Tag: police
Cop school: The jail tour
The Adult Detention Center in Fairfax [No photos allowed inside.] The young women were sitting on the floor playing cards and laughing. They looked like they didn’t have a care in the world. But they weren’t at a slumber party—they were doing time at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (ADC). The field trip to … Continued
Cop school: Life on patrol
Kottemann Greg Kottemann wanted to be police officer since he was a child, and his enthusiasm for the job was clear, as he offered a close-up look at the life of a patrol officer during last week’s session of the Citizens Police Academy at the Mount Vernon District Police Station. Kottemann, a master police officer … Continued
Cop school: Domestic violence
Week 3 of the Fairfax County Citizens Police Academy included several presentations at the Mount Vernon Police Station. Heath and Wallace “My dad is drunk. He’s kicking my mom in the head,” said the 14-year-old girl on the 911 call, as her younger sister was screaming in the background. The police dispatcher helped the girl remain … Continued
Cop school: The 911 call center
My second class of the Fairfax County Citizens Police Academy, at the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center in Fairfax, featured presentations on the 911 call center and the forensics lab. I already wrote about the Police Department’s crime scene investigations facility in December, so I’ll just report on the 911 operations here. About … Continued
Project Lifesaver tracks wandering Alzheimer’s victims
Hofrichter demonstrates the Project Lifesaver antenna If there’s someone in your household with a tendency to wander off and get lost, you might want to check into Project Lifesaver, a program that uses radio-controlled monitors to locate missing persons. The program is designed for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, Down’s syndrome, or similar conditions. Project … Continued
FXCO Citizens Police Academy offers a glimpse behind the badge
This the first in a series of reports about my experiences in the Fairfax County Citizens Police Academy. A mock shopping center in the Criminal Justice Academy The first session of the Spring 2012 Fairfax County Citizens Police Academy took place March 1 at the Criminal Justice Academy in Chantilly and offered a tour of … Continued
Man charged with vehicular death of 8-year-old boy
An 8-year-old boy, Brian Hernandez-Chavez, died after being struck by a car while he was standing on the side of Duke Street in Lincolnia Jan. 15, and the driver, Victor M. Aldana, 22, was charged by Alexandria Police with DUI manslaulghter, DUI maiming, reckless Driving, and not having an operator’s license, WJLA reported Jan. 16. … Continued
Attempted burglary sparks major police response at Annandale condos
Residents of the Lafayette Forest condominium development in Annandale were awakened in the early morning of Jan. 3 by a huge commotion involving the police. “I was woken by a yelling police officer and a barking K-9 in pursuit of a fleeing suspect at about 4 a.m.,” one resident reports. “They got him to lie … Continued
BB&T bank in Annandale robbed for second time this year
The Fairfax County Police posted photos of a suspect who allegedly robbed the BB&T Bank at 4401 Backlick Road, Annandale, on Saturday, Dec. 24. That bank was also robbed last March. According to the Franconia Police District, a man entered the bank, next to the CVS on the corner of Backlick and Little River Turnpike, … Continued
FXCO massage parlors searched for human trafficking violations
The Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force—which includes officers from local, state, and federal agencies—carried a coordinated inspection operation Dec. 14 targeting massage parlors. They didn’t find any human trafficking violations, reported Lt. Chris Marsh, assistant commander of the Fairfax County Police Organized Crime and Narcotics Division. But they did place 17 charges, the vast … Continued
CSI: Fairfax
The Fairfax County communications center where 911 calls are answered Hardy “No matter how hard you try to clean up a crime scene, we’ll find evidence,” says Fairfax County Det. Derek Hardy. Hardy explained how crime scene investigators use state-of-the-art gear to analyze evidence and reconstruct crime scenes to members of the Mason District Police … Continued
‘Santa’s Ride’ brings toys to children at Fairfax Hospital
The 2010 Santa’s Ride The Fairfax County Police Motor Squad is heading up the 2011 Santa’s Ride for Children, an annual toy drive for kids at Fairfax Hospital and for those who might not have a cheerful holiday season without your help. Members of the public are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys, games, and … Continued
Police seek man who tried to enter woman’s car near Unique Thrift Store
Fairfax County Police are investigating a “suspicious event” that took place nearly three weeks ago at the Fairfax Plaza Shopping Center, 2950 Gallows Road, Merrifield, involving an intruder who tried to enter a woman’s car. That is the same shopping center where Vanessa Pham was spotted, and possibly abducted, just minutes before she was stabbed … Continued
Bus knocks down utility pole on Columbia Pike in Annandale
A 16A Metrobus crashed into a utility pole on Columbia Pike in front of Bloom at about 9:10 p.m., knocking down power lines. Columbia Pike is closed between Evergreen Lane and John Marr Drive, as there are live wires in the street. According to police, the road will remain closed for about 12 hours. There … Continued
Police seek suspect who stole car with sleeping toddler inside
Fairfax County Police from the Franconcia station are searching for a suspect involved in a kidnapping and car theft incident that took place in the 7500 block of Murillo Street in Springfield yesterday at about 4 p.m. “The suspect stole a 2006 Honda Pilot left with its engine running and a sleeping 2-year-old boy in the … Continued