A man was arrested after firing a gun several times inside and outside of his Reston home today (Monday).
Police arrested Mark Ellsbury, 43, of Reston after what police described as a short standoff outside of his townhome on the 11900 block of Barrel Cooper Court. The Fairfax County Police Department used its helicopter unit to track the suspect, who was outside of his home and appeared to be “under the influence.”
The suspect reportedly fell to the ground and dropped the weapon. Ellsbury was taken to a hospital for treatment for being under the influence of “unknown narcotics,” according to FCPD.
He was taken to the adult detention center upon his release and charged with four counts of reckless discharge of a firearm in or at an occupied building. No injuries were reported.
(Updated at 12:10 p.m.) Fairfax County’s police helicopters have a new base of operations.
The emergency choppers and their crews will now be housed at the Fairfax County Police Department’s new David M. Rohrer Aviation Center, which was welcomed with a grand opening celebration yesterday (Wednesday).
Located at 4604 West Ox Road, the two-story, 23,000-square-foot facility replaces a smaller heliport that was built on the same site in 1984 but no longer met the helicopter division’s staffing and equipment needs.
Known by the call sign “Fairfax 1,” the division includes two helicopters and flight officers, pilots, paramedics and maintenance crews.
They were performing over 150 helicopter missions per month and more than 80 medical evacuations per year out of the now-demolished, 9,500-square-foot heliport, the FCPD reported when pitching the project for bond funding in 2015.
“Similar to a firehouse, staff remains on-site throughout their shift, but locker space, helicopter equipment space, storage areas and training space is insufficient to meet current operational needs,” the department said. “The helicopter hangers are not large enough to house the county’s two twin-engine helicopters, and the sloped landing pad causes safety issues especially during winter months.”
The project received $13 million from that public safety bond referendum, though the county ultimately approved $14.1 million, according to the current capital improvements program.
In addition to a landing pad for the helicopters, the new aviation center has a two-bay hanger, parking for 25 vehicles, and upgraded locker, storage and training spaces.
At my request, the Board honored Chief Davis’ request to name the heliport after Chief Rohrer in recognition of his 41 years of outstanding service to the County.
The operational needs of our flight officers, pilots, paramedics and maintenance crews have grown significantly. pic.twitter.com/LS0D1Kynrx
— Supervisor Pat Herrity (@PatHerrity) March 22, 2023
The facility is named after former deputy county executive for public safety David Rohrer, who retired last year after a 41-year career that he started as a patrol officer. The name was requested by Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis and Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, whose district includes the heliport site.
“The operational needs of our flight officers, pilots, paramedics and maintenance crews have grown significantly,” Herrity said after participating in the grand opening. “This new facility will provide lifesaving medical treatment and crimefighting services to our citizens.”
Speakers at the ceremony included Herrity, Davis, Rohrer, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, County Executive Bryan Hill and Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Director Chris Herrington.
At the time of the opening ceremony, helicopter crews hadn’t officially moved in yet, but the FCPD anticipates they’ll be able to operate out of the aviation center starting at 8 a.m. Saturday (March 25).
“That depends if everything gets moved over in time,” the police department said.
A man has been taken to a hospital by helicopter after suffering burn injuries from a house fire in Springfield.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reported at 10:14 a.m. that residents were initially trapped by the fire in the 6300 block of Abilene Street — a residential neighborhood near John R. Lewis High School.
Around 10:50 a.m., firefighters had gotten the blaze under control, but one occupant was evacuated by a Fairfax County police helicopter to a burn center. His injuries are considered non-life-threatening.
The man reportedly suffered burns to his arms, legs and face. No firefighter injuries were reported.
