A man from Centreville is facing firearm and animal cruelty charges after allegedly shooting his neighbor’s dog multiple times, resulting in the animal’s death.
According to Fairfax County police, 33-year-old Roman Vyacheslavov Gorelov shot a 2-year-old yellow Labrador and beagle mix after an argument with the dog’s owner at the Stonegate Faircrest Condominiums Friday morning (Nov. 11):
Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau preliminarily determined Gorelov exchanged words with the owner of the Labrador mix in the breezeway of the apartments. Gorelov then displayed a firearm and shot the dog. The owner picked up the dog and ran away from the breezeway. Gorelov followed the man then shot the dog several more times.
Officers responded to the scene in the 5100 block of Brittney Elyse Circle at 9:47 a.m. and found the dog’s owner next to the animal near a playground, police said.
They were told that Gorelov “returned to his nearby apartment” after the shooting, according to police.
“Officers contacted Gorelov by phone, and he surrendered to police. The dog was taken to a nearby veterinarian hospital and pronounced deceased,” the Fairfax County Police Department said.
Gorelov has been charged with animal cruelty and reckless discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school — both felonies. The Stonegate Faircrest Condos are just south of I-66 near Arrowhead Park and Colin Powell Elementary School.
Detectives located a firearm while conducting a search of Gorelov’s apartment, according to police.
Gorelov is currently in being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
A D.C. Public Schools bus driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated and child endangerment after going off-road with a bus full of 44 children and four adults.
The incident occurred as the children were returning from a trip to Cox Farms in Centreville. In a press conference last night, streamed by ABC7, Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) Captain Rachel Levy said the driver drove off the road, hit a rock, and flattened the rear tire.
“It’s obviously a very concerning situation,” Levy said. “We expect our children to go to school and come home safe every day, to include if they’re on a field trip. So this is very concerning and I believe this is something that Dc public schools will be taking very seriously.”
Levy said staff members were eventually able to get the driver to stop in a parking lot in the 1500 block of Conference Center Drive in Chantilly.
The children were transferred to the Fairfax Criminal Justice Academy in Chantilly.
Levy said officers who responded quickly realized Reynolds was intoxicated and he later tested with a blood alcohol content of .20. The legal limit is .08.
He noted the other bus on the field trip was placed out of service for safety violations and the driver was also cited for not having a valid commercial driver’s license. A replacement bus that showed up also had a similar safety violation and the bus driver did not have a valid commercial driver’s license.
Fairfax County Public Schools eventually provided two buses that transported the students back into D.C.
(Updated at 1:50 p.m.) An adult man was severely beaten by a group of men in the parking lot of in Centreville, police say.
Officers were dispatched to 14114 Lee Highway around 12:03 a.m. on Sunday (Oct. 16) for the reported assault.
Allegedly a patron of The Revolution Darts & Billiards, a sports bar and pool hall in the shopping center, the man suffered severe blunt force trauma from getting kicked in the head, according to scanner traffic.
“The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries that were considered life-threatening,” the Fairfax County Police Department told FFXnow. “The victim’s injuries have since improved and no longer considered life-threatening.”
FCPD detectives preliminarily believe the assault was “an isolated incident,” but an investigation is still underway. No arrests have been made yet, the department said.
Alan Henney contributed to this report. Photo via Google Maps
The I-66 Express Lanes connecting Route 29 in Gainsville to Route 28 in Centreville are set to open this weekend, ahead of schedule.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) made the announcement Friday (Sept. 2), touting that the opening of the western part of its highway widening project will help congestion on I-66 “sooner than originally planned.”
“We are pleased to join our 66 Express Lanes project partners in opening the first segment of one of Virginia’s largest megaprojects ahead of schedule,” VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich said in the press release. “By opening the western segment of the new 66 Express Lanes early, we are able to start delivering congestion relief to I-66 travelers sooner than originally planned.”
The 9-mile stretch of road opening this weekend connects the Route 28 interchange in Centreville to Prince William County. Officials said opening that section now will help motorists get used to the new traffic patterns before the rest of the lanes open later this year.
Extending to the Capital Beltway interchange in Dunn Loring, the remaining 13 miles of express lanes are scheduled to open by December.
“This is an important step in opening the new 66 Express Lanes, allowing customers to begin to experience the benefits that the new managed lanes and project enhancements will provide, and helping to ensure a great customer experience when the full corridor opens at the end of the year,” Javier Guiterrez, CEO for the private contractor I-66 Express Mobility Partners, said.
I would watch hours of lane-striping content.
