Man attacks couple in shopping center
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| Hopper [FCPD] |
A homeless man assaulted two people at Crossroads Center in Bailey’s Crossroads on Feb. 24, the Fairfax County Police Department reports.
A man and woman were exiting the Safeway at about 7 p.m. when a man blocked their path, threatened them with harm, and made derogatory racial comments.
The couple ran away, but the man followed them into the A.C. Moore crafts store, where he assaulted the woman. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life threatening.
Mark Hooper, 50, of no fixed address, was arrested for strangulation and assault and battery. The attack is listed as a hate crime.
Among other recent crimes, there was a stabbing outside the Babylon Café at 3501 S. Jefferson Street shortly after 2 a.m. on Feb. 21. Officers arrived to find a large group fighting in the parking lot and a man suffering from a stab wound. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
When police were trying to arrest a man for disorderly conduct on the 7600 block of Little River Turnpike in Annandale just after 10 p.m. on Feb. 25, he spat on an officer. Jorge Moreno Johnson, 33, of no fixed address, was arrested for being drunk in public, indecent exposure, and assault on a law enforcement office, as well as disorderly conduct.
The Subway at 5859 Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads was robbed shortly after 1 a.m. on Feb. 22. When officers responded to a commercial burglary alarm, they found the front door was damaged and the inside was in disarray. Nothing of value was taken, however. The suspect is described as a man of unknown race; he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, jeans, gloves, and a mask.
The Filipino Global Supermarket at 5509 Leesburg Pike, Bailey’s Crossroads, was also robbed on Feb. 22, just after 1:35 a.m. Nothing of value was taken here either, although the front door was damaged. The suspect is described as a man, unknown race, tall, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, jeans, hat, and gloves.
Updated 2/26/19, 5:30 p.m.
I, for one, am shocked I tell you SHOCKED!
I remember this homeless man. He lived outside on the sidewalk near my office building in downtown DC for a while years ago. In the dead of winter he slept on the subway grates. He is very mentally ill. He seemed then at least its been several years, stronger and more agile than most homeless men. Its not an excuse but our system that waits until someone is harmed to get them off the streets is wrong. I tried my best to steer clear of him. He didn't beg. He just seemed crazy. He seemed out of it but he was also observant sometimes. I accidently dropped my car key on the sidewalk onetime. Only he and I were around. I went a block before I noticed it and I knew exactly where I dropped it. I went back and searched and searched. It was less than 3 minutes. I retraced all my steps. He eyed me searching and I knew he took it. And the way he was looking at me he knew I knew he took it. He was messing with me. I'm not surprised he attacked someone and was hateful.
Very disturbing. It's pretty sad that it takes a violent crime for the state to realize that he is severely mentally ill & shouldn't be roaming the streets.
He was probalby looking for the new Cadillac Homeless Highrise in Baileys.