Drivers can expect delays from a crash this morning at the intersection fo Tysons Blvd and Galleria Drive.
A tow truck is on its way and drivers can expect a brief right lane closure, Sgt. James Curry, a police spokesman, told Tysons Reporter.
Traffic was heavy on Tysons Blvd around 9:55 a.m., according to Google Maps.
Curry said that no injuries have been reported.
Map via Google Maps
The Vienna Arts Society is seeking the public’s help to solve the mystery of the stolen painted benches.
The first bench was stolen between July 7-9, followed by the second bench between August 9-12. Vienna police are currently investigating.
The arts group sent out an email today (Tuesday) to our sister site ARLnow with the subject line: “VIENNA ART SOCIETY ASKS FOR HELP IN RECOVERING STOLEN BENCHES.”
“Art Center Director Lu Cousins, says ‘It’s possible someone witnessed their theft and they may no longer be in the immediate area. We have been working with the Vienna Police Department to secure the remaining benches and we’re hoping that anyone with information will come forward,'” the email said.
The benches are valued at $500 and $600, Sgt. Conor Tracy, who works in the Vienna Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, told Tysons Reporter.
“To my knowledge, there is no video footage from security cameras of either incident,” Tracy said, adding that the police department does not have any leads or suspects at this time.
The Vienna Arts Society is determined to keep the remaining 40 benches painted by local artists available for public enjoyment until they get auctioned off on Nov. 2.
New security measures include bolting the benches to the ground and chaining them to nearby objects, Tracy said.
While the Vienna Arts Society recommissioned a bench to replace the missing one from Grass Roots Fitness, the artist of the other stolen bench won’t be painting a new one due to time constraints.
Anyone with information about the stolen benches can contact the Vienna Police Department at 703-255-6366.
Photo via Susan Scanlon
Fairfax County police said a McLean resident grabbed his gun and shot at the suspected thieves driving out of his garage in his car.
Around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday (Oct.6 ), two men entered a garage in the 1400 block of Woodhurst Blvd near Wolf Trap and stole a 2006 Audi A6, police said.
The homeowner heard the garage door open, armed himself and went to investigate.
“He saw the car driving away and discharged one round from his firearm toward the car,” police said.
In a separate incident later that same day, a man allegedly stole two women’s purses when they were getting into their car after shopping in the 2000 block of International Drive.
“A man opened the back door and tried to steal their purses,” police said. “The victim grabbed a hold of her purse and a struggle ensued.”
The man got away with the purse. The woman wasn’t injured.
Vienna police received a report of a man allegedly taking pictures of women sneakily at Caffe Amouri last week.
The incident occurred between 10 a.m.-noon last Thursday, Sept. 26.
A person at the cafe reported to police on Friday, Sept. 27, that she saw a man taking pictures of women in and around the cafe and would hide the camera if anyone seemed to notice him, according to the police report.
“The citizen reported the man to employees,” police said. “The owner of the café was alerted to the man’s behavior; he watched the man and confirmed the citizen’s account.”
The man left after the owner told him that he could not take pictures inside the cafe, police said.
Inside a separate incident, Vienna police are looking for the three men who allegedly stole money from the Subway at 222 W. Maple Avenue last Friday night.
“On September 28, the manager reported that on the previous day, three men entered the restaurant, distracted the employee and took US currency,” police said.
Photo via Facebook
Updated at 10:30 a.m. — Police tweeted at 10:20 a.m. that all lanes on Old Dominion Drive are open. A police spokesperson told Tysons Reporter that no injuries were reported.
Earlier: A fallen tree that struck a truck has caused a partial closure of Old Dominion Drive in McLean this morning (Thursday).
Fairfax County police tweeted about the closure around 9:30 a.m. Old Dominion Drive is down to one lane between Kirby and Birch roads, according to the tweet.
Police are on scene directing traffic.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Old Dominion Dr between Kirby Rd and Birch Rd is down to one lane due to a tree that fell on a truck. Officers are on scene to direct traffic, please use caution. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/ODmDQKJbMU
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) October 3, 2019
Map via Google Maps
Fairfax County police set aside some time today (Oct. 2) to hang out with locals around the county.
The annual “Coffee With a Cop” events are part of a nation-wide initiative to build a rapport with the public by sending police officers to coffee shops to chat with community members.
