Friday, May 17, 2013
More charges could be coming for trio that allegedly hit homes across Vienna, McLean, Falls Church this month.
Three people accused of launching a burglary spree across Vienna and two other jurisdictions have been linked to at least six reported robberies in town, police said Thursday — three of them in the span of just more than 10 hours. A day after Craig Hopta, 29, Michael Lewis, 29 and Diana Seaborn, 34, all of Maryland, were arrested by Fairfax County police on burglary and larceny charges, among others, Vienna Police said they believe the trio is responsible for also taking items from half a dozen Vienna homes. More charges could be coming as Fairfax County, Vienna and Falls Church police continue their investigation. Vienna Police said the suspects allegedly robbed the following locations (see locations in the map above): The suspects were …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Vienna Police Department is seeking information on incidents at two businesses along Route 123.
The Vienna Police Department is investigating burglaries that occurred last week along Maple Avenue. Around 10:15 p.m. last Monday, a business owner reported hearing a loud noise at a business nearby. When he looked across the street, he saw two men exiting Andy's Barber Shop from the front window. When the two men saw him, they fled, the owner reported. After police responded to the scene at 431 Maple Ave W, they found the shop adjacent to the barber ship, Central Nails, had also been burglarized. It's not clear exactly what was taken, or how much the items were valued. Police continue to investigate the case. Residents who have information should contact MPO Gary Lose at glose@viennava.gov or 703-255-6396.
Friday, May 10, 2013
A 17-year-old boy allegedly crashed a car Tuesday on Marshall Road before fleeing in Vienna, prompting a manhunt through local backyards.
A teen is facing several charges after fleeing from Virginia State Police this week in a stolen car, leading them on a wild chase that ended in a Vienna backyard. The 17-year-old boy has been charged by state police with possession of a stolen vehicle and one felony count of eluding police, spokeswoman Corrine Geller told Patch. He faces an additional robbery charge in connection with the alleged stolen vehicle. Read: Virginia State Police Chase Ends in Vienna According to police, the teen moved to Roanoke from Washington, D.C. in December 2012, and "was a resident of a facility that provides treatment for troubled adolescent males." The teen could still face additional charges for crimes in the Roanoke area; police are still investigating…
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
UPDATED: Suspect in custody after bailout Tuesday afternoon.
Updated 7:42 p.m. (see below) Original: A man is in custody after apparently leading Virginia State Police on a chase into Vienna. Vienna Police Department spokesman Officer Gary Lose said state police contacted the department around 6 p.m. to help set up a perimeter as they searched for a suspect from an earlier incident. It's not clear where or when the state police pursuit began. Patch is awaiting a call back from Virginia State Police. A number of residents wrote to Patch saying roads were shut down in the area of Cottage, Hillcrest and Kingsley. "We saw some doors open and officers talking to residents. Lots of guns of various sizes were drawn and the dogs were out, too," reader Jeannie Mirani wrote on Facebook. Twitter user …
Friday, May 3, 2013
Events Saturday at VPC and Sunday at Marshall Road encourage safe riding, teach core bike skills.
Ahead of National Bike to School Day and Vienna's Bike/Walk challenge, two bike rodeos are coming to town to make sure kids know how to stay safe on the road. On Saturday, the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and Vienna Police Department will host the 2nd Annual W&OD Safety and Bike Rodeo. The event is scheduled for from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Vienna Presbyterian Church. Vienna police officers will help kids ages four and up learn all of the core skills to riding a bike, including braking, balancing and handling obstacles. Children will also learn basic rules of the road so that they can safely ride in their own neighborhoods. Representatives from Safe Kids USA will also be on site to give free bicycle helmets to the first 200 …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
One driver being treated at local hospital Tuesday after crash in southwest Vienna; roads should be reopened before 5 p.m.
Update 4:48 p.m.: Hillcrest Drive is now reopened, Officer Gary Lose said. Original: One person is being treated at a local hospital after a two-car crash Tuesday in southwest Vienna. Patch readers reported hearing and seeing police and fire activity in the area just before 4 p.m. Tuesday. Vienna Police Department spokesman Officer Gary Lose said two cars collided in the area of Hillcrest Drive and Tapawingo Road SW. One person is being taken to an area hospital for treatment, apparently for an arm injury, Lose said. Both cars are being towed, he said. Tapawingo Road is open while cars are using only one lane on Hillcrest Drive SW, Lose said. All roads should be reopened before 5 p.m. Tuesday, Lose said. The cause of the crash, and whether…
Woman reported incident during mid-day run last week.
A man allegedly exposed himself to a jogger last Wednesday while waiting in his vehicle at a traffic light, Vienna police say. A woman reported to police she was jogging around 12:25 p.m. April 24 near the intersection of Nutley Street and Courthouse Road SW when a dark blue Volkswagen pulled up next to her. The car stopped at the traffic light. The woman reported looking over at the driver and discovering he was exposing himself. The driver of the vehicle left the area before officers arrived. The jogger said the vehicle did not appear to be displaying a rear license plate. In December, officers fielded a similar call, when a man reported the driver of a vehicle traveling in front of him exposed himself. Anyone with information on this …
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Vienna Police Department is investigating the April 12 report from a walker.
A woman told Vienna Police a man attempted to grope her while she was walking in northeast Vienna last week. The report comes just more than three weeks after a groping was reported on the W&OD Trail in Vienna.That case involved two men on a bicycle. It was not clear at press time whether the two incidents were related. The woman told police she was walking around 10:30 a.m. April 12 near Druid Hill Road and Beulah Road NE when she heard what sounded like a jogger coming up behind her. She moved to the side so the jogger could pass, but instead a man grabbed her and attempted to grope her, according to a Vienna Police report. The woman screamed and fought off the man, who ran toward Maple Ave NE, she said. Police are continuing to …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Students from Madison and Langley High Schools clashed last week but the motive is unclear, police say.
A student and his father declined to pursue charges last week after an apparent fist fight between Madison and Langley high school students at the Chipotle in Vienna. Police received a call from a resident around 6:13 p.m. April 5 reporting there appeared to be a fist fight happening behind the Chipotle, at 213 Maple Ave SE, and a crowd of onlookers was gathering. When police officers arrived on the scene, the fight broke up and the crowd, along with the students allegedly involved in the fight, disappeared. Officers were able to track down some people from the crowd, who said the fight was between students from Madison and Langley, Vienna Police Department spokesman Officer Gary Lose said. Officers identified one of the students believed …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Vienna police respond to an unusual call for help in one home last week.
Last Monday, it wasn't raining cats and dogs in Vienna — but at least one home had a dusting of raccoons. At 7:02 p.m. March 25, a resident on Gibson Drive SW called the Vienna Police Department to report a large raccoon had fallen through her ceiling, landing in the family room. After arriving at the scene, the responding officer discovered not one, but six raccoons had taken a fall: Five baby raccoons had also fallen through the ceiling, the officer reported. The officer trapped the baby raccoons and put them in a kennel before contacting a pest company to capture the adult raccoon. The company asked police to leave the baby raccoons at the residence. The younger animals, the company said, would be used to entice the adult raccoon out …
John Smith1
10:17 am on Friday, May 17, 2013
A big "Thank You" and congratulations to law enforcement for apprehending this trio before more thefts occurred and before anyone was injured. From an earlier report, it sounds as though an observant citizen was crucial in the apprehension. If so, thanks to this citizen, too, for "seeing something and saying something." Now, let's observe how our system of justice deals with these criminals. Will… more ›