Check out the 35-second mark of this vid for lane striping on the new I-66 Express Lanes near Centreville.https://t.co/kCWBWO19NK pic.twitter.com/oJq0aUNfGB
— Jordan Pascale🎙️ (@JWPascale) September 2, 2022
Overall, the nearly-complete $3.7 billion project mostly centered in Fairfax County will bring widened roads with toll lanes and potentially make room for mass transit projects, while also rebuilding a number of bridges spanning the highway.
There will also be 11 miles of shared-use trails between Fairfax and Prince William counties.
Work began in late 2017 and is expected to finish in mid-2023, though the remaining express lanes will open to traffic a few months prior to that.
I-66 will still have three general traffic, toll-free lanes in the eastbound and westbound directions. The project is adding two high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in each direction.
Buses, carpoolers, and motorcyclists will be able to use those lanes for free, while all other motorists will pay a toll based on real-time traffic conditions. The lanes expand the 10 miles of toll lanes between the Beltway and D.C. that opened in 2017.
The project also includes the construction of dedicated on- and off-ramps at Route 234/Sudley Road, Route 28, and Braddock and Walney Roads. Drivers will be able to access the Express Lanes from several general-purpose lanes, including near Route 28.
The I-66 Express Lanes construction is a result of a public-private partnership between VDOT and I-66 Express Mobility Partners, which will maintain and operate the HOT lanes under the 50-year agreement.
Person Hospitalized After Vienna Shooting — “Officers are in the 8400 blk of Wesleyan St in Vienna for a shooting. Prelim info, a man shot a roommate inside the home. Victim taken to hospital w/non-life-threatening inj. Suspect is in custody.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Report: Police Declare Personnel Emergency — “Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis and senior staff declared a personnel emergency Thursday, according to a police source, which means mandatory overtime for police officers as FCPD grapples with an ongoing police officer shortage.” [ABC7]
Affordable Housing Projects Get State Funds — Virginia has awarded more than $27 million in state loans for affordable and special needs housing projects, including two in Fairfax County, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office announced last week. The county’s recipients were the Autumn Willow project near Centreville and the One University project by George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. [Patch]
Argument Leads to Stabbing in Centreville — A 32-year-old woman from Falls Church stabbed another woman in the 5700 block of Ottawa Road last Tuesday (July 26) after they got into a dispute, Fairfax County police say. The woman was arrested and charged with malicious wounding. The victim received treatment for injuries not considered life threatening. [FCPD]
Herndon Education Company Plans Reston Move — “Stride Inc. will start the school year in drastically smaller space in a new building. The Herndon educational-technology company is slashing its local office space by more than 80% — moving out of approximately 129,000 feet of office space in Herndon and into 22,000 square feet in a new office it will officially open this fall in Reston’s Plaza America.” [Washington Business Journal]
Instagram Account Shows Maintenance Issues at McLean HS — “The bio for the account @mclean.rot on Instagram reads, ‘The best single word to define this school is ‘gross.” With 71 posts, the anonymous student owner of @mclean.rot has been posting an unvarnished look at McLean High School since February, detailing for all a need for serious maintenance.” [Fairfax County Times]
Chantilly Park Gets Grant to Monitor Water — “Fairfax Water recently awarded Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Friends a Water Supply and Protection Grant in the amount of $1,437 in support of ECLP’s water quality monitoring program…This grant will provide funding for on-site water quality monitoring to address potential pollution threats from nearby construction projects.” [FCPA]
Kings Park Neighborhood Gets Spotlight — “Aside from the people and neighborhood celebrations, the amenities and surrounding businesses have also compelled residents to stay in the area. Charlotte Hannagan, a resident since 2014 and Kings Park Civic Association vice president of social outreach, noted that there’s so much within walking distance of the neighborhood.” [The Washington Post]
It’s Monday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 84 and low of 71. Sunrise at 6:11 am and sunset at 8:22 pm. [Weather.gov]
Judge Orders Records Release in Reston Homicide Case — Fairfax County Circuit Judge Brett A. Kassabian denied a motion to seal records related to a double homicide that occurred in Reston in 2017. In a case that may not see trial until mid-2023, Nicholas Giampa has been indicted on murder charges in the shooting and killing of his girlfriend’s mother and stepfather. [The Washington Post]
Driver Charged in Route 1 Hit-and-Run — “Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit have charged the driver of the 2007 Toyota Camry from the July 6 fatal pedestrian crash. The driver, Diego Juarez Gomez, 19, of Maryland was traveling south on Richmond Highway, struck McPhail in the roadway and did not stop at the scene.” [FCPD]
