Deal Would Allow More Long-Distance Flights at National Airport — “Leaders of a Senate committee reached a tentative deal Thursday to add four long-distance flights at Reagan National Airport, dealing a setback to D.C.-area lawmakers and the airport’s management, which have campaigned to leave current restrictions in place.” [The Washington Post]
Free Lunches Available for Kids This Summer — “School systems in Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Stafford and Manassas are providing free breakfast and lunch to children under 18 through the summer…In Fairfax County, most summer meal programs begin June 20, offering breakfast and lunch at [select] schools and community centers” [Inside NoVA]
Police Investigate Sexual Assaults — Fairfax County police are searching for a man who allegedly dragged a woman in a wooded area near Seminary Road and raped her on June 11. Then, in a separate incident on Tuesday (June 13), a man was charged after allegedly trying to rape and abduct a woman near a bus stop in Hybla Valley. [FCPD, WUSA9]
Spree of Pharmacy Robberies Under Investigation — “Since March of this year, detectives have been investigating four pharmacy burglaries in the Mason Police District. Through their investigation, detectives believe all these incidents are related.” The most recent burglary occurred at Hann’s Pharmacy in Annandale on June 10. [FCPD, FOX5]
Vienna Council Member Won’t Seek Reelection — “Vienna Town Council member Ed Somers announced on Facebook June 11 that he would not be seeking another term in November. According to Somers’ statement, he needed to focus on ongoing health matters, both for himself and his family.” Steve Potter and Nisha Patel have also stated that they won’t run again this fall. [Gazette Leader]
County Shelter Wants You to Adopt a Dog — Nearing capacity, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter “is putting out an urgent plea for potential adopters to help clear the kennels” before it undergoes HVAC maintenance this summer. It will waive adoption fees for the nearly 100 dogs in its care and halve fees for other animals from June 22-25. [FCAS]
Fairfax Kid Adds to TV Resume — “It’s not every day that a kid from Fairfax, Virginia, gets to hang out with Spider-Man, but 8-year-old Thomas Parobek joins Tom Holland in the Apple TV+ series ‘The Crowded Room,'” where he plays the son of Emmy winner Amanda Seyfried. Now on his last day of third grade at Mantua Elementary School, he previously appeared in the popular “Karate Kid” spinoff show “Cobra Kai.” [WTOP]
Reston Cybersecurity Firm Seeks to Grow — “Silent Push Inc. is coming out of stealth mode with a $10 million seed round to bring its proactive cybersecurity software to a wider market by ramping up hiring for sales and marketing. The company was founded three years ago by CEO Ken Bagnall and CTO John Jensen to research a way to detect cyberattackers building malicious cyberinfrastructure…and then stop breaches before they happen.” [DC Inno]
It’s Friday — A chance of showers before 11 am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 60%. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County can officially retire Lee Highway and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway as its names for routes 29 and 50.
The highways will be renamed after their route numbers effective July 5, the county announced today (Thursday).
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted on Sept. 13 to drop the highway names, which were homages to Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, but the Commonwealth Transportation Board didn’t approve the changes until May 24.
“The renaming of both roadways signifies our unwavering dedication to acknowledging the experiences of our community, especially our African American neighbors,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said in a statement. “Thanks to the dedicated work of all the community members who participated in the Confederate Names Task Force, we can put these divisive names behind us and continue to move our County in the right direction.”
According to the county, its records will automatically update on July 5 to reflect the new street names, including for property taxes, voter registrations and Fairfax Water.
However, individual property and business owners will be responsible for updating their address when it comes to their driver’s license, legal documents, utility bills, mail and other services.
The county says it’s developing a grant program to provide financial assistance for those affected by the name changes, though the program needs to be approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will replace the road signs, but the county has agreed to cover those costs, which were previously estimated to range from $1 million to $4 million, depending on the length of the new names.
The Board of Supervisors created the Confederate Names Task Force in 2021 after the Fairfax County History Commission identified hundreds of sites bearing names associated with the Confederacy, including Lee and Lee-Jackson Memorial highways.
According to the task force’s report, Lee Highway covers about 14 miles from Centreville to Falls Church, with a break in the middle where Route 29 meets Route 50 in Fairfax City. It was named after Robert E. Lee in 1919.
Lee-Jackson Memorial consists of about 8 miles of Route 50 in western Fairfax County. The name was adopted in 1922.
The highways have already undergone renamings in other jurisdictions, including Arlington County, Fairfax City and Loudoun County.