Over at the Merrifield event this morning, Lt. Tim Field and crime prevention officer Mario Colorado, both from the McLean District Station, fielded questions from locals at Starbucks (8104A Arlington Blvd) from 9:30-11 a.m.
“We are the public face of the county,” Colorado said, adding that the event allows people to approach police in a relaxed environment where they can “overcome the hurtle” of feeling like they are being a bother.
Therapy dog group Caring Angles brought Kyira, a 110-pound Rottweiler with an affinity for lap-sitting, to the Merrifield event this morning. An organization representative said they wanted to support the officers and also educate the community on the benefits of therapy dogs.
Field said he has been serving FCPD for around 33 years while Colorado has served for 22. Both men said they enjoy the event because it gives them an opportunity to visit with community members under happy terms, rather than during an emergency response.
Field said that people often want to talk about a wide variety of topics, ranging from quality of life concerns to fun philosophical ideas.
People will sometimes approach police at the “Coffee With a Cop” events and ask how to resolve personal dilemmas they are facing, like how to help a family member struggling with substance abuse, he said.
For anyone wanting to take advantage of this opportunity, there will be another chance to talk with Fairfax County police at Turkish Coffee Lady in Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Road) this evening from 5-7 p.m.
Locals can learn about human trafficking prevention in McLean next week — just days after Fairfax County police busted an alleged sex trafficking ring in the Mosaic District.
Police arrested two Falls Church residents and charged them with felony sex trafficking in connection with a sex trafficking operation run out of the Avalon Mosaic after police raided one of the units, Fox 5 reported yesterday.
“Police did not say whether they identified any sex trafficking victims,” the story said.
Juemin Luo, 35, bonded out of jail, while Feng Ni, 32, is being held without bond, according to Fox 5.
At a meeting next Thursday (Oct. 10), the Citizens Advisory Committee for the McLean Police District Station will focus on ways to identify and prevent human trafficking.
Police told Tysons Reporter that the topics for the regularly scheduled Citizens Advisory Committee meetings are often determined a month in advance.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the McLean Governmental Center (1437 Balls Hill Road) and is open to the public.
Attendees will also be able to learn about resources for people who are victims of human trafficking.
Hat tip to Michael O’Connell
Two people have been taken to the hospital after a crash on Westmoreland Street in McLean this evening (Tuesday).
Police responded to the call around 5:15 p.m. for a head-on collision involving two vehicles on Westmoreland Street by Old Chesterbrook Road, spokesman Sgt. James Curry told Tysons Reporter.
Two people have non-life threatening injuries and have been taken the hospital, Curry said.
Westmoreland Street is temporarily shut down and tow trucks are in route, Curry said around 5:30 p.m.
Map via Google Maps
Tysons Reporter is back with its new monthly crime map showing where the incidents occurred in Fairfax County Police Department’s McLean District Station.
We went ahead and pulled together all of the incidents noted for the McLean District Station in FCPD crime recaps from Sept. 1-30, weeded out the ones that are not in the Tysons Reporter coverage area and plotted them in the interactive map above.
The McLean District Station covers crime in Merrifield, Dunn Loring, Falls Church, McLean, Tysons and Great Falls.
The map only includes information from FCPD and does not include reports to the police departments in the Town of Vienna or the City of Falls Church.
Use the icon in the top left corner of the map to toggle between the various types of crimes displayed.
Fairfax County’s weekday police recaps are not comprehensive lists of every incident and the addresses are approximate. FCPD also notes that information in the recaps “is generally based on initial reports made to the police department.”
Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).
The Vienna Police Department is investigating two recent reports of stolen bicycles.
The first incident occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning (Sep.t 19-20). A Park Street SE resident reported that someone stole his bicycle from his front porch, police said.
Then on Sunday (Sept. 22) shortly before 6:30 p.m., a man parked his bicycle outside of the Exxon as 395 E. Maple Avenue while he ran in to make a purchase, police said. His bicycle was gone when he returned.
Aside from the stolen bicycles, Vienna police also responded to a report of a suspicious package that employees at Navy Federal Credit Union (820 Follin Lane SE) received in the mail on Monday (Sept. 23).
“The package was placed in a safe area, and the Fairfax County Police Bomb Squad responded to examine the package,” police said.
The bomb squad determined the package, which contained bank statements, was not a threat.
Photo via Facebook
