cards.
THIEF SMASHES CAR WINDOW, TAKES PURSE AT VIENNA SCHOOL: A local resident reported to Vienna that on May 13 between 6:05 and 8 p.m. someone smashed her car window at Vienna Elementary School, 128 Center St., S., and stole her purse from the passenger seat.
EMPLOYEE REPORTS GIFT-CARD THEFTS FROM CONVENIENCE STORE: An employee at 7-Eleven, 537 Maple Ave., W., told Vienna police that, sometime between May 18 at 4:40 p.m. and May 19 at 4:55 p.m., a man had stolen three gift cards.
MOTORIST LOSES CONTROL, CRASHES INTO CONSTRUCTION SITE: A motorist was traveling westbound near 380 Maple Avenue, W., on May 19 at 8:20 p.m. when the vehicle drifted across the eastbound lanes, drove up onto the curb, collided with a fence and pushed the fence into a compact construction loader before coming to a stop in front of a building being constructed there, Vienna police said.