Public Safety - Week of May 5, 2023

Officer survives high-speed accident

A Fairfax County Police officer is lucky to be alive after a high-speed accident on Fairfax County Parkway just before noon Monday.

The officer had stopped a motorist for going 73 in a 55 mph in the northbound lanes of the parkway. As he was speaking with the motorist, the officer was between the passenger side of the vehicle and the guardrail. When he heard the squealing of tires, the officer looked up and started running towards his vehicle. A juvenile driving a 2018 BMW M3 lost control of his vehicle while navigating a southbound curve located between the Braddock Road exit and Pope’s Head Road. The BMW M3 spun around, and across the median, striking the community member’s vehicle and then the officer’s vehicle. The officer was nearly struck and killed.

According to Fairfax County Police Deputy Chief Bob Blakley, crash reconstruction detectives revealed that the juvenile was driving “well over 120 mph” when he lost control of the vehicle. 

The adult driver in the vehicle from the northbound traffic stop was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The juvenile driver and two passengers also sustained minor injuries. The juvenile was charged with reckless driving.

Fairfax County Police say that parents and guardians should consider using the video at https://bit.ly/42hiG1O to have a conversation with their teen drivers about how their driving behavior can affect the lives of others. The video goes to black at one point to ensure that the juveniles are not identified.

Armed man arrested after robbery, carjacking

An armed 19-year-old Woodbridge man is in custody after robbing one victim and carjacking another.

Just before midnight May 2 officers responded to the 3000 block of Furman Lane in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County for a robbery. An armed man in a ski mask approached the victim in the apartment parking lot with a firearm and demanded the victim’s keys and wallet. The suspect took the items then walked away without taking the car.

As officers saturated the area searching for the suspect, a second victim waved an officer down. The victim was removing items from his 2001 BMW 330i in the same parking lot when the suspect pointed the firearm and demanded his keys. The suspect forced the victim to drive him away from the area. The suspect told the victim to stop near Furman Lane and Kings Highway then forced the victim out of the car.

An officer saw the stolen BMW on Richmond Highway near Franklin Street. As officers approached, the suspect, Malik Kamara, exited the car and ran away with the firearm in his hand. Officers chased Kamara on foot and arrested him a short distance away. The firearm and stolen property were recovered.

Kamara was charged with robbery with a firearm, carjacking with a firearm, abduction and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was held without bond. Kamara was out on bond after recent arrests in Prince William County.

Double murder-suicide in Springfield

Fairfax County Police detectives continue to investigate a double murder-suicide after three people were found dead inside a home. 

At 3:47 p.m. April 27, officers responded to a home in the 8500 block of Wild Spruce Drive, in Springfield. The housekeeper found Meskerem Belachew Solomon, 38, Amanuel Belachew Solomon, 31, and Tiku Berhane Gebreeyesus, 47, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body in the basement of the residence. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel declared all deceased at the scene. The family nanny and a child were inside the home and were found uninjured.

Preliminary, detectives believe Tiku shot his wife, Meskerem, and her brother, Amanuel, before shooting himself. A firearm was recovered in the basement. Detectives continue to conduct interviews and review evidence to understand the circumstances that led to the shooting. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will be completing autopsies to confirm the manner and cause of death. 

Annandale man arrested after stabbing

Around 2 a.m. April 28, officers were called to the Casa Blanca Restaurant at 6981 Hechinger Drive in Springfield for reports of a stabbing. 

The investigation revealed a fight started inside the restaurant and continued in the parking lot. 59-year-old Jose Reyes stabbed the victim in the upper body. The victim was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

Officers took Reyes into custody and charged him with aggravated malicious wounding. He was released on bond.

Man arrested for robbery, larceny

A man is in custody after a commercial robbery at a Centreville convenience store on April 26.

Fairfax County Police officers responded to the Sunoco at 14709 Lee Highway in Centreville at 7:02 p.m. April 26 for a commercial robbery. A man entered the store, proceeded around the counter, and implied he had a firearm. The man demanded the clerk open the register and fled on foot with the money. A K-9 officer arrived on scene and observed a man speaking with a Fairfax Connector bus driver in the commuter lot across the street from the Sunoco. The man boarded the bus which drove away. Responding officers obtained surveillance footage of the suspect which matched the description of the man who boarded the bus.

The K-9 officer obtained a bus number and officers responded to the 6400 block of Old Centreville Road where the suspect was observed by officers. Responding officers challenged the suspect who refused commands and mimicked drawing a firearm from his waistband then ran from the officer.

A K-9 officer arrived on scene and deployed his partner. Officers were able to take Clint Cook, 31, of Fairfax into custody. The money stolen from Sunoco was found in his possession. Cook was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and released. No officers were injured during this incident.

Cook was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with robbery and a petit larceny warrant out of Fairfax City was served. Cook was held without bond. No firearm was recovered. He has a court date of June 15 on the Fairfax City charge. He has a court date of June 27 on the robbery charge.

D.C. woman arrested for child abduction

Officers from the Tysons Urban Team (TUT) have arrested a 33-year-old woman for the abduction of a 3-year-old child at Tysons Corner Center.

TUT officers responded to the outdoor play area in the 1900 block of Chain Bridge Road at 5:47 p.m. April 27, for a missing 3-year-old. TUT officers utilized mall security cameras and quickly identified Jane Pyo of Washington D.C. as being involved.

Officers observed Pyo walk towards the mall, stop, and converse with the child, take the child’s hand and walk into the mall. Pyo was observed picking the child up and going down an escalator with the child in her arms. TUT officers with the assistance of Tysons Corner security located Pyo and the child inside the Coastal Flats Restaurant. Pyo assaulted officers when they approached but were able to take her into custody. The child was recovered uninjured and returned to the family.