Fairfax County residents will now be able to access some data related to local temporary gun removal cases.
On June 13 (Tuesday), Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano released to the public a continuously updated digital dashboard that tracks ongoing and past Emergency Substantial Risk Orders — known more commonly as Red Flag Orders — as well as view demographic breakdowns of those subjected to ESROs by race, gender and age.
Instituted in 2020, Virginia’s red flag law gives the Fairfax County Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney the authority to temporarily remove a gun or guns from someone’s possession if they have probable cause that the individual poses a ‘substantial risk’ to themselves or others.
When contacted by community or family members seeking to initiate a red flag order under a civil order, law enforcement will begin an independent investigation to determine whether one is appropriate.
If an order is granted, individuals are barred from purchasing, possessing or transporting any firearms for up to 14 days with opportunities for extension.
Fairfax County is the only jurisdiction in the state with a team dedicated to red flag orders, Descano told FFXNow by email. The county is the source of 75% of red flag orders in Virginia, he said when announcing the new dashboard.
The dashboard is intended to improve public communications and demystify the court processes for the general public, similar to one on bond decisions that the prosecutor’s office launched last year.
“We wanted this dashboard to bring transparency and awareness to the community about this law and that it can be a tool that saves lives,” Descano wrote. “By showing that it is being used, I hope Fairfax residents will know that if they have a dangerous situation, they can pick up the phone and get help.”
In addition to allowing community members to be more knowledgable about Virginia’s red flag law, the dashboard aims to be a useful tool for prosecutors in guiding their work.
“The other important role of the dashboard is how it informs my prosecutors’ decision-making,” Descano wrote. “We’re using this internally to track cases and make sure nothing falls through the cracks, and that’s a key piece of our day-to-day work on these cases. We have about nine months of data now that we’re working with, and as we get more data on Red Flag Orders, we’ll be able to identify trends that may help us and law enforcement further protect the community and handle these cases.”
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has opened 108 red flag cases since May 2022, 92% of them against men, according to the dashboard.
The data will expand over time as Descano’s office works to incorporate more and varied trends and demographics into the board, Public Information Officer Laura Birnbaum says.
“There’s a lot more in this story to tell about how these orders are coming to the police, who’s initiating them, who are the respondents and what kind of situations are we seeing these these orders come out. There’s more data and more trends to pull apart,” Birnbaum said. “…Are there times of year where we see more of these and others? What does that help inform us about other ways we could do gun violence prevention work?”
Before the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield gets redeveloped, Fairfax County staff say the adjacent, centuries-old cemetery should probably get examined.
The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development released a staff report last week recommending that mixed-use development be allowed at the shopping center, opening the door for property owner Federal Realty to build 585 residential units and expand its retail.
In addition to setting parameters for density, transportation improvements and other land use factors, the report reiterates that any development “should respect” the Thompson Family Cemetery, which predates the shopping center by almost two centuries.
However, the exact boundaries of the cemetery are unclear, according to the staff report.
“No documentation has been found that indicates the cemetery was delineated prior to construction of the Pan Am shopping center,” staff said, suggesting that a professional archaeologist conduct “remote sensing, specifically a ground penetrating radar survey…on the surrounding driveway and parking areas prior to redevelopment.”
While the cemetery only has two standing headstones, marking four burials, a 1989 walkover survey of the half-acre of land indicated that there are at least 23 possible grave sites, county staff said, citing an archived memo.
Known occupants include Confederate soldier Armistead T. Thompson, who died on Nov. 23, 1864 as a prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Maryland, according to an inscription on his tombstone.
From the staff report:
The Thompson family suggests that the first burial in the cemetery was in 1792 with burials continuing through at least 1917. Family lore suggests that there were many more burials. Furthermore, given the dates of cemetery use — prior to emancipation — the potential remains for burials of enslaved individuals on the property; at least one enslaved girl is noted in the 1850 census for Lawson Thompson who owned the property.
The Thompson family still owns and maintains the cemetery, which was nearly disturbed by workers seeking to build a storm sewer in 1979 until one family member, Alfred Thompson, blocked them with a sledgehammer and got arrested.
According to the archived Washington Post story, the Pan Am developers sought to take over the land when they built the shopping center in 1973, and plans to widen Route 29 also posed a threat.
The cemetery is now listed in the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites. Calling it “a significant heritage resource,” the county’s current comprehensive plan prohibits any future widening of Route 29 from encroaching on the graveyard.
