crime | FFXnow - Part 13

Morning Notes

Published April 4, 2022 at 7:30AM

A guard tower on the former Lorton Prison grounds, now turned into the Workhouse Arts Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Man Dies After Crash in Oakton — “A 78-year-old man has died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle crash that occurred at 2:01 p.m. on March 30 in Oakton. Thomas Peregoy of Alexandria was driving eastbound on Lawyers Road near Kedge Drive when his 2014 Toyota Tacoma drifted off the roadway to the right, striking a tree head on.” [FCPD]

Genomic Sequencing Could Help ID “Christmas Tree Lady” — “For 25 years, the Fairfax County police have tried and failed to identify ‘the Christmas Tree Lady,’ so named because she placed an 8-inch Christmas tree with gold balls and red ribbons on the clear plastic sheet she put on the ground…She is the only person to die by suicide in Fairfax whom authorities have been unable to identify, before or since.” [The Washington Post]

News

Herndon man charged with fraud and embezzlement in Loudoun

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 31, 2022 at 10:30AM

Fairfax County police car lights (file photo)

A 38-year-old man from Herndon was charged with larceny and fraud-related charges earlier this month.

Steven Canavan turned himself in to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on March 18 in connection with the 2021 incidents, according to a Wednesday (March 30) crime report.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 28, 2022 at 7:30AM

American flag blows in wind at Wolf Trap National Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

FCPD Officer Found Not Guilty in Taser Incident — “A jury found a Fairfax County, Virginia, police officer not guilty of using excessive force against a man in a June 2020 incident caught on body camera. The officer, Tyler Timberlake, who is white, had faced three misdemeanor assault and battery charges for tasering Lamonta Gladney, who is Black.” [NBC4]

Community Members Rally in Support of FCPS Librarians — “Nearly 70 people participated in a rally to support school librarians March 24 before a school board meeting at Luther Jackson Middle School. At the meeting, several people attacked librarians for supporting LGBTQ students’ rights.” [Annandale Today]

News

Vienna Police: School bus driver reports tailgating, assault by teens

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2022 at 10:30AM

A school bus in Vienna (file photo)

A fight broke out between a school bus driver and three teenagers, escalating into an assault, the bus driver told Vienna police last week.

According to the Vienna Police Department’s report for the week of March 11-17, the bus driver started following the teens’ vehicle after he observed them “driving erratically, running stop signs, and tailgating the bus.”

Countywide

Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2022 at 7:30AM

With March 20 as the first official day of spring, cherry blossom season has arrived (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax Station Doctor Sentenced for Fraud — Physician Leonard Rosen was sentenced on Friday (March 18) to two years of probation, with six months of at-home confinement for his involvement in an $8 million fraud scheme where doctors prescribed expensive drugs to patients in exchange for bribes from pharmacists. [The Washington Post]

Connolly Announces Reelection Bid — “On Thursday, March 17, during his 28th annual St. Patrick’s Day Fete, held online, [Rep. Gerry] Connolly announced he would seek reelection to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District…The newly-drawn 11th District lies within the boundaries of Fairfax County…and includes Tysons, Fairfax City, Chantilly, and Reston.” [Potomac Local News]

Countywide

FCPD should address ‘swatting’ incidents, panel says

By Brandi Bottalico

Published March 8, 2022 at 12:45PM | Updated March 10, 2022 at 11:38AM

Fairfax County police badge (via FCPD/Facebook)

(updated March 10) After receiving two complaints in the last year, Fairfax County’s Police Civilian Review Panel is recommending that the police department address swatting incidents before one turns tragic.

In its annual report, the panel urged the Fairfax County Police Department to adjust how it handles “swatting incidents” — when police are called on someone as a hoax, putting residents and officers in danger.

Countywide

FCPD charges Falls Church man in fatal Centreville shooting

By Brandi Bottalico

Published March 7, 2022 at 12:45PM

Fairfax County police cruiser with lights on (via FCPD/Facebook)

Fairfax County police have charged a 31-year-old Falls Church man with the Feb. 21 fatal shooting in Centreville.

Officers said Richard Kenneth Pearson IV went to the townhome in the London Towne area on the night that Amaru Amin Shabazz, 37, was killed. Police said Pearson was there to visit someone who lived there.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 3, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated July 5, 2022 at 6:35PM

Townhouses on Lake Audubon in Reston (photo by Marjorie Copson)

Man Charged With Assault on Police Officer — “Yesterday, Michael Vaughn, 34, was charged with five felonies and two misdemeanor charges stemming from the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Feb. 15 in 8300 block of Fitt Court in Lorton. He remains held at the Adult Detention Center without bond.” [FCPD/Twitter]

FCPS to End Virtual Learning This Year — With vaccines now available for school-age children, Fairfax County Public Schools will discontinue a limited virtual program for students with medical concerns due to the pandemic. At-home instruction will only be for students with significant health risks that prevent them from attending school in-person after this academic year. [FCPS]

News

Man shot and killed in London Towne area of Centreville

By Alan Henney

Published February 22, 2022 at 8:15AM | Updated February 22, 2022 at 8:51AM

Fairfax County police car lights (file photo)

Fairfax County police are investigating a fatal shooting that was reported just before 10 p.m. Monday in the 14800 block of Bodley Square. That is in the London Towne area of Centreville.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene. Sgt. Tara Gerhard, police spokeswoman, says this killing was not a random act and there is some sort of relationship between the victim and a man suspected of killing him.

News

Fairfax County Police report increase in homicides, drop in overall crime for 2021

By Brandi Bottalico

Published January 7, 2022 at 11:00AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 2:29PM

Fairfax County police car (file photo)

Fairfax County saw six more homicides in 2021 than in the previous year, the Fairfax County Police Department says, citing an unusually high number of adult children killing parents and other family members.

According to the department’s annual crime summary, Fairfax County police recorded 21 homicides last year compared to 15 in 2020.