<sh>Landscaping Business Fire
<bt>Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a fire Wednesday, Jan. 8 in the 11500 block of Popes Head Road at a house that was converted into a landscaping business. According to Lt. Mark Stone of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, there were no injuries as a result of the fire and the property had an estimated $200,000 in damages. The fire is still under investigation.
<sh>Bank Robbery
<bt>Fairfax County Police arrested a man following a bank robbery that occurred at the Chevy Chase bank, located at 6426 Springfield Plaza, about 1:40 p.m., Monday, Jan. 6. A 23-year-old Springfield-area man, employed as a teller, was approached by a man who indicated that he had a gun and demanded money, police sources said. The victim relinquished an undisclosed amount of cash, and the man walked out of the bank. Another teller followed the suspect out of the bank and saw him get into a beige-colored, four-door sedan with Virginia registration. A lookout for the suspect and vehicle was broadcast, and shortly thereafter, the car was spotted heading south on I-95. According to police, two patrol officers stopped the vehicle and arrested Bobby Ray Wooley, of King Henry Court in Richmond, without incident. A black Daisy BB gun and a large amount of cash were recovered in the vehicle. Wooley was taken to the Adult Detention Center, where he was charged with armed robbery and is being held without bond.
<sh>School Intruder
<bt>Fairfax County Police arrested a 16-year-old Fairfax-area boy after he was discovered in a school early Tuesday, Dec. 31. About 1 a.m., the alarm at Robinson Secondary School, located at 5035 Sideburn Road in the Fairfax area, was activated. Police responded to the school, including Officer Denny Vorbau and his canine, Devo, and found the boy inside the school trying to take property belonging to the school, according to the police. Investigation revealed that the boy smashed a window on a side door to enter the school. The boy was taken into custody and later released to his parents. Charges are pending.
<sh>ROBBERY
<bt>On Dec. 30, about 6:15 p.m., an Alexandria-area woman, 58, was walking in the 6300 block of Amherst Avenue when a man approached her, brandished a handgun and demanded money. The victim relinquished cash, and the suspect ran toward Franconia Road. According to police, the suspect was described as black, 20 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 120 pounds. He was wearing a blue jacket and dark pants.
<sh>High-Speed Accident
<bt>Fairfax County Police Accident Reconstruction Unit responded to an accident with injury that occurred on the Fairfax County Parkway at Lee Chapel Road in the Burke area on Monday, Dec. 30, around 12:55 p.m. John Ryneska Jr., 20, of Gainesville, Fla., was traveling northbound on the Fairfax County Parkway in a 2000 Honda Civic at a high rate of speed, according to police. It is believed Ryneska was racing another vehicle. Due to the high speed he was traveling, Ryneska was unable to stop his vehicle for a red light at Lee Chapel Road. He crossed into the oncoming lanes and struck a 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88, driven by Tamara Karas, 36, of Fairfax Station. Also injured in the Oldsmobile were Matthew and Katherine Karas, both 9 years old. A Fairfax County Police helicopter medevac’d Katherine to Inova Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Additionally, Tamara Karas was medevac’d by Aircare to Inova Fairfax Hospital, also with life-threatening injuries. Both Ryneska and Matthew Karas were transported by ground to Inova Fairfax Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Seat belts were used, and speed was a factor, according to police. Police charged Ryneska with racing on a highway, and Alexander Castillo Batres, 21, of 9811 Lomond Drive in Manassas, who was in the other car that Ryneska was racing, was also charged with racing on a highway, as well as felony hit and run. He was taken to the Adult Detention Center and was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond, police sources indicated.
<sh>Malicious Wounding
<bt>On Dec. 29, about 6:50 p.m., a Springfield-area man, 53, went into his basement in the 6300 block of Bridgeton Court, and told two men who rent his basement as living quarters that they were making too much noise. The men stated they would turn down the music and leave in a few minutes, and the homeowner went back upstairs. A few minutes later, according to police, the homeowner, armed with a kitchen knife, came back downstairs and started swinging the knife, slashing one victim on the shoulder and stabbing the second victim in the head. One victim transported the other to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where they were both treated for their injuries. Tu X. Nguyen of 6310 Bridgeton Court was arrested at his home and charged with two counts of malicious wounding, according to police.
<sh>Fatal Accident
<bt>The Fairfax County Accident Reconstruction Unit responded to a fatal accident that occurred on Old Keene Mill Road in the Springfield area about 4:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 28. Patrick A. Trainer, 24, of 5466 Truxion Court in Burke, was operating a 1992 Toyota Paseo on Old Keene Mill Road near Greeley Boulevard. Trainer lost control of his vehicle and entered the grassy median. The vehicle then overturned, and Trainer was ejected from the vehicle. Trainer succumbed to his injuries at the scene. According to police, alcohol was a factor, and Trainer was not wearing a seat belt.
<sh>Robbery
<bt>On Dec. 27, about 7 p.m., three men, one of whom was armed with a machete, entered the Best Way Travel Agency in the 6100 block of Backlick Road and announced a robbery. The victim employee shouted to another employee to call the police, and the suspects fled. A search of the surrounding area led to the arrest of two of the three suspects. According to police, Julio Guerra, 19, and Aquilinio Hernandez Guerra, 20, both of 7268 Robert Lane in the Falls Church area, were charged with attempted robbery and held without bond.
<sh>Bias Incident
<bt>Fairfax County Police are investigating a bias incident that occurred in the 8700 block of Foxhall Terrace in the Fairfax Station area between 3 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 25, and 12:25 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 26. A 45-year-old Fairfax Station woman discovered her vehicle had been damaged and an ethnic slur had been written on the hood. The Fairfax County Police Department recognizes the potential harm that bias crimes and incidents can have in a community and consequently encourages people to report them. All bias crimes and incidents are investigated thoroughly.
<sh>Retail Store Fire
<bt>Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a commercial building fire in the Springfield area of the county at approximately 10:40 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 22. The structure is located at 6701 Loisdale Road. First-arriving units reported heavy smoke showing from the attic and roof. Firefighters immediately requested a second alarm. The fire destroyed most of the area and framing store. A food mart located next to it received minor smoke damage. The fire was brought under control in approximately 20 minutes. More than 50 firefighters from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and Fort Belvoir Fire Department fought the blaze. There were no reported injuries. Damage to the businesses is estimated at $300,000. An unattended candle caused the fire, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.