Editor’s note: The social media video was removed Tuesday night.
(Updated at 9 a.m) Video has emerged of an arrest in Tysons Corner Center mall that escalated into a brawl.
In the video, uniformed officers and officers in plain clothes apprehend and force to the ground several people outside of Swatch, a watch store on the first level of the mall. At one point, one of the victims on the ground says “I can’t breathe.”
When other people join in the melee, someone is heard shouting “shoot him.”
Following the initial publication of this article, Fairfax County Police released the following statement about the brawl.
Two young men were seen concealing merchandise at the Tysons Mall. Tysons Urban Team officers attempted to detain them and they resisted. Three other with them interfered with the arrest. Officers were able to take all five into custody but three officers received minor injuries. Two of the arrested complained of pain and were evaluated by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Two of the involved were juveniles and released to their parents. Abdias Umana, 20, of Hyattsville MD, was arrested for petit larceny, two counts of obstruction of justice, and disorderly conduct. Cameron Reeder, 18, of Landover Hills MD, was arrested for obstruction of justice and two counts of petit larceny. Jairo Martinez, 19, of Hyattsville MD, was arrested for two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of disorderly conduct.
The Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce is inviting new and prospective members to a networking orientation.
The event will be held in the Tower Club (8000 Towers Crescent Dr.) on Thursday (Sept. 13). The orientation will run from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. There is no charge for the event for new and prospective members but guests must register online. Sandwiches will be provided.
The Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce acts as a voice for businesses in the Tysons region and helps member businesses build relationships. At the orientation, the Chamber will help new members learn how to take advantage of the resources provided through events, committees and other benefits.
“Whether you are looking to network to grow your business or give back to the community, join us and we will help you get engaged in what works for you,” said the Chamber in a statement.
Image via Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce
While car and metro are still the go-to for many Tyson commuters, some local establishments are working to make bicycling a little more accessible.
Towers Crescent, a sprawling four building mixed-use complex, recently added new bicycle parking and repair tools inside the parking garage on-site and on the nearby streets. Towers Crescent also created a series of bicycle maps for riders to navigate around the North Tysons area.
https://twitter.com/RonitADancis/status/1034521179904720896
Across the broader Tysons area, Access Tysons, a collaboration between Tysons Corner Center and government partners, has put together a detailed map of bike routes throughout Tysons and a guide of where to park at the Tysons Corner Center.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is looking at drastic measures to try and reduce the impact of congestion in I-495 on the neighborhoods near the Beltway.
Traffic on the Beltway bottlenecks at the American Legion Bridge. While longer term plans are in development to extend the express lanes to the bridge, as it stands the bottleneck builds on the Virginia side in the afternoons. Congestion on I-495 often results in navigation apps like Waze of Google Maps redirecting drivers through the smaller side streets in the surrounding neighborhoods, overcrowding the residential streets and sometimes sealing local residents inside their driveways.
On Thursday (Sept. 13), VDOT will host a meeting to discuss proposals to address neighborhood access and congestion concerns, among them a plan to implement a pilot program that would limit access to the ramp from Georgetown Pike to Northbound I-495 during weekday afternoon/evening periods.
While closing the ramp would limit access from the Beltway to local streets, it would also limit the access for local residents to the Beltway.
The meeting will be held at McLean High School (1633 Davidson Road) at 7 p.m. Public comments can also be emailed to [email protected] with “McLean Traffic Analysis” in the subject line.
Photo via Virginia Department of Transportation
Tysons Corner is celebrating local history with a futuristic twist.
The Tysons Corner Center opened up its “Tysons: Then and Now” exhibit celebrating the mall’s 50 year anniversary. The artwork contrasts historic Tysons with scenes from today, but all of the painting is done by robots. Pindar Van Arman, a local artist, designs robots that paint portraits.
These robots are more than printers. They observe their own work and correct accordingly. Facial recognition algorithims help give them context to their art. According to Arman, the machines are even capable of learning from outside sources and imitating the techniques of their creator.
At the ribbon-cutting, the machines were on display and continuing to work. Throughout the month they will continue working on a larger mural. The exhibit will run from Sept. 6-29.
Photo One via @vanarman
Photo Two and Three via Tysons Corner Center
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is offering free monthly courses to aspiring entrepreneurs in the Tysons area.
The workshops will help prospective business owners through the basics of opening a business in Fairfax, from licensing and permitting to workforce training programs. There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is required at the event website.
The next workshop is tomorrow (Tuesday). The workshops are held the first Tuesday of each month, from 7:30 – 10:30 a.m in the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority Conference Center (8300 Boone Boulevard).
The workshops were created in collaboration between the FCEDA, the Virginia Small Business and Supplier Diversity, the Community Business Partnership, and the US Small Business Administration.
Photo via Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
Under the Olive Tree, a purveyor of olive oils and balsamic vinegar, has closed its Tysons Corner store.
The store had closed several times before during frequent relocations around the mall, but the store owners announced that on Sept. 5 the Tysons branch was closed for good. Under the Olive Tree had been in Tysons Corner, in one location or another, for seven years. The Leesburg location at 1603 Village Market Boulevard Southeast will remain.
“Thank you for all your loyalty, support and continuous smiles, they’ve helped us grow our business in the last 7 years!” Under the Olive Tree staff posted on Facebook. “We are so thankful that we have been able to play a role in people’s culinary lives and hope that we can continue to serve you online & at our Leesburg store!”
The store held one final sale on Chilean Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil before the doors closed for good.
Photo via Under the Olive Tree
