Crime & Safety

Look Back, Look Ahead: Fairfax County News to Know

Here are the top Patch headlines in Fairfax County between Dec. 3 and 7.

A Woodbridge man died in an accident on Interstate 495 Tuesday afternoon, Virginia State Police said. 

After the accident, Richard L. Edwards, 24, of Woodbridge, was taken to Fairfax Inova Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.

Find out what's happening in Lortonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Court Date Set for Eric Kweder

Eric Kweder was arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday for second degree murder, according to the Fairfax County General District Court. According to court records, Kweder has not entered a plea at this time.

Find out what's happening in Lortonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kweder is being accused of killing his roommate, 32-year-old Andy Lun Yun. Kweder allegedly struck Yun with a blunt object, according to a recent news release from the Fairfax County Police Department. PFC Officer Bud Walker said in an email to Patch they are not at liberty to name the weapon or how many times Yun was struck with the object. Those details will come out in court, he said.

Gun Found in Student Locker at Robinson Secondary School

A gun was confiscated from a student's locker at Robinson Secondary School Wednesday.

According to a message from the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Keep in Touch (KIT) message system, which notified parents of the incident, the students involved have been identified and questioned and there was no danger to students at school on Wednesday.

Manassas Park Man Charged in Death of Chantilly Man

Prosecutors charged William Santiago, 29, of Manassas Park, Tuesday with "unlawful wounding" in the July death of 42-year-old Amadeo Guerra-Giron, according to a news release issued Thursday.

Guerra-Giron died some three months after police answered a call and found him injured at 8:25 p.m. April 29 in a wooded area on the 3000 block of Virginia Dare Court in Chantilly.

Fire at Lake Barcroft Home Displaces Couple

Firefighters from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue were called late Thursday afternoon to a home on fire on Tollgate Terrace in the Lake Barcroft neighborhood of Fairfax County.

No one was injured, but the homeowners, a husband and wife, were displaced by the fire, according to Incident Commander Captain Michael Sease, who spoke to Patch at the scene.

Poplar Tree Elementary Teacher Indicted on Child Porn Charges

Robert Fenn, 27, of Herndon, a former teacher at Poplar Tree Elementary School, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges of child pornography.

Police said after Fenn's arrest in June that he worked at the school as a special education teacher for students in kindergarten through third grade. No school equipment or students at the school were involved, Fairfax County Police said at the time.

Gas-Fed Fire Shoots Through Roof of West Springfield Home

Firefighters from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a fire Wednesday night at a residence on Davis Field Lane in West Springfield. It appears it was a gas-fed fire.

No one was at home when the fire broke out, according to Captain Will Bailey, a spokesman for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. No injuries were reported.

Rep. Moran, Others Urge GSA to Move FBI to Northern Virginia

Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th) along with several other lawmakers sent a letter to the administrator of the General Services Administration urging him to consider Northern Virginia as a possible home for a new FBI headquarters location.

Moran, whose district includes Alexandria, was joined by Reps. Frank Wolf, Gerry Connolly and Rob Wittman as well as Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner in signing the letter.

Surovell Proposes Stronger Texting Penalties

Del. Scott Surovell (D-44) announced Wednesday he is proposing legislation to make texting while driving a Class 1 misdemeanor with a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Surovell, a Democrat, is teaming up with Republican Del. Ben Cline of Rockbridge on the bill.

Parents Seek Business Sense, Transparency in New Leader

Next summer, the leader of Fairfax County Public Schools could look like this: An educator with a strong economic background and experience in diverse school districts; a visible part of community discussions; someone who demands transparency, and on their own team, also embraces it; someone who could  finally one-up the system's counterparts in Montgomery County.

VRE Postpones Price Adjustments on 'Step-Up' Tickets

A fee reduction for Virginia Railway Express riders who use their tickets to ride Amtrak is postponed until January, at the earliest, commuter train officials said this week.

VRE monthly or 10-trip tickets holders now pay $5 for a step-up ticket that allows them to ride select Amtrak trains.

McDonnell Hints at New Transportation Funding Package

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Wednesday a potential solution to Virginia’s growing transportation funding problem, but cautioned those gathered at his Annual Transportation Conference in Tysons Corner he’ll need to get it through the General Assembly’s 2013 session first.

The governor’s proposed package, he said during a keynote appearance Wednesday, would eliminate the need to dip into construction money by 2019 and raise $500 million annually for new roads, bridges and transit projects.

Fairfax Board Endorses VRE Fare, Subsidy Increases

With a grim Fiscal Year 2014 budget outlook for Virginia Railway Express (VRE), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has endorsed potential fare or subsidy increases in order to prevent cutting service.

The service faces a $5.5 million deficit as it creates next year's budget.

Flu Season Off to Early, Strong Start

The flu season is off to an earlier-than-usual start nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Activity is most intense in the south-central and southeast of the country right now," according to a CDC report released Monday. "Most of the viruses characterized so far this season have been H3N2 viruses; which are typically associated with more severe seasons."

Eric Estrada Coming to Lorton to Talk Internet Safety

Some may remember him as "Ponch," the motorcycle-riding patrolman fighting crime on TV's "CHiPs," from the late '70s and early '80s. But these days Erik Estrada, star of the cult-classic television show, is fighting a new kind of crime.

Estrada will make an appearance Sunday at Woodbridge Moose Lodge in Lorton as spokesman for the Safe Surfin Foundation, to talk about ways to protect young children from online predators.

Enter Our Holiday Lights Contest

Enter our holiday lights contest here! If you have a fabulous light display you want to show the world you could win $500 toward your light bill and $100,000 for your school district.

Find out all the contest details here.

Goodwill Store to Open in Annandale

Community-based organization Goodwill® is moving into Annandale.

The non-profit plans to open a new store in the former location of the RoomStore at 7031 Columbia Pike near Jukebox Diner.

West Potomac Choral Program to Perform 'Messiah'

The West Potomac High School Choral Program is preparing for its performance of Handel's Messiah at 7 p.m. Dec. 19. The program is inviting alumni, parents and community members to join in the performance.

"The four WPHS choirs will be joined by local community singers as we sing one of the most well-known choral works of all time," Choral Director Ernest Johnson said. "The soloists are four alumni who have continued singing professionally after leaving our program."


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