Fairfax County police say that the 60-year-old man who was struck by a vehicle in Tysons on Monday night has died.
Police said in an update today (Wednesday) that D.C. resident Abraham Feldman was crossing Old Courthouse Road at the intersection of Lord Fairfax Road around 7:19 p.m. when he was struck by a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe traveling eastbound on Old Courthouse Road through the intersection.
Police said Feldman “was in the vicinity of the crosswalk” when the crash occurred. He was hospitalized with serious injuries and died earlier today, police said.
“The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with detectives,” police said. “Preliminarily, alcohol does not appear to be a factor for the driver or the pedestrian. Detectives have not yet determined if speed was a factor for the driver.”
Police are asking that anyone with information contact the Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543.
Image via Google Maps
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney-elect Steve Descano has revealed his first two planned appointments.
Descano announced last Wednesday (Nov. 27) that he intends to have Terry Adams, a private defense attorney in Arlington, take on the role of Chief Deputy, lauding his 14 years working on criminal and civil cases in Virginia.
“A clear and well-respected leader, Terry is a proven litigator with years of trial experience in Northern Virginia,” Descano said in the press release. “In addition, he would bring a well-rounded background and unique perspective to the position that will prove vital in helping to transform and lead this office forward.”
Previously, Adams worked in the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office and was on active duty in the Marine Corps for eight years, according to the press release.
Descano also announced that he plans to promote Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jessica Greis Edwardson to Deputy.
Greis Edwardson started working in the office of the commonwealth’s attorney in Fairfax County in 2009, where she was the first dedicated domestic violence prosecutor, according to the press release.
More from the press release:
She currently represents the Commonwealth in the prosecution of all violations of criminal law, specializing in homicides, sex crimes against children and adults, child pornography and exploitation cases, and domestic violence.
Ms. Greis Edwardson has been co-chair of the Fairfax County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team since 2009, and serves on the County’s Domestic Violence Prevention Policy & Coordinating Council. She has trained judges, attorneys, law enforcement, advocates, and community service providers on criminal and civil legal issues in her areas of specialization.
Prior to joining the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Ms. Greis Edwardson spent three years at Legal Services of Northern Virginia and two years at Potomac Legal Aid Society, representing domestic violence victims in all aspects of domestic relations litigation, and supervising and training staff attorneys. Ms. Greis Edwardson also spent two years at a private law firm.
“I am extremely proud to announce Jessica Greis Edwardson, Esq. as my choice for Deputy in the Office of Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney. I respect and thank Ms. Greis Edwardson for her service to this community and her eagerness to continue to do so. Her experience, specifically in this courthouse with the toughest cases, makes Ms. Greis Edwardson a clear choice for leadership. As we establish an appropriate path forward for this office’s growth, structure, and policies, I know Jessica will be essential,” said Mr. Descano.
Both Adams and Greis Edwardson are immediately named to the Descano Transition Team. Mr. Adams will be leading the division of the Transition Team that is primarily focused on office personnel and structure. Ms. Greis Edwardson will serve within that division.
Additional announcements regarding Office leadership are forthcoming.
City of Falls Church police are looking for the burglar(s) who sawed into a jewelry store’s safe.
“At this time, it appears one or more suspects broke into the vacant store at 1118 W. Broad Street (formerly Apple Federal Credit Union), entered the adjacent Yassini Jewelry store (1120 W. Broad Street) by breaking through the cinderblock wall, gained entry into the store safe with a saw, then fled the scene,” Clare Casey, a spokesperson for the City of Falls Church, told Tysons Reporter.
The incident occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. yesterday (Monday, Nov. 26).
“It is unknown the items taken or the estimated value at this time,” Casey added. “Police do not have a description of the suspect(s), and there are no surveillance photos or video available at this time.”
Anyone who might have information about the burglary is asked to contact the police at 703-248-5053.
Hat tip to Bob M.
Image via Google Maps
Fairfax County police are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect linked to a robbery and sexual assault in Tysons.
Police said that a woman was sexually assaulted and robbed at a hotel in the 8600 block of Leesburg Pike on Tuesday (Nov. 12).
“Officers responded to the hotel around noon that day after a woman reported she had been attacked,” according to a police report.
More from the report:
A subsequent investigation revealed that the woman was in her room when she answered a knock at the door and was confronted by a man who may have previously contacted her through a social media app. The man sexually assaulted the victim and stole her personal property. She was taken to a hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening.
“The suspect is described as a black male in his late 20s, around 6′ tall with brown eyes, short black hair and a short beard,” police said.
Anyone who has information can contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800.
Photos via FCPD
An MS-13 gang member from Falls Church has been sentenced for his role in a violent assault in a local park.
A federal judge sentenced 19-year-old Marlon Edgardo Huezo Rivera, known as “Oscuro,” of Falls Church to 38 months in prison “for his role and participation in a violent gang-related assault of a victim with multiple bats,” according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Earlier this year, 21-year-old Jose Ochoa Del-Cid, 21, also from Falls Church, was sentenced to five and half years in prison for conspiring with other members to lure the victim under false pretenses to James Lee Park in Falls Church.