Former West Potomac HS Soccer Coach Cleared of Hazing Allegation — A Fairfax County Child Protective Services investigation recently cleared Ahmad Sasso of wrongdoing during his 8-year tenure as head coach of West Potomac High School’s soccer team. A parent accused him in April of “hazing a player to the point of injury,” prompting his resignation. [ABC7]
Tree Falls Through Oakton House — “A house in Fairfax County is damaged after a massive tree fell on it Saturday night. Officials say that the house impacted is on the 11600 block of Ayreshire Rd. in Oakton, Virginia and that damages are extensive. No one was at the home when the tree hit the colonial-style house because officials say that the owners were out of town for vacation.” [WUSA9]
Man Threatens Sports Bar in Centreville — A 31-year-old man faces multiple charges after allegedly threatening to burn down The Revolution (14114 Lee Highway) on July 16. The man was trespassed and then arrested when he returned later, displaying a handgun. No injuries were reported in connection to the incident. [FCPD]
Sidewalk Replacement Today in Vienna — “A sidewalk replacement project is scheduled to take place this upcoming Monday, July 25 (weather permitting) along Courthouse Road between 423 Courthouse Road and 429 Courthouse Road. Traffic patterns may be affected along this route. Please use caution.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
CIA Marks 75th Anniversary Tomorrow — “The Central Intelligence Agency in Langley is turning 75-years-young on Tuesday, July 26…Not everyone was happy McLean was chosen as the location for the headquarters. Northern Virginians pushed back at the powers that be to the point that they considered building it where the Kennedy Center is now.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Retired Nationals Star Buys McLean Mansion — “Following his retirement from the Washington Nationals, Ryan Zimmerman is making real estate moves. Property records show that the former slugger paid $11 million for a brand-new build in McLean, VA. The purchase comes after the All-Star listed his longtime home in Great Falls, VA, in April for $8.5 million.” [Realtor]
It’s Monday — Rain in the afternoon and evening. High of 87 and low of 76. Sunrise at 6:05 am and sunset at 8:28 pm. [Weather.gov]
The design phase of the planned Route 28 widening is nearly complete.
The $87 million project will widen Route 28 — also known as Centreville Road — from four to six lanes between Bull Run bridge and the Upper Ridge/Old Centreville Road intersection.
It also includes widenings of intersecting streets next to Route 28, the installation of new signals at five currently signalized intersections, four noise barriers, and the construction of new drainage improvements, including storm water and storm management facilities.
Robin Geiger, a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, said that the project is designed to allow for future expansion, if needed. So far, designs are 95% complete.
“The project has been designed to allow for future widening of Route 28 to eight lanes, as needed and as funding is available,” Geiger wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
FCDOT plans to hold an online meeting on May 11 from noon to 1:30 p.m. to provide an update about the status of the project, upcoming activities and the overall schedule and process.
The project is expected to be completed by the winter of 2023-2024, according to the county. Substantial completion on construction is anticipated in the fall of 2023.
The department has provided right-of-way plans for phase two of the project online. Staff from Shirley contracting company will also be on hand to answer questions.
The meeting can be accessed via Microsoft Teams or over the phone at 571-429-5982 with access code 901 419 848#.
So far, land rights — including right-of-way, temporary easements, and permanent easements — will be acquired from 48 properties. No buildings or structures will be demolished for the project.
Geiger anticipated that all land rights will be acquired by the end of the year or early 2023. Construction on the project began in September 2021.
I-66 will be complete closed to traffic in Centreville during overnight hours, starting at today (Friday).
Detours will redirect traffic at the Route 28 underpass, as construction continues on the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project. Workers will continue bridge beam installation for new access ramps to rebuild the interchange, the Virginia Department of Transportation said in a news release.
All lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. on weekends and 5 a.m. on weekdays.
I-66 East lane closures
Workers will fully close eastbound lanes on the interstate tonight from 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., but the route will be partially open a half hour before as well as an hour after that timeframe.
I-66 East lane closures will also occur from 10 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) to 6 a.m. on Sunday (May 1), and on Monday through Wednesday nights (May 2-4) from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Lane closures will vary, but drivers should expect stoppages most nights.
I-66 West lane closures
Westbound lanes will fully close from 11 p.m. on Saturday to 4:30 a.m. on Sunday as well as Monday through Wednesday nights. Partial closures will begin an hour before those times each night. The road will partially reopen between 4:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays, or 6 a.m. on the weekend.