The newly proposed comprehensive plan amendment would maintain that condition, but it suggests a follow-up to the 1989 survey is needed.
“A new more detailed survey of the cemetery to determine the number of grave sites should be conducted using methods that would be more effective than a visual, walkover survey,” staff said.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment at 7:30 p.m. on June 28, with the Board of Supervisors following at 4 p.m. on July 25.
Federal Realty’s redevelopment plan is still under review by county staff and won’t go through the public hearing process until after the amendment gets approved.
Fairfax County will alight with joy and celebration with a variety of opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth this coming weekend (June 17-19).
Just last week on June 6, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors officially recognized Monday, June 19 of this year as Juneteenth. Only recently anointed a state and federal holiday, the occasion commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved men and women in Galveston, Texas finally heard the news that they had been freed two years prior under the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Below is a sampling of Juneteenth celebrations taking place across the county this weekend.
Fairfax Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17
Begins at 10 a.m.
Opening ceremony at Veteran Amphitheatre, then parade to Mount Calvary Baptist Church
Co-hosted by the City of Fairfax and Mount Calvary Baptist Church, the Fairfax Juneteenth Celebration will begin with a formal ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Veteran Amphitheatre at City Hall (10455 Armstrong Street), featuring anthem performances and guest speakers.
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to participate in a parade from the amphitheatre to the Mount Calvary Baptist Church entrance on School Street (4325 Chain Bridge Road). From there, festivities will commence, including food trucks, craft and informational vendors, live music and dance, a car show, family activities and sharing of African American history and genealogical resources.
Bull Run Church and Harris Cemetery Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17
10:30 a.m.-noon
Bull Run Regional Park, behind the Atlantis Waterpark
Returning for a second year in a row, the Juneteenth Celebration at Bull Run (7700 Bull Run Drive) seeks to “recognize the largest private emancipation of the enslaved” as a joint initiative between Virginia NAACP and NOVA Parks, per its website.
Attendees will hear from a guest speaker and participate in a Black Expo and a children’s activity. They are strongly encouraged to bring toddler and children’s books as donations to Centreville United Methodist Church’s local literacy ministry.
Gum Springs Community Day/Juneteenth
Saturday, June 17
10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park Reservable Picnic Area
This Community Day/Juneteenth celebration commemorates the 190th anniversary of the founding of Gum Springs, the oldest African American community in Fairfax County, by West Ford. The day will begin at the park (8115 Fordson Road) at 10:30 a.m. with a historic marker dedication and unveiling of a new sign with Ford’s story. A parade will kickoff at 11 a.m., and guests can also enjoy an auction, health fair, carnival rides, food and music.
Juneteenth Fairfax County Celebration at Frying Pan Farm Park
Saturday, June 17
11:00 a.m.-2 p.m. (divided into three one-hour-long sessions that you can sign up for here)
Frying Pan Farm Park
In addition to the chance to see adorable farm animals, Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 West Ox Road) is offering families a venue for celebrating Juneteenth. Guests will be able to engage in African American culture and history through “a special guest storyteller, live music, crafts, history, and food trucks offering African American cuisine,” per the county website.
Vienna Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
First Baptist Church
As the kickoff event to Liberty Amendments Month, which honors the passage of the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments, the Town of Vienna is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration at the First Baptist Church (450 Orchard Street NW). Food trucks, moon bounces, a photobooth, live performances on an outdoor stage, and children’s activities begin at 11 a.m. George Mason University President Gregory Washington will present the opening ceremony at noon.
Vienna Juneteenth Classic Car Show
Saturday, June 17
Begins at 11 a.m.
James H. Hayes/Bull Run #529 Elks Lodge
Just up the road from the Juneteenth Celebration at First Baptist Church will be an impressive array of vintage cars and trucks with makes and models from 1990 and older. On-site registration opens at 10:30 a.m. and closes at 2 p.m. Shuttles are available from the First Baptist Church.
Herndon Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17
12-8 p.m.
Arts Herndon
Nonprofit Arts Herndon (750 Center Street) is offering no shortage of ways to celebrate Juneteenth with its eight-hour lineup of events. The day will consist of a reading of Herndon’s Juneteenth proclamation, a performance of the anthem, children’s activities including story time and crafts, a historical presentation and live blues music from a band from D.C.
Annual Juneteenth Lunch and Learn Experience
Monday, June 19
12-4 p.m.
