McLean | FFXnow

Morning Notes

Published March 29, 2022 at 7:30AM

Cherry blossoms on cloudy day in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Life Sentences Recommended in McLean Murder Case — “A Fairfax County jury delivered a guilty verdict Monday against a woman accused of killing her own mother and sister in 2017. Megan Hargan, 35, was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder, and two counts of using a firearm in committing a felony.” [WUSA9]

Great Falls Fire Caused by Garage Door Opener — A house fire in the 9900 block of Deer Pond Drive on March 22 was caused by “an electrical event involving wiring to a garage door opener,” Fairfax County Fire and Rescue investigators say. The fire didn’t result in any injuries or displacements, but it caused approximately $87,500 in property damages. [FCFRD]

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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]

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Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 22, 2022 at 7:30AM

Spring flowers bloom in Reston (photo by Ray Copson)

FCPD Commander Demoted Over Shooting Response — “A Fairfax County police commander has been demoted as part of an ongoing administrative investigation of suicides by a department recruit and his wife that occurred hours apart in their Mount Vernon-area home in late February, authorities said…The officer was the on-scene commander during the incident.” [The Washington Post]

Fire Put Out Near Vienna’s Flint Hill Elementary — “Crews responded this morning to the 2400 block of Flint Hill Road for a small fire in a chicken coop. #FCFRD firefighters were im-peck-able in quickly egg-stinguishing the fire. Everyone felt very cluck-y that there were no reported fowl-talities or injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]

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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]

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JUST IN: Woman dies after McLean crash on Georgetown Pike

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 14, 2022 at 6:55PM

A 63-year-old Springfield man died Sunday from injuries he sustained after a car struck him last week while he was in a median (via Fairfax County Police Department)

A driver hospitalized by a three-vehicle crash in McLean last Wednesday (March 9) has died, the Fairfax County Police Department confirmed today (Monday).

Karla Boggess, a 62-year-old resident of Berryville, is the first person killed in a vehicle crash in the county this year who wasn’t a pedestrian, according to police. At this time in 2021, there had been one non-pedestrian fatality.

News

Proposed redesign for McLean Giant shopping center under review

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2022 at 9:45AM

The Giant in McLean's Chain Bridge Shopping Center, which is being eyed for redevelopment (via Google Maps)

McLean’s busiest shopping center could get a whole new look if a redevelopment plan gets approved.

The owner of the Giant-anchored Chain Bridge Shopping Center submitted a site plan to Fairfax County in January that would overhaul the strip mall at 1446-1454 Chain Bridge Road by repositioning the buildings to back up along Beverly Road.

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Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 10, 2022 at 7:30AM

A rainy mid-day in Fairfax (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Invasive Spiders Could Reach D.C. Area — “An invasive species of spider the size of a child’s hand is expected to “colonize” the entire East Coast this spring by parachuting down from the sky, researchers at the University of Georgia announced last week.” [Axios]

Ramp Closure Coming to I-66 Near Vienna — “Travel lanes on Nutley Street will shift and the ramp from Nutley Street South to I-66 West will be closed as part of work planned for this weekend, March 11-14, for the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. Drivers heading from Nutley Street South to I-66 West will proceed..past the current ramp to turn right at a traffic signal onto a temporary ramp to access the interstate. This detour will remain in place for approximately three weeks.” [VDOT]

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JUST IN: Car crash closes Georgetown Pike in McLean, injures drivers

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 9, 2022 at 4:35PM | Updated March 9, 2022 at 7:30PM

Georgetown Pike is closed between Old Dominion Drive and Towlston Road in McLean due to a car crash (via Google Maps)

Updated at 7:30 p.m. — Georgetown Pike has reopened, and the driver’s injuries are no longer considered life-threatening, though they remain in the hospital, police say.

Earlier: Georgetown Pike has shut down in McLean after a vehicle crash that sent two people to the hospital.

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Volunteers complete 4-year project to improve trail at Turkey Run Park

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 8, 2022 at 1:30PM

A trail segment at Turkey Run Park before and after volunteers built a new wooden staircase (courtesy National Park Service)

Hikers at Turkey Run Park now have safer access to trails alongside the Potomac River, thanks to the hard work of more than 100 volunteers.

The National Park Service and the nonprofit Potomac Appalachian Trail Club officially reopened a half-mile section of trail in the McLean park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday (March 5), the NPS announced.

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Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2022 at 7:30AM

I-495 South under Route 7 overpass in Pimmit Hills (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Woman Dies in Crash on I-495 — Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal crash on I-495 near the Eisenhower Avenue Connector in the Rose Hill area. The crash occurred at 9:27 p.m. on Saturday (March 5) when a sedan hit a disabled vehicle, causing it to catch fire. The driver of the disabled vehicle died at the scene, while the sedan driver suffered minor injuries and was arrested on multiple charges, including driving under the influence. [Virginia State Police, InsideNova]

Trial for McLean Murder Suspect Begins — “Fairfax County police quickly announced that what unfolded inside the large, yellow home in McLean in 2017 appeared to be a tragic murder-suicide…But after a 16-month investigation, police offered a stunning turnabout: what initially appeared to be a murder-suicide was allegedly a double killing. They claimed the scene had been carefully staged by the real perpetrator.” [The Washington Post]