Huezo Rivera was linked to the Chilangueras clique of MS-13 in Northern Virginia and was the final charged defendant to be sentenced in this case, according to the press release.
“This purpose of this senseless assault was to serve MS-13’s warped code of violence and overarching mission of instilling fear through violence,” G. Zachary Terwilliger, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement. “Huezo Rivera’s conduct demonstrates his contempt for the law and his total disregard for the safety of the people who make up this community.”
More from a press release:
According to court documents, Huezo Rivera and several other members and associates of MS-13 lured the victim to James Lee Park in Falls Church so that they could assault the victim. Rivera and other members and associates of MS-13 believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement, falsely representing himself as a member of MS-13, and disparaging the Silvas clique of MS-13. After luring the victim to the park under false pretenses, Huezo Rivera, and approximately a dozen other members and associates of MS-13, beat the victim with bats, fists, and feet for approximately three minutes. As a result of the beating, the victim suffered multiple broken limbs and was hospitalized for several days.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas U. Murphy II, Cristina Stam, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shauna Hale prosecuted the case.
Photo by Joe Gratz/Flickr
The City of Falls Church Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify suspects linked to an assault and robbery at a lens and eyewear store.
Shortly before 11:30 a.m. yesterday (Thursday), three males “immediately began collecting displayed eyeglass frames in an apparent theft” at For Eyes Optical (444 W. Broad Street), police said.
Police said one employee at the store was assaulted and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspects fled across W. Broad Street and drove off in a vehicle, police said.
“The suspects are described as three black males, all over 6′ tall, wearing dark sunglasses, two wearing black hoodies, and one wearing a bright orange jacket,” police said. “The vehicle is an early 2000’s blue/green sedan that is missing a passenger hubcap.”
Anyone with information can contact Falls Church police at 703-248-5053.
“There are no surveillance photos or video available at this time,” police said.
Fairfax County police have arrested the owner of a development company in connection to a teen boy’s death at a McLean construction site.
On July 23, a ditch collapsed on a residential construction site in the 1800 block of Solitaire Lane, trapping two people, police said. Spencer Lunde, a 16-year-old, died and an adult man received non-life-threatening injuries.
“The manner of death has been ruled accidental with the cause being asphyxiation,” police said in August.
“On Monday, evidence was presented to a grand jury who indicted Thomas Digges, 48, of McLean, on charges of involuntary manslaughter and cruelty and injuries to children,” Fairfax County police announced today (Thursday).
Digges is the owner of McLean-based Digges Development Corporation. The construction site where the teen died was a small housing project that Digges was building, WUSA9 reported.
Police said Digges turned himself into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center this morning (Thursday) and has since been “released on his own recognizance.”
Second photo via FCPD
A Thoreau Middle School teacher, who allegedly sexually abused a student, is facing another felony charge after a second teen victim was identified, according to Fairfax County police.
Back in October, police arrested 31-year-old Maryland resident Matthew Snell in El Paso, Texas for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a minor. NBC 4 reported that the investigation started after the mother of a Thoreau student “found inappropriate messages from Snell on the student’s phone.”
Earlier this fall, Snell was charged with carnal knowledge of a child and taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial relationship.
Now, he faces an additional felony charge of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial relationship, FCPD announced today.
Snell is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center as the investigation continues, police said.
“Detectives are seeking anyone who has information or may have had inappropriate contact with Snell to call our Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800,” police said.
First image via Google Maps, second image via FCPD
A driver arrested for allegedly striking and killing a woman in the West Falls Church area is now facing additional charges for homicide and drug possession.
In August, Betty Ana Bernstein-Zabza, a Falls Church resident who worked for the State Department, was fatally hit by a truck near the intersection of Shreve Road and Hickory Street — less than a mile away from her home.
Zabza was walking near the busy W&OD Trail with a child, who was treated for minor injuries after the crash, according to Fairfax County police.
“They entered a crosswalk that connected the pathway to a sidewalk when they were hit by a stolen 2013 Nissan Titan pickup truck,” police said.
Shortly after the crash, police arrested the driver of the truck, 46-year-old South Riding resident David Alan Francis and charged him with one count of felony hit and run. At the time of the arrest, police said that Francis fled the scene uninjured and that “both speed and drugs appear to be factors.”
The police department announced today (Tuesday) that Francis faces additional charges of felony homicide, felony hit and run, aggravated involuntary manslaughter, possession of schedule I/II narcotics and driving under the influence of drugs.
“On Monday, evidence was presented to a grand jury who indicted David Alan Francis,” police said of the new charges.
Since 2009, Francis has faced 30 charges including many traffic-related ones like driving under a revoked or suspended license, operating an uninsured vehicle, speeding and improper driving, according to court records.
Francis is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond, police said.
Fairfax County police are looking for the three men who allegedly pointed handguns at a man while robbing him in a residential area of Falls Church.
“The victim was approached by three suspects,” police said. “Two of the suspects pointed handguns at the victim while his personal property was taken.”
The incident occurred shortly before 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 13) in the 7600 block of Savannah Street — the same block that houses the Falls Church Gardens Condominium.
“The suspects were described as black men in their mid-20s,” police said.
Image via Google Maps