Sully Historic Site
At Sully’s Lunch and Learn Experience, attendees can immerse themselves in Sully’s rich history through interactive exhibits, presentations and traditional soul food freshly made on site. The historic site will be fully open for exploration.
For those who want a more in-depth tour, the City of Fairfax is offering free Forgotten Road Tours of Sully’s outbuildings and slave quarters on Juneteenth Weekend from Thursday, June 15 through Saturday, June 17 from 2-2:45 p.m. each day. Tickets must be reserved in advance online.
FCPD Cracks Down on Retail Theft — The Fairfax County Police Department is launching a 2023 Summer Crime Prevention Initiative that will focus on retail theft for June, with increased patrols and public engagement efforts in affected areas. Deputy Chief of Patrol Bob Blakely says 20% of all crime in the county only occurs at 20 addresses, and “most of that crime is larceny.” [ABC7]
Police Called on Local Prosecutor at Manassas Bar — “Police body camera footage shows a Deputy Fairfax County prosecutor refusing to leave a Manassas bar after closing…A second woman, who identified as an assistant Fairfax County prosecutor, and the drunken woman as her superior, was also trying to coax the woman into the car so that she could drive her home.” [Potomac Local News]
Reston Man Charged With Animal Cruelty — “According to court documents, authorities seized 30 cats from a home on Southgate Square on Nov. 17, 2022. The living conditions included ‘large amounts of fecal material and urine inside and outside the litter boxes, poor lighting, poor air circulation, and prominent smell of ammonia and feces.'” [DC News Now]
Vienna Eatery’s Burger Named Among Region’s Best — The double-stacked Nick-ster from Social Burger in Vienna landed at no. 9 on food critic Tim Carmen’s ranking of the 10 best burgers in the D.C. area. Fairfax County is also represented at no. 2 with the Red Apron Original from the butcher shop Red Apron, which has a location at the Mosaic District in Merrifield. [The Washington Post]
Vienna Releases Full Draft of Zoning Code — “Three years — and about 30 meetings and work sessions — after initiating the sweeping new ‘Code Create Vienna’ zoning rewrite, the Vienna Town Council on June 12 voted unanimously to discuss the draft proposal at joint public hearings with the town’s Planning Commission July 10 and 12.” [Gazette Leader]
Laurel Hill Golf Club Adds Training Lab — “The new Performance Lab provides a fantastic proving ground for seasoned golfers looking to advance their game and beginners looking to get their start under the tutelage of experienced instructors…Come tour and test out the new lab on June 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at our opening day event!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
New Private Preschool Coming to Merrifield — “The Goddard School of Falls Church, a childhood education franchise, will open its first Falls Church area location at 2921 Telestar Court in September. It will provide early childhood education and care for 190 children between 6 weeks and 6 years old as well as 30 teaching jobs.” [Patch]
A Look at County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team — “Fairfax County’s USAR program has deployed on 134 missions and has responded to the most devastating natural- and human-caused disasters. From the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon to Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi and Louisiana in 2005 to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti to the 2011 earthquake in Japan, team members have aided victims across the globe.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — Sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph. At night: A slight chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. [Weather.gov]
Updated at 12:20 p.m. on 6/23/2023 — The Mosaic Live kick-off event on Saturday has been canceled due to forecasted inclement weather, according to Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik. The series will instead begin on July 1 with the Munit Mesfin Band.
Earlier: Live music will take over Strawberry Lane at Mosaic District this summer.
A new “Mosaic Live” concert series is set to kick off on Saturday, June 24 at 5 p.m. It’s the latest addition to the Fairfax County Park Authority’s annual summer entertainment lineup, which is underway with 118 live performances scheduled at 20 different venues around the county.
The Mosaic Live kickoff event will be headlined by Groovalicious, a band that pays tribute to disco and other 1970s music. The Vienna Singing Princesses will serve as an opening act, with local elected officials expected to attend, according to the Providence District office, which helped organize the series.
Future concerts will begin at 6 p.m. every Saturday through Aug. 19:
- July 1: Munit Mesfin Band
- July 8: Los Three Baritones
- July 15: School of Rock from Vienna
- July 22: Brian Cunningham Project
- July 29: Centro Cultural Bolivia
- Aug. 5: Patrick Alban & Noche Latina
- Aug. 12: Tobago Bay Calypso Band
- Aug. 19: Ocho de Bastos
(Correction: This story initially said future concerts would begin at 6:30 p.m.)
