Man assaults juvenile at Lake Accotink
A 42-year-old man is facing charges after sexually assaulting a juvenile at Lake Accotink Park, the Fairfax County Police Department reports.
Officers were called to the park in Springfield on May 21 for a report of an assault. The victim was on the playground around 6 p.m. when a man approached the victim, engaged in conversation, then unlawfully touched the victim’s thigh.
The juvenile left the play area to avoid the man. Later, the man followed the victim into the water where he unlawfully touched her again.
The victim told family members about the assault. When they confronted the man, the suspect got into a vehicle and left the area. The family provided information to identify the man from cell phone footage and the vehicle’s registration.
Detectives from the Major Crimes Bureau obtained a warrant for Louis C. Allen, of Lorton, for aggravated sexual battery. Detectives from the Fugitive Track and Apprehension Unit, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Allen on May 24.
Three additional outstanding warrants were served on Allen. The warrants included two counts of failure to appear and one count of simple assault against a family member. Allen was taken to the Adult Detention Center where he was held without bond.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about this case or who believe Allen had inappropriate contact with them to call the Major Crimes Bureau, 703-246-7800, option 3. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers.
Let’s be honest. Nobody in their right mind thinks the current Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Steve Descano, will prosecute this alleged offender to the full extent of his alleged crimes.
Furthermore, based on the longstanding reporting practice of this blog, the likelihood is strong this blog will not report on how this alleged offender’s alleged crimes are adjudicated or settled under Fairfax County’s justice system.
For this reason alone, it is my opinion this blog should stop posting news stories such as this one.
In my opinion, by posting these type of news stories this blog projects a false sense of security that the alleged offender has been caught and both the offender and victim will receive “justice.”
However, this is not the full story. This is only part of the story.
This is common knowledge among those who watch the fictionalized, long-running TV show “Law & Order” on NBC. But just because the TV show is fiction doesn’t mean this aspect of the US justice system is very real.
In short, in my opinion, if this blog is unwilling or incapable of reporting on an alleged local crime and how it is handled from beginning to end by the entire Fairfax County criminal justice system; and instead just continues to rely on reporting information it obtains on the initial alleged crime (often, if not all of the time, from the Fairfax County Police Department) it should stop reporting on alleged crimes.
For example, has this blog ever followed up on alleged homicides it has reported by reporting on whether the alleged murderers where apprehended and if so, whether they went to trial or pled guilty, and if found or pled guilty the prison sentences they received?
The most recent occurrence I can recall this happened was when this blog reported on the apprehension of I believe two youths accused of the morning murder of an older man using an ATM near the city of Falls Church.
But in general, this blog regularly posts reports of alleged crimes and potential crimes (the person who drove off the road in central Annandale and struck four pedestrians; one so severely they might not live, stands out) but little in the way of how the Fairfax County local justice system adjudicated the alleged crimes and dispensed justice.
Why is that? Is that not a relevant topic for a Progressive minded blog? If not, why not?
You are taking your anger out on a local blog that someone voluntarily runs? This isn’t a national media outlet like CNN or Fox which has 24/7 staff and immense resources. Clearly you have an agenda, you just won’t admit it. You are lucky enough to have options when it comes to consuming information, why don’t you seek out others that better fit whatever it is that you want?
Holy crap. Leave Ellie alone! She does a great service to the community with this blog.
It’s one thing to critique elected officials or the government, but criticizing volunteers (the advertisements on the site really Im sure just cover the cost of running it)? Be the change you want to see in the world. If you want to see these reports followed up on, do the work yourself.
Annandale Today is a one-person volunteer operation with limited time and resources. We report on many other issues besides crimes.
We appreciate you.
We appreciate you, too! Thank you for this blog! I enjoy reading Annandale Today.
Sounds like Susie just signed up to run to ground all those things she just mentioned.
agreed, Susie, you can take up those duties and post updates on alleged crimes. You seem passionate about it, why not.
The Annandale Blog is great! If I want further info, I’ll go looking for it. If not for this blog, I’d know very little about what is going on in the Annandale community. Keep up the GREAT work!!
That’s ridiculous. Susie, if you don’t like this excellent blog you should write your own.
Dear Susie: so what actions have you taken to improve the criminal justice system? If you’re unhappy with things the way they are, volunteer, be an activist, take some concrete action.
Ellie and her Annandale Today have given us info, location and the perp’s name so we can be alert. That’s good enough for me.
My family appreciates this forum.