Police Log: "Blocking The Box" and Cut-Through Enforcement, 13-year-old Injured By BB Gun

Town of Vienna Police are beginning an “aggressive enforcement” of laws related to “blocking the box” and illegally cutting through private parking areas.

Police say drivers should not enter an intersection unless they are safely able to clear it. “Blocking the box” – the area between intersecting roadways – blocks vehicles from being able to proceed in either direction because another vehicle is blocking the intersection.

Police have also noticed an increase of cut-throughs, to avoid a traffic control device – most typically seen when traffic is stopped for a red light, and drivers want to make a right turn at the upcoming intersection.

“This is extremely hazardous and could injure patrons or other pedestrians walking to and from their vehicles or even result in crashes,” Police say.

Both of these offenses are moving violations under Virginia law and a conviction can result in a fine with points being assessed to the driver’s record. The Town of Vienna Police Department will begin an aggressive enforcement wave relative to these two violations in the coming weeks.

Other highlights from April 15 to April 21

•  Around 7 a.m. April 15, a woman reported she was struck by a passing bicyclist on the W+OD trail, near Cherry Street Southeast. The biker stopped to offer assistance and his contact information. The walker declined to be treated for minor injuries. Police say “this event does not meet the criteria to be considered a traffic crash. Both participants are considered pedestrians for Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reporting purposes.”
•  On April 15, Vienna Police assisted the Fairfax County Police Tactical Team with a search warrant execution on Locust Street Southeast. The warrant was related to suspected drug activity, Police said, and the case is under investigation. 
• A resident of  Course Street Northeast reported that she was contacted by her bank April 16 and told about a suspicious transaction. They then discovered that there were several fraudulent debit card transactions made with her debit card number online. The case is under investigation.
•  A resident attempted to check out of Giant Food on April 17 when she noticed her wallet was missing. She learned that her credit card had been used at multiple locations to make fraudulent purchases. Police are investigating. 
•  A Sally’s Beauty Supply employee reported to police on April 17 that they believed a person had stolen merchandise from the store. The person fled when confronted by the employee.
• A landlord on Moorefield Hill Court reported that he asked one of his renter to turn on the outside water on April 18 so that a company could power wash the house. The renter did not comply. The renter told Police that she feels harassed by the landlord, who she said frequently drives by and checks on the house.
• A doctor at Advanced Pediatrics  on East Street called Police on April 18 while treating an 11-year-old girl for a burn. The doctor told police they were concerned about the girl’s mother’s story about how the burn occurred. Fairfax County EMS responded to the scene and determined the way the burn occurred was consistent with the mother’s story – that a hot bowl of soup fell on the girl’s legs. Fairfax County Protective Services will follow up on the case. The girl was transported to the hospital for further treatment.
•  On April 18, a resident of Windover Avenue Northwest reported hearing noises in the garage. When the resident went to investigate, they saw two men fleeing from the area and entering a black pickup truck. It didn’t appear the men were successful in entering the garage. Police are investigating the case.
• Around 1:46 a.m. on April 19, a Vienna Police officer stopped two juvenile men on Maple Avenue East. He found that one of the boys unlawfully possessed tobacco. One of them was also in possession of a concealed BB pistol. Under Virginia code, a BB gun does not meet the criteria to be considered a weapon in this instance. The parents for both boys were summoned to take custody of their sons. One boy was charged with underage possession of tobacco and released to his father.
• A resident of Ross Drive Southwest called Police on April 19 to report her roommate was trying to attack her for not cleaning up a mess in the kitchen. Police explained the warrant obtainment process to her.
• An employee of Shell Gas Station, at 543 Maple Ave W, reported on April 20 that a person was approaching customers and asking for money. Vienna Police responded and banned him from station property.
• Police responded to report of an injured 13-year-old boy on April 21 on Cedar Lane Southeast. Police found that two cousins, ages 13 and 10, had been playing with an “Airsoft” gun and then began chasing each other. The 10-year-old female cousin grabbed a BB Rifle and inadvertently discharged it at the 13-year-old male cousin. The BB struck him in the face. The 13-year-old male victim was transported to an area hospital as a precaution, but did not suffer significant injury. This case is still being investigated.

Arrests:

• After responding to a report of a citizen staggering in the roadway near the intersection of Nutley and Knoll Streets on April 14, Police arrested Hillard Lewis, 43, of Sterling for Drunk in Public. He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
• After a caller reported a car operating erratically around 3:30 a.m. on April 16, Police located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. After attempting field sobriety tests, Rebekah White, 23, of Oak Hill, was arrested for DUI. She was transported to VPD for a breath analysis, and Fairfax County Adult Detention Center for a blood analysis. She was formally charged with DUI.
• During a traffic stop April 18, police arrested Patricia Cavil, 53, of Fairfax Station, for driving while intoxicated. She was transported to Vienna Police Headquarters for analysis of her breath, and then to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
• After responding to a report of unlicensed solicitors April 20 on Lawyers Road, Police arrested Jeremy Bryan Douglas, 30, of Murfressboro, Tennessee and Christopher James Nicely, 24 of Oak Ridge, Tennessee were issued summons for the soliciting without a license. They were released after signing them.
• On April 21, Sergeant Taylor conducted a traffic stop at Chain Bridge Road and Horseshoe Drive. After attempting to complete several field sobriety tests , Sallie Derrick, 23, of Vienna, was arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to Vienna Police Headquarters for analysis of her breath. She was then transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
• Police responded to a report April 21 of a possibly intoxicated male subject on Plum Street Southwest. Police located the person and arrested Daniel Wilson, 46, of Vienna for drunk in public. He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.