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik’s office is also bringing back Nottoway Nights, a concert series that will take place on Thursdays at Nottoway Park (9601 Courthouse Road) in Vienna.
Nottoway Nights concerts will begin on July 6 and continue through Aug. 24, running from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Last year, the Providence District office and FCPA tried out a Global Music & Dance series at the Graham Road Community Building, though the program isn’t returning this year.
The full Summer Entertainment Series schedule can be found on the park authority’s website.
Thrilled to share that in addition to Nottoway Nights in Vienna, we also bring you the Mosaic Live series at @mosaicdistrict! All shows are free, outdoors, and appeal to all ages. If you would like to volunteer for the event, email [email protected] to coordinate. pic.twitter.com/daudTFlnzv
— Dalia Palchik (@SupvPalchik) June 2, 2023
Fairfax County is restarting and opting into a statewide program that helps commercial properties with financing for energy efficiency and resiliency improvements.
Last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the amending and re-adoption of the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACE) program, which aims to assist commercial building owners with energy and water-saving improvements for little to no upfront costs.
The county first established its own program in 2019, the first in the state to include resiliency projects that address high wind, extreme temperature and flood risks. But in the four years since, no contracts have been executed, and no projects have been completed under the program.
C-PACE is intended as a financial tool designed to “provide long-term private funding to [commercial] building owners for energy-saving and water-saving projects,” according to the county website.
A C-PACE loan is intended to be easier for the property owner to pay off, acting director of the county’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) John Morrill told FFXnow in an email.
“The intent of the energy improvements financed through a C-PACE loan is to reduce the operating costs of a property, thereby putting the property owner in a better financial position to pay off all loans,” Morrill said.
He said C-PACE “has struggled to gain traction” because of a confusing process, lack of understanding of the financial product, and the “reluctance” of first-lien debt holders to give up being first to be paid back.
At the meeting, several supervisors expressed their disappointment in the county program so far, voting unanimously to instead opt into a statewide program created in late 2021.
“It’s obviously disappointing that…we adopted a program that has not been used,” Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said. “I think the step that you are taking us on, with aligning us with the state program, is a very positive change that could help make it more popular.”
Opting into Virginia’s version of C-PACE provides the county with two main benefits, the staff report notes. One, it relieves individual localities from procuring, administrating, and managing contracts.
“Under the statewide program, [the Virginia Department of Energy] is solely responsible for the solicitation of bids, selection of a program administrator, and contract administration,” the report says.
Secondly, it standardizes the program across jurisdictions and provides more support for messaging, engagement, and public awareness. It will also expand the types of projects eligible for loans to include stormwater management and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Morrill said the county hopes partnering with the state will help solve the challenges that the program has faced.
By standardizing application documents in the state program, attorney fees and other transaction costs for completing loans will be less expensive through the state program and result in less friction for getting deals completed. In addition, Fairfax County will work with the state energy office and C-PACE program administrator to promote the availability of C-PACE financing in order to help the market better understand this financial product. As for concern about losing first lien status, we hope consistent marketing and promotion of the program with some success stories will help give lenders confidence that C-PACE can be successful in Virginia, just as it has been in several other states.
But the county had similarly high hopes when it launched C-PACE years ago.
Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross recalled a luncheon in 2018 where the county introduced the program to local business owners. The room was full of excitement that appeared to have nothing to do with the free lunch, she said. But when the program was enacted and the application period opened, the excitement seemingly dissipated.
“I thought we’d sit back and watch the applications roll in, and nothing happened,” Gross said. “It was a great disappointment for those who worked on C-PACE.”
The county hopes local commercial business owners will now become aware of the program and its ability to provide financial help to make climate-friendly changes.
“Now there appears there is a pathway to actually make C-PACE work,” Gross said. “I’m glad the Commonwealth has determined that [the program] really needs the state to come in and assist with this.”
A Fairfax County judge has revoked the bond for one of the four people who allegedly stole from Nordstrom Rack and led police on a vehicle chase in Tysons last week.
The man allegedly behind the wheel during the pursuit, which involved collisions with multiple police cruisers, was initially granted a $5,000 personal recognizance bond by the Fairfax County General District Court on Thursday (June 8).
However, Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Christine Leary agreed with prosecutors on Friday (June 9) that the man — a 24-year-old D.C. resident — could present a danger to the community if released.
