morning notes

Tysons Arrest Leads to Retail Theft Ring Bust — “With some great information from our partners at Nordstrom and Bloomingdales, officers assigned to our Tysons Urban Team were able to make apprehension. At the time of the arrest, the woman had a booster bag containing over $3,700 in stolen sunglasses…The group is linked to prior thefts over the previous several days of over $25,000 in merchandise in the DC Metropolitan area.” [FCPD/Facebook]

Possible Shots Fired in Herndon — “Town of Herndon Police responded early Thursday afternoon for the report of possible shots being fired in the 300 block of Elden Street, according to a 1:17 p.m. post to the department’s official Twitter account. Police reported that one subject was detained at the scene and there were no victims.” [Patch]

County’s Moroccan Community Cheers World Cup Team — “Morocco became the first African team in World Cup history to reach the semifinals following a victory against Portugal last week…More than 100 members of the local Moroccan community gathered on Wednesday afternoon to watch their home country’s match-up against Les Bleus at the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church” [DCist]

Proposal Floated for Van Dorn Metro Development — “An industrial park on Vine Street, squeezed between the Van Dorn Street Metro station and the Beltway, could be replaced with a new mixed-use development…The development plans, however, hinge on hopes that the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) express lane plans don’t bleed over onto the site.” [ALXnow]

County Seeks Feedback on Parking Changes — “Residents are encouraged to review the draft recommendations for parking requirements and submit feedback on the Parking Reimagined webpage by midnight Monday, Jan. 16.” Virtual meetings to discuss the proposed changes, including off-street parking standards based on density and bicycle parking requirements, will be held on Jan. 5 and 12. [Fairfax County Government]

Fairfax City Supportive Housing Approved — “Fairfax City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the Lamb Center/Wesley Housing’s application to redevelop the Hy-Way Motel property on Fairfax Boulevard to include permanent, supportive, low-income housing.” [Patch]

Longtime Vienna Photographer Dies — “For decades in the town of Vienna, T.R. Cook was the man who took people’s portraits and photographed business and community events, recording the town’s history. Cook, who died Dec. 11 at age 93, made the town a better place and was a strong advocate of young people, friends said.” [Sun Gazette]

Rape Case Dismissed Over Missed Deadline — “A woman sitting in a Fairfax County courtroom Monday morning was ready after decades to finally confront the man she says raped her as a child. Instead, she watched in horror as a judge abruptly dismissed the case over what was characterized as ‘prosecutorial error.'” [NBC4]

All-Day I-95 Toll Lanes Proposed — Northern Virginia leaders, including Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, say the I-95 Express Lanes should be open to both northbound and southbound drivers throughout the day. The lanes currently only operate during rush hours, with drivers going into D.C. in the morning and going out during the afternoon. [NBC4]

Police Arrest 94-Year-Old in Pedestrian Hit-and-Run — “A 94-year-old Fairfax City man was arrested Friday morning in connection with a felony hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian on Nov. 29 in Fairfax City, according to a police release…The pedestrian was taken to INOVA Fairfax Hospital, where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.” [Patch]

FedEx Driver Tried to Help Man Who Died in FCPD Custody — “The FedEx driver praised for helping a man experiencing a behavioral health crisis before he died in police custody said he felt led to show compassion. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis described his actions as heroic despite the fatal outcome.” [WUSA9]

Fairfax City Police Investigate Shootings — “City of Fairfax Police are investigating two shooting into vehicle incidents that occurred early Thursday morning that appear to be connected, according to a police release.” Police responded to a shooting between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. that resulted in “minor injuries” to the vehicle’s occupant, and were then called to a similar shooting two miles away, where there were no injuries. [Patch]

Lego Discovery Center Breaks Ground — “It was an honor today to participate in the LEGO Discovery Center groundbreaking at Springfield Town Center This ultimate Lego playground will be the first in the Greater Washington area and is a fun and exciting addition to our community!” [Jeff McKay/Facebook]

FCPD Releases Video From In-Custody Death — “Fairfax County police have released body camera video after a man died in custody last month, and say the man behaved erratically before suffering from a medical emergency. On Nov. 11, Fairfax County police said they received calls about a man running in traffic on Amherst Avenue in Springfield.” [NBC4]

Alexandria Motel Demolished — “The Alexandria Motel at 6411 Richmond Highway was officially demolished in late November to make way for a future stormwater management facility for the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. During its heyday in the mid-twentieth century, the motel was a 27-room property advertising its private showers, televisions, central heating and cross-ventilation.” [On the MoVe]

McLean Residents Object to Loss of Trees — “VDOT contractors have cut down hundreds of trees just outside the Beltway near the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Georgetown Pike. They’re extending Virginia’s High Occupancy Toll lanes to the Potomac and perhaps into Maryland. At the outer loop exit onto the G.W., neighbors compare the damage to a strip mine.” [WUSA9]

County Approves Automatic Car Tax Filings — “Effective Jan. 1, Fairfax County will now automatically file personal property tax returns for these residents, a change that will benefit owners of approximately 133,000 vehicles per year…[Residents] still must register their vehicles with the DMV within 30 days or face a 10% late-filing penalty.” [Fairfax County Government]

Police Investigate Homicide in Hybla Valley — A man identified as 26-year-old Jordan Summers from Lorton died Monday (Dec. 5) after a community member found him in the 7900 block of Audubon Avenue with a possible gunshot wound to the upper body. Police say community members reported hearing what sounded like gunshots before 8 p.m. that evening. [FCPD]

Woman Charged in Bailey’s Crossroads Pedestrian Crash — Yaraliza Rivera Rosado, a 26-year-old Alexandria resident, has been charged with felony hit and run for fatally striking 40-year-old Elise Ballard on Leesburg Pike near the Carlin Springs Road intersection on Oct. 26. Police say Rivera Rosado drove to a parking lot before calling for help, and Ballard was subsequently hit by a second car before officers arrived. [FCPD]

Route 7 Traffic Changes in Wolf Trap Start Today — “On or about Tuesday, Dec. 6, drivers on Route 7 eastbound will experience a lane shift to the south (away from the median) and access changes between Lucky Estates Drive and Lewinsville Road…On or about Dec. 15, the median crossover at Wolftrap Run Road will close permanently, and the median crossover at Lucky Estate Drive will open.” [VDOT]