News of crime and punishment in Fairfax County.
ARMED CARJACKERS STEAL BMW IN TYSONS: A victim was sitting in his BMW M4 in the 1900 block of Chain Bridge Road in Tysons on June 1 at 5:01 p.m. when two men approached, Fairfax County police said.
One man displayed a firearm, demanded the victim’s keys and took the BMW, police said.
No injuries were reported.
ALEXANDRIA MAN ARRESTED ON ASSAULT, LARCENY CHARGES IN TYSONS: A 27-year-old Alexandria man on June 2 at 2:50 p.m. allegedly took merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue in Tysons Galleria, 2050 International Drive, without paying, Fairfax County police said.
When confronted by a store employee, the man allegedly assaulted the victim and ran from the area.
Officers found the suspect nearby and arrested him on charges of grand larceny, assault and battery, and trespassing. No injuries were reported.
DOG INJURED, GROUNDHOG EUTHANIZED AFTER SCUFFLE IN VIENNA: A resident’s dog trapped a groundhog under the deck of a residence in the 100 block of Yeonas Circle, S.E., on May 26 at 8:45 a.m., Vienna police said.
The dog suffered numerous scratches and bites from the groundhog.
A Vienna animal-control officer euthanized the groundhog and transported it to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter for rabies testing. The officer advised the resident to take the dog to the veterinarian for booster vaccines and the required 45-day quarantine.
On May 31, the Health Department advised the officer that the rabies test on the groundhog was negative.
VIENNA POLICE GUARD SCHOOL AFTER RECEIVING REPORT OF ERRATIC MAN: On May 27 between 2:45 and 3:15 p.m. Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office notified Vienna police of an incident in their jurisdiction where a man was acting suspiciously at a school.
A relative of the man told authorities the man had been acting erratically.
The Sheriff’s Office believed the man had traveled to Vienna and was in the area near Vienna Elementary School on Center Street, S.
Vienna police searched the area, but did not locate the man. At the school administration’s request, officers remained at the school until all of the students left for the day.
POLICE: MAN THREATENS OFFICER WITH SCISSORS IN VIENNA: A Vienna officer observed a man suspiciously looking into parked cars in the 200 block of Park Street, N.E., on May 29 at 2:23 p.m., police said.
The officer stopped to speak to the man as he was walking through a resident’s private property. The man refused to cooperate with the officer and began to walk away, police said.
When the officer attempted to stop the man, he allegedly pulled a pair of scissors on the officer. The officer was able to disarm the man and take him into custody. Rescue personnel responded to evaluate the man.
After he was medically cleared, Vienna police took the 29-year-old man with no fixed address to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where authorities charged him with disorderly conduct.
At the request of the resident whose property the suspect crossed, police banned the man from her property and told him he would be arrested if he returned.
MAN CHARGED WITH PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS AFTER 7-ELEVEN INCIDENT: An employee at 7-Eleven, 427 Maple Ave., E., told Vienna police on May 29 at 3:41 p.m. that a man was being disruptive and refusing to leave the store.
Upon the officers’ interaction with the man, they detected signs of impairment, police said.
Police arrested the 57-year-old Alexandria man and took him to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where authorities charged him with being drunk in public.
VIENNA RESIDENT REPORTS SUSPICIOUS MAN TAKING PHOTOS NEAR PARK: A local resident told Vienna police on May 31 at 10 a.m. that a suspicious man was taking pictures near Meadow Lane Park, 400 Courthouse Road, S.W.
STORE EMPLOYEE: MAN THREATENED TO URINATE ON MATTRESS: An employee at Mattress Firm, 116 Maple Ave., W., on May 30 at 10:57 a.m. requested that Vienna police intervene with a person who allegedly was threatening to urinate on the store’s mattresses.
VIENNA POLICE KEPT ON THEIR TOES AT FESTIVAL: Vienna police over Memorial Day weekend responded to several incidents at the ViVa! Vienna! festival.
• On May 29 at 2:59 p.m., a vendor set up at Mill and Church streets, N.E., at the festival told Vienna police that a juvenile had stolen a beverage from his booth.