“Given the allegations, the court has concerns about the safety of the community if this defendant is released,” Leary said before revoking the bond as requested by the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
The man has been charged with grand larceny, conspiracy to commit grand larceny, stealing property with the intent to sell it, eluding police and two counts of assault on law enforcement.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, officers with its Tysons Urban Team were called to Nordstrom Rack at 8027 Leesburg Pike for a reported larceny around 1:25 p.m. on June 6.
Upon seeing the officers, three men and a woman ran to a parked vehicle and drove away, hitting three FCPD cruisers in the process, police said. The individuals bailed out of the vehicle around 1:30 p.m. but were all eventually taken into custody.
About $1,690 worth of merchandise was stolen from Nordstrom Rack, Fairfax County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kaitlin Morgan told the court on Friday.
Though the FCPD previously said that a gun was found in the vehicle, a defense attorney representing the alleged driver said an officer indicated the firearm was actually on the woman when police recovered it.
The woman, an Alexandria resident, has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon in addition to grand larceny, property theft and fleeing law enforcement, according to court records. She and the other two men — both D.C. residents — were all released after arraignments on Wednesday (June 7).
Arguing that the bond should be kept in place, the defense lawyer questioned the prosecution’s allegation that his client was driving the car during the pursuit.
“There’s an allegation that my client was driving, but I’ve not been provided proof,” he said, telling Leary that the man has no history of failing to appear and there’s no indication violence was intended.
Morgan countered that, while the man’s past criminal history mostly involved theft charges, the use of a vehicle to ram police cruisers represented an “escalation” that posed “significant danger” to officers and other community members in the area.
She said the man was also seen “joking with his accomplices” about “spanking the police” in reference to the chase.
“Thankfully, no one was injured that day,” Morgan said.
Preliminary hearings for all four defendants in the case have been scheduled for Aug. 7.
Reston Barnes and Noble Opening Delayed — The bookstore’s grand opening at The Spectrum has been postponed to tomorrow (Thursday). Barnes and Noble didn’t return multiple requests for comment from FFXnow. [Barnes & Noble Reston/Instagram]
D.C. Area Is Currently in a Drought — “According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the D.C. region is currently in a moderate drought — the least severe of four drought levels. May 2023 was the driest May on record in D.C. since 1999, with 2.4 inches less rain than in an average year.” If the Potomac River drops low enough, “residents could be asked to conserve water.” [DCist]
Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Closes Pet Hospital — “The Hybla Valley Veterinary Hospital, a longtime family-owned business along the Richmond Highway corridor, has notified customers it will be permanently closing at the end of June. The reason, according to the owners, is because ‘Fairfax County is taking the property via eminent domain.’” [On the MoVe]
Mental Health Facility for First Responders Opens Near Fair Oaks — “First responders and 911 call takers facing the stress and challenges of the job in Fairfax County, Virginia, will now have a new place to connect with mental health professionals. The Fairfax County Public Safety Wellness Center held its grand opening on Monday.” [WTOP, FCPD]
Slow Down for County Waste Collectors — For Waste and Recycling Workers Week from June 12-18, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services urges “extra caution when driving around collection trucks to avoid striking sanitation workers.” In North America, 46 solid waste and recycling collectors were killed at work last year, with vehicle strikes as the top third cause. [DPWES]
Herndon Police Cite Hundreds for Using Phone While Driving — “Distracted driving is a leading cause of traffic accidents. So far this year, #HerndonPD has issued over 250 citations to people for holding a phone while operating a vehicle. Put the phone down. The text can wait.” [Herndon Police/Twitter]
South Lakes HS Leads High School Theater Awards — “South Lakes High School’s production of ‘Bright Star’ shone brightly on the Kennedy Center stage Monday night at the Cappies gala. The show was named the best musical and took home a total of 10 awards…The night’s other big winner was Lake Braddock Secondary School, which won Best Play for ‘Dracula’ and three other awards.” [Patch]
Long Term, Crime Is Trending Down in Virginia — “You may have heard candidates on the campaign trail talking about rising crime. But FBI stats actually tell a very different story. In the last 30 years, the violent crime rate in Virginia has fallen 44%. And the property crime rate has fallen 66%.” [WVTF]
A Look at Inova’s Training for Paramedics — “As a Level 1 trauma center, the ambulance bay for the emergency room at Inova Fairfax Hospital is always busy.” The hospital’s Advanced Surgical Technology Education Center recently provided “a first-of-its-kind training to teach paramedics how to treat trauma patients in the field.” [ABC7]
It’s Wednesday — A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 8 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. [Weather.gov]
