Electronic Solicitation Charged
<bt>When a 59-year-old man allegedly solicited sex over the Internet, say Fairfax County police, he thought he was writing to a 13-year-old girl. Instead, the "girl" was really a male police detective with the Child Exploitation Unit, and the would-be predator was busted.
Police reportedly identified the man as Bryant Frederick O'Neill of Route 2, Box 820, in Harper's Ferry, W. Va. They say he and the "teen" were allegedly exchanging e-mails since November 2001. After allegedly arranging to meet her in Centreville to have sex, say police, O'Neill was arrested last Wednesday, July 7, at 10 a.m.
Police charged him with using a communications system to facilitate certain offenses involving children. He was then released on $2,000 bond. He has an Aug. 30 court date and, if convicted, could receive as much as five years in prison.
<sh>Animal Cruelty is Charged
<bt>Fairfax County police have charged a 34-year-old Centreville man with cruelty to animals. He is Raul Elias Canas of 14530 Golden Oak Road in The Meadows community.
Police were called to his home last Friday, July 9, around 6:30 p.m. for a domestic dispute. While the officer was speaking with one of the residents, police say Canas allegedly stabbed a 10-pound, miniature dachshund with a grilling fork.
According to police, Canas was angry because the dog had gone to the bathroom on the floor. They say the dog sustained puncture wounds. It had been staying with the Canas family temporarily while its owners were away.
The dog was taken to a veterinary hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. It will remain at the animal hospital until its owners return. Following his arrest, Canas was released on a summons. He has a Sept. 8 court date and, if convicted, he could be sentenced to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.
<sh>Reese at WFCCA Meeting
<bt>Del. Gary Reese (R-67th) will be the guest speaker at the Monday, July 19, quarterly meeting of the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA). It's set for 7 p.m. in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Reese will talk about the past General Assembly session, the state budget and other topics.
<sh>WFCCA Land-Use Mtg.
<bt>The next meeting of the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) Land-Use Committee will be Tuesday, July 20, at 7 p.m. It's in the Sully District Governmental Center at 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly.
Happyfaces Daycare, across from the Centreville Historic District, on Braddock Road, is seeking a special-exception permit for a change to its building. And Chevy Chase Bank wants to build a branch with a drive-in window at the corner of Walney Road and Route 50 in Chantilly. A lawnmower-repair shop is currently on that site.
<sh>No DUI Arrests Made
<bt>Police officers from the Fair Oaks District Station conducted a sobriety checkpoint from last Friday, July 9, at 10 p.m., to Saturday, July 10, at 1:15 a.m., at Fair Lakes Parkway and Oak Creek Lane. Some 809 vehicles went through this site between West Ox Road and the Fairfax County Parkway, and seven drivers were pulled over for further investigation. No one was charged with DUI (driving under the influence), although one passenger was charged with being drunk in public.
<sh>Alcohol Sting Nabs Three
<bt>Fairfax County police say three local businesses allegedly sold alcoholic beverages to underage customers. Last Thursday, July 8, the Traffic Safety Services Unit, along with Sully District Station patrol officers, conducted an alcohol sting at 19 locations in Chantilly, Centreville, Clifton and Fairfax.
It's part of an ongoing youth-alcohol and business-compliance program and was carried out by underage, county police cadets. The cadets dressed in plain clothing and tried to buy alcoholic beverages at the various locations. Clerks at 16 stores did not sell such beverages to the cadets.
However, police say clerks at the following stores reportedly did sell them alcohol: Chantilly Cash & Carry, 13941 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Chantilly; State ABC Store 322, 14151 St. Germain Drive, Centreville; and Food Lion, 5620 Ox Road, Fairfax. The clerks allegedly at fault received summonses charging them with illegally selling alcoholic beverages to minors.
<sh>Bat Found in Chantilly
<bt>A local man last week found a bat in a building near his Chantilly home. According to Fairfax County police, last Tuesday, July 6, the man discovered the bat in the 3700 block of Mazewood Court. An Animal Control officer responded and euthanized the bat, which appeared to be sick. It later tested positive for rabies at the county Health Department.
The bat was one of four animals in the county found in the past week and testing positive for the rabies virus. On July 3, an adult male red fox was attacked and killed by a dog in Great Falls; and on July 4, another dog killed a fox in Fairfax. Then on July 5, a kitten bit an Annandale woman. The foxes and kitten all proved to be rabid.
<sh>Pedestrian Meeting Slated
<bt>Citizen input is sought on pedestrian mobility, safety and education issues currently under review by the Fairfax County Pedestrian Task Force. Toward that end, a public meeting will be held Monday, July 26, from 7-9 p.m., in conference rooms 4 and 5 of the county Government Center. For more information, see the Pedestrian Task Force Web site: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pedforce.htm.
<sh>WFCM Urgently Needs Food
<bt>Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) is in urgent need of canned goods and groceries for its food pantry for local needy families. Especially needed is food for children, including: Breakfast cereal; peanut butter; jelly; macaroni and cheese; canned fruit and fruit juices; canned meats such as tuna, salmon, corned beef and Spam; spaghetti sauce; canned pasta meals; and baby formula.
Items may be brought to WFCM's Shepherd Center in the Sully Plaza Shopping Center. It's at 13981 Metrotech Drive, next to Midas Muffler and near Backyard Grill & Bar and Blockbuster Video.
<sh>Blood Donations are Sought
<bt>The Inova Blood Donor Center in the Centremed I Building on Route 29 in Centreville (across from the Centreville Multiplex Cinemas) is in urgent need of blood donations — especially O positive or negative, as well as A and B. They're accepted Tuesday-Friday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For an appointment to give blood, call 703-322-1970, or drop in at your own convenience.