The vendor did not want to pursue charges, but wanted the youth banned from his booth for the remainder of the festival.
An officer verbally counseled the juvenile about the theft in his parent’s presence, and advised him that he might be charged with trespassing if he returned to the booth.
• On May 29 4:50 p.m., a vendor selling wristbands at Church and Mill streets, N.E., for the rides at ViVa! Vienna! approached a Vienna police officer with a juvenile and told police the juvenile had stolen about 100 wristbands from him.
The vendor did not wish to prosecute, but requested the youth be banned from the festival. An officer contacted the juvenile’s parent, who responded to take custody of her son. The officer counseled the juvenile about the larceny.
• On May 29 at 8 p.m., a local resident told Vienna police she had been involved in a verbal altercation with a man at the festival regarding her clothing choice.
• On May 29 at 9:10 p.m., a local resident told Vienna police that her cell phone had been stolen while she was in the vicinity of Dominion Road and Ayr Hill Avenue, N.E., at the festival.
• On May 29 at 9:25 p.m., a vendor at the ViVa! Vienna! festival told Vienna police that a juvenile had been attempting to enter a locked trailer in the 200 block of Mill Street, N.E. The vendor did not wish to pursue charges. An officer counseled the youth, trespassed him from the festival and released him to a parent.
• On May 30 at 12:20 p.m. near Church Street and Dominion Road, N.W., a man reportedly stole $20 from the pocket of a juvenile who was participating in the ViVa! Vienna! festivities.
• On May 28 at 1:30 p.m., an unmarked Vienna police vehicle was parked at a designated post at 120 Church St., N.E., for the festival. A motorist approached the post on Church Street, N.E., and then attempted to make a U-turn. While doing so, the motorist backed into the rear of the police vehicle. There was no noticeable damage to the striking vehicle and minor damage to the police car.
POLICE: VEHICLES TOTALED AFTER DRIVER RUNS STOP SIGN: A motorist was traveling westbound on Echols Street, S.E., on May 28 at 6:21 p.m. and proceeded through the street’s intersection with Mashie Drive, S.E., Vienna police said.
Another motorist traveling southbound on Mashie Drive, S.E., disregarded a stop sign and struck the other vehicle, totalling both, Vienna police said.
The driver of struck vehicle sustained minor cuts to his arm, but declined treatment. The driver and passenger of striking vehicle were uninjured.
Police issued the driver of the striking vehicle a warning citation for failure to pay full time and attention.
UNOCCUPIED CAMPER BURGLARIZED IN VIENNA: Vienna police on May 30 at 11:01 a.m. responded to reports that someone had broken into an unoccupied camper in the 200 block of Mill Street, N.E., and stolen a large amount of money.
WOMAN REPORTS HIGH-VALUE CHECK FRAUD IN VIENNA: A local woman told Vienna police on May 30 at 3:28 p.m. that someone fraudulently had negotiated a check for a large amount from an account she manages at a bank in the 300 block of Maple Ave., W.
VIENNA POLICE KICK OFF ENFORCEMENT EFFORT, ESPECIALLY FOR STOP SIGNS: The Vienna Police Department is kicking off a traffic-safety campaign during which officers throughout June will enforce all traffic laws, specifically stop-sign violations.
Police are undertaking the initiative because of an increase in citizen complaints about stop-sign violations, plus officers’ own observations in the field, said Capt. Tom Taylor.
“We’ll keep track over everything we’re doing and still have ongoing enforcement,” he said. “Warnings will be given at the officers’ discretion.”
Officers will be out in force to ticket and remind drivers that upon reaching a stop sign or a solid or flashing red light, they must come to a complete stop before entering the crosswalk, intersection or stop line.
Under certain circumstances – such as if a motorist runs a stop sign and then strikes a pedestrian – police may cite the stop-sign violation as reckless driving, officials said.
Drivers receiving a ticket for a stop-sign or red-light violation will incur a fine and have three demerit points assessed to their driving record.