Pyo was taken to the Adult Detention Center and charged with abduction, possession of burglarious tools, assault on law enforcement, trespassing, and served an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. Pyo was held without bond.

Man pleads guilty in 2019 shooting

Steven Green, 55, of Manassas, plead guilty in a May 24, 2019 shooting in Chantilly, according to a release from the Commonwealth’s Attorney office.

Green plead guilty April 28 to manslaughter and malicious wounding in the shooting death of Miguel Leiva Hernandez. A trial in March ended in a hung jury.

Green was cleaning the Chantilly Park Shopping Center parking lot on May 24, 2019, when he had an altercation with Hernandez’s girlfriend, Myra Osorio Cordero, who was standing outside a restaurant. Green used his leaf blowers to send debris towards Osorio Cordero and after they exchanged words he hit her in the face with one of the leaf blowers. When Leiva Hernandez saw Osorio Cordero bleeding profusely, he followed Green into the parking lot where a physical struggle ensued and Green shot him once in the chest killing him.

Green will be sentenced Sept. 1.

Additional charges for N. Chesterfield man

Additional charges have been served on a North Chesterfield, Va. man involved in a shoot-out with law enforcement along Interstate 95 on April 5 in Prince William County. 

Michael C. Davis. 34, was released from Inova Fairfax Hospital April 25 and transported to the Prince William County Adult Detention Center. In consultation with the Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Fairfax Field Office on April 26 served Davis with one felony count of attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer, one felony count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one felony count of eluding police. These charges are in addition to the felony count of abduction served on Davis earlier this month. Davis is being held without bond.

The incident began for the Virginia State Police at 9:40 p.m. on April 5 when a trooper alerted to a Jeep Cherokee traveling south on I-95 in Fairfax County.  The vehicle had improper registration - the wrong license plates were displayed on it. When the trooper activated his emergency lights, the Jeep pulled off onto the shoulder of I-95. The trooper approached the Jeep, and spoke to both the adult male driver and adult female passenger. It was not until the trooper returned to his patrol car to verify the driver's information that he learned that the driver was wanted by New York State Police for abducting the adult female passenger. Within seconds of receiving that confirmation, the Jeep pulled away from the shoulder and fled south on I-95. A pursuit was initiated.

The fleeing vehicle initially crashed near the 152 mile marker, when it struck the guardrail, but kept going south on I-95. State police vehicles positioned around the Jeep to contain it and bring it to a stop. Near Exit 148 in Prince William County, the Jeep ran off the right side of the road and crashed into the woods. As soon as the troopers approached the SUV, Davis, who remained in the driver's seat, began shooting at them. State police returned fire.

Davis and the passenger, Tatiana N. David, 34, of Ithaca, N.Y., sustained injuries. Once Davis stopped shooting, the troopers were able to safely approach the Jeep. Troopers and assisting agency personnel pulled both Davis and David from the Jeep, and immediately began rendering medical aid to both.

Davis was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment.

David died at the scene. Her remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Manassas for examination and autopsy.

No state police were injured in the shooting. In accordance with state police policy, the troopers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. A Fairfax County Police officer was also involved in the shooting.

Two firearms were recovered at the scene.

Man sentenced to life in prison

A 22-year-old Washington, D.C. man was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of an Army couple in May 2021.

Ronnie Marshall shot U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Brenda and Dr. (Col.) Edward McDaniel “execution style” in front of their Springfield home May 26, 2021 when they were walking their dog. According to a news release from the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, Marshall attempted to burgle the McDaniel’s house a few days prior to the killing but was chased away. He then returned to the house a few days later and shot the couple because Dr. McDaniel “used his first name” during the conversation.

A jury convicted Marshall of aggravated murder and two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony in November. He received an additional eight years on top of his life sentence for the two weapons charges, which are counted as first and second offenses and have mandatory minimums attached, according to the release.

Man arrested for larceny

Officers responded to 7-Eleven at 3910 University Dr. on April 24 at 5:27 p.m. for the report of a larceny. 

The reporting party stated that an unknown male took merchandise and left the store without rendering payment. Officers located the male nearby in possession of the stolen items. 

James Houska, 37, of no fixed address, was taken into custody and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with Petit Larceny and released on an unsecured bond. 

One arrested in Annandale fire

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched for a house fire in the 4900 block of Bristow Drive, in the Annandale area of Fairfax County at 11:57 p.m. April 27.

Units arrived on the scene of a three-story, single-family home with fire showing from three sides of the home. Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

Two occupants and a dog were home at the time of the fire. The dog alerted the occupants and all self-evacuated from the residence prior to the fire department’s arrival. There were working smoke alarms that activated after the fire was discovered.

Fire investigators determined the fire was incendiary in nature and started on the porch. Clinton James Hall, 27, was charged with one count of burning or destroying any building or structure. Hall was also charged with two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer. His court dates are July 3 and 6. According to court records, Hall also had arson charges from 2014 and 2017. The 2014 case out of Richmond-Marsh Criminal/Traffic General District Court at Manchester was dismissed. The 2017 case in Chesterfield General District Court was also dismissed.

Two occupants and a dog were displaced because of the fire. Red Cross assistance was offered and accepted. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $461,480.

Man arrested for larceny

Officers responded to Giant at 9400 Fairfax Blvd., at 11:13 a.m. April 25 for the report of a larceny. 

The reporting party stated that an unknown male placed merchandise in a grocery basket and left the store without rendering payment. Officers located the subject nearby in possession of the stolen items. 

Haneef Maing, 42, of no fixed address, was taken into custody and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with Petit Larceny and held on an unsecured bond.