A 26-year-old man was arrested last month on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Vienna for brandishing a firearm after he became “aggressive” during a dog-related dispute.
Members of the Vienna Police Department responded to the trail on Dec. 21 after the 26-year-old — who had been told to stop whistling at the dog — began following the dog and its owner before pulling out a gun.
“The citizen reported that once he crossed Electric Avenue, he turned and asked the man to stop following him, and the man brandished a firearm,” the department said in its most recent weekly crime round-up, which covered Dec. 19 through Dec. 30, 2025. “After threatening the citizen, the man walked away, back to the trail, where officers located him a short time later.
The 26-year-old, who was identified only as a Falls Church resident, was charged with brandishing and assault. He is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.
Evicted tenant faces animal cruelty charges
The VPD also responded to the 100 block of Patrick Street SE on Dec. 18 and 19 after a previously-evicted tenant at the Vienna Park apartments had returned and allegedly broke into their old unit.
“Officers found the tenant asleep in the apartment and discovered they had gained entry by breaking a window,” the crime report said.
Numerous animals were located in the apartment, including a dog, a chicken, cats, fish, birds, mice, and more. Each of the animals was transported to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.
The 34-year-old woman, who had been evicted only hours earlier, was charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty, plus one count each of unlawful entry and destruction of property.
Vienna police help find driver in hit-and-run
The VPD also assisted the Prince William County Police Department on Dec. 20 with locating the owner of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run crash.
Officers responded to the 200 block of Park Terrace Court SE, where the 35-year-old driver lives. He was arrested and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where three outstanding warrants out of Prince William County were served on him.
The warrants for unlawful wounding, malicious wounding while being in a mob and grand larceny stemmed from a November 2024 incident involving “a fight amongst known parties,” a Prince William County Police Department spokesperson says.
According to the Prince William department, no criminal charges have been brought against the man in connection with the hit-and-run crash, so details about the incident, including whether anyone was injured, aren’t available.
