<sh>Council Updates Childcare Rules
<bt>The Fairfax City Council voted Tuesday night to approve the following items:
• Home childcare providers: City regulations for home child care providers will become consistent with Fairfax county regulations. These regulations apply to home child care providers with five or less children. All providers will be required to have: CPR and first aid training; professional training in areas of health, safety, and child development; a TB test; criminal record checks for themselves and their family members every five years, and a carbon monoxide detector in the home. The new ordinance also institutes a $14 application fee for all providers.
• Pat Rodio Park: The name of Keith Avenue Park will change to Pat Rodio Park, in recognition of former councilman Pat Rodio's service as a youth and civic leader.
<sh>Motorist Struck
<bt>Fairfax County Police are investigating an incident where a vehicle struck a pedestrian on the Fairfax County Parkway, Tuesday, Oct 1. According to Fairfax County Police public information officer Jacqi Smith, the pedestrian, Derrick Bratton, 29, of Cockeysville, Md., was heading southbound near Newington Road. Bratton stopped his vehicle and allegedly got out to retrieve an object in the northbound lane. He was then struck by a red Toyota sedan, driven by Steven Palmer, 48, of Centreville. Bratton was medevac'd to Inova Fairfax Hospital.
"He had multiple fractures," according to Smith.
Speed nor alcohol was a factor and no charges have been filed. The parkway was closed temporarily.
<sh>Malicious Wounding
<bt>Fairfax County Police are investigating a malicious wounding that occurred in front of the Super Mart, located at 7032 Commerce St. in the Springfield area, about 11:15 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28. A 21-year-old Springfield-area man was leaving the store when a group of men in a small red car drove by the front of the store. One of the men stuck a gun out of the window and shot the victim in the face. The victim was medevac'd to Inova Fairfax Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Sexual Battery
<bt>Fairfax County Police arrested 18-year-old Craig Mabe, of 7732 Telegraph Road in the Kingstowne area, after an incident that occurred at the Planet Play Arcade in Springfield Mall in the Springfield area about 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26. An 8-year-old Springfield-area girl was playing in the "Castle" at the Planet Play Arcade when Mabe, an employee of the store, coaxed the girl to a secluded area and allegedly exposed himself to her and had her touch his genitals. The girl immediately notified her mother, who notified Springfield Mall security. Security notified police, who confronted Mabe and interviewed him. Mabe met with detectives on Monday, Sept. 28, and was charged with aggravated sexual battery. Any other possible victims are asked to call police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Animal Bite
<mh>The Fairfax County Police Department Animal Control Division is investigating an animal bite that occurred on the bike path located to the rear of Newington Forest Elementary School in the Newington area about noon on Sunday, Sept. 27. A 30-year-old woman was walking on the path when two women walking their dogs approached her. One of the women had two dogs on a leash. The other woman, who is described as white with short brown hair, was walking a medium-size, white dog on a leash. The white dog bit the victim on the leg. The woman offered the victim assistance before leaving. Animal Control officers are searching for the dog to check its rabies inoculation papers and to quarantine it. Anyone with information about the dog or its owner is asked to call Animal Control at 703-266-6490.
<sh>Tax and Decal Assistance
<bt>To answer questions from the Hispanic community about tax payments and decals, Spanish-speaking Fairfax County staff members are available by phone on weekdays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 703-324-3855, TTY 1-800-855-2884. Special Saturday hours are being offered on Oct. 5 only, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, is the deadline to pay county personal property taxes and buy auto decals. All decals must be displayed on vehicles by Nov. 16. If payment is made by Oct. 7, the decal will arrive in the mail in time to meet the Nov. 16 deadline. For more information in English, call 703-222-8234, TTY 703-222-7594 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta. For Spanish, call 703-324-3855, TTY 1-800-855-2884.
<sh>Cocaine Poisoning
<bt>An autopsy was conducted on a body pulled from the Manchester Lakes pond on Sept. 7, and the cause of death was listed as cocaine poisoning by the office of the chief medical officer in the Northern Virginia District, a spokesperson said. According to the Fairfax County public information office, the cause of death of Jerry Lee Watson, 37, of the 6000 block of Mersey Oaks Way, was initially determined to be an accidental drowning.