Units on scene of a house fire in the 6300 block of Abilene Street in Springfield area. Fire showing on arrival. Report of residents trapped. Crews searching and working to extinguish fire. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/Jrt5ZFRk6H
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 8, 2022
UPDATE- house fire in the 6300 block of Abilene Street in Springfield area. Fire is under control. Crews checking for extension. All occupants accounted for. One occupant being medivac’d by @FairfaxCountyPD helicopter with possible non-life-threatening injuries. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/Z8RUq8IfHI
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 8, 2022
HOUSE FIRE WITH MAN BURNED — 6300 blk Abilene St in Springfield. Man with burns to arms, legs and face. Will be flown to a burn center by Fairfax-1. @ffxnow H/T @JohnGaskinsCW62 pic.twitter.com/OvRiAb8R35
— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) December 8, 2022
Motorcyclist Dies Falling from I-495 — “An Alexandria motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon (June 26) after crashing and falling nearly 30 feet off the westbound Interstate 495 overpass exit ramp for Eisenhower Avenue toward Mill Road…He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.” [ALXnow]
System for Helicopter Noise Complaints Unveiled — D.C. area residents finally have a clear place to go to lodge complaints about helicopter-related noise. The site planenoise.com/dcmetro was unveiled yesterday (Monday) as part of a 60-day pilot program that could become permanent. Complaints can also be filed by phone at 877-209-3200 or a mobile app. [Rep. Don Beyer/ARLnow]
Fire Department Shares Fireworks Safety Tips — “The Fourth of July would not be the same without those breathtaking fireworks. However, tragedy can strike within seconds when fireworks are not properly and safely used. Thousands of people are injured each year in the United States due to fireworks. Consider the following safety tips when using permissible fireworks…” [FCFRD]
Fort Belvoir Plans Springfield Expansion — “The U.S. Army is advancing plans to build a big new distribution center at Fort Belvoir as part of a larger planned intelligence campus expansion. The 525,000-square-foot facility, which would house some 600 employees, is proposed for the western portion of the 804-acre Springfield parcel known as Fort Belvoir North.” [Washington Business Journal]
Falls Church Seeks Information About Cat — “The City of Falls Church Police are looking for the owner of a black cat that bit a person in Big Chimneys Park (210 Gibson St.) on Friday, June 24. The police want to know if the cat is vaccinated against rabies. The cat is described as black with either yellow or brown eyes.” [City of Falls Church]
Influential Local Land Use Lawyer Dies — “Martin D. ‘Art’ Walsh, who helped reshape Arlington’s skyline as co-founder of one of Northern Virginia’s most prominent land use law firms, died June 6 at a hospital in Fairfax County, Va. He was 78 and a resident of McLean, Va.” [The Washington Post]
County Highlights Need for HIV Testing — June 27 was National HIV Testing Day, so the Fairfax County Health Department released a video highlighting an HIV-positive advocate’s journey and the importance of getting tested. While no cure has been found for AIDS, the disease sometimes caused by the virus, which attacks the immune system, prevention and treatment services are available. [FCHD]
Ribbon Cut on Wakefield Pickleball Courts — “This weekend we cut the ribbon on two new pickleball courts at Wakefield Park! Expanding access to this growing sport is a priority in Fairfax County.” [Supervisor James Walkinshaw/Twitter]
Vienna to Laud Local Pets — “The Town is launching the Mayor’s Pet of the Week! Nominate your pet by emailing Mayor@viennava.gov with your pet’s name, the kind of animal it is, and what makes it special. The first honorary award goes to Mayor Colbert’s cat, Ginny!” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 78 and low of 60. Sunrise at 5:47 am and sunset at 8:40 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 11:40 a.m. on 4/22/2022) Fairfax County police canceled three medical helicopter missions last week because no senior paramedics were available.
The Fairfax County Police Department operates the Medevac missions and must have a pilot and two paramedics — one of which must be a senior paramedic.
“While the Helicopter Division maintains senior paramedics strategically staffed across each shift to ensure 24/7 aeromedical response readiness, we are subject to the same unforeseen circumstances as anyone else,” FCPD said in a statement.
Police said the three canceled missions occurred on the same shift. One of the emergencies involved a suicide, the county’s fire department said.
FCPD said the helicopter division is “at full pilot and flight officer/paramedic strength” in terms of the number of personnel, but it made adjustments to mitigate gaps in senior paramedic staffing, moving one to a different shift to ensure full operational capacity.
In a statement released Friday, police said the helicopter division consists of five senior paramedics, but there are four additional senior paramedics outside the division who can staff the aircraft on occasion.
The helicopter division has two choppers with 22 full-time positions, including pilots, paramedics, an operational medical director, maintenance, and administrative staff.
A fourth medical mission, also in the first half of April, was canceled due to the weather.
