Hit-Run to Grand Jury
<bt>The felony hit-and-run case against a 21-year-old Fairfax man is moving forward in the legal system. He is Edward Sliter of 12106 Goodwood Drive. Fairfax County police charged him with the crime on April 26.
They believe that, two days earlier, Sliter struck a 32-year-old pedestrian with his vehicle, along Route 29 in Fairfax, and then drove off, leaving the victim critically injured.
Police say that Christopher Pinkerton of Barboursville, W. Va., was walking east on Route 29, approaching West Ox Road, around 3:30 a.m., when Sliter's 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass reportedly struck him and severed his arm. A passing motorist saw Pinkerton and called 911.
Last Wednesday, June 16, in General District Court, Judge Robert Smith certified the case against Sliter to the next grand jury for possible indictment. If convicted, he could be sentenced to as much as five years in prison.
<sh>Still No Information about Death of Chantilly Boy
<bt>The Fairfax County Health Department is still awaiting results of an autopsy on a 12-year-old Chantilly boy who died suddenly, last Thursday, June 17, at home. He was a seventh-grader at Franklin Middle School.
His name has not been released to the public, nor has any information about the circumstances of his death been made known. However, the Health Department attributed his demise to a "non-infectious cause" and said it is "unrelated to other investigations."
Following all the publicity surrounding three confirmed cases of viral meningitis in the county — one of which was fatal — the Health Department has been receiving an increased number of self-reports of current, recent and past viral illnesses from county residents and visitors.
Tuesday morning, the Health Department received a report of a 15-year-old Chantilly High student who was hospitalized Monday night with mild symptoms of a stiff neck and a headache. But, according to the Health Department, "preliminary tests do not suggest meningitis, and the boy is recovering. The patient denies any physical contact with the two, other known cases at Chantilly High."
<sh>15 Months for Burglary
<bt>A Centreville teen was sentenced last Friday to 15 months in prison for a burglary he committed last fall. He is Tavares Winston, 19, of 14711 Wycombe St. in London Towne. Fairfax County police charged him, Sept. 26, 2003, with the Sept. 8 burglary of a Sully Station home.
He pleaded guilty, March 31, in Circuit Court, and returned last Friday, June 18, for sentencing. At that time, Judge Michael McWeeny sentenced Winston to three years in prison, suspending 21 months, and placing him on two years active probation.
<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.