Detour to follow same path on Route 28
Both eastbound and westbound drivers on I-66 will head north on Route 28 then weave through the Westfields Boulevard interchange to circle back south on Route 28 back to the interstate.
There will be signage to direct traffic.
Photo via Fairfax County
Tennis player Lea Blinder practiced with a Slinger ball feeder machine yesterday (Wednesday) at Chalet Woods Park in Centreville, happy to hear that the courts there are slated for repairs.
The Arlington resident, who plays tennis at Chalet Woods a few times a week, was working on her swing before her lesson that afternoon. The three courts are surrounded by towering trees in a cul-de-sac by homes.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, noting that families also enjoy the park.
Expected to undergo repairs and get new color coating for its tennis courts and a basketball court, Chalet Woods is one of five parks across Fairfax County in line for court maintenance and renovations projects this year.
George Washington Park court demolition begins
One of the biggest scheduled overhauls will be at George Washington Park in Mount Vernon (8426 Old Mt. Vernon Road), where the Fairfax County Park Authority has proposed converting the four existing tennis courts into six dedicated pickleball courts and two shared-use courts with lines for both sports.
The county announced on Wednesday (April 27) that a vendor will begin preparing the GW Park courts this week for demolition. The courts are expected to be closed for four months for resurfacing process, depending on the weather.
“Once new asphalt is laid, the courts will sit undisturbed for a period of two to four weeks to allow the color coating to adhere properly,” the park authority said in its news release. “New fencing and nets will be installed once the color coatings have set and the courts are ready to open again.”
People can comment on the proposal through May 27 to 65533@PublicInput.com. The plan is expected to be finalized in early June.
Maintenance needs pave way for pickleball additions
As illustrated by the GW project and a similar renovation planned at Lewinsville Park in McLean, the park authority is using the schedule for repairing and resurfacing many tennis courts as an occasion to make upgrades and add new facilities, especially for pickleball.
“We’ll be nearly doubling the amount of pickleball courts that we have in the next two years,” FCPA Project Manager Adam Wynn said at a March 23 board meeting.
Building on a pickleball study from December, the county plans to create 37 to 42 additional pickleball courts, most of which could take place in coming months, the park authority reported at that meeting.
According to spokesperson Judy Pederson, the FCPA will undertake court maintenance and renovation projects this year and next at Chalet Woods, George Washington, Lewinsville, McLean Central Park, and Dowden Terrace Park near Bailey’s Crossroads.
“As always, [work is] weather dependent and contractor availability will determine how far we get,” she said in an email.
Another serious crash on New Braddock Road in Centreville came on Monday (April 4).
According to Fairfax County police, a Kia traveling west on the road sped past Route 28’s six lanes of traffic, injuring two people and causing them to be entrapped.
The crash happened around 1:50 a.m. when the vehicle hit an embankment, went airborne, and traveled through a strand of trees, a police officer said in a court document. The impact tore the engine away from the vehicle.
Both the 42-year-old driver and her passenger were taken to the hospital with significant injuries, the officer said. Emergency room staff found two glass smoking devices in the driver’s clothing, and a male passenger suggested alcohol and drugs may have been involved, according to the officer.
The driver said she had no recollection of the crash or events leading up to it and denied drinking alcohol or using drugs, according to the court document.
Singletons Way intersection scrutinized
Monday’s crash was the sixth so far this year on New Braddock Road and the second resulting in injuries, according to data from a Virginia traffic crash database.
Of 20 crashes recorded on the road in 2021, 13 were between Route 28 and Montiero Drive, and all four incidents resulting in injuries occurred in the area of the intersection at Singletons Way, raising concerns about safety among community members.
One crash on the evening of Oct. 9 at that intersection caused six injuries.
Others involved a driver under the influence of alcohol on July 21 at 8:17 p.m., where two people were injured, and a distracted driver at 10:15 a.m. Jan. 26 of this year near the intersection, according to the database.
When asked about mitigation and prevention efforts, Fairfax County Police Department said there weren’t initiatives currently happening there, but traffic enforcement units at the station would assess the intersection.
“Our commanders constantly look for feedback from the community to help us allocate our resources,” police said in a statement.
VDOT said police would have more information about specific crashes, but a spokesperson said she would check with traffic engineering staff.
A community member on the social media site Nextdoor said police are aware of the problem. Residents were discussing the safety of the New Braddock Road and Singletons Way intersection.
The state traffic database indicates that speed was a factor in some crashes at the intersection in 2019 and 2020, but that wasn’t the case last year or this year so far at that particular intersection.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation did not return a request for comment by publication time.
Photo via Google Maps
